Naftali Bennett Warns Haredi Autonomy Threatens Israel’s Future Without Immediate Reform
Naftali Bennett, former Israeli Prime Minister and current chairman of the 'Together' party, has returned to politics motivated by what he sees as a critical internal threat to Israel: the autonomous Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) community. Speaking ahead of the Jewish fast of Tisha B’Av, Bennett emphasized that while Jewish religious study and the land of Israel remain strong, the unity of the Jewish people is at risk due to internal divisions, particularly the growing separation of the Haredi sector from the broader Israeli society.
Bennett described the Haredi autonomy as a “slow-motion suicide” for Israel, highlighting that a significant portion of Haredi youth neither serve in the military nor acquire basic skills necessary for economic integration. He criticized the political and communal leadership for fostering a system that rewards non-participation in shared national responsibilities, which he said undermines both the Zionist public and the Haredi community itself.
He called for a radical policy shift: cutting all government funding for those who do not work or serve in the military, including the Haredim and other groups who avoid contributing to the state. Bennett also proposed unifying the education system to create a shared Israeli curriculum for all children, combining core subjects like Hebrew, English, mathematics, citizenship, Bible, Jewish tradition, and Zionism, while allowing communities to teach additional subjects independently. This, he argued, would reduce social gaps and foster national cohesion.
Bennett warned that without dismantling the “state within a state” created by the Haredi autonomy, Israel risks losing its Jewish and democratic character. He urged Israelis to join him in this historic social reform to secure Israel’s future unity and strength, invoking the legacy of the religious Zionist movement and the sacrifices of its youth in the military.
Summary: Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett warns that the autonomous Haredi community poses an existential threat to Israel’s unity and calls for immediate reforms including funding cuts for non-participants and a unified national education system to preserve Israel’s Jewish democratic future.
