In an interview with BILD, the Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett makes it clear that he is ready for a comeback, although he and his wife had actually planned a longer break from politics.
Bennett took aim at the government's current Gaza war strategy. "From the outset, I would have opted for a much more intensive approach to defeat Hamas. The current administration's strategy resembles a low-intensity, drawn-out affair. There's no real war being waged in Gaza. The troop presence is minimal. When you're aiming to defeat an enemy, continuity is crucial. You must persist. Easing up when the enemy shows signs of weakness is not an option."
He underscored the importance of intensity and swift action in combat. "While we don't seek war, when victory is the goal, the approach must be high-intensity and swift. This has always been our strategic doctrine."
"My advice to the government would be: either commit fully to winning this war or negotiate a deal and postpone the fight," the former premier stated, alluding to ongoing hostage negotiations. "This war of attrition, this prolonged struggle, doesn't serve our interests. It's precisely what Iran wants us to do. Their aim is to gradually drain Israel of its energy and resources. We shouldn't play into their hands.
"If Hamas isn't ready to make a deal yet, I'd ramp up the pressure to force one. That's how negotiations work. Unfortunately, Israel's current strategy seems to be easing off the pressure. No one will agree to terms if they don't feel the threat closing in, and it appears they don't at the moment."
EPA
He addressed the apparent effort by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to replace Defense Minister Yoav Gallant as part of a massive reshuffle, which some in Israel have criticized as a cynical ploy to secure his hold on power rather than avoid an early election.
Bennett further commented, "I believe that when a nation is at war, leaders must act in Israel's best interests, without being swayed by political considerations or personal agendas. My hope is that Israel's leaders will remember their purpose: to safeguard Israel, not to pursue their own interests."
When questioned about a potential return to politics, Bennett evaded a direct answer, "I've already served in various roles – minister of education, economy, and defense, as well as prime minister." He added, "But I didn't do it for personal enjoyment; I did it for my country. After my tenure, my wife and I decided to take an extended break, but we couldn't have anticipated how quickly Israel would find itself in a challenging situation. The past two years have been terrible for Israel. Even before October 7, the situation was far from ideal. I care about only two things: my family and my nation. If serving my nation means sweeping floors, I'll do it. If it means being a soldier, I'll be a soldier. I'm prepared to take on any role where I can make a meaningful difference."
Bennett addressed the issue of internal criticism aimed at the IDF, stating, "There are those who attack our IDF from within. I know how deeply this hurts you; it pains me as well."
The former prime minister was also asked about potential political alliances and whether he would consider serving in a government alongside Netanyahu. Bennett replied, "I haven't officially announced a return to politics. The most crucial task for Israel right now is to unify its people. In a way, the internal divisions, polarization, and conflicts of 2023 weakened Israel. Our enemies observed this clear decline in our strength. They waited for our most vulnerable moment to strike."
Speaking about how Israel got to the situation where it faced one of the longest wars in its history, with more than 1200 dead on Oct. 7 and hundreds more in the 11 months since, he noted that Hamas tried to exploit Israeli divisions.
"The [Oct. 7] attack was precipitated by an internal civil strife that, while not violent, came dangerously close to becoming a full-blown civil war. That's why unity is essential now. This unity should be reflected primarily in our government. Every Israeli government in the next ten to twenty years should be a broad coalition, encompassing Left and Right, religious and secular, focused on rebuilding Israel.
"The silver lining is that we've discovered an exceptional young generation, surpassing our pre-attack expectations. We thought they were the TikTok generation, but they've proven to be our toughest young cohort ever. On October 7, thousands of young men and women from across Israel spontaneously drove to the areas under attack to protect civilians."
