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Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett Blasts Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich Over Haredi Draft-Exemption Law
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Bennett’s Attack on Smotrich Over Haredi Draft Exemptions
In a Zoom meeting with party activists, former prime minister Naftali Bennett accused Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich of betraying religious-Zionist values by backing legislation that exempts ultra-Orthodox (haredi) men from Israel Defense Forces service. Bennett placed responsibility on Smotrich and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, asserting that the law undermines the nation’s wartime obligations and the Torah’s teachings. He warned that families and businesses are suffering because of the policy, which he described as an “evasion law.”
Political Background and Election Stakes
Bennett, who now leads the B'Yachad (Together) party alongside Yair Lapid, and Smotrich, leader of the Religious Zionist Party, share roots in the former National Religious Party. Bennett’s Bayit Yehudi party previously partnered with the political group Tkuma—Smotrich’s predecessor—in the 2013 and 2015 elections. As the October 27 election approaches, both leaders are courting the national-religious electorate, a swing constituency traditionally associated with knitted kippot.
Financial Implications of the Draft-Exemption Law
He framed these funds as a disgraceful reward for draft evasion, arguing that the expenditures exacerbate economic strain on families and businesses.
Official Positions and Responses
On July 1, 2026, Finance Minister Smotrich attended a press conference at the Finance Ministry in Jerusalem, where he reaffirmed his support for the exemption legislation. The government’s stance, as articulated by Smotrich, is that the law addresses the unique religious study commitments of the haredi community while preserving national security needs.
Outlook Ahead of the October 27 Election
With the election scheduled for October 27, Bennett’s criticism signals an intensified effort by the opposition to win over religious-Zionist voters by highlighting the perceived inequities of the draft-exemption policy. The dispute over the law’s moral and fiscal impact is likely to remain a focal point of campaign rhetoric in the final weeks before voters head to the polls.