Bennett says it’s ‘right’ but unrealistic to draft ultra-Orthodox to military

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett says that while it would be the “right” to integrate Israel’s ultra-Orthodox sector into the military, it’s unrealistic, and it’s better to enable them to join the workforce.

“About ten years ago, everyone was talking about getting the Haredim to serve in the military, which would be right… but it’s not going to happen,” says Bennett, at Tel Aviv’s CyberTech conference.

“My dream was the opposite, to let them off the hook at a young age so they can go into the workforce. It’s not fair, but it’s the right thing to do.”

Israel’s eclectic Bennett-led coalition in late January passed the first reading of its controversial military enlistment bill, which met fierce opposition from the Knesset’s ultra-Orthodox factions. The bill has moved into a committee for further discussion.

“And pretty soon, we’re going to complete the legislation that’s going to let tens of thousands of young ultra-Orthodox men go out and work – if they want. They don’t have to stay in yeshiva… but they don’t have English and they don’t have math and we’ll have to figure out how to get the smarter ones in.”