Bennett pledges to redirect 'NIS 30 billion from draft evaders,' to those serving in the IDF

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who leads the B'Yachad party, pledged on Sunday to redirect NIS 30 billion in state funds from draft evaders to those who serve in the IDF, unveiling a plan to provide reservists with a range of benefits in the next government.The B'Yachad party is one of the leading parties in the opposition bloc seeking to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the October 27 elections.Bennett announced the plan called “The Servants' Revolution” at a campaign event in Tel Aviv.“We will take NIS 30 billion from draft evaders and transfer it to those who serve. This is the Servants' Revolution: Anyone who does not serve the state will not receive a single shekel from the state,” Bennett said.Bennett stated that the plan would shut down the channels through which state funds are transferred to those who evade IDF service and allocate that money to those who serve through a series of benefits.Among the benefits Bennett said would be offered to those who serve included free daycare for reservists, subsidies to cut various payments in half, and NIS one million in housing subsidies.“For 17 years, Netanyahu has been funding draft evasion in exchange for remaining in power. Netanyahu is dismantling the IDF, and he knows it. The IDF chief of staff has raised 10 red flags for him,” Bennett said.“As long as Netanyahu, [Shas party leader Arye] Deri, [Finance Minister Bezalel] Smotrich, and [former United Torah Judaism party leader Yitzhak] Goldknopf pay people not to enlist, who exactly will provide our soldiers with the reinforcements they need?” Bennett continued.The haredi parties – Shas and United Torah Judaism – have encouraged Netanayhu's coalition to advance legislation that critics argue would not increase haredi enlistment.The haredi parties boycotted coalition voting during the government's term, stating that they would not cooperate with Netanyahu's coalition until there was advancement with the contentious legislation they had been pushing for.Warning of a shortage and collapseThe IDF has repeatedly warned of an urgent manpower shortage after three years of war.In March, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir said the IDF could soon collapse if no solution was found for the manpower shortage.Bennett has drawn a red line against forming a coalition with the haredi parties, and called for reversing contentious haredi-backed legislation passed by the outgoing government.He has taken a hardline stance toward haredi conscription to the IDF, as his party's platform seeks to cut all state funding for anyone evading military service and bar any exemptions from the IDF.Bennett has also developed a plan to reform Israel's education system, proposing that a government led by him would cut state funding to Haredi educational institutions that do not teach core curriculum studies.