Former prime minister Naftali Bennett made a significant return to the public sphere on Thursday, using X to mark the third anniversary of his swearing-in as Israel’s 13th premier. His message ignited speculation about a potential political comeback as Bennett emphasized the critical need for a government that prioritizes the people's interests.

“Three years ago today, I took the oath of allegiance as the 13th Prime Minister of the State of Israel,” he proclaimed. “We did it then, and we can do it again. We will establish a state here that is worthy of this people,” he declared with unyielding confidence.

היום לפני שלוש שנים נשבעתי אמונים כראש הממשלה ה-13 של מדינת ישראל.

במשך קצת יותר משנה שירתתי אתכם אזרחי ישראל כשעמדתי בראשה של ממשלה שעד לאותו רגע הייתה נראית בלתי אפשרית.

אחרי ארבעה סבבי בחירות, מגיפת קורונה, משבר כלכלי, מאות אלפי מובטלים ומדינה שנמצאת בשיתוק-
שרים משמאל… pic.twitter.com/iJeETjciwN

— Naftali Bennett נפתלי בנט (@naftalibennett) June 13, 2024

Bennett's comments came in the aftermath of the devastating October 7 Hamas attack. He noted that he has been in close contact with citizens experiencing profound despair and existential anxiety for the State of Israel. His words painted a vivid picture of a nation facing significant challenges but also full of potential.

Reflecting on his time in office, Bennett recounted the formidable obstacles he encountered, such as relentless election cycles, the COVID-19 pandemic, and an economic crisis. “For a little over a year, I served you, the citizens of Israel, when I was at the head of a government that up until that moment would have seemed impossible,” he reminisced.

"And the children shall return to their own border"
(Jeremiah 31, 17)

So proud to be Israeli.

I mourn the loss of commander Arnon Zmora z”l, who will forever be remembered as a great Jewish Israeli hero.

We will not forget the other 120 hostages in the hands of savage Hamas… pic.twitter.com/5LNVnmLGUx

— Naftali Bennett נפתלי בנט (@naftalibennett) June 9, 2024

Bennett's vision for unity and professional governance resonated with Yair Lapid, who retweeted Bennett’s statement, emphasizing that “with a professional government, real leadership, and unity among us, it is possible, And much faster than you think. We will still establish a state here that is worthy of this people.”

RELATED: Naftali Bennett hints at possible return to politics https://t.co/ECSKb9AyGj

— Jewish News Syndicate (@JNS_org) June 13, 2024

Bennett’s reflection on the unity government he led was particularly poignant. “Ministers from the left and the right decided to put aside all the differences and gather together for the sake of saving the State of Israel,” he said. “The establishment of this emergency government, of which I am so proud, was at the time as necessary as breathing air. It proved that Israel can be taken out of the mud, and even quickly—if only we are together and work together,” he asserted.

However, Bennett’s post faced criticism. Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli responded with a series of grievances, including Bennett’s controversial decision to form a government with his Yamina Party holding only seven Knesset seats, the contentious natural gas deal with Lebanon, yielding to American pressure, and his handling of Hamas and Gaza.

היום לפני שלוש שנים הפרת את שבועתך למאות אלפי בוחרים שלא להקים ממשלה עם מי שתומכים בתביעת קציני צה״ל בהאג, שלא להיות שותף לחרם על מפלגת הימין הגדולה ביותר, שלא להקים ממשלה עם מפלגה אסלאמיסטית מסוכנת.

הפרת גם את השבועה שלא לדרוש את ראשות הממשלה עם פחות מעשרה מנדטים.

אחרי שני… https://t.co/KBWBMwIwKG

— עמיחי שיקלי - Amichai Chikli (@AmichaiChikli) June 13, 2024

The gas deal, which delineated a boundary between Israel’s and Lebanon’s exclusive economic zones and awarded a disputed area to Lebanon while securing Israel’s claims to the Karish gas field, was particularly contentious. Chikli suggested that Bennett’s policies would have led to a weak stance against Hamas and a capitulation to American demands.

“There is a lot to fix and improve,” Chikli acknowledged, but he insisted that under someone like Yesh Atid Party head Yair Lapid, “there would not have been an intensive ground operation in Gaza, certainly there would have been no operation in Rafah, and you would probably be marching together with [U.S. Secretary of State Antony] Blinken in the light of sunset to the corrals of a surrender deal.”

May 2024: Israel's State Comptroller found that PM Benjamin Netanyahu and former PM Naftali Bennett sealed deals regarding the exclusivity of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines.
Sep 2021: MoH denied, lied, and automatically called true information "Fake news" 🙄https://t.co/qTpa6t7x2v pic.twitter.com/yoLhsNK2tw

— Ran Israeli (@RanIsraeli) May 28, 2024

Chikli did not mince words, accusing Bennett of benefiting from deception and extortion to secure the prime minister’s chair. “Spare us the pose of the knight on the white horse, you have benefited from hundreds of thousands of lies and only sat in the prime minister’s chair by force of extortion and deception,” he declared.

Despite stepping back from politics ahead of the November 2022 elections, following a handover of the premiership to Yair Lapid, Bennett has remained an active public figure. He has appeared on international television to advocate for Israel, especially since the outbreak of the current war.

In a testament to his enduring influence, a Channel 12 poll in March suggested that if Bennett were to team up with New Hope leader Gideon Sa’ar and ex-Mossad chief Yossi Cohen to form a new party, it could secure a formidable 17 seats in the Knesset. Bennett’s return to the spotlight thus hints at the possibility of a significant political comeback, setting the stage for potentially dramatic shifts in Israel’s political landscape.