As Poll Numbers Plunge, Bennett Escalates Attack on Chareidim: ‘If We Don’t Dismantle the Chareidi State, We’ll Lose the Zionist State’

As Poll Numbers Plunge, Bennett Escalates Attack on Chareidim: ‘If We Don’t Dismantle the Chareidi State, We’ll Lose the Zionist State’

With his party continuing to lose ground in the polls, Bennett Party chairman Naftali Bennett sparked a political firestorm after delivering a blistering speech attacking the chareidi community, warning that Israel must “dismantle the anti-Zionist chareidi state” or risk losing the Zionist state altogether. Addressing a conference of party activists, Bennett called for a fundamental change in the government’s approach to the chareidi public, arguing that the era of political compromise had come to an end. During his speech, Bennett said: “Therefore, the era of compromises is over; no exemptions, no budgets. If we do not dismantle the anti-Zionist chareidi state, we will lose the Zionist state. And I want to tell you, I say this out of love for our brothers—I do not hate them…” The remarks, delivered just days before Tishah B’Av, drew widespread criticism because of both their timing and their unusually harsh tone. Tishah B’Av is traditionally a time for reflecting on the dangers of internal division and baseless hatred among the Jewish people. Bennett’s comments also come as his political standing continues to deteriorate. Recent public opinion surveys have shown his party steadily losing support after previously polling at significantly higher levels. Political analysts are now debating whether the increasingly aggressive rhetoric is an attempt to shore up support among his base as his poll numbers slide or whether it signals a broader shift toward a more confrontational campaign strategy ahead of the next election. A Channel 13 News poll released Tuesday night showed Bennett’s party falling to a new low of just 14 Knesset seats. According to the same survey, Likud lost one seat, while the anti-Netanyahu bloc also dropped by one seat to 60 mandates, despite the Arab parties gaining two seats. {Matzav.com}