Netanyahu Delays Draft-Law Statement as Bennett and Lapid Slam Government Plan

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu abruptly canceled his planned recorded statement on the new draft law Tuesday night, minutes before it was set to air. His office cited “schedule constraints,” due to a meeting with Transportation Minister Miri Regev on the state budget. The postponement came after the address had already been pushed off from Monday.

After Netanyahu’s original announcement of the statement, former prime minister Naftali Bennett  and opposition leader Yair Lapid announced they too would be sending out a recorded message that night. 

Bennet delivered an extended speech accusing the government of advancing a bill that will preserve, rather than reduce, Charedi draft exemptions. “On October 7, Hamas terrorists launched a surprise attack during which they murdered, raped and kidnapped more than 1,400 Israelis,” Bennett said, praising civilians who “raced south into the inferno to save their brothers and sisters.” He warned that Israel is now entering a prolonged period of heightened operational strain. “Now, with the war’s end, we face years of heightened operational routine. The IDF is currently short about 20,000 soldiers to defend the borders of the State of Israel. There are only two options: to draft our Charedi brothers so they can shoulder the burden, or to impose roughly 120 reserve-duty days per year on our reservists on a permanent basis, destroying their professional and family lives.”

Bennett said the government should be moving to draft eligible Charedim, not advancing a law that “will prevent any chance of drafting Caredim.” He called the current proposal “not a draft law, but a bluff,” pointing to immediate pardons for draft evaders and lifetime exemptions for those who postpone service until age 26. Bennett closed by urging Israelis to oppose the bill: “We can unite as a nation only when we all serve as a nation. We do not lose hope — Am Yisrael Chai.”

Opposition leader Yair Lapid also delivered his statement as scheduled, saying Netanyahu canceled his address because “he knows the truth.” Lapid argued that the proposal is “full of holes inserted deliberately” and will not increase enlistment. “Fifty percent of Caredim will not enlist — not even five percent,” he said. Lapid accused the government of choosing “evaders over fighters,” calling the proposal “a full-scale evasion law” designed to renew funding for yeshivas. “This law disgraces our soldiers,” he said. “It cannot be defended, and it will not pass. I promise — we will stop it.”

Those close to Netanyahu, however,said the bill would bring meaningful change to Charedi enlistment. Government officials claim the bill would draft ]23,000 Haredim within three and a half years and includes “significant” sanctions for those who fail to meet service requirements. “Netanyahu is determined to pass the draft law — and he fully stands behind it,” Government Secretary Yossi Fuchs said earlier Tuesday.

The bill itself is currently in a key procedural phase. The Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee reopened debate this week on the revised draft, functioning as a preparation stage ahead of a potential first reading in the Knesset. Committee members are currently reviewing, editing, and shaping the text. Once completed, the bill will be brought to the Knesset for its initial vote. If it passes, it returns to committee for further refinement, and if it fails, the legislation collapses.

As the committee continues its work, Netanyahu is under pressure from his Charedi coalition partners to advance the bill and from segments of the public demanding more mandarotry draft laws. Netanyahu’s postponed address is expected to be delivered later tonight, and is expected to clarify his position.