Internal Israeli divisions explained
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ASPartOfMe
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27 Mar 2025, 9:03 am
Israel in turmoil: Your guide to the internal conflicts shaking up the Jewish state - explainer
Quote:
Israel, at the moment, stands at a precarious crossroads, grappling with external conflicts and internal upheavals that threaten the very essence of its democracy, while at the same time showcasing the very acts which make Israel’s democratic ideals sacred.
The nation is embroiled in a multifaceted crisis encompassing allegations of corruption, contentious political maneuvers, public dissent, and ongoing security challenges. The Jerusalem Post delves into the key issues shaping Israel’s current turmoil, presenting perspectives from both sides of the argument.
What the Left says
The government has lost control – morally, strategically, and politically. The right-wing coalition, embroiled in scandal and incapable of national unity, is dragging Israel into deeper chaos. Instead of focusing on rescuing the hostages or ending the war responsibly, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s camp is preserving political power.
What the Right says
Israel has been fighting a war for its very existence, under threat from Hamas, Iran, and internal division. This is a time for unity and strength. Critics are weakening morale, distracting the IDF, and giving oxygen to international delegitimization efforts. The Left is exploiting national pain to push a political agenda.
Summary
Some 18 months into the war with Hamas, Israel is facing a volatile mix of war fatigue, internal division, and political crisis. From hostages to corruption probes, from street protests to battlefield dilemmas, Israelis are divided not just on how to move forward but on what kind of country they want to be when (or if) the dust settles.
1. Qatargate
Qatargate erupted in February 2025 following explosive media revelations that close advisers to Netanyahu – Jonatan Urich and Eli Feldstein principally, though not exclusively – had allegedly coordinated with a Qatari public relations firm to boost Doha’s image inside Israel, all while Qatar remains the main broker for hostage negotiations with Hamas.
The scandal has raised urgent questions about foreign influence, national security, and the priorities of Israel’s leadership in the middle of a war. It also prompted a reported Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) investigation, sparking a high-stakes showdown within the security establishment.
What the Left says
Netanyahu deliberately scuttled a nearly finalized hostage deal in coordination with Qatar and Mossad chief David Barnea to prolong the war for political gain. Leaked details suggest a deliberate obstruction of negotiations, confirming critics’ worst suspicions about the prime minister’s motives.
What the Right says
The leaks are part of an orchestrated smear campaign (the term “witch hunt” is regularly heard from Netanyahu and his supporters regarding any complaint against the prime minister). Netanyahu himself has acted cautiously to ensure that any deal does not reward Hamas. Qatar is not a neutral broker, and Israel must not cave to international pressure or internal calls of wrongdoing.
Summary
The Qatar hostage deal saga has become a Rorschach test for Israelis: Was it a missed opportunity to save lives or a wise refusal to compromise with terrorists? There is also the idea that Israelis have sacrificed the well-being of their country at a time of war to make financial gains with a country that has actively supported and financed Hamas. The leak’s timing and content have only deepened public distrust and widened the political rift.
2. Ronen Bar and the Shin Bet turmoil
The head of the Shin Bet, Ronen Bar, found himself at the center of a political firestorm after a covert recording surfaced in which he accepted partial blame for Israel’s failure to prevent the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre, along with the findings of a Shin Bet probe into its failings on that day.
Netanyahu subsequently attempted to dismiss him, citing a breakdown of trust. The prime minister also accused Bar last week, without providing evidence, of opening the Qatargate investigation to prevent his dismissal. The move, unprecedented in wartime, has intensified debates over politicization in security services and whether Netanyahu is using the war to purge perceived opponents.
What the Left says
The focus on Ronen Bar is a distraction. It’s Hamas and Iran who are to blame, not our intelligence chiefs. Calls for resignation now are politically motivated and undermine national resilience during wartime.
What the Right says
The leaked recording of Shin Bet chief Bar admitting, “We failed to stop Oct. 7” is a rare, honest admission of responsibility. It reinforces the need for a broader reckoning across the political and security establishment – starting with Bar.
Summary
Ronen Bar’s taped remarks have reopened the painful questions about accountability. While many see his words as courageous, others argue it is an attempt to deflect blame or protect the security echelon at the expense of elected leaders. Either way, it signals cracks within Israel’s most secretive institution.
3. Attorney-general under fire
Last Sunday, Israel’s cabinet passed a dramatic and controversial vote of no confidence in Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara, accusing her of obstructing key government actions. Though non-binding, the vote has triggered a constitutional showdown over whether the prime minister can legally fire the attorney-general – a step not taken since Israel’s founding.
The crisis has deepened already large fissures between Israel’s political and legal systems, which has been ongoing since the judicial reform attempts before Oct. 7, with the A-G seen by many as the last independent bulwark against executive overreach during wartime.
What the Left says
Baharav-Miara is under a coordinated attack from the government for doing her job. Her independence is the last line of defense against an increasingly authoritarian executive. Netanyahu and his allies want her out to undermine legal checks.
What the Right says
The A-G is overstepping her role, blocking critical wartime decisions, and acting as an unelected political actor. Her refusal to back government moves, including in the war and judicial matters, shows she is out of touch with the national mood.
Summary
The attorney-general has become a symbolic battleground for Israel’s judicial future. Critics of the incumbent government call her a bulwark of democracy; supporters of the government call her an obstructionist elite. Her position is increasingly untenable as pressure mounts from both the political and legal worlds.
4. Protests and police violence
With the government targeting legal officials and controversial policies proceeding amid war, Israel has once again been swept by mass protests. Tens of thousands have poured into the streets in the past few weeks, especially since the end of the ceasefire with Hamas, demanding Netanyahu’s resignation and the return of the hostages.
In response, Israel Police have been accused of deploying increasingly aggressive crowd-control tactics, reviving traumatic memories from the 2023 judicial reform protests. Critics say democracy is under siege; supporters say order must be maintained.
What the Left says
Demonstrators are patriots demanding the return of the hostages and accountability. Police are using disproportionate force – water cannons, stun grenades, beatings – to suppress dissent. This is a dangerous descent into authoritarianism.
What the Right says
The protests are undermining the war effort. Many are led by the same groups who opposed the government pre-Oct. 7. While police should act responsibly, law and order must be maintained during a national crisis.
Summary
The return of mass protests has reignited the debate over free speech in wartime. With escalating police tactics and emotionally charged demonstrations, Israel is once again at the crossroads of protest and patriotism, security, and civil liberties.
5. Hostages and the re-invasion of Gaza
As talks with Hamas continue to stall and the hostages remain in Gaza, Israel has relaunched military operations in areas previously cleared, most recently in Khan Yunis and Rafah. Critics say the renewed offensives are endangering the hostages and derailing diplomacy. Supporters argue that military pressure is the only way to break Hamas and ensure the hostages’ safe return. The moral dilemma has become the war’s emotional epicenter.
What the Left says
The focus should be entirely on saving the remaining hostages. The government is prioritizing military objectives over human lives. The second phase of the Gaza invasion may sabotage ongoing talks.
What the Right says
The hostages must be returned, but not at any cost. Hamas only responds to pressure. A military victory in Rafah and beyond will bring both deterrence and better negotiating terms.
Summary
The fate of the hostages is the emotional and moral core of the war. But with each passing day and each IDF advance, Israelis are split between the urgency of rescue and the imperatives of national defense.
6. Reserve soldiers’ revolt
More than 100,000 reservists have cycled through active duty since Oct. 7, many of them serving more than 270 days in combat over the past 18 months. Now growing numbers are voicing dissent.
Some are refusing to show up for service until hostage deals are reached, while others are protesting governmental policies. Many cite exhaustion, unclear objectives, and a sense of being used for political gain. Their revolt is reshaping civil-military relations in a country where the army is both sacred and central to national identity.
What the Left says
Soldiers are exhausted, unsupported, and increasingly angry at being sent into battle without clear political or strategic goals. A breaking point is near, especially as many feel abandoned once returning home.
What the Right says
The IDF’s strength lies in its reserves. Complaints should be heard, but politicization of the military must be avoided. Criticism from within should not be weaponized by the media or the opposition.
Summary
The morale of Israel’s citizen-soldiers is fraying. Their sacrifices are being felt not just in Gaza but also in public discourse as the question shifts from military success to national purpose and leadership.
7. Haredi draft controversy
Israel’s blanket exemption for haredi (ultra-Orthodox) men from military service is set to come to an end, something which most in the country will celebrate. With thousands of secular and National-Religious Israelis conscripted or killed since Oct. 7, the status quo has become politically toxic. The High Court is poised to intervene, while Netanyahu, under pressure from his haredi coalition partners (who have threatened to delay the budget or withdraw from the coalition), seeks to delay reform.
The draft debate has exploded once again, with both sides warning of irreversible national rifts, although there were reports at the beginning of this week that Netanyahu had persuaded his ultra-Orthodox coalition partners to withdraw their threat to topple the government over the draft law.
In the next three months, the IDF plans to send out 14,000 draft notices to haredim, in addition to the 10,000 that have already been sent. So far, less than 200 have actually enlisted.
What the Left says
It is morally indefensible for ultra-Orthodox Jews to remain exempt from service while the rest of the nation bleeds, particularly in light of the financial benefits they gain from others’ sacrifices. Equality of burden is now a national imperative, not just a social grievance.
What the Right says
While most on the Right also demand the haredim be drafted into the IDF, some state that conscripting so many unwanted people could cause internal collapse. The IDF doesn’t even want mass conscription of unmotivated recruits. Religious study is a national value that must be protected alongside military needs.
Summary
The haredi draft issue has re-emerged as one of Israel’s most volatile internal debates. War has reignited calls for universal service, but also fears of cultural collapse and widening the religious-secular chasm.
8. Netanyahu’s trial amid war
Netanyahu’s long-running corruption trial – on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust – resumed in early 2025 after months of wartime delays. Critics argue that his legal woes now influence every major government decision, from hostage negotiations to attempts to sideline the attorney-general. For supporters, the trial is an illegitimate attempt to topple a wartime leader, orchestrated by legal elites who have never accepted Netanyahu’s leadership.
What the Left says
The prime minister must resign. A wartime leader on trial for corruption cannot lead with credibility. His legal entanglements are shaping national decisions, delaying critical moves like hostage deals and post-war planning.
What the Right says
This trial is a political witch hunt, and now more than ever, Israel needs strong, experienced leadership. Suspending the legal process in wartime is not just justified; it’s necessary.
Summary
Netanyahu’s trial has faded from the headlines but not from the national subconscious. For many, it remains the dark shadow looming over every decision. For others, it’s irrelevant in the face of existential war. The judiciary, too, is caught in the storm.
What will happen?
The unity forged in the fires of Oct. 7 is fracturing. And so the question is no longer just whether Israel will survive in the war against its enemies but whether it can survive itself.
The nation is embroiled in a multifaceted crisis encompassing allegations of corruption, contentious political maneuvers, public dissent, and ongoing security challenges. The Jerusalem Post delves into the key issues shaping Israel’s current turmoil, presenting perspectives from both sides of the argument.
What the Left says
The government has lost control – morally, strategically, and politically. The right-wing coalition, embroiled in scandal and incapable of national unity, is dragging Israel into deeper chaos. Instead of focusing on rescuing the hostages or ending the war responsibly, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s camp is preserving political power.
What the Right says
Israel has been fighting a war for its very existence, under threat from Hamas, Iran, and internal division. This is a time for unity and strength. Critics are weakening morale, distracting the IDF, and giving oxygen to international delegitimization efforts. The Left is exploiting national pain to push a political agenda.
Summary
Some 18 months into the war with Hamas, Israel is facing a volatile mix of war fatigue, internal division, and political crisis. From hostages to corruption probes, from street protests to battlefield dilemmas, Israelis are divided not just on how to move forward but on what kind of country they want to be when (or if) the dust settles.
1. Qatargate
Qatargate erupted in February 2025 following explosive media revelations that close advisers to Netanyahu – Jonatan Urich and Eli Feldstein principally, though not exclusively – had allegedly coordinated with a Qatari public relations firm to boost Doha’s image inside Israel, all while Qatar remains the main broker for hostage negotiations with Hamas.
The scandal has raised urgent questions about foreign influence, national security, and the priorities of Israel’s leadership in the middle of a war. It also prompted a reported Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) investigation, sparking a high-stakes showdown within the security establishment.
What the Left says
Netanyahu deliberately scuttled a nearly finalized hostage deal in coordination with Qatar and Mossad chief David Barnea to prolong the war for political gain. Leaked details suggest a deliberate obstruction of negotiations, confirming critics’ worst suspicions about the prime minister’s motives.
What the Right says
The leaks are part of an orchestrated smear campaign (the term “witch hunt” is regularly heard from Netanyahu and his supporters regarding any complaint against the prime minister). Netanyahu himself has acted cautiously to ensure that any deal does not reward Hamas. Qatar is not a neutral broker, and Israel must not cave to international pressure or internal calls of wrongdoing.
Summary
The Qatar hostage deal saga has become a Rorschach test for Israelis: Was it a missed opportunity to save lives or a wise refusal to compromise with terrorists? There is also the idea that Israelis have sacrificed the well-being of their country at a time of war to make financial gains with a country that has actively supported and financed Hamas. The leak’s timing and content have only deepened public distrust and widened the political rift.
2. Ronen Bar and the Shin Bet turmoil
The head of the Shin Bet, Ronen Bar, found himself at the center of a political firestorm after a covert recording surfaced in which he accepted partial blame for Israel’s failure to prevent the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre, along with the findings of a Shin Bet probe into its failings on that day.
Netanyahu subsequently attempted to dismiss him, citing a breakdown of trust. The prime minister also accused Bar last week, without providing evidence, of opening the Qatargate investigation to prevent his dismissal. The move, unprecedented in wartime, has intensified debates over politicization in security services and whether Netanyahu is using the war to purge perceived opponents.
What the Left says
The focus on Ronen Bar is a distraction. It’s Hamas and Iran who are to blame, not our intelligence chiefs. Calls for resignation now are politically motivated and undermine national resilience during wartime.
What the Right says
The leaked recording of Shin Bet chief Bar admitting, “We failed to stop Oct. 7” is a rare, honest admission of responsibility. It reinforces the need for a broader reckoning across the political and security establishment – starting with Bar.
Summary
Ronen Bar’s taped remarks have reopened the painful questions about accountability. While many see his words as courageous, others argue it is an attempt to deflect blame or protect the security echelon at the expense of elected leaders. Either way, it signals cracks within Israel’s most secretive institution.
3. Attorney-general under fire
Last Sunday, Israel’s cabinet passed a dramatic and controversial vote of no confidence in Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara, accusing her of obstructing key government actions. Though non-binding, the vote has triggered a constitutional showdown over whether the prime minister can legally fire the attorney-general – a step not taken since Israel’s founding.
The crisis has deepened already large fissures between Israel’s political and legal systems, which has been ongoing since the judicial reform attempts before Oct. 7, with the A-G seen by many as the last independent bulwark against executive overreach during wartime.
What the Left says
Baharav-Miara is under a coordinated attack from the government for doing her job. Her independence is the last line of defense against an increasingly authoritarian executive. Netanyahu and his allies want her out to undermine legal checks.
What the Right says
The A-G is overstepping her role, blocking critical wartime decisions, and acting as an unelected political actor. Her refusal to back government moves, including in the war and judicial matters, shows she is out of touch with the national mood.
Summary
The attorney-general has become a symbolic battleground for Israel’s judicial future. Critics of the incumbent government call her a bulwark of democracy; supporters of the government call her an obstructionist elite. Her position is increasingly untenable as pressure mounts from both the political and legal worlds.
4. Protests and police violence
With the government targeting legal officials and controversial policies proceeding amid war, Israel has once again been swept by mass protests. Tens of thousands have poured into the streets in the past few weeks, especially since the end of the ceasefire with Hamas, demanding Netanyahu’s resignation and the return of the hostages.
In response, Israel Police have been accused of deploying increasingly aggressive crowd-control tactics, reviving traumatic memories from the 2023 judicial reform protests. Critics say democracy is under siege; supporters say order must be maintained.
What the Left says
Demonstrators are patriots demanding the return of the hostages and accountability. Police are using disproportionate force – water cannons, stun grenades, beatings – to suppress dissent. This is a dangerous descent into authoritarianism.
What the Right says
The protests are undermining the war effort. Many are led by the same groups who opposed the government pre-Oct. 7. While police should act responsibly, law and order must be maintained during a national crisis.
Summary
The return of mass protests has reignited the debate over free speech in wartime. With escalating police tactics and emotionally charged demonstrations, Israel is once again at the crossroads of protest and patriotism, security, and civil liberties.
5. Hostages and the re-invasion of Gaza
As talks with Hamas continue to stall and the hostages remain in Gaza, Israel has relaunched military operations in areas previously cleared, most recently in Khan Yunis and Rafah. Critics say the renewed offensives are endangering the hostages and derailing diplomacy. Supporters argue that military pressure is the only way to break Hamas and ensure the hostages’ safe return. The moral dilemma has become the war’s emotional epicenter.
What the Left says
The focus should be entirely on saving the remaining hostages. The government is prioritizing military objectives over human lives. The second phase of the Gaza invasion may sabotage ongoing talks.
What the Right says
The hostages must be returned, but not at any cost. Hamas only responds to pressure. A military victory in Rafah and beyond will bring both deterrence and better negotiating terms.
Summary
The fate of the hostages is the emotional and moral core of the war. But with each passing day and each IDF advance, Israelis are split between the urgency of rescue and the imperatives of national defense.
6. Reserve soldiers’ revolt
More than 100,000 reservists have cycled through active duty since Oct. 7, many of them serving more than 270 days in combat over the past 18 months. Now growing numbers are voicing dissent.
Some are refusing to show up for service until hostage deals are reached, while others are protesting governmental policies. Many cite exhaustion, unclear objectives, and a sense of being used for political gain. Their revolt is reshaping civil-military relations in a country where the army is both sacred and central to national identity.
What the Left says
Soldiers are exhausted, unsupported, and increasingly angry at being sent into battle without clear political or strategic goals. A breaking point is near, especially as many feel abandoned once returning home.
What the Right says
The IDF’s strength lies in its reserves. Complaints should be heard, but politicization of the military must be avoided. Criticism from within should not be weaponized by the media or the opposition.
Summary
The morale of Israel’s citizen-soldiers is fraying. Their sacrifices are being felt not just in Gaza but also in public discourse as the question shifts from military success to national purpose and leadership.
7. Haredi draft controversy
Israel’s blanket exemption for haredi (ultra-Orthodox) men from military service is set to come to an end, something which most in the country will celebrate. With thousands of secular and National-Religious Israelis conscripted or killed since Oct. 7, the status quo has become politically toxic. The High Court is poised to intervene, while Netanyahu, under pressure from his haredi coalition partners (who have threatened to delay the budget or withdraw from the coalition), seeks to delay reform.
The draft debate has exploded once again, with both sides warning of irreversible national rifts, although there were reports at the beginning of this week that Netanyahu had persuaded his ultra-Orthodox coalition partners to withdraw their threat to topple the government over the draft law.
In the next three months, the IDF plans to send out 14,000 draft notices to haredim, in addition to the 10,000 that have already been sent. So far, less than 200 have actually enlisted.
What the Left says
It is morally indefensible for ultra-Orthodox Jews to remain exempt from service while the rest of the nation bleeds, particularly in light of the financial benefits they gain from others’ sacrifices. Equality of burden is now a national imperative, not just a social grievance.
What the Right says
While most on the Right also demand the haredim be drafted into the IDF, some state that conscripting so many unwanted people could cause internal collapse. The IDF doesn’t even want mass conscription of unmotivated recruits. Religious study is a national value that must be protected alongside military needs.
Summary
The haredi draft issue has re-emerged as one of Israel’s most volatile internal debates. War has reignited calls for universal service, but also fears of cultural collapse and widening the religious-secular chasm.
8. Netanyahu’s trial amid war
Netanyahu’s long-running corruption trial – on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust – resumed in early 2025 after months of wartime delays. Critics argue that his legal woes now influence every major government decision, from hostage negotiations to attempts to sideline the attorney-general. For supporters, the trial is an illegitimate attempt to topple a wartime leader, orchestrated by legal elites who have never accepted Netanyahu’s leadership.
What the Left says
The prime minister must resign. A wartime leader on trial for corruption cannot lead with credibility. His legal entanglements are shaping national decisions, delaying critical moves like hostage deals and post-war planning.
What the Right says
This trial is a political witch hunt, and now more than ever, Israel needs strong, experienced leadership. Suspending the legal process in wartime is not just justified; it’s necessary.
Summary
Netanyahu’s trial has faded from the headlines but not from the national subconscious. For many, it remains the dark shadow looming over every decision. For others, it’s irrelevant in the face of existential war. The judiciary, too, is caught in the storm.
What will happen?
The unity forged in the fires of Oct. 7 is fracturing. And so the question is no longer just whether Israel will survive in the war against its enemies but whether it can survive itself.
I am glad this article was written. While I had basic knowledge about these issues between posting about the war, blowback, and the Trump administration I have only so much time and spoons.
_________________
Professionally Identified and joined WP August 26, 2013
DSM 5: Autism Spectrum Disorder, DSM IV: Aspergers Moderate Severity.
“My autism is not a superpower. It also isn’t some kind of god-forsaken, endless fountain of suffering inflicted on my family. It’s just part of who I am as a person”. - Sara Luterman
funeralxempire
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27 Mar 2025, 1:56 pm
Thanks for posting this.
_________________
The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.
If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing. —Malcolm X
Real power is achieved when the ruling class controls the material essentials of life, granting and withholding them from the masses as if they were privileges.—George Orwell
ASPartOfMe
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Age: 67
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27 Mar 2025, 7:17 pm
You two are welcome.
Thank you Alex Winston for writing it and the Jerusalem Post for publishing it.
_________________
Professionally Identified and joined WP August 26, 2013
DSM 5: Autism Spectrum Disorder, DSM IV: Aspergers Moderate Severity.
“My autism is not a superpower. It also isn’t some kind of god-forsaken, endless fountain of suffering inflicted on my family. It’s just part of who I am as a person”. - Sara Luterman
ASPartOfMe
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Joined: 25 Aug 2013
Age: 67
Gender: Male
Posts: 37,864
Location: Long Island, New York
29 Mar 2025, 4:37 pm
Quote:
"The war will not only not return the kidnapped, it will kill them and [prevent] the bodies of the fallen from being exhumed. [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu is consciously turning the kidnapped into Ron Arad," Einav Zangauker, the mother of Gaza hostage Matan, accused on Saturday.
Ron Arad was an Israeli air force weapon systems officer who has been classified as missing since 1986.
Zangauker's comments were shared as demonstrators joined in Tel Aviv's Hostages' Square, demanding a deal that would release the remaining hostages after over 500 days in captivity.
She added that Ron Dermer, who is heading hostage-ceasefire talks on behalf of Israel, "managed to thwart the agreement and make Trump lose interest. The result is visible to everyone: Netanyahu blew up the agreement, and the kidnapped were left behind."
She added: "At this very moment, my Matan and our precious 58 [loved onces] are being bombed, on Netanyahu's orders."
Drawing comparisons to the Holocaust
She opened up about nightmares she experiences at night, thinking of her son's suffering. "Mom, we die a thousand times a day," he tells her in her dreams.
"The hostages are being held captive by Hamas, and we, the families, are being held captive by Netanyahu. In the Holocaust that the Jews went through, they were tattooed with numbers, and their names, identities, and hopes were taken away. Netanyahu is tattooing the souls of our loved ones with numbers," she accused. "What number did you tattoo Matan's soul with, huh, Netanyahu? 3,15,21 - What number did you give him?"
"You chose to blow up the negotiations and return to fighting. You decided to save yourself and wage war against an entire people. We will not go like sheep to the slaughter," she said, addressing the prime minister. "We will not let you destroy and annihilate our country! In the Holocaust, Jews were selected by the Nazis, some for life and some for death. You, the Prime Minister of the Jews, are selecting among the abductees.
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Professionally Identified and joined WP August 26, 2013
DSM 5: Autism Spectrum Disorder, DSM IV: Aspergers Moderate Severity.
“My autism is not a superpower. It also isn’t some kind of god-forsaken, endless fountain of suffering inflicted on my family. It’s just part of who I am as a person”. - Sara Luterman
ASPartOfMe
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31 Mar 2025, 10:41 am
Netanyahu testifies in Qatargate probe after police summons, as top aides arrested
Quote:
Police arrested Jonatan Urich and Eli Feldstein, top aides to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as suspects in the so-called Qatargate scandal on Monday, just as the attorney general ordered the police to summon the premier for testimony in the ongoing probe.
The prime minister’s motorcade arrived at his office early Monday evening, where he was questioned by investigators in the police’s Lahav 433 major crimes unit.
Netanyahu left the Tel Aviv District Court Monday morning, cutting short his criminal trial on corruption charges, to give testimony regarding the alleged unlawful financial ties between his senior staffers and Qatar.
According to a source in Lahav 433 quoted by the Kan public broadcaster, police “gave the prime minister the option of coming to give open testimony [either] today or on another day, but he chose to come today and stop the hearing of his case in court.”
According to a Channel 12 report from before the testimony, the prime minister was to be questioned as someone with knowledge of the affair, rather than as a suspect. The decision as to whether to subsequently question Netanyahu under caution, meaning as a suspect in the case, would be made following his open testimony.
The probe was launched following revelations that Netanyahu’s former spokesman Feldstein — who has been charged with harming national security in a case involving the theft and leaking of classified IDF documents — worked for Qatar via an international firm contracted by Doha to feed Israeli journalists pro-Qatar stories, all while employed in the PMO.
Ordered by Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara in late February, the investigation is being conducted by Lahav 433 and the Shin Bet.
Investigators also summoned a journalist Monday to give testimony, which later turned into questioning under caution, as part of the probe. Hebrew media outlets reported that police suspect the unnamed reporter of contact with a foreign agent, but law enforcement did not issue an official statement on the matter.
A police source told Haaretz that law enforcement had obtained the necessary clearance from the State Attorney’s Office to question the suspect, as required for interrogating journalists.
Earlier in March, police questioned both Feldstein and Urich on suspicion of contacting a foreign agent, fraud, money laundering, and bribery. No further details were made available for publication due to a court-imposed gag order on the case.
The investigation focuses specifically on alleged Qatari payments to Netanyahu’s close circle between May 2022 and October 2024. It has been conducted largely under Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, who is currently in the process of being fired by Netanyahu.
Police have been seeking to question Einhorn, who now resides in Serbia as an adviser to the country’s President Aleksandar Vučić, as part of the investigation but have struggled due to his living abroad.
On Sunday, Hebrew news outlet Walla reported that Ariel Shafir, a close associate of Urich also formerly employed at Einhorn’s firm, arranged meetings between senior Israeli officials — including a government minister — Gulf-based Israeli businessman Gil Birger and pro-Qatari lobbyist Jay Footlik.
The prime minister’s motorcade arrived at his office early Monday evening, where he was questioned by investigators in the police’s Lahav 433 major crimes unit.
Netanyahu left the Tel Aviv District Court Monday morning, cutting short his criminal trial on corruption charges, to give testimony regarding the alleged unlawful financial ties between his senior staffers and Qatar.
According to a source in Lahav 433 quoted by the Kan public broadcaster, police “gave the prime minister the option of coming to give open testimony [either] today or on another day, but he chose to come today and stop the hearing of his case in court.”
According to a Channel 12 report from before the testimony, the prime minister was to be questioned as someone with knowledge of the affair, rather than as a suspect. The decision as to whether to subsequently question Netanyahu under caution, meaning as a suspect in the case, would be made following his open testimony.
The probe was launched following revelations that Netanyahu’s former spokesman Feldstein — who has been charged with harming national security in a case involving the theft and leaking of classified IDF documents — worked for Qatar via an international firm contracted by Doha to feed Israeli journalists pro-Qatar stories, all while employed in the PMO.
Ordered by Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara in late February, the investigation is being conducted by Lahav 433 and the Shin Bet.
Investigators also summoned a journalist Monday to give testimony, which later turned into questioning under caution, as part of the probe. Hebrew media outlets reported that police suspect the unnamed reporter of contact with a foreign agent, but law enforcement did not issue an official statement on the matter.
A police source told Haaretz that law enforcement had obtained the necessary clearance from the State Attorney’s Office to question the suspect, as required for interrogating journalists.
Earlier in March, police questioned both Feldstein and Urich on suspicion of contacting a foreign agent, fraud, money laundering, and bribery. No further details were made available for publication due to a court-imposed gag order on the case.
The investigation focuses specifically on alleged Qatari payments to Netanyahu’s close circle between May 2022 and October 2024. It has been conducted largely under Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, who is currently in the process of being fired by Netanyahu.
Police have been seeking to question Einhorn, who now resides in Serbia as an adviser to the country’s President Aleksandar Vučić, as part of the investigation but have struggled due to his living abroad.
On Sunday, Hebrew news outlet Walla reported that Ariel Shafir, a close associate of Urich also formerly employed at Einhorn’s firm, arranged meetings between senior Israeli officials — including a government minister — Gulf-based Israeli businessman Gil Birger and pro-Qatari lobbyist Jay Footlik.
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Professionally Identified and joined WP August 26, 2013
DSM 5: Autism Spectrum Disorder, DSM IV: Aspergers Moderate Severity.
“My autism is not a superpower. It also isn’t some kind of god-forsaken, endless fountain of suffering inflicted on my family. It’s just part of who I am as a person”. - Sara Luterman
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31 Mar 2025, 5:28 pm
Netanyahu seen likely to reverse pick for new Shin Bet head after allies protest choice
Quote:
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared set to retract his pick of former Navy chief Eli Sharvit as the next head of the Shin Bet security service Monday afternoon, hours after the surprise announcement drew jeers from the premier’s allies and accusations of political chicanery from his foes.
Netanyahu announced Sharvit Monday morning as his choice to replace Ronen Bar at the head of the agency, in a move that apparently caught the country’s top defense official off guard and set off a flurry of raised eyebrows, given the reserves vice admiral’s reported participation in anti-government protests and ongoing questions surrounding Bar’s dismissal during a criminal probe into associates of the prime minister.
A source with knowledge of Netanyahu’s thinking told The Times of Israel Monday afternoon that the prime minister was likely to rescind Sharvit’s nomination, but did not cite a reason.
Reports in Hebrew-language media earlier on Monday indicated that Netanyahu was facing pressure from political allies to scratch Sharvit’s nomination, due to his apparent participation in massive protests that erupted in 2023, against the government’s plans to overhaul the judiciary.
Sharvit also spoke publicly in favor of a 2022 territorial water agreement with Lebanon, which Netanyahu — then the opposition leader — had opposed, and earlier this year, Sharvit penned an opinion piece criticizing US President Donald Trump for his climate policies.
Sharvit is “not suitable to head the Shin Bet,” tweeted Likud lawmaker Tally Gotliv, who predicted that the appointment would be voided.
An unsourced report carried by Channel 12 news claimed that Netanyahu had chosen Sharvit, despite being aware of his activism, thinking he was the best person for the job, but was pressured by his wife Sara to walk the choice back.
There was no comment from the American administration on the pick of Sharvit, but Republican South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham issued a statement excoriating the nomination as “beyond problematic.”
“The statements made by Eli Sharvit about President Trump and his polices will create unnecessary stress at a critical time,” Graham wrote on X. “My advice to my Israeli friends is change course and do better vetting.”
In the op-ed, Sharvit accused Trump of leading the world “into the abyss,” due to his support for fossil fuels.
“Trump’s shortsightedness sends a shocking message to the world of disregard for scientific reality, the well-being of humanity, and responsibility to future generations,” he wrote.
A Channel 12 report Monday night suggested that, in fact, it was Netanyahu’s aides who reached out to Graham’s office, urging him to tweet against Sharvit’s appointment, to bolster the claim that it was Trump administration pressure that led to the decision, rather than anger over his participation in the protests.
Some have questioned Sharvit’s nomination over his apparent lack of familiarity with the types of domestic security challenges normally tackled by the Shin Bet, including not knowing Arabic or being involved in Palestinian affairs, though this would not be unprecedented for a head of the agency.
Netanyahu announced Sharvit Monday morning as his choice to replace Ronen Bar at the head of the agency, in a move that apparently caught the country’s top defense official off guard and set off a flurry of raised eyebrows, given the reserves vice admiral’s reported participation in anti-government protests and ongoing questions surrounding Bar’s dismissal during a criminal probe into associates of the prime minister.
A source with knowledge of Netanyahu’s thinking told The Times of Israel Monday afternoon that the prime minister was likely to rescind Sharvit’s nomination, but did not cite a reason.
Reports in Hebrew-language media earlier on Monday indicated that Netanyahu was facing pressure from political allies to scratch Sharvit’s nomination, due to his apparent participation in massive protests that erupted in 2023, against the government’s plans to overhaul the judiciary.
Sharvit also spoke publicly in favor of a 2022 territorial water agreement with Lebanon, which Netanyahu — then the opposition leader — had opposed, and earlier this year, Sharvit penned an opinion piece criticizing US President Donald Trump for his climate policies.
Sharvit is “not suitable to head the Shin Bet,” tweeted Likud lawmaker Tally Gotliv, who predicted that the appointment would be voided.
An unsourced report carried by Channel 12 news claimed that Netanyahu had chosen Sharvit, despite being aware of his activism, thinking he was the best person for the job, but was pressured by his wife Sara to walk the choice back.
There was no comment from the American administration on the pick of Sharvit, but Republican South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham issued a statement excoriating the nomination as “beyond problematic.”
“The statements made by Eli Sharvit about President Trump and his polices will create unnecessary stress at a critical time,” Graham wrote on X. “My advice to my Israeli friends is change course and do better vetting.”
In the op-ed, Sharvit accused Trump of leading the world “into the abyss,” due to his support for fossil fuels.
“Trump’s shortsightedness sends a shocking message to the world of disregard for scientific reality, the well-being of humanity, and responsibility to future generations,” he wrote.
A Channel 12 report Monday night suggested that, in fact, it was Netanyahu’s aides who reached out to Graham’s office, urging him to tweet against Sharvit’s appointment, to bolster the claim that it was Trump administration pressure that led to the decision, rather than anger over his participation in the protests.
Some have questioned Sharvit’s nomination over his apparent lack of familiarity with the types of domestic security challenges normally tackled by the Shin Bet, including not knowing Arabic or being involved in Palestinian affairs, though this would not be unprecedented for a head of the agency.
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Professionally Identified and joined WP August 26, 2013
DSM 5: Autism Spectrum Disorder, DSM IV: Aspergers Moderate Severity.
“My autism is not a superpower. It also isn’t some kind of god-forsaken, endless fountain of suffering inflicted on my family. It’s just part of who I am as a person”. - Sara Luterman
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02 Apr 2025, 6:01 pm
With only 2% of Haredim heeding IDF draft orders, Liberman urges action against leaders
Quote:
As new figures showed almost all ultra-Orthodox men called up for military service in recent months have declined to serve, a senior opposition lawmaker called on police Wednesday to enforce laws prohibiting the encouragement of draft evasion against senior leaders in the Haredi community.
Yisrael Beytenu party chairman Avigdor Liberman’s accusations were directed against former Sephardic chief rabbi Yitzhak Yosef and Rabbi Dov Lando, the chairman of the Degel HaTorah party’s ruling Council of Torah Sages, among others. Alongside the Hasidic Agudat Yisrael, Degel Hatorah is one of two factions making up the coalition’s United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party.
Lando, the 94-year old spiritual leader of the so-called Lithuanian stream of ultra-Orthodoxy, “ordered yeshiva students not to report to recruitment offices,” while Yosef “called for draft orders to be torn up and thrown down the toilet,” Liberman tweeted — adding that “at the same time, dozens of demonstrations and calls for evasion are taking place” in the ultra-Orthodox community.
Citing clauses in the Israeli penal code stipulating that a person inciting others to evade service during wartime is liable to a prison term of 15 years, Liberman called on law enforcement “to act in accordance with the law, and not to evade its enforcement.”
Asked if Liberman planned on submitting criminal complaints to the police, his spokeswoman replied that he was “calling on the government to act according to the law.”
Responding to the Soviet-born Liberman, UTJ MK Yaakov Asher suggested that “if difficulties arise for the Israel Police in enforcing the matter, it would be possible to use the good services of the KGB.”
other ultra-Orthodox lawmakers responded to Liberman, with one Haredi political figure, speaking on condition of anonymity, telling The Times of Israel that “we have no interest in adding fuel to the fire of Liberman hatred.”
The Haredi community’s leadership is vehemently opposed to young Haredi men serving in the military, fearing they will be secularized.
According to IDF figures published Wednesday, out of 10,000 ultra-Orthodox men who received enlistment notices since last summer, only 205, just over two percent, have actually enlisted.
‘We’ll all move abroad’
Last March, then-chief rabbi Yosef suggested that ultra-Orthodox Jews will leave Israel en masse if the government ended sweeping exemptions from mandatory military enlistment enjoyed by the community.
“If you force us to go to the army, we’ll all move abroad,” Yosef said, before backtracking and accusing his critics of “distorted my words.”
In an open letter published on the front page of Degel HaTorah mouthpiece Yated Ne’eman last Friday, Rabbi Lando issued a series of instructions aimed at minimizing contact between members of his community and the armed forces.
According to Lando, yeshiva students are forbidden from speaking with military representatives. Those who have been declared draft dodgers and are liable to arrest must avoid any contact with the authorities and those looking to travel abroad must first clarify their status with the Vaad HaYeshivot (Yeshiva Committee) — the Haredi community’s primary vehicle for coordination between ultra-Orthodox yeshivas and the Defense Ministry in matters of service deferments.
A recent Times of Israel investigation found that the committee, on whose board Lando sits, has been advising yeshiva students who contact its advice line to “not report under any circumstances and not cooperate” with the authorities.
Flash90 )
In his letter, Lando instructed evaders who fail to avoid an encounter with the police to seek advice from Shlomo Brilant, a municipal-level Degel HaTorah politician from Beit Shemesh whose “Lema’ancha” (for your sake) hotline was recently established on Lando’s orders.
In a flyer circulated among Haredi WhatsApp groups last month, Lema’ancha also instructed yeshiva students not to report to the IDF recruitment bureau “for any reason.”
In February, the ultra-Orthodox Kikar HaShabbat website quoted Lando as saying that the Jewish people are protected by the study of yeshiva students and that national-religious Jews who fell in battle had been killed “because their rabbis teach them a distorted Torah.”
An ecosystem of evasion
Since the High Court of Justice’s ruling last June, multiple initiatives affiliated with various Haredi factions have sprung up to guide them through their new post-exemption reality — and encourage them to disregard IDF enlistment orders.
These include an advice line linked to Jerusalem Affairs Minister Meir Porush, which a recent Times of Israel investigation found was counseling callers to “just ignore” summonses to the IDF’s recruitment bureau.
The Israel Police and the attorney general appear to have failed to crack down on these groups, despite multiple demands for investigation by advocacy groups following the issue.
“Unfortunately, it seems like despite appeals from a variety of parties, including members of Knesset, civil society organizations and more — the police and the attorney general are currently refusing to open a criminal investigation, despite what appears to be a solid evidentiary foundation,” attorney and Movement for Quality Government deputy director Tomer Naor told The Times of Israel in March.
In a statement Wednesday, the movement said “the data presented today highlights the blatant violation of the High Court ruling and the systematic disregard for the law. The current conduct, in which only a few draft orders are sent without significant enforcement, is in fact a continuation of the illegal policy of blanket exemption for the Haredi public.”
The statement called on the defense minister to stop enabling this mass evasion and to impose significant penalties on draft dodgers.
“The Israeli government must comply with the High Court ruling and issue draft orders to all 80,000 Haredi youth, who are required to serve in the military,” it said.
Ignoring orders
Addressing the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Wednesday afternoon, Lt. Col. Avigdor Dickstein, head of the Haredi branch of the IDF’s Personnel Directorate, said that only 2% of all the ultra-Orthodox men who have been called up for service since the High Court struck down their exemptions from military service last year have actually joined the Israeli army.
The IDF sent out 10,000 initial draft orders to members of the Haredi community in several waves between July 2024 and March 2025.
According to Dickstein, only 205 of those who have received orders have actually enlisted.
Yisrael Beytenu party chairman Avigdor Liberman’s accusations were directed against former Sephardic chief rabbi Yitzhak Yosef and Rabbi Dov Lando, the chairman of the Degel HaTorah party’s ruling Council of Torah Sages, among others. Alongside the Hasidic Agudat Yisrael, Degel Hatorah is one of two factions making up the coalition’s United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party.
Lando, the 94-year old spiritual leader of the so-called Lithuanian stream of ultra-Orthodoxy, “ordered yeshiva students not to report to recruitment offices,” while Yosef “called for draft orders to be torn up and thrown down the toilet,” Liberman tweeted — adding that “at the same time, dozens of demonstrations and calls for evasion are taking place” in the ultra-Orthodox community.
Citing clauses in the Israeli penal code stipulating that a person inciting others to evade service during wartime is liable to a prison term of 15 years, Liberman called on law enforcement “to act in accordance with the law, and not to evade its enforcement.”
Asked if Liberman planned on submitting criminal complaints to the police, his spokeswoman replied that he was “calling on the government to act according to the law.”
Responding to the Soviet-born Liberman, UTJ MK Yaakov Asher suggested that “if difficulties arise for the Israel Police in enforcing the matter, it would be possible to use the good services of the KGB.”
other ultra-Orthodox lawmakers responded to Liberman, with one Haredi political figure, speaking on condition of anonymity, telling The Times of Israel that “we have no interest in adding fuel to the fire of Liberman hatred.”
The Haredi community’s leadership is vehemently opposed to young Haredi men serving in the military, fearing they will be secularized.
According to IDF figures published Wednesday, out of 10,000 ultra-Orthodox men who received enlistment notices since last summer, only 205, just over two percent, have actually enlisted.
‘We’ll all move abroad’
Last March, then-chief rabbi Yosef suggested that ultra-Orthodox Jews will leave Israel en masse if the government ended sweeping exemptions from mandatory military enlistment enjoyed by the community.
“If you force us to go to the army, we’ll all move abroad,” Yosef said, before backtracking and accusing his critics of “distorted my words.”
In an open letter published on the front page of Degel HaTorah mouthpiece Yated Ne’eman last Friday, Rabbi Lando issued a series of instructions aimed at minimizing contact between members of his community and the armed forces.
According to Lando, yeshiva students are forbidden from speaking with military representatives. Those who have been declared draft dodgers and are liable to arrest must avoid any contact with the authorities and those looking to travel abroad must first clarify their status with the Vaad HaYeshivot (Yeshiva Committee) — the Haredi community’s primary vehicle for coordination between ultra-Orthodox yeshivas and the Defense Ministry in matters of service deferments.
A recent Times of Israel investigation found that the committee, on whose board Lando sits, has been advising yeshiva students who contact its advice line to “not report under any circumstances and not cooperate” with the authorities.
Flash90 )
In his letter, Lando instructed evaders who fail to avoid an encounter with the police to seek advice from Shlomo Brilant, a municipal-level Degel HaTorah politician from Beit Shemesh whose “Lema’ancha” (for your sake) hotline was recently established on Lando’s orders.
In a flyer circulated among Haredi WhatsApp groups last month, Lema’ancha also instructed yeshiva students not to report to the IDF recruitment bureau “for any reason.”
In February, the ultra-Orthodox Kikar HaShabbat website quoted Lando as saying that the Jewish people are protected by the study of yeshiva students and that national-religious Jews who fell in battle had been killed “because their rabbis teach them a distorted Torah.”
An ecosystem of evasion
Since the High Court of Justice’s ruling last June, multiple initiatives affiliated with various Haredi factions have sprung up to guide them through their new post-exemption reality — and encourage them to disregard IDF enlistment orders.
These include an advice line linked to Jerusalem Affairs Minister Meir Porush, which a recent Times of Israel investigation found was counseling callers to “just ignore” summonses to the IDF’s recruitment bureau.
The Israel Police and the attorney general appear to have failed to crack down on these groups, despite multiple demands for investigation by advocacy groups following the issue.
“Unfortunately, it seems like despite appeals from a variety of parties, including members of Knesset, civil society organizations and more — the police and the attorney general are currently refusing to open a criminal investigation, despite what appears to be a solid evidentiary foundation,” attorney and Movement for Quality Government deputy director Tomer Naor told The Times of Israel in March.
In a statement Wednesday, the movement said “the data presented today highlights the blatant violation of the High Court ruling and the systematic disregard for the law. The current conduct, in which only a few draft orders are sent without significant enforcement, is in fact a continuation of the illegal policy of blanket exemption for the Haredi public.”
The statement called on the defense minister to stop enabling this mass evasion and to impose significant penalties on draft dodgers.
“The Israeli government must comply with the High Court ruling and issue draft orders to all 80,000 Haredi youth, who are required to serve in the military,” it said.
Ignoring orders
Addressing the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Wednesday afternoon, Lt. Col. Avigdor Dickstein, head of the Haredi branch of the IDF’s Personnel Directorate, said that only 2% of all the ultra-Orthodox men who have been called up for service since the High Court struck down their exemptions from military service last year have actually joined the Israeli army.
The IDF sent out 10,000 initial draft orders to members of the Haredi community in several waves between July 2024 and March 2025.
According to Dickstein, only 205 of those who have received orders have actually enlisted.
Tel Aviv suburb says it’ll defy order to shut new mall on Shabbat amid Haredi threats
Quote:
The Ramat Hasharon municipality in central Israel said Wednesday that it would not enforce orders to shut the new BIG Fashion Glilot mall on Saturdays, the Jewish sabbath, despite a ruling from its own legal adviser and threats from the ultra-Orthodox community to boycott chains in the mall.
Mayor Yitzhak Rochberger declared that the largely secular city, just north of Tel Aviv, would not impose fines on stores that decide to stay open.
“Ramat Hasharon is a free city that respects the lifestyles of all its residents,” Rochberger said, adding that his administration intended to take steps to allow the mall to remain open and to “promote a policy document to protect the right of all its residents to live their lives according to their own path and faith.”
The conflict came after city legal adviser Micha Blum wrote in a letter that municipal inspectors must enforce the law and will be empowered to fine businesses at the mall this coming weekend.
The ruling drew outrage from secular politicians.
There is no need to close BIG in Ramat Hasharon on Shabbat, just like there is no need to open a shopping mall in Bnei Brak on Shabbat,” Opposition Leader Yair Lapid posted on X, referring to the nearby ultra-Orthodox city.
“Live and let live. Stop interfering in the lives of secular people, there is no reason in the world to close the complex on Shabbat,” Lapid said.
However, Labor Minister Yoav Ben-Tzur, a member of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, threatened to step in and ensure that Shabbat laws were enforced.
Last week, ultra-Orthodox leaders published a letter slamming “the unprecedented” move and calling it “a public trampling of the sanctity of the Shabbat.”
The letter by members of the Council of Torah Sages called on the ultra-Orthodox public to boycott the mall and all branches of all chains operating inside.
In response, BIG accused the ultra-Orthodox community of trying to stifle religious freedom and quipped that their energies would be better spent signing up for service in the IDF during this time of war.
The issue of facilities like shopping, entertainment and public transport working on Shabbat has long been a source of tension in Israel between the ultra-Orthodox who hold that as a Jewish State, there should be no activities that violate the Sabbath, and secular residents who chafe at at restrictions on what for many is their only day off each week
Mayor Yitzhak Rochberger declared that the largely secular city, just north of Tel Aviv, would not impose fines on stores that decide to stay open.
“Ramat Hasharon is a free city that respects the lifestyles of all its residents,” Rochberger said, adding that his administration intended to take steps to allow the mall to remain open and to “promote a policy document to protect the right of all its residents to live their lives according to their own path and faith.”
The conflict came after city legal adviser Micha Blum wrote in a letter that municipal inspectors must enforce the law and will be empowered to fine businesses at the mall this coming weekend.
The ruling drew outrage from secular politicians.
There is no need to close BIG in Ramat Hasharon on Shabbat, just like there is no need to open a shopping mall in Bnei Brak on Shabbat,” Opposition Leader Yair Lapid posted on X, referring to the nearby ultra-Orthodox city.
“Live and let live. Stop interfering in the lives of secular people, there is no reason in the world to close the complex on Shabbat,” Lapid said.
However, Labor Minister Yoav Ben-Tzur, a member of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, threatened to step in and ensure that Shabbat laws were enforced.
Last week, ultra-Orthodox leaders published a letter slamming “the unprecedented” move and calling it “a public trampling of the sanctity of the Shabbat.”
The letter by members of the Council of Torah Sages called on the ultra-Orthodox public to boycott the mall and all branches of all chains operating inside.
In response, BIG accused the ultra-Orthodox community of trying to stifle religious freedom and quipped that their energies would be better spent signing up for service in the IDF during this time of war.
The issue of facilities like shopping, entertainment and public transport working on Shabbat has long been a source of tension in Israel between the ultra-Orthodox who hold that as a Jewish State, there should be no activities that violate the Sabbath, and secular residents who chafe at at restrictions on what for many is their only day off each week
_________________
Professionally Identified and joined WP August 26, 2013
DSM 5: Autism Spectrum Disorder, DSM IV: Aspergers Moderate Severity.
“My autism is not a superpower. It also isn’t some kind of god-forsaken, endless fountain of suffering inflicted on my family. It’s just part of who I am as a person”. - Sara Luterman
ASPartOfMe
Veteran
Joined: 25 Aug 2013
Age: 67
Gender: Male
Posts: 37,864
Location: Long Island, New York
03 Apr 2025, 7:43 pm
Majority of Israelis believe civil war is a real risk - poll
Quote:
A new poll conducted by the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI)'s "Israeli Society Index" found that 60% of the public believe there is a real danger of civil war breaking out in Israel, the findings published on Thursday stated.
JPPIs poll was conducted in light of former Supreme Court chief justice Aharon Barak's March 20th warning that “we are an instant away from a civil war,” due to internal disputes.
The poll found that 27% of respondents agreed with Barak, while 33% said he is exaggerating but there is still a real danger of a civil war occurring.
The poll added that 16% believed there is no real danger of a civil war.
A majority of all political ideologies, except the right, believed that there was a real danger of civil war, the poll found.
Shin Bet chief and attorney-general dismissals
JPPI also surveyed public attitudes towards the legality of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attempting to fire Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar, and the high court's attempts to intervene.
A slight majority of Israelis, at 51%, opposed the court intervening, with 40% believing that the court has no authority to intervene, while 11% believe they do have the authority but Bar's dismissal is justified.
A total of 38% of Israelis polled believe that the court should cancel Bar's dismissal.
Among the politically right-wing, 76% believed the court lacked authority, while 47% of center-right Israelis polled believed the same. A majority of those on the left believed that the court should cancel Bar's dismissal.
However, 53% of Israelis believe that the high court should not intervene in the dismissal of Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara. 35% believe that the court lacks the authority to intervene, and 18% believe that even if it does have the authority, her dismissal is justified.
The poll also found that 35% of respondents believe that high court should cancel Baharav-Miara's dismissal.
High Court rulings should be obeyed regardless
A large majority of those polled found that the government must respect any high court rulings, in the event that the court cancels either Bar's or Baharav-Miara's dismissal.
The poll's findings explained that 40% of respondents believed this because "otherwise, we’ll be dragged into a constitutional crisis," while 23% believed this because "the court is the authorized interpreter of the law.”
However, one-in-three Israelis polled believe that the government should not comply with a high court ruling.
Across all ideological groups, except the right-wing, a majority of respondents believe that the government should comply.
Only one-third of right-wing respondents agreed, while two-thirds argued that they should not comply with a court ruling.
Does the 'deep state' exist?
Right-wing Israelis, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, believe in the existence of a "deep state" where heads of the country's public institutions use their institutional power in "the service of the left" including using "the judicial system in a distorted way to thwart the will of the people," as Netanyahu wrote on social media.
Two-fifths of Israelis believe that Netanyahu is "wrong," another two-fifths believe that he is "right," and one-fifth believe that he "is exaggerating." This latter group believe that there is a problem of balance between different government branches in Israel, but that does not amount to a "deep state."
Political alignment also correlated with respondents' likelihood to believe in a "deep state" with 79% of right-wing people agreeing with the prime minister, while 87% of the left, 76% of the center-left, and 61% of the center believe that Netanyahu is wrong.
Among Likud voters polled, 82% agreed with Netanyahu, 12% believe he is exaggerating, and 4% disagreed.
In total, 58% of respondents did not agree that a "deep state" exists.
JPPI executive comments
JPPI's Vice President Dr. Shuki Friedman commented on the poll stating that "we are on the eve of Passover, a time marked by gathering around Jewish tradition and greater unity, but the data show that Israelis fear we are dangerously sliding down a slope that could lead to even harsher internal conflict."
"When the right and left are deeply divided in their interpretation of reality and the willingness of the right to obey the court decreases, this danger increases," Friedman added.
"Israelis must demand that their leaders halt this deterioration and act toward reconciliation, a more moderate discourse, and express this in their actions as well," he concluded.
JPPIs poll was conducted in light of former Supreme Court chief justice Aharon Barak's March 20th warning that “we are an instant away from a civil war,” due to internal disputes.
The poll found that 27% of respondents agreed with Barak, while 33% said he is exaggerating but there is still a real danger of a civil war occurring.
The poll added that 16% believed there is no real danger of a civil war.
A majority of all political ideologies, except the right, believed that there was a real danger of civil war, the poll found.
Shin Bet chief and attorney-general dismissals
JPPI also surveyed public attitudes towards the legality of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attempting to fire Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar, and the high court's attempts to intervene.
A slight majority of Israelis, at 51%, opposed the court intervening, with 40% believing that the court has no authority to intervene, while 11% believe they do have the authority but Bar's dismissal is justified.
A total of 38% of Israelis polled believe that the court should cancel Bar's dismissal.
Among the politically right-wing, 76% believed the court lacked authority, while 47% of center-right Israelis polled believed the same. A majority of those on the left believed that the court should cancel Bar's dismissal.
However, 53% of Israelis believe that the high court should not intervene in the dismissal of Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara. 35% believe that the court lacks the authority to intervene, and 18% believe that even if it does have the authority, her dismissal is justified.
The poll also found that 35% of respondents believe that high court should cancel Baharav-Miara's dismissal.
High Court rulings should be obeyed regardless
A large majority of those polled found that the government must respect any high court rulings, in the event that the court cancels either Bar's or Baharav-Miara's dismissal.
The poll's findings explained that 40% of respondents believed this because "otherwise, we’ll be dragged into a constitutional crisis," while 23% believed this because "the court is the authorized interpreter of the law.”
However, one-in-three Israelis polled believe that the government should not comply with a high court ruling.
Across all ideological groups, except the right-wing, a majority of respondents believe that the government should comply.
Only one-third of right-wing respondents agreed, while two-thirds argued that they should not comply with a court ruling.
Does the 'deep state' exist?
Right-wing Israelis, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, believe in the existence of a "deep state" where heads of the country's public institutions use their institutional power in "the service of the left" including using "the judicial system in a distorted way to thwart the will of the people," as Netanyahu wrote on social media.
Two-fifths of Israelis believe that Netanyahu is "wrong," another two-fifths believe that he is "right," and one-fifth believe that he "is exaggerating." This latter group believe that there is a problem of balance between different government branches in Israel, but that does not amount to a "deep state."
Political alignment also correlated with respondents' likelihood to believe in a "deep state" with 79% of right-wing people agreeing with the prime minister, while 87% of the left, 76% of the center-left, and 61% of the center believe that Netanyahu is wrong.
Among Likud voters polled, 82% agreed with Netanyahu, 12% believe he is exaggerating, and 4% disagreed.
In total, 58% of respondents did not agree that a "deep state" exists.
JPPI executive comments
JPPI's Vice President Dr. Shuki Friedman commented on the poll stating that "we are on the eve of Passover, a time marked by gathering around Jewish tradition and greater unity, but the data show that Israelis fear we are dangerously sliding down a slope that could lead to even harsher internal conflict."
"When the right and left are deeply divided in their interpretation of reality and the willingness of the right to obey the court decreases, this danger increases," Friedman added.
"Israelis must demand that their leaders halt this deterioration and act toward reconciliation, a more moderate discourse, and express this in their actions as well," he concluded.
_________________
Professionally Identified and joined WP August 26, 2013
DSM 5: Autism Spectrum Disorder, DSM IV: Aspergers Moderate Severity.
“My autism is not a superpower. It also isn’t some kind of god-forsaken, endless fountain of suffering inflicted on my family. It’s just part of who I am as a person”. - Sara Luterman
ASPartOfMe
Veteran
Joined: 25 Aug 2013
Age: 67
Gender: Male
Posts: 37,864
Location: Long Island, New York
08 Apr 2025, 6:34 pm
After chaotic hearing, High Court rules Netanyahu can’t fire Shin Bet chief Bar for now
Quote:
The High Court of Justice issued an interim injunction on Tuesday stating that Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar must remain in office until further notice and giving the government and the attorney general until April 20 to reach a compromise over the legal dispute surrounding the unprecedented vote last month to fire him.
The court told the government that it cannot take any action to remove Bar from office while the interim injunction is in place, including declaring that it has found his replacement, and must not impede his authorities as Shin Bet chief or change the working relationship between the government and the domestic security agency. The court said, however, that interviews for a replacement can still be conducted.
The decision came after an 11-hour hearing on petitions filed against the firing. It began chaotically when protesters, including Likud MK Tally Gotliv, disrupted proceedings so severely that the judges were forced to suspend the hearing and later to order Gotliv and other protesters forcibly removed from the court.
The High Court of Justice issued an interim injunction on Tuesday stating that Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar must remain in office until further notice and giving the government and the attorney general until April 20 to reach a compromise over the legal dispute surrounding the unprecedented vote last month to fire him.
Throughout the hearing, all three judges expressed concern over procedural flaws in the way Bar was fired; the court president also opined that the attorney general had been right to tell the government to consult a key advisory committee before dismissing the security chief.
At the hearing’s conclusion, Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs and representatives from the Attorney General’s Office appeared willing to hold a dialogue as to how to resolve the dispute, after Justice Noam Sohlberg initially suggested in court that the matter be sent to the advisory committee for senior civil service appointments for its recommendation.
The case is about far more than Bar himself, and is seen as part of the government’s clash with judicial authorities and its efforts to remove checks on its power.
Critics more broadly accuse Netanyahu of seeking to scapegoat Bar for the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel while shirking responsibility himself.
Chaos in the courtroom
Pro-government protesters disrupted the hearing from its very start, chanting, “You have no authority!” as the judges entered.
The firebrand lawmaker drew a reprimand from Chief Justice Amit, who told her, “You are in a courtroom, not in the Knesset; please don’t interrupt.”
Gotliv retorted that she had immunity and could not be removed from the court. She could then be seen chewing gum and fiddling with her phone in the front row of a spectator gallery.
Another interruption came from a bereaved father, Itzik Bontzel, whose son was killed in the ongoing war against Hamas.
In a lengthy speech against Bar, Bontzel denounced the court for entertaining the petitions, saying the Shin Bet chief’s hands “are dripping in blood.”
Guards pulled Bontzel out of the room. At a later point in the hearing, however, he was allowed to address the court briefly.
Security guards cleared the courtroom, beginning a recess of about an hour.
When the court reconvened, Amit read out his decision that the hearing would be held without an audience due to the heckling, which he called “severe.”
Gotliv immediately interrupted again, prompting Amit to order her removed from the hearing. Bailiffs had to be forcibly taken out of the court.
The court told the government that it cannot take any action to remove Bar from office while the interim injunction is in place, including declaring that it has found his replacement, and must not impede his authorities as Shin Bet chief or change the working relationship between the government and the domestic security agency. The court said, however, that interviews for a replacement can still be conducted.
The decision came after an 11-hour hearing on petitions filed against the firing. It began chaotically when protesters, including Likud MK Tally Gotliv, disrupted proceedings so severely that the judges were forced to suspend the hearing and later to order Gotliv and other protesters forcibly removed from the court.
The High Court of Justice issued an interim injunction on Tuesday stating that Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar must remain in office until further notice and giving the government and the attorney general until April 20 to reach a compromise over the legal dispute surrounding the unprecedented vote last month to fire him.
Throughout the hearing, all three judges expressed concern over procedural flaws in the way Bar was fired; the court president also opined that the attorney general had been right to tell the government to consult a key advisory committee before dismissing the security chief.
At the hearing’s conclusion, Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs and representatives from the Attorney General’s Office appeared willing to hold a dialogue as to how to resolve the dispute, after Justice Noam Sohlberg initially suggested in court that the matter be sent to the advisory committee for senior civil service appointments for its recommendation.
The case is about far more than Bar himself, and is seen as part of the government’s clash with judicial authorities and its efforts to remove checks on its power.
Critics more broadly accuse Netanyahu of seeking to scapegoat Bar for the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel while shirking responsibility himself.
Chaos in the courtroom
Pro-government protesters disrupted the hearing from its very start, chanting, “You have no authority!” as the judges entered.
The firebrand lawmaker drew a reprimand from Chief Justice Amit, who told her, “You are in a courtroom, not in the Knesset; please don’t interrupt.”
Gotliv retorted that she had immunity and could not be removed from the court. She could then be seen chewing gum and fiddling with her phone in the front row of a spectator gallery.
Another interruption came from a bereaved father, Itzik Bontzel, whose son was killed in the ongoing war against Hamas.
In a lengthy speech against Bar, Bontzel denounced the court for entertaining the petitions, saying the Shin Bet chief’s hands “are dripping in blood.”
Guards pulled Bontzel out of the room. At a later point in the hearing, however, he was allowed to address the court briefly.
Security guards cleared the courtroom, beginning a recess of about an hour.
When the court reconvened, Amit read out his decision that the hearing would be held without an audience due to the heckling, which he called “severe.”
Gotliv immediately interrupted again, prompting Amit to order her removed from the hearing. Bailiffs had to be forcibly taken out of the court.
_________________
Professionally Identified and joined WP August 26, 2013
DSM 5: Autism Spectrum Disorder, DSM IV: Aspergers Moderate Severity.
“My autism is not a superpower. It also isn’t some kind of god-forsaken, endless fountain of suffering inflicted on my family. It’s just part of who I am as a person”. - Sara Luterman
ASPartOfMe
Veteran
Joined: 25 Aug 2013
Age: 67
Gender: Male
Posts: 37,864
Location: Long Island, New York
11 Apr 2025, 3:12 am
Quote:
Israel Democracy Institute (IDI)'s Viterbi Family Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research poll published on Thursday found.
IDI assesses public optimism and pessimism in four categories: "the future of democratic rule, the security situation, Israel’s economic situation, and social cohesion."
In the recent poll, IDI found that in all four cases, only a minority of respondents were optimistic.
The lowest share of optimists was in relation to social cohesion, with only 22% of Israelis feeling optimistic. This was not merely an average across sectors, but more consistent, as IDI found that 22% of Jewish respondents and 22% of Arab respondents felt this way.
A slightly higher percentage of Israelis polled were optimistic about Israel's economy, at 25% of total respondents, breaking down into 26% of Jews an 23% of Arabs.
A higher, although still minority, proportion was optimistic about the future of democratic rule in Israel, with 38% of total respondents feeling optimistic. A higher proportion of Jewish respondents, at 39%, felt this way, as compared to 33% of Arab respondents.
Views of Israel's security situation had the most overall optimism, with 39.5% of the total respondents feeling optimistic. However, this was split between 43.5% of Jewish respondents and only 20% of Arabs. This not only indicated the largest split between the two sectors, but also highlighted that Arabs feel less optimistic about the country's security than their Jewish neighbors.
Within the Jewish respondents, a "noticeably higher" proportion of those on the Right were optimistic, as compared to the Center, and far higher than those on the Left.
A majority of right-leaning Jews were optimistic about the future of democratic rule and Israel's security situation, IDI added.
Firing of Ronen Bar
IDI asked respondents two questions regarding the High Court of Justice and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's attempts to fire Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar.
Firstly, respondents were asked: "Recently, the Supreme Court issued an interim order preventing the dismissal of the head of the Shin Bet. Some people argue that the Court does not have the authority to intervene in such a decision, and that the government is not obligated to obey the Court’s decision if it rules that the dismissal must be halted. What is your opinion?”
The poll found that 54% of Jews and 71% of Arabs believed that the government must abide by the court's ruling.
On the other hand, 36% of Jews and 8% of Arabs stated that the prime minister does not have to abide by the ruling.
Almost all left-leaning voters insisted the court ruling must be followed, at 96.5%, with 73% of centrists agreeing. Just under a third of right-leaning voters agreed, at 32%.
The second question the poll asked about the court's ruling was not obeyed, would you support or oppose "the protest movement should shift to civil disobedience, including blocking roads for extended periods of time, strikes, non-payment of taxes?"
The poll found that 41% of Jews and 52% of Arabs supported civil disobedience in this scenario.
This included 86% of left-leaning respondents, 57% of centrists, and 21% of right-leaning respondents.
Police conduct at protests
The poll repeated a question asked by IDI in November 2024, namely does "Israel Police maintain the correct balance between freedom of protest and public order considerations" including freedom of movement?
A majority of both Jews and Arabs do not agree that the police are balancing the situation.
The proportion of Jews who believe this increased between November 2024 and March 2025, while Arabs have significantly increased in this view from 44% in November to 70% in March 2025.
Amending the Judicial Selection Committee Law
IDI also asked respondents if they support or oppose the Knesset passing an amendment to the Judicial Selection Committee Law, which gave a majority to the political representatives on the Committee at the expense of judges and representatives of the Israel Bar Association.
In total, 53% of respondents opposed this move due to the possibility of politicizing the judiciary and over-concentrating power in the hands of the legislative and executive branches of government.
However, 33% supported the move because "it strengthens governance and allows the government to operate more efficiently."
'Back to normal?'
The poll asked what extent respondents "personal life" such as work, media habits, social activities, and other aspects has "returned to normal or close to normal."
While a majority of all Jewish respondents felt their lives were returning to normal, there was a disparity based on political alignment.
Right-leaning respondents felt the most widespread return to normal, at 77%, as compared to 64% of centrists and 55% of left-leaning respondents.
IDI assesses public optimism and pessimism in four categories: "the future of democratic rule, the security situation, Israel’s economic situation, and social cohesion."
In the recent poll, IDI found that in all four cases, only a minority of respondents were optimistic.
The lowest share of optimists was in relation to social cohesion, with only 22% of Israelis feeling optimistic. This was not merely an average across sectors, but more consistent, as IDI found that 22% of Jewish respondents and 22% of Arab respondents felt this way.
A slightly higher percentage of Israelis polled were optimistic about Israel's economy, at 25% of total respondents, breaking down into 26% of Jews an 23% of Arabs.
A higher, although still minority, proportion was optimistic about the future of democratic rule in Israel, with 38% of total respondents feeling optimistic. A higher proportion of Jewish respondents, at 39%, felt this way, as compared to 33% of Arab respondents.
Views of Israel's security situation had the most overall optimism, with 39.5% of the total respondents feeling optimistic. However, this was split between 43.5% of Jewish respondents and only 20% of Arabs. This not only indicated the largest split between the two sectors, but also highlighted that Arabs feel less optimistic about the country's security than their Jewish neighbors.
Within the Jewish respondents, a "noticeably higher" proportion of those on the Right were optimistic, as compared to the Center, and far higher than those on the Left.
A majority of right-leaning Jews were optimistic about the future of democratic rule and Israel's security situation, IDI added.
Firing of Ronen Bar
IDI asked respondents two questions regarding the High Court of Justice and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's attempts to fire Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar.
Firstly, respondents were asked: "Recently, the Supreme Court issued an interim order preventing the dismissal of the head of the Shin Bet. Some people argue that the Court does not have the authority to intervene in such a decision, and that the government is not obligated to obey the Court’s decision if it rules that the dismissal must be halted. What is your opinion?”
The poll found that 54% of Jews and 71% of Arabs believed that the government must abide by the court's ruling.
On the other hand, 36% of Jews and 8% of Arabs stated that the prime minister does not have to abide by the ruling.
Almost all left-leaning voters insisted the court ruling must be followed, at 96.5%, with 73% of centrists agreeing. Just under a third of right-leaning voters agreed, at 32%.
The second question the poll asked about the court's ruling was not obeyed, would you support or oppose "the protest movement should shift to civil disobedience, including blocking roads for extended periods of time, strikes, non-payment of taxes?"
The poll found that 41% of Jews and 52% of Arabs supported civil disobedience in this scenario.
This included 86% of left-leaning respondents, 57% of centrists, and 21% of right-leaning respondents.
Police conduct at protests
The poll repeated a question asked by IDI in November 2024, namely does "Israel Police maintain the correct balance between freedom of protest and public order considerations" including freedom of movement?
A majority of both Jews and Arabs do not agree that the police are balancing the situation.
The proportion of Jews who believe this increased between November 2024 and March 2025, while Arabs have significantly increased in this view from 44% in November to 70% in March 2025.
Amending the Judicial Selection Committee Law
IDI also asked respondents if they support or oppose the Knesset passing an amendment to the Judicial Selection Committee Law, which gave a majority to the political representatives on the Committee at the expense of judges and representatives of the Israel Bar Association.
In total, 53% of respondents opposed this move due to the possibility of politicizing the judiciary and over-concentrating power in the hands of the legislative and executive branches of government.
However, 33% supported the move because "it strengthens governance and allows the government to operate more efficiently."
'Back to normal?'
The poll asked what extent respondents "personal life" such as work, media habits, social activities, and other aspects has "returned to normal or close to normal."
While a majority of all Jewish respondents felt their lives were returning to normal, there was a disparity based on political alignment.
Right-leaning respondents felt the most widespread return to normal, at 77%, as compared to 64% of centrists and 55% of left-leaning respondents.
_________________
Professionally Identified and joined WP August 26, 2013
DSM 5: Autism Spectrum Disorder, DSM IV: Aspergers Moderate Severity.
“My autism is not a superpower. It also isn’t some kind of god-forsaken, endless fountain of suffering inflicted on my family. It’s just part of who I am as a person”. - Sara Luterman
ASPartOfMe
Veteran
Joined: 25 Aug 2013
Age: 67
Gender: Male
Posts: 37,864
Location: Long Island, New York
27 Apr 2025, 6:18 pm
Over 200 rabbis, religious leaders call to bring hostages home in petition
Quote:
More than 200 rabbis and religious leaders across all Jewish denominations signed a petition Sunday demanding that the government return the hostages “immediately, even if it means stopping the fighting right away.”
“Our ears are attentive to the cries of the hostages and their families, who are suffering the torments of hell. We will not stand by our neighbors’ blood. The supreme value of the sanctity of life requires focusing all efforts on reaching an agreement for the release and return of all hostages from Gaza,” the statement read.
They demanded that saving lives be placed as the highest national priority, even at the cost of an immediate halt to the fighting.
“Our demand stems from deep concern for the cohesion of Israeli society and its ability to rehabilitate if the return of the hostages is not placed at the top of the priority list. As religious and community leaders, our demand is: Bring back the hostages now, even at the cost of ceasing combat.”
“Our ears are attentive to the cries of the hostages and their families, who are suffering the torments of hell. We will not stand by our neighbors’ blood. The supreme value of the sanctity of life requires focusing all efforts on reaching an agreement for the release and return of all hostages from Gaza,” the statement read.
They demanded that saving lives be placed as the highest national priority, even at the cost of an immediate halt to the fighting.
“Our demand stems from deep concern for the cohesion of Israeli society and its ability to rehabilitate if the return of the hostages is not placed at the top of the priority list. As religious and community leaders, our demand is: Bring back the hostages now, even at the cost of ceasing combat.”
High Court orders government to explain failure to draft Haredi men despite 2024 ruling
Quote:
The High Court of Justice issued a provisional order on Sunday demanding the government explain its failure to issue enough conscription orders to ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students to meet the needs of the IDF, and its failure to enforce the orders it has issued.
The order instructed the government to explain those failures to the court in a written statement by June 24.
Provisional orders switch the burden of proof from the petitioners to the respondent, in this case the defense minister and the government, and generally indicate that the court believes there to be some merit in the petition.
The order came within the framework of petitions asking the High Court to order the government to abide by the court’s June 2024 ruling that there was no longer a legal framework for issuing blanket military service exemptions to ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students, and that the government must begin drafting them.
In the wake of the High Court ruling last year, the IDF sent out 18,915 initial draft orders to eligible ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students in several waves between July 2024 and March 2025.
But only two percent of those who received the orders actually enlisted, while there are some 70,000 Haredi yeshiva students who are eligible for the draft but who do not serve.
There are currently few options available to the IDF and Defense Ministry for enforcing enlistment orders, other than imposing a ban on leaving the country and detention by military police in military detention centers.
In its provisional order on Sunday, the court said the government must explain “Why it should not issue, or continue to issue, conscription orders for candidates for security service… in a scope appropriate to the needs of the army, as has been presented… by professional officials in the army.”
The army has stated that it is facing a shortage of troops and currently needs some 12,000 new soldiers — 7,000 of whom would be combat troops.
The order instructed the government to explain those failures to the court in a written statement by June 24.
Provisional orders switch the burden of proof from the petitioners to the respondent, in this case the defense minister and the government, and generally indicate that the court believes there to be some merit in the petition.
The order came within the framework of petitions asking the High Court to order the government to abide by the court’s June 2024 ruling that there was no longer a legal framework for issuing blanket military service exemptions to ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students, and that the government must begin drafting them.
In the wake of the High Court ruling last year, the IDF sent out 18,915 initial draft orders to eligible ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students in several waves between July 2024 and March 2025.
But only two percent of those who received the orders actually enlisted, while there are some 70,000 Haredi yeshiva students who are eligible for the draft but who do not serve.
There are currently few options available to the IDF and Defense Ministry for enforcing enlistment orders, other than imposing a ban on leaving the country and detention by military police in military detention centers.
In its provisional order on Sunday, the court said the government must explain “Why it should not issue, or continue to issue, conscription orders for candidates for security service… in a scope appropriate to the needs of the army, as has been presented… by professional officials in the army.”
The army has stated that it is facing a shortage of troops and currently needs some 12,000 new soldiers — 7,000 of whom would be combat troops.
_________________
Professionally Identified and joined WP August 26, 2013
DSM 5: Autism Spectrum Disorder, DSM IV: Aspergers Moderate Severity.
“My autism is not a superpower. It also isn’t some kind of god-forsaken, endless fountain of suffering inflicted on my family. It’s just part of who I am as a person”. - Sara Luterman
ASPartOfMe
Veteran
Joined: 25 Aug 2013
Age: 67
Gender: Male
Posts: 37,864
Location: Long Island, New York
10 Jun 2025, 9:21 am
Quote:
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has reportedly been meeting with ultra-Orthodox coalition members, as part of efforts to prevent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government from collapsing over stalled legislation to enshrine broad exemptions from mandatory military service for the Haredi community.
Citing diplomatic and political sources, Channel 13 news reported Monday that Huckabee told senior Haredi politicians “government stability is important for addressing the Iranian issue,” and that early elections would be a mistake.
Huckabee on Tuesday denied the report, writing on X: “There has been no attempt to influence Haredi Knesset members regarding a decision to dissolve the government.”
One of the meetings was held Thursday with Minister Meir Porush of the United Torah Judaism party. According to the network, Huckabee stressed to Porush “not to break up the government.”
Huckabee also met with Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch, with Channel 13 reporting he told the leading ultra-Orthodox rabbi that it would be difficult for the US to back Israel if elections are held now.
The report also said it was not clear if Huckabee was acting under US President Donald Trump’s instructions or on his own initiative, adding that Netanyahu was aware of the US envoy’s outreach and pleased by it.
“He is holding meetings with various Israeli figures. The content of those conversations remains private,” Huckabee’s office told Channel 13.
The US Embassy in Jerusalem did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.
Commenting on the television report, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid said he hoped it was not correct.
“Since I have no doubt that Ambassador Huckabee respects Israel’s independence and its democracy, I hope and believe that the report that he is interfering in Israel’s internal politics and trying to help Netanyahu [deal with] the ultra-Orthodox in the military draft law crisis are not true. Israel is not a protectorate,” Lapid tweeted.
Channel 12 news separately reported Monday that similar to Huckabee, Netanyahu has linked the current “opportunities and challenges” in Israel’s security situation with the intense political turmoil he is facing during meeting in recent days Haredi lawmakers.
“We are in a dramatic period. There are extraordinary challenges on the table. This is a historic window of opportunity that will not return, and therefore, under no circumstances should the foundations of the government be shaken,” Netanyahu was quoted as saying.
Netanyahu’s ruling coalition entered a crisis last week when United Torah Judaism and fellow Haredi party Shas announced they would leave the coalition and vote to dissolve the Knesset if the government does not pass a bill exempting yeshiva students from military service.
A preliminary reading on a bill to dissolve the Knesset is set for Wednesday, with Shas declaring Monday that it would vote in favor.
Citing diplomatic and political sources, Channel 13 news reported Monday that Huckabee told senior Haredi politicians “government stability is important for addressing the Iranian issue,” and that early elections would be a mistake.
Huckabee on Tuesday denied the report, writing on X: “There has been no attempt to influence Haredi Knesset members regarding a decision to dissolve the government.”
One of the meetings was held Thursday with Minister Meir Porush of the United Torah Judaism party. According to the network, Huckabee stressed to Porush “not to break up the government.”
Huckabee also met with Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch, with Channel 13 reporting he told the leading ultra-Orthodox rabbi that it would be difficult for the US to back Israel if elections are held now.
The report also said it was not clear if Huckabee was acting under US President Donald Trump’s instructions or on his own initiative, adding that Netanyahu was aware of the US envoy’s outreach and pleased by it.
“He is holding meetings with various Israeli figures. The content of those conversations remains private,” Huckabee’s office told Channel 13.
The US Embassy in Jerusalem did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.
Commenting on the television report, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid said he hoped it was not correct.
“Since I have no doubt that Ambassador Huckabee respects Israel’s independence and its democracy, I hope and believe that the report that he is interfering in Israel’s internal politics and trying to help Netanyahu [deal with] the ultra-Orthodox in the military draft law crisis are not true. Israel is not a protectorate,” Lapid tweeted.
Channel 12 news separately reported Monday that similar to Huckabee, Netanyahu has linked the current “opportunities and challenges” in Israel’s security situation with the intense political turmoil he is facing during meeting in recent days Haredi lawmakers.
“We are in a dramatic period. There are extraordinary challenges on the table. This is a historic window of opportunity that will not return, and therefore, under no circumstances should the foundations of the government be shaken,” Netanyahu was quoted as saying.
Netanyahu’s ruling coalition entered a crisis last week when United Torah Judaism and fellow Haredi party Shas announced they would leave the coalition and vote to dissolve the Knesset if the government does not pass a bill exempting yeshiva students from military service.
A preliminary reading on a bill to dissolve the Knesset is set for Wednesday, with Shas declaring Monday that it would vote in favor.
_________________
Professionally Identified and joined WP August 26, 2013
DSM 5: Autism Spectrum Disorder, DSM IV: Aspergers Moderate Severity.
“My autism is not a superpower. It also isn’t some kind of god-forsaken, endless fountain of suffering inflicted on my family. It’s just part of who I am as a person”. - Sara Luterman
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