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ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 644

Sam Sokol

Sam Sokol

Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
Likud MK Yuli Edelstein chairs a meeting of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, May 8, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
July 10, 2025, 8:47 pm
Ultra-Orthodox demand immediate progress on exemption from IDF service as vote postponed
Goldknopf calls on Netanyahu to honor his agreements and ‘complete the settlement of the status of Torah students in the Land of Israel’
By Sam Sokol
Ultra-orthodox men clash with police during a protest against the military draft, outside the IDF Recruitment Center at Tel Hashomer, August 5, 2024. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)
July 10, 2025, 3:17 am
Haredi party chiefs slam AG as enforcement against draft evaders slated to increase
Comparing PM to Winston Churchill, mouthpiece for ultra-Orthodox faction warns Netanyahu could lose power for not passing law exempting yeshiva students from mandatory army service
By Sam Sokol
ILLUSTRATIVE — New immigrants from North America arrive on a special aliyah flight arranged by the Nefesh B'Nefesh organization, at Ben Gurion International Airport on August 14, 2019. (Flash90)
July 9, 2025, 10:25 pm
Bill to limit Law of Return shot down despite support from ultra-Orthodox MKs
Controversial legislation would have revoked right of non-Jewish grandchildren of Jews to immigrate to Israel and automatically obtain citizenship
By Sam Sokol
Hadash-Ta'al MK Ofer Cassif attends a Knesset Economic Committee meeting, in Jerusalem, on July 7, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
July 9, 2025, 6:11 pm
Knesset panel suspends Hadash-Ta’al MK Cassif for two months over wartime criticism
Lawmaker, previously suspended for 6 months, hit with penalty after 12 complaints filed against him, including for calling on ICC prosecutor to investigate Netanyahu for war crimes
By Sam Sokol and ToI Staff
Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef delivers a lesson in Safed, on September 17, 2024. (David Cohen/Flash90)
July 8, 2025, 11:08 pm
Shas spiritual leader links death of troops in Gaza to students’ neglect of Torah
United Torah Judaism chairman waits 12 hours to send statement of condolence, fails to acknowledge fallen soldiers are members of ultra-Orthodox battalion
By Sam Sokol
Shas party leader MK Aryeh Deri, right, speaks with United Torah Judaism No. 2 MK Moshe Gafni during a Knesset plenum session in Jerusalem, February 10, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
July 7, 2025, 8:11 pm
Coalition pulls all legislation after Haredi parties mutiny over conscription bill
United Torah Judaism party says it ‘will not vote with the coalition’ until presented with an updated draft of a law exempting yeshiva students from military service
By Sam Sokol
Ultra-Orthodox demonstrators clash with police during a protest against the drafting of Haredi youth near Bnei Brak, June 5, 2025. (Erik Marmor/Flash90)
July 6, 2025, 9:20 pm
Haredim shown watered-down conscription bill, as IDF set to get tough on draft-dodgers
Opposition fumes as Edelstein presents softened text to Shas rep; IDF to send out 54,000 draft orders to Haredi men this month, said planning to set up checkpoints to catch evaders
By Sam Sokol
Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara attends a Constitution, Law and Justice Committee meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, April 27, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/ Flash90)
July 6, 2025, 8:54 pm
Government panel backs bill stripping AG of authority over ministry legal advisers
‘If the bill is legislated, the ability of the attorney general to protect the rule of law will be diminished,’ warns Israel Democracy Institute researcher Guy Lurie
Likud MK Yuli Edelstein chairs a meeting of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, July 1, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
July 3, 2025, 5:27 pm
Edelstein expected to present revised Haredi enlistment bill in coming days
Shas, UTJ boycotting private coalition member bills to pressure government, Haredi lawmakers said to consult with their rabbis to discuss ‘intensifying measures’
By Sam Sokol
This combination photograph created on July 2, 2025 shows (L) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on June 30, 2025, and (R) MK Benny Gantz on June 30, 2025. (Maayan Toaf / GPO and Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
July 2, 2025, 9:35 pm
Coalition said mulling asking Gantz to join if far-right parties bolt over Gaza deal
Report says embattled centrist leader is in contact with PM over potential entry into government, offsetting threats by Smotrich, Ben Gvir to bring it down over potential truce
By Sam Sokol and ToI Staff
Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara attends a Constitution, Law and Justice Committee meeting in the Knesset on April 27, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
July 2, 2025, 8:54 pm
Likud to advance bill stripping AG of authority over ministry legal advisers
Bill ‘could derail the coordinated work of the legal advisers to the government’ and curtail attorney general’s ability to protect the rule of law, warns Israel Democracy Institute
By Sam Sokol
ILLUSTRATIVE: A man holds up his cellular phone certificating that it is 'kosher' at the entrance to an ultra-Orthodox school in Jerusalem on May 6, 2020. (Nati Shohat/ Flash90)
July 2, 2025, 8:45 pm
Minister says IDF neglects Haredim, Bedouins by relying on modern tech for missile alerts
Likud’s Shlomo Karhi tells State Comptroller that ultra-Orthodox and Negev communities are less likely to receive alerts, says IDF ‘irresponsible’ for not expanding alert system
By Sam Sokol and ToI Staff
Hadash-Ta'al MK Ayman Odeh, left, and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara seen in a composite image. (Flash90)
July 2, 2025, 6:58 pm
Hearings on ousting attorney general, top Arab MK both scheduled for July 14
Knesset to vote on expelling Hadash-Ta’al party head Ayman Odeh on the same day a ministerial panel discusses firing Gali Baharav-Miara before making recommendation to the cabinet
By Sam Sokol and Jeremy Sharon
Left: National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, January 16, 2025; Right: Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, January 13, 2025. (Both photos by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
July 2, 2025, 1:35 pm
Ben Gvir said seeking partnership with Smotrich to thwart emerging hostage deal
Finance minister denies cooperation, says Ben Gvir ‘playing game’ with media leaks; Sa’ar says majority in cabinet for a deal; opposition promises to back government if needed
By Sam Sokol and ToI Staff
MK Gadi Eisenkot en route to a press conference after announcing his resignation from the Knesset and his departure from the National Unity party, in Tel Aviv, July 1, 2025. (Erik Marmor/Flash90)
July 1, 2025, 11:54 pm
After quitting Knesset, Eisenkot says he is working to build a ‘governing alternative’
Says Netanyahu must resign because of October 7; MK Matan Kahana, who has followed Eisenkot out of National Unity party, says he will try to broker an alliance with Bennett
By Sam Sokol
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