Latest news with #DefenseCommittee
Yahoo
26-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bismuth elected new Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee head
Netanyahu announced that MK Hanoch Milwidsky will become 'temporary' Finance Committee head. Likud MK Boaz Bismuth will become the next Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairperson, after the Likud voted for him in a closed meeting in the Knesset on Wednesday. The vote passed 29-4 in favor of Bismuth and against outgoing chair MK Yuli Edelstein, two sources confirmed. The four votes in favor of Edelstein were by MKs Eli Dalal, Shalom Danino, David Bitan, and Edelstein himself. When Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced earlier on Wednesday that he would support Bismuth's leading contender, MK Hanoch Milwidsky, for the position of temporary Finance Committee chairperson, he paved the way for Bismuth's election, whereby the contest effectively ended. Following Netanyahu's announcement, the other contenders in the party, MKs Eliyahu Revivo, Avichay Boaron, Dalal, and Nissim Vaturi, withdrew their candidacy. Milwidsky's new position is temporary because it will be returned to United Torah Judaism MK Moshe Gafni in the event that Gafni rejoins the coalition. UTJ left the government and coalition on July 14 after negotiations between Edelstein and haredi (ultra-Orthodox) representatives over a haredi IDF conscription bill fell through. Edelstein refused to proceed with a law proposal that would likely exempt a large majority of haredi men from IDF service. Bismuth was reportedly the preferred choice by some of the haredi parties. Two parties, Degel Hatorah and Shas, publicly denied involvement in the appointment. Votes in the party's Knesset faction Five Likud MKs filed a request on Tuesday for the vote to be a secret one instead of an open one. The Likud's constitution states that 10% of the voting body may demand a secret ballot, and the five members exceeded this threshold. However, the Likud's legal adviser, Avi Halevy, ruled that the vote would be open, arguing that the relevant article in the party's constitution did not apply to votes in the party's Knesset faction. This was significant, as Edelstein would likely have received more support if MKs could do so discreetly. Some 41 MKs and ministers from the party were eligible to vote. In addition to the 29-4 vote, two MKs, Dan Illouz and Milwidsky, abstained. The remaining six votes were either not cast or the voters did not participate in the ballot. Several family members of the hostages stood alongside reporters near the Likud's meeting place. In a statement following the vote, Yael Adar, the mother of Tamir Adar, who was killed on October 7 and whose body is being held by Hamas in Gaza, called for a hostage deal that will end the war and bring back all hostages in one wave. The family members also condemned Netanyahu for passing by them in a hallway without acknowledging them. They criticized the fact that the Likud convened to appoint a new committee head, but not to discuss the hostages. Even if Bismuth takes over as the defense panel's chair and would be willing to proceed with a lenient haredi conscription bill, at least seven MKs from the coalition would not support it, according to a source from the United Right party. The coalition might thus struggle to muster a majority. Bismuth said in a statement following the vote that he viewed the role as a 'paramount national mission.' 'The Torah brought me here and the army keeps me here,' Bismuth said. 'The conscription law lives in my home – my daughter is a soldier with a red beret, and my son wears tzitzit and a kippah and studies in yeshiva. I'm proud of them both. Army and Torah – this combination is so beautiful together.' 'It's possible to integrate the two,' he continued, 'as one hand holds the other. Each strengthens the other. The conscription law is a national matter, not a political one. All of the people of Israel, for the sake of all of the people of Israel,' Bismuth said. His election drew criticism from the opposition. Opposition leader MK Yair Lapid said in a statement that this is 'a black day for the State of Israel and the people of Israel. Bismuth was chosen to promote draft evasion, and this is a slap in the face to the soldiers, reservists, and their families. It is also a black day for the Likud, which has become a branch of the haredim and the draft evaders.' The leader of the opposition's Blue and White party, MK Benny Gantz, said in a video statement, 'Just moments ago, Likud members decided to abandon our heroic fighters and turn a blind eye to the challenges and security interests of the State of Israel for political gain. In the midst of a war, the Likud members, led by Netanyahu, chose to turn one of the most important committees in the Knesset into mere window dressing, with one goal: to exempt the haredim from military service.' Gantz continued, 'To all the members of the Likud in the Knesset, I say today: you've lost touch with the people, and you've lost your way. This is not [former prime minister Menachem] Begin's Likud. This is absolutely not the legacy of [Ze'ev] Jabotinsky.' 'Anyone who thinks the fight is over, that the draft exemption law will pass – they're mistaken,' he said. 'We will continue to fight; we won't give up. Those who serve will not surrender to the corrupt. It will take as long as it takes.' Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
26-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'A stab in the back to IDF troops': Opposition decries Bismuth appt
Bismuth's designation as the new chairman for the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee sparked a heated reaction from the opposition, who called it a "back stab to the IDF troops and reservists". Israeli opposition leaders said the Netanyahu government's designation of Boaz Bismuth as chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, replacing Yuli Edelstein, marked a betrayal of IDF soldiers and reservists on Wednesday. Opposition Leader MK Yair Lapid said in a statement, 'A black day for the State of Israel and the people of Israel. Bismuth was chosen to promote draft evasion, and this is a slap in the face to the soldiers, reservists, and their families. It is also a black day for the Likud party, which has become a branch of the Haredim and the draft evaders.' The leader of the opposition Blue and White party, MK Benny Gantz, said in a video statement, 'Just moments ago, Likud members decided to abandon our heroic fighters and turn a blind eye to the challenges and security interests of the State of Israel—for political gain. In the midst of a war, the Likud members, led by Netanyahu, chose to turn one of the most important committees in the Knesset into mere window dressing, with one goal: to exempt the Haredim from military service.' Gantz continued, 'To all Likud Knesset members I say today—you've lost touch with the people, and you've lost your way. This is not Begin's Likud. This is absolutely not the legacy of Jabotinsky. Anyone who thinks the fight is over, that the draft exemption law will pass—they're mistaken. We will keep fighting, and we won't give up. Those who serve will not surrender to the corrupt. It will take as long as it takes.' Former prime minister Naftali Bennett also criticized the decision, saying that 'Likud and Netanyahu have now stabbed IDF soldiers and reservists in the back.' 'This is a mark of disgrace for eternity on every Knesset member who voted for the impeachment. The government of draft-dodging and degradation must go home to save Israel. The alliance of those who serve will prevail,' he said on X. This is a developing story. Solve the daily Crossword
Russia Today
30-05-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
Russia prepared to strike Germany if Taurus missiles are used
Russia could authorize strikes on German territory if Ukraine uses German-supplied Taurus cruise missiles to attack Russian targets, a senior Russian lawmaker has warned. Andrey Kartapolov, chairman of the State Duma Defense Committee and a former deputy defense minister, said the long-range missiles require direct German military involvement to operate—making Berlin a potential participant in any such attack. Speculation about a potential transfer of Taurus missiles to Kiev resurfaced this week after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Ukraine would be allowed to use Western-supplied weapons without range limitations. Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Merz confirmed that delivering the Taurus system was 'possible,' though he added that Ukrainian forces would require 'several months of training' to use them effectively. In an interview with on Wednesday, Kartapolov said Moscow is 'ready for everything' if Germany proceeds with such a transfer. 'We are prepared to intercept the Taurus missiles, strike the launch sites, the operators, and, if necessary, the locations from which they are delivered,' he warned. The Taurus KEPD 350 missile has a range of over 500 kilometers and is capable of reaching targets deep within Russian territory, including Moscow. Kartapolov emphasized that Ukraine lacks the technical expertise to operate such weapons independently. He claimed that earlier deliveries of long-range systems—including the U.S.-made ATACMS, Britain's Storm Shadow, and France's SCALP—have only been deployed with the assistance of Western military specialists. 'Ukrainian troops can press the launch button—that's not the problem,' he said. 'But they cannot program the targets. That data comes from American and European satellites. If Germany supplies these missiles, German personnel will inevitably be involved on the ground.' The German Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday that it would provide Kiev with an additional €5.2 billion ($5.6 billion) in military aid. Much of the funding, according to the ministry, will support the production of long-range weaponry inside Ukraine. Responding to the development, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Berlin of crossing a dangerous line. 'Germany's direct involvement in the war is now obvious,' he said, adding that the country 'is sliding down the same slippery slope it already followed a couple of times in the last century—toward its own collapse.'
Russia Today
29-05-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
Russia prepared to strike Germany in response to Taurus attacks
Russia could authorize strikes inside Germany if Ukraine receives and attacks it with German Taurus cruise missiles, a senior Russian lawmaker has warned. State Duma Defense Committee chairman Andrey Kartapolov insists that the weapon requires German military assistance to operate. Speculation that Germany could supply Ukraine with Taurus missiles, which can potentially reach Moscow, reemerged earlier this week after Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that Berlin and its partners had allowed Kiev to use Western weapons without any range restrictions. When asked by journalists on Wednesday about possible deliveries of the weapon, Merz replied that they are 'possible,' adding that Ukrainian troops would require 'several months of training' to be able to launch them. Kartapolov told the outlet on Wednesday that Russia is 'ready for everything' and will respond to the possible shipments of Taurus missiles to Kiev. 'We are ready to shoot down the Taurus', and to strike the places from where they would be launched and those who would launch them, and, if necessary, the places from where they would have been delivered,' he warned. The senior lawmaker, who is a former Russian deputy defense minister and holds the rank of colonel-general, stressed that the long-range missiles that had been earlier supplied to Ukraine by the US, UK and France – ATACMS, Storm Shadow and SCALP, respectively – can only be launched by their own specialists. This is because 'the Ukrainian military lacks experts capable of operating such equipment. That is, the Ukrainians can press the 'start' button - it is not a problem, but they cannot input the data,' which comes from American and Western European satellites, he explained. 'If Germany transfers these missiles. Then, naturally, there will be German specialists on the ground' making sure that they can be launched, Kartapolov said. The German Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday that Berlin will give another $5.6 billion in military aid to Kiev, most of which will be used to 'finance the production of long-range weapon systems in Ukraine.' Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reacted to the development by saying that Berlin's 'direct involvement in the war is now obvious.' According to Lavrov, Germany 'is sliding down the same slippery slope it already followed a couple of times in the last century – down toward its own collapse.'
Russia Today
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Zelensky openly threatening Victory Day terrorist attack
Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky has openly threatened to target the Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 9, according to Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. Russia has announced a unilateral three-day ceasefire next week to coincide with the celebration commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. Kiev has rebuked the move, instead demanding an immediate unconditional 30-day truce. On Tuesday, Zelensky described targeting Russian 'pressure points' to push the country 'towards diplomacy' as he reiterated the ceasefire call. 'They are now concerned that their parade is in jeopardy and rightly so,' he remarked, referring to the event scheduled for May 9 in Red Square. 'What they should worry about is that this war continues.' Zakharova reacted on social media on Wednesday, asking what kind of truce Kiev can offer, given that the Zelensky government 'is literally planning terrorist attacks on air.' She added that boasting about such intentions 'is exactly what typical terrorists do.' Officials in Kiev claim that the offer of a unilateral suspension of hostilities by Russia is 'not real' and merely aims to pressure Ukrainian forces into granting their adversaries a respite during the Victory Day festivities. Ukrainian nationalist figures who were allied with Nazi Germany during World War II are treated as heroes by the current government. Those who commemorate Adolf Hitler's defeat on May 9 — rather than May 8, as observed in Western Europe and the United States — face harassment in Ukraine for perceived disloyalty. The prospect of striking Red Square while President Vladimir Putin and foreign dignitaries observe the parade is being actively discussed in Ukrainian media. MP Roman Kostenko, secretary of the country's parliamentary Defense Committee, stated in an interview on Tuesday that Kiev possesses the necessary weapon systems for such an operation, asserting that planning it 'would not be difficult.' The same lawmaker recently suggested that if the two nations were to reach a peace agreement, Kiev's secret services might embark on a decades-long campaign of assassinations against Russian officials.
