PM Naftali Bennett* - January 20, 2025

Israel’s 13th Prime Minister

Naftali Bennett became Israel’s 13th Prime Minister in 2021 leading the most diverse government in the nation’s history.

 Before moving into politics, Bennett enjoyed a successful career as a hi-tech entrepreneur. In 1999, he co-founded the information security company Cyota with three partners and served as CEO until the company was sold in 2005 to RSA for $145 million. In 2009, Bennett served as CEO of Soluto, a cloud computing start-up, which was later sold to Asurion for $130 million.

 Throughout his decade in Israeli politics Bennett served as Minister of Economy, Minister of Education and Minister of Defense, where he was known for his innovations and bold reforms.

 Bennett served as a combat soldier in Sayeret Matkal and as a Company Commander in the Maglan Special Forces Unit, where he commanded a series of operations in Lebanon behind enemy lines. During the Second Intifada in 2002, Bennett took a hiatus from his duties as at Cyota CEO to join Operation “Defensive Shield and in 2006 he commanded search and destroy missions during the Second Lebanon War.

While Mr. Bennett has not yet announced his return to politics, he’s generally considered, as all the latest polls demonstrate, the leading candidate to be the next Prime Minister of Israel.

 Bennett lives in Ra’anana and is married to Gilat and has four young children.

*1/6/25: Updated speaker due to unavoidable cancellation