22 Av 5780
12 August 2020
Misleading Photo of the Night
What do you notice about the location of the plume of smoke from the blast?
The above photo was taken last night immediately after the IAF attack on Hamas in Gaza in response to the balloon terrorism yesterday. Just like all such attacks, it shows smoke rising on or near the “horizon”–away from any real targets.
In this attack like others, no buildings were damaged, and no terrorists were wounded or killed. But the plume from the blast as well as the bright lights on the horizon make for great optics.
The News on the Israeli Street
Palestinian terror in the last 24 hours . . .
On the Gaza border:
If you recall from yesterday, there were 30 fires which destroyed about 600 dumans (150 acres) of land on Sunday. As we noted, this was the greatest number of fires in one day since September of 2018.
Yesterday there were more than 60 fires. 400 dunams of the Be’eri Forest alone were destroyed. There is no official estimate as to how many other acres of forests and agricultural fields were set ablaze.
Another fire at Be’eri yesterday.
We noted in yesterday’s blog how some of the anti-balloon weapons that the IDF apparently has at its disposal are not being used. As of this morning, one of them is:
The OptiDefense laser is being used for the first time this morning. We’ll see if it makes a dent in the terror emanating from Gaza.
According to reports, the OptiDefense weapon is 90% successful in shooting down incoming missiles and balloons. We’ll see.
In Judea and Samaria:
Yesterday we reported on the egregious decision by a panel of the Israel Supreme Court to not demolish the home of the terrorist from Yabad who murdered IDF soldier Amit Ben Yigal. The terrorist stood on the rooftop of his own home and threw a concrete block off of his rootop and smashed Amit’s head to pieces.
The home was supposed to have been destroyed, but in a 2-1 vote, two judges actually said it was a violation of human rights to do so.
Well, guess what happened last night in Yabad?
A massive celebration applauding the decision took place at the terrorist’s home complete with fireworks and candy. When IDF soldiers tried to enter the settlement to stop the celebrations, they were attacked with “rocks” and Molotovs.
What has happened to our country?
The daily Corona (Covid 19) update . . .
As of 8 am this morning (Tuesday):
There are 86,147 confirmed cases—an increase of 1,425 since this time yesterday
60,055 of these confirmed cases have recovered—an increase of 1,057
375 are in critical condition–a decrease of 13
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110 of the most critically ill are on ventilators—a decrease of 2
622 have died–an increase of 9
There are 26,092 active cases.
Is the government about to collapse? . . .
Aside from the general fiasco relating to dealing with the Corona virus, two major problems are on the horizon that might bring down the already shaky Coalition government.
First, Yair Lapid of the Yesh Atid opposition party will propose a law tomorrow that would make it impossible for anyone who has been indicted to become prime minister. Not surprisingly the proposed law is being called the “Anti-Bibi Law.” Apparently, the law was drafted by a lawyer who works with Benny Gantz’s Blue and White Party.
Inasmuch as Gantz campaigned on approving such a law, one would expect that his party would vote in favor of it. However, as a member of the Coalition with Likud, the Coalition agreement would dictate that Blue and White not support the proposed law. As a way out yesterday, Blue and White said that its members will not show up for the vote whereupon Likud announced that if Blue and White does not show up and vote against the law, then the government is over.
Second, Israel has a law that stipulates that if the Knesset does not pass a budget within 100 days of its formation, then the Knesset must dissolve itself and call new elections. We are rapidly approaching the 100 day mark, and bitter wrangling remains between Netanyahu and Gantz on whether to have a Corona budget, one year budget, or even a two year budget.
Is the government on the verge of crashing? Yes, if you believe the wildly frantic Israeli media; however, your humble servant has to think that it will not–at least not at this point because the ultra-orthodox parties have told Netanyahu that they will not support a right-wing block if Israel is forced into new elections.
Nevertheless, at some point between now and January when Netanyahu’s trial begins in earnest, Netanyahu will bring the government down to see if he can get a new Knesset to grant him immunity from prosecution.
TODAY’S BLOG:
Has “The Left” No Decency?
As we have reported previously, the incitement against the PM Netanyahu has crossed all red lines with messages being sent through social media calling for his assassination.
In response, Netanyahu has been complaining bitterly to Attorney General Mandelblit that he is doing nothing to track down the perpetrators of these heinous messages.
Also heinous in recent days have been the graphically sexual attacks against Sara Netanyahu. Left-wing protesters in front of the Netanyahu home regularly hold up phallic-shaped signs and balloons (we won’t show them here) to taunt Netanyahu’s wife. In social media, there has actually been a message posted which suggests raping her.
Yesterday, Netanyahu again blasted Mandelblit for doing nothing to track down and prosecute these people. Mandelblit responded that he has opened investigations into 29 people, but then went so far as to actually blame Netanyahu for the attacks on himself and his wife because, according to Mandelblit, Netanyahu has inflamed the situation.
Say what? Because PM Netanyahu calls the so-called “demonstrators” anarchists, this entitles them to issue threats to assassinate and rape?
There is no place in Israeli society–or any decent society–for the kinds of attacks that have been aimed at PM Netanyahu and his family.
Anyone who engages in such behavior should immediately be detained, arrested, and prosecuted because such threats are not only indecent, they are criminal. Mandelblit must do his job.
Has “the Left” no decency?
I leave it to you, dear reader, to answer the question.
A student from Malawi, who had worked with an Israeli health volunteer in his country battling AIDS, came up to us as we walked down the street in the UC-Davis Picnic Day Parade and wanted to carry the Israeli flag.