Israel Weekly News Roundup, July 4 2025
5 Things you need to know
Israel at War - Day 636 of the Gaza War
1. Attempt to Physically Attack the High Court of Justice Prevented
Tens of right wing supporters, led by Knesset members from the coalition, rioted at the High Court Tuesday morning during the hearing of petitions concerning the nomination of the Shin Bet Director. The panel of three justices convened to discuss petitions that dealt with the question of whether PM Netanyahu can nominate a new head of Shin Bet, because he is contaminated with a deep conflict of interest.
Background: the former director of the Shin Bet, who took full responsibility for the failure of the organization on October 7th, and the failure to proactively identify the Hamas attack, announced that he will resign right after the conclusion of the domestic investigations into the failure. At a certain point in time, the Shin Bet opened an investigation into the alleged penetration by Qatar of PM Netanyahus closest circle of advisors. Shortly after this investigation was revealed, PM Netanyahu announced that he no longer trusts the head of the Shin Bet, Ronen Bar, and he wanted to fire him immediately and nominate a replacement to head the Shin Bet. The High Court halted that, but enabled PM Netanyahu to meet and consider new candidates for the position. PM Netanyahu then announced that he wants to nominate a general from the army, who is considered to be right leaning, and also was defined as a messianic Zionist. This was at the center of the court hearing on Tuesday: to determine if PM Netanyahu is influenced by a conflict of interests due to the investigation of his closest advisors and therefore should not be allowed to nominate a new Shin Bet director, or should be able to nominate new head of the Shin Bet, as the law enables him to do. (In the Israeli political context, "messianic" often refers to a strain of Zionism that combines religious beliefs with political aspirations, particularly concerning the "Land of Israel" and the belief in a future Jewish kingdom. This ideology, sometimes called Messianic Zionism, frequently involves the idea of rebuilding the Third Temple on the Temple Mount and may be associated with a willingness to use force to achieve these goals and destroy non Jewish Muslim buildings currently on the Temple Mount.)
The court could not start the hearing because of the rioting by right-wing supporters. The hearing was live-broadcast, based on the importance of the case. The chief justice, Isaac Amit, who was on the panel, had to stop the hearing, and asked the court guards to evacuate all citizens from the hall, including the two members of Knesset, one from the Likud party and one from the Religious Zionists. After expelling all observers from the hall they then proceeded with the hearing. The images from the event reminded many of the January 6th 2021 riots at Capitol Hill in Washington DC.
At the end of a long day, the court asked the parties to try and find a compromise that will prevent the court from having to issue a binding ruling. They have time until Sunday.
2. Escalation in Settler Violence in the West Bank
During the past week, violent attacks on Palestinians and IDF soldiers and facilities have substantially increased, drawing media and public attention to widespread settler violence in the West Bank.
Last weekend, dozens of far-right settlers vandalized and torched an IDF base in the West Bank, assaulted soldiers and caused damage to a multi-million shekel security facility designed to prevent terror attacks. Yet, despite the gravity of the attack, only a handful of rioters were detained. The attack on the security facility came only days after settlers assaulted an IDF battalion reservist commander and his soldiers near an illegal outpost north of Ramallah.
Citing military sources, the media reported that the attack on IDF soldiers and the security facility was to protest the shooting of a 14-year-old Israeli from Beit She'an, in the Jordan Valley, who they claim was injured by IDF fire. A “price tag” graffiti reading "Revenge for the shooting” was sprayed on the site. “Price tag” is a slogan that refers to the price the extremists seek to extract for the loss of each outpost or settlement evacuated by the army. It also refers to the “price” they wish to enact as retribution for attacks on Jewish Israelis.
The media also reported several violent attacks by far-right settlers against Palestinian communities, including the torching of a family home and forceful invasion of farmlands. Yet what sparked public uproar and comments from coalition and opposition leaders were the attacks on IDF soldiers.
Opposition leaders, including Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid) and Benny Gantz fiercly condemned the settlers’ violence, suggesting that it is being tolerated and even enabled by the government coalition. Coalition leaders condemned the attacks on the IDF, yet sought to label it as the acts of a handful of extremists. PM Netanyahu said that "no civilized country can tolerate [such] violent and anarchistic acts". Defense Minister Israel Katz - who cancelled administrative detention for Jews suspected of acts of terror - said he intends to "uproot this violence at its source." Administrative detention is used against Palestinians who are held without trial without having committed an offense, on the grounds that he or she plans to break the law in the future. As this measure is supposed to be preventive, it has no time limit. The person is detained without legal proceedings, by order of the regional military commander, based on classified evidence that is not revealed to them. This leaves the detainees helpless – facing unknown allegations with no way to disprove them, not knowing when they will be released, and without being charged, tried or convicted. It was also rarely used against Jewish settlers until Minister Katz cancelled the use against Jews. Finance Minister Smotrich (Religious Zionism) and the minister in charge of the West Bank administration initially rebuked the army for using live ammunition to disperse the Jewish settlers who attacked a Palestinian village last weekend and labeled it a “forbidden and dangerous crossing of a red line” that “requires an in‑depth investigation”. Several days later, after Jewish rioters attacked the IDF facility Smotrich said that the rioters are criminals and that violence against soldiers and police "crosses a red line."
3. Two Week Recess for PM Netanyahu’s Trial; President Trump Calls to Cancel the Trial
Another drama at PM Netanyahu’s trial for corruption, bribery, fraud and breach of trust, when the PM asked to postpone his testimony, once again, due to the circumstances of the ongoing security situation. The panel of justices refused his appeal, he appealed again, providing his schedule for the week of the trial, but the panel rejected his second request, arguing that the provided calendar did not show any substantial reason, that has justification in terms of urgency or security issues. But PM Netanyahu did not give-up and then he used the head of Mossad and the head of the army intelligence, who both appeared at the chambers of the justices. The hearing was classified but at the end the judges decided to accept the request for recession and postpone his testimony.
As PM Netanyahu has been invited to the White House next week, the trial will not resume until he returns.
In addition, in several tweets on his social media - Truth - and in several photo-opportunities to the press, President Trump called for cancelling the trial all together, claiming that this indictment was tailored to intimidate PM Netanyahu and remove him from power. Trump’s call echoed in the Israeli political sphere, when right wing Knesset members supported his demands. PM Netanyahu has claimed from the beginning of the police investigation, years ago, that the state attorney’s office are working illegally to oust a serving right-wing Prime Minister, using the legal framework. His famous saying was and still is: “There will be nothing because there is nothing”. PM Netanyahu and his supporters will not stop attacking the judicial system representatives, insulting them, ridiculing them and all the representatives of the state attorney who represent the state in his trial.
It is still unknown when this trial will resume, due to the fact that in mid-July the court adjourns for the summer recess and will only resume deliberations at the beginning of September.
4. Possible Breakthrough in Negotiations Towards Ceasefire/Hostage Deal
Israeli and international media report progress in the U.S. backed negotiations towards an agreement between Israel and Hamas on a ceasefire/hostage release deal. U.S. President Trump and his envoy Steve Witkoff, along with Egyptian and Qatari mediators are advancing a proposal involving a 60‑day ceasefire, phased releases of 10 hostages and the remains of 18 others, reciprocal to Palestinian prisoner releases and UN/OCHA humanitarian supervision. Israel has accepted the terms and is awaiting Hamas’ response.
Citing Palestinian sources, Israeli media reported that Hamas is inclined to accept the proposal for a 60-day ceasefire, after the mediators have given the organization extensive guarantees for the implementation of the agreement. Hamas is expected to deliver its official response within several days.
Israeli officials expressed cautious optimism: Foreign Minister Gideon Saar emphasized that Israel is “serious about reaching a ceasefire” and eagerly awaits Hamas’s formal response.
Meanwhile, PM Netanyahu indicated that the outcome of the 12‑day war with Iran has paved the way for regional agreement and strengthened Israel’s leverage to secure both hostage release and Hamas’s defeat. However, far-right ministers Ben Gvir and Smotrich already declared that they intend to block the ceasefire/hostage deal, deeming it “premature”. Political analysts commented that opposition leaders Lapid and Gantz may provide PM Netanyahu with the safety net required to seal the deal despite resistance from far-right coalition parties.
Also, this week PM Netanyahu visited Nir Oz for the first time in the war, 636 days after the massacre at the Kibbutz. Dozens of protesters waited for him at the entrance to the kibbutz, but Netanyahu entered through the back gate. Netanyahu and his wife entered the homes of several of the families of those killed and kidnapped by Hamas, and met, among others, with Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is still held hostage in Gaza, Gadi Mozes, who was held hostage and released during the previous ceasefire, and Yizhar Lifshitz, the son of Oded Lifshitz, who was murdered in captivity and whose body was returned.
Idan Alexander, an American-Israeli who was released from Hamas captivity due to President Trump’s direct intervnetion, met this week with Trump at the White House and shared with him his concern for the lives of the remaining hostages should the fighting in Gaza continue.
5. By an Overwhelming Majority, a Knesset Committee Voted to Impeach MK Ayman Odeh
Supported by members of the opposition, the Knesset committee decided to vote in favor of expelling, Ayman Odeh, the head of the Hadash-Ta’al party, which mainly represents the Arab citizens of Israel. Most of party members come from the Arab communities. The cause on which they based the hearing and the vote was a sole tweet, in which Odeh posted, during the last hostages deal, that included the release of tens of Palestinian detainees, that he is glad for both parties. This tweet made many Israeli Jews furious, arguing that he cannot compare terrorists with innocent hostages. The Knesset legal advisor’s opinion was that the tweet has the protection of freedom of speech, but the members of Knesset decided to hold the hearing, and vote against Odeh. It was embarrassing to follow the hearing at the committee when a colleague defended him, and wanted to speak in Arabic, so their Arab constituents would better understand the proceedings. The Jewish members of the committee started shouting becoming enraged, and even started singing “Am Israeli Chai” loudly, so the Arabic would not be heard. Hebrew and Arabic are the official languages of Israel. Members of the Knesset can address the plenum in either Hebrew or Arabic. The Nation-State Law, a basic law legislated in 2018, defines Hebrew as the state's language and Arabic as having a special status.
It is important to add here that Ayman Odeh is a long time MK, he previously worked for a civil society organization, is known for his moderate opinions, for his stubborn fight for shared Jewish-Arab society, for a two state solution, and has never denied the right of Israel to exist. He is an intellectual, familiar with Jewish history, tradition and writings.
According to Israeli law, an overwhelming majority of MKs have the authority to expel a member. This case for impeachment will be presented to the Knesset plenary on July 14th. 75% support is required in order to approve the impeachment, 90 out of 120 votes. If that happens, Odeh will be able to appeal to the High Court of Justice. Most of the opposition parties will allow their members to vote their conscience. There are thought to be many members of the opposition parties that will vote in favor of Odehs impeachment and subsequent removal from the Knesset.
