Opposition leader Naftali Bennett responded Wednesday night to the Knesset's approval of the Basic Law: Torah Study, vowing to cancel the legislation upon forming a new government. Bennett accused the coalition of prioritizing political interests over national security, saying the IDF desperately needs 20,000 soldiers and that draft evasion tears the nation apart from within.
Opposition leader Naftali Bennett responded to Wednesday evening's Knesset passage of the Basic Law: Torah Study, vowing to cancel the exemption legislation when he returns to power. In a statement posted on his social media, Bennett called the law 'Basic Law: Disgracing the Torah' and said that draft evasion is the opposite of unity, accusing the Netanyahu-Deri-Smotrich coalition of choosing politics over security. He said the IDF is desperately short of 20,000 soldiers.
The vote in the Knesset plenum passed 63-53 in a first reading, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz among those supporting the bill. The legislation enshrines yeshiva study exemptions from mandatory military service, a deeply divisive issue that has drawn widespread criticism from security officials and opposition figures. Bennett has positioned himself as the main challenger to the current coalition, and earlier Wednesday he had already said he would immediately cancel the law upon entering government.
Bennett's response adds to a growing chorus of opposition criticism, with Avigdor Lieberman and Gadi Eisenkot also condemning the vote. The bill faces further readings before becoming law.
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- ConfirmedNetanyahu, Defense Minister Katz voted for Torah Study Basic Law as Knesset session erupts
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