Naftali Bennett

Bennett to bereaved families: Cemeteries closed to keep you safe

Defense Minister visits Mt. Herzl prior to Memorial Day, regrets inability of bereaved families to visit the graves of their loved ones.

Hours before Syria airstrikes, Defense Minister hinted at attack

Syria reports airstrikes on Damascus - just hours after Israeli Defense Minister hints at upcoming operation.

Bennett to Israeli Arabs: Look after yourselves during Ramadan

Defense Minister publishes urges Israeli Arabs to take precautionary measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus during Ramadan.

Defense Minister:

'The time has come to open Israel up again'

'Now the battle shifts from fighting the coronavirus to restoring the economy,' says Defense Minister Naftali Bennett.

'A good Defense Minister is going home'

"Naftali Bennett is one of the best defense ministers in the last 50 years," writes long-serving military correspondent Yisrael Katzover.

Israel's Defense Minister Bennett takes the bull by the horns

Bennett: Weddings of up to 50, prayer services in the open

Defense Minister lays down conditions for Yamina joining unity government.

Bennett orders halt to testing Gazans for coronavirus

IDF's decision to test Gazans for coronavirus was not coordinated with Defense Ministry, report says.

Yesha Council suggests Yamina be included in government

Yesha Council urgently calls on PM and Bennett: 'We see great importance in your joint meeting with next government to maintain settlement.'

Netanyahu decides: Economy reopening with restrictions

Netanyahu approves reopening of economy with restrictions

Bennett's coronavirus exit strategy

Defense Minister presents plan to reopen economy to near-100% while keeping those over 65 or at-risk home.

Bennett's plan: Back to school business on Sunday

Defense Minister to present plan to begin process of return to normalcy to the Cabinet tomorrow.

Bennett, Netanyahu clash on coronavirus closure

Defense Minister opposes extension off lockdown past tomorrow morning as proposed by Health Ministry,

Coronavirus tests could be just 50% accurate, experts warn

Many countries are relying on testing to get people back to work; research shows high rate of false-negatives makes testing unreliable.

'IDF soldiers come to Bnei Brak with big hearts'

Defense Minister Bennett says haredi community not to blame for higher rates of coronavirus infection.

Bennett: Without more testing, the crisis will continue

DM Bennett: If testing system does not significantly increase, it won't be possible to escape the economic crisis even after Passover.

Likud: Yamina willing to join far left to topple Netanyahu

Likud attacked Yamina following an announcement that it would consider supporting anti-corruption legislature.

'Just a matter of time till someone gets hurt'

Itzik Elrov called on MKs Yair Lapid and Avigdor Liberman to break their silence and call on secular Israelis to 'hold fire' as he put it.

4,500 Bnei Brak senior citizens to be taken to 'Corona hotels'

Ministers Bennett and Deri formulate plan to protect residents of Bnei Brak over the age of 80 from the coronavirus.

Defense Minister calls Bnei Brak residents 'exemplary'

Bennett visits Bnei Brak, promises assistance: 'Bnei Brak situation is complex, but we see great response from residents to obey guidelines'

Bennett: We're at war

DM Bennett demands responsibility for coronavirus crisis be moved from Health Ministry to defense establishment.

Israel’s defense establishment is manufacturing ventilators

“We cannot remain dependent on procurement from other countries," DM Bennett says.

Shouts and accusations at Cabinet meeting

TV report: Cabinet meeting in which strict coronavirus restrictions were approved included loud arguments among participants.

Naftali Bennett:

'There is light at the end of the coronavirus tunnel'

DM tells press conference there is no exponential growth in infection rate and mortality, Israel is country with lowest mortality rate.

Loud argument between Netanyahu and Bennett

PM and Defense Minister clash over coronavirus tests. Netanyahu: "We will now stop this argument and you can continue it on television."

Bennett: Absolute prohibition on holding large Pesach seders

Defense Minister says holding of large seders for Passover would endanger lives of older family members during coronavirus crisis.

'Irresponsible to remove key players at this time of crisis'

Yediot Aharonot's military correspondent calls on PM to retain Bennett as Defense Minister, says replacing him now will be costly

Will Likud offer Foreign Ministry to Naftali Bennett?

Blue & White apparently not interested in Foreign Ministry, prefers Education portfolio.

Bennett: Arabs, haredim most responsible for virus spread

DM Bennett said most of Israeli society was taking COVID-19 seriously, called for Defense Ministry to spearhead virus fight.

Bennett: There is light at the end of the tunnel

Defense Minister: If the government takes the right actions, Israel will be able to reopen after Passover in a gradual manner.

Watch: DM Bennett: 'We're going to hunker down'

Defense Min. Bennett says Israelis have been 'remarkable' in understanding need to isolate, urges awareness of surface contamination.

260 Israelis to enter isolation at hotel near Tiberias

Minister Bennett orders that Israelis returning from Italy be placed in isolation at Kinar Hotel near Tiberias.

Bennett announces opening of emergency center

Bennett ordered the establishment of a national emergency system for dealing with the economy and citizens.

Bennett: Privacy is important, but living is paramount

Defense Minister explains defense establishment's involvement in coronavirus response, says he supports government's moves to contain virus.

Emergency Provisions Committee convenes for the first time

Special committee for emergencies meets for the first time as Israel continues to deal with coronavirus outbreak.

Bennett calls up 2,500 reservists to deal with coronavirus

Defense Minister approves additional call-up of IDF reservists to assist medical establishment in dealing with coronavirus outbreak.

'Welcome to Hotel Coronavirus: Oasis of pleasure and relaxation'

Defense Minister at Dan Panorama Hotel: 'National goal is to suppress spread; hotels will be home to light carriers in coming months.'

'Corona hotels' launch

Bennett: Keep children away from grandparents

DM holds press conference at Dan Panorama in Tel Aviv, where corona patients in light condition will stay until their recovery.

Coronavirus outbreak:

Number of Arab workers entering Israel to be reduced

Closure on Bethlehem and the Gaza Strip will continue. Kerem Shalom crossing will operate as usual.

Isolation hotel project underway

4 hotels throughout Israel to house coronavirus patients with mild symptoms beginning tomorrow.

Bennett: Caring, responsibility the cure for coronavirus

Defense Minister says Israeli government does not know how many actual cases of coronavirus infection there are.

Bennett authorizes IDF to call up reserves

Order signed by DM Bennett authorizes IDF to call up 2,000 reserve soldiers to strengthen Home Front Command in addressing corona crisis.

'You're a liar, anti-Semitic and contemptible'

Defense Minister lashes out at MK Aida Touma Sliman who falsely accused IDF of spraying Palestinian Arabs.

Bennett: Establish emergency govt. led by Netanyahu now

Defense Minister: Coronavirus does not care about political opinions. Unity now - arguments later.

Bennett decides: The closure on Gaza will continue

Defense Minister announces measures taken by the defense establishment to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Bennett to Blue and White leaders: You should be ashamed

Defense Minister accuses Blue and White leaders of lying to all Israelis, allying with those who want to destroy Israel.

Bennett decides: No full closure of the PA

DM holds assessment on Coronavirus preparations. Defense establishment to assist in procurement of medical equipment from abroad.

Despite closure, Bethlehem doctors arrive at work

Areas under PA control closed due to coronavirus but doctors, nurses allowed through to work in Israel's hospitals.

New 'Sovereignty Road' to be built near Maaleh Adumim

Bennett approves 'Sovereignty Road' connecting Ma'aleh Adumim to Jerusalem.

Yamina: We will not join Gantz's dangerous minority government

Yamina members pledge: We'll work to establish a government led by Netanyahu.

Bennett considers closing off PA over Coronavirus

Defense Minister says Israeli defense system fully prepared to deal with the Coronavirus should it turn into a pandemic.

Bennett's Twitter account hacked

Defense Minister's official Twitter account hacked overnight Friday, likely by Turkish or pro-Palestinian hackers.

Ya'alon and Liberman endanger Israel's security

A government that depends on Tibi and Ayman Odeh would usher the State of Israel to a terrible new era.

Bennett closes Bethlehem over Coronavirus outbreak

Defense Minister bans Israels, PA Arabs from entering, leaving Bethlehem after 7 cases of Coronavirus discovered in the city.

Yamina to fight law banning Netanyahu from forming gov't

DM Bennett promises: 'We'll fight move by Blue and White, Joint Arab List, to pass law forcing Pres. Rivlin to disqualify PM Netanyahu.'

Defense Minister Bennett: 'I will not rest or remain silent'

At annual ceremony for fallen soldiers whose resting place is unknown, DM Bennett and Pres. Rivlin declare obligation to bring soldiers home

MK Gafni protests non-kosher food in IDF kitchens

UTJ's MK Gafni appeals to Defense Minister Naftali Bennett to maintain status quo in IDF kitchens and prevent entry of non-kosher food.

'Bennett will also be Defense Minister in the next government'

MK Matan Kahana believes a right-wing government will be formed in the near future and Naftali Bennett will continue as Defense Minister.

'Today, a sovereignty government was established'

Yamina chairman: We brought victory to the right without attacking within our own camp.

Bennett: Who will be Netanyahu's partner?

Defense Minister and Yamina Chairman calls for strengthening party after high voter turnout appears to favor Likud.