Bennett says Likud MKs’ revolt over import measure shows they could oppose Haredi draft bill if they wanted to

By Sam Sokol 24 February 2026, 11:18 am

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Sam Sokol is a former political correspondent at The Times of Israel. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"

Former prime minister Naftali Bennett attends the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations in Jerusalem, on February 17, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/ Flash90)

Former prime minister Naftali Bennett slams Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling Likud party for not bucking ultra-Orthodox pressure and rejecting a bill exempting yeshiva students from military service, stating that MKs’ decision to vote against a popular government economic measure last night proves that they are able to violate coalition discipline when they want.

“Last night we discovered that when something is really important to Likud MKs, they are capable of violating the ‘sacred’ coalition discipline,” says Bennett. “If they cared about our soldiers, they would have done exactly the same thing against the draft evasion law and long ago recruited healthy young Haredi men to replace our reservists who are collapsing under the burden.”

A measure that would have made it cheaper for Israelis to order goods online from abroad was revoked in the Knesset by a vote of 59 to 25 early this morning.

Since the order went into effect on December 24, it has been hailed by the general public but drawn sharp condemnation from local business owners who argued it would hobble their sales. It was opposed by members of Netanyahu’s party, including Knesset Finance Committee chair Hanoch Milwidsky and Economy Minister Nir Barkat.

“The reservists are being neglected because they have no lobby in Likud,” says Bennett. “The shame of neglecting IDF soldiers will be etched on the foreheads of all coalition members.”