A Sea Change As Lieberman Takes Over The Defense Ministry

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11 Iyar 5776

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UPDATES 6:00 pm Israel Time:

…Palestinian terror yesterday…

More than 30 terrorist attacks took place during the day.

There were “rock” assaults at numerous locations including: Asharqiya, Bibnotia, Al-Khader, Rachel’s Tomb, Al-Fawwar, Hebron, Taybeh, Zawiya, Silwan, Ras Al-Amud, Gush Etzion, Shuafat, Makel, Beit Jala, Hizma, and on Uzi Narkis Street in Jerusalem. A number of people were physically wounded including a passenger on the bus that was hit on Uzi Narkis, and numerous more were traumatized in that incident as well as the others.

There were Molotov attacks at Sheikh Saad, Aissoia,and  Kochav Yaakov.

…A bad two weeks for BDS…

Credit Mutuel, one of the largest French banks, announced yesterday that it has closed the account of La Campagne BDS, the French Boycott, Divest, and Sanctions Movement.

While the Bank remains close-lipped about the decision, French legislator Meyer Habib declared yesterday: “Let us be clear: French law prohibits all forms of call for economic boycott.”

Meanwhile across the pond in the United States, the United Methodist Church voted to withdraw from “The U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation”, a BDS front organization that the Methodist Church termed “a one-sided political coalition” that overlooks “anti-Israel aggression.”

The vote came two days after the Church rejected four BDS resolutions calling for divestment from companies operating in Judea and Samaria.

Elsewhere in the U.S., the New Jersey Senate unanimously approved a sweeping bill requiring the state’s $68.6 billion dollar public worker pension fund to withdraw its funds from any company that “boycotts the goods, products, or businesses of Israel, boycotts those doing business with Israel, or boycotts companies operating in Israel or Israeli-controlled territory.”

In Iowa, Governor Terry Branstad signed into a law similar to that approved by the New Jersey Senate. In doing so, Branstad declared: “I think it sends an important and very clear signal that we are not going to do business with people who boycott Israel. We think that is wrong . . . and we will take a stand on the side of what  is right and good.”

…How appropriate…

The PLO, aka the Palestinian Authority, opened a new $28 million museum yesterday dedicated to the “history and culture” of the Palestinian people.

Only one problem surfaced as the museum opened; there was nothing inside.

Nothing. Not one exhibit.

Could this be because the Palestinians have no history and culture?

A beautiful new museum funded by American and European donors. Only one problem: the museum is empty.

The “Chairman” of the Museum, Omar Al-Qattan, promised that the museum would have at least one exhibit by the end of the year.

TODAY’S BLOG:

Lieberman and Netanyahu a few years ago. They are now together again (picture: Reuters).

So the bomb described in yesterday’s blog has exploded on the Israel political scene.

Avigdor Lieberman is in as Defense Minister and Moshe Ya’alon is out.

That is a good thing. A very good thing.

It is also a very good thing to see Yitzhak Herzog and Tzipi Livni crash to ground–and possibly crash out of the leadership of the Labor Party which has been severely weakened by the entire episode.

It is even more of a very good thing to see Tony Blair and John Kerry crash to ground. It was Blair primarily, and Kerry secondarily who were responsible for the push to get Herzog and his fellow leftists into the Coalition.

However, we still do not know how this political drama will play out–especially insofar as Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked of the Jewish Home (Beit Yehudi) Party is concerned. There are some reports that Bennett will be named Foreign Minister (and others that Ya’alon has already been offered the post and declined). As for Shaked, your humble servant earnestly hopes that she will not be replaced as Justice Minister by a member of Lieberman’s party or a member of Likud.

What are six of ramifications of the sea change in the Israeli government?

1. Lieberman, the head of the Yisrael Beiteinu Party, brings with him 6 legislators who will increase the Coalition majority from 61 to 67 votes. This increase will support Netanyahu’s efforts to have some of his pet legislation passed including a budget and a new gas deal. It will also cost Israel billions of shekels because Lieberman also has his own pet legislation–a massive increase in pension benefits.

2. Lieberman is a resident of Nokdim, a Jewish community in Judea. As such he is likely to take a much supportive position concerning Jewish communities and community members than did Ya’alon. We can expect support for Jewish construction, fewer administrative detentions of Jewish teenagers, and full support for IDF soldiers serving in the area including Elor Azariah (the Hevron soldier currently on trial).

3. Lieberman will likely be a much stronger advocate for action against Hamas in Gaza. During the war in 2014, Lieberman lobbied vigorously to completely destroy the tunnels and wipe Hamas out. His opinions have not changed. Because of this, Lieberman’s relationship with the leftist IDF General Command is likely to be rocky. Lieberman will not tolerate comments such as those made by Gen. Yair Golan at the recent Holocaust ceremony.

4. Lieberman has always called Mahmoud Abbas what he is: a terrorist. Lieberman will be a forceful advocate against accommodations with the Palestinians. Is it any wonder that Blair and Kerry are seething today as well as Abbas? More than this, President Sisi is reportedly unhappy as well. Part of his anger is directed at Blair and Kerry who assured him that a new coalition with Netanyahu and Herzog was a done deal.

5. Lieberman is a Russian immigrant. The elevation of Lieberman to “Defense Minister” will be seen by the more than one million Russian immigrants to Israel as a moment of empowerment.  In addition, Lieberman apparently maintains good relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

6. Lieberman can be characterized as a secular Jew. Expect him to butt heads frequently with the orthodox members of the Netanyahu coalition–particularly over matters of conversion and marriage that affect the Israeli-Russian community.

One last word: remember that Lieberman and Netanyahu have yet to sign an agreement. Until they do, anything can change at any moment.

Stay tuned for further information.