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☆ America’s Middle East Imperative: Contain Iran
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Reuel Marc Gerecht | Ray Takeyh | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

When the warriors of Hamas broke out of their fiefdom in Gaza to kill and kidnap Israelis, a historic failure of imagination came painfully into view. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’s government—and many in the country’s security and intelligence agencies—had seen the Palestinians as a manageable problem. Israelis were certainly aware of the growing missile threat from Gaza. The Israeli army and air force had ripped into Gaza in 2014 to destroy, among other things, missile factories. They knew that Hamas’s relations with Iran, which has developed great skill in missilery, had deepened.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu ’, —, Jerusalem, Ismail Qaani —, Iran’s, Islamic Revolutionary Guard — Organizations: Iran’s Quds Force, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Locations: Gaza, Iran, Beirut, Iran’s Quds

☆ Israel’s Arab Citizens Sit Out Protests Against Judicial Overhaul
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Dov Lieber | Ari Flanzraich | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

TEL AVIV—For months now, hundreds of thousands of Israelis have been taking to the streets against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’s divisive plans to curb the powers of the country’s Supreme Court. Some call it a struggle for the Jewish state’s soul, casting the battle in almost cosmological terms as they fight to preserve what they say is the only brake against any future authoritarian government.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu ’ Locations: TEL AVIV

☆ Netanyahu’s Government Moves to Vote on Judicial Overhaul in Face of Protests
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Dov Lieber | Shayndi Raice | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Israeli police blocked protesters during a demonstration outside the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, in Jerusalem, on Monday. Photo: Kobi Wolf/Bloomberg NewsTEL AVIV—Israel was on edge Monday as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’s coalition pressed ahead with voting on a proposed judicial overhaul that has triggered mass protests and said he was “working around the clock” to reach an agreement and urged political leaders to act responsibly and with courage. Late Sunday, President Biden urged Netanyahu to focus on “pulling people together and finding consensus.”

Persons: Kobi Wolf, Benjamin Netanyahu ’, Biden, Netanyahu, ” Organizations: Bloomberg News TEL Locations: Jerusalem, Bloomberg News TEL AVIV, Israel

Brokering a reconciliation deal between Palestinian factions is a longer-term goal for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, Saudi officials say. Senior Saudi officials were planning to meet with leaders of the Palestinian militant and political group Hamas on Sunday to discuss renewing diplomatic ties which have been cool since 2007, part of a diplomacy spree led by Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman that has seen Riyadh move closer to Iran. Re-establishing ties between Iran-backed Hamas, which is a U.S. designated terrorist group, and the Saudi kingdom would mark a setback for efforts by the U.S. and Israel to establish a military alliance between Israel and other Sunni-majority countries against Iran and its allies. They also complicate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’s goal of normalizing relations with Riyadh, with opposition to Iran as their primary shared interest.

☆ Israel’s Efforts to Expand Arab Relations Slow Over Recent Turmoil
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-09 | by ( Dion Nissenbaum | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

JERUSALEM—Israeli police raids on Jerusalem’s holiest mosque, army operations against West Bank militants and anti-Palestinian comments by officials have drawn condemnation from Arab leaders—putting a chill on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’s effort to deepen ties with Middle East neighbors. When Mr. Netanyahu returned to office in December, he said it would be a priority to establish diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia, after Israel normalized ties in 2020 with the United Arab Emirates and three other Muslim-majority nations in deals known as the Abraham Accords.

☆ Israelis See Chance to Finally Write Nation’s Constitution
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Dov Lieber | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

TEL AVIV, Israel—The battle in Israel over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’s judicial overhaul is leading to growing calls for the country to work toward finally drafting a constitution. In the face of mass protests, Mr. Netanyahu agreed on March 27 to delay a vote on a bill that would have been the first piece of a broader effort to weaken the power of the Supreme Court and give greater control to elected lawmakers. To avoid what Mr. Netanyahu called a “civil war,” he agreed to negotiate a compromise deal with the opposition.

☆ Israel’s Protest Leaders Aim to Keep Pressure on Netanyahu
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-01 | by ( Shayndi Raice | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Organizers in Israel are seeking to sustain protests to demonstrate against a judicial overhaul plan. TEL AVIV—Opponents of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’s judicial overhaul are planning to hold mass protests across the country Saturday night, hoping to sustain a movement that pressured the premier to delay the divisive plan and engage in negotiations over a compromise. Protests are being called for in cities across the country, including Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa. Saturday night would mark the 14th straight weekend that Israelis have come out to demonstrate against the plan in what has become a weekly ritual for many people here.

☆ Israelis Keep Pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu With Fresh Protests
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-01 | by ( Shayndi Raice | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Protests in Tel Aviv on Saturday marked the 13th straight weekend that Israelis have come out to demonstrate. Thousands of Israelis took to the streets of Tel Aviv and other cities across the country Saturday to protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’s judicial overhaul, seeking to sustain a movement that pressured the premier to delay the divisive plan and engage in negotiations over a compromise. Saturday night’s protests mark the 13th straight weekend that Israelis have come out to demonstrate against the plan in what has become a weekly ritual for many people here. Around 230,000 people demonstrated in downtown Tel Aviv, protest organizers estimated.

☆ Israelis Keep Pressure on Netanyahu With Fresh Protests
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-01 | by ( Shayndi Raice | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

People demonstrated in Tel Aviv on Saturday against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his nationalist government. Thousands of Israelis took to the streets of Tel Aviv and other cities across the country Saturday to protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’s judicial overhaul, seeking to sustain a movement that pressured the premier to delay the divisive plan and engage in negotiations over a compromise. Saturday night’s protests mark the 13th straight weekend that Israelis have come out to demonstrate against the plan in what has become a weekly ritual for many people here. Around 230,000 people demonstrated in downtown Tel Aviv, protest organizers estimated.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’s plan to overhaul his country’s justice system has stirred tensions with the U.S., with President Biden and congressional Democrats criticizing the proposal and Israeli lawmakers firing back that the legislation is an internal matter. Mr. Biden told reporters Tuesday that he was “very concerned” about a judicial overhaul in Israel that would grant the ruling coalition power to appoint more like-minded justices, allow the Israeli parliament to overrule the Supreme Court with a simple majority and sharply circumscribe judicial review. Mr. Netanyahu halted the legislation Monday after strikes rocked the country and dissent over the law inside Israel’s military escalated into a crisis.

☆ Israeli Protests Abate After Netanyahu Suspends Judicial Overhaul
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Aaron Boxerman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

JERUSALEM—Calm returned to Israeli cities Tuesday and protests against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’s judicial overhaul dispersed after the premier agreed to suspend the controversial plan and Israeli President Isaac Herzog offered to host compromise talks between the two sides. Hundreds of thousands of Israelis demonstrated on Sunday and Monday after Mr. Netanyahu fired his defense minister, Yoav Gallant, for calling to delay passing the first part of the government’s plan to weaken Israel’s judiciary. The country’s largest labor union had called a general strike that grounded flights and closed banks and government offices.

☆ Israel’s Netanyahu, Opposition Meet to Begin Talks Over Judicial Overhaul
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Aaron Boxerman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

JERUSALEM—Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’s coalition met Tuesday night with opposition leaders to begin negotiations over a judicial overhaul plan after widespread protests that shook the country. Negotiating teams representing Mr. Netanyahu and the opposition began their first direct discussions over a plan to limit the power of Israel’s Supreme Court, sending representatives to Israeli President Isaac Herzog ’s residence, a spokesman for the president said.

☆ Strike Called, Flights Grounded in Israel Over Netanyahu’s Judicial Overhaul Plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Dov Lieber | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

TEL AVIV—Israel’s largest labor union on Monday announced a nationwide strike over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’s controversial judicial overhaul plan, a move that would freeze large parts of the economy, grounding flights, closing malls and ports and leaving hospitals with skeleton crews. As the embers of the protest bonfires from Sunday night were being cleared, Israeli President Isaac Herzog urged Mr. Netanyahu to immediately halt the overhaul, calling on the coalition government to put aside political considerations for the sake of the nation.

TEL AVIV—Strikes and protests rocked Israel on Monday as the country’s president warned that a controversial judicial overhaul planned by the government threatened the economy and national security—raising doubts about the future of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’s coalition. Israeli President Isaac Herzog urged Mr. Netanyahu to immediately halt the overhaul, calling on the coalition government to put aside political considerations for the sake of the nation.

☆ What’s Happening in Israel? Protests and Strikes Over Netanyahu’s Judicial Overhaul Explained
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Aaron Boxerman In Jerusalem | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Tens of thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets across the country over the past three months to demonstrate against a judicial overhaul planned by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’s government. The ruling coalition says the proposals are necessary to rein in activist judges, while critics counter the changes would deal a fatal blow to Israeli democracy. The proposals have divided the country, sparked concern from key allies such as the U.S., and caused scores of military reservists to say they will refuse to serve should the laws pass. Analysts warn the country could be headed for a constitutional crisis.

☆ Israeli Lawmakers Call for Netanyahu to Delay Judicial Overhaul
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-25 | by ( Aaron Boxerman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The judicial overhaul has sparked mass protests in Israel and sent the country into a monthslong political crisis. JERUSALEM—Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant called on Saturday for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’s judicial overhaul plan to be delayed, saying it was causing a deep rift in society that was becoming a threat to the country’s security. Mr. Gallant is the most senior member of Mr. Netanyahu’s Likud party to call to delay passing the legislation. Three other Likud lawmakers on Saturday also called for delaying a vote on the overhaul, raising questions as to whether the prime minister has the votes necessary to pass the plan that has sharply divided the country.

☆ Saudi Arabia-Iran Pact Marks Setback to Israel’s Efforts to Counter Tehran
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-12 | by ( Shayndi Raice | Aaron Boxerman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

JERUSALEM—Saudi Arabia’s surprise agreement to renew diplomatic relations with Iran marks a significant blow to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’s key foreign-policy goal: creating a regional alliance built around isolating Iran. Mr. Netanyahu has long led the charge to garner international support for isolating Iran and halting its efforts to acquire nuclear weapons. Israel views Iran as its primary global foe due to its support for proxy militias across the Middle East that target Israel, such as Lebanon-based Hezbollah and Gaza-based Hamas, both designated as terrorist organizations by the U.S.

☆ U.S. Jews Set to Shun Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Washington Visit
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Aaron Boxerman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Major American-Jewish organizations say they will boycott Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich during his Sunday visit to Washington, underlining the divide between some of Israel’s staunchest allies in the U.S. and far-right officials in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’s government. Mr. Smotrich, a longtime leader of Israel’s religious nationalists, is traveling to Washington for a conference organized by Israel Bonds, a U.S.-based organization that promotes the purchase of Israeli government securities. Israeli finance ministers have traditionally attended similar conferences to drum up investment interest.

☆ Israeli Military Officers Threaten to Refuse to Serve if Judicial Overhaul Passes
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Dov Lieber | Aaron Boxerman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Protesters demonstrate against the Israeli government’s judicial plan. JERUSALEM—Dissent is growing inside Israel’s military over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’s planned judicial overhaul, with the defense establishment warning that the proposal threatens to undermine morale and erode the country’s military capabilities. Hundreds of senior officers, including from the military-intelligence branch, ground forces and air force, have signed letters saying they would refuse to show up for reserve duty if the judicial overhaul passes. The threats from reserve officers—who are essential to the tiny country’s ability to wage wars—have further heightened tensions around the proposed legislation.

☆ Israeli Far-Right Leader Ben-Gvir to Take Important Security Role in New Government
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Rory Jones | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Benjamin Netanyahu is tasked with forming Israel’s next government since his right-wing and religious bloc won a narrow majority in Parliament. Benjamin Netanyahu ’s Likud party signed a coalition deal with Itamar Ben-Gvir’s Jewish Power party that gives the latter control of the police ministry and a seat in the security cabinet. Mr. Netanyahu was tasked with forming Israel’s next government after his right-wing and religious bloc won 64 seats in the 120-member Parliament in elections this month. Friday’s agreement doesn’t account for a full new government but marks a step toward that end, and the potential establishment of Israel’s most right-wing administration.

☆ U.S. Warns Israel It Will Fight Attempts to Annex West Bank
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Shayndi Raice | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

TEL AVIV—The Biden administration warned Israel against trying to annex parts of the West Bank, underscoring how Benjamin Netanyahu ’s right-wing alliance could complicate Israel’s relations with the U.S. if they try to fulfill their most controversial campaign promises. Mr. Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners have advocated annexing parts of the occupied West Bank, asserting a stronger Jewish presence at Jerusalem’s contested holy sites and dramatically expanding Israeli settlements across the West Bank. Many of these goals are at odds with longstanding U.S. policy in the Middle East, which supports the creation of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.

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