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Democracies

December 7, 2022 By Bella Davidov Leave a Comment

US Democracy/Republic

Unlike the ancient Greek democracy, the US system is at its core, not a pure democracy, but a constitutional republic with democratic elections, as clearly stated in the U.S. Constitution: “The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican form of Government.” This differs from the original ancient Greek democracy, which the American founders believed to be a corrupt form of government. There are fundamental differences between pure democracy and constitutional republic forms of government.

The Difference between a Democracy and a Republic

The key difference between a democracy and a republic lies in the limits placed on government by the law, which has implications for minority rights. Both forms of government use a representational system, where citizens vote to elect politicians to represent their interests and form the government.

In a republic, a constitution, or charter of rights, protects certain inalienable rights that cannot be taken away by the government, even if it has been elected by a majority of voters.

In a so-called pure democracy, the majority is not restrained in this way. It can impose its will on the minority. It also differs from a representative democracy in which constituents choose leaders to govern according to their interests.

The US is a democratic republic that guarantees fundamental rights and liberties and features an electoral system combining direct elections for legislators and indirect voting (through an electoral college) for the President. 

Other Nations

Given that the US is a republic with democratic elections, Americans may not understand how it compares with other forms of government.

For example, unlike the United States, the United Kingdom has a constitutional monarchy that has democratic elections. Although the UK has a legislative system, its Parliament’s historical foundations are not entirely democratic. Whereas the House of Commons is an elected body, the House of Lords is hereditary, though its authority to originate legislation has been curtailed over the years. Yet, unlike Israel, its government is rarely delegitimized.

Some Muslim countries, like Malaysia, enshrine Islam as the national faith; citizens must be Muslim to be considered ethnic Malaysians. Even though they have constitutions and legislative bodies, certain rights and freedoms are subservient to Islamic law as applied by Sharia courts, and there is no separation between religion and state (which is seen as a purely western invention). 

The Knesset from the .gov site

Israel

Israel is a parliamentary democracy, consisting of legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Its institutions are the Presidency, the Knesset (parliament), the Government (cabinet), and the Judiciary.

The system is based on the principle of separation of powers, with checks and balances, in which the executive branch (the government) is subject to the confidence of the legislative branch (the Knesset) and the law guarantees the independence of the judiciary.

The President in this system has just a few symbolic duties, with no political power. Defined by law, his duties are mostly ceremonial and formal, such as ceremonially opening the first session of a new Knesset; accepting the credentials of foreign envoys; signing treaties and laws adopted by the Knesset; appointing judges, the governor of the Bank of Israel and heads of Israel’s diplomatic missions abroad. He can pardon prisoners and commute sentences, on the advice of the minister of justice.

The President is elected once in seven years by a simple majority of the Knesset from among candidates, nominated based on their personal stature and contribution to the state.

The Israeli parliament, The Knesset is the legislative authority elected in a general election.

The Knesset, through its committees, conducts general debates on government policy and activity, as well as on legislation. Debates are conducted in Hebrew, but members may speak Arabic, as both are official languages; simultaneous translation is available.

Every citizen is eligible to vote for the Knesset from age 18 and to be elected to the Knesset from age 21. Knesset elections, for a tenure of four years, are general, national, direct, equal, secret, and proportional, with the entire country constituting a single electoral constituency. The Knesset may dissolve itself or be dissolved by the Prime Minister before the end of its term. Until a new Knesset is formally constituted following elections, full authority remains with the outgoing one.

Knesset elections are based on a vote for a party rather than for individuals, and the many political parties, which compete for election to the Knesset, reflect a wide range of outlooks and beliefs. Knesset seats are assigned in proportion to each party’s percentage of the total national vote.

The Government (cabinet of ministers) is the executive authority of the state, charged with administering internal and foreign affairs, including security matters. Its policy-making powers are very wide and it is authorized to take action on any issue, which is not delegated by law to another authority. Like the Knesset, the government usually serves for four years, but its tenure may be shortened if the Prime Minister is unable to continue in office due to death, resignation, or impeachment when the government appoints one of its members (who is a Knesset member) as acting Prime Minister.

In the case of a vote of no confidence, the government and the Prime Minister remain in their positions until a new government is formed. All the ministers must be Israeli citizens and residents of Israel; they need not be Knesset members, but a majority usually are. Ministers, with the approval of the Prime Minister and the government, may appoint a deputy minister in their ministry; all deputy ministers must be Knesset members.

To date, all governments have been based on coalitions of several parties, since no party has received enough Knesset seats to be able to form a government by itself.

The Judiciary – Israeli law guarantees the absolute independence of the judiciary. Judges are appointed by the President, upon recommendation of a special nominations committee, comprised of Supreme Court judges, members of the bar, and public figures. Judges’ appointments are for life, with a mandatory retirement age of 70.

Filed Under: From the Newsletter, MainStoryWidget-right, Politics Tagged With: American Democracy, Democracies, government

Terror Attacks Since 2015 – a History

September 18, 2022 By Bella Davidov Leave a Comment

We ask for prayer against terror attacks especially during the holidays. Here is a partial history. So far this year (2022) 312 significant terror attacks were foiled and 2,110 arrests have been made. Operation Break the Wave has been instrumental in this effort.

The following is a list of major terror attacks against Israelis since September 13, 2015, the eve of Rosh Hashanah. This is a partial list that does not include most of the daily instances of riots, rock-throwing and Molotov cocktails in which no one was hurt.

2022

July 2022
135 terror attacks. Of these, 113 attacks took place in Judea and Samaria, 120 in Jerusalem and the Green Line and 2 in the Gaza Strip.

Three Israeli citizens were injured in the attacks, there were no fatalities:

  • July 5th, an Israeli man was stabbed in Givat Shaul.
  • July 15th, a Jewish woman was injured in a stone-throwing attack in Samaria.
  • July 19th, an Israeli man was wounded in a stabbing attack in Jerusalem.

The attacks included 1 stone-throwing incident, 75 firebomb attacks, 27 pipe bomb attacks and 15 incidents of small-arms fire. There were also 12 arson attacks and 2 assaults.

June 2022
189 terror attacks. 147 attacks took place in Judea and Samaria, 41 in Jerusalem and the Green Line and 1 from the Gaza Strip. The attacks included 2 assaults with knives, 117 firebomb attacks and 42 pipe bomb attacks. There were also 11 incidents of small-arms fire and 16 arson attacks.

Three civilians were injured in a shooting attack at Joseph’s Tomb on June 30th.

May 2022
208 terror attacks. Of these, 171 originated in Judea and Samaria and 37 in Jerusalem and the Green Line area. No terrorist attacks originated in the Gaza Strip. 

Four people were killed in the May attacks; an additional six were injured:

  • May 5th, Three people were killed and two others wounded in a stabbing assault in Elad.
  • May 13th, an Israeli security force officer was killed in a shooting in Burqin (Palestinian town in north Samaria).
  • May 8th, an Israeli security force officer was injured in a stabbing attack at the Damascus Gate in E. Jerusalem.
  • May 24th, Three Israelis were wounded (two moderately, another sustained minor injuries) from stone-throwing near Huwara, a Palestinian town in north Samaria.

April 2022
268 terror attacks. Of these, 217 originated in Judea and Samaria, 42 in Jerusalem and the Green Line area and 9 in the Gaza Strip.

  • April 7th, three Israeli civilians were killed and six injured in a shooting attack in Tel Aviv.
  • April 29th, an Israeli civilian was killed in a shooting attack in Ariel.
  • April 10th, an Israeli security forces officer was injured in a stabbing attack at the Tomb of the Patriarchs.
  • April 11th, two Israeli civilians were injured in a shooting attack at Joseph’s Tomb.
  • April 12th, an Israeli security forces officer was injured in a stabbing attack in Ashkelon.
  • April 15th, an Israeli civilian was injured in a stabbing attack in Haifa.

The attacks in April included 187 firebomb attacks, 35 pipe bomb attacks, 17 attacks using small firearms, 11 arson attacks and 2 assaults.

March 2022:
190 terror attacks. 11 people were killed (two young Israel Border Police officers, 2 Ukrainian nationalist and 7 Israeli citizens) 27 were injured.

February 2022:
187 terror attacks. An Israeli civilian and a member of the security forces were injured.

January 2022:
141 terror attacks. An Israeli civilian and a member of the security forces were injured.

2015-2021 Attacks

Since the beginning of the wave of Palestinian terrorism that started in October 2015, there were 620 attacks (483 in the form of firebombs) in one month. Eleven people (one foreign national and 10 Israelis) were killed that month and 80 were injured, 37 of them moderately or more severely (one foreign national, 18 Israeli civilians, and 18 members of the security forces).

2015

November 2015, 10 people (one Palestinian and 9 Israelis) were killed in terrorist attacks. Among the non-fatal casualties, 22 were wounded in stabbings (including 5 in Jerusalem and 10 within Israel), 24 in vehicle attacks, and 12 in shootings.

December 2015, 3 civilians were killed. All three of the fatalities were caused by stabbings.

2016

January 2016, 5 Israelis were killed in terrorist attacks. In the major shooting attack in Tel Aviv two civilians were killed in stabbing attack.

February 2016, 3 Israelis were killed in Arab terrorist attacks. In March 2016, terrorists killed one foreign national in a stabbing attack in Jaffa and injured 26, 9 of which were injured in the abovementioned stabbing attack.( Among the non-fatal casualties, 13 civilians and 13 security forces personnel were wounded.

April 2016, Arab terrorist attacks caused 18 non-fatal casualties, most of which (16) were injured in an IED (Improvised Explosive Devices) attack in Jerusalem on 18 April. In addition, on 3 April, one civilian was injured in a stabbing attack in Rosh HaAyin and one border-police member was injured in a firebomb attack in Isawiya (Jerusalem neighborhood).

May 2016, terrorist attacks did not result in any fatalities. However, 12 Israelis – 4 civilians and 8 security personnel – were injured.

June 2016, five Israelis were killed and 21 injured. Most of the fatalities were registered during the shooting in Tel Aviv on 8 June that left four dead and 15 wounded. An Israeli teenager was stabbed to death on 30 June in the Jewish neighborhood in Hebron, and another civilian was moderately injured. On June 24, 2 civilians were injured in a vehicle-ramming attack near Hebron; a member of the security forces in a firebomb attack in north Jerusalem, (29 June); 2 civilians in a stabbing attack in the Israeli city of Netanya on 30 June.

July 2016: 316 terrorist attacks; 1 person murdered and 17 injured. There were 6 stabbings or attempted stabbings, 6 shooting attacks, 1 ramming attack, 8 pipe/roadside bombs, 231 stone-throwing incidents, 51 petrol bombs. Several attacks occurred in Jerusalem; the rest in Judea and Samaria.

August 2016: 414 total attacks caused by an increase of stone-throwing (339 in number) 5 stabbings, 3 shooting, 9 pipe/roadside bombs, 34 Molotov cocktails bombs.

September 2016: 480 total attacks: 14 stabbings or attempted stabbings; 3 shootings; 1 ramming attack, 11 roadside bombs/grenades; 365 stone-throwing attacks, 63 Molotov cocktails.

October 2016: 410 total attacks: 6 stabbings or attempted stabbings; 10 shootings; 1 ramming attack, 10 roadside bombs/grenades; 265 stone-throwing attacks, 71 Molotov cocktails.

November 2016: 423 total attacks (mostly stone-throwing): 5 stabbings or attempted stabbings; 2 shootings; 0 ramming attacks, 12 roadside bombs/grenades; 346 stone-throwing attacks, 41 Molotov cocktails.

December 2016: 258 total attacks; 6 stabbings or attempted stabbings; 8 shootings; 1 ramming attack, 5 roadside bombs/grenades; 199 stone-throwing attacks, 27 Molotov cocktails.

2017

January 2017: 3 stabbings or attempted stabbings; 9 shootings; 2 ramming attacks, 9 roadside bombs/grenades; 293 stone-throwing attacks, 44 Molotov cocktails.

February 2017: 1 stabbing or attempted stabbing; 5 shootings; 1 ramming attack, 7 roadside bombs/grenades; 260 stone-throwing attacks, 53 Molotov cocktails.

March 2017: 10 stabbings or attempted stabbings; 3 shootings; 1 ramming attack, 2 roadside bombs/grenades; 243 stone-throwing attacks, 62 Molotov cocktails.

April 2017: 7 stabbings or attempted stabbings; 5 shootings; 2 ramming attacks, 4 roadside bombs/grenades; 218 stone-throwing attacks, 40 Molotov cocktails.

May 2017: 9 stabbings or attempted stabbings; 6 roadside bombs/grenades; 284 stone-throwing attacks, 63 Molotov cocktails; no shootings or ramming attacks.

June 2017: 5 stabbings or attempted stabbings; 6 roadside bombs/grenades; 131 stone-throwing attacks, 27 Molotov cocktails; 4 shootings; no ramming attacks.

July 2017: 5 stabbings or attempted stabbings; 14 roadside bombs/grenades; 210 stone-throwing attacks, 61 Molotov cocktails; 6 shootings; 2 ramming attacks.

August 2017: 3 stabbings/attempted stabbings; 7 roadside bombs/grenades; 128 stone-throwing attacks, 23 Molotov cocktails; 1 shooting; no ramming attacks.

September 2017: 1 stabbing/attempted stabbing; 5 roadside bombs/grenades; 135 stone-throwing attacks, 27 Molotov cocktails; 1 shooting; no ramming attacks.

October 2017: 3 stabbing/attempted stabbings; 4 roadside bombs/grenades; 170 stone-throwing attacks, 32 Molotov cocktails; 2 shootings; no ramming attacks.

November 2017: 2 stabbing/attempted stabbings; 1 roadside bomb/grenade; 207 stone-throwing attacks, 25 Molotov cocktails; 1 shooting; no ramming attacks.

December 2017: 3 stabbings/attempted stabbings; 9 roadside bomb/grenade; 478 stone-throwing attacks, 111 Molotov cocktails; 3 shooting; no ramming attacks.

2018

January 2018: Terrorist events –Total 332: resulting in one murder and 16 injured. The incidents included 2 stabbings/attempted stabbings; 2 shootings; 1 ramming attack; 4 roadside bombs; 251 stone-throwing attacks; 45 Molotov cocktails.

February 2018: Terrorist events –Total 384: 4 stabbings/attempted stabbings; 2 shootings; 4 roadside bombs; 283 stone-throwing; 49 Molotov cocktails.

March 2018: Terrorist events –Total 300: 2 stabbings/attempted stabbings; 6 shootings; 3 roadside bombs; 240 stone-throwing; 24 Molotov cocktails, 2 ramming attacks.

April 2018: Terrorist events –Total 386: 1 stabbing/attempted stabbing; 4 shootings; 17 roadside bombs; 216 stone-throwing; 33 Molotov cocktails, 0 ramming attacks.

May 2018: Terrorist events – Total 684 (including 190 rockets/mortar bombs): 10 shooting attacks, 2 attempted ramming attacks, 15 roadside bombs, 251 stone-throwing events; 134 fire kites.

June 2018: In Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria – Total 94 attacks: 14 IEDs; two small-arms shootings; 77 firebomb attacks; and one vehicular attack.
Gaza: 29 rocket-launching* attacks (with 76 launches).

July 2018: Terrorist events – 2 killed, 17 injured; 1 stabbing/attempted stabbing; 5 shooting attacks, 0 ramming attacks, 9 roadside bombs, 118 stone-throwing events; 202 arson terror events.

August 2018: Terrorist events: 24 injured; 1 stabbing/attempted stabbing; 2 shooting attacks, 0 ramming attacks, 10 roadside bombs, 125 stone-throwing events; 99 arson terror events (includes petrol bombs and incendiary kites/balloons).

September 2018: Terrorist events: 1 killed, 10 injured; 4 stabbing/attempted stabbing; 2 shooting attacks, 0 ramming attacks, 17 roadside bombs, 128 stone-throwing; 120 arson terror and petrol bombs.

October 2018: Terrorist events: 2 killed, 18 injured; 4 stabbing/attempted stabbing; 1 shooting attack, 0 ramming attacks, 19 roadside bombs, 138 stone-throwing; 139 arson terror and petrol bombs.

November 2018: Terrorist events: 2 killed, 12 injured; 4 stabbing/attempted stabbing; 5 shooting attacks, 1 ramming attack, 8 roadside bombs, 178 stone-throwing; 42 arson terror and petrol bombs.

December 2018: Terrorist events: 3 killed, 28 injured; 3 stabbing/attempted stabbing; 3 shooting attacks, 4 ramming attack, 8 roadside bombs, 270 stone-throwing; 30 arson terror and petrol bombs.

2019

January 2019: Terrorist events: 13 injured; 3 stabbings/attempted stabbings; 4 shooting attacks; 19 roadside bombs; 145 stone-throwings; 30 arson terror events.

February 2019: Terrorist events: 1 killed, 6 injured; 1 stabbing/attempted stabbing; 20 roadside bombs; 129 stone-throwing events; 35 arson terror events.

March 2019: Terrorist events: 2 killed, 24 injured; 2 stabbing/attempted stabbings; 1 shooting (together with stabbing); 1 ramming attack; 36 IEDs; 126 stone-throwing events; 55 arson terror events.

April 2019: April 2019 saw a significant drop in the number of terrorist attacks, compared to March: 126, as opposed to 308.

In Judea and Samaria, 88 attacks were executed in April, compared to 110 in March. 12 attacks took place in Jerusalem, as opposed to 15 in the preceding month. 

No attacks were executed within the Green Line in April, similarly to March. Finally, 26 attacks originated from the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula in April, down dramatically from 181 in March. 

There were no casualties from terrorist activity in April 2019.

May 2019: May 2019 saw a dramatic increase in the number of terrorist attacks, compared to April: 449, as opposed to 126. Out of these 449 attacks, 362 were instances of rocket fire from the Gaza Strip in the latest round of fighting. 

389 attacks originated from the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula in May, up from 26 in April. In Judea and Samaria, 50 attacks were executed in May, compared to 88 in April. 10 attacks took place in Jerusalem, as opposed to 12 in the preceding month. Finally, no attacks were executed within the Green Line in May, similarly to April. 

Four people were killed and ten were injured due to terrorist activity in May 2019.

June 2019: June 2019 saw a significant drop in the number of terrorist attacks, compared to May: 123, as opposed to 449. 

42 attacks originated from the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula in June, down dramatically from 389 in May. In Judea and Samaria, 63 attacks were executed, compared to 50 in May. 18 attacks took place in Jerusalem, as opposed to ten in the preceding month. Finally, no attacks were executed within the Green Line (Israel prober,) similarly to May.

There were no casualties from terrorist activity in June 2019.

July 2019: Five non-fatal casualties and no fatalities from terror attacks in July.

Five members of the security forces were wounded in a vehicle attack at the Hizme checkpoint in Binyamin (Judea.)

August 2019: Two people were killed and eight injured in terrorist attacks in August 2019.

September 2019: Seven people were injured (no fatalities) in terrorist attack.

October 2019: Two non-fatal civilian casualties and no fatalities from terror There were 108 attacks in Judea and Samaria. 

November 2019: Eleven non-fatal casualties, no fatalities. Overall, there were 159 attacks in Judea and Samaria.)

December 2019: There were 106 attacks in Judea and Samaria and Jerusalem. There were no casualties.

2020

January 2020: There were 225 terror attacks. There were three non-fatal casualties and no fatalities.

February 2020: There were 161 terror attacks from the Gaza Strip including 127 instances of shelling (rockets and mortars). 171 terror attacks were carried out in Jerusalem and the West Bank. There were 16 non-fatal casualties and no fatalities.

March 2020: There were two rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip during March. 87 terror attacks were carried out in Jerusalem and the West Bank. Of these, 79 were bomb attacks (Firebombs and pipe bombs.) There were 5 non-fatal casualties and no fatalities.

April 2020: There was a single incident of small-arms fire from the Gaza Strip. 71 terror attacks were carried out in Jerusalem and the West Bank. Of these, 66 were bomb attacks (Firebombs and pipe bombs.) There were 4 non-fatal casualties and no fatalities.

May 2020: A single rocket was launched from the Gaza Strip into Israel. 80 terrorist attacks were carried out in Jerusalem and the West Bank. Of these, 66 were firebombs. There were also two knifing attacks. There were two casualties, one of which was a fatality.

June 2020: Four rockets and one mortar were launched from the Gaza Strip. 91 Terror attacks took place in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria. Of these, 70 were firebomb attacks. There were also 12 cases of arson and two stabbings. Three people were injured in the terror attacks; there were no fatalities.

July 2020: Two rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip and a total of 92 terror attacks took place in Jerusalem and the West Bank. Of these, 61 were firebomb attacks and 14 were pipe bomb attacks. There were no casualties or fatalities in July.

August 2020: 120 terror attacks, compared to 94 in the previous month. A civilian was killed in a stabbing attack in Petah Tikva (a city in Israel), 6 others were wounded. 106 terror attacks took place in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria.) Of these, 85 were firebomb attacks, 6 pipe bomb attacks. There were also two terror attacks using firearms. 25 rockets were launched at Israel from the Gaza Strip, 5 incidents of small arms fire and one IED.

September 2020: 100 terror attacks. There were no fatalities, although five people were injured, including two members of the security forces. The three civilians were injured by rocket fire from Gaza into Ashdod.

86 terror attacks took place in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria. Of these, 70 were firebomb attacks. There was one stabbing attack, one vehicular attack and eight arson attacks. Six rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip into Israel; there were also seven firebomb attacks.

October 2020: 124 terror attacks. No fatalities resulted from these attacks, but two members of the security forces were injured in a pipe bomb explosion in Nablus. 117 attacks took place in Jerusalem and the West Bank in October. Of these, there were 95 incidents of firebombing, 14 of pipe bombing and six arson attempts. Of the seven attacks emanating from the Gaza Strip, four were rocket attacks.

November 2020: 83 terror attacks. There were no fatalities or casualties.

December 2020: 98 terror attacks. There was one fatality: An Israeli citizen was killed in an assault near the settlement Tal Menashe in Judea on December 20th. In addition, a member of the security forces sustained slight injuries in a firebomb attack in Issawiya on December 15th.

2021

January 2021: 131 terror attacks, with one person injured and no fatalities

February 2021: 92 terror attacks. One person was injured and there were no fatalities.

March 2021: 89 terror attacks, resulting in 5 non-fatal casualties and no fatalities.

April 2021: 130 terror attacks took place in April; there were no fatalities or casualties.

May 2021: Approximately 4500 rockets were launched from Gaza, targeting Israeli civilian facilities in cities, towns and villages. Major cities were also targeted, including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. A total of fifteen people were killed in terror-related incidents during May; of these, thirteen were directly related to the rocket arracks from Gaza. In addition, there were 168 non-fatal injuries during the round of fighting and other terror incidents.

June 2021: 185 terror attacks. Of these, 37 originated in the Gaza Strip. The attacks resulted in one non-fatal casualty.

July 2021: 142 terror attacks. These resulted in two non-fatal casualties; there were no fatalities.

August 2021: 142 terror attacks. One member of the security forces was killed in a shooting attack from the Gaza Strip on August 30th, a civilian was moderately injured in a stone-throwing attack in Binyamin on August 31st.

September 2021: 251 terror attacks. These resulted in no fatalities and six non-fatal casualties.

October 2021: 159 terror attacks. One person was injured, there were no fatalities.

November 2021: 142 terror attacks. One Israeli and eight others were injured.

December 2021: 137 terror attacks. One Israeli civilian was killed and six others were injured.

Filed Under: From the Newsletter, MainStoryWidget-right, Terrorism Tagged With: Attacks, Rosh Hashanna, Terrorism

URGENT! Israel Needs Your Prayers

December 11, 2019 By Bella Davidov Leave a Comment

Why is there no functioning government in Israel, and why is Israel going for yet another election, the third in one year?

Surely I will gather the children of Israel from every side and bring them into their own land; and I will make them one nation in the land… of Israel…they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again.“ Ez. 37:21-22

Knesset
The Knesset

After the second and most recent election, the major candidates, Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White leader Benny Gantz were unable to form a coalition government. There was a period of 21 days in which any Knesset member could be given the mandate to form a government, provided he was able to get 61 Knesset members to back him up. This period of time will end at midnight, December 11th. In the event no one is successful in gaining the required 61-member support, the Knesset will have to dissolve itself and the country will hold new elections.

The Knesset in session.
The Knesset in session.

Netanyahu has no plans to resign as PM of Israel despite the series of criminal indictments against him. This tough leader is standing strong, proclaiming his innocence while his opponents from the left, from the media and even from his own party, attack him relentlessly in an attempt to force him to step down. In the last two elections, Netanyahu didn’t receive the sufficient majority necessary to form a coalition but did receive enough votes to validate him as the Israeli politician with the strongest block.

Israeli basic law does not require a prime minister to step down while under indictment, nor his resignation if convicted, but only after all appeals are exhausted. Under the law, he remains innocent until proven otherwise in a courtroom after all appeals are exhausted. His opponents maintain that the reason he wants to stay in power as PM is to receive immunity, while he maintains the reason he wants to remain PM for at least the next 5 months is because he considers himself most qualified to lead the state of Israel in this period of critical security challenges and strategic opportunities with Iran and Hezbollah looming.

PM Netanyahu
PM Netanyahu

Netanyahu’s main concern is the challenges of the belligerent Iranian dictatorship that continues to threaten Israel’s very existence. There are also opportunities that include a strong and productive relationship with the most pro-Israel American president in US history. Astonishingly, even after Israel’s Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit announced his intention to formally indict the PM, Netanyahu continued to conduct business as usual on all fronts, and deal with repeated military actions launched against Israel from Gaza and Syria. Simultaneously he conducts ongoing diplomatic meetings with world statesmen and asserts Israel’s interest in Judea and Samaria.

A week ago, Netanyahu said, “I spoke yesterday with President Trump, a very important conversation for Israel’s security. We talked about Iran, but we also talked at length about historic opportunities that stand before us in the coming months. Among them are the official annexation of the Jordan Valley as the recognized eastern border of the State of Israel, as well as a defense treaty with the United States; things we could only dream of previously, but now we have the opportunity to realize.”

Under Netanyahu’s leadership, as he conducted talks with world leaders to advance Israel’s strategic interests even when strong statements were necessary, Israel has emerged in the last 10 years as one of the world’s most influential nations. Israel today is considered to be the 8th world superpower. Netanyahu doesn’t want to lose this momentum. This is the time of the window of opportunities for Israel, this is the time of Trump. It is the most valuable time for Israel in its 72-year history. President Trump in a very short time, has done what no other US president has done for Israel;

  • moved the American Embassy to Jerusalem,
  • pulled out of the bad Iranian deal,
  • cut off aid to the Palestinian Authority and UNRAH,
  • acknowledged Israel’s right to the Golan Heights and settlements in Judea and Samaria.

Now Trump expects Israel to do her part, take action against Iran and Turkey and stand firm against the Palestinian Authority and Gaza. For this Israel needs a strong leader and a stable government.

In the past 21 days, there were meetings between Likud and Blue and White without results. Each accusing the other of unwillingness to compromise. Likud officials, however, accused Blue and White of continuous refusal to accept Likud’s “far-reaching concessions”, mostly that Netanyahu will serve first as PM for only 6 months instead of a year, with Gantz taking over for the next year and a half. Blue and White refused, claiming it didn’t fit Netanyahu’s legal status.

Benny Gantz
Benny Gantz

Blue and White also complained that Netanyahu refused to commit not to seek personal immunity in his corruption cases. Netanyahu accused Gantz of giving in to his partner, Yair Lapid, who wouldn’t permit him to form a joint government with Netanyahu, believing it would be a betrayal of their very reason for existing – anything but Bibi. So, this Wednesday at midnight (Israel time), if a miracle does not happen, the 22nd Knesset is expected to disperse, and Israelis will once again, for the third time this year go to elections. This means that Benjamin Netanyahu will continue to serve as prime minister for at least another five months as the head of a transitional government.

The miracle would be if Netanyahu were able to convince Avigdor Liberman in the last moment. “I am calling on Avigdor Liberman to undertake negotiations in ‘high gear’ in the 48 hours we have left to establish a strong unity government for Israel,” Netanyahu’s tweeted yesterday.

Meanwhile, the Knesset was voting Wednesday on a fast-tracked piece of legislation that would allow lawmakers to dissolve parliament and hold elections on March 2, 2020. If the bill isn’t passed by midnight, new elections will automatically be set for March 10.

Filed Under: From the Newsletter, MainStoryWidget-right Tagged With: PM Netanyahu, politics, President Trump

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Protest Demonstrations in Israel

Unrest in Israel

The battle rages in Israel between the left that lost the elections and the new right-wing government. Thousands of Israelis took to the streets last Saturday evening to protest plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s new government whose opponents say threaten democracy and freedoms. The protesters gathered in the central city of Tel Aviv days […]

The Override Law

November 18, 2022

God’s kingdom is not a democracy. He is the Supreme Judge and we must abide by His rules and law. We affirm, "the world is filled with His glory." We … [Read More...] about The Override Law

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