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ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 537

Israeli politics

In major success for government, Knesset approves 2025 budget, staving off elections
By Sam Sokol
Coalition lawmakers escorted into Knesset under guard as anti-government protesters block entrance. Opposition MKs chant ‘shame’, families of hostages protest from gallery, as law passes final reading
Anti-government protesters rally at Habima Square in Tel Aviv, March 22, 2025. (Amir Goldstein / Pro-Democracy Protest Movement)
Over 100,000 nationwide protest renewed Gaza fighting, Shin Bet chief’s ouster
By Noam Lehmann, Jessica Steinberg and Sam Sokol
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (center) with coalition lawmakers as the 2025 state budget law is passed by the Knesset, March 25, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
In major success for government, Knesset approves 2025 budget, staving off elections
By Sam Sokol
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (center) with coalition lawmakers as the 2025 state budget law is passed by the Knesset, March 25, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
March 25, 2025, 5:26 pm
In major success for government, Knesset approves 2025 budget, staving off elections
Coalition lawmakers escorted into Knesset under guard as anti-government protesters block entrance. Opposition MKs chant ‘shame’, families of hostages protest from gallery, as law passes final reading
By Sam Sokol
Israelis protest against the government outside the Knesset, in Jerusalem, March 25, 2025 (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
March 25, 2025, 3:59 pm
Protesters arrested for blocking roads to Knesset as government passes 2025 budget
Otzma Yehudit MK claims he faced ‘severe violence’; Speaker Ohana demands anti-government activists be ‘brought to justice’; lawyers accuse police of using excessive force
By Charlie Summers, Sam Sokol and ToI Staff
Yesh Atid party chair Yair Lapid leads a faction meeting at the Knesset, on March 24, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
March 24, 2025, 9:42 pm
‘Billions are being stolen’: Opposition slams 2025 state budget ahead of final vote
MKs launch 15-hour extended debate of controversial NIS 756 billion ($203.5 billion) wartime budget, which Lapid pans as the ‘greatest robbery in the history of the country’
By Sam Sokol
Anti-government protesters rally at Habima Square in Tel Aviv, March 22, 2025. (Amir Goldstein / Pro-Democracy Protest Movement)
March 23, 2025, 3:56 am
Over 100,000 nationwide protest renewed Gaza fighting, Shin Bet chief’s ouster
Rallies much larger than in recent weeks; opposition leaders warn of national strike if gov’t defies High Court; ex-hostage says she felt abandoned when fighting resumed last time
By Noam Lehmann, Jessica Steinberg and Sam Sokol
Posters for United Torah Judaism candidate Shmuel Greenberg defaced ahead of the 2024 municipal election in Beit Shemesh. (Sam Sokol)
March 20, 2025, 5:45 pm
PM, President Herzog, Haredi ministers condemn mob attack on Beit Shemesh mayor
‘We must denounce the extremists and the violent among us,’ says United Torah Judaism chairman Goldknopf in wake of assault on Degel Hatorah’s Shmuel Greenberg
By Sam Sokol
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and coalition lawmakers attend a vote on the 2025 state budget in the Knesset plenum, March 19, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
March 20, 2025, 1:55 pm
Clearing path for budget vote, MKs pass Economic Arrangements Law as Haredim back down
Ben Gvir’s return to the coalition defangs UTJ chief Yitzchak Goldknopf’s threat to scuttle 2025 state budget unless law exempting yeshiva students from IDF service is passed first
By Sam Sokol
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulates Otzma Yehudit chairman Itamar Ben Gvir after the Knesset votes to approve his return to the cabinet, March 19, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
March 20, 2025, 2:07 am
Ben Gvir reappointed police minister as Knesset okays his party’s return to government
Far-right Otzma Yehudit rejoins hours before critical budget vote, raising Netanyahu’s majority to 68; Ben Gvir links move to resumption of Gaza war after he opposed hostage deal
By Sam Sokol
Naftali Bennett attends a commemoration ceremony for a slain Israeli soldier at Mt. Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem, December 25, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/ Flash90/ File)
March 19, 2025, 10:04 pm
Bennett: PM must quit over Qatari payments to aide; if received knowingly, it’s ‘treason’
Former PM calls out Netanyahu for ‘cover-up’ of scandal and resistance to investigation; Likud retorts that he’s a ‘crook’ for building 2021 coalition with Arab party Ra’am
By Sam Sokol
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir holds a press conference together with members of his far-right Otzma Yehudit party in Jerusalem, January 16, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/FLASH90)
March 18, 2025, 4:53 pm
Far-right Otzma Yehudit returning to the government after resumption of war in Gaza
‘Together in strength, for the sake of the people of Israel,’ Ben Gvir exults following end of two-month stint in the opposition over party’s objection to ceasefire deal
By Sam Sokol
Ultra-Orthodox men protest against the conscription of Haredim to the IDF in Jerusalem on October 31, 2024. (Menahem Kahana/AFP)
March 18, 2025, 1:52 pm
AG urges defense minister to take ‘immediate action’ to penalize Haredi draft evaders
Government must ‘improve enforcement and impose personal sanctions,’ Deputy AG Limon writes, says only a ‘negligible’ fraction of ultra-Orthodox called up for service have enlisted
By Sam Sokol
Left: Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90); Center: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Reuven Kastro/Pool); Right: Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara (Oren Ben Hakoon/Pool)
March 16, 2025, 11:35 pm
Netanyahu says he’ll fire Shin Bet chief Bar; AG says he can’t without legal review
PM cites ‘ongoing distrust’ in security agency chief, who says expectation of personal loyalty is ‘fundamentally illegitimate’; timing coincides with Shin Bet probe into PM’s aides
By Lazar Berman, Emanuel Fabian, Sam Sokol and ToI Staff
Ultra-Orthodox Jews outside an army recruitment office in Jerusalem, March 4, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
March 9, 2025, 3:47 pm
AG, police silent in face of growing ecosystem of Haredi evasion organizations
‘We regret that law enforcement agencies are de facto condoning criminality on such an important issue,’ says Movement for Quality Government; offense punishable by 15 years in jail
By Sam Sokol
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf, right, arriving for a cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on September 27, 2023. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
March 7, 2025, 8:39 am
Hasidic MKs tell Netanyahu they’ll oppose budget if draft exemption law not passed
Report says despite PM’s promises, Haredi draft exemption bill likely to be postponed; out of 10,000 Haredim who received draft orders since July, only 177 have enlisted, IDF says
By Sam Sokol
Ultra-Orthodox children in their classroom in Jerusalem's Mea She'arim neighborhood, September 4, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
March 5, 2025, 3:35 pm
Cabinet approves over NIS 1 billion in coalition funds for Haredim, of a total NIS 5b
Items approved include $350 million for yeshivas, $2.2 million for groups that arrange IDF exemptions for Haredi students, $6.9 million for Jewish National Identity Authority
By Sam Sokol
Ultra-Orthodox students study at the Ponevezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak, February 27, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
March 5, 2025, 2:26 pm
‘Do not cooperate’: Nonprofit linked to top Haredi rabbis encourages draft dodging
Haredim are pushing for coalition funds for Vaad HaYeshivot, which tells yeshiva students to ignore the law in favor of ‘the instructions of the sages’
By Sam Sokol
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