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Bennett Cuts Funding for Non-Military Ultra-Orthodox, Forms 61-Seat Zionist Bloc

4/23/2026

Summary

Story summary

Naftali Bennett announced a funding cut to ultra-Orthodox institutions that do not send members to the Israeli Defense Forces, citing shortfall of 20,000 soldiers.
He blamed Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Knesset members Yitzchak Goldknopf and Arye Deri, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urged enlisting one-fifth of the 100,000 ultra-Orthodox men.
He said he will form a Zionist government with 61 mandates and called joining Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government absurd.

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Story summary

Naftali Bennett announced a funding cut to ultra-Orthodox institutions that do not send members to the Israeli Defense Forces, citing shortfall of 20,000 soldiers.
He blamed Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Knesset members Yitzchak Goldknopf and Arye Deri, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urged enlisting one-fifth of the 100,000 ultra-Orthodox men.
He said he will form a Zionist government with 61 mandates and called joining Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government absurd.