Category: Articles

News from Israel over the last few days leaves us to wonder if Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s government will actually survive or eventually collapse altogether.

Tal Gan-Zvi, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s chief of staff, will be stepping down soon. HIs request comes less than two weeks after another top adviser, Shimrit Meir, announced she would leave June 1. Gan-Zvi’s resignation is seen as a further sign of instability in the government.

Meretz Knesset Member Ghaida Rinawi-Zoabi has reversed course three days after her announcement that she was resigning from the government coalition. This brings the coalition back up to 60 seats in the Knesset and removes the threat of snap elections. With that said, we fear we will see Bennett continue his appeasement of Arabs more while continuing to ignore Israel’s defense and sovereignty.

On Sunday a court ruled that Jews do not commit a crime when they say Shema Yisrael and bow on the Temple Mount. Honenu, who petitioned the court on behalf of the three minors involved in this case, hailed the ruling as a victory in support of Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount. Attorney Nati Rom said he welcomed the court’s “clear statement” in support of Jewish prayer, noting that it was time that the police stopped their “racist treatment” of Jews who wanted to execute their right to freedom of worship at The Temple Mount. (Just today, two Jewish men were barred from praying at the Temple Mount. One was detained by police for bowing down there, a day after the court approved this activity.)

Bennett’s representatives announced the state would challenge the Temple Mount decision. This effectively does away with whatever remains of Bennett’s credibility with his national-religious voters. Could this be the final straw that brings down his coalition?

Sources:
Bennett’s chief of staff quits, in latest sign of discord in PM’s office, by Lazar Berman and Carrie Keller-Lynn/Times of Israel, May 23, 2022

Bennett’s Chief of Staff’s Resignation Marks Next Phase in Government’s Collapse, by David Israel/Jewish Press, May 23, 2022

Two Jews prevented from praying on Temple Mount, a day after court ruling, by TOI Staff, May 23, 2022

Meretz MK Backpedals on Resignation, Returns to Coalition, by Hana Levi Julian/Jewish Press, May 22, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

Defense Minister Benny Gantz stated that the Homesh Yeshiva must be demolished. This was just three days before the State is to submit its position on the status of the yeshiva to the Supreme Court.

“Homesh will be evacuated,” Gantz said …”This Disengagement Law requires this.” Foreign Minister Yair Lapid also called for Homesh Yeshiva’s demolition and stated, “there should be no illegal places.”

This Wednesday, a bill canceling the Disengagement is due to come up for a Knesset vote. With this in mind, ten MKs from the Land of Israel Lobby made their visit to Homesh yesterday. Ten Knesset members from the Land of Israel Lobby visited the community. The lobby is headed by MKs Orit Strook (Religious Zionism) and Yoav Kish (Likud) and was also accompanied by MK Idit Silman (Yamina), as well as Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan.

“We came here today – a large group of MKs who represent a majority of our lawmakers – in order to embrace and identify with the pioneers of the Homesh yeshiva, headed by Rabbi Elishama Cohen,” Dagan continued. “We are here to make a clear statement that the expulsion must be rectified. We are united in this demand, that the government take its hands off the Homesh yeshiva and that the community be rebuilt.”

Sources:
Gantz: Disengagement Law requires Homesh Yeshiva be demolished, by Israel National News, May 23, 2022

Land of Israel Lobby MKs in Homesh: ‘This govt has no mandate to expel the yeshiva’, by Israel National News, May 22, 2022

 

 

MK Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi (Meretz) penned a letter to Foreign Minister Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid) Thursday afternoon, informing him that she plans on leaving the coalition, and will not be serving as consul-general to Shanghai.

She called the past month “insufferable,” citing recent clashes between Palestinians and police on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and the death of an Al Jazeera reporter during a firefight between Palestinian gunmen and Israeli troops in Jenin. Zoabi stated that she cannot be a part of a government “…that in this shameful manner harasses the society I come from.”

We find her reasons for exiting the coalition a denial of truth and her need to save face. If Zoabi was really concerned for her people she would stay in the coalition and work to make things better. That is, of course, unless she is unable to face the truth about who is to blame for all the recent events that she cited.

Zoabi’s resignation from the coalition is the latest blow to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s government. With her departure, the Bennett government will have only 59 seats in the Knesset, giving the Opposition an absolute majority. The Opposition is slated to bring a bill dissolving the Knesset to a vote next Wednesday. Bennett’s government has only been in office less than a year.

We said that the collapse of this coalition was inevitable, although of course we realize that she may still vote with the coalition which further complicates matters. In any event, this ongoing political challenge leaves the country’s ability to move forward hanging in the balance. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Israeli people as they continue to work toward overcoming this tremendous political deadlock. If a new election must be held it is our hope that the right candidate wins this time. Someone who will not sell-out the country. Someone who can not only reverse the damage done by this coalition but finally brings about long-awaited progress toward applying Sovereignty throughout Judea and Samaria.

Sources:
Opposition celebrates as coalition becomes minority: ‘No right to exist’, by TOI Staff, May 19, 2022

Meretz rebel said to indicate she doesn’t plan to bring down government, by TOI Staff, May 19, 2022

 

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Tuesday welcomed a recent decision to expand Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria.

Bennett stated: “In the face of enemy violence, the Zionist answer has always been settlement, security, and immigration,” Bennett said. “Last week we approved here in Elkana, to my understanding, the largest volume of construction at once, since the establishment of the town. I have no doubt that this will be an answer for the younger generation.”

We agree with Bennett’s response and his words speak truth. However, his ongoing appeasement of the enemy is in direct conflict with his comments stated in Elkana. We miss the Naftali Bennett we once knew.

Source:
Bennett: Everyone is invited to this government, no one is excluded, by Israel National News, May 17, 2022

 

Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman paid a condolence visit to the family of Border Police officer Noam Raz in the town of Kida on Thursday.

Upon the conclusion of their visit to the Binyamin region, Pompeo said that “we will do everything we can to recognize the “settlements” and Israel’s sovereignty in Judea and Samaria, and to continue the moves we began in the previous administration. This special place is an integral part of the Jewish people living on their own land.”

Thank you Ambassador Friedman and Mr. Secretary Pompeo for your continued support of what we know will keep Israel Safe – sovereignty over Judea and Samaria.

Source:
Recognize Israel’s sovereignty in Judea and Samaria, by Israel National News, May 19, 2022

 

 

Defense Minister Benny Gantz (Blue and White) has warned that Jewish Israel may soon be limited to the center of the country only, Israel Hayom reported.

In a closed meeting with his party last week, Gantz read aloud a WhatsApp containing threats from unnamed Arab sources, warning that they would take over Israel. “Continue to curse, you have no chance against Allah. Slowly we are eating away at your country. We have land in the Negev that is the size of Gush Dan (central Israel -ed.), which is filled with tin shacks with little Bedouin children. This is Palestinian land, essentially, and the moment a single tractor comes – we will use the leftist organizations….to issue a cease and desist order. We will send children and youths to throw stones and barricade themselves at the scene until you run like mice from the area.”

Gantz responded to the WhatsApp with a warning that in light of what is happening on the ground, “The future of the country is in danger.” Yes, it is, especially when the coalition doesn’t stop their appeasement of Arab Islamists and continues to ignore the needs of Israeli citizens. How can the Israeli government accept this comment from Gantz – the defense minister? And at the same time they are entertaining King Abdullah’s demands regarding ceding control of the Temple Mount to the Wakf (Jordanian enforcers). Where is Bennett’s spine, where is the government’s spine?? What are we missing here?

Source:
Defense Min.: ‘Jewish Israel may be limited to the center of the country only’ ~Israel National News, May 16, 2022

 

For the first time since he took office as prime minister, Naftali Bennett will visit the Israeli community of Elkana. The PM has restricted his visits in Judea and Samaria to IDF bases. His visit on Tuesday in the north-western Samarian marks Elkana’s 45th anniversary.

Not everybody in Elkana is happy with the invite. More than 500 Israeli citizens (not necessarily Elkana residents) have already signed a petition calling on council head Assaf Minzer to cancel Bennett’s visit. “We see the very visit as a useless attempt to cynically exploit the residents of Elkana and gain political capital,” the petition reads, noting that the cynical stuff is taking place “while Mr. Bennett’s government violates the Jewish and Zionist values of the state on a daily basis.”

The petition by the Elkana residents and other Israeli citizens is a declaration of their disgust with Bennett’s leadership.

Source:
Samaria Settlement Rejects Bennett’s Visit on Its Anniversary, by David Israel/Jewish Press, May 16, 2022

 

Ahem…what? Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the Jewish people.*

Yes, it will need to come with an asterisk of sorts, according to the United Nations, but even that can be seen as a hard-fought win for Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan.

According to a diplomatic source, the United Nations has relented and will allow Israel to display an exhibit on Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, at the organization’s headquarters in New York. The UN had been conditioning its permissions on Israel agreeing to the removal of some content, including references to Jerusalem as the country’s capital. Erdan fought back, and instead, an agreement has been reached whereby all content within the display that was objected to will remain, and the Israeli mission will add a disclaimer noting the objections.

The exhibit titled “The Knesset Celebrates 70—Parliament Shaping Israeli Society,” marks the parliament’s 70th anniversary. The display will go up on May 19 in New York City.

While we are grateful to Ambassador Erdan for this small victory, a united Jerusalem does not come with conditions. Shame on the UN for its continued bias against Israel.

Source:
UN to allow display of Knesset, including references to Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, by Mike Wagenheim/JNS, May 13, 2022

 

 

 

Knesset members in Yamina and New Hope expressed discomfort on Thursday with the coalition’s cooperation with the Joint List to help the coalition defeat the Likud’s no-confidence motion on Monday. Coalition officials said more cooperation with the Joint List is on the way.

Showing signs of allegiance to Israel, the coalition has agreed to start passing some bills from the opposition. One that was advanced in a preliminary reading on Wednesday would prohibit spying for the Palestinian Authority’s security services.

The bill, initiated by former Shin Bet chief MK Avi Dichter (Likud), and based on information supplied by Ad Kan, led by Gilad Ach, seeks to ban contact between Israeli organizations and citizens, and security and intelligence agencies of foreign entities that are not states (it is already banned with states) including the PA and European Union. The bill passed with the support of the government by a vote of 23-2.

(Photo above L to R: Gilad Ach and MK Avi Dichter)

Source:
Coalition MKs upset about cooperating with Joint List in Knesset, by Gil Hoffman/Jerusalem Post, May 12, 2022

 

 

Earlier this week, former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attacked Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in the Knesset plenum over the conduct of his government during the current wave of terrorism.

Netanyahu said, “The government of weakness and fraud fails to provide security and peace. There is no deterrence – there is weakness. There is no strength – there is softness. There is no determination – there is lawlessness. Terrorist organizations must be severely harmed like they were under my leadership.”

While earlier reports indicated the end of Bennett’s leadership could happen sooner than we think, updated reports now tell a different story. The Likud party yesterday pulled its bill to dissolve the Knesset after Ra’am chief Mansour Abbas announced that his party will return to the coalition and fulfill its related obligations. With Ra’am’s four MKs, the coalition is back to a 60-60 seat parity with the Likud-led opposition, foiling the opposition’s bid to pass a preliminary reading on Wednesday of a bill to dissolve the Knesset and force elections. Had the opposition brought the measure and failed, it would have been unable to bring a similar bill to a vote again for six months.

Abbas has been meeting with King Abdullah of Jordan and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey. His only interest is the destruction of the Jewish State. Recent polls show that 75% of Israeli Arabs believe that Israel has no right to exist.

With the help of a terrorist party in the government that will give Bennett another chance, Bennett is once again dependent upon Arab support to keep him in place as prime minister. Although he is calling for the formation of a “National Guard”, Bennett is not fighting the string of terror threatening Israel and so the defense of the country is compromised. There is no strength and determination coming from him. Sadly, Bennett’s capability to lead Israel has proven a failure. It’s time for him to do the right thing and step down without delay. If Bennett does not do a complete turnaround, make good on his campaign promises and do what he was voted in to do, a new election will certainly be the path forward. From our viewpoint a collapse of this government at some point is inevitable.

Sources:
Netanyahu: Naftali, it’s over, by Israel National News, May 9, 2022

Report: Bennett preparing for new elections, by Israel National News, May 9, 2022

Likud pulls bill to dissolve Knesset after Ra’am gives coalition another chance, by Carrie-Keller Lynn/Times of Israel, May 11, 2022

Abbas Saves Bennett’s Hide: We’ll Give the Coalition Another Chance, by David Israel/Jewish Press, May 11, 2022