Inside Naftali Bennett’s Plan for Israel: Jeremy Saltan on Education, Haredi Service and the Coming Election

Marc Schulman sits down with Jeremy Saltan, a candidate on Naftali Bennett’s list, for a detailed conversation about what Bennett and his party would actually do if returned to government.

Saltan explains why he chose to run with Bennett and argues that lessons have been learned from Bennett’s previous government, including a much more rigorous process for selecting candidates. The conversation then moves from campaign politics to policy: Israel’s troubled education system, the shortage of teachers, Bennett’s proposal to bring Haredi and Arab schools into a common state framework, and the challenge of preparing Israeli children for the country’s economic future.

They also tackle one of the most contentious issues in Israeli politics: Haredi military service. Saltan lays out the party’s approach to military and national service, Haredi participation in the workforce, and the principle that government benefits should be tied more closely to fulfilling civic responsibilities.

With Israel heading toward an election, this episode goes beyond personalities and polls to examine the policies Bennett’s party says it intends to put into practice from its first day in office.