Israel’s ‘greatest generation’ will lead it from the ashes of Oct 7 to 50 years of prosperity, says former PM Bennett

Bennett compares Israel's youth with America’s post-war generation

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Israel is not a happy country these days. Faced with the ongoing war in Gaza, a possible escalation in the north, the fact that the hostages have still not returned and political turmoil, many Israelis are having a hard time feeling positive about the future right now.

However, there are Israeli leaders who, amid chaos and sadness, anticipate a better future for the country.

“I assert that Israel is going to have a short-term bumpy period, very bumpy. It might get worse before it gets better, but then, we’re in for 50 years of amazing growth and success,” said former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in his speech at Cyber Week 2024 at Tel Aviv University on Tuesday.

Bennett explained that in his view, Oct. 7 told two stories about the Israeli people.

“The first story, we have to look at it with clear eyes. It’s an epic, colossal failure of the State of Israel. We failed. Our most fundamental mission when founding the State of Israel, [was] that never again would Jews be helpless under a massacre, under a pogrom, going on for hours and hours.”

He also noted that in addition to the failure of the security system, “almost all governmental ministries melted down. Education system. Welfare. Finance. Nothing worked.”

“But the second half of the story is a remarkable story, where the nation arose on October 7... Thousands of Israelis, young men and women from all across Israel got in their cars, drove down into that inferno, into the Gaza envelope… and went to defend their brothers and sisters,” Bennett said.

Citing numerous examples of unimaginable heroism by regular citizens, the former prime minister emphasized that the fact so many people rushed headlong into danger demonstrates the strength of character of the Israelis.

“Why am I telling you this? Because there is sort of a cloud of anxiety and depression that descended on Israel. You can’t not feel it when you talk to Israelis, and it’s understandable. This is a national trauma. But I draw my strength from meeting hundreds and hundreds of these men and women, remarkable men and women.”

Israel’s current younger generation, which has been bearing the brunt of the fighting, Bennett noted, “is the toughest we’ve ever seen. The men and women that are out there right now fighting for 180 days, are resilient, tough because it's a tough period.”

He compared this generation to the post-World War generation in the U.S., which “carried the United States of America for the following 50 years of amazing growth.”

“The best period in any country in the world was post World War II because they were the greatest generation.”

“Right now, our younger generation is Israel’s greatest generation because they have been embedded with work ethics, with courage, with strength, resilience and idealism. And every one of them has been changed forever and cares more about the State of Israel, more about building a future here. We're not giving up.”

In addition to the “greatest generation,” Bennett noted that Israel still had three human reserves it hadn’t tapped yet: the ultra-Orthodox population; the Israeli Arab community; and Jews from around the world, which he aims to bring to Israel in large numbers.

“When you pour those three channels into our engine, you’re going to get a steaming engine for the next 50 years,” Bennett concluded.

“Management is far from amazing, but that's solvable. And when we solve that, we’re going to get over this and we’re looking at 50 years of prosperity… Now’s a great time to invest in Israel.”