The West Block Transcript – Episode 31, Season 13

THE WEST BLOCK

Episode 31, Season 13

Sunday, April 14, 2024

Host: Mercedes Stephenson

Guests :

Naftali Bennett, Former Israeli Prime Minister

Steven Chase, The Globe and Mail

Vina Nadjibulla, Asia Pacific Foundation

Location :

Ottawa Studio

Mercedes Stephenson: As tensions in the Middle East edge even higher, one former Israeli prime minister tells us he believes the time for Israel to strike Iran may be coming.

I’m Mercedes Stephenson. The West Block starts now.

IRAN LAUNCHED  A RETALIATORY STRIKE AGAINST ISRAEL OVERNIGHT THAT COULD SEND THE REGION INTO EVEN *GREATER* TURMOIL. A FORMER ISRAELI LEADER TELLS US HIS THOUGHTS ON IRAN.

At one time Naftali Bennett ran against Benjamin Netanyahu and won. In an exclusive interview, the former Israeli prime minister also gives us his insights on Gaza and his disappointment in Canada.

Plus, it doesn’t get any more high profile than this: the sitting prime minister testifying at the foreign interference inquiry. It was supposed to wrap the latest stage of the inquiry but instead, had the complete opposite effect.

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It’s been more than six months since the Hamas attack on Israel, sparking the ongoing war in Gaza.

Now Iran has launched a historic first attack on Israel. as the world watches nervously at what could happen next.

IT’S BEEN TWO WEEKS SINCE ISRAEL’S SUSPECTED DEADLY HIT ON IRAN’S CONSULAR BUILDING IN SYRIA.

Now Mideast tensions are growing greater still, and Benjamin Netanyahu’s time as prime minister may be running out.

In 2021, our next guest formed a coalition to successfully topple Netanyahu. Naftali Bennett was a special forces commando. Then he was Netanyahu’s senior aid, before becoming the Israeli prime minister in 2021.

I sat down with Naftali Bennett on Friday.

Naftali