![Members from Jewish religious parties attend a session of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem December 15, 2010. The session was held to debate a bill that if passed into law, would allow the state to certify the validity of all conversions to Judaism conducted by the Israeli army without the Chief Rabbinate's approval. The bill passed its preliminary reading on Wednesday. The political debate over the legislation underscored divisions on religious issues within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanya](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2018/04/RTXVQYC.jpg/RTXVQYC.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=Pppr0nTE)
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In Ma'ale HaHamisha, reporting on Israel
Danny Zaken is a journalist who works for the Israeli public radio station Kol Israel. Zaken has covered military and security affairs, West Bank settlers and Palestinian topics. He was a Knight Wallace fellow at the University of Michigan and completed the BBC Academy's journalism program. Zaken lecturers on media and journalism at the Hebrew University, the Mandel School and the Interdiscinplinary Center Herzliya. He is the former chair of the Jerusalem Journalists Association. On Twitter: @danizaken
![Members from Jewish religious parties attend a session of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem December 15, 2010. The session was held to debate a bill that if passed into law, would allow the state to certify the validity of all conversions to Judaism conducted by the Israeli army without the Chief Rabbinate's approval. The bill passed its preliminary reading on Wednesday. The political debate over the legislation underscored divisions on religious issues within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanya](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2018/04/RTXVQYC.jpg/RTXVQYC.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=Pppr0nTE)
![Ultra-Orthodox Jews visit the military cemetery on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem April 28, 2009. Israel on Tuesday marks Memorial Day to commemorates its fallen soldiers. The Dome of the Rock on the compound known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif, and to Jews as Temple Mount, is seen in the background. REUTERS/Yannis Behrakis (JERUSALEM ANNIVERSARY POLITICS MILITARY RELIGION) - GM1E54S1GYT01](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2018/04/RTXEH45.jpg/RTXEH45.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=IcepGL2p)
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Danny Zaken
In Ma'ale HaHamisha, reporting on Israel
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Danny Zaken
In Ma'ale HaHamisha, reporting on Israel
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Danny Zaken
In Ma'ale HaHamisha, reporting on Israel
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Danny Zaken
In Ma'ale HaHamisha, reporting on Israel
![27625479_999070913578182_4631004602416941507_o.jpg](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2018/03/27625479_999070913578182_4631004602416941507_o.jpg/27625479_999070913578182_4631004602416941507_o.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=tjWJ8N1V)
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Danny Zaken
In Ma'ale HaHamisha, reporting on Israel
![GettyImages-879359084.jpg](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2018/03/GettyImages-879359084.jpg/GettyImages-879359084.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=-14xPMd8)
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Danny Zaken
In Ma'ale HaHamisha, reporting on Israel
![Kosher inspector Aaron Wulkan examines a fish in the kitchen of a catering business to check that it is kosher, ensuring that the food is stored and prepared according to Jewish regulations and customs, in Bat Yam, Israel October 31, 2016. Picture taken October 31, 2016. REUTERS/Baz Ratner - S1BEUKRRAFAB](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2018/03/RTX2ROTO.jpg/RTX2ROTO.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=vmk-Jz_8)
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Danny Zaken
In Ma'ale HaHamisha, reporting on Israel
![chutzpahmain.jpg](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2018/03/chutzpahmain.jpg/chutzpahmain.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=htOPKOj2)
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Danny Zaken
In Ma'ale HaHamisha, reporting on Israel
![RTX333A0.jpg](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2018/03/RTX333A0.jpg/RTX333A0.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=oaqlvIvY)
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Danny Zaken
In Ma'ale HaHamisha, reporting on Israel
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Danny Zaken
In Ma'ale HaHamisha, reporting on Israel
![Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during an event organized by the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organisations in Jerusalem, February 21, 2018. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun - RC111BBBB180](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2018/02/RTX4Y8JK.jpg/RTX4Y8JK.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=CNxJ0n2B)
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Danny Zaken
In Ma'ale HaHamisha, reporting on Israel