16 june 2019
Having pledged support for a right-wing government in the past, Yisrael Beytenu chief and potential kingmaker after the next elections now calls for broad coalition of left and right to block ultra-Orthodox demands
Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman on Sunday reiterated that he would only join a government of national unity after the September 17 elections, citing a looming economic crisis and the need to block religious and far-right legislation.
Writing on his Facebook page Sunday, Liberman stood by his surprise declaration on Israeli television a day earlier that he is no longer committed to a right-wing government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
He told Channel 13 on Saturday night that he would only support a coalition of both Likud and the Blue and White party as such a government would better reflect the will of the voters. Both Likud and the Blue and White party secured 35 seats in the April 9 elections.
Blue and White has already announced it will not join a Netanyahu-led government as long as he is facing corruption charges. The prime minister is facing bribery, breach of trust and fraud charges in three separate investigations.
The Likud party said in response that Liberman would lead to the creation of left-wing government, therefore right-wing voters must only vote Likud.
Netanyahu failed to form a coalition government after the last elections when Liberman refused to join unless the legislation on ultra-Orthodox participation in the military was passed unchanged by the religious parties.
Members of Blue and White said, however, that Liberman's announcement was too little, too late.
Just two months ago, after the election results gave the right a potential 65-seat majority including Yisrael Beytenu, Liberman insisted a national unity government would be paralyzed by conflicting views and only a national emergency can justify such a move.
Deputy Finance Minister Yitzhak Cohen of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party told Israel Radio on Sunday that his party would not sit in a government with Liberman, whom he branded a dangerous man disrespectful of the religious community.
Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman on Sunday reiterated that he would only join a government of national unity after the September 17 elections, citing a looming economic crisis and the need to block religious and far-right legislation.
Writing on his Facebook page Sunday, Liberman stood by his surprise declaration on Israeli television a day earlier that he is no longer committed to a right-wing government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
He told Channel 13 on Saturday night that he would only support a coalition of both Likud and the Blue and White party as such a government would better reflect the will of the voters. Both Likud and the Blue and White party secured 35 seats in the April 9 elections.
Blue and White has already announced it will not join a Netanyahu-led government as long as he is facing corruption charges. The prime minister is facing bribery, breach of trust and fraud charges in three separate investigations.
The Likud party said in response that Liberman would lead to the creation of left-wing government, therefore right-wing voters must only vote Likud.
Netanyahu failed to form a coalition government after the last elections when Liberman refused to join unless the legislation on ultra-Orthodox participation in the military was passed unchanged by the religious parties.
Members of Blue and White said, however, that Liberman's announcement was too little, too late.
Just two months ago, after the election results gave the right a potential 65-seat majority including Yisrael Beytenu, Liberman insisted a national unity government would be paralyzed by conflicting views and only a national emergency can justify such a move.
Deputy Finance Minister Yitzhak Cohen of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party told Israel Radio on Sunday that his party would not sit in a government with Liberman, whom he branded a dangerous man disrespectful of the religious community.
14 june 2019
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Congresswomen Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) said they would be signing a bill to stop funding Israel, due to its abuse of Palestinian children.
The bill was introduced by Minnesota Congresswoman Betty McCollum, and would prohibit aid from being used by Israeli authorities to detain Palestinian minors. Congresswoman McCollum’s Promoting Human Rights by Ending Israeli Military Detention of Palestinian Children Act was introduced in November 2017. It was revived in April 2019 after AOC spoke about the bill in a podcast. |
Initially, AOC did not sign the bill but she commented on Ilhan Omar’s tweet that she is “excited to sign on.”
“I am sure @AOC and every member of Congress who cares about children will sign on. Super proud of @BettyMcCollum04 for her leadership on this issue. https://t.co/yMVOkJj4lR”
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) June 12, 2019
She tweeted on June 11 thanking her colleagues for signing the bill. Among her co-sponsors are Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, the first ever Palestinian-American to hold office in the U.S. Congress. Omar and Tlaib are the first Muslim women to ever be in Congress in the United States.
“Thank you to my colleagues for signing on to #HR2407, my legislation to ensure U.S. aid dollars are not spent on putting children in military detention. #NoWayToTreatAChild https://t.co/NoW5PZ95pd pic.twitter.com/UDeuVMjb2R”
— Rep. Betty McCollum (@BettyMcCollum04) June 11, 2019
Her legislation “amends a provision of the Foreign Assistance Act known as the “Leahy Law” to prohibit funding for the military detention of children in any country, including Israel.”
McCollum herself commented that the bill, “highlights Israel’s system of military detention of Palestinian children and ensures that no American assistance to Israel supports human rights violations.”
The senior legislator added, “Peace can only be achieved by respecting human rights, especially the rights of children. Congress must not turn a blind eye the unjust and ongoing mistreatment of Palestinian children living under Israeli occupation.”
~ Telesur/Days of Palestine
“I am sure @AOC and every member of Congress who cares about children will sign on. Super proud of @BettyMcCollum04 for her leadership on this issue. https://t.co/yMVOkJj4lR”
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) June 12, 2019
She tweeted on June 11 thanking her colleagues for signing the bill. Among her co-sponsors are Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, the first ever Palestinian-American to hold office in the U.S. Congress. Omar and Tlaib are the first Muslim women to ever be in Congress in the United States.
“Thank you to my colleagues for signing on to #HR2407, my legislation to ensure U.S. aid dollars are not spent on putting children in military detention. #NoWayToTreatAChild https://t.co/NoW5PZ95pd pic.twitter.com/UDeuVMjb2R”
— Rep. Betty McCollum (@BettyMcCollum04) June 11, 2019
Her legislation “amends a provision of the Foreign Assistance Act known as the “Leahy Law” to prohibit funding for the military detention of children in any country, including Israel.”
McCollum herself commented that the bill, “highlights Israel’s system of military detention of Palestinian children and ensures that no American assistance to Israel supports human rights violations.”
The senior legislator added, “Peace can only be achieved by respecting human rights, especially the rights of children. Congress must not turn a blind eye the unjust and ongoing mistreatment of Palestinian children living under Israeli occupation.”
~ Telesur/Days of Palestine
11 june 2019
In this file picture, an Israeli soldier holds a flag as he smokes a cigarette near the border between the Gaza Strip and occupied territories
A recent report has shed light on a rise in drug abuse among serving Israeli military forces, prompting Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army Aviv Kochavi to order establishment of a special committee to fight the phenomenon.
According to Israeli i24NEWS television news network, Kochavi took the measure in the wake of an increasing number of cases against Israeli soldiers using drugs while in their military bases.
The report added that the number of addicted Israeli soldiers is soaring dramatically despite the fact that strict measures and punitive measures have already been introduced to eradicate the issue.
Among the expected future penalties, the Israeli broadcaster said, are denial of privileges and benefits given to the serving soldiers, reduction or denial of financial grants and educational privileges. They would also be deprived of holidays.
Last September, thirty-five Israeli soldiers and several civilians were arrested on the grounds of drug trafficking and drug abuse.
The soldiers were detained following an investigation by the special investigations unit of the Military Police Criminal Investigation Division.
In February 2018, ten soldiers – four females and six males – were arrested after they were found to be in possession of and using drugs.
The soldiers, who had all been serving at the officers’ training base in the Negev, were held for questioning after an undercover investigation found that they had been buying, selling and using drugs while on base.
According to a survey conducted by the Israel Anti-Drug Authority (IADA), 54% of Israeli soldiers have admitted to using illegal drugs, specifically marijuana, in the year 2017.
The Israeli military adopted a lenient policy against drug use that year, allowing soldiers to avoid court martial and any criminal proceedings.
According to Hebrew-language Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, the policy also allows soldiers to smoke no more than five times a day off-duty and face only internal disciplinary actions if exceeded.
A recent report has shed light on a rise in drug abuse among serving Israeli military forces, prompting Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army Aviv Kochavi to order establishment of a special committee to fight the phenomenon.
According to Israeli i24NEWS television news network, Kochavi took the measure in the wake of an increasing number of cases against Israeli soldiers using drugs while in their military bases.
The report added that the number of addicted Israeli soldiers is soaring dramatically despite the fact that strict measures and punitive measures have already been introduced to eradicate the issue.
Among the expected future penalties, the Israeli broadcaster said, are denial of privileges and benefits given to the serving soldiers, reduction or denial of financial grants and educational privileges. They would also be deprived of holidays.
Last September, thirty-five Israeli soldiers and several civilians were arrested on the grounds of drug trafficking and drug abuse.
The soldiers were detained following an investigation by the special investigations unit of the Military Police Criminal Investigation Division.
In February 2018, ten soldiers – four females and six males – were arrested after they were found to be in possession of and using drugs.
The soldiers, who had all been serving at the officers’ training base in the Negev, were held for questioning after an undercover investigation found that they had been buying, selling and using drugs while on base.
According to a survey conducted by the Israel Anti-Drug Authority (IADA), 54% of Israeli soldiers have admitted to using illegal drugs, specifically marijuana, in the year 2017.
The Israeli military adopted a lenient policy against drug use that year, allowing soldiers to avoid court martial and any criminal proceedings.
According to Hebrew-language Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, the policy also allows soldiers to smoke no more than five times a day off-duty and face only internal disciplinary actions if exceeded.
2 june 2019
Ayelet Shaked and Naftali Bennett
Government sources say the two cannot stay on as education and justice ministers given that their New Right party failed to pass threshold in April 9 elections; Smotrich, Peretz demand to replace the two in cabinet; PM said unwilling to find spot for Shaked on party list in light of recent insult
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday informed Education Minister Naftali Bennett and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked that they have been fired from the government and the cabinet.
"Bennett and Shaked cannot continue in their sensitive roles in the cabinet for another six months as they were not elected by the public," government sources said.
The two split from Jewish Home ahead of the April 9 elections to form the New Right party, which narrowly failed to pass the threshold to enter the Knesset. The party was just 1,400 votes shy of winning seats in the short-lived 21st Knesset.
A source close to Shaked said the former minister was surprised at Netanyahu's decision.
Sources close to Bennett said Sunday that he intends to run in the September 17 elections for the 22nd Knesset with the New Right.
Government sources say the two cannot stay on as education and justice ministers given that their New Right party failed to pass threshold in April 9 elections; Smotrich, Peretz demand to replace the two in cabinet; PM said unwilling to find spot for Shaked on party list in light of recent insult
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday informed Education Minister Naftali Bennett and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked that they have been fired from the government and the cabinet.
"Bennett and Shaked cannot continue in their sensitive roles in the cabinet for another six months as they were not elected by the public," government sources said.
The two split from Jewish Home ahead of the April 9 elections to form the New Right party, which narrowly failed to pass the threshold to enter the Knesset. The party was just 1,400 votes shy of winning seats in the short-lived 21st Knesset.
A source close to Shaked said the former minister was surprised at Netanyahu's decision.
Sources close to Bennett said Sunday that he intends to run in the September 17 elections for the 22nd Knesset with the New Right.
Smotrich, Netanyahu, Peretz
Following the announcement of the firing, the leaders of the Union of Right-wing Parties Rafi Peretz and Betzalel Smotrich requested that they replace Bennet and Shaked to head the justice and education ministries. The attorney general issued a statement earlier saying that such temporary appointments can go forward without the approval of the Knesset.
The party also said that there is an understanding between Peretz and Smotrich to only join the government if both of them receive a portfolio and that in the event that Netanyahu offers a ministry posting to only one of them, both will remain outside the government.
Reports are circulating that Netanyahu intends to offer the transportation portfolio to Smotrich, after it was vacated with Yisrael Katz's appointment as foreign minister. The Justice Ministry post was reportedly offered to Yariv Levin (Likud), but he turned it down saying he sees no point in a temporary appointment.
Earlier, the Union of Right-wing Parties accused the prime minister of trying to frame them as being behind the firing of Bennett and Shaked. They said that Netanyahu asked that they call for their firing but they categorically refused.
Meanwhile, officials in the Likud are trying to find a spot for Ayelet Shaked on its list for the next Knesset.
Likud Central Committee Chairman Haim Katz told the prime minister that Shaked "is worthy and is an electoral force that will strengthen the Likud."
Netanyahu, however, told Likud members that he did not intend to secure a place for Shaked on the party list.
According to Likud sources, Netanyahu's inner circle "has not forgetten that Shaked said six months ago that this would be Netanyahu's last term as prime minister."
Following the announcement of the firing, the leaders of the Union of Right-wing Parties Rafi Peretz and Betzalel Smotrich requested that they replace Bennet and Shaked to head the justice and education ministries. The attorney general issued a statement earlier saying that such temporary appointments can go forward without the approval of the Knesset.
The party also said that there is an understanding between Peretz and Smotrich to only join the government if both of them receive a portfolio and that in the event that Netanyahu offers a ministry posting to only one of them, both will remain outside the government.
Reports are circulating that Netanyahu intends to offer the transportation portfolio to Smotrich, after it was vacated with Yisrael Katz's appointment as foreign minister. The Justice Ministry post was reportedly offered to Yariv Levin (Likud), but he turned it down saying he sees no point in a temporary appointment.
Earlier, the Union of Right-wing Parties accused the prime minister of trying to frame them as being behind the firing of Bennett and Shaked. They said that Netanyahu asked that they call for their firing but they categorically refused.
Meanwhile, officials in the Likud are trying to find a spot for Ayelet Shaked on its list for the next Knesset.
Likud Central Committee Chairman Haim Katz told the prime minister that Shaked "is worthy and is an electoral force that will strengthen the Likud."
Netanyahu, however, told Likud members that he did not intend to secure a place for Shaked on the party list.
According to Likud sources, Netanyahu's inner circle "has not forgetten that Shaked said six months ago that this would be Netanyahu's last term as prime minister."
Despite being a site of major global significance, the capital of Israel, especially the Old city, was found to be severely lacking in terms of maintenance, sanitation disposal, electrical hazards and out of date tourist information
Filth and neglect are a good description of the State Comptroller's findings on the status of Jerusalem's tourism locations, as revealed in a newly released report on the state of the capital city.
The report also found that the tourism website was often not updated, prominent eyesores, urine stains and bad odors and risk of electrocution.
Many of the findings were listed in previous, reports going back to 2010, that have seemingly been ignored and allowed to endure. "Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, the epicenter of the three major monotheistic faiths and the eyes of the world are upon it," Comptroller Yosef Shapira wrote in the prologue to the report.
"Within (the city) are many historic and heritage sites, nature reserves, government offices, academic centers and cultural centers. There is much tourism potential in the city and it is necessary to provide tourists with suitable services to help them realize the full potential of their visit," he continued.
In 2006, the government passed a law intended to establish an oversight agency to advance the development of tourism, culture and foreign relations for the city; but the report notes that the government has since failed to establish such an agency and the matter has lingered ever since.
According to the report, the website intended to provide tourist information is not sufficiently updated and a confusing mixture of languages appear on the same page; information pamphlets distributed to tourists were found to include obvious grammatical errors, especially in the English version.
Also, street signs were found to be inconsistent, neglected and improvised — some are even designed in a manner inconsistent with the city's own regulations.
For example, the city's tourism website provides visitors with timetables and fees for the light rail line. In august 2018, the prices listed in Russian and Italian were outdated; in the German, Russian, Portuguese and Italian pages, the timetable was wrong. Other information was also found to be wrong and out of date.
The report also describes how many locations in the Old City, a UNESCO World Heritage site, are neglected, filthy and full of inescapable eyesores. "In prominent tourism areas, like Christians St. Hagai St. and adjacent alleyways in the vicinity of the Damascus and Lions' Gate, piles of garbage and filth, trash bags hanging on the gate, overflowing trash bins and garbage floating in the fountains were found. In addition, large trash containers near the Tower of David and at Mount Zion were open and surrounded by filth."
Stairways in the Old City were found to be in a state of disrepair and pose a danger to pedestrians. Many of the area's arched passageways were found to be in a state of neglect: watermarks, peeling paint and much of the electrical and air conditioning infrastructure was installed in an improvised manner.
The city's water fountains require repairs and many of them do not actually dispense any water and in some sections of the Old City, exposed wiring is rampant, posing an electrocution hazard.
The report also examined other tourist areas like the Armon Hanatziv (East Talpiot) Promenade, the Mount Scopus Promenade and the Tzurim Valley Trail and found urine stains, foul odors, exposed wiring and scattered garbage.
Other sites along Jaffa Road, as well as in the east of the city were found to also be in a state of disrepair and neglect. Cracked sidewalks, damaged and filthy street fixtures, such as benches and water fountains, and a terror attack memorial fountain lacking running water — are some of the things the report found throughout the city.
The Jerusalem municipality has a contract with a cleaning and maintenance company for the city's public restrooms. But the report found that maintenance was highly lacking and equipment missing.
The comptroller recommends that the Jerusalem municipality consider establishing a body to oversee the city's tourism division and that information distributed to tourists, both digital and in print, should be up to date and precise. The city also ought to prioritize sanitation disposal, remove all forms of blight from public space, fix sidewalks and public fountains and remove hazardous wiring from the alleyways of the Old City.
The Jerusalem municipality responded, saying that it intends to draw conclusions from the report, adding that many of the findings are from previous years and that since then, there have ben many improvements, especially concerning cleanliness in the city, and the city will continue to implement the necessary measures outlined in the report.
Filth and neglect are a good description of the State Comptroller's findings on the status of Jerusalem's tourism locations, as revealed in a newly released report on the state of the capital city.
The report also found that the tourism website was often not updated, prominent eyesores, urine stains and bad odors and risk of electrocution.
Many of the findings were listed in previous, reports going back to 2010, that have seemingly been ignored and allowed to endure. "Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, the epicenter of the three major monotheistic faiths and the eyes of the world are upon it," Comptroller Yosef Shapira wrote in the prologue to the report.
"Within (the city) are many historic and heritage sites, nature reserves, government offices, academic centers and cultural centers. There is much tourism potential in the city and it is necessary to provide tourists with suitable services to help them realize the full potential of their visit," he continued.
In 2006, the government passed a law intended to establish an oversight agency to advance the development of tourism, culture and foreign relations for the city; but the report notes that the government has since failed to establish such an agency and the matter has lingered ever since.
According to the report, the website intended to provide tourist information is not sufficiently updated and a confusing mixture of languages appear on the same page; information pamphlets distributed to tourists were found to include obvious grammatical errors, especially in the English version.
Also, street signs were found to be inconsistent, neglected and improvised — some are even designed in a manner inconsistent with the city's own regulations.
For example, the city's tourism website provides visitors with timetables and fees for the light rail line. In august 2018, the prices listed in Russian and Italian were outdated; in the German, Russian, Portuguese and Italian pages, the timetable was wrong. Other information was also found to be wrong and out of date.
The report also describes how many locations in the Old City, a UNESCO World Heritage site, are neglected, filthy and full of inescapable eyesores. "In prominent tourism areas, like Christians St. Hagai St. and adjacent alleyways in the vicinity of the Damascus and Lions' Gate, piles of garbage and filth, trash bags hanging on the gate, overflowing trash bins and garbage floating in the fountains were found. In addition, large trash containers near the Tower of David and at Mount Zion were open and surrounded by filth."
Stairways in the Old City were found to be in a state of disrepair and pose a danger to pedestrians. Many of the area's arched passageways were found to be in a state of neglect: watermarks, peeling paint and much of the electrical and air conditioning infrastructure was installed in an improvised manner.
The city's water fountains require repairs and many of them do not actually dispense any water and in some sections of the Old City, exposed wiring is rampant, posing an electrocution hazard.
The report also examined other tourist areas like the Armon Hanatziv (East Talpiot) Promenade, the Mount Scopus Promenade and the Tzurim Valley Trail and found urine stains, foul odors, exposed wiring and scattered garbage.
Other sites along Jaffa Road, as well as in the east of the city were found to also be in a state of disrepair and neglect. Cracked sidewalks, damaged and filthy street fixtures, such as benches and water fountains, and a terror attack memorial fountain lacking running water — are some of the things the report found throughout the city.
The Jerusalem municipality has a contract with a cleaning and maintenance company for the city's public restrooms. But the report found that maintenance was highly lacking and equipment missing.
The comptroller recommends that the Jerusalem municipality consider establishing a body to oversee the city's tourism division and that information distributed to tourists, both digital and in print, should be up to date and precise. The city also ought to prioritize sanitation disposal, remove all forms of blight from public space, fix sidewalks and public fountains and remove hazardous wiring from the alleyways of the Old City.
The Jerusalem municipality responded, saying that it intends to draw conclusions from the report, adding that many of the findings are from previous years and that since then, there have ben many improvements, especially concerning cleanliness in the city, and the city will continue to implement the necessary measures outlined in the report.
