In June 2021, the chairman of Yamina at the time, Naftali Bennett, did the unbelievable: forming a unity government under his leadership with the center-left parties plus the Arab Ra’am movement, a government called by its supporters the “government of change”. This move, which some would say was expected and some did not believe it would happen, tore apart Israeli society. His former partners and supporters on the right did not stop calling him in the studios and on social networks: “traitor”, “crook”, “cheater” and “liar” while on the left he was received with a warm embrace.
After the long interview I came to the conclusion that Knesset members like Bennett are missing
Bennett served as prime minister for exactly one year until his government fell due to ideological differences that emerged within the coalition. After failing in his mission to maintain it, he decided to pass the baton to the chairman of Yesh Atid, Yair Lapid, and retire from political life. Since then, he went under the radar, was interviewed here and there, wrote posts on Facebook with vague messages, until he decided to sit down with Hanoch Daum.
Bennett, Lapid and Lieberman at the cabinet meeting Photo: Yoav Ari Dudkevitch/POOL
For four hours and fifty-one minutes, Bennett spoke about the stormy year in his life as the 13th Prime Minister of the State of Israel. After the long interview I came to the conclusion that Bennett is missing, at least for me, in the current Knesset. There is a lack of Knesset members like him who know how to both confess their actions and convey messages of unity. Some will say that we can always remain a crook, and their right to think so, I chose to believe that he really struck a sin.
“My mistake was not breaking the promise but making the promise”
During the interview, Hanoch asked many intriguing questions. But the most challenging question to ask Bennett is what he has to say to his disappointed supporters and fans. “First of all, I can understand, and I don’t argue with the anger or the pain,” Bennett began his answer, “I tell them know that I acted for heaven’s sake. I acted from a situation of choosing between a terrible and terrible thing, which would have brought Israel to the abyss, and to establish a functioning government, Not natural. So I took responsibility. I came into politics for the people of Israel. My emphasis today is unity, more moderation and performanceism.”
He also added that “it hurts me. Did I hurt them? Yes, those who were hurt – were hurt because of me. And I said things some of which I stood by and some of which I did not stand behind. When I said that I would not form a government with a torch, I meant it at the time. Then I had a choice either to stick to the promise or To do what is right for the State of Israel. My mistake was not breaking the promise, but giving the promise. Because in the situation between Israel’s good and breaking a promise, with the very heavy price for me and others, the good of Israel is clearly my compass.”
In these days when Israeli society is divided, we should listen to the interview with Bennett
We are used to complaining about how corrupt, divisive and lying the politicians are, but until Bennett (maybe I’m wrong and don’t remember), I didn’t believe there would be one who would confess and explain why he chose to break his promise. There is hardly a single member of the Knesset who is able to admit why he deceived his political partners and acted in an indirect and dishonest manner. Most of them simply ignore and think that time will take its course and we, the electorate, will forget everything. Whereas Bennett, who committed an act that tore apart Israeli society, confesses and explains. He does not ignore the act but faces it, he answers all the difficult questions in detail without any evasion.
The demonstration in Tel Aviv Photo: Tomer Neuberg/Flash90
These days, when Israeli society is divided, we should listen to the interview with Bennett. Although he is already out of politics, he is not afraid to say the words “unity” and “negotiations”. Talking does not mean slackness or surrender but courage. The courage to listen to the other opinion and voice my position in order to reach a mutual agreement. If we know how to listen to the other side, instead of the rift created after five elections, we can together create a united and cohesive society.
“Let’s be a spectrum from ultra-Orthodox to secular, but let’s get along with each other and then we can bring to light the wonderful forces that exist here in the country. With free love we will win,” Bennett concluded the interview.