Bennett: On October 7, Israel’s ‘Entire Government Collapsed’ – ‘The People Saved the Country’
Reflecto News | Israeli Politics | Middle East
TEL AVIV — Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett delivered a searing indictment of the government’s performance during the October 7, 2023, Hamas terror attack, declaring that the “institutional State of Israel” and the “entire government” collapsed on that day—and that only the courage of ordinary citizens prevented a national catastrophe.
Speaking at the launch of the new “Together” (Yachad) opposition party alongside Yair Lapid, Bennett offered one of the most direct and damning assessments of the October 7 failures ever uttered by a former prime minister.
“On October 7, the institutional State of Israel—the entire government—collapsed. What saved the country was the people.”
— Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett
‘The People’ Who Filled the Breach
Bennett’s speech specifically honored the “thousands of civilians” who rushed to the front lines before the military could fully mobilize. This includes the famous “first responders” of the Gaza envelope communities—civilians, kibbutz security teams, and off-duty soldiers—who fought for hours without military backup.
Bennett’s key points regarding the collapse:
- Government Failure: The Prime Minister, IDF Chief of Staff, Shin Bet head, and Southern Command all failed to foresee or stop the attack, according to the state comptroller’s report.
- Civilian Heroism: Unarmed civilians and local “alert squads” held the line, fighting with outdated rifles, pepper spray, and even baseball bats against heavily armed terrorists.
- The ‘Rank and File’ IDF: Bennett praised the individual soldiers who, despite “not being ordered to” leave their bases, stole vehicles and drove south to fight, often without communication or clear command structures.
“It took the survivors of the Nova festival, the residents of Sderot, and the farmers of the fields to stop the massacre before the army arrived. The people saved the country.”
— Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett
Why Bennett Is Speaking Out Now
Bennett’s harsh wording—using the term “collapse”—is a deliberate escalation of political rhetoric aimed directly at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party.
| Aspect | Significance |
|---|---|
| Timing | New opposition coalition launching; state comptroller report recently released. |
| Target | Netanyahu’s government—specifically for failing to protect citizens. |
| Differentiation | Bennett positions himself as untainted by the Oct. 7 failures (he was not PM in 2023). |
| Message | The professional political class failed; grassroots leadership saved the day. |
While Netanyahu has taken responsibility in vague terms for the “failure of his leadership,” Bennett zeroed in on the complete collapse of what he calls the “institutional state.”
Political Repercussions: The People vs. The ‘System’
Bennett’s framing sets up a central theme for the upcoming 2026 election campaign: Trust in the People vs. Distrust in the Government.
- Against Netanyahu: Bennett argues that Netanyahu’s government has become synonymous with the rot and dysfunction that allowed the attack to happen.
- Beneficiary: The new Bennett-Lapid party seeks to present itself as the “government of the people,” not the “government of the elite.”
The populist tone—pitting “the people” against “the institutions”—is a strategic echo of themes used successfully by right-wing parties worldwide. For Bennett to successfully unseat Netanyahu, he must capture not only centrist votes but also disillusioned right-wing voters who feel the current administration is incompetent.
Contrast with Netanyahu’s Defense
Likud officials and Netanyahu surrogates immediately pushed back on Bennett’s claims.
Likud Response Highlights:
- Blame Allocation: The military leadership, including the Chief of Staff at the time, was appointed by Bennett’s own government (2021-2022).
- Bennett’s Record: As Prime Minister during the Gaza flare-ups in 2021-22, critics note he did not dismantle Hamas’s capabilities.
- The ‘System’: Netanyahu often claims he is fighting against the “deep state” system—the same institutions Bennett claims collapsed.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich responded on social media: “Bennett talks about the ‘collapse of the state’ to hide his own failures. He held the highest office and did nothing to stop the rise of Hamas. Now he rides on the blood of the heroes to grab power.”
‘We Will Never Leave Anyone Behind’
Concluding the security portion of his speech, Bennett pivoted to the hostages and the current war effort, vowing that a new government would change the national priority.
“We will not rest and we will not relent until the last of the hostages returns home. The new government will establish a state commission of inquiry to expose everything—so that October 7 never happens again.”
The promise of a state commission of inquiry directly challenges the current government, which has repeatedly delayed establishing a national investigation into the failures—and which Bennett argues is covering up the depth of the collapse .
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What exactly did Naftali Bennett say about October 7?
Bennett stated: “On October 7, the institutional State of Israel—the entire government—collapsed. What saved the country was the people.”
Q2: Was Bennett in power on October 7, 2023?
No. Bennett was Prime Minister from June 2021 to July 2022. He was not in office during the October 7, 2023, attacks. Benjamin Netanyahu was Prime Minister at that time.
Q3: Who is Bennett referring to when he says “the people”?
He is referring to civilians, kibbutz security teams, off-duty soldiers, and police officers who fought the terrorists for hours before the military could mobilize, as well as the displaced citizens who showed resilience .
Q4: What is the “state commission of inquiry” Bennett demands?
It is an independent, legally-mandated investigation into the political and military failures leading up to October 7. The current government has refused to establish one, citing ongoing war needs .
Q5: Is Bennett blaming only Netanyahu?
While placing ultimate responsibility on the sitting Prime Minister at the time, Bennett also criticized the broader “institutional state,” including intelligence agencies and defense officials—many of whom were appointed years before Netanyahu’s current term .
Follow Reflecto News for continuous updates on the 2026 Israeli elections, the Bennett-Lapid campaign, and the ongoing investigation into the October 7 attacks.
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