Naftali Bennett
Former prime minister; heads the Together list with Yair Lapid
Naftali Bennett gets a C+
Score: 77 out of 100, the average of 5 measures. Graded on what Bennett has said and done, because I count recorded votes only for the US Congress. Every line is below, with its source.
- CTyrannyMostly with liberty, 7 sources
- BFree nationsMostly with liberty, 6 sources
- FFree marketsBoth ways, 2 sources
- AConscienceWith liberty, 1 source
- ADefenseWith liberty, 1 source
Bennett, on the record
17 things Bennett has said and done. Each one has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes in Congress. A line that doesn't settle the question is marked as not clear and counts for nothing.
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The government he formed and led in 2021 depended on the votes of Ra'am, the party of the southern Islamic Movement, which joined his coalition.
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
Ra'am is a legal party in Israel's parliament. Governing with it, or trying to bar it from the ballot, is judged by what the government then does, not by the religion of a partner, so this line does not settle the test.
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In October 2021 his government approved a mechanism under which Qatar bought fuel from Egypt for a Hamas-owned company, replacing the cash that had paid Hamas civil servants.
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Approving a channel of money into a territory run by a terror group is a deal that pays it; the same side is given to the government that began the payments.
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As prime minister he told the Knesset foreign affairs and defence committee that his government had acted against Iran itself in the past year, not only against its proxies.
“In the past year, the State of Israel has taken action against the head of the terrorist octopus and not just against the arms as was done in previous decades.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Acting against the regime that directs attacks through its proxies is confronting a regime that rules by fear.
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In the same appearance he said his government answered every incendiary balloon from Gaza and refused to give in to Hamas threats.
“This is not a coincidence but is the result of a clear and determined policy - decisiveness for every balloon and a steadfast stance in the face of blackmail and violence.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Answering every attack by a terror group rather than paying for quiet is confronting it.
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From the opposition he backed the June 2025 strikes on Iran, calling them self-defence carried out at the last possible moment.
“I've long advocated for striking the head - and now it's finally happening”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing military action against the regime's nuclear programme counts as with liberty.
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After the United States reached a deal with the Islamic Republic, he said the regime should be attacked directly and not only through its proxies, and that its collapse should be hastened.
“For many years, I've been a proponent of what I called the octopus doctrine - that means attacking the head, not just Iran's tentacles.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Calling for direct action against the Islamic Republic is pressure on the regime.
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He said that as prime minister he would declare Qatar an enemy state, calling it the main financier of Hamas.
“In the next government, I will declare Qatar an enemy state”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Treating the state that funds Hamas as an enemy is acting against Hamas and its backers.
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As prime minister in the first weeks of Russia's invasion he declined to send weapons to Ukraine and flew to Moscow to meet Putin as a go-between, a role Zelensky had asked Israel to take.
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Withholding arms from Ukraine and standing between Kyiv and Moscow is neutrality in that war.
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On the day of the 7 October 2023 attack, out of office, he reported for reserve duty in the army.
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Taking part in his country's defense on the day it was attacked is standing with a democracy under attack.
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A week after the 7 October attack he said on CNN that Israel would hit back at Hamas until it is destroyed.
“We can't change history, but we can shape the future. We are going to hit back at Hamas until we destroy them.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing his country's defense against the terror army that attacked it is standing with a democracy under attack.
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Writing against President Biden's pause on arms for the Rafah operation, he called Biden a friend of Israel and said a halt signals a gap between the United States and its ally.
“A halt sends a message of daylight btwn US and its ally Israel. Bad here and everywhere.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Arguing that nothing should come between the United States and Israel is backing that alliance.
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During the June 2025 war he published a video message to Iranians saying Israel's fight was with the regime, not with them, and calling on them to rise up.
“Israel is not at war with the Iranian people. We're at war with the regime, with the nuclear program. We respect the Iranian people.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Addressing Iranians as allies against their rulers counts as with liberty.
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In the same interview he urged Western countries to help Iranian protesters, for instance by keeping their communications working during unrest.
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Asking for practical help to protesters is acting for Iranians against their rulers.
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His party's cost-of-living plan calls for removing regulations that restrict competition, gradually ending tariffs and breaking up monopolies in food retail and imports.
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Ending tariffs and removing rules that block competition are free trade and less regulation.
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The same plan promises farmers fixed state grants and state-guaranteed loans before the market is opened to competition.
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
New subsidies and state-backed loans for one industry are more state spending.
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He said he supports public transport on the Sabbath in cities that choose it and the right of every couple, same-sex couples included, to marry in Israel.
“I support marriage for anyone who wants it. My compass on this issue is common sense and fairness.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Marriage outside religious control and Sabbath transport end religious control over public life.
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He said a government he leads would draft every young Haredi man, with no exemptions, because the army is short of soldiers.
“In the next government under my leadership, we will enlist everyone, without exemptions and without backroom deals”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Conscription without exemptions supplies the manpower the armed forces depend on.
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Naftali Bennett
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