Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee
Israeli-media coverage mentioning Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, translated into English and compared across sources. 48 recent stories.
Ex-IDF Chief Gadi Eizenkot and Yuli Edelstein Accused of Undermining Haredi Soldier Recruitment
Former IDF Chief Gadi Eizenkot and ex-Knesset chairman Yuli Edelstein coordinated to block the recruitment of 20,000 Haredi soldiers, maintaining broad exemptions and undermining…
Netanyahu Calls Lawmaker's Son Minutes Before Complex Open-Heart Surgery to Offer Support
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Boaz Bismuth's son minutes before his complex open-heart surgery to offer personal encouragement and support.
Israeli Parliament Extends Secrecy Order on Government Energy Company QITAF Amid Privatization Plans
The Israeli parliament has extended a secrecy order on the state energy company QITAF until the end of 2024, despite plans to privatize it. The decision was made in closed session…
Israeli Government Approves $1 Billion Security Funding and Extends Emergency Status Amid Ongoing Threats
Israel's government plans to allocate an additional one billion shekels for urgent defense needs and extend the emergency status until September 8, 2026, amid ongoing threats from…
Israeli Security Officials Warn of Drone Attack Threat Amid Regional Tensions
Israeli security officials have warned lawmakers about a serious threat of drone attacks, prompting plans for a drone ban amid rising tensions with Iran. While no active explosive…
IDF Chief Criticizes Law Preventing Arrests of Ultra-Orthodox Draft Dodgers as Fundamentally Flawed
IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi condemned a new law preventing arrests of ultra-Orthodox draft dodgers as fundamentally flawed, urging close monitoring after the Supreme Court fro…
Israeli Election Committee and Legal Officials Stress Integrity as Key to Public Trust
Ahead of Israel's elections, the Central Elections Committee and top legal officials met to affirm election integrity as essential for public trust. Concerns about internal threat…
IDF Faces Political Pressure After Deadly West Bank Incident Amid Election Tensions
A deadly shooting in the West Bank killed two Israeli officers, prompting political demands for changes in IDF engagement rules amid unclear circumstances and ongoing investigatio…
Shin Bet Chief Warns of Internal and External Threats to Israel's Upcoming Elections
In a confidential Knesset committee meeting, Shin Bet Chief David Zini and others warned of both external and internal threats to the integrity of Israel's upcoming elections, inc…
MK Boaz Bismuth Confronts Supreme Court Judge Noam Solberg Over Election Committee Appointments
MK Boaz Bismuth confronted Supreme Court Judge Noam Solberg over questionable appointments to Israel's Central Elections Committee during a Knesset security meeting on foreign ele…
Israeli Security Committee Chair Criticizes Central Election Committee Appointments Ahead of Knesset Vote
Israeli Lawmakers Warn of Iran's Physical Threats Ahead of 2026 Elections
Boaz Bismuth warned of a credible physical threat from Iran against Israeli officials, especially Prime Minister Netanyahu, ahead of the 2026 elections, urging caution and critici…
MK Boaz Bismuth Urges IDF Chief to Revise Rules of Engagement After Deadly West Bank Attack
MK Boaz Bismuth has demanded that the IDF Chief of Staff revise the rules of engagement following a deadly attack in the West Bank that killed two soldiers. He called for a compre…
Israel Faces Heightened Risk of Conflict With Iran Amid US Military Escalation
Amid escalating US military actions against Iran, Israel faces increased risk of being drawn into conflict, especially if Iran retaliates directly. While no Israeli attack is conf…
Israeli Attorney General Urges Supreme Court to Cancel Law Freezing Arrests of Draft-Dodging Haredim
Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara urged the Supreme Court to annul a recent law freezing arrests of draft-dodging Haredi yeshiva students, calling it discriminatory and…
Budget Dispute Escalates Amid Israel's Military Readiness for Possible Iran Conflict
Israel's defense budget for 2026 remains unsettled despite a recent agreement to increase funding by 40 billion shekels. About 15 billion shekels have not been released, delaying…
Netanyahu Questions No-Betrayal Claim but Urges Shin Bet Chief to Investigate October 7 Events
Prime Minister Netanyahu stated he does not believe there was betrayal during the October 7 Hamas attack but urged Shin Bet chief David Zini to investigate. Despite conspiracy the…
Knesset Security Committee Chair Demands Immediate Defense Budget Transfer from Finance Ministry
Boaz Bismuth, head of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, urgently demanded Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich transfer billions in agreed defense funds, warning del…
Annual Katif Heritage Conference Highlights Israeli Society and Settler Legacy Amid Recent Turmoil
The annual Katif Heritage Conference in Nitzan commemorates the legacy of the Katif bloc and northern Samaria settlements, addressing Israeli societal challenges and recent turmoi…
IDF Chief Vows to Keep Politics Out of Military Amid Aryeh Deri's Criticism
IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir asserts he will keep politics out of the military amid attacks from Shas leader Aryeh Deri. The IDF is preparing to resist political manipulation bef…
IDF Spokesman Defends Chief of Staff Amid Political Criticism Over Draft Law
IDF Spokesman Effi Deferin defended Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir against political attacks following Zamir's warning about a new law freezing draft evader detentions, stressing that…
Rabbi Yaakov Medan Criticizes Arrests of Haredim and Calls for Respect to IDF Reservists
Rabbi Yaakov Medan opposes arresting Haredim who avoid IDF enlistment, citing risks to recruitment, while recognizing reservists' frustrations over a law halting arrests. He defen…
Religious Zionist Community Faces Political Reckoning Over Military Burden and Draft Evasion
The Religious Zionist community in Israel mourns heavy military losses while facing political frustration over draft evasion protections for ultra-Orthodox Jews. The Chief of Staf…
Israeli Knesset Committee Approves Extending Mandatory Military Service to 32 Months
The Israeli Knesset committee approved extending mandatory military service to 32 months, delaying a planned reduction to 30 months by five years due to IDF manpower shortages. Th…
Senior Security Official Condemns IDF Chief's Letter on Draft Law as Political Interference
A senior Israeli security official condemned IDF Chief Aviv Kochavi's letter opposing a bill to freeze arrests of draft-dodging yeshiva students as improper political interference…
MK Boaz Bismuth Criticizes IDF Chief's Late Letter Opposing Yeshiva Students' Arrest Freeze Bill
MK Boaz Bismuth criticized IDF Chief Eyal Zamir for sending a letter opposing a bill to freeze arrests of yeshiva students only after committee votes. Zamir warned the bill would…
IDF Chief Warns Netanyahu Against Law Freezing Draft Enforcement for Haredi Draft Dodgers
IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir warned Prime Minister Netanyahu and defense officials against a new law freezing enforcement against Haredi draft dodgers, arguing it undermines mili…
IDF Chief Warns Israeli Leaders Against Law Granting Extended Exemptions to Draft Dodgers
IDF Chief Aviv Kochavi warned Israeli leaders that a proposed law granting extended exemptions to yeshiva students avoiding military service would harm troop morale, increase ineq…
Israeli Government Extends Special Security Status in Home Front Until July 28
Israel's government and Knesset committee have extended the special security status in the home front until July 28, 2026, maintaining heightened readiness.
Children Celebrate Torah Initiation Ceremony in Ramat Beit Shemesh D
Children in Ramat Beit Shemesh D celebrated a Torah initiation ceremony with prominent rabbis present. Rabbi Yitzchak Zilberstein urged reducing hatred toward the religious commun…
Israeli Knesset Committee Approves Second and Third Readings of Yeshiva Students' Arrest Freeze Law
The Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee approved the "Arrests Law" to freeze the detention of yeshiva students, amid legal criticism and coalition disputes. Final votes…
Israeli Defense Ministry Proposes Compensation Model for Extended Mandatory Service
Israel's Defense Ministry and Treasury have devised a compensation plan to financially support soldiers whose mandatory service is extended from 30 to 32 months. The plan offers i…
Legal Opinion Urges Israel to Act Against Heritage Site Destruction in West Bank Areas A and B
A new legal opinion argues Israel must act to prevent destruction of archaeological sites in West Bank Areas A and B, challenging previous legal restrictions. Prompted by plans to…
IDF Official Urges Extending Mandatory Service to 36 Months Amid Personnel Crisis
A senior IDF official called for extending mandatory military service to 36 months to address a critical manpower shortage, with the Knesset set to debate the issue. The IDF plans…
Israeli Knesset Approves 'Ipcha Mistabra' Law to Establish Alternative Intelligence Assessments
The Israeli Knesset approved the 'Ipcha Mistabra' law, empowering the National Security Council to access raw intelligence and provide alternative assessments to official agencies…
Israeli Knesset Proposes Temporary Freeze on Arrests of Haredi Draft Dodgers with Strict Conditions
The Israeli Knesset is set to pass a temporary law freezing arrests of Haredi yeshiva students evading military service, contingent on strict study requirements and affidavit subm…
Israeli Security Committee Extends Freeze on Arrests of Absconders Until November 30
Israel's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee extended the freeze on arrests of absconders until November 30, maintaining the status quo through automatic extensions tied to Knes…
Knesset Committee Advances Draft Law to Freeze Arrests of Draft Dodgers
The Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee is advancing a bill to freeze arrests of draft dodgers, with votes on amendments scheduled after tomorrow's submission deadline.
Rabbi David Leibel Condemns Arrests of Yeshiva Students as 'Stupidity and Wickedness'
Rabbi David Leibel condemned the arrests of Haredi yeshiva students as misguided and cruel, advocating for a year-long freeze on arrests and expanded service options. Hesder yeshi…
Yuli Edelstein's Strategic Missteps Lead to Political Decline in Likud
Yuli Edelstein's political decline stems from his failed challenge to Netanyahu and ineffective handling of Haredi conscription legislation, leaving him with diminished influence…
Israeli Coalition Negotiates Freeze on Haredi Draft Evasion Arrests in Exchange for Increased Haredi Military Recruitment
Israeli coalition leaders are negotiating a law to freeze arrests of Haredi draft evaders in exchange for increased military recruitment incentives for Haredi yeshivas. The plan…
Yuli Edelstein Leaves Likud After Two Decades, Plans New Political Path
Yuli Edelstein announced his departure from Likud after two decades, opposing coalition legislation and planning a new political venture with potential allies Gilad Erdan and Ayel…
IDF Warns Regular Forces Near Collapse Without Urgent Service Extension Laws
The IDF warns that without passing laws to extend regular service and reform conscription, its regular forces face collapse amid rising combat demands. Military leaders urge urgen…
MK Yaakov Asher Condemns Legal Policy Turning 90,000 Haredim Into Criminals Over Military Draft
MK Yaakov Asher sharply criticized Israel's legal policy for criminalizing 90,000 yeshiva students by enforcing military draft laws, blaming flawed legal decisions for the surge i…
Israeli Security Committee Chair Warns of Growing Threats to Election Integrity
Boaz Bismuth, head of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, urged Shin Bet chief David Zini to hold a special session addressing growing threats to Israel's election…
Israeli Legal Advisor Warns Knesset on Major Flaws in Draft Law Freezing Arrests of Torah Students
The Knesset's legal advisor, Adv. Shagit Afik, criticized major changes to a bill freezing arrests of Torah students, warning these alterations undermine legislative integrity and…
MK Meir Porush Urges Freeze on Yeshiva Students' Arrests Amid IDF Manpower Crisis
MK Meir Porush criticized the Knesset committee and legal advisors for failing to address the IDF's manpower shortage and called to freeze arrests of draft-dodging yeshiva student…
IDF Doubles Ultra-Orthodox Enlistment in Three Years Amid Sanctions and Arrests Debate
The IDF has doubled the enlistment of ultra-Orthodox recruits to over 3,500 in three years, driven by sanctions and arrests of yeshiva students. The Knesset is preparing a controv…