Israeli Politics

'My voters don't care that I'm homophobic', says Israeli finance minister

In a leaked recording, Bezalel Smotrich said he could take measures against the LBGTQ+ community because his voters 'don't give a damn about the gays'

By Ben Bloch

3 min read

'My voters don't care that I'm homophobic', says Israeli finance minister

Israeli Politics

Thousands take to the streets of rain-soaked Tel Aviv to protest against government

By Maya Orbach

2 min read

Israeli singer Noa Kirel holds press conference in Tel Aviv on August 10, 2022. Krill will represent Israel in the upcoming Eurovision contest. Photo by Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** נוע קריל ארויזיון זמרת תרבות נועה קיריל

Israeli Politics

Plans to scrap Israel’s BBC could see it axed from Eurovision

By Georgia L Gilholy

2 min read

A man holds a Palestinian flag near young jewish men holding Israeli flags in Jerusalem's Old City during Jerusalem Day celebrations, May 29, 2022. Photo by Jamal AwadFlash90 *** Local Caption *** ??? ??????? ????? ??? ???

Israeli Politics

New Israeli security minister to ban Palestinian flags from flying in public

By Georgia L Gilholy

1 min read

Israeli left wing protesters demonstrate against Israel's new hard-right government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on January 7, 2023 in Tel Aviv. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Israeli Politics

Thousands rally in Tel Aviv to protest against planned changes to judicial system

By Daniel Ben-David

2 min read

Israeli president Isaac Herzog and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pose for a group picture of the new government with Israeli Ministers at the president's residence in Jerusalem, on December 29, 2022. Photo by Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** ממשלה בית הנשיא תמונה קבוצתית ממשלה ראש הממשלה בנימין נתניהו נשיא המדינה יצחק הרצוג

Israeli Politics

Bibi trusts inner circle to tackle Iran and seek new Arab allies

By Richard Pater

2 min read

Israeli parliament Avi Maoz poses for a picture at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, July 19, 2021. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** כנסת פורטרט נעם נועם אבי מעוז ימני קיצוני

UK-Israel relations

UK Jewish charities blacklisted by Israeli far right

By David Rose

3 min read

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‘Love every Jew’: Chief Rabbi defends gay Knesset speaker following far-right criticism

Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said the Torah ‘forbids hate’

By Georgia L Gilholy

2 min read

January 4, 2023 15:07

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 26: Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis speaks at a National Holocaust Memorial Day event at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre on January 26, 2017 in London, England. The commemorative event, attended by religious leaders, heard testimonies from survivors of the Holocaust, in which millions of predominantly Jewish people were killed. National Holocaust Day on February 27 marks the 72nd anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp by Soviet troops. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images)

Ben Gvir slammed for first Temple Mount visit as minister

It was the controversial new Security Minister's first tour of the site since Israel's November election

By Daniel Ben-David

3 min read

January 3, 2023 12:23

Right-wing politician MK Itamar Ben Gvir seen after visiting the Temple Mount, at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City on March 31, 2022. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** איתמר בן גביר משטרה הר הבית ירושלים העיר העתיקה

Israeli ambassador to France resigns in protest against new government

The Lapid appointee claims the Likud-led coalition is 'undemocratic and illegitimate'

By Georgia L Gilholy

1 min read

January 3, 2023 10:55

Member of Knesset, Yael German votes during the Interior Affairs Committee meeting discussing force feeding prisoners who are on a hunger strike, at the Knesset, on July 22, 2015. Photo by Hadas Parush/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** åòãú äôðéí éå"ø äåòãä ëðñú éòì âøîï áðé áâéï äàëìä áëôééä ùáéúú øòá àñéøéí

Netanyahu's new cabinet: who’s who?

A slew of new roles have been created as Likud heads into coalition with several hard-right partners

By Georgia L Gilholy

6 min read

December 30, 2022 17:32

By Misha Mansoor

Israel’s enemies are no longer the problem

With increasing division, intolerance and bigotry, the country feels like a different place now

3 min read

December 29, 2022 14:47

Israel’s enemies are no longer the problem

By Anshel Pfeffer

It was a year of rookie errors, ending with the far right in cabinet

Bennett burned his bridges on the right, Lapid failed to cajole Labour and Meretz into merging

6 min read

December 29, 2022 12:08

Likud Head MK Benjamin Netanyahu seen after coalition talks with Shas chairman MK Arie Deri and Religious Zionist party head MK Bezalel Smotrich outside a hotel in Jerusalem, December 5, 2022. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** בנימין נתניהו יו"ר הליכוד נתניהו פגישה

By Anshel Pfeffer

Even Likud MKs don’t know what lies in store for them with Bibi

The most senior are still waiting to hear from Netanyahu what post, if any, awaits them in his new government

4 min read

December 22, 2022 13:19

Likud leader MK Benjamin Netanyahu seen during a vote in the plenum session at the assembly hall of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on December 20, 2022. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** כנסת מליאה הצבעה חברי כנסת חוק פקודת המשטרה בנימין נתניהו יו"ר הליכוד

By Anshel Pfeffer

World Cup was a better watch than Knesset in session

On Tuesday evening, when the 25th Knesset’s first round of serious legislation coincided with the World Cup semi-final between Argentina and Croatia, the exclusive 'horseshoe' room just happened to be packed

5 min read

December 15, 2022 12:34

TOPSHOT - Argentina's forward #09 Julian Alvarez (C) celebrates with Argentina's forward #10 Lionel Messi (L) after he scored his team's second goal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup football semi-final match between Argentina and Croatia at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on December 13, 2022. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Dershowitz: Smotrich and Ben-Gvir are making it harder to defend Israel

Professor tells the JC that their demands to empower the Knesset to overturn human rights rulings would make Israel vulnerable to prosecution at the International Criminal Court

By David Rose

3 min read

December 15, 2022 12:00

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 03: Alan Dershowitz attends Hulu Presents "Triumph's Election Special" produced by Funny Or Die at NEP Studios on February 3, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images for Hulu)

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Israeli Politics

'My voters don't care that I'm homophobic', says Israeli finance minister

Thousands take to the streets of rain-soaked Tel Aviv to protest against government

Plans to scrap Israel’s BBC could see it axed from Eurovision

New Israeli security minister to ban Palestinian flags from flying in public

Thousands rally in Tel Aviv to protest against planned changes to judicial system

Bibi trusts inner circle to tackle Iran and seek new Arab allies

UK Jewish charities blacklisted by Israeli far right

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More from Israeli Politics

‘Love every Jew’: Chief Rabbi defends gay Knesset speaker following far-right criticism

Ben Gvir slammed for first Temple Mount visit as minister

Israeli ambassador to France resigns in protest against new government

Netanyahu's new cabinet: who’s who?

Israel’s enemies are no longer the problem

It was a year of rookie errors, ending with the far right in cabinet

Even Likud MKs don’t know what lies in store for them with Bibi

World Cup was a better watch than Knesset in session

Dershowitz: Smotrich and Ben-Gvir are making it harder to defend Israel