Former PM Bennett Warns of IDF Collapse Over Haredi Draft Standoff

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett warned that the country's military is on the verge of collapse due to a severe manpower shortage, exacerbated by the government's handling of the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) draft issue. Speaking at a "Sukkah of Failure" event organized by families of October 7th victims in Tel Aviv, Bennett asserted that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is personally leading a grave security danger by allowing widespread draft evasion and undermining the army's operational readiness.

Bennett highlighted that the army is currently short 20,000 combat soldiers, a deficit he claims is directly impacting the safety of those on the front lines. He cited conversations with officers and soldiers who report that the lack of personnel leads to casualties, as insufficient observation and sniper teams leave soldiers vulnerable to drone attacks. He also noted that prolonged operational cycles wear down troops, forcing them to abandon captured positions due to a lack of manpower to hold them, necessitating costly recaptures.

Bennett argued that with 1.5 million Haredim in Israel, a significant increase in their military conscription is essential to sustain the army's operational capacity. He contrasted the Haredi stance of "we will die rather than enlist" with the soldiers' plea: "We will die if you don't enlist." He warned that failure to enlist Haredim in the upcoming term would lead to the IDF's collapse and stated that voting for the current coalition is a vote against soldiers.

The "Sukkah of Failure" event, now in its third day, also featured testimony from former hostage Gabiella Leimberg. Leimberg recounted hearing Hamas terrorists in Gaza tell hostages that they were planning another October 7th and advised them not to remain in their kibbutz. She urged that those responsible for the failures of October 7th must resign to prevent future atrocities, directly addressing Netanyahu and stating he had abandoned them.