Israeli Politics and Knesset
At its core, the dispute is about what military service, Torah study and citizenship mean in the Jewish state.
Iranian influence operations are already underway, and security officials warn of an attempt to deepen divisions within Israeli society.
In an early sign of opposition infighting, Avigdor Liberman of the Yisrael Beiteinu Party expressed his distrust of fellow opposition partner the Democrats Party.
Originally intended to accommodate a few hundred Torah scholars, the exemption of ultra-Orthodox yeshivah students from IDF service evolved into one of Israel’s most contentious public policy issues.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir slammed the Israeli judicial system for “siding” with terrorists.
The Yesh Atid lawmaker says Israel needs a broad Zionist coalition to rebuild the country after the Oct. 7 attacks.
“Anyone who tries to hurt me will get a bullet in the head,” the Knesset member told JNS.
“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 justices said they would issue a final ruling soon after hearing arguments against the legislation, which temporarily blocks arrests of yeshivah students who evade military service.
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?”
