Moshe Gafni

'Are we to blame that you murder one another?' Smotrich clashes with Ra’am over Arab crime spike

Beliak (Yesh Atid) slammed Smotrich, saying, "You are so racist and disgusting. You should be ashamed. You are responsible, you are a minister in the government, you are responsible."

FEBRUARY 17, 2026|ByKESHET NEEV

Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich speaks during a vote on the state budget at the assembly hall of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, January 28, 2026.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his cabinet seen at the Knesset plenum, June 11, 2025

Outcome of state budget vote uncertain amid coalition crisis over haredi draft

By law, if the state budget is not approved in all three readings by the end of March, when the fiscal year closes, the Knesset will automatically dissolve, and elections will be called.

JANUARY 27, 2026|ByKESHET NEEV

2026 budget reading puts government at risk, after months of ideological sparring - analysis

If the vote is postponed, or if the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) parties choose not to support it and it falls, then for all intents and purposes the government will fall with it.

JANUARY 27, 2026|ByHERB KEINON

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich speaks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as lawmakers gather at the Knesset plenum to vote on a bill that would limit some Supreme Court power, in Jerusalem July 24, 2023.

Netanyahu convenes emergency meeting as haredi parties threaten to block state budget vote

Both haredi parties have threatened to withhold support for the state budget unless agreements are reached on the draft law to avoid conscription.

JANUARY 26, 2026|ByKESHET NEEV

Uproar over stagnant Israeli disability benefits

Accusations flew as lawmakers entered a fiery debate during the Knesset plenum over disability stipends.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2017ByLAHAV HARKOV

Disabled activists sit in at the Knesset plenum discussing goverment allowances for the disabled, September 18, 2017.

Rabbis slam Haredi MK's advocacy for evacuating settlements

MK Moshe Gafni based his stance on concessions on a letter written by a leading Rabbi, involving peace with Egypt in 1978.

AUGUST 22, 2017ByLAHAV HARKOV

Haredi MK Gafni recalls party's historic support of evacuating settlements

The letter is dated April 18, 1978, when Begin was negotiating peace with Egypt, which involved returning Sinai to Egypt and evacuating Yamit.

AUGUST 9, 2017ByLAHAV HARKOV

For American Jews engaging with Israel can feel like talking to the Wall

Will the cabinet’s decision on the Kotel and conversion affect Jewish support from the Diaspora?

JULY 29, 2017ByMARK WEISS

Reform Movement prayer service at the Western Wall

Haredi parties prepare for showdown over Western Wall plan

The haredi parties are extremely concerned that the High Court will intervene on the side of those demanding a state-recognized egalitarian section.

JUNE 23, 2017ByJEREMY SHARON

The Robinson's Arch area of the Western Wall

MK Gafni says will fight against construction of mikvas for progressive denominations

The US Jewish leadership lobbied heavily against the recently approved mikva law which essentially bans the Reform and Masorti movements from using public mikvas for their conversion ceremonies.

AUGUST 11, 2016ByJEREMY SHARON

Periphery towns to strike over frozen tax break changes

Nearly 200 towns in the North and South will stop all municipal services, including garbage collection, but not schools, for one day.

NOVEMBER 8, 2015ByLAHAV HARKOV

Protests against proposed changes to the criteria for periphery residents to receive tax benefits, October 2015.

Did the Israeli gov’t surrender to the EU?

MKs debate terms of Horizon 2020 agreement; decision needs to made about whether Israel's priority is Judea and Samaria, or joining int'l economy, says MK.

FEBRUARY 11, 2014ByLAHAV HARKOV