Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel has sharply criticized legislation backed by Israel’s governing coalition that would expand state-funded daycare subsidies for families of ultra-Orthodox men who avoid military conscription. Speaking ahead of the Knesset’s anticipated vote on the bill, Haskel called the proposal “morally wrong” and accused it of undermining the motivation of Israelis serving in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) amid ongoing security challenges.

The legislation, which recently passed a preliminary reading and is expected to face its first reading in the Knesset plenum, seeks to adjust the criteria for daycare subsidy eligibility by focusing solely on the mother’s income or employment status, rather than the father’s. Critics argue this change would effectively extend public benefits to haredi families whose male members avoid compulsory military service, despite the IDF’s pressing manpower shortage, currently estimated at nearly 17,000 combat soldiers.

Haskel, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition but a vocal dissenter, voted against the bill in its preliminary stage and pledged to continue opposing both this and other legislation favored by ultra-Orthodox parties. Last week, she was one of four coalition lawmakers who opposed a separate bill aiming to enshrine Torah study in Israel’s Basic Law. That legislation, proponents say, would protect the status of yeshiva students who do not serve in the military and allow them to continue receiving state support, effectively equating their status with that of soldiers.

In her interview, Haskel stressed that Israel’s current security situation requires prioritizing military service above other considerations. “We are at war,” she said, underscoring the need to address the IDF’s serious manpower crisis. She described it as unacceptable that public resources would be directed in a way that benefits draft evaders ahead of those actively serving, especially reservists who bear substantial burdens to defend the country.

The push to advance these bills follows an April ruling by Israel’s High Court of Justice demanding the government take concrete measures to curb financial benefits for draft evaders and potentially criminally enforce military service obligations for haredi men. Despite this, coalition leaders representing ultra-Orthodox parties have pressed to pass legislation that maintains or even expands benefits for yeshiva students exempt from service.

Recent reports have suggested political negotiations between Netanyahu and haredi factions may have influenced election timing, with an agreement reportedly reached to delay the vote until October in exchange for advancing the Basic Law: Torah Study and the daycare subsidies bill.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir has previously warned that the army’s viability is at risk if the manpower shortage is not addressed. Haskel affirmed her commitment to resisting political deals that, in her view, sacrifice soldiers' interests. “As much as it depends on me, I will not let them close political deals on the back of our soldiers,” she said.

While Haskel does not expect the controversial legislation to affect Netanyahu’s Likud party’s polling significantly, she critiqued the current political climate as overly personality-driven. She declined to rejoin Likud, citing a lack of alignment, and described herself as “politically homeless” on the right wing. With new right-wing parties reportedly in formation, Haskel expressed determination to build or join a party that represents what she called “the hardworking people, the serving people, the contributing people” of Israel.

She emphasized that her approach prioritizes security and economic policies, and voiced the intention to ensure right-wing voters have a clear option focused on these concerns ahead of the next elections.