Naftali Bennett says Israel - US alliance is at risk , calls for stronger public diplomacy

What Happened

At the JNS International Policy Summit in Jerusalem, former prime minister Naftali Bennett, leader of the Together list, warned that Israel's relationship with the United States had entered a precarious period. He said 'Brand Israel' was now viewed negatively by many Americans for the first time since the state's founding, calling it a 'disaster' that distorted right and wrong. Bennett argued that Israel could not rely solely on personal sympathy from US President Donald Trump and called for a serious national public diplomacy system to counter anti-Israel narratives, citing Qatar's influence operations as a model. He blamed the current Israeli government for neglecting responsible messaging abroad and called for a broad, Zionist, bipartisan government. On security, Bennett said Israel must prevent 'terror empires' from being built on its borders, criticized what he described as American restrictions on Israeli action against Hezbollah, and asserted that Israel was not a 'client state' but an ally. He predicted the Iranian regime would eventually collapse and urged regional states to accelerate its downfall, while reaffirming support for the Abraham Accords.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

Bennett's remarks come amid domestic political jockeying ahead of Israel's next election and growing Israeli concern over shifts in US policy and American public opinion since the October 7 war. His call for a bipartisan approach and a national public diplomacy system highlights internal Israeli debates about how to sustain strategic ties with Washington beyond any single administration, while his security pronouncements—especially on Lebanon and Iran—signal a hawkish posture that could shape Israel's regional posture if he returns to power.

Watch For

Upcoming Israeli elections, where Bennett is challenging Netanyahu, will test whether his critique of the government's diplomacy and security management resonates. Additionally, any new US restrictions on Israeli operations in Lebanon, progress in Iran diplomacy, or further erosion of Israel's image in American public discourse could sharpen the tensions Bennett highlighted.