Israeli defense Minister ordered the evacuation of an outpost in Samaria built in memory of Rabbi Chaim Druckman, z’l. Finance Minister Smotrich and Otzma Yehudit’s Israeli National Security Minister disagreed with that order. As Smotrich is also a Minister in the Defense Department he issued an order stopping the evacuation. Apparently that order was overruled. While MK Itamar Ben-Gvir called on MK Yoav Galant to stop the evacuation, it appears Ben-Gvir was too late.

This while the illegal village of Khan al-Ahmar and 170 illegally built Arab structures in Area C remain standing.

Double standard? MK Danny Danon certainly thinks so and has called on the government to order the evacuation of Khan al-Ahmar ASAP. As for Ben Gvir, it seems he missed the boat and he cannot afford to have this happen again.

Sources:
After outpost demolished, Ben-Gvir calls for law to be applied equally to illegal Arab structures, by JNS, January 22, 2023

Likud MKs call on government to evacuate illegal village of Khan al-Ahmar, by Josh Hasten/JNS, January 23, 2023

UPDATE: Samaria Outpost Named after Rabbi Drukman Dismantled, by David Israel/Jewish Press, January 20, 2023

Yesterday Israel’s court issued its bombshell ruling against Interior Minister Aryeh Deri (Shas party head) that he can no longer serve as minister. This now forces Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to either remove Deri from his cabinet or act in direct contravention of the Supreme Court. Deri has publicly said that he would not comply with the ruling and not step down should the court say he cannot continue as a minister.

Netanyahu must now decide whether to remove Deri from his cabinet or act against the Supreme Court. Netanyahu may use the ruling as an example of judicial overreach, presumably to strengthen his government’s proposed overhaul of the legal system.

In response to the court’s ruling, the Shas party has threatened to bring down the government by pulling its support if Netanyahu fires Deri following the verdict.

If Netanyahu does fire Deri and Shas acts on its threat (which is very unlikely), it would be a tragedy and terrible setback for the people of Israel. This scenario could happen as long as the Supreme Court’s role remains unreformed or codified. Until Israel’s courts are fully functioning with the reforms so urgently needed, challenges and threats such as that in the Deri case will continue. Reforming the judicial system is a work in progress. This ruling gives significant proof that reform is needed. We pray it happens quickly.

Source:
COALITION CRISIS: Supreme Court rules against Deri – will Netanyahu gov’t fall?, by Lauren Marcus/World Israel News, January 18, 2023

Eight rabbis and students of the Homesh Yeshiva appeared at the Petah Tikva Magistrate’s Court for the hearing of the indictments filed against them for violating the Disengagement Law by studying at Homesh.

At their request, the court postponed all hearings for 4 months in light of the state’s notification to the Supreme Court that it intends to cancel the law as it pertains to the northern parts of Samaria and formally recognize the Yeshiva.

We are grateful the Supreme Court has postponed the hearing. Now we wait for the Disengagement Law to be cancelled before the 4 months is up.

Source:
Court postpones hearing of Homesh Yeshiva students, by Israel National News, January 19, 2023

Erdan: Methodology of Discrimination

Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan addressed the UN Security Council yesterday during a meeting on the situation in the Middle East. The Ambassador attacked the lies the Palestinian Authority and its supporters present at the UN. He said, “Over and over again, we have heard how the past year has been the deadliest year for the Palestinians…Yet these numbers and statistics are not facts. Not even close. They are based on a fundamentally flawed and biased methodology. A methodology of discrimination, which Israel refuses to accept.

Ambassador Erdan added, “According to the UN report presented to you, here, only twenty Israelis were murdered by terrorists in 2022, when in reality thirty-one Israelis were murdered. Same goes for injured Israelis. The UN number 253 for injured Israelis, whereas the true number is 418.

Facts matter, accuracy matters. The UN needs to get them straight.

Source:
Erdan blasts UN’s inaccurate reporting on Israeli terror casualties, by Israel National News, January 18, 2023

Knesset Constitution Committee chairman MK Simcha Rothman intends to submit in the coming days his own version of a judicial reform bill. The wording that Rothman will present will not be the same as that presented by Justice Minister Yariv Levin. It will include changes and, among other things, the composition of the committee for the appointment of judges will be slightly different from Levin’s proposal – but apparently the principle that the coalition will have a majority on the committee will be maintained.

Rothman’s goal is to promote the reform quickly after the attorney general indicated that it would take weeks for her to formulate her opinion on his and Levin’s proposals.

Justice reform is reasonable and right, as David Weinberger lays out in his Israel Hayom article. The much-too-powerful actors in Israel’s legal system have upset Israeli democracy by usurping powers they were never intended to have by Israel’s founders or parliamentarians; powers that extend far beyond those held by the legal system in any other democracy.

Whether the proposal submitted by Levin or Rothman get passed, there is no threat to Democracy presented, only a long overdue need to restore the balance of power between the judiciary, legislature, and government. Judicial reform is mandatory in order to restore checks, and balances to the Israeli judicial system. Levin has proposed one method of reform, Rothman’s may be more acceptable to the public.

Sources:
Judicial reform is reasonable and right, by  David M. Weinberg/Israel Hayom, January 17, 2023

MK Rothman to submit new judicial reform bill in coming days, by Israel National News, January 17, 2023

In a lightning campaign conducted by members of the Sovereignty Youth Movement, more than one thousand signatures were gathered from teenagers and youths calling upon the Israeli government to apply Israeli sovereignty to the Jordan Valley first. In the coming days, with the completion of the signature gathering, the petition will be submitted to the Prime Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, and the government ministers.

The youth are calling upon the new Israeli government to implement the promises made by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu many times in the past regarding his commitment to the application of sovereignty in the Jordan Valley. These promises, the movement mentions, have the broad support of all the members of the coalition, as well as the members of the opposition loyal to the Zionist vision.

AFSI’s late Co-Director, Helen Freedman, z”l, was convinced that AFSI’s next most important mission was to educate young people about Israel’s truth. It’s clear that Israel’s youth are well educated on this subject and have chosen to assert themselves. They are an integral part of the building and maintaining the Zionist dream. Helen would be overjoyed with pride to see Israel’s youth taking a stand in support of sovereignty.

Source:
Sovereignty Youth Is Petitioning: Sovereignty Over the Jordan Valley first, by Israel National News, January 17, 2023

The Fight for Every Dunam forum last Thursday released a report titled, Mount Ebal: A Wake-Up Call – an exposé of the plan the Palestinian Authority is promoting at Joshua’s altar. The report suggests that in recent years, the PA has been investing efforts in paving roads as a means of taking over land on the Ebal ridge in general, and the historic site of Joshua’s altar in particular.

Now, official documents of the PA’s Local Government Ministry the Struggle for Every Dunam acquired by Fight for Every Dunam reveal a construction plan for dozens of lots around the area of the ancient Joshua’s Altar on Mount Ebal.

This is yet another challenge for the new government and we trust they will act swiftly to reverse this and begin the very overdue process to re-take and protect Area C.

Source:
Report: PA Constructing Illegal Settlement in and around Joshua’s Altar, by David Israel/Jewish Press, January 13, 2023

Justice Minister Yariv Levin published for the first time yesterday the draft of his bill to reform Israel’s judicial system.

Among many on the agenda is the goal to change the composition of the committee for the selection of Supreme Court justices. The court’s ability to annul laws enacted by the Knesset will be limited and an Override Clause will be enacted allowing a majority of 61 MKs to repass laws struck down by the Supreme Court.

Further proposed is that each branch of government – the Knesset, the federal government, and the judiciary – determine its own representatives and no branch will interfere in the selection of the representatives of the other branches, nor in the working procedures of the committee or in their judgment and finally in their decisions on the selection of justices.

Levin’s reforms to the judiciary also include promoting legislation to allow the appointment of a Supreme Court president who is not part of the current court.

Israel’s legislative remedy is in motion and we look forward to the the proper role of the Supreme Court be restored and codified. Levin’s critics are outraged and say his push for judicial reforms are the beginning of the end of Israel’s sovereignty. We say it’s the beginning of strengthening Israel’s democracy and paving a path for the road to full sovereignty.

Sources:
Justice Minister publishes judicial reform bill, by Israel National News, January 11, 2023

Report: Justice Minister Levin planning another judicial reform, by Israel National News, January 10, 2023

The Young Settlement Forum is launching a new campaign calling on government ministers to speed up regulation of the young communities. This comes on the heels of the new government’s turn around, overnight Tuesday, where most Zionist opposition parties supported the coalition vote to renew Emergency Regulations in Judea and Samaria.

The emergency regulations were created shortly after the Six Day War to regulate the legal situation created as a result of Israel’s control of the “territories” seized in the war.

Unlike the previous government that opposed the 5-year renewal using it as a political football to take down the opposition party, we’re glad to see Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration deliver a swift renewal. However, this emergency regulation should not have to exist to begin with. Jews have a legal right to the Land of Israel and no special set of laws or approvals in Judea and Samaria should be required. The real emergency regulation that must be applied is SOVEREIGNTY NOW!

Sources:
This Time Coalition and Opposition Extend Judea, Samaria Emergency Regulations, by David Israel/Jewish Press, January 10, 2023

Young Settlement Forum to Ministers: “Now it’s up to you”, by Israel National News, January 10, 2023

Civil Administration inspectors on Tuesday destroyed an illegal structure built by Arabs in Area C near the settlement of Peduel in Samaria. The building’s demolition comes after a long struggle by the Samaria Regional Council and the Regavim.

Regavim responded: “the building that was destroyed this morning is in the area of the Sarida Nature Reserve, which suffers from massive Palestinian takeover through building construction, road construction, and agricultural work, all without a permit and against the law.”

This is welcomed news. Enforcing the law and asserting Israel’s legal rights are finally off to a good start and on the right path under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. We look forward to more activity on the urgent need to take back Area C.

Source:
The battle over Area C: illegal Arab building near Peduel finally destroyed, by Israel National News, January 10, 2023