Critics on both the right and left have criticized Prime Minister Naftali Bennett for different reasons. On the right, he has been criticized for including an Arab party in the coalition, which some say has weakened Israel's ability to police its Arab minority and respond to recent attacks by Arab citizens. On the left, Bennett has faced criticism for making minor concessions to the Palestinians while ruling out peace talks or the formation of a Palestinian state, leading to increased Palestinian despair and violence. Bennett's options in responding to the violence are limited by the diverse composition of his coalition, which includes right-wing, centrist, leftist, and Arab Islamist parties. Despite finding ways to work together, the recent attacks have highlighted the differing worldviews within the alliance. These attacks serve as a reminder that the Palestinian issue remains unresolved and a potential source of conflict, despite Israeli desires for peace. Bennett, like Netanyahu before him, has pushed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to the side, viewing it as a problem to be managed rather than solved. Previous peace talks ended in 2014, and the Palestinian leadership's disunity has hindered progress. Israeli leaders, including Bennett, openly oppose a Palestinian state. Recent violence has led some in Israel to recognize the instability of the current situation, though opinions remain entrenched. Ofer Zalzberg, director of the Middle East Program at the Herbert C Kelman Institute, described the conversation around the conflict as repetitive with few new arguments. He stated that people tend to stick to their beliefs regardless of changing events, choosing their stance based on where they are situated. Some witnesses and survivors of the recent shooting in Bnei Brak feel that the attack by a West Bank Palestinian further solidified the belief that there is no Palestinian partner for peace and that a Palestinian state would pose a greater threat to Israelis. Despite Bennett's opposition to Palestinian sovereignty, he faced criticism for his collaboration with Ra’am and for issuing more work permits to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. Calls for residents to avoid hiring Palestinian workers have been seen in the city, with some mayors shutting down construction sites that employed Palestinians and urging contractors to refrain from hiring them. 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 that their homes should be destroyed as a means of real deterrence. Waldman feels that the world often advises negotiation, but in this situation, that is not the appropriate response. We are facing significant challenges because of the animosity towards us. While some criticize Bennett for being too accommodating towards Arab Israelis and Palestinians, others believe he is not doing enough. The Israeli government has taken steps such as granting work permits and legal status to West Bank Palestinians, providing financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority, allowing visits between families in Gaza and Israeli jails, and engaging more openly with Palestinian leaders. However, critics argue that this approach, aimed at reducing conflict, does little to address the core issues of Palestinian life under occupation. The Israeli army continues to conduct raids in areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority, and there remains a two-tier justice system in the West Bank favoring Israeli settlers over Palestinians. The dream of Palestinians for statehood remains out of reach, with a lack of hope and political progress on the Palestinian front. According to Mairav Zonszein, a senior analyst based in Tel Aviv for the International Crisis Group, Israelis have grown accustomed to maintaining the current situation without facing any consequences. However, the absence of a political process has created a climate more prone to violence. In the immediate future, Bennett faces the challenging task of enhancing Israeli security and addressing the concerns of his right-wing supporters, all while avoiding actions that could worsen violence or alienate his coalition partners. As a result, the Israeli army has deployed additional forces to the West Bank and the Gaza border, and the Israeli Police has shifted its focus primarily to counterterrorism efforts. Bennett has also urged Israeli civilians to carry licensed firearms, a decision that has worried many Arab citizens of Israel, according to Bashaer Fahoum-Jayoussi, co-chair of the board of the Abraham Initiatives. She expressed concern that this could lead to the militarization of citizens and further fuel hate speech against the Arab community in Israel. In an effort to ease tensions, Bennett has praised his Arab coalition partner, Mansour Abbas, and the government still permits thousands of Palestinians to enter Israel from the West Bank and Gaza daily. There have been no changes to a plan allowing retirees from the West Bank to enter Jerusalem during Ramadan, which begins this weekend. Bennett's office chose not to comment, but his close ally Micah Goodman, who promoted the concept of "shrinking the conflict," stated that it is too early to assess the government's strategy in the West Bank and Israel. Goodman believes that achieving the gradual liberation of Palestinians in the West Bank and their integration within Israel will take years, not months. He also noted that fear is the dominant emotion for Israelis in the conflict, while humiliation is the main emotion for Palestinians. Reducing the conflict involves lessening fear for Israelis due to decreased terrorism and reducing humiliation for Palestinians by decreasing occupation. This process takes time and cannot be assessed after just nine months of this government. If the current violence decreases, it could indicate the effectiveness of the Bennett government's approach. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the attack in Bnei Brak, showing increased engagement with Israeli officials. If the violence decreases, it may show that the PA is a valuable partner in fighting against Israel's enemies, creating space for actions that strengthen the PA without achieving full Palestinian statehood. However, some believe that these incremental measures do not alleviate the occupation but instead allow for its entrenchment through the growth of settlements and settler violence. She stated that the occupation is continuing and is deteriorating further.