Bayit Yehudi (Jewish Home) party head Naftali Bennett went head-to-head with political opponents Thursday in a heated debate over Israel’s economy. While many on the left pin blame for economic woes on Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria, Bennett said the opposite is true – without those communities, Israel’s economy would be in deep trouble.

A debate broke out when Bennett declared that the next government must make social welfare and cost of living issues its top priority. Moderator Gadi Sokenik challenged him, saying, “You’re talking about the economy, but you support investing millions in residents of Judea and Samaria.”