Naftali Bennett is an Israeli politician and served as the country’s 13th prime minister.
The son of American immigrants, Bennett grew up in Haifa. He and his wife Gilat live in Ra’anana with their four children.
After his IDF service in the Maglan Commando Brigade and the General Staff Reconnaissance Unit, Bennett ventured into software entrepreneurship, heading various companies that sold out for over $100 million.
He surfaced on the scene of Israeli politics in 2006 as chief of staff for Benjamin Netanyahu.
After leading both the Bayit Yehudi and Yamina parties and serving in various ministerial positions, Bennett was sworn in on June 13, 2021 as Israel's 13th prime minister in a rotation government with Yesh Atid head Yair Lapid.
Under the rotation government, Bennett would serve as prime minister until 2023, and Lapid would assume the role until 2025.
However, this government would ultimately collapse and Bennett would subsequently exit the Israeli political scene.
Former prime minister Naftali Bennett's new party is likely to be the largest in a general election, according to polls over recent weeks.
The Religious Zionist Party, led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, fell below the electoral threshold with just 2.6% support.
Bennett's strategy of maintaining silence was effective in the polls. However, the attack on popular Channel 12 journalist Amit Segal might change the course of his political future.
If Naftali Bennet decides to run, the coalition would be left with 49 seats, whereas a Bennet-led opposition would have 61.
Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar’s rise from Sayeret Matkal to leading Israel’s security agency, navigating political shifts and key operations.
In an upcoming election, Bennett should run separately, representing the Zionist religious and moderate Right, but Lapid is an exhausted figure who failed miserably in the 2022 election.
Latest polling shows Likud’s rise, Bennett’s strong support, and deep divisions on war policy and the haredi draft law.
Anti-Israel activists occupied a Barnard College building after protests at Columbia University against former Israeli PM Naftali Bennett’s lecture.
"This evening, we witnessed the total disconnect of Netanyahu's disastrous government. A government that does not honor its fallen is unworthy of its people."
For the first time in decades, the writings of Israel’s founding father, David Ben-Gurion, have been republished in a new edition and presented to the country’s current and former leaders.
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