The Israeli government has postponed the advancement of plans to expand Jewish building in Judea until four months after U.S. President Joe Biden’s trip to Israel, likely due to fear of an American backlash.

A meeting of the Civil Administration’s High Planning Subcommittee, during which the E-1 project was likely to have been formally approved, was set to take place a few days after Biden’s visit. Often a US president will cancel a visit when elections are on the horizon. Not only is Biden coming, but he is coming with an agenda that we believe could be harmful to Israel. On Friday, June 29 progressive Democrats sent Biden a letter calling for the U.S. to pressure Israel not to move forward with the plan. Not surprisingly, the planning subcommittee announced on Monday that the session had been pushed back to September and we have to interpret that as a response to US pressure.

The interim period until Israel elects a new government has us concerned. Lapid says he intends to run the government as if there were no upcoming elections. However the left in Israel and the US are likely to see an opportunity to pressure Israel into bowing to their demands. We pray they do not succeed.

Source:
Ahead of Biden visit, Israel quietly pushes back settlement plans, by World Israel News Staff, July 5, 2022

With tensions surrounding the future of Homesh and its yeshiva, IDF soldiers are being impacted by the uncertainty along with what the yeshiva’s administration refers to as the “tightening stranglehold” being enforced on Homesh. This is due to the policies of Defense Minister Benny Gantz.

Three separate instances of refusal of orders have been reported in recent days, all in relation to Homesh and the roadblocks set up around the community, preventing unauthorized persons from accessing the yeshiva in vehicles. Elisha Ben Kimon of Ynet reported on one instance of refusal of orders by an IDF soldier as told to him by an eyewitness. The soldier was sent to a commander’s jeep after refusing orders to check the vehicles of “settlers” and Palestinian Arabs. “This isn’t why I enlisted,” the soldier said in explanation. Following the incident, he was sent for an “explanatory discussion” on the importance of maintaining discipline.

We certainly don’t wish for IDF soldiers to go against military orders but in this case we wonder if the more of them that stand up the greater the statement will be that Gantz’s policies that work against achieving sovereignty in Judea and Samaria need to stop. And, during Israel’s governmental transition period, could it be that IDF soldiers are taking advantage of a weakness they see and using this period to take a stand?

Source:
IDF soldiers refusing orders to bar entrance to Homesh, by Y. Rabinovitz/Israel National News, July 3, 2022

Americans For A Safe Israel mourns the loss of the six individuals killed in yesterday’s mass shooting in Highland Park, IL. Among them were Jews who were well known to the large Jewish community in Highland Park (Nicholas Toledo and Jackie Sundheim, pictured here). According to the most recent report, 24 were wounded. We pray for the full recovery of those wounded and a return to normalcy for Highland Park residents as soon as possible.

While there are constant cries for gun control laws, others say it’s mental health issues that need to be addressed. Horrific events such as the July 4 tragedy now seem routine and we all wonder if and when this will ever end. We can’t wrap our heads around this anymore. We are such an educated people living in a high tech advanced world and carnage such as yesterday’s cannot be prevented? It makes it all the more baffling when you consider that Israel lives under the constant threat of terror attacks but does not experience its own people looking to kill for whatever reason.

It is not AFSI’s intention nor our mission to take a position on the gun control debate in the United States. Nevertheless, maybe – just maybe – the US should seriously consider looking to Israel as an example of how gun control can work to a greater extent than it currently does in America. We found a February 15, 2018, New York Post story on Israel’s gun control laws and how it might positively affect the US. While the report doesn’t discuss specifics related to how Israel’s gun control model can address non-military US citizens who have a right to bear arms under the US Constitution’s Second Amendment, it is still a good article to read and certainly food for thought.

Source:
Israel’s gun control laws can make the US safer, too, by Janet Rosenbaum/New York Post, February 15, 2018

Israel’s Knesset voted 92–0 to disband itself Thursday morning, a little over 14 months after it convened and a year after the government was sworn in. Israel now heads toward its fifth election since 2019, set for November 1, 2022.

Foreign Minister and Alternate Prime Minister Yair Lapid formally succeeds Prime Minister Naftali Bennett as premier at midnight between Thursday and Friday. He will hold the post through the elections and until a new coalition is formed.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett formally announced his intention not to run in the upcoming elections for the 25th Knesset. He will remain ‘alternate prime minister’ and in charge of the Iranian issue until the next government is sworn-in following the elections. Bennett issued a statement from the Knesset stating that he intends to assist Yair Lapid upon taking office as Prime Minister. “I will help him [Lapid] as much as he needs. I do not intend to run in the upcoming elections, but I will remain a loyal soldier of this country.”

And so the road to new elections begins – again. We’d like to think that these new elections will put the country on the right track. Israel and its citizens are hurting from a lack of governmental continuity. It must get back to adhering to its founding Zionist principles, which have never forsaken the country. Israel’s next coalition must remain true to the implementation of those Zionist values for the sake of the country’s defense, future and safety.

Source:
Knesset disbands, sets elections for November 1; Lapid to become PM at midnight, by Carrie Keller-Lynn/Times of Israel, June 30, 2022

Bennett steps down: I will remain a loyal soldier of Israel, by Israel National News, June 29, 2022

For years there have been specially guarded trips one night a month for Jews to pray at Joseph’s Tomb. It was understood that Jews who otherwise are prohibited to enter Shechem/Nablus could come in in a group on that one night to pray at the tomb of this central figure of Jewish history and faith.

Last night during one of these trips, Shomron brigade commander Colonel Roi Zweig and two civilians were slightly injured by terrorist gunfire that was directed at the compound of the tomb. Hundreds of Jewish worshipers were there to mark the yahrzeit of Joseph, the son of Jacob on the start of the month of Tammuz. Col. Zweig was reportedly hit by shrapnel in his stomach and was evacuated by military helicopter to Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva. The other two injured were evacuated by ambulance.

Samaria Council Head Yossi Dagan, who was at the site during the shooting, reported: “Col. Zweig refused treatment for his injury before he safely evacuated all worshipers. We will not give up our hold on Joseph’s tomb and will continue to reach it. We strengthen IDF soldiers and will defeat the barbaric terrorism of the Palestinian Authority.”

Source:
Terrorists Open Fire on Worshippers inside Joseph’s Tomb, 3 Injured, by David Israel/Jewish Press, June 30, 2022

Avi Zinger, Israeli franchise owner of Ben & Jerry’s, announced yesterday that conglomerate owner Unilever has extended his franchise in Israel. This allows him to continue selling Ben & Jerry’s products in Judea and Samaria and also concludes the discriminatory boycott that developed last year.

We thank our AFSI activists for heeding the call to our Action Alerts on this issue. Your efforts played a big part in this victory. AFSI also applauds Avi Zinger who has been fighting for years against BDS groups and refused to implement the Ben & Jerry’s boycott.

Though this is great news for Israel, it’s not a total victory. Let’s remember that Ben & Jerry’s in the U.S. continues its Israel-hatred with an anti-Semitic new employee training requirement to watch video lectures by anti-Israel BDS leaders. In addition, Ben & Jerry’s said it does not agree with Unilever’s decision to sell off the ice-cream brand’s Israeli business. “We continue to believe it is inconsistent with Ben & Jerry’s values for our ice cream to be sold in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.” Ben & Jerry, typical self-hating Jews only set of “values” is their anti-Semitism, which equates to Israel hatred.

The boycott by Ben & Jerry’s created a public relations headache for Unilever as pro-Israel politicians in the US sought economic retaliatory measures. So, does Unilever’s sale to Avi Zinger signal a win for Israel or a “Jewish problem” Unilever is glad to get rid of?

“What a world, what a world!” Who would have thought a good little summer treat would destroy a small part of the BDS agenda? We wonder what other unexpected efforts it will take to crush the BDS narrative that works day and night to delegitimize Israel. As Yesha leaders applaud this win for Israel, we can smile knowing that Judea and Samaria residents can continue to enjoy a favorite summer treat while a part of BDS is crushed.

Sources:
Cool Victory: Unilever Grants Ben & Jerry’s Israel the Right to Continue Selling in Jewish Settlements, by David Israel/Jewish Press, June 29, 2022

Unilever announces Ben & Jerry’s ice cream to remain in Judea & Samaria, by Yoni Kempinski/Israel National News, June 29, 2022

Ben & Jerry’s criticises deal that will resume sales in occupied territories, by Sarah Butler/The Guardian, June 30, 2022

The passage of the bill to dissolve the Knesset has been delayed in light of the failure of the coalition and opposition to reach many agreements including one on the date of the elections which would be held following the dissolution. The dissolution is now tentatively set to be finalized on Wednesday.

The outgoing government wants a quick dispersal process resulting in Yair Lapid becoming interim prime minister. An interim government has limits on its powers and is not in the best interest of the State. Additionally, recent polls clearly show that Lapid does not represent the majority of what Israelis want in a leader.

Rather than go to elections, the Likud-led opposition would prefer to form a right-wing coalition by reshuffling seats from within the current Knesset. All indications are that they would want Likud leader, Benjamin Netanyahu as Prime Minister.

We’ve spent the last year watching leadership fail the Israeli people. It would be preferable for all parties concerned if Israel could form a coalition that works and not have to hold a fifth election in 3.5 years. Whatever the outcome, we hope it doesn’t take forever to take action.

Message to Knesset: Israel needs a strong, functioning Zionist government – YESTERDAY!!

Sources:
Dissolution of the Knesset delayed, by Israel National News, June 27, 2022

Knesset dispersal process hampered as coalition, opposition resume talks on details, by Carrie Keller-Lynn/Time of Israel, June 27, 2022

Talks on reviving the Iran nuclear deal, which have been stalled for three months, will resume within days, the EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Saturday during a surprise visit to Tehran.

Borrell had wanted to consult with Yair Lapid on a number of points ahead of his meetings with the Islamic Republic in Iran (referred to as “Iranians”). However, Lapid reiterated in his reply to Borrell that it was the visit itself that was problematic, especially given Iran’s recent attempts to kill Israeli civilians in Turkey. The Israeli foreign minister had previously told Borrell that visiting Iran now was “a strategic mistake that sends the wrong message” to Tehran, according to the report.

Borrell, clearly no friend of the Jewish people, has previously dismissed Israel’s concerns regarding Iran’s nuclear programs, saying at the Munich Security Conference in 2019, “Iran wants to wipe out Israel; nothing new about that. You have to live with it,” according to Politico.

Borrell spoke the truth about Iran wanting to wipe out Israel but his conclusion, “You have to live with it” is quite ignorant on his part. It makes him just another in a long line of foolish leaders who wish to appease the number one state sponsor of terrorism by funding more terror against the Western world. Borrell’s secret meeting with Iran is also a clear indication that he’s taking advantage of Israel’s governmental crisis.

Sources:
Iran nuclear talks to resume in coming days, says top EU diplomat, by Agencies and TOI Staff, June 25, 2022

Israeli foreign minister ‘lashes out’ at EU foreign policy chief over Tehran visit, by JNS Brief, June 27, 2022

Four years of legal battles concluded over the weekend with the cancelation of the “Mukhtar Protocol,” a problematic procedure by which property ownership was determined in eastern Jerusalem by local leaders. Arabs now have to prove actual ownership over contested property in the area.

The Mukhtar Protocol, described by Regavim as “one of the most corrupt, discriminatory procedures enforced by the State of Israel,” was used to establish ownership of land in Jerusalem as the basis for construction permits and other legal processes, based on the testimony of local village “experts,” instead of properly documented proof of ownership.

Attorney Boaz Arzi, Director of Regavim’s Legal Division, added that Israel “should have conducted full regulation procedures for all properties in Jerusalem immediately upon the city’s reunification [in 1967], and the foot-dragging has resulted in the loss of thousands of dunams of land to fraudulent claims and the erosion of governance.”

AFSI congratulates our colleagues Regavim for their tireless work on this campaign to cancel the Mukhtar Protocol.

Source:
Jerusalem Arabs now have to prove ownership over contested property, by Aryeh Savir/TPS, June 26, 2022

Although the Knesset approved the first of four votes on Wednesday to voluntarily disband, rebel Yamina MK Nir Orbach has now halted the dispersal process until Monday. This gives the Likud-led opposition time to form an alternative coalition and avoid snap elections.

Orbach was the last MK to depart the coalition saying he would work towards forming an alternative coalition within the current Knesset. Elements of the opposition and of Bennett’s Yamina party are actively working to create a new, immediate right-wing coalition but it’s unlikely that they’ll successfully muster the threshold number of 61 MKs necessary to swap out the government without new elections. Some MK’s are courting other MK’s to come up with a novel solution while others are preparing for new elections.

As elections are likely to yield the same results as the previous recent ones have, we would like to see the situation ameliorated without resorting to that. Using his position in the current government, Orbach can hold back the next elections until Monday. Let us hope that reason will prevail and a strong Zionist government can be formed without the wasted time and money of new elections.

Ronn Torossian’s Arutz Sheva OpEd sums up best what needs to happen in this process. David Ben Gurion famously once said: “When Israel has prostitutes and thieves, we’ll be a state just like any other.” Ben Gurion wanted normalization for the Jewish people and his quote suggested a sign of normalcy would be that the State of Israel had criminals and streetwalkers like other countries. It’s a sign of normalcy too that Israel existed the last year without Netanyahu in charge. Torossian concludes, “But maybe now people who care should try to change the system to ensure that Israel can thrive on stability.”

In order to thrive on stability, Israel’s Zionist values, strength and continuity must be restored. The Zionist mandate ensures Israel’s safety and survival. Without it, we can’t feel confident of a strong and robust future for the Jewish Nation State.

Sources:
Giving alternative gov’t a chance, Orbach delays Knesset dispersal process to Monday, by Carrie Keller-Lynn/Times of Israel, June 23, 2022

Now that Israel has prostitutes and thieves, it’s time for a functioning political system, by Ronn Torossian/Israel National News, June 23, 2022