Former PM Bennett Calls for Early Education Reform in Haredi Sector
Former Israeli Prime Minister and leader of the "Achva" party, Naftali Bennett, stated on Monday that addressing the issue of military conscription within the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) community must begin at a young age, including oversight of their educational curricula. Bennett proposed that in the next government, any institution failing to teach core subjects and fostering anti-Zionist or anti-IDF sentiments would be denied state funding. "In the next government, there will be a simple rule: not Zionist, not on my dime," Bennett declared, emphasizing that discussions about conscription must be preceded by educational reform. He argued that if the sentiment of "better to die than to be drafted" is not addressed at age six, conscription at eighteen will be impossible.
Bennett highlighted that many Haredi children entering first grade attend institutions where essential subjects like mathematics and English are not taught, and where Zionism is presented negatively, and earning a living is considered a lesser pursuit than religious study. He asserted that the curriculum often promotes the idea that it is preferable to die than to enlist in the army. Bennett clarified that his proposal does not seek to eliminate religious studies like the Talmud but to supplement them with secular subjects such as English and mathematics, enabling Haredi individuals to support themselves without relying on state stipends. He envisions a future where Haredi children can pursue both religious scholarship and professions like engineering or medicine, and be both religiously observant and Zionist, understanding their shared responsibility in defending the state.
Concluding his remarks, Bennett stated, "What was will not be. There will be no more autonomous states within the State of Israel. There will be Haredim, secular Jews, religious Jews, and traditional Jews living together and defending our shared home together." He stressed that this approach represents true Judaism, fostering unity and shared responsibility for the nation's security.
