Yom Shleeshee
Tuesday
13 Cheshvan 5783
November 8 2022
The News on the Israeli Street
The war in Judea, Samaria, and Jerusalem . . .
14 Palestinian terrorists were captured in Safo, Beitilo, Borka, Al-Aruv, and Teysir overnight.
IDF troops operating near Shechem last night. Can you imagine the dangers they face in the narrow alleyways of places like this? (Photo: IDF)
Stabbing attack:
Shalom Sofer, stabbed to death by a Palestinian terrorist. May his memory always be for a blessing.
Shalom Sofer died last night, two weeks after being stabbed by a Palestinian terrorist in the Samarian Palestinian settlement of Al Funduq. Sofer was a 55-year-0ld resident of Kedumim.
Shooting attacks:
Palestinian terrorists opened fire on IDF troops in the Palestinian settlement of Balata.
Palestinian terrorists fired on IDF troops in Qalqilya.
Palestinian terrorist opened fire on our soldiers in Silat al Haratiya.
IED, Molotov, and “rock” attacks:
Palestinian terrorists attacked Israeli motorists and buses on Road 458 near Al-Moayyir, on Road 55 in Al-Funduk, between Yakir and Rabba, between Dotan and Chomesh, at Peduel, Singil, Al-Abuv, in the vicinity of Tekoa, at Luban a-Sharqiya near Ramallah, just outside of Kedomim, and at numerous places in Gush Etzion especially along the Gush Etzion-Hevron Road.
The new government negotiations continue . . .
Yesterday saw representatives from National Zionism (the above photo with Netanyahu and Ben Gvir is their first together), United Torah Judaism (UTJ) and National Zionism meeting with PM-elect Benjamin Netanyahu.
The priorities of UTJ include repealing the anti-Orthodox measures that Lapid-Gantz government pushed through the Knesset including:
—the tax on soft drinks
—the tax on single-use plastic ware
—“Kashrut reform”
The first two taxes may seem like small potatoes, but to low-income haredi families which consume a lot of soft drinks and use throw-away plastic ware because of kosher concerns, they make a significant dint in the family budget.
All four parties in the new Coalition seem to have agreed on passing an “Override Law” that would permit the Knesset to override rulings of the Israel Supreme Court.
Those on the left who oppose the the law say that it would harm the separation of powers in Israel, but the truth is that over the last decade, the Israel Supreme Court has become not only the judicial arm of Israel but also the legislative one as it as usurped all power from the Knesset.
In doing so, the Court has maintained leftist control over the country, a situation that has become increasingly intolerable as the Court micro and macro manages everything that happens here.
The only question that seems to remain is how many votes would be needed to override a court decision. UTJ, Shas, and National Zionism are pushing for 61–a simple Knesset majority. Netanyahu and Likud seem to favor a super majority of 70 or 80.
TODAY’S BLOG
Why Israeli Voters Voted For Itamar Ben Gvir
In yesterday’s OneIsrael blog, we noted that should Itamar Ben Gvir become Homeland Security Minister, he wants to toughen the situation of the Palestinian terrorists in Israeli prisons.
As regular readers know, the situation in Israeli prisons is that security prisoners live in an almost country-club atmosphere with easy access to the prison store, televisions set up to watch sporting events and other programs, cooking appliances in their cells, holiday celebrations, and more.
This is not even to mention the egregious cases of prison guards being pimped to the prisoners and prisoners having their semen transported out of prison to impregnate their wives.
After Ben Gvir’s intention became public yesterday, the Palestinian “Supreme National Emergency Committee” of the security prisoners issued this statement:
“Ben Gvir is not aware of the experience of previous ministers of internal security who failed in the steps they took which were intended to harm the rights of prisoners. For the leaders of the occupation, learn from history. Anyone who thinks he can infringe on all our rights and expects us to stand idly by is delusional, and he will actually see us changing the reality inside prisons and outside them. We warn the incoming extreme Zionist government that any attack on the prisoners will have a heavy price.”
Can you believe the breathtaking audacity of this statement?
Neither can we Israelis.
A committee of terrorists in prison feel like they can cow the Israeli government.
And why do they feel this way?
Because they have successfully cowed the Israel Prison System for years–a prison system which would rather give the prisoners anything they want instead of strictly enforcing the restrictions of their incarceration.
Which leads us to some of the reasons why Ben Gvir did so well in the election this week.
Because the Israeli public sees a prison system cowed by Palestinian terrorist prisoners.
Because the Israeli public sees an Israeli judicial system that caters to terrorists and “humanitarian” groups.
Because the Israeli public sees an IDF General Command subservient to “humanitarian” considerations and happy to throw our soldiers under the bus.
Because the Israeli public just saw an IDF and Lapid-Gantz government intimidated by Hezbollah threats against Israel’s maritime gas reserves.
Because the Israeli public has seen a weak Lapid-Gantz government bowing repeatedly to the Biden Administration which demanded concession after concession to the PLO and Hamas over the last 17 months.
Of course, Itamar Ben Gvir cannot rectify all of these situations, but Israelis see in Ben Gvir someone who is willing to try.
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.