Bennett vows sweeping benefits for reservists if elected

His planned law includes NIS 1 million toward a first home, free daycare and steep utility discounts.

By Batya Jerenberg, World Israel News

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett vowed Monday to pass legislation granting sweeping benefits to reservists if he forms the next government after elections scheduled for October.

Speaking at a press conference, Bennett said his proposed “Service-Members Law” would provide active reservists with a NIS 1 million grant toward the purchase of a first home, along with a 50% discount on state services, including electricity and water bills, property taxes and public transportation.

To ease the burden on young families, the plan also includes free daycare until age three and free summer programs for school-age children.

Those who have completed their army or national service would also receive attractive perks in the law.

Israelis who completed either military or national service would also receive significant benefits under the proposal.

These include priority in state housing tenders, a monthly NIS 1,000 daycare stipend for children aged 0–3, free after-school care, free summer camp in schools for older children, and free public transportation for three years.

Those who served in combat roles will be able to travel cost-free for five years. And while all eligible veterans would receive full state funding for a bachelor’s degree, combat veterans would also qualify for a fully funded master’s degree.

Bennett said that the funding will be taken from all the money used to fulfill promises made to entice parties into the coalition, and funds currently transferred “to the draft evaders,” referring to the ultra-Orthodox (haredi) sector which has very low participation rates in the IDF or does national service in civilian settings such as schools and hospitals.

More savings would come from closing unnecessary government ministries, he said.

This adds up to NIS 25 billion, according to Bennett.

Simply thanking the serving public is not enough, he said. The people who share in the burden of serving the country should be “at the top of the pyramid, and those who choose to shirk – at the bottom,” Bennett said.

He described his proposal as “a game changer that fundamentally changes your life, your future and your family.”

Bennett said the initiative was a direct response to what he called the government’s “contemptible draft evasion law,” which critics argue will not significantly increase ultra-Orthodox enlistment to the levels the IDF needs because it lacks meaningful personal sanctions.

Bennett’s plan is focused on incentivizing all populations to serve.

“You will see how this law would bring thousands of haredi young people to join us in the IDF,” he said.

Bennett added that any party joining his future coalition would be required to cancel any draft law passed by the current government and adopt his legislation instead.

According to a Channel 12 poll Thursday, Bennett’s party, which he has yet to name or announce its Knesset candidates, is projected to win 21 Knesset seats, placing it second behind Likud, which leads with 26 mandates.

Overall, the anti-Netanyahu bloc of Jewish parties stands at 59 seats — two short of a governing majority.

Two potential allies, Benny Gantz’s Blue and White Party and a new faction called “The Reservists,” which calls first and foremost for equal sharing of the military burden, are currently polling below the electoral threshold, at 2.7% and 2% respectively.