Naftali Bennett criticizes Gadi Eisenkot: "There will be no compromises on conscription"

Behad party chairman Naftali Bennett toughened his stance today, Wednesday, regarding Haredi conscription, citing comments by Yoram Cohen of Gadi Eisenkot's party to present a firmer line on the matter. Bennett clarified that he would not accept any compromises on mandatory conscription or frameworks that include broad exemptions from service.

"With us, there will be no compromises on conscription, not 30% exemptions and not 'frameworks'," wrote Bennett.

According to him, there will be one simple rule: "Not a Zionist — not on my dime." He insists that everyone is obligated to serve, and those who do not serve the state will not receive a shekel from it for their entire life. Bennett added that resources previously allocated to those who do not enlist should be transferred to those who serve: "The tens of billions that the draft dodgers received, we will transfer to those who serve. This is the only way to save the state, and therefore it is an ironclad condition for the next government."

The attack comes against the backdrop of remarks made by a member of the Yashar party, led by Eisenkot, who discussed the party's conscription plan in an interview. He stated that the plan includes granting relatively broad exemptions, where, alongside yeshiva students defined as prodigies, other groups might also be included in the arrangement. "Perhaps other factors relevant beyond being a prodigy will also receive [exemptions]," said Cohen. These remarks drew a response from the Yisrael Beiteinu party, which clarified: "In the next government, everyone will serve in the IDF, there will be no exemption for 30% or for 3%."

Bennett has set the conscription issue as a central condition for joining the next government: "A government that does not draft Haredim and fix Israel has no right to exist. Together we will fix and draft everyone." By doing so, Bennett seeks to differentiate his party from the Yashar party, as the issue of Haredi conscription becomes a focal point of the political struggle ahead of the elections.