Bennett proposes servicemembers law, clashes with Netanyahu at Knesset event

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced a bill redirecting funds from non-serving households to servicemembers. He confronted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a Knesset event. Bennett is seen as a potential kingmaker amid coalition talks.

Former prime minister Naftali Bennett announced his new party B'Yachad's first proposed legislation on Wednesday: a servicemembers law aimed at addressing ultra-Orthodox military draft exemptions. The bill calls for redirecting funds from households that do not participate in military service or employment, striking at state subsidies for yeshiva students. Talks are reportedly taking place between Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman and UTJ chairman Yaakov Asher to bridge the divide and form a coalition. Bennett has remained largely silent, with one exception: on Tuesday, at a state event, he clashed with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Netanyahu's remarks directed at Arab society. Bennett is waiting for the right political moment to emerge as a kingmaker, while Likud holds 39 reliable seats out of 120. Gadi Eisenkot received the presidential mandate to form a government. The article notes that Netanyahu may try to drag the country into another election or launch a preemptive military operation to ensure his political survival.