Netanyahu courts conservatives, nationalists
Having struck a coalition deal with the small, ultranationalist faction Noam, former Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu may be confirming Israeli progressives' fears of rollbacks and worse.

Noam's leader, Avi Maoz, is known for homophobic rhetoric, disparaging remarks about non-Orthodox Jews, and racist views against Arabs; he is also against women serving in the military. Despite the financial and diplomatic support of Israel from American Reform and Conservative Jews, Maoz has denied such denominations' legitimacy.

Netanyahu has named Maoz as a deputy minister, which the latter called the "first step in returning the soul to the country."

The coalition has yet to be finalized, but Israel may soon be led by the most hardline religious and conservative government it has ever had.

Russia protects impressionable adults from "Gay propaganda"
On Thursday last week, as part of the country's ongoing persecution of sexual minorities, Russian lawmakers officially approved expansions to what they call the "Gay propaganda" law, bans "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations" to minors.

Using a "traditional values" framing, the new law specifically expands the ban to apply to adults as well (people aged 18 and older), meaning even advertising, online resources, books, films, and theater productions intended for adults can't depict same-sex unions without incurring a fine of $1,660—33,000. Foreigners in particular could face 15 days in jail and expulsion.

The violations, as dictated by the bill, don't yet count as a criminal offense, since the Russian criminal code can be amended only through an independent bill. Some lawmakers have said they favor such a measure, though.

Same-sex marriage is constitutionally outlawed in Russia. A 2020 amendment states that the "institution of marriage is a union between a man a woman."