Day 648 - Dramatic day at Knesset leaves democracy intact - for now

6 snips

Jul 15, 2025

Tal Schneider and Sam Sokol, political correspondents for The Times of Israel, dive into a chaotic day at the Knesset. They discuss the dramatic exit of the United Torah Judaism party from the ruling coalition and the potential shift to a minority government. The conversation also touches on tensions surrounding the universal conscription bill and its implications for ultra-Orthodox parties. Additionally, they analyze the failed motion to expel MK Ayman Odeh, shedding light on the intense rivalries and political maneuvering that define Israeli democracy today.

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INSIGHT

UTJ Exit Weakens Coalition Stability

United Torah Judaism's exit weakens the coalition but may not collapse it immediately.
Netanyahu may manage a narrow government despite losing ultra-Orthodox support.

INSIGHT

Conscription Bill Sparks Haredi Rejection

Ultra-Orthodox parties reject the current conscription bill due to sanctions on institutions and draft dodgers.
Their refusal stems from Edelstein allegedly breaking prior agreements and increased enforcement pressures.

INSIGHT

Firing Edelstein Won't Fix Draft Issue

Netanyahu's dismissal of Edelstein may not solve the core conscription conflict.
The core issue is the ultra-Orthodox refusal to join the military, beyond any specific legislator.

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Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.

Political correspondents Tal Schneider and Sam Sokol join host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.

We focus on domestic Israeli politics today on the Daily Briefing and start with Sokol, who sets the scene at the Knesset yesterday. We hear about the colorful circus that came to the Israeli parliament.

The United Torah Judaism party announced its dramatic exit from the government last night. Schneider weighs in on the stability of the coalition, which, if the other major ultra-Orthodox party Shas also leaves, will drop to 50-51 seats for a minority government.

Sokol delves into the ongoing debates surrounding the universal conscription bill. We learn about what is objectionable to the Haredi parties, including new sanctions on institutions such as yeshivas who are harboring draft dodgers. Schneider describes how threats to fire the legislator behind the bill -- head of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, MK Yuli Edelstein -- may not be enough to placate the haredi parties this time.

A motion to expel Hadash-Ta’al chair Ayman Odeh from the Knesset failed to pass on Monday, with only 73 out of the required 90 lawmakers voting in favor. Fifteen MKs voted against the motion, while multiple opposition parliamentarians boycotted the vote. We learn why the petition was put into motion and its ripple effect.

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara was not present as a controversial ministerial panel convened at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem to hold a hearing on her dismissal Monday afternoon. Schneider explains why Baharav-Miara calls this a "sham" process and shares the outrage the hearing has sparked.

Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.

For further reading:

Three IDF troops killed, officer seriously wounded in northern Gaza tank blast

Motion to expel Arab party head Odeh from Knesset fails to pass; coalition MKs heckle him

AG stays away from her dismissal hearing: ‘A sham that harms rule of law, democracy’

The government’s bid to fire Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara: What happens next?

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves.

IMAGE: Israelis protest in support of Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara outside the courthouse in Tel Aviv, July 14, 2025. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

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