Naftali Bennett was born in Haifa in 1972. He served in the IDF as a company commander in elite units and continues to serve in the reserves today, holding the rank of Major. After his IDF service, Bennett studied law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. In 1999, in New York, he co-founded Cyota, an anti-fraud software company, and served as its CEO. He is married and the father of four.

Returning to Israel, Bennett served as bureau head to then opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu from 2006 to 2008. From January 2010 until January 2012 he served as Director General of the Yesha Council. In November 2012 he was elected head of the Bayit Hayehudi party, and in January 2013 was elected to the 19th Knesset as head of the list.

In March 2013 he was appointed Minister of Economy, Minister of Religious Services, Minister for Jerusalem and Diaspora Affairs. Following the death of Uri Orbach in February 2015, he was appointed Acting Senior Citizen Affairs Minister.

In May 2015, Bennett was appointed Minister of Education and Minister for Diaspora Affairs.