THE WEEK AHEAD: What is the drama all about in Netanyahu’s trial? Will the UN condemn the Palestinians, Hezbollah? Can the government make advances on judicial reform without consensus? Will expansion in the settlements begin?

Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Judicial reform

Netanyahu trial

Settlement expansion

IDF draft law

Public transportation prices
Hajj

ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT

The Israeli military is preparing for a potential flare-up on different fronts, following last week’s deadly Palestinian terror attack that claimed the lives of four civilians. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that “all options are open.”

In the meantime, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will hold its monthly session on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, known as the “Middle East briefing," this Tuesday, June 27. Ahead of the discussion, Israeli UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan sent a letter to UNSC members demanding that the council strongly condemn the attacks.

“These heinous attacks are a direct result of deliberate incitement by Palestinian terror organizations, as well as the Palestinian Authority, which continues to finance the salaries of murderers and their families,” Erdan wrote.

His letter detailed the sharp increase in the number of terror attacks since the beginning of 2023, noting that thousands of attacks have taken place so far, including 152 shooting attacks which have led to the murder of 29 victims and hundreds wounded. Erdan also asked the council to condemn Lebanon’s terror group Hezbollah for setting up armed posts on the Israeli side of the border.

JUDICIAL REFORM

After more than 24 weeks of protests and intense negotiations with little outcome, Netanyahu’s government is set to make advances on its judicial overhaul reform. The prime minister will reportedly begin by reducing Israel’s Supreme Court’s ‘grounds for reasonableness’ in dismissing or overruling Knesset legislation. The Knesset’s Constitution, Law and Justice Committee will discuss the bill in the early part of next week. After that, Netanyahu said he plans to reform the makeup of the Judicial Selection Committee.

The changes he intends to push for, however, do not go as far as the initial reform suggested by Justice Minister Yariv Levin. Nevertheless, anti-government protesters are expected to flock to the streets in mass demonstrations once again.

Netanyahu seems to have given up on the idea of trying to reach a broad consensus in the negotiations. Last week, he accused opposition leaders Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid of “playing a game of dialogue,” saying they delayed “month after month” but “did not agree to the minimum understanding.”

NETANYAHU TRIAL

Netanyahu’s ongoing trial is once again grabbing a lot of attention in Israel after the judges reportedly told the prosecution last week that they will struggle to make the case for the bribery charge against the premier. That announcement shook the ground under Case 4000, the most prominent of all the three cases against him.

This week Hollywood mogul Arnon Milchan, who is a key witness in Case 1000, is set to testify from the United Kingdom. Netanyahu is accused of receiving expensive gifts from Milchan and Australian businessman James Packer while he was the minister of communications and handled affairs about their business interests.

Despite harsh criticism from Israeli journalists, Milchan’s testimony will be held behind closed doors without access to the media. For months, the 79-year-old billionaire refused to come to Israel to deliver his testimony, citing health issues. According to reports, Netanyahu’s wife, Sarah, will represent her husband at the remote hearing.

SETTLEMENT EXPANSION

Israel’s Supreme Planning Council is expected to convene this week to discuss the government’s plan to expand existing settlements in the West Bank. The initiative already received the green light from Israel’s right-wing government. It aims to add 4,560 new Jewish homes in the disputed territory. In addition, three outposts in the northern West Bank would retroactively be legalized.

Jerusalem has already informed Washington about its plans, which has received international backlash. Washington said it was “deeply troubled” by the decision in a statement from the State Department: “We are similarly concerned by reports of changes to Israel’s system of settlement administration that expedite the planning and approvals of settlements. As has been longstanding policy, the United States opposes such unilateral actions that make a two-state solution more difficult to achieve and are an obstacle to peace.”

IDF DRAFT LAW

The Israeli government is moving towards approving a new outline for military service, but it needs more time to do so. This week marks the deadline for the current draft law that exempts ultra-Orthodox Jewish male citizens from compulsory service. Only a small percentage of ultra-Orthodox Haredi religious men enlist each year, which often angers Israelis who serve. Israeli-Arabs are also exempt from service.

The new proposed legislation, supported by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, would lower the age of final exemption for Haredi men from 26 to 23. In addition, soldiers in mandatory and reserve service are due to receive significant raises in their salaries. The government has asked the Supreme Court to extend the deadline so it can further deliberate on the new legislation before bringing it up for a vote in the Knesset.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION PRICES

Starting July 1, the cost of public transportation in Israel will increase by 12%. The current right-wing government is blaming the previous one, led by Naftali Bennett and opposition leader Yair Lapid, for the price hike. Transportation Minister Miri Regev from the Likud party vowed to find a solution that would waive the deadline for the higher cost to kick in.

HAJJ

The annual Muslim pilgrimage to Meccah in Saudi Arabia will begin on Monday, June 26, and end July 1st. More than two million Muslims perform this mandatory religious duty each year, which is one of the fifth pillars of Islam. The spiritual journey is required of all capable adult Muslim believers at least once in a lifetime. Men and women are allowed to pray together as they surround the Kaaba – the sacred stone located at the center of Islam's holiest site - and perfrom Hajj rituals.

This week, we are also keeping an eye on these developing stories: