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The National
4 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Israel's Knesset vote on the West Bank is an alarming development
To gauge how noxious Israeli politics has become, one need only consider what the past month has been like for Ayman Odeh, the Arab leader of a coalition of leftist parties. The Knesset, Israel's legislature, moved to impeach Mr Odeh for a tweet earlier in the year in which he said he was 'happy for the release of [Israeli] hostages and [Palestinian] prisoners' – the inclusion of both groups in the same sentence apparently too much for his detractors. Parliamentarians voted overwhelmingly – 73 to 14 – for Mr Odeh's expulsion, but a boycott of the session by Ultra-Orthodox parties over an unrelated issue prevented the 90-vote threshold required from being met. Then, last weekend, Mr Odeh was attacked on his way to an anti-war protest in central Israel. His assailants cracked the windshield of his car while he was inside, and chanted 'Death to Arabs'. Police, Mr Odeh says, stood by and did nothing. The silence from his fellow parliamentarians has been deafening. Yet it is little surprise, considering the anti-Arab mood in the Knesset appears to be at a fever pitch. On Wednesday, the legislature voted in favour of a non-binding motion to annex the West Bank, a Palestinian territory whose long-standing occupation by Israeli security forces is illegal under international law. The West Bank is a critical part of historic Palestine and any future Palestinian the vote was overwhelming, with 71 for to 13 against. The Knesset resolution called on the government 'to apply Israeli sovereignty, law, judgement and administration' over large areas where illegal Jewish settlements are present, and noted the entire territory is 'an inseparable part of the land of Israel', to which Israel has a 'natural, historical and legal right'. The anti-Arab mood appears to be at a fever pitch Ten Arab and Islamic countries, along with the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation, released a statement on Thursday roundly condemning the Knesset resolution. The statement, of which the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt were signatories, called the resolution 'a flagrant and unacceptable violation of international law', adding it will 'only fuel the growing tension in the region, exacerbated by the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and the resulting humanitarian catastrophe'. The resolution has been viewed by Israeli politicians as a largely symbolic measure, as it does not carry the force of law. But it is deeply problematic, both as an antagonistic barb against the dignity and rights of Palestinians and as a barometer of public sentiment. While it is true that the statements and votes of Members of the Knesset belie more nuanced public opinion, the picture is still disturbing. A poll conducted by The Jerusalem Post in February found that 35 per cent of Israelis favour a 'Jewish-only state, from the river to the sea'. This would, in effect, include the prospect of annexation of the West Bank and the end of hopes for a Palestinian state. The pro-annexation movement is about much more than territorial claims. It inherently denies Palestinians the right to exist as a national community – it is no coincidence the most prominent supporters of annexing the West Bank apply their logic to Gaza, too. The fact that it has become an ideological staple in the Knesset makes its success as eventual national policy much likelier, and that ought to alarm everyone in the region, as well as Israel's allies in the West. A generalised acceptance of lawlessness and oppression among most of a country's politicians can have concrete consequences. Even if the annexation resolution is symbolic, the violent assault against Mr Odeh was very real.
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Netanyahu Allies Quit Govt; Trouble Mounts For Israeli PM Amid Coalition Backlash Over Haredi Enlistment
/ Jul 17, 2025, 09:13AM IST Israel's Shas party announced its ministers will resign from government roles in protest over the failure to pass ultra-Orthodox military exemption laws. The move comes amid growing tension with Likud's Yuli Edelstein, who opposes any bill not aligned with IDF needs. Although stepping down from ministerial posts, Shas will stay in the coalition. The ultra-Orthodox parties demand urgent legislation as thousands of yeshiva students face potential enlistment. The Council of Torah Sages warned that if no law is passed by October, coalition unity may collapse. Opposition leaders say the government has lost legitimacy.#IsraeliPolitics #ShasResigns #HarediDraftCrisis #YeshivaDraft #IDFConscription #KnessetNews #CoalitionCrisis #UltraOrthodoxDraft
News.com.au
11-07-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
Sara Netanyahu: the ever-present wife of Israel's prime minister
Whether dining opposite US President Donald Trump or accompanying her husband on an official Pentagon visit, Sara Netanyahu's front-row role in Washington this week has sparked fresh questions over her place in Israeli politics. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's third wife and the mother of two of his children, Sara Netanyahu has long made headlines, notably for her alleged involvement in the political decisions of her husband. "My wife and I..." is a phrase often used by the Israeli premier in his official statements, helping to cement Sara's position at the forefront of public life. This week, as the prime minister visited Washington for a series of high-level meetings in which he discussed a potential Gaza ceasefire deal with the US president, his wife was noticeably present. On Tuesday, she was photographed sitting opposite Trump at an official dinner following a meeting between the two leaders. Two days later, she appeared next to her husband, as well as US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his wife, Jennifer Rauchet, as they arrived for meetings at the Pentagon. But speculation had swirled even before the Netanyahus' departure for Washington. On the eve of the trip, the prime minister's office announced the resignation of his spokesman Omer Dostri. A few hours later, following media reports claiming that his wife had been involved in the decision, another statement was issued denying she had any role. Sara Netanyahu has been the subject of several investigations, including for corruption, fraud and breach of trust, and has also been questioned in connection with her husband's ongoing graft trial. Married to Benjamin Netanyahu since 1991, the 66-year-old is the target of frequent media attacks which are regularly denounced by her husband. She has been caricatured in satirical programmes for her fashion choices or her profession as a child psychologist, which she has often appeared to boast about. But above all, she has been targeted for her alleged interference in state affairs. - 'The real prime minister' - In a video released in December 2024, Netanyahu denied that his wife was involved in his cabinet appointments or that she was privy to state secrets. It followed an investigation into Sara Netanyahu aired by Israel's Channnel 12 which the prime minister slammed as a "witch hunt". In 2021, a former senior official said he had seen a contract signed by the Netanyahus stipulating that Sara had a say in the appointment of Israeli security chiefs. To that claim, the prime minister's office responded with a brief statement denouncing "a complete lie". The official lost a libel suit brought against him by the Netanyahus' lawyer. And when the prime minister appointed David Zini as the new head of Israel's Shin Bet security service in May, Israeli journalists once again pointed to the possible influence of Sara Netanyahu, who is thought to be close to Zini's entourage. Almost two years since the start of Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza, Sara Netanyahu seems to have established herself as more indispensable than ever, with some even attributing her with increasing influence on strategic issues. In May, when Sara Netanyahu corrected the number of living Gaza hostages given by her husband during a recorded meeting with the captives' families, speculation swirled that she had access to classified information. Journalist and Netanyahu biographer Ben Caspit went as far as to describe Sara Netanyahu as the "real prime minister". "It has become public knowledge. It is an integral part of our lives... we are normalising the fact that someone has dismantled the leadership of the state in favour of chaotic, family-based management," Caspit said in an opinion piece published on the website of the Maariv newspaper. In an interview with US news outlet Fox News on Wednesday, Netanyahu described his wife as a "wonderful partner" and praised her help over the years.
Al Arabiya
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Netanyahu ‘must go,' former Israeli PM Naftali Bennett says
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must leave office, his predecessor Naftali Bennett has told a televised interview, refusing to say whether he intends to challenge the country's longest-serving leader in an election. In an interview with Israel's Channel 12 that aired on Saturday, former prime minister Bennett said Netanyahu 'has been in power for 20 years... that's too much, it's not healthy.' 'He bears... heavy responsibility for the divisions in Israeli society,' Bennett said of growing rifts within Israel under Netanyahu, who has a strong support base but also staunch opponents who have demanded his departure including over his handling of the Gaza war since October 2023. Netanyahu 'must go,' said the former prime minister, a right-wing leader who in 2021 joined forces with Netanyahu critics to form a coalition that ousted him from the premiership after 12 consecutive years at the helm. But the fragile coalition government Bennett had led along with current opposition chief Yair Lapid collapsed after about a year. Snap elections ensued, and Netanyahu again assumed the premiership with backing from far-right and ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties. Bennett, who has taken time off from politics, has been rumored to be planning a comeback, with public opinion polls suggesting he may have enough support to oust Netanyahu again. No vote is currently planned before late 2026, however, although early elections are common in Israel. In his Saturday interview, Bennett claimed credit for laying the groundwork for Israel's bombardment campaign earlier this month against Iranian nuclear and military sites. The decision to launch attacks against the Islamic Republic 'was very good' and 'needed,' said Bennett, claiming that the offensive would not have been possible without the work of his short-lived government. In Gaza, where Israel has waged war since Hamas's October 2023 attack, Bennett said the military has displayed 'exceptional' performance but 'the political management of the country' was 'a catastrophe, a disaster.' Criticizing the Netanyahu government's 'inability to decide,' the former prime minister called for an immediate "comprehensive' agreement that would see all remaining hostages freed from Gaza. 'Leave the task of eliminating Hamas to a future government,' said Bennett, who also evaded several questions about whether he intends to run for office.
CNN
28-06-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Israeli military detains 6 settlers after attack on forces in occupied West Bank
The Israeli military detained six settlers in the occupied West Bank overnight after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) say the suspects attacked security forces. The IDF says they spotted Israeli civilians driving toward a closed military zone near the Palestinian village of Kafr Malik, where days earlier settlers set fire to homes and vehicles in an attack Palestinian officials say killed three people. When Israeli forces approached the group, the IDF says the soldiers were physically assaulted and verbally abused. In addition, the suspects vandalized and damaged the security forces' vehicles and attempted to ram the forces. Six suspects were apprehended and transferred to police, the IDF said. 'The IDF and Israel Police condemn any act of violence against security forces and will act firmly against any attempt to harm security personnel carrying out their duty to protect Israeli citizens,' the IDF said in a statement. Israeli politicians condemned the settler attacks against Israeli security forces. Head of the opposition Yair Lapid said in a statement on social media, 'The extremists who attack IDF soldiers who are guarding the security of the State of Israel during these difficult days are dangerous criminals who are aiding our enemies.' Yair Golan, the head of the left-wing Democrats party, who had called earlier settler attacks in the area a 'violent Jewish pogrom,' said the violence from 'the Kahanist, nationalist, and fantastic Israel is deliberately working to dismantle the Jewish and democratic Israel.' Golan referenced Meir Kahane, an extremist rabbi whose political party was banned outright in Israel under anti-terror laws. 'This is not a marginal occurrence. This is a dangerous current that has taken deep roots. Even around the government table,' Golan said, a reference to the far-right ministers that prop up the coalition government, including Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, both of whom were sanctioned earlier this month by the UK, Canada, and other Western allies. Smotrich has called for formal annexation of West Bank settlements, while Ben-Gvir's party consists of followers of Kahane's banned political party. In a statement, Defense Minister Israel Katz called on law enforcement authorities to act immediately to locate all those who resorted to violence and bring them to justice 'as is done everywhere.' On Friday, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for the Palestinian Authority presidency, said the settler attacks are part of a plan by Israel's 'extremist right-wing government' to drag the West Bank into a larger confrontation, according to the Palestinian news agency WAFA. Abu Rudeineh held Israel fully responsible for 'the consequences of this bloody aggression,' WAFA said. Israel has been ramping up military operations in the West Bank alongside the offensive in Gaza and attacks on Iran and its proxies, displacing thousands of Palestinians and razing entire communities as it targets what it says are militants operating in the territory. Earlier this week, Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian teenager in the West Bank, Palestinian health authorities said. The Israeli military said that 'terrorists hurled explosive devices at IDF forces.' In late-May, Israel approved a massive expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank in a move decried as de facto annexation of large swaths of the territory. Peace Now, an Israeli non-governmental organization that tracks settlements, said it was the largest expansion of settlements since the signing of the Oslo Accords more than 30 years ago. Israel plans to establish 22 new settlements, including deep within the West Bank and in areas from which the country had previously withdrawn. Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, as well as in East Jerusalem and the occupied Golan Heights, are considered illegal under international law.
