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Israeli judicial overhaul

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (second from right) attends a security briefing during an IDF operation in Jenin on July 3, 2023. At left is IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, and next to him is Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Ronen Bar, head of the Shin Bet is at center. (Amos Ben Gershom/GPO)
October 8, 2026, 9:45 am
Before Oct. 7, Netanyahu was repeatedly told internal rift emboldening enemies – report
Top security officials, including Shin Bet and IDF chiefs, defense minister, said to have warned PM of danger from judicial overhaul chaos for months before Hamas onslaught, but he shrugged them off
By Nava Freiberg and ToI Staff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) and IDF chief Herzi Halevi at the start of a security cabinet meeting in Tel Aviv, November 16, 2023. (Haim Zach/GPO)
October 4, 2026, 12:52 pm
Report: Ex-IDF chief says he suggested dismissing refusing reservists, but Netanyahu said no
Halevi reportedly tells bereaved families that during 2023 judicial overhaul crisis, he asked Netanyahu to either express support for reservists or let him dismiss them, but PM warned it would ‘spark a bigger wave’
By ToI Staff
Legal correspondent Jeremy Sharon appears on the Daily Briefing podcast with host Jessica Steinberg (Flash 90)
September 23, 2026, 1:52 pm
Daily Briefing Sept. 23 – Religious Zionism party doubles down on judicial revolution
Legal correspondent Jeremy Sharon discusses Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s plans to radically constrain the judiciary, and how the sale of Channel 13 was finally approved
By Jessica Steinberg and Jeremy Sharon
An AI-generated video posted September 15, 2026 by Religious Zionism leader Bezalel Smotrich depicts (left to right) Supreme Court President Isaac Amit, fellow justice Daphne Barak-Erez, and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara being forcibly removed at a protest. (Bezalel Smotrich via X)
September 15, 2026, 10:50 pm
Smotrich assailed for AI video of High Court chief, AG being dragged at protest
Video posted as part of Religious Zionism party’s election campaign, advocating judicial overhaul more radical than outgoing government’s; Herzog denounces ‘offensive AI videos’
By Jeremy Sharon
MK Simcha Rothman (left) and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (right), flanked by masked security personnel, arrive at a ceremony marking the establishment of the new Israeli settlement of Ma’ale Arugot in Gush Etzion, in the West Bank, September 2, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
September 15, 2026, 7:18 pm
Religious Zionism launches plans for more radical judicial overhaul after election
Smotrich posts AI-generated video of Supreme Court justices, AG getting dragged out of protest; Eisenkot calls it ‘despicable,’ Bar Association director slams ‘incitement’
By Jeremy Sharon
Justice Minister Yariv Levin attends a plenum session at the assembly hall of the Knesset in Jerusalem, July 8, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
August 12, 2026, 11:51 am
Justice minister says if he’s reelected, liberal Supreme Court justices ‘will go extinct’
Speaking to Likud activists, Yariv Levin notes 6 judges are set to retire during term of next government, leaving 10 of 15 seats vacant: ‘We won’t need judicial reform anymore’
By ToI Staff
Illustrative: Passengers at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport, August 1, 2024. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
August 6, 2026, 10:06 pm
Emigration of doctors, engineers, other highly educated Israelis hits record high
Israel Tax Authority research finds a near-doubling in five years of skilled, high-earning Israelis leaving; expert warns the trend risks becoming a spiral effect, difficult to reverse
By Sharon Wrobel
Political correspondent Tal Schneider joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan on today's Daily Briefing podcast. (Flash90 / ToI)
July 19, 2026, 1:35 pm
Daily Briefing July 19: Knesset disbands with bangs and whimpers
Political correspondent Tal Schneider brings an overview of the judicial overhaul legislation passed in the 25th Knesset and how the Supreme Court has taken unprecedented steps to counter it
By Amanda Borschel-Dan and Tal Schneider
Religious Zionism MK Simcha Rothman celebrates with Justice Minister Yariv Levin (back to camera) following the passage of a law to weaken the powers of the attorney general, at the Knesset plenum in Jerusalem on July 15, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
July 15, 2026, 11:06 pm
Coalition passes law gutting attorney general’s powers, removing key check on government
Law allows ministers to reject AG’s positions, which are currently binding, grants government effective control over appointing the AG; Netanyahu skips vote; MK Kariv, critics petition High Court
By Ariela Karmel
A sign for credit agency Moody's, on August 13, 2010, in New York. (AP/ Mark Lennihan)
July 15, 2026, 5:06 pm
Moody’s lowers Israel’s growth outlook, cites heightened risk of conflict, ‘weakened institutions’
Rating agency maintains Israel’s credit rating but cautions about lingering economic fallout from defense spending and threats to judicial system
By Sharon Wrobel
MK Simcha Rothman leads a Constitution, Law and Justice Committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, July 5, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
July 13, 2026, 5:43 pm
With bill hobbling AG, overhaul architect Rothman moves to take coalition off judicial leash
In a wide-ranging interview, MK Simcha Rothman defends coalition’s campaign against judiciary, arguing it restores authority to elected officials, though expert says it would dismantle remaining checks on executive
By Ariela Karmel
Political correspondent Ariela Karmel appears on today's Daily Briefing podcast with host Jessica Steinberg (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
July 13, 2026, 1:13 pm
Daily Briefing July 13: Coalition races to pass controversial laws before Knesset dissolves
Political correspondent Ariela Karmel discusses the raft of contentious legislation the government is pushing to shore up support from coalition partners ahead of October elections
By Jessica Steinberg and Ariela Karmel
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (center) attends the graduation ceremony of an IDF officers’ course in southern Israel, June 25, 2026. (Flash90)
July 8, 2026, 5:07 pm
A plea to the prime minister: Heed the lessons of our history in this land, and pull back from the brink
You may consider this appeal itself divisive and unjustified, but do internalize that many fine, patriotic and responsible Israelis feel this way
By David Horovitz
Shin Bet chief David Zini gives a speech on July 7, 2026 (Screengrab)
July 8, 2026, 10:04 am
Shin Bet chief says he took the job out of ‘loyalty to the elected leadership’
‘I have an agenda, I want to advance it,’ says Zini, who is reportedly considering removing department head over harsh treatment of Jewish terror suspects
By ToI Staff
Left: Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara at her welcome ceremony in Jerusalem on February 8, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90); Right: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, on January 11, 2023. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
July 7, 2026, 6:28 am
Knesset splits controversial bill to erode attorney general’s powers, easing path for key aspects to become law
Legislation now being advanced would still allow government to ignore AG’s rulings, but won’t divide role; media overhaul bill and bill to expand gender segregation in academia okayed for final votes
By Ariela Karmel and Jeremy Sharon
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