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Naftali Bennett (born 1972, Haifa) embodied a new strain of religious-Zionist politics: hi-tech founder, ex-Sayeret Matkal commander, Yesha Council director, kippa srugah, English-fluent. He made his fortune with Cyota (sold to RSA Security in 2005 for $145M) and Soluto (sold to Asurion in 2013). He led Bayit HaYehudi 2012-2018, then Yamina 2019-2021. He served as Prime Minister from June 2021 to June 2022 in a rotation government, the first Modern Orthodox Jew to lead Israel.
Cultural note, Bennett\'s political identity threaded a needle: religious-Zionist by upbringing and kippa, but with Tel Aviv hi-tech sensibility, fluent English from his San Francisco years, and willingness to coalition with secular and Arab parties, which made him heretical to the right and tolerable to others. His 2021 government included Mansour Abbas\'s Ra\'am, the first Arab Islamic party in an Israeli coalition. After his term, he retired from politics. Whether you love or hate him, his era reset what "religious-Zionist politician" can look like.
Biography
Political Career
Government Roles
Hi-Tech Background
Public Image & Identity
A Bennett-Style Campaign Excerpt
Excerpt of a Bennett-style political pitch combining religious values with hi-tech pragmatism.