Defense Minister Naftali Bennett has been getting significant mileage out of Gaza. As minister of economy and trade, and subsequently as minister of education, the leader of the New Right party spoke and tweeted extensively about Israeli policy on the Gaza Strip. In 2018, Bennett repeatedly accused then-Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman of “surrender to Hamas” and led a militant campaign from the political right against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Gaza policies. He repeatedly described the government’s Gaza policy as “hesitant” and “weak,” claiming Israel was allowing Hamas to enhance its capabilities. He warned that Israel would find itself facing a dangerous new Hezbollah within three years, this one on its southern border threatening the nearby town of Ashkelon.
“Anyone who gives in and pays protection money,” Bennett declared angrily, “will bring war upon us. Hamas should be scared of hurting us, not benefitting.” He urged Netanyahu to do something. If your defense minister is unable to do what needs to be done, replace him and appoint someone who can, he told Netanyahu after Liberman resigned his post in November 2018.
A year later, in November 2019, Netanyahu appointed Bennett defense minister in his caretaker government. On Dec. 29, the security cabinet including Bennett discussed the emerging agreement between Israel and Hamas. The Egyptian-mediated deal includes numerous benefits for Hamas, among them the continued influx of millions of dollars delivered regularly by a Qatari envoy, an enhanced power supply, expansion of Gaza’s fishing zone and permits for Gazans to work in Israel.
Bennett said nothing against the agreement, whose measures were fully coordinated with him. Liberman has stepped into Bennett's shoes as an outspoken government critic, telling Al-Monitor the exact views Bennett had expressed: “We must not give in to protection demands. Anyone who ignores Hamas now will get Hezbollah afterward.” Liberman held the same views when he sat in Bennett’s current chair and cited them when announcing his resignation.
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