Interview with Yashar! party member, political storm, and clarification: "Confusion"
Former Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen stated that up to 30% of Haredim could be exempted from service in the next government. Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Lieberman criticized the statement, insisting on universal conscription. The Yashar! party clarified that the remarks stemmed from confusion between the percentage of Haredim within their community and their share of the general population.
Tensions have risen within the opposition bloc after a member of the Yashar! party, former Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen, stated in an interview on Wednesday morning that "30% of the Haredi public will receive an exemption from service" in the next government.
This immediately sparked a storm among political partners. Former Prime Minister and Chairman of the Behad party Naftali Bennett stated: "With us, there will be no compromises on the draft, no 30% exemptions, and no 'outlines.' There will be one simple rule: not a Zionist — not on my dime."
"Everyone must serve, and whoever does not serve the state will not receive a shekel from the state for their entire life. The tens of billions that draft dodgers received, we will transfer to those who serve. That is it," he added. Bennett emphasized that this is the only way to save the state and is an ironclad condition for the next government. "A government that does not draft Haredim and fix Israel has no right to exist. Together we will fix and draft everyone."
Chairman of Yisrael Beiteinu Avigdor Lieberman also took a firm stance: "In the next government, everyone will serve in the IDF; there will be no exemption for 30% or for 3%." Clarifying the figures, the party explained that if there are 100,000 Israelis in a draft cycle, of whom 10,000 are Haredim, then an exemption for 3,000 individuals represents 3% of the general population and 30% of the Haredi population, which was the source of the confusion.
