Israeli Elections
MEET THE PARLIAMENT
“We have made sure to help the public—the Sephardi Haredi public, but not exclusively. Shas is not a niche party; it helps everyone,” Abutbul told JNS.
The next government must secure the nation’s future through economic strength, internal security and diplomatic agreements, the former Jerusalem police chief tells JNS.
IDF reservists’ rights, highway safety among the causes championed by the Likud legislator.
“I think we need to invest in Israel’s Arab society—in education, employment and infrastructure. If we don’t, we’ll be the ones who suffer,” the lawmaker told JNS.
“Iran threatens world peace, and the world should stand up to it. It’s very simple,” the Likud lawmaker told JNS.
“Today, we see that the majority of the Israeli public wants a government of consensus,” Blue and White party chair tells JNS.
The former school principal and welfare minister emphasized the importance of every child studying math, English, Hebrew and science.
The deputy foreign minister talks with JNS about Lebanon, Iran, surging antisemitism and the importance of Africa.
The nation must protect its periphery, agricultural sector, environment, shape Gaza’s future, the Yesh Atid lawmaker tells JNS.
Schuster advocates for Gaza demilitarization, national unity and strengthening the periphery.
“It will be hard—wars are no fun—but we need to do this so that our children will not experience what we experience, so that they will have greater quiet,” the lawmaker told JNS.
Right-wing voters must understand they are voting for legal advisers to assume an actual advisory role, for the Supreme Court’s authority to be capped and for the communications market to open to competition, says Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi.
The Likud lawmaker spoke with JNS about the lack of a right-wing fiscal approach in Israel, the importance of sovereignty and the urgency of dealing with the Iran threat.
The opposition lawmaker says Israelis agree on 80% of key issues.
Enabling ride-sharing services, limiting the state’s right to appeal citizens’ acquittals are among the initiatives driven by the Blue and White lawmaker.
While a Knesset lawmaker’s work includes legislation, committee activity and media appearances, Likud lawmaker Amit Halevi said the media is often the most effective tool for driving change.
Israel should not press ahead with the U.S.-mediated Gaza ceasefire deal until Hamas returns the body of the last hostage, the Yesh Atid lawmaker told JNS.
We need to address shortages of teachers and overcrowded classrooms, the new head of the Knesset Education Committee tells JNS.
The Likud legislator calls on all Knesset members to unite for the good of the nation.
Protecting children from social media, Israel’s high cost of living and strengthening the periphery rank high on the Yesh Atid lawmaker’s agenda.
No troops from Turkey or Qatar will enter the Gaza Strip, the Likud lawmaker tells JNS.
Noam Party wants state recognition of Jewish identity, and eligibility under the Law of Return, to be determined by “halachah.”
The Religious Zionism lawmaker seeks the replacement of the Palestinian Authority, which she says continues to fund and support terrorism.
“It is possible to hold the book in one hand and a weapon in the other,” said Moshe Solomon on the haredi draft.
“The cost of living is one of the two key issues that will be decisive in the next elections, along with national security,” says MK Simon Davidson.
Religious Zionism lawmaker Ohad Tal tells JNS that peace can be achieved only by applying Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria and Gaza.
“The IDF withdrew from Lebanon in 20o0, and Hezbollah ended up becoming the largest terror army in the world,” Otzma Yehudit lawmaker Yitzhak Kroizer tells JNS.
MK Shelly Tal Meron of Yesh Atid’s work centers on the hostage issue and Hamas’s sexual violence.
Mansour Abbas would not answer the question: “Can you say unequivocally, clearly, that Hamas is a terrorist organization that massacred Israeli citizens, Jews and Arabs, on Oct. 7. [2023], and needs to be eliminated?”
The Religious Zionism Party held its internal primary ahead of the Oct. 27 national elections.
Nationalist figures tell JNS that the upcoming ballot represents a broader struggle between conservative and progressive values.
With the principal blocs separated by a handful of seats in most polls, the campaign could be decided less by movement between Netanyahu’s Likud and Eisenkot’s Yashar than by which smaller parties survive the 3.25% electoral threshold.
Israeli lawmakers approved the measure unanimously after the coalition passed legislation keeping mandatory military service at 32 months.
The Arab Israeli party previously expressed support for the killer, who murdered an IDF soldier in 1980.
Israel “needs to move into Area A,” the Cabinet minister said.
The current Knesset will be the first to complete a full term since the 11th Knesset, which served between 1984 to 1988.
“We believe it is still possible to establish such a joint list,” party chairman Yousef Jabareen told JNS.
A survey found that 53.3% of respondents said that Netanyahu was best for the role, followed by Gadi Eisenkot at 26.5%.
