naftali bennett

Illustrative photo of Arab students. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

‘To ask an Arab student to internalize this is a way of humiliating him’

Israel requires all high school students who want to travel abroad on school-sponsored trips to pass an online course that promotes far-right and often racist ideas about Palestinians. One Arab school in northern Israel has had enough of it. Before a high school student in Israel can participate in a school-sponsored trip overseas they must…

By Henriette Chacar July 14, 2019

Avigdor Liberman and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seen at the opening winter session of the Knesset, October 23, 2017. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

The right wing in Israel is in a deep crisis

Snap elections just weeks after Israelis went the polls are the result of a rivalry between Liberman and Netanyahu, but that’s just part of the story. The right is immersed in a crisis of identity, leadership, and politics. By Meron Rapoport What happened to Avigdor Liberman? Why did he insist on cutting short what will…

By +972 Magazine June 2, 2019

Naftali Bennett attends a press conference announcing the launch of the new campaign "New South" of the New Right Political party, in Ashdod on March 26, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Who needs Bennett when Netanyahu is already annexing the West Bank

Unlike satellite right-wing parties, Netanyahu advances the annexation of occupied Palestinian territories with little public scrutiny and at no cost. Israeli politics provide very few moments of relief for the beaten-down left. That Naftali Bennett’s “New Right” party might not make it past the election threshold, and that his political partner, former Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked,…

By Orly Noy April 11, 2019

Latest

Education Minister Naftali Bennett, MK David Bitan, Culture Minister Miri Regev and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attend a Knesset plenum session, December 5, 2016. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Don’t believe the hype: The Israeli right is weaker than it seems

The right had a decade to annex the West Bank, quash Palestinian aspirations, and thwart Hamas in Gaza. Yet today, more than ever, its invincibility is anything but certain. By Meron Rapoport The past decade belonged to the Israeli right. Since 2009, the right-wing bloc easily defeated its opponents and won elections, while Prime Minister Benjamin…

By +972 Magazine December 27, 2018

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman attend a special plenary memorial for the late, former minister, Rehavam Ze'evi Gandi, at the Knesset, on October 24, 2017. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Netanyahu is stuck with Hamas, and he likes it that way

Netanyahu understands that keeping Hamas in power comes at a heavy political price. But as long as it thwarts the possibility of a Palestinian state, it’s worth it for him. By Meron Rapoport Weak. Giving into to terror. Those were the words Avigdor Liberman used to describe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his press conference…

By +972 Magazine November 15, 2018

Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman announces his resignation following the ceasefire with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, during a press conference in the Knesset, Jerusalem, November 14, 2018. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Israel’s next elections will be about who is more violent to Palestinians

The resignation of Defense Minister Liberman could very well trigger elections as early as next March. Many will be going the polls with one question in mind: how much force should we use against Palestinians? Israel appears to be going to early elections. Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman on Wednesday announced that he is resigning from his…

By Haggai Matar November 14, 2018

The Israeli and the American flags are screened on the walls of Jerusalem's Old City, on October 28, 2018, in solidarity with the victims who were killed in a mass shooting at Pittsburgh synagogue. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Death penalty for Pittsburgh terrorist is wrong

Sentencing Robert Bowers to death isn’t likely to honor the victims. What’s worse, it might build up the case for capital punishment for terrorists in Israel. Prosecutors are reportedly planning to seek the death penalty for Robert Bowers, suspected of murdering 11 Jews in a mass shooting attack as they celebrated a bris at their…

By Dahlia Scheindlin November 2, 2018

Right-wing Israeli activists march in support of Elior Azaria, the Israeli soldier who shot a Palestinian attacker, in Jerusalem, November 22, 2016. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

How the settlers took over Israel

Over the past 13 years the settler Right succeeded in establishing itself as a hegemonic force in Israeli politics, education, judiciary, culture, and society. If the Left has any chance of pushing back, instead of moderating itself it must radicalize. By Rami Kaplan A sense of doom has overcome the left-wing camp in Israel these days.…

By +972 Magazine November 2, 2018

Mourners take part in a vigil for the victims of the shooting at Tree of Life Congregation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, October 29. (Governor Tom Wolf/CC BY 2.0)

I wish we could mourn Pittsburgh as one Jewish people — but we can’t

I keep hoping that our Jewish leaders will take one moment to do what they say they are here to do: defend Jewish lives when we are under attack. But they haven’t. By Simone Zimmerman I want to mourn with my people. I want to mourn with all of my beloved Jewish people in Pittsburgh…

By +972 Magazine October 30, 2018

Family of Cpt. Ziv Daos mourn during his funeral in Holon Cemetery, March 18, 2018. Daos was killed vehicle-ramming attack near the West Bank settlement Mevo Dotan. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

In Israel of 2018, bereavement is a ‘lifetime achievement’

Israel awarded its most prestigious prize to Miriam Peretz, whose two sons were killed in combat in Lebanon and Gaza. Here are three Palestinians who lost their children, but won’t likely be recognized for their grief. By Orly Noy In the days of the Iran-Iraq War, before Iran sent out young — and often very young…

By Orly Noy March 19, 2018

Eritrean asylum seekers stage a mock slave auction outside the Knesset to protest Israel's plans to deport tens of thousands of Sudanese and Eritrean asylum seekers, January 17, 2018, Jerusalem. (Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

Israeli teachers to education minister: ‘Stop deportation of asylum seekers’

Over 140 teachers sign an open letter calling to stop the deportation of asylum seekers. Meanwhile, former education ministers and Israel Prize winners warn against an ‘injustice that contradicts Jewish values.’ By Yael Marom Over 140 teachers signed an open letter calling on the government to change its decision to deport the asylum seekers to Rwanda…

By +972 Magazine January 29, 2018

Palestinian worshipers hold a mass prayer in the streets of East Jerusalem as an act of civil disobedience after Israel implemented new entry arrangements for Al-Aqsa Mosque, Wadi Joz, East Jerusalem, July 21, 2017. (Yotam Ronen/Activestills.org)

+972 Magazine’s 20 most-read posts of 2017

From the Palestinian director shattering taboos in her own society, to a journey away from Zionism, to Richard Gere likening Hebron to Jim Crow, here are the most popular articles we published this past year. By +972 Magazine Staff 20. Looted from Beirut 35 years ago, now on display in Tel Aviv Read the full article here. 19. Two…

By +972 Magazine December 29, 2017

Naftali Bennett leads a faction meeting at the Knesset, November 27, 2017. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

Even civil rights are too extreme for Israel’s education minister

Naftali Bennett cancelled an event with Israel’s oldest human rights organization after a group of bereaved families called it ‘one of the most extreme de-legitimization organizations against the State of Israel.’ On Tuesday, November 28, Education Minister Naftali Bennett canceled an upcoming joint event between his ministry and the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) on…

By Joshua Leifer November 28, 2017