Bennett's 'Deri Law' wouldn't actually apply to Aryeh Deri

Beyachad chairman and former prime minister Naftali Bennett announced Tuesday that if elected prime minister, he will legislate what he called the "Deri Law" - a measure that would bar anyone who did not serve in the IDF from sitting on the security cabinet.

"In the next government we will pass the 'Deri Law,' which states that a draft dodger cannot sit on the cabinet, anyone who dodged the IDF, or encourages dodging, will not be able to sit on the cabinet," Bennett said in his statement.

But despite the name Bennett chose for his proposed law, it turns out that even if the legislation passes, it would not apply to Shas chairman Aryeh Deri. The reason is that Deri completed shortened military service as a hesder-style arrangement, and therefore does not meet the definition of "draft dodger" as Bennett proposes it.

In addition, Deri has not served as a member of the security cabinet for more than three years. His participation in limited cabinet meetings was as a guest of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, but without voting rights.

Deri addressed the issue of military service in recent days in an entirely different context. In a speech in his sukkah about a week ago, Deri sharply attacked Bennett following his remarks about the dramatic emergency incident on a flight from Dubai.

"Yesterday I heard that someone who presumes to be prime minister, brazen and arrogant, said that what happened yesterday in Dubai, that wasn't a miracle, that was heroism," Deri said at the time, adding: "We walk with simple, pure faith."