Former prime minister Naftali Bennett on this existential moment

Former prime minister Naftali Bennett on this existential moment

Author: The Times of Israel June 19, 2026 Duration: 48:02

Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World.

This week, we hear from former prime minister Naftali Bennett in conversation with founding editor David Horovitz and political correspondent Tal Schneider.

Speaking with ToI on June 11 at the campaign headquarters of Together, the new, merged party he now leads with former prime minister Yair Lapid, Bennett said Israel is facing “an existential moment,” and warned that another term under the current government would leave the country without a functioning economy, society or international position.

“Another four years with this government, we won’t have an economy, we won’t have a society,” he charged. “The Haredi issue will just crash us all. We won’t have an international standing anywhere. We have to act now.”

And so, this week, we ask Naftali Bennett, what matters now.

For further reading:

Bennett to ToI: ‘We’re at an existential moment. Another four years with this government, we won’t have a society’

What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was edited by Yitzchak Ledee.

Former prime minister Naftali Bennett (ToI) / Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men scuffle with police during a protest against military recruitment and call for the release of detained draft resisters outside a military prison near Kfar Yona, Israel, June 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


Each morning, The Times of Israel Daily Briefing cuts through the noise to deliver essential context on the stories shaping Israel and the wider region. Produced by the seasoned journalists of The Times of Israel, this podcast provides more than just headlines; it offers grounded analysis and on-the-ground perspective that listeners won't find in a standard news bulletin. You'll hear directly from reporters and editors who live the story, discussing the political, security, and social developments that matter most. The conversation naturally extends to the broader Middle East and issues affecting Jewish communities worldwide, making sense of complex events with clarity and depth. Tune in for a concise, authoritative briefing that respects your time and intelligence, turning the day's most pressing news into understandable narrative. This is where informed listening begins, a trusted audio resource for anyone seeking a reliable, nuanced understanding of a dynamic and often misunderstood part of the world.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

The Times of Israel Daily Briefing
Podcast Episodes
Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib: Hamas still holds two million hostages [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:43
Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, the head of Realign for Pa…
Big whoop? Mamdani admits he can't arrest Netanyahu [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:05
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. News editor Ben Sales joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.…
IDF Lebanon pullout takes shape as Gaza peace plan stalls [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:57
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Diplomatic reporter Nava Freiberg joins host Gabriella Jacobs for today's…
IDF begins trial pullout from Lebanon buffer zone [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:04
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for t…
Iranian strikes on Jordan raise IDF hackles in Eilat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:42
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for t…
Knesset disbands with bangs and whimpers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:12
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Political correspondent Tal Schneider joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for t…
The Reel Schmooze on 'Tuner': The Jewiest film of the summer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:09
Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman and host Amanda Borschel-Dan, where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use. This week, Borschel-Dan begins the episode wi…