Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has issued a detailed response to criticism from political commentators, including analyst Amit Segal, regarding his decision to place Yonatan Shalu in a high position on his party's Knesset list. In a lengthy social media post, Bennett defended the young candidate and outlined the reasoning behind his selection. "Amit Segal and others are asking a legitimate question about Yonatan Shalu's age," Bennett began. "First, Yonatan Shalu is not 21 – on election day he will be 24. Despite his young age, he has already founded Israel's largest organization of young people in military service and, together with his colleagues, helped block the draft evasion law in the Knesset."
Israeli Politics
Bennett Defends Young Candidate Placement
Naftali Bennett responds to criticism over Yonatan Shalu's prominent position, citing his military service and advocacy for reservists
Bennett sharply criticized the current government's treatment of soldiers and reservists. "One of the biggest problems with the current government is that they don't count Israel's young people who are serving. They are extremely uninterested in the fighters and reservists. It simply doesn't bother them that these young people, who are trying to build their lives, are called up every few months for 80 days of reserve duty. This is unbearable, especially when there are 100,000 young, healthy Haredi men of draft age. If they drafted just 15% of them, the entire problem would be solved. That's what happens when you have a cabinet with Deri and Smotrich – the architects of draft evasion, and Ben Gvir who never served a single day in the IDF. Yonatan will serve here on behalf of this special generation."
Bennett emphasized Shalu's military background and family heritage. "Most of the great movements in history were driven by young people. Yonatan Shalu is a staff sergeant in the Maglan unit, and although he is not an officer, he commanded a series of operations in Lebanon and Gaza while risking his life, and several months ago he was nearly killed in Lebanon. Yonatan grew up on the legacy of his grandfather, Israeli hero Lt. Col. Shaul Shalu of blessed memory, who was a tank battalion commander and fell in heroic battle in the Yom Kippur War." Bennett concluded by expressing full confidence in his slate: "I am proud of him and of the excellent team of CEOs, fighters and achievers that we are bringing. Together we will fix Israel."
Naftali Bennett| צילום: All in
