Naftali Bennett at the President's Conference
Naftali Bennett at the President's ConferenceChen Galili, ShiloPro

Former Yesha Council chairman Naftali Bennett spoke on Thursday at a panel entitled “The Tomorrow's Borders of Israel” at the President’s Conference.

Bennett, a rising star in the religious-Zionist political camp, is planning to run for leadership of the Jewish Home party. He spoke about the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria (Yehuda and Shomron) and highlighted the need for Israel to apply sovereignty over the region.

“I urge everyone: forget the maps. Go spend a day in Judea and Samaria, meet the people, walk the land,” said Bennett.

Addressing the issue of possible condemnation by the world should Israel apply sovereignty over Judea and Samaria, he said, “The world is important, but we Israelis don’t get it right. The world, frankly, has bigger things on their agenda than Israel.”

“If we have the Prime Minister who – like Menachem Begin – has the will to apply sovereignty over Judea and Samaria, we’ll do it,” said Bennett. “Yes, we will get condemned for two or three days and then Madonna will have a new show and the attention will move.”

He emphasized, “We need to do what’s right for the Jewish State. The world will follow through.”