Category: Articles

The Likud has threatened to put the country through a fourth round of elections. Israel could go through the voting process again if the High Court of Justice nixes even only parts of the unity coalition agreement following Monday’s hearings of petitions against the deal.

“This coalition agreement is very complex and moving any brick in the agreement can topple the entire structure and decree upon us unnecessary fourth elections in the midst of a health-economic crisis,” wrote Minister Ze’ev Elkin in a Facebook post.

Why the Israeli Supreme Court has the power to review and make decisions to override the Executive and Legislative branches of the Israeli government is an issue in itself. There is much debate on that issue and expert analysis can be found at: http://www.fundisrael.org/meshilut

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Likud: Fourth elections if Supreme Court nixes unity deal by Batya Jerenberg. World Israel News – May 4, 2020

We would like to see The Knesset hold an immediate preliminary reading of a private members bill filed by MK May Golan (Likud). The bill would allow for the application of Sovereignty over Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria,

Yesha Council head David Elhayani said on Sunday, “The bill can already be brought now for a preliminary reading” in the Knesset plenum. The bill will apply Sovereignty to Judea and Samaria and the Jordan Valley without recognition of a Palestinian state that would endanger the future of the state of Israel…”

“The bill was designed to remedy the existing situation and finally allow for historical justice. I have no doubt that there is a broad consensus in all parts of the [Knesset] that supports the legislation and the time has come to implement it,” MK Golan said.

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Settler leader: preliminary Knesset vote on annexation bill can happen now by Tovah Lazaroff. Jerusalem Post – May 4, 2020

Israel and the United States have long pushed for Germany to ban the Shiite terrorist group Hezbollah. Today at 6:00am, German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer announced a ban on Hezbollah, including its political wing. Germany now views their activities as violations of criminal law.

Germany was able to take this important action after receiving intelligence information from Israel.

Police in North Rhine-Westphalia, Bremen and Berlin began searches in mosques and residences tied to Hezbollah “due to their financial support and propaganda for the terrorist organization,” shortly after the ban was announced early this morning.

The ban was also put in place because Hezbollah is a terrorist group and “calls for the violent elimination of the State of Israel and questions the right of the State of Israel to exist.”

Americans For A Safe Israel applauds Germany’s significant decision to ban Hezbollah. The next step is for all of Europe and the larger international community, to ban Hezbollah and other like-minded organizations. When the truth about radical terrorist groups are realized and the correct actions are taken to stop them, it is only then that we can begin to look forward to a safer world and a safe Israel.

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Germany outlaws Hezbollah, raids mosques and local leaders’ homes by Lahav Harkov. Jerusalem Post – April 30, 2020

Germany received Israeli intel prior to Hezbollah decision by Mordechai Sones. Arutz Sheva – April 30, 2020

Srugim Hebrew news site reported that large police forces arrived in the Jewish community of Homesh in northern Samaria today and destroyed the local yeshiva on court orders. The yeshiva included a study hall and living quarters. The Homesh Yeshiva has operated for over 12 years, and was also used to house students.

Head of Samaria Regional Council, Yossi Dagan, strongly criticized the demolition, saying, “I don’t understand the urgency to destroy a yeshiva, certainly not residential buildings, especially at a time like this when everyone is shut up in their homes, and certainly nowhere near the same eagerness is shown when it comes to destroying illegal Arab housing in the exact same location. Something is wrong here and I urge Defense Minister Naftali Bennett to clear up this issue immediately. Last week security forces were only too happy to destroy buildings in four communities in Judea and Samaria…”

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Samaria Regional Council Head Yossi Dagan: ‘What’s the urgency to destroy a yeshiva?’ by Eitan Divinsky. Arutz Sheva – April 30, 2020

Tonight in Israel the entire country came to a standstill and bowed their heads to observe a moment of silence, as it has done every year to mark its most solemn occasion. Israelis remember the 23,816 fallen soldiers and heroes of the Jewish Nation State.

A siren sounded at 8:00 pm to mark the official start of Israel’s Memorial Day. This somber minute of silence was followed by an official ceremony at the Kotel, which was attended by President Reuven Rivlin and IDF chief of staff. The difference this year is that there wasn’t anyone in the audience.

But one thing remains the same and that is Israel’s resilience and right to exist as a Sovereign nation. It is only by sole exclusive Israeli rule – and only Israeli rule – between the Mediterranean sea and the Jordan River – that true security, peace and stability will remain stable and lasting for Israel.

As soon as Yom HaZikaron comes to a close on Tuesday evening, the celebration for Yom HaAtzmaut – Israel’s Independence Day, begins. The message of linking these two holidays is clear: Israelis owe their independence — the very existence of the state — to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for it.

Americans For A Safe Israel welcomes Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s statement Wednesday morning on Israel’s Sovereignty. Pompeo confirmed that Israel’s exercise of Sovereignty over the historic and lawful Jewish lands of Judea and Samaria is an Israeli decision.

“…We’’re glad there’s now a fully formed government in Israel. As for the annexation in the West Bank, the Israelis will ultimately make those decisions. That’s an Israeli decision…”

Israel undoubtedly has every legal right to exercise Sovereignty over Judea and Samaria (incorrectly referred to as the “West Bank”). The land of Judea and Samaria was guaranteed to the Jewish people for the sole purpose of the reestablishment of the Jewish homeland, under binding international law, including the San Remo resolution, the Mandate, the Anglo-American Convention, and the UN Charter.

There is no better time than NOW for Israel’s newly formed government to apply Sovereignty over Judea and Samaria.

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Pompeo holds press briefing at State Department, April 22, 2020. Fast forward to 20:01 on the video.

Pompeo: West Bank annexation ‘an Israeli decision’ by Lahav Harkov. Jerusalem Post – April 22, 2020

April 2020, the Jewish people will be commemorating the 100th anniversary of the San Remo Conference, convened in Italy from April 19 until April 26, 1920. This followed in the aftermath of the First World War.

San Remo dealt with the disposition of territories that until 1920 were a part of the Ottoman Empire, which had been defeated in the war. Formally, the Ottomans renounced their claim to sovereignty over these lands. Postwar treaties enabled the emergence of the system of Arab states and the emergence of a ”national home for the Jewish people.” The 1917 Balfour Declaration was in essence a declaration of British policy. But San Remo converted the Balfour Declaration into a binding international treaty, setting the stage for the League of Nations Mandate, which was approved in 1922. It has been noted that at San Remo, Jewish historic rights became Jewish legal rights.

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100 Years Since the San Remo Conference by Amb. Dore Gold. Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs – April 22, 2020

The coronavirus crisis is stirring anti-Semitism around the world, fueled by centuries-old lies that Jews are spreading infection, researchers in Israel said on Monday.

The findings, in the annual report on Anti-Semitism Worldwide by the Kantor Center at Tel Aviv University, showed an 18% rise in anti-Semitic incidents in 2019 over the previous year.

In the first few months of 2020, far-right politicians in the United States and Europe and ultra-conservative pastors have seized upon the health crisis and its resulting economic hardship to foster hatred against Jews, the researchers said.

Moshe Kantor, president of the European Jewish Congress, said, “Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant rise in accusations that Jews, as individuals and as a collective, are behind the spread of the virus or are directly profiting from it.”

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Coronavirus crisis stoking anti-Semitism worldwide: report by Reuters. April 20, 2020

Against what appeared all odds, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White Chairman Benny Gantz signed an agreement for a unity government. The breakthrough came late Monday shortly before the start of Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day.

The agreement brings to a close a political crisis that has lasted a year-and-a-half and has led to an unprecedented three consecutive elections in Israel.

Likud will receive the ministries of treasury, interior, transportation, housing, education, environmental protection, energy, Jerusalem affairs, and other smaller portfolios.

Ynet reports that Blue and White will receive the ministries for defense, justice, aliyah and integration, culture and sports, finance, economy, communications, agriculture, strategic affairs, tourism, social equality and diaspora affairs.

The foreign ministry will be split between Blue and White and Likud with each party running it for half the government’s term.

***Netanyahu appears to have won a victory on the matter of the Judicial Selections Committee, one of the key sticking points. The Likud will have a majority on that committee, which picks judges to the Supreme Court, Israel’s Channel 11 reports. Netanyahu will also have a veto over senior appointments.

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Deal reached: Gantz and Netanyahu sign unity agreement by David Isaac. World Israel News – April 20, 2020

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on Thursday informed Blue and White head Benny Gantz that his mandate to form a government would now pass to the Knesset. This comes as Gantz failed to present a government by the midnight Wednesday deadline. If after 21 days the Knesset cannot produce a candidate to form a government, it will automatically dissolve, triggering new elections.

The latest reports state that Rivlin has set August 4 as the date for an unthinkable round of fourth elections. As of Thursday night, negotiations between the two sides was deadlocked.

Rivlin’s office released a political timetable citing May 7 as the date by which an MK must be tasked by the Knesset with forming a government. May 8 is the date for informing the Knesset speaker as such, and August 4 as the date for the next election, allowing for a three month campaign.

We continue to await the results of negotiations between Netanyahu and Gantz and hope that it doesn’t come down to the need for a 4th election.

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After Gantz fails to meet deadline, Rivlin tasks Knesset with forming government ~JNS Brief. Jewish News Syndicate – April 16, 2020

Rivlin sets August 4 as date for fourth elections if unity govt not formed ~Jeremy Sharon. Jerusalem Post. April 17, 2020