Politics

Confrontation within the Likud at the top of the government: Finance Minister Israel Katz sharply criticized the closure policy led by the Ministry of Health with the support of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In internal finance ministry discussions on formulating an economic assistance program for the self-employed and unemployed, the minister said: "I will not let millions of people sink into despair and disgrace from hunger because of wrong decisions by the Ministry of Health to close the economy indiscriminately and without any health justification

The government approved tonight in a telephone poll the extension of regulations prohibiting demonstrations more than a kilometer from the place of residence until October 13. This is only about a quarter of an hour before it expires. In addition, restrictions on trade activities and gatherings have been extended, including in prayers or religious ceremonies. It will be interesting to see if extending the restrictions will prevent demonstrations across the country. So far, restrictions have prevented major demonstrations in Paris Square near the prime minister's residence but have led to...

On Monday, the Knesset committee unanimously approved the bill initiated by the committee's chairman, MK Eitan Ginzburg (blue and white), according to which the salaries of Knesset members will be frozen in 2021. The purpose of the bill is to prevent the salary of Knesset members from being updated by approx. NIS 5,000 gross per month. The Knesset will save about NIS 6 million as a result of the freezing of the salaries of the incumbent MKs, when this amount does not include the expected savings due to the freezing of the update on the benefits of former Knesset members. Knesset Member...

Israel is on its way to a fourth election in less than two years. The Knesset plenum rejected on Tuesday night in the first reading the bill to postpone the date of the dissolution of the Knesset, and it appears that it will be dissolved at midnight. This is after no agreements were reached between the Likud and Blue and White, and the Likud's attempts to recruit a majority failed. MK Michal Shir from the party objected and announced that she would join Gideon Saar's new party and MK Sharan Hashakel (Likud) was absent. A majority of Blue and White MKs were absent, but three of them,...

The 23rd Knesset dissolved and Israel entered a fourth election campaign within two years after failing to approve a budget for the State of Israel for 2020 until Tuesday at midnight. Meanwhile, the Constitution Committee unanimously approved on second and third reading the temporary directive for conducting the elections to the 24th Knesset during the Corona crisis. The Speaker of the Knesset, MK Yariv Levin, concludes the plenary session to dissolve the 23rd Knesset: Challenges, and yet also controversial.The controversies that exist in the public, found their expression naturally here...

Crowds of Israelis in parks and bathing beaches also expressed distrust on Saturday in the third closure that went into effect on Sunday afternoon and remained on paper only. When this is the situation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will hold a discussion next week on the issue of imposing a tight and short closure that "will allow a quick opening of the economy." It was also reported that Netanyahu continues to hold talks with the heads of the pharmaceutical and vaccine companies in order to allow the vaccinations to continue at the fastest pace in the world. Netanyahu is interested...

A few hours remain until the expiration of the mandate given by the president to Benjamin Netanyahu to form a government, and the political system is eager to find out to whom Reuven Rivlin will grant the mandate in his place. In the bloc of parties trying to bring about political change, workers are working so that the chairman of the Yesh Atid party, Yair Lapid, will receive the mandate and with him a large force to control events in the near future. All options are open. Yesterday there were quite a few talks in the Netanyahu bloc to resolve the political tangle and think of ways to...

For the first time since the election, and after the imposition of the task of assembling the government on Benjamin Netanyahu, about a thousand people demonstrate tonight (Saturday) in front of the prime minister's residence on Balfour Street in Jerusalem against him and his government. At the same time, about 30 demonstrators stood in front of the president's house and police forces were called to the scene. Before that many protested at intersections and bridges. The protesters first arrived at the Knesset, from where they marched to Balfour, and some even continued as far as the...

After the mandate for the formation of the government was given to chairman Yesh Atid Yair Lapid, Netanyahu's opponents are preparing for the implementation of the most complex stage to date - a real and public attempt to form a government and prevent a fifth election. From the moment the possibility of forming a government with Netanyahu was dropped, among other things in light of Smutrich's opposition to joining the government with RAAM and Gideon Saar's opposition to joining a government in which Netanyahu will serve as prime minister at some point, Naftali Bennett announced Wednesday...