Yuli Edelstein

Yuli Edelstein attacks Likud over draft legislation, plans new Zionist right-wing framework

“Hundreds of thousands of reservists who see what is happening feel as though they have been slapped in the face. It cannot be that this exacts no political price. What, is everyone blind?” he said.

MK Yuli Edelstein attends a Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem, December 9, 2025.
LT.-GEN. (RET.) GADI EISENKOT lost a son and two nephews to Israel’s wars, making him a potent symbol of what the IDF-serving population has endured while ultra-Orthodox leaders attempt to ‘etch non-service in constitutional stone,’ the author contends.

Middle Israel: Why Netanyahu's political formula no longer works - opinion

Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar attends a plenum session at the assembly hall of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, May 20, 2026.

Culture Minister Zohar releases video skewering the film industry

MK Yuli Edelstein speaks during a conference at the Reichman University in Herzliya, on January 13, 2026.

Political rivals Lapid, Edelstein, surprisingly align on national priorities - analysis


The king has no God: Netanyahu lost the right to rule in his lust for power - opinion

MIDDLE ISRAEL: Bibi Netanyahu has not slain any of his people, let alone a whole town. He has, however, lost the ability to distinguish between good and bad, just and unjust, or even friend and foe.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference, in Jerusalem, May 21, 2025.

The ousting of Yuli Edelstein: Israeli politics reaches a new low - opinion

The vote by Likud lawmakers is problematic from political, democratic, and ideological perspectives.

MK YULI EDELSTEIN attends a meeting of the Knesset plenum last week. Though his record of upholding the rule of law is far from perfect, he nevertheless has a reputation as a serious and experienced politician, the writer maintains.

Coalition weakens as Religious Zionist Party falls below electoral threshold, survey finds

Amid MK Yuli Edelstein's removal and ongoing stagnation in Gaza, a new poll shows Netanyahu's coalition losing four seats, while the opposition, led by Naftali Bennett, gains significant ground.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Defense Minister Israel Katz and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir attend a discussion at the plenum in the Knesset, Israel's parliament, in Jerusalem, July 23, 2025.

Likud seeks inquiry into foreign funding of Israeli protests

The move comes days after Likud issued a statement citing what it called “astonishing revelations” contained in an official document recently published by the US Congress.

Israelis protest against Benjamin Netanyhahu's government in Jerusalem, March 23, 2025

'Enlistment=Genocide': Haredi protesters assault police in Jerusalem, block city entrance

Hundreds of protestors blocked the roads near Chords Bridge with signs saying "Death before conscription," and "War on the draft law."

HAREDI DEMONSTRATORS protest in Jerusalem on July 23, 2025.

'A stab in the back to IDF troops': Opposition decries Bismuth appt

Bismuth's designation as the new chairman for the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee sparked a heated reaction from the opposition, who called it a "back stab to the IDF troops and reservists".

MK Boaz Bismuth leads National Security committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament on March 10, 2025.

Likud MKs jostle for Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairmanship

With at least six MKs aiming for the position of FADC chairman, including Yuli Edelstein, who's aiming to keep the position, the vote pitted MKs in the party against each other.

 Benjamin Netanyahu and Yuli Edelstein seen at the Knesset on November 4, 2021

Why Likud booting Edelstein will come back to bite it? - analysis

While Edelstein has given no indication of his next political move and has remained loyal to the Likud, it is not inconceivable that he seeks a new political home.

 Committee Chairman Yuli Edelstein leads a Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem on February 12, 2023.

New haredi draft proposal by reservist NGOs gains traction on Knesset, still no clear framework

According to the proposal, all haredi men will receive draft summons and be required to serve in the IDF, although the outline does not explain why it would be limited to men.

 Ultra-Orthodox Jews clash with police outside the IDF Recruitment Center at Tel Hashomer, central Israel, April 28, 2025

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef's attacks on Edelstein ignore his sacrifices for Judaism - opinion

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef seems to ignore who Yuli Edelstein really is: someone who physically risked his life for the observance of Torah and mitzvot.

 Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef during a shaharit prayer in the northern Israeli city of Tzfat, September 17, 2024.