Category: Naftali Bennett

Israel’s Bennett Hands Premiership to Foreign Minister Lapid, Won’t Seek Reelection

Outgoing Prime Minister Naftali Bennett handed over Israeli premiership to Foreign Minister Yair Lapid on Thursday after lawmakers voted to dissolve parliament (Knesset). The Knesset dissolution followed the collapse of Bennett’s ruling coalition and opened the way for a Nov. 1 election that will be Israel’s fifth in less than four years. Accompanied by their…


Israeli Government Dissolves Parliament, Calls New Elections

JERUSALEM—Israel’s weakened coalition government decided Monday to dissolve parliament and call a new election, the country’s fifth in three years. The vote, expected later this year, could bring about the return of a nationalist religious government led by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or another prolonged period of political gridlock. In a nationally televised news…


Israel to Dissolve Parliament, Call New Election

JERUSALEM—Israel’s weakened coalition government decided Monday to dissolve parliament and call a new election, the country’s fifth in three years. The vote, expected later this year, could bring about the return of a nationalist religious government led by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or another prolonged period of political gridlock. In a nationally televised news…


Biden Voices Support for Iron Dome, Plans to Visit Israel on Call With PM Bennett

The White House announced Sunday that President Joe Biden plans to visit Israel later this year. On a Feb. 6 call with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Biden affirmed his “unwavering” support for Israel and agreed to visit the country later this year, according to a White House readout of the conversation. The White House…


Israel’s Bennett Makes First Official Visit to UAE

JERUSALEM—Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Sunday made a historic trip to the United Arab Emirates, the first visit by an Israeli premier, as part of a blitz of regional diplomacy against the backdrop of struggling nuclear talks with Iran. Israel has watched with concern as Iran has pushed a hard line against negotiators meeting…


Israel Preparing to Strike Against Iranian Nuclear Facilities

The head of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) warned on Tuesday that an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities is being considered. IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi told the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that the army “is accelerating operational planning and preparedness to deal with Iran and the military nuclear threat. Thankfully, the budget…


Israel Accuses Iran of Cyprus Attack Plot After Suspect Arrested

JERUSALEM/NICOSIA—Israel accused Iran on Monday of orchestrating an attempted attack against Israelis in Cyprus after police on the Mediterranean island said an armed individual had been arrested. Iran swiftly denied the accusation. “This was a terrorist incident directed by Iran against Israeli businesspeople living in Cyprus,” Matan Sidi, spokesman for Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, said…


Israeli Prime Minister Visits Egypt in First Official Trip for a Decade

CAIRO—Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Monday for talks on Israeli-Palestinian relations and bilateral ties in the first official trip by an Israeli head of government to Egypt for a decade. Bennett, who took office in June, was invited to visit by Sisi last month. Since May, Egypt has…


US Has ‘Other Options’ If Diplomacy With Iran Fails, Biden Tells Israeli PM in Bilateral Meeting

President Joe Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett at the White House on Friday that the United States has “other options” if using diplomacy fails with Iran, in efforts to ensure it never develops a nuclear weapon. The bilateral meeting between the two leaders was delayed by one day after a deadly explosion at…


Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Set to Discuss Iran Strategy at Meeting Next Week

WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM—Stalled nuclear talks with Iran will be at the top of the agenda when U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett meet next week. “The President and Prime Minister Bennett will discuss critical issues related to regional and global security, including Iran,” said White House press secretary Jen Psaki in a statement…