Politics — Israel news in English
The latest politics from across Israeli media, translated and compared. 48 recent stories.
Netanyahu Pushes New Haredi Deal, Including Arrest Immunity for Draft Evaders
Netanyahu is trying to secure ultra-Orthodox support through a revised Basic Law on Torah study and temporary arrest immunity for draft evaders. The effort faces sharp legal oppos…
Poll: Gantz-Hendel-Shmihi Alliance Clears Threshold as Only 18% Say Israel Beat Iran
A Channel 12 poll shows Likud leading with 23 seats, Eisenkot steady at 21, and Bennett’s list falling to 18. It also finds a Gantz-Hendel-Shmihi alliance would clear the threshol…
Mossad to Lead Gaza Emigration Plan After High-Level Security Meeting
Israel’s leadership has decided that the Mossad will handle implementation of a Gaza emigration plan. The move follows an urgent security-political meeting led by Shmuel Ben Ezra…
Former State Prosecutor Shuli Avni-Shoham Emerges as Leading Candidate to Head Israel Land Authority
Shuli Avni-Shoham, head of Israel’s Corporations Authority and a former state prosecutor, is emerging as the leading candidate to head the Israel Land Authority. Her possible appo…
Acting Elections Director Says Israeli Vote Cannot Be Stolen
Dinn Livneh, acting director-general of Israel’s Central Elections Committee, discussed election-day preparations in a rare Channel 13 interview. He said threats do not affect him…
Haifa Faces Renewed Fight Over Controversial Hadash Deputy Mayor Nomination
Haifa is once again facing a contentious Hadash-backed bid to appoint a deputy mayor, this time Faher Biadsa, eight years after Raja Za'atara's similar nomination was blocked. The…
Knesset Debate Erupts Over Whether to Move 7 October Memorial Bus Shelters
The Knesset Education, Culture and Sports Committee debated a proposal to move some Route 232 memorial shelters tied to the October 7 attacks. Families, local officials, and lawma…
Widower condemns SHABAK chief’s removal of memorial corner and LGBTQ steps
Shin Bet chief David Zini is under fire after removing a memorial at the agency and canceling Pride-related activities. Omer Ohana, whose partner was killed on October 8, says the…
Gaza Coordination Center to Be Rebranded as International Aid Effort Expands
Israel's civil-military coordination center in Kiryat Gat is being renamed and expanded rather than closed. The overhaul will strengthen the Gaza international stabilization force…
Florida's 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigrant detention center shuts after about a year
Florida has closed the “Alligator Alcatraz” immigrant detention center in the Everglades nearly a year after it opened. Governor Ron DeSantis said it deported about 21,000 people…
Inside the Week in Haredi Politics, Weddings, and Celebrity Sightings
The week was dominated by haredi protests over draft-arrested yeshiva students, alongside major political meetings and many wedding and media sightings. Rabbi Shalom Ber Sorotzkin…
Progressive Campaign Against Hesder Yeshivas Could Backfire, Israeli Ultra-Orthodox Press Warns
An Israeli ultra-Orthodox roundup says a progressive campaign against hesder yeshivas may push religious Zionists closer to the Haredi world. It also highlights tension in Jerusal…
Father of October 7 victim and hostage to run in Likud primaries
Eli Shtivi, whose son Idan was killed and taken captive on October 7, said he will seek a seat in the Likud primaries. He said the move is meant to give voice to those murdered an…
Top rabbinic leaders back call for silent study in yeshiva kollels
Five senior members of Israel’s Council of Torah Sages endorsed Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch’s call for kollels to study silently for 30 minutes at the start of each session until th…
Netanyahu Seeks Way to Reshape Likud List Amid Primary Fight
Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking a workaround to maintain control over Likud’s Knesset list as the party debates its primary rules. The Likud constitution committee meets Sunday, whi…
Netanyahu Weighs Reserving a Likud Slot for Journalist Natali Shem Tov
Benjamin Netanyahu is considering reserving a Likud Knesset slot for journalist Natali Shem Tov, according to a Thursday night report on Kan News. The idea is tied to her connecti…
Netanyahu Steps In as U.S. Refueling Jets Jam Ben Gurion Airport
Ben Gurion Airport is suffering from an ongoing congestion crisis caused by dozens of parked American refueling aircraft. After previous efforts, including by Defense Minister Isr…
IDF to Build Haredi Training Base in Jordan Valley Amid Draft Crisis
The IDF will build a Haredi training base in the Jordan Valley for all ultra-Orthodox service tracks, at a cost of tens of millions of shekels. The announcement followed mass prot…
Education Minister Sends Defamation Warning to Naftali Bennett Over Remarks
Education Minister Yoav Kisch sent Naftali Bennett a pre-lawsuit defamation warning on Thursday over remarks Bennett made at a press conference about education. Kisch demanded a p…
Leak Probe: Netanyahu Aide Suspected of Deleting Phone Evidence After Feldstein Arrest
Jonathan Urich, a close aide to Benjamin Netanyahu, is suspected of deleting evidence after Eli Feldstein’s arrest in the Bild leak case. The Tel Aviv District Court refused to re…
Herzog’s helicopter makes emergency landing after memorial ceremony
President Isaac Herzog’s helicopter made an emergency landing Thursday evening on the way back from a state memorial for Operation Protective Edge. The aircraft landed at an IDF b…
State Funding Will Cover About NIS 11 Million in Upcoming Likud and Democrats Primaries
Israel will spend about NIS 11 million financing upcoming primaries in Likud and the Democrats. Incumbent MKs can get the money in advance, while non-MK candidates must wait for r…
Journalist Slams House Arrest for Man Who Brandished Gun at Ultra-Orthodox Protesters
Ynet police reporter Liran Tamari criticized a Jerusalem court decision to release to house arrest a man suspected of brandishing a gun at ultra-Orthodox protesters. He argued the…
Vance Says U.S. Opened Direct Doha Channel With Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and CENTCOM
U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Washington has opened a direct channel in Doha between Iranian Revolutionary Guard representatives and CENTCOM. He said the channel followed succ…
Anti-Hamas protest movement in Gaza plans major demonstrations for June 26
Anti-Hamas activists in Gaza plan a nonviolent protest wave on June 26, starting at 4:00 p.m. across multiple sites. Hamas-linked media is mocking the initiative and accusing its…
Satirical roundup targets Israeli politics, protests, and a Chabad event
A satirical Israeli news roundup mocks politicians, ultra-Orthodox protest tactics, and a Chabad gathering. It references Tali Gottlieb’s immunity, Yair Golan’s faction, Goldknopf…
Haredi Parties Rally Over Draft Arrests as Netanyahu Repeats Promises
A Friday political panel focused on the Haredi protest against arrests of Torah students and Netanyahu’s renewed pledge to advance draft-related legislation. It also examined shar…
Gaza anti-Hamas protest organizers announce 18 gathering points for tomorrow
Anti-Hamas organizers in Gaza said a protest will be held tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. at 18 gathering points across the Strip. They said it will be nonviolent and under the Palestinian…
Poll Finds Ganzknot Backers Favor Arab Parties in Government
A new poll for Yaakov Bardugo’s show says most Gadi Eisenkot supporters back an Arab-party-backed government and nearly half support a Palestinian state. The survey also portrays…
After ultimatum, Basic Law on Torah study enters accelerated committee debate
After an ultimatum from haredi party leaders, Netanyahu agreed to accelerate debate on a Basic Law on Torah study. The Knesset committee is set for four hearings next week, as the…
Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Project Becomes a Political and Public Relations Disaster
A $14.7 million Trump-backed renovation of Washington’s Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has collapsed into a dispute over algae, peeling liner, dead ducks and alleged sabotage. T…
Iran explores charging tolls on Strait of Hormuz traffic
Iran is weighing a plan to charge ships for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, with officials saying the fees could bring in $40 billion a year. The proposal has drawn a sharp…
Hesder Yeshiva Students to Enlist in Armor After Meeting with IDF Chief
The Hesder Yeshivot Association said its students will now enlist in the Armored Corps in August after talks between religious Zionist rabbis and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir. Th…
Knesset Legal Adviser Warns of Legal Problem in Moving Torah Study Bill
Knesset legal adviser Sagit Afik said there is a legal difficulty with moving the Basic Law on Torah study from the Constitution Committee to the House Committee. She warned that…
Hostage Brother Dany Elgert Joins the Democrats’ Primary Race
Dany Elgert, the brother of hostage Itzik Elgert and a leading protest figure, has entered the Democrats party primaries. More than 40 candidates are competing for places on the l…
Esther Schreiber’s appointment as Antiquities Authority CEO is annulled
A committee led by retired judge Shulamit Dothan canceled Esther Schreiber’s appointment as CEO of the Israel Antiquities Authority. It said the tender’s criteria were unlawfully…
Bereaved families mark 1,000 days since October 7 with nationwide protest and memorial events
Bereaved families, hostage families and survivors announced a nationwide day of protest and remembrance next Thursday, marking 1,000 days since October 7. They are demanding a sta…
EU envoy says ties with Israel remain strong despite dispute over foreign ministers
EU Ambassador Michael Mann said tensions with Israel are real, but dialogue continues and the relationship remains strategically strong. He criticized settlement expansion, settle…
Committee chair makes surprise visit to East Jerusalem Palestinian school, alleges incitement
Knesset member and Education Committee chair Zvi Sukkot made a surprise visit Thursday to a Palestinian school in Jerusalem. He said police seized incitement materials there and h…
Yonatan Urich Says He Will Keep Working in Netanyahu’s Office After Court Rejection
Yonatan Urich said he will keep working for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after a Tel Aviv District Court again rejected the prosecution’s bid to restrict him. He claimed the…
Hamas Tries to Add Gaza to Iran-US Talks After Lebanese Ceasefire Example
Hamas is trying to use Iran’s talks with the United States to put Gaza on the agenda, after a similar dynamic helped produce a Lebanon ceasefire. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Ar…
Complaints Chief Says Political Events Should Not Be Held in Judges’ Homes
Israel’s judges’ complaints commissioner dismissed a complaint over an event at Judge Yifat Mishori’s home in Afula. He said she was unaware of it, but warned that political gathe…
Brooklyn cafe sparks uproar after refusing to serve Jewish congressman Dan Goldman
Dozens protested outside a Brooklyn cafe after it refused service to Jewish Congressman Dan Goldman over his pro-Israel views. The U.S. Department of Justice opened a review, whil…
MK Demands Disciplinary Action Against Psychologist Over Anti-LGBTQ Views
MK Yorai Lahav-Hertzanu asked the Health Ministry to discipline psychologist Hila Mordechai after a Channel 13 investigation alleged she promoted anti-LGBTQ views and conversion t…
Ronit Esh’s Father Urges Israelis to Join 1,000-Day War Events and Demand Answers
Ayal Esh, whose daughter Ronit Esh was killed on October 7, spoke at an October Council press conference before the war reaches its 1,000th day next Thursday. He called for a stat…
Former Labor legal adviser says Netanyahu trial was built on an expectation he would quit politics
Daniel Cohen, a former Labor Party legal adviser, denounced the Netanyahu corruption trial in an interview with Bat El Benjamin. He said the case was built on a mistaken assumptio…
Iran Again Denies Unfrozen Funds Will Buy U.S. Farm Goods
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf denied U.S. allegations that newly released Iranian funds would be spent on American agricultural goods. In a post on X on Thur…
White House Pushes $700 Million Engine Deal for Turkey Despite Congressional Backlash
The White House is preparing a more than $700 million sale of General Electric jet engines to Turkey to support its KAAN fighter program. The move, intended as a political gesture…