Sephardic leader also claims his filmed comments calling some former Soviet Union 'religion-hating gentiles' were 'distorted by politically interested sources'

Netanyahu says Yitzhak Yosef's reference to 'religion-hating gentiles' is 'outrageous and inappropriate'; Liberman decries 'anti-Semitic and racist' remarks

Yitzhak Yosef questions state conversions, drawing rebuke from Netanyahu; other politicians call for his resignation, urge AG to open incitement probe

Lazar Kaplan reportedly wrote remarks several months ago on Russian language social media forum, also called Haredi Jews 'zombie zealots'

Model Galit Gutman expresses shock at 'ugly, shameful and violent' instance of man ripping photo of her in Bnei Brak: 'I won't minimize my femininity for anyone'

Storefronts displaying female mannequins also painted over in southern city; police launch investigation into the vandalism

Secular activists say lack of public transit on Shabbat is prime manifestation of religious coercion, but opponents argue the buses are part of broader trend of creeping secularism

Israel is one of the top 20 most religiously restrictive countries in world, with sixth-highest level of 'interreligious tension and violence' -- a worse score than Syria, says Pew