Bennett says no coalition with Haredi factions: 'Door shut to draft dodgers'

Former prime minister Naftali Bennett ruled out including Haredi parties in a government he would lead if they continue backing military service exemptions for yeshiva students.

Bennett's statement came as United Torah Judaism, particularly its Hasidic Agudat Yisrael faction, has indicated readiness to enter coalition talks with governments prepared to pass such legislation.

"The door is locked to anyone who supports draft evasion," Bennett, chairman of the Beyachad party, told Kikar HaShabbat.

He characterized the matter as a critical issue for Israel's survival. "The most serious problem threatening the future of the Jewish state in the Land of Israel is the fact that 15% of the public already lives within a separate and disconnected Haredi state," He said. "There is no point in forming a government that will not solve this existential problem. If we do not deal with it now, it will never happen."

Bennett also attacked a military service proposal from Yashar party chairman Gadi Eisenkot that would exempt 3% of each annual draft cohort to study Torah.

"There will be no exception on this issue," Bennett said. "Three percent is 30% of a Haredi draft cohort. There will be no frameworks and no allocations."

He disputed Eisenkot's framing, calculating that the proposal would exempt roughly 3,600 Haredim annually. "I think that is a crazy mistake," He said.

Bennett contended that Haredi political leaders would exploit such arrangements. "Gafni and Deri will once again twist the arm of the politician of the moment, and it will end with nothing," He said. "The proof is four years of Haredi rule."

United Torah Judaism officials have recently signaled independence from Netanyahu's political alignment. "There is no discussion of a bloc," MK Yaakov Asher said. "We are in the bloc of the Torah world, and we will go with whoever meets our demands on this issue."