ISRAELI SUPREME COURT
Israeli supreme court says ultra-Orthodox must serve in military
Israel's Supreme Court ruled that ultra-Orthodox men must be drafted for military service like other citizens, potentially shaking Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition amid the Gaza conflict. The decision, aimed at ending exemptions for seminary students, highlights a longstanding divide between secular and religious sectors over military service.
Eight Israeli soldiers killed in southern Gaza
Last month, Israel’s Supreme Court ordered an end to government subsidies for many ultra-Orthodox men who don’t serve in the army. A new draft law hasn't been passed, but the coalition of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week voted in favor of extending exemptions for religious men. Although the vote was only procedural, it caused an uproar by being approved during a war in which hundreds of soldiers have died and many others remain inside Gaza or on the front lines against Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.
Israel extends Al Jazeera ban by 45 days, cites security threat
Israel extended the ban on Al Jazeera for 45 days, with the Supreme Court calling it 'precedent-setting'. The government must justify the closure by Aug. 8.
Israeli troops launch attacks in central Gaza, possibly widening their offensive
The Israeli military has expanded its ground offensive in Gaza, intensifying operations in Deir al-Balah and Bureij. This escalation comes amid worsening humanitarian conditions, with UN agencies warning of potential mass starvation. Tensions are also high in Jerusalem as an annual march through Palestinian neighborhoods proceeds. Meanwhile, Israel seeks to extend the shutdown of Al Jazeera's local offices, and Prime Minister Netanyahu has vowed to restore security along the Lebanese border following Hezbollah rocket attacks.
How an Israeli firm tried to build anti-BJP narrative during polls
OpenAI claims to have disrupted an AI-based covert operation launched by an Israeli firm that allegedly peddled anti-BJP agenda. In 2021, the BJP government drew flak after Israeli spyware Pegasus was allegedly used to snoop on journalists, Opposition leaders and rights activists
US lawmakers seek sanctions to punish ICC over Netanyahu arrest warrant application
United States lawmakers are considering imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) if it issues an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. House Speaker Mike Johnson stated that Congress is exploring all options to punish the ICC for threatening Israeli leaders. He said that the ICC had no authority over Israel or the US and called the decision baseless and illegitimate.
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Biden tells Morehouse graduates that scenes in Gaza from the Israel-Hamas war break his heart, too
President Joe Biden directly acknowledged U.S. students' distress over the Israel-Hamas conflict in a speech at historically Black Morehouse College. He expressed support for peaceful protests and called for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza. Biden also addressed domestic issues, reflecting on democracy and reaching out to Black constituents in Detroit.
Israel due to respond to court petition on Gaza aid increase
Israel faces deadline to present Gaza aid measures amidst accusations of restrictions. Court deadline nears with focus on policy hindering aid, Supreme Court update, UN criticism, dual-use items policy, and potential Erez crossing reopening.
Israel's high court says the government must stop funding seminaries. Could that topple Netanyahu?
Israel's Supreme Court ruling curtailing subsidies for ultra-Orthodox men has rattled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition and raised questions about its viability as the country presses on with the war in Gaza.
Dutch court orders Netherlands govt to halt delivery of fighter jet parts to Israel
A Dutch court halts F-35 fighter jet parts exports to Israel amid Gaza operations, citing risk of humanitarian law violations. Government to appeal, citing Israel's regional security needs. Ruling follows Amnesty International and Oxfam appeal, challenging complicity in war crimes. Appeals court orders immediate export block, rejecting previous dismissal of political and economic considerations.
Iran executes 4 men convicted of planning sabotage and alleged links with Israel's Mossad spy agency
Iran executed four men, accusing them of planning sabotage and having links with Israel's Mossad. The individuals were convicted of targeting an Iranian defense ministry factory in 2022, allegedly with Mossad's involvement. The execution followed the Supreme Court upholding death sentences. Iran and Israel have a history of accusing each other of espionage, reflecting their longstanding regional tensions. Iran, which does not recognize Israel, supports anti-Israeli militant groups in the region. The recent execution adds to a series of actions highlighting their adversarial relationship.
Private funding falls by nearly half for Israeli startups, report says
Annual funding for the Israeli tech industry is expected to have fallen by nearly half in 2023 after a planned judicial reform and war with Hamas in Gaza deterred many investors, an annual report by Startup Nation Central found.
Israel's Supreme Court strikes down Netanyahu govt's judicial overhaul law
Israel's Supreme Court has reversed a government proposal aimed at reducing the authority of the judiciary, according to The Times of Israel. This significant ruling has the potential to further escalate tensions in the country, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to confront Hamas in Gaza.
Explainer: What is the UK's Rwanda migrant deportation bill?
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's new bill, which seeks to send immigrants who arrive illegally in Britain to Rwanda, faces a contentious vote in parliament on Tuesday. A month after the British Supreme Court declared the policy unlawful, Sunak hopes the new legislation will fulfil his pledge to stop people arriving across the Channel in small boats.
Tracking the Apple of big brother's eye
Such assistance could be hard to come by. Apple's threat notifications are not attributed to any source because it can't be sure whether these are false alarms or others have gone undetected. The company issued a security update within days of the release of iOS 17 to what is being seen as an attempt to limit risk from the Predator spyware, detected on the phone of an Egyptian presidential candidate. Such a response is not uncommon. Google patched two security gaps within weeks of each other in September.
Why Israel is acting this way
But what makes this war different for me from any war before is Israel's internal politics. In the past nine months, a group of Israeli far-right and ultra-Orthodox politicians led by Netanyahu tried to kidnap Israeli democracy in plain sight. The religious-nationalist-settler right, led by the prime minister, tried to take over Israel's judiciary and other key institutions by eliminating the power of Israel's Supreme Court to exercise judicial review.
View: Why Israel is acting this way
The recent conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip has similarities to previous wars started by non-state actors backed by Iran, such as Hezbollah in 2006. These attacks are designed to challenge the acceptance of Israel's existence in the region. While Israel has responded with force in the past, it has also faced criticism for the casualties caused.
Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu urges Elon Musk to balance free speech, fighting hate on X
Musk said he was against antisemitism and against anything that "promotes hate and conflict," repeating his previous statements that X would not promote hate speech.
Israeli Supreme Court hears first challenge to Netanyahu's contentious judicial overhaul
Israel's Supreme Court has begun hearing the first case examining the legality of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's judicial overhaul. The law, passed in July, limits the court's ability to strike down government decisions it deems "unreasonable" and is part of a wider plan to weaken the Supreme Court. The case has deepened the divide within the nation and could potentially lead to a constitutional crisis.
Israel's majoritarian push as majority will
Israel's judicial reforms is a cautionary tale for all strong governments. The inherent risk of coalitions cobbled together with a singular purpose - to keep or gain power or keep someone out. The inadequate finessing of the terms of the coalition commonplace for tie-ups made with the clock ticking away often push governments towards measures and policies likely to do more harm than good.
Israeli protesters keep pressure on Netanyahu after judicial turmoil
Thousands of Israelis protesting separately in different parts of the country criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition government after the passage of a new law limiting some of Supreme Court's power. It has violated democratic principles of the country, threatening independence of the courts and causing a split in society.
Israel's Netanyahu down in polls over judicial reform
Surveys published late on Tuesday by two main Israeli news broadcasters showed that if an election was held now, the number of seats held by Netanyahu's governing coalition in the 120-seat Knesset would fall from 64 to 52 or 53.
What is Israel's new judicial law and why is it causing upheaval?
The new legislation is an amendment that removes one, but not all, of the tools the Supreme Court has for quashing government and ministers' decisions. Up until now, if the court deemed an executive decision "unreasonable", it could void it. Once the bill is in effect, judges will no longer be able to do this, though they will still be able to rule against government based on other legal grounds.
Protests rock Israel as it passes curbs on some Supreme Court powers
Demonstrations against the amendment began early in the day with police dragging away protesters who had chained themselves to posts and blocked the road outside parliament. By evening, thousands had taken to the streets across the country, blocking highways and scuffling with police. Israeli police said at least 19 people had been arrested on Monday.
Israeli parliament approves controversial judicial overhaul law, opposition boycotts final vote
Twenty-thousand protesters were demonstrating outside the Knesset chanting "democracy or rebellion" while the vote was being held inside. Protest leaders vowed to continue their fight to protect Israel's liberal democracy. "The state of Israel will survive solely because of the millions (of protesters) who protected it with their bodies in the past months," they said.
Israeli startups act to relocate over judicial shakeup, survey finds
The survey by Start-Up Nation Central sought to measure the economic impact plans by the hard-right coalition of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that would restrict the Supreme Court's powers to strike down legislation.
Israel's Netanyahu recovers from a heart procedure while his judicial overhaul plan moves forward
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was recovering in a hospital on Sunday after an emergency heart procedure while opposition to his government's contentious judicial overhaul plan reached a fever pitch and unrest gripped the country.
PM Benjamin Netanyahu to be fitted with pacemaker: Israel PM office
Netanyahu will undergo the procedure at Sheba Medical Center in Tel HaShomer, his office said. He had been hospitalised there overnight on July 15 for what he said was dehydration from holidaying at the Sea of Galilee without properly protecting himself from a heatwave.
Netanayhu government survives no-confidence votes in Israeli parliament
During furious scenes in the Knesset early on Monday, opposition members of parliament attacked Simcha Rothman, the committee chairman who has shepherded the bill, with cries of "Shame! Shame!" and accusations comparing the bill to militant groups that want the destruction of Israel.
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