In Israel’s cultural “solyanka,” post-Soviet aliyah spans generations — from those who rebuilt in the 1990s to today’s newcomers facing new fears and freedoms.
The father of Israeli-American Itay Chen, whose body was returned last week, demanded that politicians and commanders “give answers to the entire people of Israel, and bear their responsibility, within the framework of a state commission of inquiry.”
The IDF investigator insisted that she approved the leak to try and defend her office against rising pressure and threats. Critics accused her of intentionally trying to harm soldiers and the reputation of the state.
The protest sparked debates within Haredi communities, with some leaders worrying that it was wrong to hold the rally just as the government was finalizing a new proposal on the issue.