Naftali Bennett on Sunday delivered his first speech as Israel’s new prime minister shortly after replacing long-time incumbent Benjamin Netanyahu. The ‘change government’ that Bennett now heads is set to initiate a new era in Israel. It will most likely end the dominating presence of Netanyahu in politics and also constitutes many “firsts”: the first prime minister to don a kippa, the government with the most female and Arab ministers in Israel’s history, and more.

But who is Naftali Bennett and what should we expect from him as prime minister?

Born and raised in Haifa to parents who made Aliyah from the United States, not unlike many politicians in Israel, Bennett made a name for himself during his military service. Although he was not a Chief of General Staff or even a general in the IDF, he served in elite combat units such as Sayeret Matkal (General Staff Reconnaissance Unit) and Maglan, another prestigious reconnaissance unit that specializes in carrying out secret missions behind enemy lines. He served as a commanding officer in these units and...

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