At a time when Naftali Bennett is seeking to establish an alternative government to Netanyahu, he made bold statements regarding the possibility of Israel waging new wars on Gaza and Lebanon under his leadership. The potential Israeli Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett, stated that his government would not freeze settlement construction in the West Bank, and it would carry out military operations in Gaza or Lebanon if necessary.
Questions have arisen regarding Bennett's statements, their political objectives, and how they might affect the formation of the next Israeli government, which is supported by the United Arab List and has set conditions for joining the government coalition.
In statements made to "Channel 12," Bennett ruled out that relying on the "United Arab List" would impose restrictions on his government, saying: "We will wage war if needed. If there is a coalition, fine. If not, we will go to elections, and everything is fine." He expected his government to face U.S. pressure concerning West Bank settlements, but he insisted he would not halt settlement construction.
Bennett noted that "the national conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is not about land; the Palestinians do not recognize our existence here, and this will apparently accompany us for a long time." He added: "My doctrine in this context is to reduce the conflict. Wherever we can open more crossings, provide a better quality of life, more jobs, and more industry, we will do that." In response to a question about the possibility of confronting the U.S. administration regarding the Iranian nuclear file, Bennett stated, "His compass is first and foremost Israel's security. Israel's security is more important than what they will say about us in the world. Nevertheless, the partnership with the United States, including with President Joe Biden, is strategic and essential."
**Future Developments**
Dr. Hikmat al-Masri, a Palestinian researcher, indicated that Bennett's far-right statements were expected, noting that it is natural for him to threaten wars in the region, especially following his bloody history in wars, as he participated in the Lebanon War and incursions into the West Bank and the aggression on Gaza in recent years.
According to her comments to "Sputnik," Bennett served as Minister of Defense in Netanyahu's government in 2019 and is ideologically closer to Netanyahu, so it is unsurprising for him to lead his government into potential wars in Lebanon or Gaza. Al-Masri predicted that the settlements would increase during his time in government, as he is known for his consistent support of establishing Jewish settlements in Palestinian territories, whether in the West Bank or East Jerusalem.
Moreover, she pointed out that Bennett had explicitly rejected the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza several times, often sparking controversy during his statements through media, particularly foreign agencies. In 2018, he stated that he would not give "another poison" to Arabs and that the idea of winning the world's love by giving up more land should be completely abandoned, asserting that establishing a Palestinian state would be "a suicide" for Israel.
She believes that this bloody history and Bennett's statements indicate that the coming years may witness pivotal developments in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the Arab-Israeli struggle, especially in light of recent developments regarding the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the ongoing judaization of neighborhoods in East Jerusalem, such as Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan, as well as the repeated aggression against Gaza and the racial discrimination faced by Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian cities, leading to potential ongoing conflicts.
**Right-Wing Gains**
For his part, Dr. Ayman al-Raqab, a political science professor and a leader in the Fatah movement, viewed Naftali Bennett's threats, as a leader of the right-wing Yamina party, as a way to defend himself against criticism coming from the right that claims he is prioritizing his personal interests over his ideas and those of his voters.
According to his comments to "Sputnik," Bennett is attempting to promise the occupying state's public that he will wage war on Gaza and Lebanon and that he will end the resistance in Gaza, in addition to opposing the return of the United States to the agreement with Iran, stating he will act on all fronts to prevent that.
Raqab anticipated that these statements are for media use and to appease his critics after his alliance with Yair Lapid, leader of the center-left Yesh Atid party, noting that Bennett served previously as Minister of Defense in a government led by Netanyahu but was unable to carry out his threats against Gaza at that time.
He believes that this coalition of contradictions will not last long if a vote of confidence is granted and its collapse will be swift, while Naftali Bennett seeks to leave an exit strategy with his voters in case the coalition fails, with his statements coming in that context.
Last Wednesday, Yair Lapid, leader of the "Yesh Atid" party assigned to form the government, announced reaching a coalition agreement that allows him to form a government alternating its presidency with Naftali Bennett, including the parties "Yesh Atid," "Yamina," "Blue and White," "Yisrael Beiteinu," "Labor," "Meretz," "Tikva Hadasha," and the United Arab List, with Bennett to hold the first term as Prime Minister.
