Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

New Leader, Same Occupation: Naftali Bennett Takes Over as Israeli Prime Minister

On Sunday, Benjamin Netanyahu’s reign as Israeli prime minister ended. But for the Palestinian people, the new government under Naftali Bennett will mean more of the same brutal repression, occupation, and apartheid.

Mirta Pacheco

June 15, 2021
Facebook Twitter Share
New Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett stands in front of two Israeli flags.
Photo: Yonatan Sindel/AFP

Benjamin Netanyahu’s 12-year reign as Israeli prime minister has ended. On Sunday, the Israeli Knesset (parliament) gave a vote of confidence to the coalition of opposition parties, paving the way for Naftali Bennett to take over as the country’s leader. Bennett, a religious tech entrepreneur and leader of the right-wing Yamina party, will serve as prime minister for two years. The post will then be taken up by Yair Lapid, a former TV presenter and journalist who founded the Yesh Atid party. The vote of confidence was 60-59, with one abstention.

The new Israeli regime is betting on overcoming the political crisis and gridlock that led the country to hold four elections in two and a half years. After the violent offensive against the Palestinian people and the bombings in Gaza last month, Israel encountered a new reality: an Arab resistance that, this time, united all Palestinians, including those who, despite having Israeli citizenship, are treated as second- or third-class citizens.

On the other hand, the Zionist regime has also observed how the Israeli ultraright and settlers terrorize — in some case even murder — Palestinians in mixed Israeli cities. The Netanyahu government and other Israeli political forces encouraged these actions,  and the police itself let them take place. But the attacks on Palestinians again aroused international opposition and marches, as well as demonstrations by Jewish Israelis, albeit small ones.

Bennett was referring to this situation when he said, ahead of Sunday’s vote, “This time, at the decisive moment, we have taken responsibility. We understood that we have to safeguard our home. To continue on in this way — more elections, more hatred, more vitriolic posts on Facebook — is just not an option. Therefore, we stopped the train, a moment before it barreled into the abyss.” In the last sentence, Bennett criticized Netanyahu without naming him, since, logically, the latter was this train’s conductor.

Against this backdrop, Bennett made clear in his swearing-in speech where his policies will be oriented.

He referred to Iran, stating that it “has established terrorist outposts — from Syria, through Gaza and Lebanon, and to Yemen.” He added, “Israel will not allow Iran to be equipped with nuclear weapons. Israel is not party to the [US nuclear agreement with Iran], and will maintain full freedom to act.” This was a message for the Iranian state, but perhaps also a warning for the U.S. government, given that President Biden intends to reestablish the US nuclear agreement, albeit with certain conditions.

Bennett thanked the U.S. government, highlighting the strategic alliance that the imperialist country maintains with Israel. He also mentioned Biden’s position in the face of the criminal Zionist attack on the Gaza Strip: “On behalf of us all, I want to thank the president of the United States of America, Joe Biden, for standing alongside Israel during the last operation in Gaza, Guardian of the Walls, and for his long-standing commitment to the security of Israel.”

Bennett staunchly supports illegal Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem and the Occupied West Bank, and he once helmed Yasha, the West Bank settler council. Unsurprisingly, he has affirmed that he will expand the settlements in Area C of the West Bank, an area of Palestinian land where Israel has absolute military and administrative control thanks to the Oslo Accords. This is consistent with his career-long push to fully annex the area. His announcement came hand in hand with the proposal to economically reinforce the Israeli army. This can only mean a deepening of the attacks and oppression that the Israeli Defense Forces maintain over the Palestinian people.

Finally, as a response to the increase in unemployment in Israel, Bennett generically proposed a plan for jobs, especially in the tech sector, and economic aid for small businesses, such as kosher restaurants.

In general, Bennett appealed to national unity, although he focused on the ultra-Orthodox sector.

What is clear is that for the Palestinian people, the new government will mean more of the same brutal repression, occupation, apartheid, and violence. Fundamentally, Bennett’s new government will aim to preserve the foundations of the “Jewish National State of Israel.” We must continue to show our solidarity with Palestine and to demand the end of all foreign support to the oppressive Israeli regime.

First published in Spanish on June 13 in La Izquierda Diario.

Translation by Otto Fors

Facebook Twitter Share

INTERNATIONAL

A group of protesters, in the front of whom are a line of protesters wearing red vests. In the front right corner, a white sign reds "vive la retraite," with a skeleton wearing a red hat in the middle of the sign on a black background with a text bubble on its left that reads, "oiv a bosse, c'est pas pour en crever!"

“French March”: The Right to Revolutionary Optimism

Evoking memories of '68, the students enter the fight against Macron. In our chaotic world, the future can only be built in the streets.

Eduardo Castilla

March 26, 2023

On Monday, Germany Will Experience a “Mega-Strike”

On March 27, German railway workers and public sector employees will shut down the whole country. All trains are being canceled. Airports, freeways, hospitals, and daycare centers will all be affected.

Nathaniel Flakin

March 25, 2023

France: On the Frontlines of the War Against Austerity

The French masses have raised the banner of class struggle in what is becoming the first major battle against austerity after the pandemic. Working people across the world should pay attention.

James Dennis Hoff

March 25, 2023

Despite Threats of Arrest, Refinery Workers in France Refuse to Break Strike

As energy strikes continue, France is faced with a kerosene shortage that’s creating an urgent situation at the country’s airports. With capitalist profits on the line, the government has attempted to force Normandy refinery workers back to work through an anti-strike legal weapon called requisitions. In their first victory, refinery workers forced the police to withdraw in an incredible demonstration of solidarity.

Nathan Erderof

March 24, 2023

MOST RECENT

Customers clear shelves of water Sunday at Fresh Grocer in West Philadelphia.

A Chemical Plant Just Poisoned Philadelphia’s Water: A First-Hand Account of the Crisis

A company dumped thousands of gallons of poisonous chemicals into Philadelphia’s drinking water. This is an on-the-ground account by a Philadelphia worker and socialist.

Jason Koslowski

March 27, 2023

Joe Biden Is Deporting Russians Who Escaped Putin’s Draft — Let Them All In!

The United States is deporting Russians who sought asylum following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This is a heinous attack against war resisters and shows that the proxy war in Ukraine is about capitalist rivalry first and foremost.

Sam Carliner

March 26, 2023

“We Need Action Committees Everywhere”: Building the General Strike in France

Workers across France are organizing action committees to build a general strike to take down the Macron government and the Fifth Republic.

Arthur Nicola

March 24, 2023

What’s Behind Xi Jinping’s Visit to Moscow?

Chinese president Xi Jinping has visited Moscow for the first time since the beginning of the Ukraine war, in an effort to strengthen trade relations between the two countries.

Madeleine Freeman

March 23, 2023