Bennett doubles down on mandatory haredi enlistment, blames current gov't for lack of IDF soldiers

As former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett declared on Radio 103FM, the current government's approach to ultra-Orthodox enlistment is a dangerous failure that directly endangers our soldiers. Bennett minced no words, stating that "draft evasion is costing us the lives of our soldiers." He directly accused Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich of being the "architect of the evasion" due to his political alliances, arguing that Smotrich "sold out" religious Zionism and its tradition of reserve duty.

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We will not fund a single shekel to those who don't enlist.

Bennett's proposed solution is stark: "We will not fund a single shekel to those who don’t wear uniforms." He emphasized that the era of receiving state funding while actively evading military service is over, and that the idea of an "autonomous ultra-Orthodox state within the State of Israel" is finished. He highlighted the stark reality that 100,000 healthy young men could serve, and that enlisting even a fifth of them would solve the IDF's critical shortage of 20,000 soldiers. This shortage, he explained, forces the army into a dangerous cycle of conquering and withdrawing from territory due to insufficient manpower, leading to casualties.

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Currently, the IDF cannot carry out its missions because it is short 20,000 soldiers.

Bennett's strong stance reflects a growing frustration among a segment of Israeli society that sees the exemption of the ultra-Orthodox from military service as a burden on those who do serve and a threat to national security. While Western media might focus on the political infighting, the Israeli perspective is deeply rooted in the existential need for a strong military and the principle of equal burden-sharing. Bennett's call for a "Zionist government" and his assertive tone suggest a political strategy aimed at appealing to voters who prioritize national security and a more unified national identity, pushing back against what he perceives as political compromises that undermine the country's defense capabilities and core values.

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draft evasion is costing us the lives of our soldiers