Bennett and Lapid Vow to Strike Iran Directly if Hezbollah Attacks Israel

Former prime minister Naftali Bennett and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid have laid out a bold new security doctrine: if Hezbollah attacks Israel, Jerusalem will retaliate against Tehran itself. Speaking at a B'Yachad party policy conference in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, the two leaders presented a unified front built on deterrence, national pride, and a refusal to bow to international pressure.

Bennett, a former IDF commando and hi-tech CEO, was unequivocal about the source of Israel's threats. He argued that the Iranian regime uses its proxies as extensions of its own military, and Israel must respond accordingly.

If Hezbollah fires at us, we strike Iran. A strike by the Iranian octopus's tentacles inside Israel's borders will exact a price inside Iran's borders, Bennett declared.

This hardline approach signals a shift from the current policy of limited exchanges with Hezbollah along the northern border. Bennett's message is clear: the days of measured responses are over, and the cost of aggression against the Jewish state will be borne by its architects in Tehran.

Gaza Policy: No Retreat Until Hamas Is Disarmed

On Gaza, Bennett and Lapid echoed the government's stance, insisting Israel will not withdraw until Hamas is completely disarmed. Bennett specifically rejected any future role for Qatar or Turkey in the Strip, calling for Egypt to take their place.

We will not move a millimeter from the Yellow Line until Hamas is completely disarmed and this weaponry is removed from Gaza. We will maintain security and freedom of action throughout the Gaza Strip. We will remove Qatar and Turkey from Gaza and replace them with Egypt. Whoever allows Qatar and Turkey to run Gaza is preventing the dismantling of Hamas, said Bennett.

He also reiterated his call for Qatar to be designated an enemy state, a position that reflects growing frustration with Doha's continued funding of Hamas and its refusal to pressure the terror group to release hostages or surrender.

Fighting Crime as a National Security Threat

Turning to domestic security, Bennett addressed the scourge of illegal weapons in Arab communities, which has fueled a wave of deadly violence. He proposed treating the issue as a national security threat rather than a criminal matter.

There are about half a million illegal weapons circulating today within the borders of the State of Israel. This is an incomprehensible number. The flawed conception here is that the government treats this as a criminal problem, when it is in fact a security threat of the highest order. This is why they've done nothing about it, he said.

Bennett pledged to deploy the Shin Bet and the IDF to root out weapons caches, declaring that any location with known arms stockpiles would be declared a closed security zone. He called the situation a ticking time bomb that threatens Jews and Arabs alike.

AI: The Weapon of the Future

As a former hi-tech executive, Bennett also warned that Israel is falling behind in the global artificial intelligence race. He argued that AI capabilities will soon surpass even nuclear weapons in strategic importance.

In the not-so-distant future, AI capabilities will be more important than even nuclear weapons. Artificial intelligence is the next superpowers' arms race, and despite the current government lagging over the past four years, we will not let Israel be left behind, he said.

Bennett's call to prioritize AI research and development is a reminder that Israel's technological edge is a key component of its national security and its global standing.

Rebuilding Ties with the United States and Europe

Lapid, who has served as both prime minister and foreign minister, focused on repairing Israel's diplomatic relationships, particularly with Washington. He criticized Netanyahu for giving up American military aid, calling it a grave mistake.

The number one goal and challenge of our foreign policy is to restore and change the direction of our relations with the United States, he said, calling to work with both parties, not only in Washington, but also at the state level.

Lapid also stressed the importance of rebuilding ties with the European Union and deepening cooperation with NATO, while acknowledging the difficulty of addressing public opinion in countries like Spain, France, and Ireland. He called for a peace agreement with Saudi Arabia to be a central goal, provided it prevents uranium enrichment by Riyadh.

He warned that Israel's military and economic advantages are at risk if diplomatic relations continue to deteriorate.

Israeli foreign policy is what brings us an F-35 that can attack Iran as well as the continuous air corridor that leads there. Satellite coverage. Apache helicopters. The Iron Dome. A hi-tech economy. Scientific cooperation with Europe. Cooperation in cyber. Oil from Azerbaijan. Preferential access to world markets. Partnerships in critical technologies and AI. All of this is now in danger, he said.

Standing with Diaspora Jewry

Lapid also addressed the strained relationship with Diaspora Jewry, particularly the non-Orthodox denominations that make up the majority of American Jews. He called for respect for their traditions and rituals, and proposed merging the Diaspora Affairs Ministry with the Foreign Ministry to better coordinate efforts.

The overwhelming majority of American Jewry are Reform or Conservative. They have suffered enough from a terrible wave of antisemitism against them; there is no reason for them to be insulted here in Israel - their Judaism, their rabbis and their rituals, he said.

Lapid's message is clear: world Jewry is not just family, but a strategic asset that must be nurtured and protected.

As Israel faces threats from Iran and its proxies, and challenges in its diplomatic relations, Bennett and Lapid are offering a vision of strength, unity, and resilience. Their message is one of confidence in Israel's ability to defend itself and to thrive, guided by the enduring values of the Jewish people.