Category: Articles

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

The defense ministry’s harassment of the Homesh Yeshiva continues as Minister Benny Gantz fights for his political future in the Knesset. Earlier this week an IDF bulldozer piled up dirt around the yeshiva’s parking lot overnight, blocking access to the lot. The bulldozer trapped several cars belonging to yeshiva staff and students.

The defense ministry also announced Wednesday that it began construction of a 45-kilometer, high tech security barrier in northern Samaria. Homesh, evacuated and cut off from Israel “proper” in 2005 on the whim of then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, will be on the wrong side of this wall. Millions will be invested in securing a largely isolated area of northern Samaria while holes in the security fence near major Israeli communities are big enough for thousands of illegal Arabs and their cars to get through.

The continued demoralizing treatment of Homesh is shameful. It pains us to admit that Israel’s biggest enemy in this case comes from within. We choose to remain positive and have our eye on a new coalition forming either soon or through new elections in September. We pray Israelis elect a prime minister who together with a new cabinet can treat Homesh properly – as the legally owned land under Israeli sovereignty that it is.

Sources:
Gantz’s Defense Ministry Invents New Ways to Torment Homesh Residents, by David Israel/Jewish Press, June 22, 2022

Israel begins building 28-mile long West Bank security barrier, by i24NEWS, June 22, 2022

A report released today by UN Watch reveals 20 new cases in which teachers employed by UNRWA incite violence and anti-Semitism on social media.

A computer teacher, Nihaya Awad, endorsed Hamas rocket attacks on Israeli civilians after last years’ “war.” Regarding Jews, Lebanon teacher Elham Mansour posted on Facebook that “By Allah, …Kill them and pursue them everywhere, they are the greatest enemy….All Israel deserves is death. Our greatest enemy is Israel, death and destruction to you…”

Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan said, “Not only has UNRWA not properly addressed the manifestations of anti-Semitism among its employees, but now we see that the phenomenon is only expanding and that more workers are openly calling for the murder of Jews while the UN and the organization are doing nothing. Can this agency fall any lower?”

This report exposes that there are more than “a few bad apples,” as UNRWA has claimed and proves that there is systemic anti-Semitism. The agency should be defunded! However, if funding is granted to UNRWA, what will be done to guarantee that the dollars are used for real education and no radicalization?

Sources:
New report reveals: UN teachers call for murder of Jews, by Israel National News, June 23, 2022

Amb. Erdan calls for freeze on UNRWA funding until teachers who call to murder Jews fired, by Israel National News, June 23, 2022

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Alternate Prime Minister Yair Lapid have decided to dissolve the current government and hold new elections. The decision was made after the two exhausted efforts to preserve the current coalition, which has seen numerous crises in recent months.

The two will submit a bill to this effect for approval by the Knesset next week. Yair Lapid will become prime minister during the transition period as per the coalition agreement.

Naftali Bennett will now go down in Israel’s history as the shortest tenured prime minister, to be topped of course by Lapid, assuming he doesn’t prevail in the forthcoming election. It is our fervent hope that the damage done by Bennett’s coalition will be fully reversed by a new government after the next set of elections. The Israeli people deserve better than what they’ve put up with in the last year.

Source:
Knesset dissolves: Lapid to become PM, by Gary Willig/Israel National News, June 20, 2022

This story appeared before today’s announcement that Israel’s current government will dissolve.

Israel’s Ministerial Committee for Legislation rejected a bill Sunday which would apply Israeli sovereignty over large swaths of Judea and Samaria.

The Religious Zionist Party blasted the committee’s decision in a statement Sunday afternoon. “A government with the Islamic Movement which relies on the Joint Arab List cannot even pass the Judea and Samaria Regulation Law – and now even shoves away the open hand the Opposition is offering.” Clearly, this government cannot remain in power. “The people of Israel deserve a Jewish, Zionist government, and we will establish one soon.”

Yes, the people of Israel do deserve a Jewish, Zionist government. Based on today’s breaking news that the government will dissolve, we pray we can look forward to a new government this Fall that will take the application of sovereignty over Judea and Samaria seriously and make it happen. It is the only legal and ethical thing to do.

Source:
Ministerial committee rejects bill to apply Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria, by Hezki Baruch/Israel National News, June 19, 2022