Israel Votes: The Haredim Are Back

With the ultra-Orthodox once again positioned as kingmakers in Israeli coalition negotiations, is this a missed opportunity for reform?

Many Israelis believed the relationship between the state and the ultra-Orthodox community was headed for a fundamental reset. Instead, coalition negotiations may once again hinge on the very parties many voters hoped to sideline. Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi examine why the Haredim remain indispensable political players, what their return could mean for military service and public policy, and whether Israel's leaders are making compromises of necessity or surrendering an opportunity for change. Together, they ask what kind of future can emerge when none of the available political choices feels satisfying.

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