Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett issued a scathing critique of the Haredi education system Wednesday morning, calling for a "revolution" and an immediate end to state funding for institutions that teach against IDF service and Zionist values.
The statement, published in a lengthy social media post, has sparked intense backlash within the Haredi community, with critics accusing Bennett of "persecution" and "false generalizations" for political gain ahead of the 2026 elections.
In his address, Bennett laid out what he called three fundamental "facts" driving his platform:
1. Anti-Zionist Indoctrination: Bennett claimed that one-third of Jewish first-graders in Israel attend Haredi schools that incite against the state and military service, resulting in the "We will die rather than enlist" sentiment.
2. Lack of Core Curriculum: He argued that by not teaching English, Mathematics, and Science, the Haredi system denies students the tools to integrate into the 21st-century workforce.
3. Economic Burden: Bennett alleged that the system sanctifies "not working," leading to a population that lives on state subsidies without paying taxes, which he described as "unsustainable."
Bennett detailed a radical "day-one" plan should he return to the Prime Minister’s office:
- Defunding: Immediate cessation of funding for any school that educates against IDF service or the state, as well as institutions that discriminate against Sephardic students.
- Core Studies Mandate: Zero funding for institutions that refuse to teach core subjects required for productive citizenship.
- Expansion of State-Haredi Education (Mamach): Opening "excellent" state-Haredi schools that combine Torah study with high-level secular subjects.
- Integration: A policy of "integration over exclusion," which he likened to a "domestic Aliyah" of one million Haredim into the broader Israeli economy and society.
Bennett sharply criticized Prime Minister Netanyahu, accusing him of prioritizing political survival over the country’s future. "Netanyahu is not stupid; he understands the problem perfectly," Bennett wrote. "But because he is entirely dependent on the Haredi parties, he surrenders to them and promotes anti-Zionist policies."
He warned that Israel is currently on a "suicidal" path, comparing the government's policy to the Titanic sailing toward an inevitable disaster.
