Former PM Naftali Bennett Condemns New Torah Study Law as Betrayal to Soldiers

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett openly criticized the Basic Law on Torah Study, which was passed in the Knesset on Monday night during its second and third readings. Bennett expressed deep pain over the law, which he said elevates young ultra-Orthodox men who avoid military service above all other Israeli citizens, including soldiers and workers who risk their lives for the country. He described the coalition of Aryeh Deri, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Bezalel Smotrich as responsible for passing a law that creates a "world upside down," comparing it to the biblical cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Bennett shared that he has received painful reactions from bereaved families, wounded soldiers, and reservists who feel betrayed by the legislation. He vowed that his political camp will not give up and will fight to repeal the law, promising to replace the current government soon and restore support to Israeli soldiers. "Everything they destroyed, we will fix together," he said.

The opposition has also reacted strongly against the law, with some members accusing Netanyahu of distancing himself from the controversy. The law has sparked intense debate over the exemption of ultra-Orthodox men from military service and its implications for Israeli society and national unity.