Foreign Affairs And Defense Committee

Legal review:

Knesset can not suspend enforcement against draft dodgers

A Knesset legal review warned that a bill halting enforcement against haredi draft evaders could harm equality and military service.

Headed for first reading:

Terror victims to be compensated from frozen PA funds

Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee approves for its first reading a bill introduced by MK Moshe Passal to freeze funds paid by the Palestinian Authority to the Gaza Strip.

Seam Line: Regional heads demand immediate security changes

Local leaders on the Seam Line warn Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee of security gaps and personnel shortages, present plans to establish a new consolidated police area along the border.

IDF reveals:

Why the Palestinian Authority wants elections in Israel

Key Knesset committee holds discussion on Palestinian Authority, potential escalations; IDF Intelligence Directorate representative says Palestinian Authority wants Israeli elections.

Coalition denounces demand for cost of dealing with Hilltop Youth

During a closed discussion with the Chief of Staff, MK Meir Porush demanded to know the security costs of Hilltop Youth activity in Judea and Samaria. Coalition members criticized him for raising the subject.

Yesh Atid MK apologizes for storming Likud MK's office

Likud MK Boaz Bismuth held a reprimand call with MK Ben-Barak, who apologized for storming Bismuth's office. Bismuth in turn agreed to drop the sanctions against Ben-Barak.

MK Tali Gottlieb:

'Calm in Gaza is an illusion'

MK Tali Gottlieb said that an attack on Iran was assured, but that public opinion could not be allowed to play a role in deciding the timing.

IDF Admits:

Draft law does not meet IDF needs

The head of the IDF's Manpower Planning and Management Division warned at a Knesset hearing that the proposed haredi draft law does not fulfill the army's needs for the next two years.

Draft Law:

Legal adviser warns draft exemption bill raises many concerns

Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee’s legal adviser, Miri Frankel-Shor, cautions lawmakers that the proposed draft exemption law does not meet the IDF’s operational needs.

Gallant attacks:

The Likud has never been in such an un-Zionist position.

Former Defense Minister Yoav Galant says that Prime Minister Netanyahu's request for a pardon from the president is unnecessary and the lawsuit should be litigated in court.

Sukkot demands discussion:

'Examine ties with Palestinian Authority security forces'

MK Tzvi Sukkot calls on the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee to hold an urgent debate on the continuation of security cooperation with the Palestinian Authority.

End of discriminatory law

Major step towards land ownership equality in Judea and Samaria

The Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee approved the first reading of the bill to repeal the Jordanian law prohibiting Jews from purchasing real estate in Judea and Samaria.

After voting for sovereignty

MK Edelstein removed from Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee

Likud removes MK Yuli Edelstein from committee to punish him for violating PM Netanyahu's directive by voting to apply sovereignty over Judea and Samaria

Draft recruitment law to be formulated in coming days

MK Boaz Bismuth said that based on the document a draft law will be formulated in the coming days to guide the committee in the ongoing legislative process to regulate the haredi draft.

Emergency Knesset session: 'Enemy is arming itself from within'

Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee holds urgent meeting following rise in weapons-smuggling from Egypt, MK Tzvi Succot warns of 'existential threat.'

IDF doubts capturing Gaza City will dislodge Hamas

An IDF representative in the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee said the significance of capturing the city is mainly symbolic and noted that about 800,000 people remained there, according to IDF estimates.

'My son is dying'

Father of hostage cries out at the Knesset

At a stormy Knesset session, families of hostages held in Gaza accused lawmakers of inaction, warning their children are tortured and 'running out of time' without a comprehensive deal.

IDF:

Far from haredi recruitment targets

Head of the IDF's Personnel Directorate revealed to the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that the number of haredi recruits is much lower than the IDF's target and needs.

Released Hostage:

'Government abandoned us during and after the massacre'

Hostages and their families denounced the government in a meeting of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee today.

Boaz Bismuth elected Foreign Affairs Committee chair

29 MKs voted for Bismuth, while four voted for the current chairman, MK Yuli Edelstein.

Likud to vote on removing Yuli Edelstein from key committee

Likud MKs Hanoch Milwidsky and Nissaim Vaturi challenge Yuli Edelstein's leadership of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, ahead of faction vote set for Wednesday.

Hostage's uncle to MK:

'Stop the dangerous deal for ten hostages'

Shimon Or, uncle of kidnapped soldier Avinatan Or, urges MK Yuli Edelstein to block a partial hostage deal, warning it could endanger many IDF soldiers. “This deal is more dangerous than the war itself,” he says.

Knesset to hold urgent meeting on APC flaws

The Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee will meet to discuss the issues that led to the deaths of seven IDF soldiers.

Tearful Testimony:

Keith Siegel recounts the horrors he witnessed to the Knesset

Released hostage Keith Seigel participated in the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee discussion and tearfully shared the ordeals faced by the hostages in Gaza.

Ohad Ben Ami's chilling testimony at the Knesset

Ohad Ben Ami describes a particularly chilling incident he experienced a few weeks before his release.

Foreign Minister:

'The new Iranian Chief of Staff should take extreme caution'

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar reported today on Israel's diplomatic efforts at a meeting of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, saying that there was a broad range of initiatives underway to provide diplomatic cover for the war.

Likud MK unveils sanction demands against draft dodgers

Likud MK Yuli Edelstein has published his proposed list of sanctions against those who do not report for IDF service or receive a lawful exemption, driving up tensions between Likud and the haredi parties.

MK interrogated over alleged leak of committee protocols

MK Gilad Kariv interrogated by police over alleged leak of confidential protocols from Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

MK Gilad Kariv summoned for questioning by police

MK Gilad Kariv summoned for questioning under caution next week on suspicion of leaking classified protocols from the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

Haredi soldiers:

'They threw stones and diapers at me'

Meir Shemtsov, a haredi who served in the IDF, called for haredi leaders to work against the stigma that drafting holds in haredi communities.

Senior intelligence officer:

Military action led to hostage release deal

Senior intelligence officer reports to Defense Committee on IDF's actions to pressure Hamas into releasing more hostages, tensions in Persian Gulf.

Report:

Hamas has recruited thousands of terrorists during the ceasefire

Analysts believe that Hamas has recruited about 20,000 new terrorists since the beginning of the war and several thousand in the months of the ceasefire alone.

Rabbi Yaakov Meidan:

'Strive for equality, haredi society is alienated'

Rabbi Yaakov Meidan, dean of Yeshivat Har Etzion, criticizes evasion of IDF service. 'The burden is unbearable; rabbis should give students the choice if to serve.'

MK Evgeny Sova to Arutz Sheva:

'IDF should prepare for a law which drafts everyone'

MK Evgenny Sova speaks to Arutz Sheva-Israel News about what he heard from the Chief of Staff during a meeting of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, and about the need to promote a law that drafts everyone into the army.

Edelstein announces:

'The committee I head will produce a true draft law'

Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Yuli Edelstein, met with IDF soldiers and promised to push the draft law, 'I am leading the draft law for our combat soldiers.'

Haredi MKs:

'Wake up, you invented the draft quotas'

A heated discussion took place today at the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee regarding the haredi draft law.

Defense Minister Katz:

'New law to include personal sanctions on draft dodgers'

Defense Minister Israel Katz today laid out the key points of the proposed haredi draft law, among them a list of economic penalties for failure to meet enlistment goals.

State Attorney confirms:

Preliminary investigation underway against Labor MK Gilad Kariv

State Attorney's Office confirms that investigation is underway against MK Gilad Kariv for leaking a document from the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

IDF Spokesman apologizes for criticizing proposed law

IDF Spokesman Daniel Hagari apologized for his criticism of the 'Feldstein Law', admitting he overstepped his boundaries.

Anti-UNRWA bill facing final approval

The Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee approves bill against UNRWA in second and third reading; to be brought to a Knesset plenary vote shortly.

Soldier's wife writes to Chief Military Prosecutor

The letter was delivered at the beginning of a Knesset committee meeting by MK Zvi Sukkot, calling for the Prosecutor to see the truth.

Break-in to Sde Teiman:

MK Sukkot insists: 'I was doing my job'

'I fully stand behind what I did': MK Zvi Sukkot does not regret breaking into the Sde Teiman base after reservists' arrest and says, 'I was doing my job.'

Gallant:

10,000 soldiers needed immediately

'The IDF is an institution that belongs to all of us and not to any political party. Unlike planes or bombs, soldiers cannot be brought from abroad, so we need to recruit more.'

Gallant abandons meeting with Foreign Affairs Comittee

The Defense Minister left a meeting with the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, who supervise the Defense Ministry, after disagreeing with their demands.

Gallant refuses to allow Intelligence Subcommittee to visit Gaza

The subcommittee members have criticized the decision, claiming that the Defense Minister is preventing them from carrying out their responsibilities.

Likud MK:

'Draft law must go through us'

Yuli Edelstein, Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chair, warns: 'Any attempt to circumvent the Knesset regulations and prevent the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee from handling the draft law will meet an appropriate response.'

Test-run for PA workers? ‘don't repeat mistake’

Likud outraged by PM’s remarks that a test-run was being held to bring back Palestinian workers to Israel. Netanyahu’s advisors claimed that this was only a one-time plan.

Knesset holds first debate on left-wing violence

MK Zvi Sukkot led a deliberation on left-wing activist violence, harassment, and vandalism. 'This is one step closer to victory,' he commented.

Knesset to hold meeting on left-wing violence

MK Tzvi Succot: 'The time has come to deal with those who do not live in Judea and Samaria and continually hamper the settlers.'

Netanyahu:

'The number of Oslo victims is the same as Oct. 7'

Netanyahu: The difference between Hamas and the PA is only that Hamas wants to destroy us here and now and the PA wants to do it in stages.

MKs demand demolition of homes of 'unsuccessful' terrorists

Several MKs are demanding a debate on the demolition of homes of terrorists who only wound victims instead of killing them.

Yuli Edelstein:

'Every attack on Israel has Iran's fingerprints on it'

The Foreign and Defense Committee Chairman met with counterparts from the Baltic states to discuss military and intelligence cooperation.

Opposition outraged:

Knesset committee quick to meet on illegal Arab outposts

Opposition livid that discussion on Palestinian outposts was scheduled within days, while young settlement waited six months.

Arab MK: 'It's my security and it's my foreign affairs'

Arab MK Mara'ana joins Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee 'to be on guard,' says option of Gaza war 'doesn't work.'

Iran escalation

Former MK Anat Berko: Israel will not allow a nuclear Iran

Former Head of the Cyber Subcommittee of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee stresses the importance of monitoring Iran closely.

MK Hauser: Gideon Sa'ar is Netanyahu's worst nightmare

The head of Israel's foreign affairs committee thinks that New Hope is headed for the top.

Gabi Ashkenazi to head Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee

"This is a significant role with great importance to Israel's security. We must not allow a vacuum on the security-political issue."

Yogev warns: Anxiety up, fortitude down

Foreign Affairs & Defense Committee visits Gaza area: 'No doubt solution lies in occupying Gaza, destroying terror, return to normal life.'