Bennett after Porush's remarks and "Israel Hayom" exposé: "Whoever doesn't serve won't get a shekel from the state"
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett attacks the ultra-Orthodox in response to MK Meir Porush's statement that Degel HaTorah and Agudat Yisrael will not join any government without a conscription law. Bennett warns that choosing Netanyahu's potential partners means tax hikes and 120,000 draft dodgers. He declares: "Whoever doesn't serve won't get a shekel from the state."
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett harshly attacked the ultra-Orthodox parties, responding to MK Meir Porush's (Degel HaTorah) statement that his factions will not participate in any government without legislation of a conscription law that would exempt yeshiva students from military service. Porush was interviewed on Radio Kol Barama following a publication in Israel Hayom about cracks in the ultra-Orthodox front, according to which a source in the Gur Hasidic dynasty said the Rebbe wants to topple Netanyahu "at any cost." Bennett, chairman of the "Beyachad" party, wrote that the public must understand the meaning of Netanyahu's partners' condition, and detailed the economic and security costs of each potential partner: raising income tax to 60% and VAT to 25% under Smotrich, and 120,000 draft dodgers under Ben Gvir. He declared that these elections are about the issue of military service, and that budgets should be cut from draft dodgers and transferred to those who serve. Yoaz Hendel and the "Amcha Yisrael" party also responded in support of similar principles.