Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett ignited outrage during a recent address at Harvard Business School (HBS) when he made a threatening remark aimed at student protesters. His comment, which suggested sending “a pager” to dissenting attendees, has been widely interpreted as a violent threat linked to deadly Israeli attacks in Lebanon.
Bennett, who held office from 2021 to 2022, spoke at HBS on Thursday as part of a university tour in the United States. The event, titled “From the Boardroom to the World Stage,” was intended to focus on his business experience. However, his comments quickly overshadowed the discussion.
Moderated by HBS professor Paul A. Gompers, the event began with a warning about Harvard's policies against disruptions. In response to this, Bennett interjected that he would “just give them a pager,” a statement many attendees perceived as a reference to infamous Israeli operation that resulted in many casualties during the September attacks in Lebanon.
The comment drew sharp criticism from attendees, with some labeling it a direct threat. Protests erupted outside the venue, with over 100 demonstrators gathering to express their opposition to Bennett's presence at Harvard, marking a significant pro-Palestinian rally on campus.
Bennett’s history of controversial statements further fueled the backlash. In past speeches, he has made comments opposing the establishment of a Palestinian state and has been criticized for remarks that downplay violence against Palestinians. The Harvard Israel Business Club, which hosted the event, later attempted to clarify that Bennett's pager comment was not intended seriously.