Naftali Bennett
Encyclopedia
Naftali Bennett is an Israel
i businessman and a political activist and advisor, who serves as the Director General of the Yesha Council
, since 2010.
Bennett served in the elite Sayeret Matkal
and Maglan
units as a Company Commander and continues to serve in the reserves
, holding the rank of Major.
After his IDF
service, Bennett Received a Law
degree from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
.
In 1999, he co-founded "Cyota" - a leading anti-fraud company and served as its CEO. The company was sold in 2005 to RSA Security
for $145,000,000.
After he took part in the Second Lebanon War, Bennett joined then-Opposition Leader Benjamin Netanyahu
and served as his Chief of Staff
from 2006–2008. Among other issues, he led a team which developed Netanyahu's Educational reform plan. He also ran Netanyahu's Primaries campaign to lead the Likud party in August 2007.
On January 31, 2010, Bennett was appointed as the Director General of the Yesha Council
and led the struggle against the Settlement freeze
in 2010.
Bennett lives in Raanana with his wife and three children.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i businessman and a political activist and advisor, who serves as the Director General of the Yesha Council
Yesha Council
The Yesha Council is an umbrella organization of municipal councils of Jewish settlements in the West Bank , known by the Hebrew acronym Yesha.The Chairman of the Yesha Council is Dani Dayan, elected in July 2007...
, since 2010.
Bennett served in the elite Sayeret Matkal
Sayeret Matkal
Sayeret Matkal is a special forces unit of the Israel Defence Forces , which is subordinated to the intelligence directorate Aman. First and foremost a field intelligence-gathering unit, conducting deep reconnaissance behind enemy lines to obtain strategic intelligence, Sayeret Matkal is also...
and Maglan
Maglan
Maglan is an Israeli Special Forces unit which specializes in operating behind enemy lines and deep in enemy territory using advanced technologies and weaponry....
units as a Company Commander and continues to serve in the reserves
Military reserve force
A military reserve force is a military organization composed of citizens of a country who combine a military role or career with a civilian career. They are not normally kept under arms and their main role is to be available to fight when a nation mobilizes for total war or to defend against invasion...
, holding the rank of Major.
After his IDF
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
service, Bennett Received a Law
Statutory law
Statutory law or statute law is written law set down by a legislature or by a legislator .Statutes may originate with national, state legislatures or local municipalities...
degree from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem ; ; abbreviated HUJI) is Israel's second-oldest university, after the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The Hebrew University has three campuses in Jerusalem and one in Rehovot. The world's largest Jewish studies library is located on its Edmond J...
.
In 1999, he co-founded "Cyota" - a leading anti-fraud company and served as its CEO. The company was sold in 2005 to RSA Security
RSA Security
RSA, the security division of EMC Corporation, is headquartered in Bedford, Massachusetts, United States, and maintains offices in Australia, Ireland, Israel, the United Kingdom, Singapore, India, China, Hong Kong and Japan....
for $145,000,000.
After he took part in the Second Lebanon War, Bennett joined then-Opposition Leader Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu is the current Prime Minister of Israel. He serves also as the Chairman of the Likud Party, as a Knesset member, as the Health Minister of Israel, as the Pensioner Affairs Minister of Israel and as the Economic Strategy Minister of Israel.Netanyahu is the first and, to...
and served as his Chief of Staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
from 2006–2008. Among other issues, he led a team which developed Netanyahu's Educational reform plan. He also ran Netanyahu's Primaries campaign to lead the Likud party in August 2007.
On January 31, 2010, Bennett was appointed as the Director General of the Yesha Council
Yesha Council
The Yesha Council is an umbrella organization of municipal councils of Jewish settlements in the West Bank , known by the Hebrew acronym Yesha.The Chairman of the Yesha Council is Dani Dayan, elected in July 2007...
and led the struggle against the Settlement freeze
Direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians in 2010
Direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian National Authority have been taking place since September 2010, between United States President Barack Obama, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and ended when Netanyahu refused to extend...
in 2010.
Bennett lives in Raanana with his wife and three children.
External Links
- Meet the High-Tech Millionaire Leading the West Bank Settlement Movement, The Jewish Week, September 2010