Israel is facing significant challenges as ceasefire talks continue and protests erupt, with questions surrounding the willingness of Hamas to agree to a ceasefire deal with Israel, the sustainability of Israel's war effort against Hamas, the potential for conflict with Hezbollah in the north, the domestic religious schisms threatening the government's stability, and the possibility of strained relations between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Joe Biden.

The debate in Israel regarding the military draft of Haredi yeshiva students has intensified as exemptions have expired, leading to court orders barring subsidies and potential future draft enforcement.

The essay discusses the current state of Israeli democracy and the challenges it faces.

The recent electoral victory of Benjamin Netanyahu and the emergence of the Religious Zionism party in Israel signal a shift away from liberal constructions of Judaism.

In a discussion with Gilad Malach from the Israel Democracy Institute, the focus is on the electoral trends within Israel's ultra-Orthodox Haredi community.