Critics on both the right and left have taken issue with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett for different reasons. On the right, he has faced backlash for including an Arab party in the coalition, which some argue has hindered the state's ability to police Israel's Arab minority and respond effectively to recent attacks. Meanwhile, on the left, Bennett has been criticized for only making small concessions to Palestinians while ruling out peace talks and the formation of a Palestinian state, leading to increased despair and violence among Palestinians. Bennett's coalition, made up of a diverse group of parties, has struggled to find unity in responding to the violence, highlighting the differences in their worldviews. The recent attacks serve as a stark reminder that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains unresolved and continues to pose a serious threat. Bennett, similar to Netanyahu before him, has not made resolving the conflict a priority, instead treating it as a problem to manage. The most recent peace talks ended in 2014. The Palestinian leadership remains divided between Gaza and the West Bank, unable to present a unified front for negotiations. Israeli leaders, including Bennett, openly oppose a Palestinian state. However, recent violence has caused some Israeli commentators to question the stability of the current situation, though many people's views on the conflict have not changed. Ofer Zalzberg, director of the Middle East Program at the Herbert C Kelman Institute, described the ongoing conversation as repetitive with few new perspectives. He added that people do not change their positions based on events but rather choose their position based on where they are situated. Some witnesses and survivors of the recent shootings in Bnei Brak believe that the attack by a West Bank Palestinian solidified the belief that Israel has no peace partner among the Palestinians and that a Palestinian state would only increase danger for Israelis. Although Bennett also opposes Palestinian sovereignty, he faced criticism for his partnership with Ra’am and for issuing more work permits to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. Posters urging residents not to hire Palestinian laborers have appeared in the city, and a sign near a memorial to the victims demanded Bennett's resignation. In neighboring cities, one mayor closed construction sites that typically employed Palestinian workers, and another urged contractors not to hire Palestinians. Moshe Waldman, an accountant in Bnei Brak who witnessed part of the attack, believes that the families of terrorists should face severe punishment. He suggests destroying their homes as a way to create real deterrence. Waldman rejects the idea of negotiating with terrorists, stating that it is not the reality in this situation. We are facing severe criticism for Prime Minister Bennett's approach to working with Arab Israelis and making concessions to Palestinians. Some fault him for not making enough concessions, while others criticize him for going too far. Despite granting work permits and legal status to West Bank Palestinians, providing financial aid to the Palestinian Authority, allowing families in Gaza to visit prisoners in Israeli jails, and increasing communication with Palestinian leaders, critics argue that these efforts do not address the underlying issues of Palestinian life under occupation. The Israeli army continues to conduct daily raids in areas under Palestinian Authority control, and a two-tier justice system remains in place in the West Bank. The Palestinian aspiration for statehood remains out of reach, with no political progress in sight. Mairav Zonszein, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group in Tel Aviv, expressed concern about the lack of hope on the Palestinian front and the Israeli government's complacency with the status quo. The current climate is seen as potentially leading to increased violence without any political process. Prime Minister Bennett faces the challenge of ensuring Israeli security and addressing the concerns of his right-wing supporters without escalating tensions or alienating Arab lawmakers in his coalition. In response, the Israeli army has deployed reinforcements to the West Bank and Gaza border, while the Israeli Police focus primarily on counterterrorism efforts. Bennett has also urged Israeli civilians to carry licensed firearms, a move that has caused concern among many Arab citizens of Israel, according to Bashaer Fahoum-Jayoussi, co-chair of the board of the Abraham Initiatives, a group that advocates for equality between Arabs and Jews. She expressed alarm at the potential militarization of citizens and the escalation of hate speech against the Arab community in Israel. In an effort to ease tensions, Bennett has praised his Arab coalition partner, Mansour Abbas, leader of the Ra’am party, as a brave and valuable member of the government. The government continues to permit tens of thousands of Palestinians to enter Israel from the West Bank and Gaza each day. There have been no changes to the plan allowing retirees from the West Bank to enter Jerusalem during Ramadan, starting this weekend. Bennett's office did not comment, but his ally Micah Goodman, who promoted the idea of "shrinking the conflict," believes it is too early to assess the government's approach in the West Bank or Israel. He stated that achieving the gradual liberation of Palestinians in the West Bank and their integration within Israel will take years, not months. Goodman emphasized that Israelis feel fear in the conflict, while Palestinians feel humiliation. Reducing the conflict involves creating a situation where Israelis experience less fear due to reduced terrorism, and Palestinians face less humiliation as a result of decreased occupation. This gradual and challenging process should not be evaluated only nine months into the current government's term. If the current wave of violence diminishes, it could be seen as a success for the Bennett government's approach. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas recently condemned an attack in Bnei Brak, which Israeli officials interpreted as a positive outcome of increased engagement with him. If the violence decreases, it may demonstrate that cooperation with the PA is beneficial in countering Israel's enemies, potentially leading to more support for the PA. However, these incremental measures may not weaken the occupation but could instead provide political cover for its reinforcement through the expansion of settlements and settler violence, which increased in 2021. She stated that the occupation is continuing and that it is progressively deteriorating.