2 Av 5780
23 July 2020
The Outrageously Nauseating Quote of the Day
“People in the Gaza Strip should live normally, and we are ready and committed to providing a humanitarian response to the residents of the Gaza Strip. “I remember my mother telling me, ‘Keep fighting, but don’t stop sending them food . . .”It will be possible to develop what is right to develop in the Gaza Strip without the boys and hostages returning home.”
So-called “Defense” Minister Benny Gantz speaking in the Knesset yesterday on the 6th anniversary of 2014 war with Palestinian Gaza–a war that Gantz infamously mismanaged in a way that exposed our soldiers to Hamas terrorists.
It also was a war in which Gantz left Israeli soldiers (or at least parts of them) on the field. Those body parts have never been returned to Israel.
And as you can see from what Gantz said (“without the boys and hostages returning home”), Gantz has no intention of bringing them home now. All he cares about–and cared about– is providing “humanitarian support” to Hamas.
The News on the Israeli Street
The daily Corona update . . .
As of 8 am this morning (Thursday): There are 56,085 confirmed cases—an increase of 2,043 since this time yesterday
23,310 of these confirmed cases have recovered—an increase of 567
273 are in critical condition—an increase of 17
78 of the most critically ill are on ventilators—an increase of 1
430 have died–an increase of 5
There are 32,775 active cases.
Here is the gender/age breakdown of the first 88 Israelis who have died so far this month:
48 men, 40 women
9 people under the age of 65
11 people between 65-74
31 people between 75-84
37 people aged 85 and over
Factor causes erectile dysfunction in men? Well, if you will see there are various factors accounted to on line levitra origin impotence. Though there have been many arguments about the online reviews and testimonials, challenging their authenticity, but a one-to-one conversation with a previous student and their parents would always clarify the doubts. pfizer online viagra By working on strengthening these muscles, it is believed that some men may eventually be able to achieve erections without using other means, such as ED drugs like generic in uk viagra, cialis. viagra canadian Erection created coming from your medicine stays regarding ample period connected with date i.e.
Even as the newly confirmed cases continue to surge and the number of deaths mount, the dysfunctional Israeli government continues to play political football with Corona. You will recall in yesterday’s blog that we reported that Prof. Gabriel Barbash was about to become the new Corona director for the country. The only hangups were who he would report to and what power he would have.
Around midnight last night, Barbash withdrew his candidacy when it was clear he would not have sufficient power to direct the country’s response. Instead, PM Netanyahu and Health Minister Yuli Edelstein found someone who was willing to take the job–neutered of most power and willing to report directly to them: Roni Gamzo, the director of Ichilov Hospital. It is simply pathetic how Corona continues to be a political game here.
A treasure trove discovered . . .
One discovery in the repository.
Archaeologists working in the Arnona neighborhood of Jerusalem (down the street from the location of the new American Embassy) have uncovered a huge structure that dates from 2700 years ago.
Inside they have found a repository with more than 120 imprints on jars which contain the names of important people and ancient cities during the time of the Kings of Judah.
Today’s Blog:
What’s Going On In The North? South? Knesset?
What’s going on in the north? . . .
In the wake of the attacks on Syria which killed a number of Hezbollah terrorists, Hezbollah has heightened the alert status of its forces in southern Lebanon–and in response, Israel announced this morning that it is increasing the number of soldiers in the along the Lebanese border.
The 13th Battalion of the Golani Brigade is becoming part of the Galilee Division.
What’s going on in the south? . . .
Just after 9 pm last night, we were rocked here in Ashdod by a huge concussive blast which apparently came from the direction of Ashkelon. Hundreds of residents immediately went on to social media to report the same explosion.
As of this morning, we still do not have any idea of what happened.
What’s going on in the Knesset? . . .
A major Coalition crisis looms as a proposed law criminalizing gay conversion therapy (the Prohibition of Conversion Therapy Act) passed its first reading in the Knesset yesterday.
The proposed law is vehemently opposed by the ultra-orthodox, and after yesterday’s vote, the United Torah Judaism party said that it would not participate in any more votes in the Knesset and would discuss leaving the Coalition; however, the proposed law must pass two more readings before it becomes law. Interestingly, the law is also opposed by the vast majority of Israeli-Arabs.
By the end of next week, Likud is expected to introduce the following proposed laws--all of which are opposed by Kahol Lavan and any one of which might be enough to tear apart the Coalition:
*a proposed law to make it impossible to use evidence in court which was gained illegally (this seems obvious, but improperly gained evidence is used in Israeli courts all the time)
*a proposed law which would greatly reduce the budget of the Public Broadcasting Corporation
*a proposed law that would circumvent the Supreme Court’s decision which allows chametz to be used in hospitals during Passsover
*a proposed law that allows the Knesset to override Supreme Court decisions
And so it goes today in Israel . . .
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.