Haredi draft

In Keinon’s reading, Gaza’s devastation was not an unforeseen consequence. It was a price Sinwar was prepared to pay in the hope of igniting a regional war that would ultimately destroy Israel.

Leadership is supposed to be about making difficult decisions for the good of the country, even when they carry political costs. What we saw this week is the opposite.

This is not a technical legal debate over exemptions. It is a fundamental strategic choice about the future security of the State of Israel.

POLITICAL AFFAIRS: Yitzhak Yosef’s embrace – and Eisenkot's effort to distance himself from it – reflects Israel's shifting political landscape.

Movers and shakers of Israeli society.

"We are completing a four year term, we have passed nine budgets, hundreds of laws," said Coalition whip Ofir Katz ahead of the bill's passing.

The dispute comes after a succession of increasingly forceful High Court judgments on inequality in military service and the government’s failure to enforce the existing draft law.

The October 7 massacre fell on 22 Tishrei – Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, two days that signify the highest joy: one completing the festival of Sukkot, the other our rejoicing in the Torah itself

Israelis, regardless of their political affiliation, cannot reasonably be expected to support legislation that even the prime minister could not bring himself to vote for.

The announcement came one day after Haskel resigned from her position as deputy foreign minister over the passing of controversial legislation that froze the arrests of haredi draft evaders.