Speaking with Betzalel Kahan of Kol Chai Radio on Sunday morning, March 31, 2019, New Right party leader Naftali Bennet had harsh words over the latest ‘understanding’ between Israel and Hamas regime in Gaza.

Bennet insisted that his comments have nothing to do with the fact that elections are just about 10 days away, and when asked, he acknowledged that he has been part of the government that is responsible for the situation today. However, his position, which is been an unpopular one during Operation Protective Edge in Gaza in 2014, he reminded listeners how he was the lone voice, opposing then defense minister Moshe Ya’alon, then chief of staff, Benny Gantz, and even Prime Minister Netanyahu. He explained that it was his actions that led to the uncovering and subsequent destruction of the Hamas terrorist tunnels from Gaza to Israel. He lamented the fact that Israelis have been led to believe that a decisive victory cannot be achieved by the IDF on Gaza.

He calls for policy change, which he says will implement when appointed defense minister by Netanyahu in the next government, which includes constantly hounding and targeting the political and military leaders of Gaza, not a one-time operation, but a constant effort that will bring down the infrastructure. Bennet insists that a defense establishment with 60 billion shekels cannot do more than firing at empty buildings in Gaza as is the case today.

He insists that the time has come for change and he is the person that can and will bring about this change. He insisted that it’s time that little Israeli children stop having to go to bed crying because of Hamas rocket fire from Gaza.

Bennet’s Plan includes:
1. Not a single IDF soldier enters Gaza
2. Destruction of Hamas’ rockets from the air
3. Temporary evacuation of Gaza border residents
4. Targeted surgical hits against Hamas leaders
5. A home used to launch rockets will be destroyed
6. Maintaining a demilitarized Gaza

אם נרצה או לא, בסוף נגיע לשם. pic.twitter.com/traA7e9AZu

— יוסי אליטוב (@yoelituv) March 31, 2019

Bennet added that his co-chair in the party, Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, would also do her part, introducing the required legislation to curb the authority of Israel’s High Court of Justice, as he explained the latter has tied the hands of the IDF.

Veteran military affairs correspondent Kobi Finkler commented after the interview, stating that with all due respect to Bennet, adding he is correct that he did bring about the actions against the tunnels and has prevented the release of prisoners, but that said, there is a difference regarding a decisive military victory against a guerrilla organization like Hamas, and even the United States with all of its capabilities does not succeed when it comes to guerrilla organizations, as was the case in Vietnam and elsewhere.

Finkler added that following Protective Edge in 2014, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and others promised to infuse $4 billion into Gaza towards rebuilding it sewage water and other infrastructure, but those funds have since been used to rebuild and enhance its military infrastructure. Therefore, he does not believe that Bennet will provide the magical cure that will result in a decisive military victory against Hamas as Bennet says will be the case.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)