The New Government Hits The Ground Running

Yom Rishon

Sunday

8 Tevet 5783

January 1 2023

 

Happy New Year!

The Quote of the Day

“Like the hundreds of distorted resolutions against Israel that were passed in the U.N. General Assembly over the years, the despicable resolution that was passed today will not bind the Israeli government. The Jewish people are not conquerors in their own land and are not conquerors in our eternal capital Jerusalem. No U.N. resolution will distort this historical truth.”

PM Netanyahu in response to the passage of the U.N. resolution asking the International Court of Justice for a legal opinion on “the consequences of Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories.”

The Tired Joke of the Day

It was reported yesterday that Israel is preparing a response to the U.N. Resolution referred to above.

In response to the possible Israeli response, the PLO announced that if Israel goes forward with its response, it will cut off security cooperation with Israel in Judea and Samaria.

This is the same absurd threat that the PLO has paraded out dozens of times over the years–but never followed through on. Why? Because it is the PLO’s security cooperation with Israel that allows the PLO and PLO Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to remain in power.

The News on the Israeli Street

The war in Judea and Samaria.

IED, Molotov, and “rock” attacks:

Palestinian terrorists tried to murder Israelis on Road 60 between Yatma and Luban a-Sharqiya, at Al-Fawwar southwest of Hevron, south of the Karmi Tzur Junction, between Mevo Dotan and Chomesh, at Hawara, between Havat Gilead and the Sela outpost, north of Ofra, on the Jerusalem-Gush Etzion Road between Al Khader and the Tunnel Checkpoint, on Road 465 near Umm Tzafa, and at a myriad of other locations.

The beginning of the year Corona update . . .

Yes, Corona is unfortunately still with us. Here are the latest numbers:

12,037 Israelis have died.

There are 11,181 active cases in the country that we know of–522 are hospitalized.

143 Israelis are seriously ill; 43 are critically ill; and 48 are on ventilators.

7,000 Israelis were tested yesterday with a positive test rate of 11.24%.

Gantz’s final strike . . .

On the day he left office, former “Defense” Minister Benny Gantz apparently ordered that Ramot Migron be declared “a closed military area.” The forces that arrived presented an order to the residents of the small community that it is now a closed military area–and that all residents must evacuate immediately and no one may enter under pain of arrest.

In response, Minister of Ben Gvir issued this statement:

“Benny Gantz sits in the Knesset and preaches about statesmanship, while on the other hand he carries out an anti-democratic action after the new defense minister was appointed to the position. [That action is] a direct continuation of the war that Gantz declared on the Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria and the harsh policy he conducted from the Ministry of Defense.”

Will Netanyahu keep his word? . . .

During the election campaign, PM Netanyahu promised to freeze prices. 

However, at midnight last night, property taxes, electricity, gas, and water all became more expensive.

Will Netanyahu act?

TODAY’S BLOG

The New Government Hits The Ground Running

The new government is moving quickly on all fronts to reverse the actions taken by the disastrous previous government. Two examples:

First, Yoav Kish, the new Minister of Education, let it be known this morning that he is reinstating the study of the humanities, religious studies, and the study of history into the curriculum of Israeli schools. 

Kish declared: “We will educate the children of Israel in values and achievements . . . Educating our children is a goal that crosses genders, sectors, and political opinions. It is the duty of the education system to strengthen our Jewish identity and our learn about our past as a people.”

Bravo to Kish for returning sanity to the nation’s schools.

Second, incoming Minister for the Diaspora, Amichai Chikli, has ordered his Ministry to cancel its contract with the Berel Katznelson Foundation, which promotes left-wing economic policies.

In doing so, Chikli issued this statement:

“To my astonishment, I discovered that in the midst of an election campaign, the Diaspora Ministry approved scandalous contracting agreements that include transfers without a bidding of huge sums to associations with a clear political color, contrary to the basic rules of ethics and common sense. I ordered the above-mentioned contracts to be stopped immediately.”

Later in the day, Chikli also let it be known that he would de-prioritize giving additional funding for improvements to the egalitarian section of the Kotel and will give less attention given to the “Women of the Wall.” Instead, Chickli wants to focus on giving back to Jewish communities in the diaspora.

Bravo to Chikli for refocusing the Diaspora Ministry.

It is wonderful to see the new government to hit the ground running. We hope we will see similar actions in other parts of the government.