Bennett thanks US Jewry: 'You have our backs'

• Author: LAHAV HARKOV
• Published date: 27 September 2021
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

"You have our backs and that just means a lot," Bennett said. "We're working hard in a very tough area to build an optimistic, energetic, can-do country. Knowing each and every one of you is always working to strengthen us. It means so much."

Bennett said that when he speaks to leaders of other countries they often "just don't get it" that Israel is constantly fighting off enemies.

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"When I was growing up, I lived in Teaneck, New Jersey for a couple of years. When you live there, you don't have to worry that someone will shoot rockets at you. There's Hamas, Islamic Jihad, for heaven's sake we still have ISIS in the Sinai - that was supposed to be done with - all quite literally on our border. That's why we need to remain strong, and that's what we're doing."

Israel and the Jewish people "are one," Bennett continued.

"When a Jew in Pennsylvania gets hurt, I hurt. When a Jew in France gets hurt, we feel the pain, because we're one," he stated.

Bennett said that Israelis should learn from the American Jewish community to be more accepting and tolerant of one another.

"In Israel, we have secular, religious Zionist, haredi...but if you're just 3 cm off from the norm, you can't go to my shul," he said. "And here [in the US], you're just a Jew and you're welcome, whether you're haredi, Reform, Orthodox, Mordern Orthodox, you are welcome. That's something that we need to import, the fact that we embrace everyone. It doesn't mean we're going to agree on everything, but we will talk to each other listen to each other."

Bennett returned to his...