Houston, we have a problem with Bennett

The Jerusalem Post ^ | 12/9/2014 | BEN CASPIT

[Former Fetus]

At the Saban Forum in Washington Last Saturday evening, Naftali Bennett became overnight the talk of the town. Bennett appeared at the prestigious Saban Forum 2014 of the Brookings Institution Saban Center for Middle East Policy devoted to Israel/US relations; or what’s left of them. Bennett did not merely “appear.” He waged a one-on-one confrontation with the man who is his complete antithesis, the former US ambassador to Israel and vice president and director for foreign policy at the Brookings Institute in Washington, Martin Indyk. It was a formative, possibly unique, event. Hundreds of participants in the hall were virtually thunderstruck. They asked themselves if this is the new face of Israel. If it is, said one of them, then Houston, we have a problem.

Bennett exploded on the stage. He didn’t come to apologize, he didn’t come to do diplomacy, his intentions were not good. He entered with all the force (and he has force), with all the mutual paradigms, which the complex US/Israel relationship leans upon. There were moments when his tone rose; he didn’t let Indyk get in a single question, and it appeared as if at any moment he would banish him from the stage. This is no exaggeration. Bennett has a very short fuse, his motor can go from zero to 100 with lightning speed. Yes, he thinks outside the box – but smashes it to smithereens on the way.

[Former Fetus]

Ridiculous! I watched and found Bennett to be composed and in control. I agree, he did not come to apologize, and I for one did not expect him to. He was a breath of fresh air with his attitude, his knowledge and the way he did not allow Indyk to change the subject. Kudos for Benett. I only wish I was an Israeli citizen, so I could vote for him.

[Steely Tom]

Did he ever sneak into anyone’s house and kill their kids?

[Servant of the Cross]

Nah. The problem that we have is in Washington.

Responding to harsh criticism by senior US officials, Israel’s Economy Minister Naftali Bennett said on Tuesday night, “The United States administration is planning to throw Israel under the bus.”

Viva Israel, Bibi and Naftali.

[SunkenCiv]

He waged a one-on-one confrontation with the man who is his complete antithesis, the former US ambassador to Israel and vice president and director for foreign policy at the Brookings Institute in Washington, Martin Indyk... Bennett exploded on the stage. He didn't come to apologize, he didn't come to do diplomacy, his intentions were not good. He entered with all the force (and he has force), with all the mutual paradigms, which the complex US/Israel relationship leans upon. There were moments when his tone rose; he didn't let Indyk get in a single question, and it appeared as if at any moment he would banish him from the stage. This is no exaggeration. Bennett has a very short fuse, his motor can go from zero to 100 with lightning speed. Yes, he thinks outside the box -- but smashes it to smithereens on the way.

If the night didn't end with his drinking a toast out of the bronzed skull of his adversary, he wasn't hard enough on Indyk.