March 17 - 31

Newsletter to Congress:

Full Report:



The Judicial Overhaul

In recent weeks, legislation to reform Israel’s judicial system has advanced, particularly the law to change the Judicial Selection Committee. On March 26, the Knesset approved an amendment, declaring that the committee will now consist of three judges, four coalition representatives (the Minister of Justice, another minister, an MK, and a legal expert chosen by the coalition), and two opposition representatives (an MK and a legal expert chosen by the opposition). The appointment of a Supreme Court judge will require the approval of at least one coalition representative and one opposition representative, effectively granting both sides veto power.

On the surface, this appears to be a balanced proposal that maintains a check against government power. However, opponents argue that strengthening political influence in the committee will lead to increased politicization of the judiciary. They also warn of incentives for both the coalition and the opposition to appoint "radical" judges instead of moderates.

Much of the criticism has focused on the legislative process itself, taking place during wartime without dialogue with the opposition. Moreover, former minister Yizhar Shai, one of the amendment’s initiators and an opposition-affiliated figure, withdrew his support for the amendment.

Meanwhile, the government continues to avoid drafting ultra-Orthodox men into the military, leading to an increased burden on reservists.

A pro-democracy protest outside the Knesset.

Renewed Fighting in Gaza, Lebanon

Despite the resumption of hostilities in Gaza, the fighting remains relatively low-intensity, without a large-scale ground operation. However, the IDF has taken control of the Philadelphi Corridor (the Gaza-Egypt border), the Beit Hanoun-Beit Lahia line in northern Gaza, and half of the Netzarim Corridor (separating Northern and Central Gaza Strip).

While the IDF has informed the government that it has the capability to fully reconquer Gaza and impose military rule, reserve duty attendance rates are steadily declining, with some units seeing attendance drop below 50%. This presents a significant obstacle to any major ground operation. Reasons for the decline include over-deployment of soldiers (with some reservists serving over 200 and even 300 reserve days per year), resentment toward the government over the ultra-Orthodox draft exemption, the revival of judicial reforms, and uncertainty about the war’s objectives and their feasibility.

In response to the fighting, indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel have resumed. Hamas has proposed releasing additional hostages - reportedly five alive and between five to ten deceased - in exchange for a 50-day ceasefire. Israel has responded with a counterproposal, demanding ten living hostages, to which Hamas refused. Meanwhile, anti-Hamas protests involving hundreds of Palestinians have erupted in Gaza, though they have yet to yield any significant change.

In the north, Israel has resumed strikes deep into Lebanon, including in Hezbollah’s stronghold of the Dahieh district in Beirut, in response to rocket fire from Lebanon, which violates the ceasefire.

In Jenin, in the West Bank, the IDF is focusing operations on the refugee camp east of the city, which in recent years has become a hub for armed groups, while the city itself maintains as much normalcy as possible. In addition, IDF Chief of General Staff Eyal Zamir, personally led the inquiries on extremist settler violence in the West Bank, to make sure the perpetrators are being held accountable

Polls

Amid the budget’s approval and the return of judicial overhaul legislation, the coalition continues to weaken in polls. It now stands at 50 seats, compared to 61 for the opposition bloc, with Arab parties holding nine seats.

Additionally, polls indicate that Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism party would fail to pass the electoral threshold in the next elections, leaving it out of the Knesset.

If former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett decides to run - which he is expected to, since he registered a new party under the name "Bennet 2026" - the coalition’s standing would get smaller even further. In this scenario, coalition parties would drop to 44 seats, while opposition parties (including Bennet) would rise to 67, with Arab parties maintaining their nine seats.

Beyond seat distribution, polling also reveals widespread dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Netanyahu:

• 66% of respondents disapprove of his performance, while only 31% approve.

• 69% believe the government is unfair toward reservists (54% of Likud voters).

• 64% believe the government is unfair toward hostage families (44% of Likud voters).

• 64% believe the government is unfair in supporting war-affected businesses.

• 59% believe the government is unfair in assisting displaced families and rehabilitating affected communities.

• 58% believe the government is unfair in handling the hostage issue.