Former PM Naftali Bennett fumes over ‘sell out’ ultra-Orthodox draft exemption bill
‘Why does the nation of lions have such cowardly leadership?’ he asks, accusing government ministers of promoting ‘selfish sectarianism’ and straining burden on reserve soldiers
Former prime minister Naftali Bennett put out a scathing statement against the ultra-Orthodox draft exemption bill on Friday, accusing the government of betraying those who do serve at a time of war.
In a lengthy post on X, Bennett called the bill — which in its current form broadly maintains the exemption of the ultra-Orthodox from military or national service — the “law of evasion.” Having previously refrained from commenting on the matter, he also railed against the government for working to exempt tens of thousands of Haredi men from IDF service.
The former PM said that any lawmakers who support the bill “simply sell out IDF soldiers, especially reservists who carry the heaviest burden.” Bennett said that “it is unimaginable that these days, cynical politicians dismiss the ultra-Orthodox from serving in the IDF, and sharing in this burden.”
Bennett continued, saying that reservists are “collapsing” under the strain of prolonged deployment, that “children cry and ask why their father is leaving them again. Private businesses are collapsing due to debts and loss of customers. Students lose a year of studies in university and no one in the government cares.”
Israel has called up tens of thousands of reservists as it fought in the Gaza Strip for the past year after the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre that killed some 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage.
Forces have been further stretched as the IDF launched a limited incursion into Lebanon several weeks ago in a bid to push Hezbollah, which has been firing into Israel since October 8th, away from the border and allow tens of thousands of evacuated Israelis to return to their homes in northern Israel.
Bennett claimed that if the government had, six months ago, drafted 15,000 of the 64,000 eligible Haredi men, and placed them along Israel’s borders, “it would have been possible to significantly reduce the crazy burden on the reserve soldiers who are currently being called up.”
“But the government chooses not to do this, and instead burdens even more those few reserves who carry us all on their backs,” he said.
“It’s unbelievable!” he exclaimed. “Why does the nation of lions have such cowardly leadership?”
Bennett said that while he had supported temporary Haredi exemption in the past, October 7 “changed everything,” and “exposed the threats around Israel, showing us that the IDF desperately needs 20,000 [more] soldiers in all sectors.”
“We are already overstretched,” he said, and accused government ministers of being an “obstacle” to a solution.
“They are the ones promoting a vile, cynical law, with a black flag flying over it,” claimed the former PM, saying that these minsters “perpetuate selfish sectarianism that leads to brotherly hatred.”
Bennett offered a solution to the issue, saying, “The rule should be simple: Give and receive. If you do not give, you will not receive,” referring to government funds given to Haredi men enrolled in yeshiva studies.
“Did you serve in the IDF? You will receive support and benefits from the state. Did you serve in combat units? You will get even more. Did you serve in the reserves [after mandatory service ended]? You will get much more. Did you dodge the draft? You will not receive money from the state. That’s it,” he said.
“We need to start recruiting our ultra-Orthodox brothers immediately to prevent the collapse of the reserves,” he said, ending his social media tirade against the proposed exemption bill.
The bill, which has been in the works for months, has been the focus of national controversy and protests over the role of the ultra-Orthodox in Israeli society and the “sharing of the burden” of IDF service during wartime.
Traditionally, Haredi men who are enrolled in yeshivas for Torah study are exempt from mandatory army service, but this exemption is not a permanent status, and is only the result of Knesset bills that expire after a number of years.
In June, after the most recent exemption law expired, the High Court of Justice ruled that there is no legal basis for the decades-long practice of exempting Haredi men from the military draft. The IDF then sent out draft orders to several thousand ultra-Orthodox men, which led to protests and fierce opposition from the religious and political leadership of the ultra-Orthodox.
In its current form, the bill that seeks to regulate the issue broadly maintains the ultra-Orthodox exclusion from service. It is currently stuck in the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, whose chairman, Likud MK Yuli Edelstein, has said that it will only pass if lawmakers can reach a “broad consensus” on the matter.
