Author: AFSI Staff

The High Court of Justice upheld its ruling that the illegal Bedouin herding village of Khan al-Ahmar could be evacuated, but that it was up to the state to decide whether to move forward on the matter. It accepted the state’s argument made at a May 1 hearing that no action could be taken against the village at this time due to security and foreign relations concerns.

The Supreme Court on Sunday rejected Regavim’s petition demanding the immediate fulfillment of past court decisions by the demolition of Khan al-Ahmar.

“Our opinion is that these reasons are related to security matters and the country’s foreign relations,” stated Judge Alex Stein. “Under these circumstances, the petition before us has exhausted itself. All we can give the petitioner is a declaration that the outpost was built illegally and therefore should be evacuated and demolished. With regard to the State’s respondents’ latest decision regarding law enforcement against the outpost and its residents, we cannot interfere at this time.”

Regavim responded: The state’s capitulation to international pressure, and today’s High Court of Justice decision granting that capitulation a seal of approval, are leading the State of Israel to the brink of anarchy: The ground rules for Israeli retreat have been laid, and foreign concerns now have official confirmation that the Israeli government will back down from its own stated policies and national interests when pressure is applied.

The current terminology for today’s decision is, “Shame!” – shame on the government of Israel and shame on the High Court of Justice.

Source:
Supreme Court rejects petition for demolition of Khan al-Ahmar, by Israel National News, May 7, 2023

The IDF confirmed Tuesday evening that terrorists in the Gaza Strip launched six mortars at Israel, hours after a barrage of 22 rockets left three people wounded in Sderot.

Two rockets struck Sderot, four were intercepted by the Iron Dome, and 16 rockets landed in open areas.Three foreign workers were wounded when a rocket struck a construction site in Sderot, one who was seriously injured.

Earlier in the day, Sderot resident Bezalel Eliyahu Atias said that his wife miraculously avoided being killed by rocket fire. Atias commented that the rocket strike was “…during the time when the children are coming home from school.”

Another miracle was told by Efrat Amram. A Sderot resident, her home and car were severely damaged by the rockets but thankfully her entire family was unharmed.

Rockets continued to be fired at Israel overnight Tuesday. According to IDF Spokesman Brigadier General Daniel Hagari, 104 rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the current round.

Sderot mayor Alon Davidi said, “I call on the government and the army, stop the platitudes. There are two terrorist organizations that control the Strip, and they shoot whenever they want to. They need to be eliminated. We are paying a price. We need to initiate an operation and do it wisely.”

Though the IDF responded with attacks against several terrorist facilities, many residents strongly voiced that the actions taken were not significant enough. How long will the current ceasefire last? Life for Israelis will go on as usual and once again, they’ve shown tremendous courage and resilience. Living like this has become a rollercoaster for Israelis who never know when the next Red Alert Siren emergency will force them to run to a shelter for safety. Without a guarantee that the terrorist problem has been eliminated from its root cause, the reality of terrorism will repeat itself. This is unacceptable and is no way to live in a free and sovereign country.

Sources:
IDF Hits 16 Hamas, Jihad Targets in Gaza, Iron Dome Performance Re-Evaluated, by David Israel/Jewish Press, May 3, 2023

Sderot Mayor after rocket attacks: Govt. must destroy Gaza terror groups, by Israel National News, May 2, 2023

1 seriously injured in rocket barrage from Gaza, by Israel National News, May 2, 2023

Miracle in Sderot: ‘Our car was hit as my wife was heading to it’, by Israel National News, May 2, 2023

Relations between the Israeli government and the Judea Samaria Regional Councils are “back to normal.” Israel’s previous government had refused to meet with community heads.

Judea and Samaria community officials met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his office in Jerusalem on April 27 to discuss matters of “crucial importance.” “From our point of view, the meeting between the heads of these communities and the prime minister signifies a return to normal,” said Shlomo Neeman, who is also the mayor of the Gush Etzion Regional Council.

Yesha leaders expressed confidence that Prime Minister Netanyahu will fulfill his campaign promises and allow development in Judea and Samaria to continue. They demanded that a harsh stand be taken “against terrorism and its perpetrators, and prioritize the handling of the Palestinian Authority’s illegal control of Area C.” Additionally, they requested that the government continue construction and infrastructure development throughout Judea, Samaria, and the Jordan Valley.

We cannot calculate how much time was lost and wasted with these critical matters being ignored due to the prior government’s refusal to meet with Yesha leaders. Now that Yesha-goverment relations are back to normal, we eagerly wait for many long overdue issues to be resolved. We hope the wait is not too long.

Source:
Yesha Council heads hail ‘return to normalcy’ after Netanyahu meeting, by JNS, May 1, 2023

Squad member Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib got slammed by Twitter’s “Community Notes” fact-check feature, after she spread lies about Israel and US Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy.

Tlaib tweeted, “Speaker McCarthy wants to rewrite history, but the apartheid state of Israel was born out of violence and the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. 75 years later, the Nakba continues to this day.”

Under Twitter’s new policy, readers are allowed to add “Community Notes” and the ones listed in the photo above clearly convey the truth that combat the vicious lies Cong. Tlaib spewed against Israel.

Tsk, tsk Cong. Tlaib. What will you do now? Spew your lies elsewhere? We doubt Twitter will post any Community Notes that support the garbage that you tweet.

Source:
Antisemite Tlaib’s Anti-Israel Tweet Gets SHREDDED by Twitter’s Community Notes, by Yaakov M/VINnews, May 3, 2023

The Knesset opened its summer session today convening for the first time since the Passover recess.

Topping the Knesset’s agenda is passage of the state budget. If the budget does not pass by May 29, the Knesset will automatically dissolve, and snap elections will be called.

Today the Knesset held a festive ceremony during which United States House Speaker Kevin McCarthy spoke.

The “March of the Million” took place last Thursday evening near the Knesset and is a clear demonstration that Israelis WANT judicial reforms. The turnout, in the hundreds of thousands, succeeded in putting to bed opposition claims that Israelis are united against judicial reform. This is what the people of Israel want, and judicial reforms must be realized as soon as possible. Negotiations continue under President Herzog with wide differences of opinion. The “Million March” participants chanted loudly against compromise. We hope their voices were heard and that reform legislation will resume soon.

Sources:
Judicial reform not on the agenda as Knesset opens summer session, by Hezki Baruch/Israel National News, May 1, 2023

March of the Million’ shatters opposition claim nation opposes judicial reform, by David Isaac/JNS, April 28, 2023

On Monday morning, the High Court of Justice heard arguments in yet another round of Regavim’s petition demanding the implementation of demolition orders issued by the state in 2009 to evacuate an illegal outpost on Route 1, in an area under full Israeli jurisdiction.

At the hearing, the state’s representative claimed that the state has no objection to the implementation of the orders but demands that it be given full discretion as to the timing and way in which they are to be implemented, due to the political and security considerations involved.

Attorney Avi Segal, representing Regavim in this petition, explained: “Although in principle it is true that the court should not interfere in political issues, in the event that the state refuses to enforce the law for 15 years and under the auspices of this situation the Palestinian Authority and the residents of the compound continue to take over territory, there is no alternative: the High Court of Justice must put an end to this saga and allocate a reasonable timetable for the state to enforce the law.”

Source:
Following Stormy Debate, High Court Again Postpones Its Khan Al Ahmar Ruling, by David Israel/Jewish Press, May 1, 2023

In honor of Israel’s 75th birthday and Herzl Day, which will take place next week, the government will debate a historic resolution making Zionism the guiding and decisive value in all government actions.

The move has already been met with outrage by the former interim prime minister and opposition leader MK Yair Lapid.

The resolution, titled, “Zionism as Guiding Value in Government Activities,” calls to “order government ministries and all of the government’s arms that Zionist values as they are expressed in the Basic Law: Israel Is the Nation-State of the Jewish People, will henceforth be the guiding and determining values in shaping the policy of public administration, interior and foreign policy, legislation and action of the government and all its components and institutions, both at the phase of devising public policy as well as the phase of integrating and carrying out the same public policy, without diminishing the principles anchored in the Basic Laws.

The Zionist values that guide the Jewish State are also spelled out in relatively easy English:

“The State Of Israel will be open for Jewish immigration and for the Ingathering of the Exiles; it will foster the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; it will be based on freedom, justice, and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel; it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education, and culture; it will safeguard the Holy Places of all religions; and it will be faithful to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.”

Before he goes on another rant, Lapid obviously needs to read more carefully or get a pair of eye glasses.

Source:
Lapid Condemns as Racist Bill Saying Zionist Values Should Guide Legislation, by David Israel/Jewish Press, April 27, 2023

Likud Party minister May Golan will remain a part of the current Israeli government, her short-lived consideration for the role of consul general is over.

It appears that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu caved following criticism from left-wing American Jewish leaders and the State Department over Golan’s past remarks.

Among the candidates now being considered for the high-profile position of consul general in New York is prominent Israeli-American author, columnist, and talk show host, Caroline B. Glick.

We are pleased that Caroline Glick is under consideration for this prestigious position, considered Israel’s third-most senior diplomatic position in the United States after the ambassadors to Washington and the United Nations. Despite this, we are shaking our heads with tremendous disappointment to see the current government, once again, bow to outside criticism that dictates to the Jewish Nation State how it should run the internal business of its own sovereign country.

Sources:
Caroline Glick under consideration for New York consul post, by Etgar Lefkovits/JNS, April 24, 2023

Pushback against May Golan’s New York appointment was not universal, by Mike Wagenheim/JNS, April 24, 2023

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan read the names of Israeli victims of terrorism at a Security Council session. The Session criticized Israel before Erdan left the meeting in protest against the holding of the session on Israel’s Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and victims of hostilities.

“Today is one of the most sacred days of the year for the State of Israel,” Erdan told the Security Council members. “We made numerous requests to reschedule today’s debate, describing the deep importance of the day, yet tragically this council refused to budge.”
“Today’s debate has crossed all lines. While Israelis mourn, this council, as usual, will hear more blatant lies condemning the State of Israel and falsely painting it as the root of all the region’s problems.”

The UN’s despicable behavior should be of no surprise to anyone. Nothing better can be expected from this Israel hating organization known as the UN (Useless Nations).

Source:
Erdan reads names of terror victims, leaves Security Council session held on Memorial Day, by Israel National News, April 25, 2023

Israel’s Ministry of Transport and Road Safety announced this week that it has submitted an unprecedented 50 billion shekels budget proposal to the Ministry of Finance for the development and improvement of transportation over the next five years.

The goal is to improve transportation in Judea and Samaria that will enhance security in the face of constant terrorist threats, improve road safety and thus reduce traffic accidents and alleviate the traffic jams. The most significant budget allocation will be directed to widen Route 60, the main north-south highway traversing Judea and Samaria, in both the Binyamin and Gush Etzion regions.

We are pleased to see an important infrastructure plan to dramatically improve the quality of life for the residents, and others, who rely on this main artery to the Jewish towns in Samaria.

Source:
$960 million earmarked to improve transportation in Judea and Samaria, by Josh Hasten/JNS, April 20, 2023