18 may 2016
The Yisrael Beytenu leader, after meeting with the PM, has agreed to bring his party to the government and take the defense portfolio; negotiations are on track to conclude by Friday; Netanyahu informed Ya'alon in a phone call
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Wednesday afternoon with Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman to discuss adding his party to the governing coalition and even offered him the positions of Minister of Defense and Minister of Immigrant Absorption. Lieberman accepted the prime minister's offer to take the defense portfolio, and the two hope to finish negotiations to join the coalition by Friday morning.
If Yisrael Beytenu joins the coalition, the current minister of immigrant absorption, Ze'ev Elkin, is expected to receive the limited economy portfolio including just industry and trade.
Senior officials involved in the negotiations estimated, "This will be closed on within 24 hours. The chances that Lieberman will join (the coalition) are very high. It's nearly finished."
Netanyahu's Likud party announced officially following the meeting with Lieberman that "The meeting was straightforward, was run with a good attitude, and, at its conclusion, it was decided to establish negotiation teams. The prime minister is updating the leader of the opposition on the details."
Minister of Tourism Yariv Levin said following the meeting, "I welcome the positive progress in talks to add Yisrael Beytenu to the government. I'm convinced that we'll be able to reach mutual understandings and agreements on important agenda items."
Netanyahu also spoke with current Minister of Defense Moshe "Bogie" Ya'alon by telephone to inform him that his position had been offered to Lieberman.
Bayit Yehudi officials were quick to comment, "Bogie's going, and that's for the best. It's been a year of tremendous damage to the IDF. A year of abandoning soldiers, a year of terrible army culture. Bogie needs to go home, and he's going…Lieberman's entering (the coalition) will make the government the most right-wing government in history, and that's good. A full right-wing government could reach a full term."
"I've been hearing a lot of times in the media that we received one proposal or another," Lieberman said earlier in the day. "Supposedly there have been countless of mediators and emissaries, which I read in the papers have offered us the defense and immigration absorption ministries, pension reforms and the death sentence (to terrorists). In fact, we have not received any official proposal."
Lieberman was speaking after Channel 10 reported on Tuesday evening that Netanyahu had offered him the Defense Ministry several days ago, even before Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon's speech Sunday that led to a public rift between Ya'alon and the prime minister.
"We have no intention of whitewashing the Labor party's entry into the government," Lieberman stressed. "We're the true national camp. We have clear positions, primarily in the fields of security, immigration and absorption. If those issues are indeed on the table, and they're willing to talk to us—not just over the defense portfolio but also defense policy, death sentence, pension reforms—I don't see why not have these talks directly, instead of in the dead of night and through mediators and leaks to the press."
Lieberman said he knew he would not be able to receive all of his demands. "We have several demands, but we want to see the full package. It's clear to us we're not getting 100 percent, but I want to see the final mix," he said.
"Regarding the issues of religion and state - our positions are clear. It's clear to us that ultra-Orthodox parties are part of the coalition. We're talking about being reasonable, have good will if such exists. We've been in a coalition with Haredim before," Lieberman added.
A former commander of Sayeret Matkal, MK Omer Bar-Lev (Zionist Union) commented on the Netanyahu–Lieberman meeting, "The picture is becoming clearer, and the extent of the disaster is being exposed. Ousting Ya'alon from the Ministry of Defense is ousting the last defender of the IDF."
Earlier, Leader of the Opposition Isaac Herzog stated that he would not hold coalition negotiations with Netanyahu while Lieberman was holding parallel talks.
Meanwhile MK Shelly Yachimovich, the former leader of the Labor party, harshly criticized Herzog, saying he was "a willing hero of a disgraceful display that brings shame on the Labor party. As expected, he is licking the boot that kicked him. The entire Labor party, its excellent MKs and all of those who believe in its values have suffered a serious blow under his leadership."
She went on to say that "Netanyahu's meeting with Lieberman will also come to naught. This farce should be ended immediately. Oh, the shame."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Wednesday afternoon with Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman to discuss adding his party to the governing coalition and even offered him the positions of Minister of Defense and Minister of Immigrant Absorption. Lieberman accepted the prime minister's offer to take the defense portfolio, and the two hope to finish negotiations to join the coalition by Friday morning.
If Yisrael Beytenu joins the coalition, the current minister of immigrant absorption, Ze'ev Elkin, is expected to receive the limited economy portfolio including just industry and trade.
Senior officials involved in the negotiations estimated, "This will be closed on within 24 hours. The chances that Lieberman will join (the coalition) are very high. It's nearly finished."
Netanyahu's Likud party announced officially following the meeting with Lieberman that "The meeting was straightforward, was run with a good attitude, and, at its conclusion, it was decided to establish negotiation teams. The prime minister is updating the leader of the opposition on the details."
Minister of Tourism Yariv Levin said following the meeting, "I welcome the positive progress in talks to add Yisrael Beytenu to the government. I'm convinced that we'll be able to reach mutual understandings and agreements on important agenda items."
Netanyahu also spoke with current Minister of Defense Moshe "Bogie" Ya'alon by telephone to inform him that his position had been offered to Lieberman.
Bayit Yehudi officials were quick to comment, "Bogie's going, and that's for the best. It's been a year of tremendous damage to the IDF. A year of abandoning soldiers, a year of terrible army culture. Bogie needs to go home, and he's going…Lieberman's entering (the coalition) will make the government the most right-wing government in history, and that's good. A full right-wing government could reach a full term."
"I've been hearing a lot of times in the media that we received one proposal or another," Lieberman said earlier in the day. "Supposedly there have been countless of mediators and emissaries, which I read in the papers have offered us the defense and immigration absorption ministries, pension reforms and the death sentence (to terrorists). In fact, we have not received any official proposal."
Lieberman was speaking after Channel 10 reported on Tuesday evening that Netanyahu had offered him the Defense Ministry several days ago, even before Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon's speech Sunday that led to a public rift between Ya'alon and the prime minister.
"We have no intention of whitewashing the Labor party's entry into the government," Lieberman stressed. "We're the true national camp. We have clear positions, primarily in the fields of security, immigration and absorption. If those issues are indeed on the table, and they're willing to talk to us—not just over the defense portfolio but also defense policy, death sentence, pension reforms—I don't see why not have these talks directly, instead of in the dead of night and through mediators and leaks to the press."
Lieberman said he knew he would not be able to receive all of his demands. "We have several demands, but we want to see the full package. It's clear to us we're not getting 100 percent, but I want to see the final mix," he said.
"Regarding the issues of religion and state - our positions are clear. It's clear to us that ultra-Orthodox parties are part of the coalition. We're talking about being reasonable, have good will if such exists. We've been in a coalition with Haredim before," Lieberman added.
A former commander of Sayeret Matkal, MK Omer Bar-Lev (Zionist Union) commented on the Netanyahu–Lieberman meeting, "The picture is becoming clearer, and the extent of the disaster is being exposed. Ousting Ya'alon from the Ministry of Defense is ousting the last defender of the IDF."
Earlier, Leader of the Opposition Isaac Herzog stated that he would not hold coalition negotiations with Netanyahu while Lieberman was holding parallel talks.
Meanwhile MK Shelly Yachimovich, the former leader of the Labor party, harshly criticized Herzog, saying he was "a willing hero of a disgraceful display that brings shame on the Labor party. As expected, he is licking the boot that kicked him. The entire Labor party, its excellent MKs and all of those who believe in its values have suffered a serious blow under his leadership."
She went on to say that "Netanyahu's meeting with Lieberman will also come to naught. This farce should be ended immediately. Oh, the shame."
Herzog
After Prime Minister Netanyahu sets meeting with Yisrael Beytenu leader Lieberman to discuss joining gov't, opposition leader holds press conference to declare 'I don't work based on Lieberman's agenda and whims.'
Opposition leader Isaac Herzog (Labor) announced Wednesday that he would not continue talks to form a unity government while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also negotiating with Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman.
"I don't work based on Lieberman's agenda and his whims, but according to my truth," Herzog said. "Just like in the past I was not swayed by threats and abuse, the same applies here."
Herzog convened a press conference on Wednesday afternoon after Lieberman convened his own press conference, which resulted in Netanyahu calling the Yisrael Beytenu leader and inviting him for a meeting to discuss joining the government.
The Labor party leader stressed that "now, more than ever, the choice is between Lieberman in the Defense Ministry or us in the Defense Ministry; between madness and sanity; between diplomatic and economic isolation and prosperity."
He went on to declare that "history will be the judge of this moment."
Sources close to the prime minister stated that "the talks with Lieberman are not closing the door on the Labor party. The prime minister is interested in continuing the talks with the Labor party in order to create a government as broad as possible."
Herzog is facing fierce opposition from some of Labor's senior members over his intentions to join Netanyahu's government, with some in the party talking about an inevitable split within the party.
Labor officials claimed on Tuesday that Herzog had already finalized with Netanyahu most of the details over joining the coalition and
is now working to get the party's members on board.
These officials said that Herzog—along with allies MK Eitan Cabel and Histadrut Labor Federation chairman Avi Nissenkorn—have already begun preparing the groundwork on Monday. Herzog is planning a blitz of phone calls to thousands of party members to convince them to support the agreement he has reached with Netanyahu, which will likely be presented next week.
Other senior officials in the Labor party spoke at the press conference, including Nissenkorn, who said he no longer sees a point in the talks to join the government.
According to Nissenkorn, who was the force behind Herzog's attempt to join the government, "I've supported and still support the possibility of having a true unity government for the good of the country. A government that would advance a diplomatic process, safeguard the rule of law, stop the incitement that is currently prevalent, and narrow social gaps. The current negotiations are not leading towards that. At this time, I don't see a point in continuing the negotiations."
Meanwhile MK Shelly Yachimovich, the former leader of the Labor party, harshly criticized Herzog, saying he was "a willing hero of a disgraceful display that brings shame on the Labor party. As expected, he is licking the boot that kicked him. The entire Labor party, its excellent MKs and all of those who believe in its values have suffered a serious blow under his leadership."
She went on to say that "Netanyahu's meeting with Lieberman will also come to naught. This farce should be ended immediately. Oh, the shame."
After Prime Minister Netanyahu sets meeting with Yisrael Beytenu leader Lieberman to discuss joining gov't, opposition leader holds press conference to declare 'I don't work based on Lieberman's agenda and whims.'
Opposition leader Isaac Herzog (Labor) announced Wednesday that he would not continue talks to form a unity government while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also negotiating with Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman.
"I don't work based on Lieberman's agenda and his whims, but according to my truth," Herzog said. "Just like in the past I was not swayed by threats and abuse, the same applies here."
Herzog convened a press conference on Wednesday afternoon after Lieberman convened his own press conference, which resulted in Netanyahu calling the Yisrael Beytenu leader and inviting him for a meeting to discuss joining the government.
The Labor party leader stressed that "now, more than ever, the choice is between Lieberman in the Defense Ministry or us in the Defense Ministry; between madness and sanity; between diplomatic and economic isolation and prosperity."
He went on to declare that "history will be the judge of this moment."
Sources close to the prime minister stated that "the talks with Lieberman are not closing the door on the Labor party. The prime minister is interested in continuing the talks with the Labor party in order to create a government as broad as possible."
Herzog is facing fierce opposition from some of Labor's senior members over his intentions to join Netanyahu's government, with some in the party talking about an inevitable split within the party.
Labor officials claimed on Tuesday that Herzog had already finalized with Netanyahu most of the details over joining the coalition and
is now working to get the party's members on board.
These officials said that Herzog—along with allies MK Eitan Cabel and Histadrut Labor Federation chairman Avi Nissenkorn—have already begun preparing the groundwork on Monday. Herzog is planning a blitz of phone calls to thousands of party members to convince them to support the agreement he has reached with Netanyahu, which will likely be presented next week.
Other senior officials in the Labor party spoke at the press conference, including Nissenkorn, who said he no longer sees a point in the talks to join the government.
According to Nissenkorn, who was the force behind Herzog's attempt to join the government, "I've supported and still support the possibility of having a true unity government for the good of the country. A government that would advance a diplomatic process, safeguard the rule of law, stop the incitement that is currently prevalent, and narrow social gaps. The current negotiations are not leading towards that. At this time, I don't see a point in continuing the negotiations."
Meanwhile MK Shelly Yachimovich, the former leader of the Labor party, harshly criticized Herzog, saying he was "a willing hero of a disgraceful display that brings shame on the Labor party. As expected, he is licking the boot that kicked him. The entire Labor party, its excellent MKs and all of those who believe in its values have suffered a serious blow under his leadership."
She went on to say that "Netanyahu's meeting with Lieberman will also come to naught. This farce should be ended immediately. Oh, the shame."
Yisrael Beytenu leader says talks should focus on defense policy, death sentence to terrorists, immigration and pension reforms among others; Minister Ze'ev Elkin calls on the PM to bring Lieberman into the fold over Labor's Herzog.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday called Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman and invited him to a meeting after the latter declared at a press conference that, despite media reports, his party had not received any official, concrete offers to join the government.
The prime minister, whose narrow coalition only has a one-vote majority in the Knesset, is currently in talks with opposition leader Isaac Herzog (Labor) over joining a unity government, a contentious move within his party. Lieberman has also recently been rumored to be in talks to join the government, after initial talks he had with the ruling Likud party to join the new government immediately following the March 2015 elections fell through, leaving the once-ally of Netanyahu in the opposition.
At the press conference on Wednesday, Lieberman stated that "if the central issues we discussed are addressed, then we definitely have what to talk about."
"I've been hearing a lot of times in the media that we received one proposal or another," Lieberman said. "Supposedly there have been countless of mediators and emissaries, which I read in the papers have offered us the defense and immigration absorption ministries, pension reforms and the death sentence (to terrorists). In fact, we have not received any official proposal."
Lieberman decided to convene the press conference after Channel 10 reported on Tuesday evening that Netanyahu had offered him the Defense Ministry several days ago, even before Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon's speech Sunday that led to a public rift between Ya'alon and the prime minister.
"We have no intention of whitewashing the Labor party's entry into the government," Lieberman stressed. "We're the true national camp. We have clear positions, primarily in the fields of security, immigration and absorption. If those issues are indeed on the table, and they're willing to talk to us—not just over the defense portfolio but also defense policy, death sentence, pension reforms—I don't see why not have these talks directly, instead of in the dead of night and through mediators and leaks to the press."
Lieberman said he knew he would not be able to receive all of his demands. "We have several demands, but we want to see the full package. It's clear to us we're not getting 100 percent, but I want to see the final mix," he said.
"Regarding the issues of religion and state - our positions are clear. It's clear to us that ultra-Orthodox parties are part of the coalition. We're talking about being reasonable, have good will if such exists. We've been in a coalition with Haredim before," Lieberman added.
Immigration Absorption Minister Ze'ev Elkin of the Likud party called on the prime minister "to seriously examine the option of expanding the government in expeditious negotiations with Yisrael Beytenu. It's better to build a stable national camp government, in accordance with our promise to the voters, than to head into a false unity government, which will not be stable and hurt the Likud, the national camp, and in general, the public's trust in the political system."
Officials in the Likud party accused Lieberman on Tuesday of trying to sabotage efforts to expand the government. "Prime Minister Netanyahu has called on Lieberman to join the government," one official said. "The prime minister believes a broad government could better handle the security, diplomatic and economic challenges (Israel faces). Lieberman has yet to respond to the proposal and with that continues to prevent the expansion of the national government headed by the Likud party."
Sources close to Lieberman slammed these comments, saying "the briefings (to the press) coming out of the Prime Minister's Office are simply another spin, one of many we've seen in recent days."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday called Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman and invited him to a meeting after the latter declared at a press conference that, despite media reports, his party had not received any official, concrete offers to join the government.
The prime minister, whose narrow coalition only has a one-vote majority in the Knesset, is currently in talks with opposition leader Isaac Herzog (Labor) over joining a unity government, a contentious move within his party. Lieberman has also recently been rumored to be in talks to join the government, after initial talks he had with the ruling Likud party to join the new government immediately following the March 2015 elections fell through, leaving the once-ally of Netanyahu in the opposition.
At the press conference on Wednesday, Lieberman stated that "if the central issues we discussed are addressed, then we definitely have what to talk about."
"I've been hearing a lot of times in the media that we received one proposal or another," Lieberman said. "Supposedly there have been countless of mediators and emissaries, which I read in the papers have offered us the defense and immigration absorption ministries, pension reforms and the death sentence (to terrorists). In fact, we have not received any official proposal."
Lieberman decided to convene the press conference after Channel 10 reported on Tuesday evening that Netanyahu had offered him the Defense Ministry several days ago, even before Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon's speech Sunday that led to a public rift between Ya'alon and the prime minister.
"We have no intention of whitewashing the Labor party's entry into the government," Lieberman stressed. "We're the true national camp. We have clear positions, primarily in the fields of security, immigration and absorption. If those issues are indeed on the table, and they're willing to talk to us—not just over the defense portfolio but also defense policy, death sentence, pension reforms—I don't see why not have these talks directly, instead of in the dead of night and through mediators and leaks to the press."
Lieberman said he knew he would not be able to receive all of his demands. "We have several demands, but we want to see the full package. It's clear to us we're not getting 100 percent, but I want to see the final mix," he said.
"Regarding the issues of religion and state - our positions are clear. It's clear to us that ultra-Orthodox parties are part of the coalition. We're talking about being reasonable, have good will if such exists. We've been in a coalition with Haredim before," Lieberman added.
Immigration Absorption Minister Ze'ev Elkin of the Likud party called on the prime minister "to seriously examine the option of expanding the government in expeditious negotiations with Yisrael Beytenu. It's better to build a stable national camp government, in accordance with our promise to the voters, than to head into a false unity government, which will not be stable and hurt the Likud, the national camp, and in general, the public's trust in the political system."
Officials in the Likud party accused Lieberman on Tuesday of trying to sabotage efforts to expand the government. "Prime Minister Netanyahu has called on Lieberman to join the government," one official said. "The prime minister believes a broad government could better handle the security, diplomatic and economic challenges (Israel faces). Lieberman has yet to respond to the proposal and with that continues to prevent the expansion of the national government headed by the Likud party."
Sources close to Lieberman slammed these comments, saying "the briefings (to the press) coming out of the Prime Minister's Office are simply another spin, one of many we've seen in recent days."
15 may 2016
Benjamin Netanyahu ended his #AskNetanyahu twitter campaign promising the people on the other side to be there “same time tomorrow”. Well, there was not another time the other day. And that tells a lot about his failed public relation stunt.
Critics and commentators have long said that the Palestinian people have valiantly managed to win the social media battle against Israel. And it is a well-deserved win.
Unlike mainstream media, MSM, social media is free, open and available. Dictators, war criminals and occupiers try their best to occupy a place in this open platform, but they are always bombarded, chased and exposed, just like they bomb and hunt down the innocent.
People Ask
When Netanyahu’s office announced a Q&A session over twitter promising a chat with Netanyahu himself, the free people around the world have risen to the challenge.
The questions were hard hitting and reflective of a growing awareness of the horrible situation in occupied Palestine. #AskNetanyahu was rained by thousands of tweets from Palestinian and pro-Palestinian activists who posted anti-occupation questions, videos, and pictures that show the real face of Israel.
Perusing the hashtag, rarely do you find a tweet supportive of Israel amidst the avalanche of anti-occupation tweets.
Tweets included:
Palestine Info Center @palinfoen Settlements are illegal according to almost all int'l. Why do you insist on building more?
#AskNetanyahu Raniak Khalek(Journalist): @RaniaKhalek Dear @IsraeliPM : Are you still confused about who did the Holocaust?
#AskNetanyahu Refaatesque @ThisIsGaZa How many Palestinian kids did it take you to kill to win the Israeli votes?
#Asknetanyahu @netanyahu Mehdi Hasan (prsenter on al Janzeera) @mehdirhasan On the subject of invites, when can come the Palestinian refugees come home pls?
#AskNetanyahu Yousef M. Aljamal @YousefAljamal How would the future of these Israeli children being militarized from young age look like?
#AskNetanyahu Daniel Wickham (writer and activist) @DanielWickham93 Why did Israeli soldiers, in their own words, "shoot at random civilian targets, just for fun", during the 2014 Gaza war?
#AskNetanyahu Abbs Winston @AbbsWinston PR Disaster: Netanyahu Twitter campaign #AskNetanyahu backfires. @MaxBlumenthal talks to RT News Joe Catron (activist and journalist) @jncatron Does it bother you that history will remember you as a racist, war criminal and mass murderer?
#AskNetanyahu Elizabeth Tsurkov@Elizrael #AskNetanyahu Why do Israeli soldiers fire at fishermen & farmers in Gaza's waters & buffer zone although they pose no danger to Israel?
Netanyahu Answers
So what happened when the time came for Netanyahu to answer the questions? First, he started 6 minutes late. And that indicates three important things: the guys around Netanyahu have realized the campaign was a failure. And it also tells of the fact that they could not find “proper” questions to answer.
That is supported by the fact that Netanyahu answered only 45 questions in two whole hours!
The third thing, which I am certain of, is that there must have been mayhem among the people running this most failed campaign.
In his answers, Netanyahu tried desperately to be funny which fell flat against the dozens of replies and amidst the pictures and videos of dead or injured Palestinians Netanyahu personally is responsible for.
What they said about #AskNetanyahu In my opinion, the Q&A was a horrible idea that made Netanyahu look typically like a pro-Israel troll who repeats lies that have been exposed once and again by activists and human rights organizations.
Max Blumenthal, renowned anti-occupation writer and journalist, described the campaign as “a PR disaster”. Danial Wickham commented on Netanyahu’s answer to his question of why Israel kills kids saying Netanyahu sounded like a typical internet troll, “The Prime Minister of Israel has become a Zionist Twitter troll.”.
Salon.com traced the failure of the campaign to the fact that Netanyahu’s illegal construction of settlements and his war crimes and human rights violation against the Palestinian people especially in Gaza.
#AskNetanyahu ushers new era
The days when Israel dictates what people know and what they should believe has long gone. Israel’s well-manufactured lies about itself, the occupation and the Palestinian people have easily been expelled by social media users around the world. And #AskNetanyahu is one more example that proves Israel has dug itself a huge whole.
And instead of stopping digging, like what smart people do, Israel finds pleasure in digging deeper and deeper. Because of Israeli non-stop war crimes against non-Jews, and thanks to social media and BDS activism, more and more people nowadays see Israel for what it is: a racist imperial enterprise.
Even in the United States, Israel’s number one supporter and provider, a new poll has shown that the young people are moving away from Israel, meaning they no longer believe the lie that Israel is a beacon of hope and the only democracy in the region.
Critics and commentators have long said that the Palestinian people have valiantly managed to win the social media battle against Israel. And it is a well-deserved win.
Unlike mainstream media, MSM, social media is free, open and available. Dictators, war criminals and occupiers try their best to occupy a place in this open platform, but they are always bombarded, chased and exposed, just like they bomb and hunt down the innocent.
People Ask
When Netanyahu’s office announced a Q&A session over twitter promising a chat with Netanyahu himself, the free people around the world have risen to the challenge.
The questions were hard hitting and reflective of a growing awareness of the horrible situation in occupied Palestine. #AskNetanyahu was rained by thousands of tweets from Palestinian and pro-Palestinian activists who posted anti-occupation questions, videos, and pictures that show the real face of Israel.
Perusing the hashtag, rarely do you find a tweet supportive of Israel amidst the avalanche of anti-occupation tweets.
Tweets included:
Palestine Info Center @palinfoen Settlements are illegal according to almost all int'l. Why do you insist on building more?
#AskNetanyahu Raniak Khalek(Journalist): @RaniaKhalek Dear @IsraeliPM : Are you still confused about who did the Holocaust?
#AskNetanyahu Refaatesque @ThisIsGaZa How many Palestinian kids did it take you to kill to win the Israeli votes?
#Asknetanyahu @netanyahu Mehdi Hasan (prsenter on al Janzeera) @mehdirhasan On the subject of invites, when can come the Palestinian refugees come home pls?
#AskNetanyahu Yousef M. Aljamal @YousefAljamal How would the future of these Israeli children being militarized from young age look like?
#AskNetanyahu Daniel Wickham (writer and activist) @DanielWickham93 Why did Israeli soldiers, in their own words, "shoot at random civilian targets, just for fun", during the 2014 Gaza war?
#AskNetanyahu Abbs Winston @AbbsWinston PR Disaster: Netanyahu Twitter campaign #AskNetanyahu backfires. @MaxBlumenthal talks to RT News Joe Catron (activist and journalist) @jncatron Does it bother you that history will remember you as a racist, war criminal and mass murderer?
#AskNetanyahu Elizabeth Tsurkov@Elizrael #AskNetanyahu Why do Israeli soldiers fire at fishermen & farmers in Gaza's waters & buffer zone although they pose no danger to Israel?
Netanyahu Answers
So what happened when the time came for Netanyahu to answer the questions? First, he started 6 minutes late. And that indicates three important things: the guys around Netanyahu have realized the campaign was a failure. And it also tells of the fact that they could not find “proper” questions to answer.
That is supported by the fact that Netanyahu answered only 45 questions in two whole hours!
The third thing, which I am certain of, is that there must have been mayhem among the people running this most failed campaign.
In his answers, Netanyahu tried desperately to be funny which fell flat against the dozens of replies and amidst the pictures and videos of dead or injured Palestinians Netanyahu personally is responsible for.
What they said about #AskNetanyahu In my opinion, the Q&A was a horrible idea that made Netanyahu look typically like a pro-Israel troll who repeats lies that have been exposed once and again by activists and human rights organizations.
Max Blumenthal, renowned anti-occupation writer and journalist, described the campaign as “a PR disaster”. Danial Wickham commented on Netanyahu’s answer to his question of why Israel kills kids saying Netanyahu sounded like a typical internet troll, “The Prime Minister of Israel has become a Zionist Twitter troll.”.
Salon.com traced the failure of the campaign to the fact that Netanyahu’s illegal construction of settlements and his war crimes and human rights violation against the Palestinian people especially in Gaza.
#AskNetanyahu ushers new era
The days when Israel dictates what people know and what they should believe has long gone. Israel’s well-manufactured lies about itself, the occupation and the Palestinian people have easily been expelled by social media users around the world. And #AskNetanyahu is one more example that proves Israel has dug itself a huge whole.
And instead of stopping digging, like what smart people do, Israel finds pleasure in digging deeper and deeper. Because of Israeli non-stop war crimes against non-Jews, and thanks to social media and BDS activism, more and more people nowadays see Israel for what it is: a racist imperial enterprise.
Even in the United States, Israel’s number one supporter and provider, a new poll has shown that the young people are moving away from Israel, meaning they no longer believe the lie that Israel is a beacon of hope and the only democracy in the region.
12 may 2016
Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) claimed Wednesday evening that an Israeli undercover unit arrested a number of local residents in Hizma town, northeast of occupied Jerusalem, for being involved in Tuesday’s explosion, in which two soldiers and a settler were injured.
The arrested suspects were sent for investigation by the Shin Bet.
Two Israeli soldiers and a settler were injured Tuesday evening in an explosion near Hizma checkpoint, north of occupied Jerusalem. One of the injured soldiers was reportedly seriously wounded in the blast.
Following the explosion, Israeli occupation forces imposed a tight closure on the town, and erected dozens of make-shift checkpoints at its entrances.
The arrested suspects were sent for investigation by the Shin Bet.
Two Israeli soldiers and a settler were injured Tuesday evening in an explosion near Hizma checkpoint, north of occupied Jerusalem. One of the injured soldiers was reportedly seriously wounded in the blast.
Following the explosion, Israeli occupation forces imposed a tight closure on the town, and erected dozens of make-shift checkpoints at its entrances.
10 may 2016
Two Israeli soldiers and a settler were injured Tuesday evening in an explosion near Hizma checkpoint north of occupied Jerusalem.
One of the injured soldiers was reportedly seriously wounded in the blast that occurred at the entrance to Hizma town, and was evacuated to Hadassah University Hospital for emergency medical treatment.
The second soldier was treated at the scene, while the settler calmed down after suffering from shock during the explosion.
A search campaign was carried out in the area following the explosion.
One of the injured soldiers was reportedly seriously wounded in the blast that occurred at the entrance to Hizma town, and was evacuated to Hadassah University Hospital for emergency medical treatment.
The second soldier was treated at the scene, while the settler calmed down after suffering from shock during the explosion.
A search campaign was carried out in the area following the explosion.
8 may 2016
Activists intend to petition Supreme Court to release key documents on Yemenite Children affair, which may prove that thousands of babies were kidnapped after state's founding
The Yemenite Children affair has resurfaced once again in the public debate following the Achim Vekayamim organization’s stated intention to renew efforts to discover the truth behind one of the cases, which has caused a storm in Israel for decades.
The governmental investigative committee on the mysterious disappearance of Yemeni children classified documents and materials about the case that were classified in 2001. Achim Vekayamim, which comprises dozens of Yemenite family members who were either allegedly kidnapped (or parents of those allegedly kidnapped), announced its intention to petition the Supreme Court to provide access to these files.
The Yemenite Children affair raised much suspicion in Israel after hundreds of babies and toddlers belonging to Yemenite immigrants to the newly founded state between 1948 and 1954 were said to be kidnapped and sold to Ashkenazi families.
The parents were reportedly informed that their children had died in the hospital. However, some of the children later sought to track their biological families and discovered DNA matches. Suspicions were further vindicated when parents received military draft orders when their “deceased” children would have reached 18 years old—an indication that they were still, in fact, recorded as alive.
The case shifted back into public scrutiny when families began protesting the state's decision to classify the material reviewed by the investigative committee for 70 years (until 2071), which was announced yesterday on Channel 2. Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked announced Saturday that she would again assess the material and make a decision thereafter.
Journalist Yael Tzadok, who began investigating the case in 1994, and who is also an activist for the victims, said that the state has been “hiding the kidnapping case for almost 60 years. (The affair) already began in the 1950s. We know about governmental letters which were passed between the Health Ministry and the police that were stamped ‘top secret.’ They knew this and hid it.”
“Also during the Knesset meetings in which the subject was raised,” Tzadok continued, “and clearly from the minutes, it is clear that many public figures knew the children had disappeared, were kidnapped, and even sold. A catalogue with 20,000 names of Yemenite children containing details about them also disappeared. The state needs to remove the classification orders from the documents and to finally tell the truth to the families who were victims of kidnappings and also to the entire public. They can’t lie to everyone forever.”
The activists contend that the state’s decision to classify the evidence, the documents, the inutes and the investigative material is without precedent. “Obviously it raises suspicion that we are talking about a more serious case than we can imagine,” Tzadok said. “This is a committee that pretended that it was going to investigate and to expose the truth. Yet what was discovered was the systematic destruction of evidence and witnesses are afraid to talk about about the classification of the documents."
The organization’s lawyer, Yael Neger, who is providing the activists with pro bono legal service, says that she has personal experience in the affair. “They also tried to kidnap my father. They forcefully took him from my grandmother's hands, but this attempt did not succeed,” explained Neger. She further threatened that if the state refused to declassify the relevant documentation, more than 100 families would petition the Supreme Court against the decision.
The Yemenite Children affair has resurfaced once again in the public debate following the Achim Vekayamim organization’s stated intention to renew efforts to discover the truth behind one of the cases, which has caused a storm in Israel for decades.
The governmental investigative committee on the mysterious disappearance of Yemeni children classified documents and materials about the case that were classified in 2001. Achim Vekayamim, which comprises dozens of Yemenite family members who were either allegedly kidnapped (or parents of those allegedly kidnapped), announced its intention to petition the Supreme Court to provide access to these files.
The Yemenite Children affair raised much suspicion in Israel after hundreds of babies and toddlers belonging to Yemenite immigrants to the newly founded state between 1948 and 1954 were said to be kidnapped and sold to Ashkenazi families.
The parents were reportedly informed that their children had died in the hospital. However, some of the children later sought to track their biological families and discovered DNA matches. Suspicions were further vindicated when parents received military draft orders when their “deceased” children would have reached 18 years old—an indication that they were still, in fact, recorded as alive.
The case shifted back into public scrutiny when families began protesting the state's decision to classify the material reviewed by the investigative committee for 70 years (until 2071), which was announced yesterday on Channel 2. Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked announced Saturday that she would again assess the material and make a decision thereafter.
Journalist Yael Tzadok, who began investigating the case in 1994, and who is also an activist for the victims, said that the state has been “hiding the kidnapping case for almost 60 years. (The affair) already began in the 1950s. We know about governmental letters which were passed between the Health Ministry and the police that were stamped ‘top secret.’ They knew this and hid it.”
“Also during the Knesset meetings in which the subject was raised,” Tzadok continued, “and clearly from the minutes, it is clear that many public figures knew the children had disappeared, were kidnapped, and even sold. A catalogue with 20,000 names of Yemenite children containing details about them also disappeared. The state needs to remove the classification orders from the documents and to finally tell the truth to the families who were victims of kidnappings and also to the entire public. They can’t lie to everyone forever.”
The activists contend that the state’s decision to classify the evidence, the documents, the inutes and the investigative material is without precedent. “Obviously it raises suspicion that we are talking about a more serious case than we can imagine,” Tzadok said. “This is a committee that pretended that it was going to investigate and to expose the truth. Yet what was discovered was the systematic destruction of evidence and witnesses are afraid to talk about about the classification of the documents."
The organization’s lawyer, Yael Neger, who is providing the activists with pro bono legal service, says that she has personal experience in the affair. “They also tried to kidnap my father. They forcefully took him from my grandmother's hands, but this attempt did not succeed,” explained Neger. She further threatened that if the state refused to declassify the relevant documentation, more than 100 families would petition the Supreme Court against the decision.
6 may 2016
Following UNESCO's report omitting any Jewish connection to the Temple Mount, the PM has invited all UN personnel in Israel to a lesson in Jewish history.
The prime minister has invited all United Nations staff in Israel to attend a seminar on Jewish history, after a decision by a UN cultural body that failed to acknowledge Jewish ties to Jerusalem's holiest site.
In the decision last month, UNESCO condemned Israel for security restrictions and other measures at the site, known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif or the al-Aqsa compound and to Jews as Temple Mount. UNESCO referred to it only by its Arabic name.
"I was shocked to hear that UNESCO adopted a decision denying any Jewish connection to the Temple Mount, our holiest site," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.
"It is hard to believe that anyone, let alone an organization tasked with preserving history, could deny this link, which spans thousands of years."
To counter what a member of Netanyahu's staff called "this historical ignorance", the prime minister, who is a keen historian, said he would host a special lecture on Jewish history for all UN personnel in Israel.
It was not immediately clear when the seminar would be held, but staff indicated it could be next week. It was also unclear how many UN staff and diplomats planned to attend. UNESCO had no immediate comment.
UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, based in Paris, frequently issues decisions critical of Israel. Many are sponsored and seconded by Islamic states.
The holy site in the heart of the Old City of Jerusalem, home to the Dome of the Rock and the Aqsa Mosque, has been a source of friction between Israel and the Muslim world for decades.
Israel seized the Old City during the 1967 Middle East war. After its capture, Israel agreed to maintain the status quo at the site, which had effectively been in Islamic hands since the 12th century.
Non-Muslims are allowed to visit the site but are not allowed to pray there. Jews instead pray at the Western Wall, a retaining wall for an ancient Jewish temple that once stood in the area where the Dome of the Rock now sits.
In recent years, ultra-nationalist religious Jews have pushed for more access to the site and even to pray there, causing tension with Muslims, who worry the status quo might change. Netanyahu has repeatedly said it will not.
The prime minister has invited all United Nations staff in Israel to attend a seminar on Jewish history, after a decision by a UN cultural body that failed to acknowledge Jewish ties to Jerusalem's holiest site.
In the decision last month, UNESCO condemned Israel for security restrictions and other measures at the site, known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif or the al-Aqsa compound and to Jews as Temple Mount. UNESCO referred to it only by its Arabic name.
"I was shocked to hear that UNESCO adopted a decision denying any Jewish connection to the Temple Mount, our holiest site," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.
"It is hard to believe that anyone, let alone an organization tasked with preserving history, could deny this link, which spans thousands of years."
To counter what a member of Netanyahu's staff called "this historical ignorance", the prime minister, who is a keen historian, said he would host a special lecture on Jewish history for all UN personnel in Israel.
It was not immediately clear when the seminar would be held, but staff indicated it could be next week. It was also unclear how many UN staff and diplomats planned to attend. UNESCO had no immediate comment.
UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, based in Paris, frequently issues decisions critical of Israel. Many are sponsored and seconded by Islamic states.
The holy site in the heart of the Old City of Jerusalem, home to the Dome of the Rock and the Aqsa Mosque, has been a source of friction between Israel and the Muslim world for decades.
Israel seized the Old City during the 1967 Middle East war. After its capture, Israel agreed to maintain the status quo at the site, which had effectively been in Islamic hands since the 12th century.
Non-Muslims are allowed to visit the site but are not allowed to pray there. Jews instead pray at the Western Wall, a retaining wall for an ancient Jewish temple that once stood in the area where the Dome of the Rock now sits.
In recent years, ultra-nationalist religious Jews have pushed for more access to the site and even to pray there, causing tension with Muslims, who worry the status quo might change. Netanyahu has repeatedly said it will not.