Naftali Bennett

Prime Minister of Israel from 2021 to 2022

Naftali Bennett, Hebrew: נפתלי בנט , (born March 25, 1972 in Haifa) is an Israeli politician of HaYamin HeHadash ("New Right") and the Yamina alliance. He was the 13th Prime Minister of Israel from 2021 to 2022. Previously he belonged to HaBayit HaYehudi ("The Jewish Home").

Naftali Bennett
נַפְתָּלִי בֶּנֶט
Bennett seated with his arms resting on a table
Official portrait, 2021
13th Prime Minister of Israel
In office
13 June 2021 – 30 June 2022
President
AlternateYair Lapid
Preceded byBenjamin Netanyahu
Succeeded byYair Lapid
3rd Alternate Prime Minister of Israel
In office
1 July 2022 – 8 November 2022
Prime MinisterYair Lapid
Preceded byYair Lapid
Ministerial roles
2013–2015Minister of Economy
Minister of Religious Services
2013–2019Minister of Diaspora Affairs
2015–2019Minister of Education
2019–2020Minister of Defense
2021–2022Minister of Community Affairs
Faction represented in the Knesset
2013–2018The Jewish Home
2018–2019New Right
2019Yamina
2019–2020New Right
2020–2022Yamina
Personal details
Born (1972-03-25) 25 March 1972 (age 51)
Haifa, Israel
Political partyNew Right (2018–present)
Other political
affiliations
Spouse(s)
Gilat Bennett (m. 1999)
Children4
ResidenceRa'anana, Israel
Alma materHebrew University of Jerusalem (LLB)
Occupation
  • Politician
  • businessman
  • soldier
Websitenaftalibennett.co.il
Military service
Branch/serviceIsrael Defense Forces
Years of service1990–1996
RankRav seren (Major)
Unit
Battles/wars

Military and business career change

He performed his military service in an IDF special forces combat unit, in which he saw action in several operations. (He is a reservist with the rank of major). Afterwards he studied law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Before entering into politics, he worked in software, which has made him very wealthy. He was the CEO of software companies Cyota and Soluto.[1]

Political career change

Bennett has been a member of Knesset since 2013. He was Minister of the Economy and Minister of Religious Services in the third Netanyahu government, from 2013 to 2015. Since 2013 he has been Minister of Diaspora Affairs and since 2015 also Minister of Education, both in the fourth Netanyahu government.

As the Education minister, he wants more content about Judaism in Israeli schools. This affects the secular public school system as well as religious public schools. Furthermore, he is absolutely against the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Prime Minister change

After the 2021 Israel-Palestine crisis, Bennett announced that he agreed to a deal with Yair Lapid to forge a coalition government that would remove Benjamin Netanyahu from his Prime Minister position.[2] This was after the 2021 March election.[3] Mid June he has become Prime Minister, leading the Bennett-Lapid Government, which is the 36th government of Israel. In March 2022, he helped Russia and Ukraine communicate after the war broke out.[4]


On 20 June 2022, Bennett announced that he will call for a vote to dissolve the Knesset and step down as prime minister shortly after its dissolution, to be replaced by Lapid.[5] On June 29, he announced that he would not seek re-election to the chamber in the next legislative election.[6]

Personal life change

Naftali is an observer of Modern Orthodox Judaism. Until his election into the Knesset, he was also a citizen of the United States due to his parents being US citizens who emigrated to Israel.

Related pages change

References change

  1. "Deconstructing Naftali Bennet: The IDF Fighter". Haaretz. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  2. "Israeli opposition figures reach deal aimed at ousting Netanyahu". the Guardian. 2021-05-30. Retrieved 2021-05-30.
  3. "Bennett announces plan to form gov't with Lapid that will oust Netanyahu". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2021-05-30.
  4. "Russia–Ukraine Peace Was Blocked By Western Powers, Former Israeli Prime Minister Claims". Hungarianconservative.com.
  5. Estrin, Daniel (20 June 2022). "Israel's prime minister is stepping down, sparking a new round of elections". NPR. Retrieved 2022-06-24.
  6. "N12 - רה"מ נפתלי בנט הודיע: "לא אתמודד בבחירות הקרובות לכנסת"" [Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced: 'I will not run in the next Knesset election']. N12. 2022-06-29. Retrieved 2022-06-29.

Other websites change