Opposition leader Naftali Bennett said Sunday that Shas leader Aryeh Deri and UTJ chairman Moshe Gafni are 'generators of draft-dodging' and must be excluded from any future government. Bennett vowed that in a government he leads, those who do not enlist will receive no state funding, with funds redirected to soldiers and reservists.
Bennett's statement Sunday night sharpens his personal attack on the Haredi political leadership. He explicitly groups Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with Shas leader Aryeh Deri and UTJ chairman Moshe Gafni, calling them 'one,' and argues that anyone serious about drafting Haredi men must keep Deri and Gafni out of the government.
As The Zioneer has reported, Bennett has previously outlined a plan to draft Haredi soldiers and has called the current situation a 'disgrace.' He has also ruled out cooperation with Deri in a future cabinet.
Bennett's proposal would redirect state funding from yeshiva students who do not enlist to soldiers and reservists. 'Not a Zionist — not on my account,' he said.
The statement is likely to deepen the political divide over the conscription issue, which has been a major point of contention in the coalition.
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