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Most ultra-Orthodox Israelis support ditching Netanyahu’s coalition if yeshiva students drafted: Poll
Sixty-five percent of ultra-Orthodox Jewish Israelis believe their political parties should leave Prime Minister Netanyahu’s coalition if the government passes legislation forcing yeshiva students to join the military, according to an Israeli pollster cited by the Israel Haayom newspaper.
The poll, carried out by an institute headed by Israeli pollster Mano Geva, also suggests that 86 percent of Israel’s ultra-Orthodox Jews believe Netanyahu would “severely damage” his relationship with their community if he supports yeshiva students’ recruitment.
Backlash in Israel towards de facto military exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jews, who often dedicate themselves to Torah studies, has precipitated a political crisis for Netanyahu, whose shaky coalition benefits from support from ultra-Orthodox parties.
In late June, Israel’s Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the military must begin drafting ultra-Orthodox Jewish men for military service, threatening a longstanding practice under which Jewish seminary students were exempt.
Netanyahu willing to sacrifice captives: Israel’s former military chief
Moshe Ya’alon, the former chief of staff of the Israeli military, has issued a stinging rebuke of Netanyahu, saying he is ready to “sacrifice” the Israeli captives to appease far-right members of his cabinet who oppose a ceasefire.
Ya’alon singled out Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in his comments carried by Israeli Army Radio, accusing them of pushing to displace Palestinians during the war.
Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, who recently said it might be “justified” to starve Gaza’s entire population to free Israel’s captives, are both crucial members of Netanyahu’s coalition government and have previously threatened to abandon him if he makes concessions to end the war.
Israel revokes accreditation for Norwegian diplomats
Israel’s Foreign Ministry has revoked the diplomatic accreditation of eight Norwegian diplomats based in Tel Aviv who dealt with the Palestinian Authority.
A Foreign Ministry statement said the move was in response to “a flurry of recent anti-Israel and unilateral steps taken by the government of Norway”, including recognising a Palestinian state and recent “severe comments by senior Norwegian officials”.
The Norwegian ambassador was summoned to the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem and informed that the diplomats would have their accreditation revoked in seven days and their visas in three months.
Norway reacts to Israel revoking accreditation of its diplomats
Norway’s Foreign Ministry confirms Israel has given notice it will no longer accredit Norwegian diplomats serving the occupied Palestinian territory and calls it “an extreme act” by the Israeli government.
Norway is now considering its response to the situation, Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide said in a statement.
“This is an extreme act that primarily affects our ability to help the Palestinian population. … Today’s decision will have consequences for our relationship with the Netanyahu government,” he said.
Israel’s budget deficit climbs
Israel’s budget deficit was 8.1 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) in the 12 months until the end of July, equivalent to $2.2bn, according to preliminary figures from the Finance Ministry cited by The Times of Israel.
This is close to double the deficit it posted at the end of 2023, which was equivalent to 4.2 percent of its GDP and over Israel’s target deficit of 6.6 percent for 2024.
Israel has spent tens of billions on the war in Gaza since October, widening the deficit. From 2023 to 2025, the total military and civilian costs of the war to Israel is projected to be 253 billion shekels ($67bn), Bank of Israel Governor Amir Yaron warned at the end of May.
US taxpayers will fill the gap...
