Bennett to Haredim: 'I Don't Hate You' After Torah Law Vote

Former prime minister Naftali Bennett delivered an unusually personal appeal to Israel's haredi community Wednesday, hours after the Knesset advanced Basic Law: Torah Study in a preliminary 56-43 vote that exposed deep fractures within Israeli society.

In a direct address posted online, Bennett bypassed haredi political leadership to speak directly to ultra-Orthodox voters, declaring: "My haredi brothers and sisters, I love and respect you, and therefore I want to speak to you directly, without the mediation of the politicians."

The statement marks a striking shift in tone for Bennett, whose Together party has been locked in fierce opposition to the Torah law championed by haredi parties Shas and United Torah Judaism. Rather than attacking the community itself, Bennett aimed his criticism squarely at haredi political leaders Aryeh Deri and Moshe Goldknopf.

"Basic Law: Torah Study, which the government is advancing with all its might and has now passed in a preliminary reading, will harm the State of Israel catastrophically, and will harm you catastrophically as well," Bennett warned. "This is not a political matter, this is a matter of life and death."

Bennett framed his opposition to haredi draft exemptions not as hostility toward the ultra-Orthodox community, but as concern for Israel's survival. "Without a functioning economy and without an army, we simply will not be able to live here," he stated. "Deri and Goldknopf will try to tell you that my struggle against draft evasion and against Basic Law: Torah Study is a struggle against you. That is a lie. I am not fighting against you. I am fighting for you."

The former prime minister, who identifies as religiously observant, emphasized his personal connection to Torah study. "I am a believing Jew. I study Torah and love the Torah with all my soul. The problem is the politicians who exploit you," he declared.

MK Gafni (Photo: Yonatan Sindel / Flash90)

Bennett's sharpest criticism targeted the economic disparity between haredi political leaders and their constituents. "Deri and Goldknopf decree upon you lives of poverty and dependency while they live in luxury villas and wear designer brands. This is not Torah, this is a business model. And it must change," he stated bluntly.

The appeal comes amid escalating tensions over haredi military service. Earlier this week, a military court sentenced yeshiva student Michael Petrof to 40 days imprisonment after five years as a military deserter, while Likud MK Dan Illouz broke coalition ranks to vote against the Torah law, triggering a furious confrontation with Shas lawmakers on the Knesset floor.

Bennett outlined his vision for integrating the haredi community into Israeli society while preserving religious lifestyle. "We will not allow a situation of a state within a state. There will be one law for everyone here. We will free you from the rule of the politicians, we will bring you together with us into the labor market and IDF service, alongside maintaining a haredi way of life, just like the haredim working in Brooklyn."

The former prime minister concluded with an appeal for unity: "We need you with us. Without you we will not be here, not us and not you. Even if you do not agree with every word I say, remember: I do not come from hatred of anyone. I come from love for you, for the Torah, and for the beloved state of all of us."

The Torah Basic Law, which passed its preliminary reading Wednesday following an emotional speech by UTJ chairman Moshe Gafni, now advances to committee stage where it faces further legislative hurdles. The law seeks to enshrine Torah study as a constitutional value and protect yeshiva students from mandatory military service.