Shas party

High court ruling on Haredi draft exemption may set Israel on course for new elections

By David I. Klein — March 29, 2024
(RNS) — The draft exemptions, long a flashpoint issue in Israeli politics, have become even more fraught since the start of the war in Gaza, as Israel has called up over 300,000 reservists to active service while still exempting Haredis studying Torah. 

Israel’s Haredi parties support Netanyahu again, but their politics aren’t what you think

By Avi Shafran — November 14, 2022
(RNS) — The 'ultra-Orthodox' Shas and United Torah Judaism parties aren't political hardliners, or very political at all.

Israel’s Haredi voters drift hard right in leadership vacuum

By Ilan Ben Zion — October 31, 2022
JERUSALEM (AP) — Itamar Ben-Gvir's sharp rise in popularity in the last three years has transformed him from a fringe provocateur to a central player in Tuesday's parliament election.

In Israel, Orthodox men demand beard-friendly gas masks

By Michele Chabin — August 28, 2013
JERUSALEM (RNS) Demand for protective hoods -- as opposed to standard-issue gas masks -- has soared since the U.S. administration confirmed that Syrian civilians were killed last week by chemical weapons.
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