An insight into Israel's internal politics

Politics
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An extract from the subscriber’s newsletter.

Has Israel declared another war?
Haredi rage, the fight for the hostages and famine denialism
Maya Lecker60pxx60 Maya Lecker
A year and 10 months into the Gaza war, the State of Israel is accused of “crossing a red line” and is about to face a united, global front threatening to boycott Israeli companies and bring them to financial ruin, draw its money from Israeli banks and confront the country’s security forces in a determined struggle like never before.

The self-described united front in question isn’t the pro-Palestinian movement, but Israel’s ultra-Orthodox community, whose leaders have made it clear that the IDF crackdown on Haredi draft-dodgers is “a declaration of war by the state” and vowed the clash will be irreversible.

As serious as the hardline Haredi leaders may be about their intentions, historically, the wars between the state, or the rule of law, and the ultra-Orthodox public tend to end with political deals very much in their favor – and not with the total collapse of the Jewish Nation State.

That’s why the majority of the Israeli public still have their mind and heart on the endless Gaza war, or more specifically, the elusive cease-fire deal that would bring back the remaining hostages held by Hamas.

But Benjamin Netanyahu and the far-right ministers in his government couldn’t be less in sync with Israelis and their real-life concerns. They seem set on continuing to betray their own citizens on every front by doing all they can to go forward with a frightening plan to occupy the Gaza Strip against the advice of the IDF, stepping up theassault on the Attorney General, and childishly – and dangerously – clashing with the international community, further isolating Israel from the world. All this, while insisting that Gazans aren’t starving – and if they are, Israel has nothing to do with it.

At Haaretz, we are committed to following all of these stories, all the ways they collide, and all the ways they affect Israelis and Palestinians living through tremendously complex times.

Maya Lecker,
Haaretz English Deputy Editor-in-chief

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Just had a thought, is there a published list of Israeli companies, as opposed to others who may have tenuous links?

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Good point David. I’m sure there is, though these may be focused on the West Bank. It’s time to BDS all Israeli companies IMHO.

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Interesting John, thank you. I only voluntarily contribute money to 2 of those, Axa and Amazon (US), and not sure about the last one as they do mark a discrimination between it and other Amazons. No doubt some income does find its way back though. :thinking:

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Settlements on Palestinian land, with violence, is a huge issue. In any peace negotiation these need to end and be removed

However, for the Israeli government the solution will be to take over all Palestinian land.

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I have medication made in Israel by TEVA and I am sure that I am not the only one of us.

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So difficult, if not impossible, to do the right thing, isn’t it? As far as I am able I will avoid supporting a genocide.

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Which is a big tariff dilemma for Trump. Repatriating Pharma is one of his targets and they are well embedded in Israel. On the chip front too, Intel has a large facility there. Though Intel is probably going down the tube. I guess Andy Grove would say they weren’t paranoid enough :face_with_hand_over_mouth:

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Evil

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And nobody gives a damn and old British people are arrested for protesting.

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Appalling and shameless. And we are complicit.

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A quote from Haaretz, Israel’s courageous paper of record, and a trusted source of truthful reporting. Obviously despised by Netanyahu, Smotrich and Ben-Givr.

" The former Israeli military intelligence chief said the high number of Palestinians killed in Gaza is “necessary for future generations,” according to recordings broadcast Friday on Israel’s Channel 12.

In the recordings, Maj. Gen. (res.) Aharon Haliva can be heard saying that “50 Palestinians should die” for every victim of Hamas’ attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. “There’s no choice, they need a Nakbaevery now and then to feel the consequences,” Haliva added, referring to the 1948 displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians out of what would become the border of the State of Israel.

“I’m not saying this out of revenge, but as a message for future generations,” he added.

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The Guardian now picking up this story.

It’s good to have senior Israelis admitting it’s genocide.

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Be better if it wasn’t happening at all.

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I post this as a Gift without paywall, here for anyone who is still concerned about Gaza

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/16/opinion/israel-hamas-gaza-starvation.html?unlocked_article_code=1.fE8.G6BA.u8DRbDCc6tKv&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Excellent balanced answers with no vitriol.

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Yes, the US is guilty as Israel, and that is what history will show.

The relationship between the US president (Biden and Trump) and the Israeli prime minister has been like the relationship between the CEO IG Farben and the commandant of Auschwitz. One provides the means and the other does the deed :slightly_frowning_face:

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I think this, if true, is progress.

“Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, told CNN that Putin had agreed for the first time for the US and Europe to provide protection to Ukraine as part of a deal. This would be outside the auspices of Nato but the equivalent of the alliance’s article 5 self-defence pact, Witkoff indicated.”