Yom Rishon
Sunday
5 Adar 5783
February 26 2023
The Quotes of the Day
“There is anarchy here, the anarchy of an elite that is not ready to understand that they have lost power. A dictatorial minority that wants to decide for the majority what to do.”
Transportation Minister Miri Regev speaking on Israeli television last night.
“The hypocrisy and irresponsibility of the media and the leaders of the opposition is a bottomless pit. They aim to create anarchy in the State of Israel and harm its economy in order to bring about sixth elections.
For weeks the media has been silent in the face of explicit calls by the protest leaders for bloodshed, use of weapons, civil riots, refusal, withdrawal of investments from Israel, assassination of the Prime Minister, harm to his family members, ministers and symbols of government . . .
Instead of responding to our calls for dialogue and calming the spirits, they call for inflaming the spirits and anarchy.
I call on the responsible voices in the opposition not to cooperate with this lawlessness and immediately enter into serious negotiations for the benefit of all the citizens of Israel and the State of Israel.
PM Netanyahu speaking yesterday
“If anarchy takes over and people with the power of money cancel the democratic decision, there is no point having elections.”
Minister of Justice Yariv Levin speaking on Channel 14 last night in the midst of the “protests” in Tel Aviv.
What is the bottom line?
The anti-government protests are descending into anarchy because there are no responsible leaders in the Opposition. Led by former PM Lapid, the protesters only care about ousting Netanyahu–something they could not do democratically in an election. See Today’s Blog below.
The Truly Laughable Quote of the Day
“I am working to achieve a compromise–even without the Opposition.”
President Herzog speaking yesterday.
Did you get that? Herzog is working for a compromise between the two sides even though one side (the Opposition) refuses to engage in any dialogue.
In other words, Herzog is demanding concessions from the Netanyahu government.
The News on the Israeli Street
The war in Judea and Samaria.
Shooting attack:
A Palestinian terrorist fired six shots into a synagogue in Havat Yair in Samaria yesterday morning. The gunfire came from illegal buildings constructed by Palestinians in the nearby Palestinian settlement of Bnei Hasan. IDF forces were called, and the terrorist was captured. Fortunately, no Israelis were wounded or killed.
IED, Molotov, and “rock” attacks:
Palestinian terrorists attacked a bus in Hawara and motorists on the Gush Etzion-Hevron Road, on Road 443 near Beit Sira (2 terrorists were shot), between Beit Omer and Al Aruv, near Singil, in the vicinity of Marda, at Tekoa–and at a myriad of other locations.
The legal reforms continue . . .
The Knesset Constitution Committee is holding discussions this morning on two more proposed laws: first, a law that will severely curtail the power of the High Court of Justice to invalidate ordinary laws (such invalidation would need the unanimous approval of all 15 Justices on the Court; second, a law that would make it impossible for the High Court of Justice to impeach a sitting prime minister (he or she could still be removed by other means).
TODAY’S BLOG:
The Tel Aviv “Protests” Descend Into Anarchy
Your humble servant is a fan of old movies. Yesterday’s events in Tel Aviv reminded me of the original Frankenstein movie (1931) in which torch-holding townspeople who had been whipped into a frenzy stormed through town and up the hill to kill the “monster”:
A scene near the end of the movie Frankenstein (1931).
In last night’s case, hundreds of torch-bearing anti-government protesters stormed over police barricades to go out and block traffic on the Ayalon Freeway. They weren’t trying to kill anyone, but the target of their “protest” was clear: Benjamin Netanyahu.
It was sheer anarchy.
While some set bonfires in the streets–
Burning tires and other items in the streets.
— another man painted “Bibi is a traitor” on the freeway itself:
Click here to see the message.
Meanwhile the hundred thousand or so at ground zero in Tel Aviv left no doubt about why they were there with gigantic signs such as “Crime Minister” and this one:
Khomeini, Erdogan, Putin, and Orban; who is ringleader in the middle? Netanyahu. (By the way, think of the irony: who wants to shut down the nation? the people carrying the sign).
Virtually every sign targeted our Prime Minister:
This one compared Bibi to cocaine king Pablo Escobar.
Nothing about legal reforms.
Amidst the chaos, a number of anarchists were arrested–primarily those who bit or struck police officers.
The quotes at the top of this page today from Regev, Levin, and Netanyahu are all exactly correct. Anarchy has descended on the “protesters” who no longer have anything on their minds but the overthrow of the democratically elected government.
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.