Israeli Strikes Kill at Least 10 in Gaza; IDF: Targeting Hamas Commanders
Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Wednesday that a government led by him would retaliate against Iran if Hezbollah attacks Israel, part of what he described as a broader overhaul of the country’s security policy.
“We will reverse the equation created by the government in the north. If Hezbollah fires at us, we will strike Iran,” Bennett said at a conference where he outlined his security doctrine for Israel’s future.
Bennett criticized the current government for what he called “wrong security concepts” and said he would seek to change them if he returns to power.
He said he would designate Qatar as an enemy state, remove Turkey and Qatar from Gaza and replace them with Egypt, and classify illegal weapons in Israel as a security threat rather than a civilian issue.
Bennett also said he would prioritize the development of artificial intelligence capabilities, arguing that “in the not-too-distant future, AI capabilities will be even more important than nuclear weapons.”
He said a strong military depends on a strong economy, which in turn requires what he called “excellent education.” Bennett said he would not allow educational systems that do not teach core subjects to continue operating and called for universal military service “for everyone, without exemptions.”
Alongside military strength, Bennett said Israel needs greater diplomatic power. He said he would establish a government body focused on public diplomacy and international messaging.
Former Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who also spoke at the conference, called for a major reset of Israel’s foreign policy, including repairing ties with the United States and Europe and restoring Israel’s bipartisan support in Washington.
He also called for deeper ties with Arab countries, including pursuing a peace deal with Saudi Arabia while opposing any Saudi uranium enrichment, and urged Israel to designate Qatar an enemy state.