In just a few weeks, he could become the youngest Member of Knesset in Israel's history.

Walking into the Bennett headquarters in Ra’anana is exhilarating. One can favor the candidate, or not. One can plan to vote for the party, or not. But to see the energy, the optimism, the devotion to Israel and the huge number of young people working feverishly throughout the day is to be gifted a huge dose of optimism about this struggling country of ours.

At the entrance, through the class door: ביחד נתקן — “Together, we will repair.”

In the section of the office where people are working on the campaign’s social media: לנצחון אין מחר — “Victory has no tomorrow. Bennett.”

In one of the major hallways: עוד 86 ימים נתקן את ישראל — “In 86 days, we will repair Israel.”

I was at the campaign headquarters to interview Yonatan Shalev, who is slated to become the youngest MK in Israel’s history. In our conversation, Yonatan describes his military service in the war, the familial tradition of serving the country from which he comes, what he believes Israel needs next — and why he’s aligned himself with Bennett.

What the future will bring, we’ll know in a couple of months. That Israel is filled with passionate, young talent is beyond question.

Yonatan Shalev is a social and political activist and co-founder of Katef el Katef (“Shoulder to Shoulder”), a movement advocating for greater equality in military and civilian service in Israel. A former combat soldier and commander in one of the IDF’s special forces unit, Shalev served in operational activities in Gaza and Lebanon and continues to serve as a reservist.

Following his military service, Shalev helped establish Katef el Katef and became a prominent voice among a younger generation of Israelis calling for a more equal distribution of civic responsibility. In 2026, he entered politics, joining Naftali Bennett’s political movement and becoming one of its prominent young figures.

The link at the top of this posting will take free subscribers to an excerpted portion of today’s conversation.

For paid subscribers, the link at the top will take you to the full conversation; below, paid subscribers will also find a transcript for those who prefer to read, as always.

Share Israel from the Inside with Daniel Gordis

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