Bennett Slams Likud Over Yavne'el Sect Enlistment Scandal
Naftali Bennett condemned the enrollment of an extremist Yavne'el sect into Likud, labeling it corruption. A Knesset committee also discussed underage marriages within the community.
Naftali Bennett, leader of the "Be-yachad" list, harshly condemned the organized recruitment of members from an extremist sect in Yavne'el into the ruling Likud party, describing the situation as "Sodom and Gomorrah." His remarks came a day after an investigative report by Channel 13 revealed that followers of the sect—known for underage marriages—were being registered as Likud members in exchange for food vouchers.
Sect Activities and Government Support
Speaking out against the phenomenon, Bennett stated that the sect systematically marries off 14- and 15-year-old girls, impregnates them, and abandons them. He asserted that this illegal and immoral activity is taking place daily in sovereign Israel with the tacit backing of the current coalition.
"The sect in Yavne'el receives two things from the Netanyahu-Deri-Ben Gvir government: your money—taxpayers' money funding the twisted educational institutions of this sect—and a blind eye turned to systematic lawbreaking," Bennett declared.
He added that exchanging political loyalty for food parcels ahead of holidays constitutes severe corruption, claiming that the Likud is dependent on these radical elements and therefore enables their continued actions.
Knesset Committee Discussion
Simultaneously, the Knesset Committee on the Status of Women and Gender Equality held a follow-up discussion regarding underage marriages in Yavne'el. During the session, testimony was heard from Devorah, a 42-year-old woman from Bnei Brak, who presented police documentation featuring her daughter's wedding at age 17.
Committee Chair MK Meirav Cohen emphasized the systemic nature of the issue, stating that authorities are only seeing the tip of the iceberg and vowing to pursue all those involved in silencing the abuses, regardless of how long it takes.
