Category: Articles

The Knesset Arrangements Committee voted on Monday to waive the cooling-off period and expedite a bill that would make it easier to split the Likud Party.

Under the current law, one-third of the Knesset members in the faction are required to enable MKs to break off. The new bill, which was set to be brought to a preliminary reading in the plenum on Monday night, would change the law and require only four MKs.

The goal of the bill is to enable the coalition to recruit four of the 30 Likud MKs and no longer have to rely on the four Ra’am (United Arab List) MKs, who have given the coalition a hard time in passing the controversial family reunification bill.

“We believe that in a month’s time they will comprehend that they are stuck in the opposition and will prepare to join the coalition,” New Hope faction head Sharren Haskel said.

The family reunification bill was not brought to a vote because the coalition still lacks a majority. Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu offered the coalition support to pass a two-month extension of the current family reunification ordinance in return for the coalition backing the passage of a stronger immigration law. The coalition rejected the offer.

Source:
Coalition banks on defectors from Likud, by Gil Hoffman/Jerusalem Post, June 28, 2021

The Regavim Movement filed a petition in the High Court of Justice last week calling on it to use legislation against the Palestinian Authority’s “de facto annexation” in the Gush Etzion region. The PA is building a road in Area C, under full Israeli sovereignty as per the 1994 Oslo Accords, which connects the Arab villages of Batir and Husan.

Last week, Regavim submitted a second urgent alert to Minister of Defense Benny Gantz and to the IDF’s Civil Administration demanding immediate enforcement action against the PA’s strategic project in Gush Etzion. The two have yet to act.

The road, that the land on which the PA is laying the road, is of particular strategic importance because it constitutes the corridor connecting Gush Etzion to Jerusalem, and “is a vital strategic asset for Israeli control of the area,” said Eitan Melet, Regavim’s Field Coordinator for Judea and Samaria. Melet also documented the illegal work. He further stated, “The Batir road is one more attempt to dismantle Israeli sovereignty. The road work must be stopped – yesterday! – and we must prevent the creation of a Palestinian state right under our noses. Protection of Israeli state land and law enforcement against illegal construction, land-grabs and encroachment on our national resources must be at the very top of the list of priorities of every Israeli official.”

Source:
Watchdog Petitions High Court to act against PA’s ‘de facto Annexation’ in Gush Etzion Region, by Aryeh Savir/TPS, June 24, 2021

Justice Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Wednesday rolled out a major initiative to establish additional pillars in Israel’s quasi-constitution by finally regulating the separation of powers between the three branches of government.

Sa’ar announced that he would hold a first meeting of the Ministerial Committee on Basic Laws on Sunday to begin to map out the issues which would need to be addressed to delineate the balance of authorities between the Knesset and the Supreme Court.

“Arriving at a political agreement regarding a Basic Law on Legislation will be a very challenging goal, to put it mildly. That said, it is the greatest service we can do for Israeli democracy,” said Sa’ar.

Though Israel technically has no constitution, since the 1990s, the Knesset has passed a series of basic laws with quasi-constitutional status.

Unlike some parties on the Right that have wanted to pass a law to limit the Supreme Court’s powers, or some on the Left that have opposed reforms of any kind to the Supreme Court’s powers, Sa’ar favors spelling out limits for each branch of government.

The initiative Sa’ar wants to roll out is long overdue for Israel. By instituting limits for each government branch, Israel will have a stronger checks and balances system and a stronger enforcement against powers and responsibilities being abused. He faces a long road ahead; but done right this would be a boon to Israeli democracy.

Source:
Sa’ar rolls out push for separation of powers in Israel’s gov’t, by Yonah Jeremy Bob/Jerusalem Post, June 23, 2021

A total of 31 construction plans for projects in various phases in Judea and Samaria were approved on Wednesday by the Civil Administration under the Lapid-Bennett government, according to Ynet.

The subcommittee on settlements in the Civil Administration approved limited construction plans in the Jewish communities of Elkana, Mishor Adumim, Karnei Shomron, Kfar Adumim and Yitzhar.

Among the projects approved were a school for children with special needs in Elkana, a shopping mall in Mishor Adumim and yeshivas and synagogues in Karnei Shomron and Kfar Adumim. Construction of 31 housing units in Yitzhar was also approved.

In response to the government announcement, the Yesha Council (Council of Jewish Communities in Judea and Samaria) clarified Wednesday night that construction plans must be approved by the Higher Planning Council, and that hasn’t happened yet. The Yesha Council said in a statement quoted by Israel’s Channel 20 News, “What was approved today were not building plans.

“It is the Higher Planning Council that approves construction of housing units throughout the area. We have been waiting six months for approval of housing construction; we have waited long enough.”

This is a step in the right direction for Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s new government. Our question is: will this push the Higher Planning Council to give the long overdue green light for construction without exacting too high a price for their nod? We pray that it will work out.

Source:
Lapid-Bennett Government Approves Judea & Samaria Building Projects, by Hana Levi Julian/Jewish Press, June 23, 2021

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi that US President Joe Biden has a “commitment to ensuring that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon,” according to the White House.

Sullivan and Kohavi met in Washington on Wednesday alongside Israeli Ambassador to the US and UN Gilad Erdan and discussed “the challenges to security and stability in the Middle East, including the threat posed by Iran’s malign activities in the region,” the White House said in a statement.

Sullivan “reaffirmed President Biden’s unwavering support for Israel’s security and commitment to continuing to strengthen the defense partnership between the two countries.”

Nevertheless, Kohavi railed against the United States plan to rejoin the 2015 Iran nuclear deal during the meeting with Sullivan and other top American defense officials, according to the IDF.

Kohavi reiterated the “failures of the current nuclear deal” and attempted to convince the American officials of alternative methods of preventing Iran from obtaining an atomic weapon, the military said.

Something smells rotten to us. Biden’s words, to those who don’t understand the full scope of the problem, probably sound reassuring. We know better and his “commitment” is nothing more than an empty promise, especially when his goal of getting back into the Iran deal is still on the table. The two just don’t go together.

Source:
After Kohavi meeting, US reaffirms commitment to not let Iran get nukes, by TOI Staff and Judah Ari Gross/Times of Israel, June 24, 2021

In a massive push to highlight the dangers of a Palestinian seizure of state lands in Area C of Judea and Samaria, activists and community leaders are in the process of holding 14 simultaneous marches this afternoon.

Organizers called on supporters of the ‘settlement’ movement to “stop with their feet illegal Arab control,” explaining that the “war for state lands” had moved onto a new level.

Council heads from Kedumim, Beit El, Karnei Shomron, Kiryat Arba and Hebron also support the initiative.

“It is our duty to do everything legally possible to stop the savage Arab invasion of Area C to stifle Jewish settlement and establish facts on the ground,” the leaders said in a joint statement and called on their supporters to join the marches set for 4:30 p.m. “Together we will head out to explore the area, to occupy the space with our feet and demand that the authorities enforce the law in the area out of a deep belief that this land is ours.”

The marches took place in all regions of Judea and Samaria, including places with illegal Palestinian construction that have long been slated for destruction, such as Khan al-Ahmar. They also marched to Evyatar, the new Yishuv being built on Jewish owned land that was authorized by the Shomron Regional Council which controls the land.

Source:
Settlers ramp up battle for Area C, with 14 West Bank marches, by Tovah Lazaroff/Jerusalem Post, June 20, 2021

Central Command Chief General Tamir Yadai on Sunday rejected the criticism filed by Evyatar residents in Judea and Samaria regarding an order instructing them to evacuate. The criticism was submitted by the residents alongside a construction plan aimed at preventing evictions. This means that as of next week, security forces are expected to start evicting the residents and begin destroying 40 or so newly built homes.

Can Evyatar be saved? Will somebody above the General’s pay grade, say, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, order his defense minister, Benny Gantz, to halt the destruction? (Gantz has been quoted as saying he needs no-one’s permission to destroy the new Yishuv.) There’s also the appeal to the High Court of Justice the residents are preparing. They argue that since the area is being evaluated as part of the process of turning it into state-owned land and as such available for Jewish development, the IDF should wait for the results of the evaluation. What’s the hurry?

Newly sworn in Prime Minister Bennett certainly has challenging decisions ahead of him when it comes time to rule on the fate of Evyatar. The destruction of Evyatar should be canceled. Any other solution may only be short-term and not in Israel’s best long-term interest. Any decision made should be in keeping with the goal of Sovereignty in Judea and Samaria.

Source:
Another Fine Mess for Bennett: IDF Rejects Evyatar Settlers’ Plea, Clears Next Week’s Demolition, by David Israel/Jewish Press, June 21, 2021

Yesha leaders are urging Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to end the de facto freeze on large-scale building projects in Judea and Samaria maintained over the last few years.

In a letter to Bennett, David Elhayani, the chairman of the Yesha Council, noted that five months have passed since any new housing permits were issued for Israeli towns in Judea and Samaria.

“Mr. Prime Minister, the Higher Planning Committee has not convened in the last five months to advance or permit housing plans in Judea, Samaria, and the Jordan Valley,” Elhayani wrote. “We request that the residents of Judea, Samaria, and the Jordan Valley not suffer or be discriminated against in any matter regarding the advancement of plans. There are many housing plans which have been waiting a long time for approval. Therefore, the Higher Planning Committee should be convened as soon as possible to advance them.”

Yes, the status quo maintained over the years permitting construction should resume immediately. Any delays to expand housing in Judea and Samaria – legally owned Israeli land – only hurts the residents who live there and there’s no reason for them to hold them in limbo.

Source:
Settlement leaders urge Bennett to end building freeze, by Arutz Sheva, June 18, 2021

Firefighters battled four blazes in southern Israel Wednesday that were sparked by balloon-borne incendiary devices launched from the Gaza Strip. This terror activity has taken place for the second day in a row under the recent “ceasefire.”

The fires, all located in the Eshkol region, were small and posed no risk to nearby communities, the Fire and Rescue Services said in a statement.

The IDF struck Hamas military targets in Gaza after midnight on Wednesday in response to Tuesday’s arson attacks, which caused 26 fires in southern border towns.

The retaliatory airstrikes were the first since Naftali Bennett took over Sunday as premier. The Yamina chairman has long insisted that the IDF’s response to arson attacks should be the same as for rocket fire.

AFSI applauds Prime Minister Naftali Bennett for treating the balloon arson on the same level as rockets launched into Israel. Striking back at Hamas military targets defends Israel’s security and Sovereignty.

Source:
Incendiary balloons from Gaza spark fires in south for second day in a row, by Times of Israel Staff, June 16, 2021

The new coalition concluded the meeting of the Knesset Arrangement Committee without a vote on the law prohibiting the reunification of families of Israeli Arabs and Palestinian Authority residents.

The law is designed to prevent Arabs from entering into fictitious marriages for the purpose of freely entering Israel. The law was also passed with Israel’s security in mind.

The United Arab List (Ra’am) faction opposes the law and Meretz representatives have opposed it in the past. This is a law that has been extended for two decades with the support of all parties in the national camp.

The Likud and haredi factions currently intend to oppose the extension of the law. MK Miki Zohar from the Likud even sent a message to the Bennett-Lapid coalition that a bloc of Netanyahu supporters will vote in favor of extending the law if the coalition supports the regulation of the ‘young settlements.’

On Wednesday, Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked announced that she would be bringing the extension of the family reunification ban to a Knesset vote next Monday, even though it appears that the government will lack a majority to pass it. “I refuse to believe that the Opposition will damage the security of the State in the name of playing political games,” she wrote on Twitter. “I have no doubt that the head of the opposition will keep the promises he made as regards Israel’s security. There is no opposition and coalition in matters such as these – we’re all on the same page here.”

We pray the new coalition remains strong and remembers that Israel’s security and Sovereignty must remain a priority.

Sources:
Unity coalition’s first internal disagreement, by Arutz Sheva Staff, June 16, 2021

More coalition headaches – this time from Meretz, by Hezki Baruch/Arutz Sheva, June 17, 2021