Feiglin Says New Knesset Bills Threaten Israel’s Jewish Identity

Zehut chairman Moshe Feiglin criticized proposed legislation in the 26th Knesset on November 14, arguing that the measures would undermine Israel’s Jewish character and sovereignty. His statement addressed judicial governance, restrictions on prime ministers, an October 7 inquiry and religion and state. Feiglin opposed proposals to repeal judicial legislation, media reform and the law governing a prime minister’s incapacity. He also criticized proposed term limits and a ban on a prime minister serving while under indictment. He argued that the right’s judicial changes were intended to reduce the left’s dominance of the courts and strengthen equality before the law, and that reversing them would preserve the dominance he described. On religion and state, Feiglin objected to ending gender separation in academia, reversing expanded rabbinical-court powers, introducing civil unions and operating public transportation on Shabbat. “A Jewish state is the essence!” he wrote. He linked his objections to those proposals with his opposition to coalition cooperation with Arab parties. Feiglin also opposed a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 failures whose members would be selected through the Supreme Court. He argued that the court itself should be scrutinized rather than determine the inquiry’s composition.