THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

Israel's governing coalition presses ahead with plan to overhaul courts ... AP Tel Aviv - Jul 17, 2023 - 16:53 CEST Share on Whatsapp Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Desplegar Redes Sociales Go to comments Prefer EL PAÍS on Google Compartir: Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Bluesky Linkedin Copy link Israel’s governing coalition pushed ahead on Monday with its contentious plan to overhaul the country’s judiciary, despite growing opposition from within the country’s military and a wave of mass protests expected this week. A parliamentary committee was preparing a bill that would limit judicial oversight on some government decisions , legislation that has sparked intensifying criticism from military reservists in elite units, including the air force and cyberwarfare. Many have warned they will not show up for duty if the overhaul moves ahead. Reservists, who make up the backbone of the country’s mostly compulsory military, played a key role in prompting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pause the overhaul plan earlier this year. In response to the legislation, which is expected to go before a final parliamentary vote early next week, a large protest movement is expected to stage a “d…

Netanyahu faces coalition crisis as ultra-Orthodox parties threaten ... Read this article in: MK Moshe Gafni (center) reacts during a plenum session at the assembly hall of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, May 27, 2026. (Photo: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with two leaders of ultra-Orthodox ( Haredi ) parties earlier this week in an attempt to postpone elections, as recent polls show support for his Likud party dropping. The meeting with Shas party chairman, Aryeh Deri, and Degel HaTorah party chairman, Moshe Gafni, reportedly took place following threats by the two parties to bring down the Netanyahu-led government over failure to advance laws demanded by the Haredi coalition parties. Following the meeting, the two leaders issued a joint statement demanding that the coalition “immediately advance” two pieces of legislation sought by the Haredi parties after efforts to pass a draft exemption bill stalled. Deri and Gafni warned that if the measures are not brought forward before the Knesset's July 16 recess, they will support dissolving the Knesset. "Today we held a meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu and conveyed to him… an unequ…

Gov't advances controversial Knesset bills through deal with Haredi ... Read this article in: Minister of Defence Israel Katz speaks with MK's during a plenum session at the assembly hall of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, October 29, 2025. Photo by Chaim Goldbergl/Flash90 The governing coalition advanced two controversial bills in Israel’s Knesset late on Monday, after being forced to strike deals with the ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) parties, which continue to boycott coalition votes over the IDF draft law controversy . The Shas and United Torah Judaism (UTJ) parties are refusing to vote with the coalition until a draft for a new IDF conscription bill is presented in the Knesset. Therefore, the coalition had to “pay” for their support for a communications reform bill by advancing a bill expanding the authority of rabbinical courts. Both bills passed their first readings and will now return to the respective committees for further discussion before second and third readings. Also on Monday, Communication Minister Shlomo Karhi’s communications reform proposal was approved by 54 lawmakers and opposed by 47. It aims to increase competition and reduce costs for consumers…

Thwarted by Haredi intransigence, Netanyahu may push to ... - QOSHE The ultra-Orthodox Shas and United Torah Judaism parties’ preelection push to pass a bundle of bills benefitting draft evaders has led Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — who has previously publicly supported exempting Haredim from military service — to consider pushing the coalition’s Knesset dissolution bill through its final two readings in the coming days, according to Hebrew press reports. Over the weekend, Channel 12 reported that coalition officials have been pushing Netanyahu to dissolve the Knesset this week in order to block a number of Haredi initiatives — centered on exempting yeshiva students from enlistment and lifting sanctions on draft evaders — from advancing in the Knesset because widespread public opposition to the measures could damage the coalition. According to the network, Netanyahu has not yet made up his mind on whether to push through the dissolution and hold elections on October 20 instead of October 27, which is the final date by which they must be held. Most coalition party leaders support such a move given the intense public opposition to the bills, the report said. The pressure is al…

Knesset panel to advance measure freezing arrests of Haredi draft evaders for 90 days <p>Foreign and defense panel chair makes announcement amid bid to end Haredi boycott of coalition; opposition slams bill equating Torah study, IDF service</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/knesset-panel-to-advance-measure-freezing-arrests-of-haredi-draft-evaders-for-90-days/">Knesset panel to advance measure freezing arrests of Haredi draft evaders for 90 days</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com">The Times of Israel</a>.</p> <figure><img src="https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2026/03/F260224YS05-e1774857220256-1024x640.jpg" title="Knesset panel to advance measure freezing arrests of Haredi draft evaders for 90 days" border="0" width="160" height="100" class="type:primaryImage"></figure>

Knesset advances bill for special state inquiry into Oct. 7 massacre all Zoom The Knesset debate during the first reading of a bill to establish a “special state commission of inquiry” into the events of Oct. 7, 2023, Dec. 24, 2025. Credit: Knesset website. David Isaac mekshq Add Comment Share This! Facebook Twitter Mail Telegram (JNS) The bill to establish a “special state commission of inquiry” into the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led massacre passed a preliminary reading in the Knesset plenum on Wednesday, with a majority of 53-48. “The people need a committee of the nation. Large segments of the people have no faith in the Supreme Court, and in particular in [Court President] Judge [ Isaac ] Amit . You want a commission of inquiry as a tool for political assassination—and it won’t happen,” said Likud MK Ariel Kallner , who proposed the bill, while addressing opposition members in the Knesset. Typically, the president of the Supreme Court is called upon to appoint members of a commission of inquiry, as defined in the Commissions of Inquiry Law, which was enacted in 1968. Likud MK Ariel Kallner speaks during a Knesset debate of his bill to establish a “special state commission of inquir…

Knesset Advances Bill Granting Israeli Government Expanded Power to Ban ... Shutterstock Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... By: Fern Sidman – Jewish Voice News In a significant legislative move that underscores Israel’s evolving strategy in the battle over information warfare and national security, the Knesset on Monday approved the first reading of a bill that would dramatically enhance the government’s authority to bar foreign media outlets deemed hostile to the State of Israel. As reported on Monday by World Israel News (WIN), the measure—introduced by Likud Member of Knesset (MK) Ariel Kallner—passed by a vote of 50 to 41, setting the stage for committee deliberations and two additional readings before it can become law. If fully enacted, the bill would make permanent the Communications Minister’s power to shut down foreign news organizations accused of threatening Israel’s security or serving as propaganda arms for hostile actors, without requiring the declaration of a national emergency. Currently, such powers exist only under temporary emergency legislation, renewed periodically since the war with Hamas reignited in 2023. According to the information provided in the…

NETANYAHU'S ULTRA RIGHT-WING COALITION GOVERNMENT - J Street Table of Contents I. KEY EXTREMIST MEMBERS OF NETANYAHU’S COALITION GOVERNMENT Itamar Ben-Gvir Bezalel Smotrich Avi Maoz Zvika Fogel May Golan Orit Strock Zvi Sukkot II. WHAT THE NETANYAHU COALITION GOVERNMENT HAS PLEDGED TO DO Annexation of the occupied West Bank Declaration of Jewish supremacy in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory Implementation of structural changes to Israel’s military regime governing the West Bank “Legalization” of unauthorized settlement outposts Vast expansion of the illegal settlement enterprise Expanding application of Israeli law to Israeli settlers Radical weakening of Israeli democracy Provision of immunity to settlers and security forces for anti-Palestinian violence Targeting of Israeli human rights and civil society organizations Curtailing of the Law of Return by amending the “grandchild clause” Restrictions on mixed-gender prayer and freedom of worship at the Western Wall III. WHAT THE NETANYAHU COALITION GOVERNMENT HAS DONE TO DATE Major annexationist moves to boost the settlement enterprise Advancement of legislation to radically weaken Israel’s judiciary Deal reached to ha…

United Torah Judaism – Israel Policy Forum United Torah Judaism United Torah Judaism Leader: Moshe Gafni (Degel Hatorah) and Yaakov Litzman (Agudat Yisrael) Current Seats: 6 Government/Opposition in Last Knesset: Government Supports/Opposes Two-State Solution: Unclear United Torah Judaism is the Ashkenazi ultra-Orthodox list, a union of two parties: the “Lithuanian” non-Hasidic Degel Hatorah and the Hasidic Agudat Yisrael. Moshe Gafni leads Degel Hatorah and Yaakov Litzman leads Agudat Yisrael, while each party’s respective political infrastructure is subordinate to separate rabbinical leaderships. UTJ is a union of two ultra-Orthodox Ashkenazi parties. UTJ is a non-Zionist faction which does not endorse the creation of a secular Jewish state. Accordingly, the party maintains no political commitment to Israeli sovereignty over specific territories and the party has been open to concessions in the past. This peculiarity also means that UTJ MKs tend only to be awarded minor portfolios in the cabinet in order to distance themselves as much as possible from the institutions of the State of Israel. Media not available MK Yaakov Litzman heads Agudat Yisrael, one of UTJ’s constituent fac…

Israeli government advances non-state Oct. 7 inquiry bill amid protests ... The Knesset on Wednesday approved in a preliminary vote a government-backed bill to establish a commission of inquiry into the October 7 failures. The proposal passed 53–48, with one abstention. Ahead of the vote, families from the “October Council” protested outside the homes of several ministers, and later held a press conference at the Knesset. Bereaved parents denounced the proposed commission as a “whitewash committee,” arguing it lacks independence and is designed to shield political leaders from responsibility. Tensions escalated in the plenum when bill sponsor MK Ariel Kallner took the podium. Bereaved families in the gallery turned their backs in protest, joined by opposition lawmakers. Share: Facebook Twitter (X) Whatsapp Reddit Telegram Print All Israel News Staff The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel. Share: Facebook Twitter (X) Whatsapp Reddit Telegram Print Popular Articles Iranian regime’s collapse a matter of 'when' not 'if,' analyst says Nicole Jansezian ‘We stand with Israel because we‘re Christians’: Uganda would join war ‘on Israel’s side,’ warns army chief All Is…

Knesset Advances Bill Giving Chief Rabbinate Control Over Western Wall ... The Ezrat Yisrael prayer platform at the Western Wall, June 16, 2014. (NearTheZoo/Creative Commons) Knesset Advances Bill Giving Chief Rabbinate Control Over Western Wall Prayer The Media Line Staff 02/25/2026 Israel’s Knesset voted 56-47 on Wednesday to advance a bill that would place prayer arrangements at the Western Wall under the authority of the Chief Rabbinate, a move supporters say will protect long-standing custom and critics warn could criminalize non-Orthodox worship at Judaism’s most iconic public holy site. The proposal, sponsored by far-right Noam MK Avi Maoz, passed a preliminary reading and now heads to committee, with three additional plenum votes still required before it can become law. The legislation is designed to blunt a High Court of Justice ruling issued last Thursday ordering the state to proceed with long-delayed upgrades to the Ezrat Yisrael plaza, the southern area used for egalitarian and mixed-gender prayer under the 2016 government-backed Western Wall compromise. Under the bill, the two chief rabbis would have final say over regulations at Jewish holy sites, including the egal…

Forcing Haredim to Serve Sparks Rabbi Fury — Will Netanyahu's Coalition ... Forcing Haredim to Serve Sparks Rabbi Fury — Will Netanyahu’s Coalition Collapse? Reports The Haredim refuse military service, saying their life’s mission is to study the Torah. Also UNRWA Lays Off Gaza Employees: Bowing to ‘Israel’s’ Narrative or Fighting for Survival? A Pivotal Juncture: Why Is ‘Israel’ Focusing Its Strikes on Police Forces in Gaza? Who Pushed Karim Khan Out? Inside the Pressure War Against the ICC The Washington–Tehran Agreement: A Chance for Peace or a Strategic Realignment of the Houthis in Yemen? UNRWA Lays Off Gaza Employees: Bowing to ‘Israel’s’ Narrative or Fighting for Survival? Popular Protests in Aden and Hadramout: Will the Southern Transitional Council Gain Ground or Further Erode Its Remaining Support? a year ago 12 Print Share As the Israeli government signals a possible escalation of its “military operation” in Gaza, the debate over drafting ultra-Orthodox Jews (Haredim) has resurfaced; a highly divisive and politically sensitive issue in Tel Aviv. On May 5, 2025, the security cabinet led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved a gradual expansion of the genocide in …

October 7 Investigation: Israel Approves Controversial Bill Judah Pe'er DEC 22, 2025 11:21 3 min read Start the conversation The Ministerial Committee for Legislation approved a controversial bill on Monday to establish a politically appointed investigative commission into the failures surrounding the October 7 Hamas attack , advancing a government-backed alternative to a state commission of inquiry . The decision clears the way for the legislation to be brought to the Knesset plenum for a preliminary vote on Wednesday. The bill, sponsored by Likud MK Ariel Kallner and backed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , proposes the creation of a non-mandatory investigative body whose members would be selected through a political process rather than appointed by the judiciary, as required for a state commission of inquiry under existing law. Netanyahu and his allies have long opposed a state commission, arguing that the judicial system lacks public trust. Under the proposed framework, a six-member committee and its chair would be appointed by an 80-member Knesset supermajority. If no agreement is reached within two weeks, the coalition and opposition would each appoint three members. In…

After rejecting compromise, Likud removes Edelstein; new defense ... Read this article in: Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Yuli Edelstein, delivers a statement to the media on the military draft law at the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, in Jerusalem, July 15, 2025. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90 Lawmakers of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party on Wednesday voted to oust the head of the Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee, Yuli Edelstein, paving the way for reconciliation with the ultra-Orthodox parties. Edelstein, who was responsible for drafting a new law regulating the draft of ultra-Orthodox men into the Israel Defense Forces, had refused to compromise with the Haredi parties, vowing only to legislate a law with significant penalties for draft evaders. United Torah Judaism (UTJ) and Shas reacted by exiting the government , and in UTJ’s case, the coalition, leaving it on the brink of collapse. Only four MKs supported Edelstein, a veteran lawmaker and formerly number two on the Likud’s list, who in the past has challenged Netanyahu for party leadership and was not fully on board with the Judicial Reform. Twenty-nine lawmakers voted for former …

Controlling the Coalition's Collapse - Israel Policy Forum Controlling the Coalition’s Collapse by Senior Policy Associate Alex Lederman May 19, 2026 Last week, prominent Ashkenazi Haredi leaders declared an end to their longstanding alliance with Netanyahu. The coalition chairman submitted a bill to dissolve the Knesset and head to early elections. But these developments are more complex—and less dramatic—than they appear at face value. Background: Throughout the tenure of this government, the Haredi parties have demanded legislation formalizing the military exemption for yeshiva students—legislation they were promised as a condition of joining the government. Netanyahu has repeatedly deferred, citing the judicial overhaul fight (which the Haredim supported for the purpose of insulating a draft exemption from judicial intervention), then the Gaza war, then Operation Roaring Lion against Iran. Three and a half years have passed without the legislation advancing past a first reading. The politics have also grown more fraught: since October 7, with the IDF fighting on multiple fronts, a sweeping Haredi exemption has become untenable for a significant swathe of right-wing voters and …

Reform Movement Condemns Knesset Vote to Criminalize Egalitarian Prayer ... February 26, 2026 -- The Reform Movement unequivocally condemns the preliminary vote in the Israeli Knesset to advance legislation that would criminalize egalitarian Jewish worship at the Western Wall, one of Judaism’s holiest and most-enduring symbols. If enacted, the proposed bill by MK Avi Maoz of the far-right Noam party would render forms of Jewish prayer not sanctioned by the ultra-Orthodox Chief Rabbinate punishable by up to seven years in prison. This alarming proposal represents an unprecedented attempt to criminalize mainstream Jewish worship in the Jewish state. It is a direct affront to Jews in Israel, North America, and across the globe who pray in egalitarian settings. The Kotel does not belong to one stream of Judaism. It is a national symbol and a spiritual inheritance of the entire Jewish people. The existence of a dignified egalitarian prayer space alongside gender-segregated sections does not diminish the rights of Orthodox or ultra-Orthodox Jews to worship according to their tradition. Religious freedom in Israel must not be treated as a zero-sum proposition. The global implications of …

Netanyahu's base is splintering ahead of elections later this year | AP ... Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has remained in power for the most of the past 17 years due in part to a tight alliance with ultra-Orthodox religious parties. But that alliance is tearing apart his governing coalition and proving to be another major liability for the long-serving Israeli leader as the country heads to elections later this year. Police use a water cannon to disperse ultra-Orthodox Jewish men blocking a street during a protest against army recruitment in Jerusalem, Wednesday, April 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men block a road during a protest against army recruitment in Jerusalem, Wednesday, April 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men block a road as they take part in a protest against army recruitment in Jerusalem, Wednesday, April 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahuhas remained in power for most of the past 17 years due in part to a tight alliance with ultra-Orthodox religious parties. But that alliance istearing aparthis governing coalition and proving to beanother major liab…

Thwarted by Haredi intransigence, Netanyahu may push to dissolve Knesset within days <p>The utra-Orthodox push to pass bills benefiting draft evaders, and their ongoing boycott of coalition legislation, could lead PM to call for slightly earlier elections</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/thwarted-by-haredi-intransigence-netanyahu-may-push-to-dissolve-knesset-within-days/">Thwarted by Haredi intransigence, Netanyahu may push to dissolve Knesset within days</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com">The Times of Israel</a>.</p> <figure><img src="https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2026/05/F240610YS34-e1779294008736-1024x640.jpg" title="Thwarted by Haredi intransigence, Netanyahu may push to dissolve Knesset within days" border="0" width="160" height="100" class="type:primaryImage"></figure>

Knesset Showdown: Haredi parties extend boycott of coalition votes over ... Knesset Showdown: Haredi parties extend boycott of coalition votes over draft law United Torah Judaism and Shas are continuing their boycott of Knesset votes this week, escalating a coalition crisis over the stalled legislation to exempt yeshiva students from military service. Israel National News May 10, 2025, 11:37 PM (GMT+3) Shas IDF United Torah Judaism Draft Law 1 minutes Moshe Gafni Chaim Goldberg/Flash90 A growing rift within the government deepened this week as United Torah Judaism (UTJ) announced it would continue its boycott of Knesset votes, protesting the failure to advance legislation granting military draft exemptions to haredi yeshiva students. The boycott, which began last week, was triggered by comments from Brigadier General Shai Taib, head of the IDF’s manpower division, who issued a stark warning about troop shortages. According to Taib, the Israeli military urgently needs 12,000 additional soldiers, including 7,000 combat troops—a demand that highlights the growing pressure to expand conscription, including to previously exempted populations. As a result of the haredi parties' protest,…

JFJFP A protest against police inaction in the Arab-Israeli community in Nazareth, 3 October 2019 Josh Breiner and and Ran Shimoni report inHaaretzon 15 December 2025: The Israeli government has approved slashing 220 million shekels ($68 million) from social programs for the Arab-Israeli community and giving the money instead to the Shin Bet security service and the police to bolster the fight against crime in that community. According to the decision, promoted by far-right Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Likud Minister May Golan, some of the money will be used to expand the police’s Lahav 433 unit, which deals with serious crimes, at a time when Golan herself is under criminal investigation by that unit. Under Sunday’s decision, the Shin Bet will take on an unprecedented role in addressing non-security-related crime in the Arab community. The move was approved by the agency’s new director, David Zini, after all of his predecessors had opposed it. Of the 220 million shekels, 100 million will go to the Shin Bet and the rest to the police. Of the total amount the government approved for cuts, about 100 million shekels will go to the Shin Bet, with the remainder allocated to the po…