As his party's support declined in recent polling, Naftali Bennett delivered a forceful speech attacking the chareidi community at a party activists' conference, declaring that Israel must "dismantle the anti-Zionist chareidi state" To preserve the Zionist state.
Bennett called for a significant shift in how the government handles relations with the chareidi public, saying the period of political compromises should end. "Therefore, the era of compromises is over; no exemptions, no budgets. If we do not dismantle the anti-Zionist chareidi state, we will lose the Zionist state. And I want to tell you, I say this out of love for our brothers - I do not hate them..." He said.
The speech, made shortly before Tishah B'Av, prompted considerable backlash over both its timing and severity. Tishah B'Av is traditionally observed as a time to consider the perils of internal division and unfounded animosity within the Jewish people.
Bennett's comments arrive as his political fortunes have weakened, with recent surveys showing his party hemorrhaging support from earlier polling levels.
Observers are divided on whether the sharper language represents an effort to consolidate his remaining supporters as numbers drop, or signals a broader tactical pivot toward more combative campaign messaging ahead of future elections.
A Channel 13 News poll released Tuesday showed Bennett's party at 14 Knesset seats, a new low. The same survey found Likud down one seat, while the anti-Netanyahu bloc dropped one seat to 60 mandates, though Arab parties gained two seats.