Politics

Understanding the NEW Israeli Government

June 4, 2021 By Bella Davidov Leave a Comment

Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.
And because lawlessness will abound,
the love of many will grow cold.
But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
Matthew 24:11-13 NKJV

In the last election on March 23, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Likud party won the most seats (30) but together with his right-wing allies, THIS was not enough to form a coalition. Consequently, the mandate to try to form a government went to Lapid.

Yesterday, Lapid announced he had the Knesset’s confidence to swear in a government, thus potentially unseating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Yamina leader Naftali Bennett agreed to join Lapid and would be the first to serve as Prime Minister in a rotation deal. Ra’am, the kingmaker Arab party, signed on the bloc at the last moment.

Hence, the so-called “change coalition”, which is based on left-wing parties as well as some right-wing factions and lawmakers that parted ways with Netanyahu, have – at least on paper – enough votes in the Knesset to win a plenum vote that would end the premiership of Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving Prime Minister of more than 12 consecutive years on top of another three years in the 1990s.

But Netanyahu still has about a week to convince enough MKs (Parliament Members) in the “change coalition” to vote against it, thus preventing a swearing-in. As the saying goes: “it’s not over until it’s over.”

Understanding the New Want-to-be Israeli Government

When the children of Israel left slavery in Egypt to become a nation and enter and possess the Promised Land, they had two types of leaders. There was “prophetically-inspired Moses” who was loving but stern, following God’s lead in what the people of Israel needed and not what they wanted. And there was “Aaron,” A people-pleaser who listened to the desires of the people of Israel and fulfilled them by making the Golden Calf.

Today, Naftali Bennett, the head of Yamina is neither of the above.
Bennett has little public support and no legitimacy to serve as prime minister (he wasn’t voted in by the majority of the people.) In the last election, he got only 7 seats compared to Netanyahu who got 30 seats.
Nonetheless, he has convinced himself that he is a figure of historic Biblical proportions.

Bennett claims that everything he does is for the sake of “My People”. This is the recurring theme of his social media posts and interviews:
“When I see “my people” suffering because of leadership failures, I cannot stand idly by; I love my people; My people are hurt, and I will dedicate my whole life to healing the wound.” These statements are a justification for his lies and betrayal.

According to Bennett, not only is the Likud, under the leadership of PM Netanyahu, the only reason behind all that ails the people of Israel, but everything will be “fixed” only once he becomes PM.

The Yamina leader may soon become a Prime Minister with little public support (as we said, 7 seats he received from mostly right-wing voters). His voters are now remorseful and feel betrayed as they believed his platform of not sitting in government with the anti-Zionist Arab representatives. “His people” – the people of Israel – have become irrelevant and are ignored (the majority of Israelis are right-wing and voted for Netanyahu.)

To form a government, a party leader usually needs the support of a 61-seat majority in the Knesset (Israeli parliament) and a vote of confidence. When no one party has a majority, a coalition is built with smaller parties, sometimes from opposite sides of the spectrum.

Currently, the anti-Netanyahu bloc, composed of small mostly left-wing parties, appears to have the edge. Some small parties were originally right in ideology but are acting like the left, although some right-wing MKs in the bloc may eventually defect back to the right block.
As of now, there is

Center-left: Yesh Atid with17 seats (its leader Lapid will be next PM in rotation after Bennett,);
Center-left: Blue-white with 8 seats; Yamina (originally Right) with 7 seats;
Israel Beiteinu: – lost their Right identity, mainly anti-Bibi – with 7 seats;
Labor: Left with 7 seats;
New Hope: – Right in ideology but mainly anti-bibi with 6 seats; and
Meretz: – Extreme left – with 6 seats.

These parties total 58 seats and they are claiming to be able to form the 61 seat government.

Yet, to pass any legislature, Bennett’s government would need the support of Ra’am, the anti-Zionist, left Arab Muslim party.Read more about Ra’am in this article.

How did these parties ever come together?

The new prospective (“Mish-Mash”) coalition’s diverse members share little in common apart from the desire to end the 12-year run of Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving leader of right-wing administrations.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Sunday that Yamina leader Naftali Bennett’s decision to partner with the Left to form a so-called “change government” would spell disaster for Israel and was a form of betrayal of the Right.

He addressed Bennett directly: “Naftali, your values are not even light-weight; not a single person would have voted for you had they known what you were planning to do (join the Left and the anti-Zionist Arabs).”

Naphtali Bennett shrewdly hid his true intentions while preparing for this moment when he revealed, by his actions that his party “Yamina” is Yamina In name only (Yamina means “to the right” in Hebrew.) Bennett has abandoned his right-wing ideology and is going to the left instead.

Apart from a handful of Yamina supporters, the vast majority of those who are backing Bennett and his latest moves are supporters of Labor, Meretz, and Yesh Atid. The left-wing parties will be happy to see him as Prime Minister, allowing them to have major offices in the new government, especially Labor and Meretz who hardly passed in the last elections.

On Sunday, for the first time, Bennett ripped off his mask and told everyone the truth, including the journalists and media people who followed him. As of now, it seems that most members of his small party will follow him, unless at the last minute some may have a bit of value or ideology left in them to leave. Here is an account of one of them:
“I did everything I could in recent months so that the Yamina Knesset list would garner a significant number of votes in the elections and Naftali Bennett would be Israel’s Prime Minister. I believed in him, his integrity, and his love for Israel and Zionism, and I supported him with all my might… Yet this is not the path. He said loudly and clearly: “I won’t be Prime Minister with 10 mandates. That [is] not moral, and it’s not democratic” (Amichai Chikli, an MK as part of the Yamina faction.

He is right. The premiership should express massive -+ public support we didn’t earn.

Every decision he makes as Prime Minister will require the de facto approval of the Yesh Atid party (that is on rotation bases co-partner in premiership), a party that is three times as large as Yamina but shares none of its founding principles [platform]- neither questions of the relationship between the legislative and judicial authorities or questions of policy or public security.

There is no real agreement on issues concerning the State of Israel’s DNA either (Zionism). Yesh Atid identifies with President Reuven Rivlin’s talk of a “collection of tribes” and opposes the nation-state law (the State of Israel’s definition of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people). Yamina, on the other hand, supports it, accusing PM Netanyahu of spreading fake news about him, Bennett said:

“Bibi’s spin is an absolute lie. These are my principles for the next government:

Lapid will not be prime minister. I am a man of the Right, as are a majority of the voters (even though they gave Netanyahu 30 and Lapid 17).
The next government that will be established will be a right-wing government that cares [about its voters].”

In retrospect, it turns out the spin was Yamina’s (Bennett): allowing, on a rotation basis, Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid will be prime minister (after Bennett’s 2 years), and although a majority of Yamina’s voters are members of the Right, the government that will be a Left, Center-left government, with the addition of a few “fig leaves” from the Right. (Bennett’s Party) Yamina broke a majority of its promises to voters, through the gross violation of the most basic of democratic codes: Tell the truth to voters and make an honest effort to meet your commitments to them.

Now for the significance of the decision to establish a left-wing government – from a societal standpoint, this is in no way a “unity” government, but rather a government that excludes over a million right-wing voters.

Now that Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked (his second in command ) two self-proclaimed “leaders”) who started as ideological Right-wing (hence the name Yamina, “to the right”) defected from their home base to form a leftist government supported by anti-Zionist, pro-Palestinian Arab parties, what could be the national consequences of their move?

The Danger from Outside

The ministers in this new government who support the Biden administration’s Middle East policies will hold an absolute majority.

Iran. The Biden administration’s commitment to returning the US to the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran leads only in one direction. Biden’s Iran policy guarantees that Iran will achieve its goals of developing A nuclear arsenal by 2030, after receiving billions of dollars in cash payments in the form of sanctions relief and new lines of credit. This will aid the Khomeinist regime’s ambition to deepen its control over Yemen, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, to expand its war against Saudi Arabia while compelling the Gulf States and maybe even Jordan to surrender. After that, it will target Egypt and the Sisi government in order to replace it with Muslim Brotherhood leadership. Unfortunately, unlike the former Trump and Netanyahu governments, the Left-wing west, including the US and the new Israeli government is too naïve to see or understand the above scenario and even support it.

The leftist government that Bennett and Shaked are about to form will not be able to oppose Biden’s policies because most of its cabinet ministers support those policies.

The Abraham Accords. And this spells the demise of the Abraham Accords. The rationale behind those peace deals was faith in Israel’s willingness to confront Iran even in defiance of the US. Once that is gone, the Abraham Accords will not be able to survive.

The Biblical Heartland – Judea and Samaria. As far as the territories in Judea and Samaria, also known as the West Bank, the leftist government that Bennett and Shaked are now forming will allow for the Palestinian Authority’s complete seizure of Area C (area controlled by Israel,) which the Palestinians have undertaken with funding by left-wing international organizations, endangering Israel’s strategic interests and imperiling its communities. Most of the members of a mostly left government will object to any steps to secure Israel’s rights and strategic interests in the territories. Not only are they themselves ideologically committed to undermining Israel’s rights in Judea and Samaria, but they also will never dare to defy the Biden administration, which supports Palestinian control over the area. Israeli PM Netanyahu could have stood against Biden as he stood firm against Obama.

Hamas and Gaza. Under the leftist government, Hamas will rebuild its military capabilities in a matter of months. With the economic and political support from the Biden administration, the EU, and the UN, Hamas will be able to import all the building materials and other products it requires without limitations. Here too, a majority of the cabinet members support the US plan to “rebuild Gaza” for “humanitarian” reasons, unaware of Hamas’ strategy to use these materials to rebuild its underground “Metro” of tunnels to infiltrate Israel to kill Israeli citizens and/or kidnap Israeli soldiers.

The Danger From Within

In the international arena, the establishment of a left-wing government that includes those who side with the International Criminal Court will be yet another blow to the nationalist-conservative parties. We can expect to see victorious rejoicing in [Biden’s] Washington, Ramallah, the Gaza Strip, and above all else, Iran. (They will be happy to see strong right-wing Netanyahu go.)

The new government can be formed only with the support of the anti-Zionist Muslim Arab party Ra’am, which has expressed the desire for Israel to be a nation of all its citizens and not only a state of the Jews. [Please check our blog about the Nation State law in Israel.]

When it comes to the balance of power between the legislative and judicial branches, the State Attorney’s Office and the judicial branch will be handed a victory. The justices of the Supreme Court (mostly left-wing) and attorneys in the Attorney General’s office and state prosecution, WHOSE aim is to have complete power over the Knesset and Government offices, supported by a large majority of ministers in the leftist government now being formed, will be able to exercise unchallenged authority over all aspects of public life. The chance of restoring the powers of Israel’s elected leaders and returning sovereignty to the people will be gone the minute this government is sworn into office.

This is going to be (if it happens AT all) the most radical and weakest government Israel has ever known.

A Little History

In 1990, in rotation with Yitzhak Shamir (right-wing) Shimon Peres (left-wing) secured the signatures of 61 MKs to set up a government with himself as PM. At a celebratory Knesset session, convened to swear in the new government, two members who had promised to back Peres failed to show up. Mr. Peres announced his intention to make peace negotiations with Palestinians his new government’s top priority. The defectors opposed a government that depended on Arab members of parliament for support, and also rejected the return of occupied land in exchange for peace. Peres failed to get the needed 61 MKs to form a coalition, so the Right remained in power for another two years.

We hope and pray that it will happen again, with one difference. Back then, it was Peres and the Left who were subverting the Right. Today, it’s Naftali Bennett, from the Right who is willing to hand over power to the Left.

Who is the Ra’am Party – and How Did They Join The New Government?

June 4, 2021 By Bella Davidov Leave a Comment

Ra’am is the Islamist party in Israel. The charter that guides Ra’am, the Islamist party representing the Arab citizens of Israel, demands the Right of Return for Palestinian refugees, saying “there can be no allegiance” to Israel, and deems Zionism a “racist, occupying project.”

Ra’am is the political wing of the Southern Islamic Movement, an organization inspired by the Muslim Brotherhood. It was updated in 2018 and reviewed at a 2019 conference in Nazareth, which was reportedly chaired by Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas. The Southern Islamic Movement’s charter takes positions considered offensive to most Jewish Israelis.

The Charter states furthermore:
“The State of Israel was born of the racist, occupying Zionist project; iniquitous Western and British imperialism; and the debasement and feebleness of the Arab and Islamic [nations].”

It calls for the so-called right of return for Palestinian refugees who left or were expelled in 1948 (in very small numbers.)

Such a move is widely seen as a red line by most Zionist Israelis, who view an influx of potentially millions of Palestinians to Israel as spelling the demographic end of the Jewish state. (Palestinian refugees are the only refugees in the world, who were not absorbed by the other countries through the years, and who consider their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren also refugees.)

Ra’am embraces a two-state solution as a possible framework, declaring that a Palestinian state ought to be established “alongside Israel” in the West Bank, Gaza, and Jerusalem. But it notes that a right of return for Palestinians must be included in that agreement.

The charter also states: “We all (Arabs) are [united as] one hand until the occupation ends and a Palestinian state is established in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and in noble Jerusalem; when the expelled and displaced return to their homes and their homeland.”

As Kingmaker in forming the new coalition, the Arabs used the principle in Islam called “Tkiya” that allows the minority to outwardly pretend to be part of the majority when in a hostile environment but inwardly remain in opposition all the while awaiting the opportunity time to take advantage of the majority for their purpose.

Hence, Mansour Abbas has used this “Tkiya” principle to join the Israeli Jewish coalition Government by taking advantage of Lapid and Bennett’s great desire to replace Netanyahu as Prime Minister at any price. The New would-be Israeli “government-of- change” government’s commitment to this Islamist party could be Zionist’s bankruptcy:

Ra’am has unveiled its coalition agreement with Yesh Atid, making it the first time in decades that an Arab party has joined the Israeli government coalition.

Show Me The Money

As part of the agreement, this Muslim Arab party in Israel demanded and received 30 billion shekels (about 9.25 billion dollars,) for a plan aiming to integrate the Arab sector and another 2.5 billion shekels (about 770 million dollars) for a plan to reduce crime in the Arab sector. In addition, 20 billion shekels (about 6 billion dollars) for a ten-year plan to improve infrastructure in the Arab sector, and 500 million shekels (about 150 million dollars) spending money for “supporting the local authorities.” The total amount is a little over 16 billion dollars. These are staggering amounts to grant a small party of 4 seats. Also, within a month and a half, three unrecognized (illegal) Bedouin “villages” will be recognized and become legal, and the rest (unknown number) within the next 9 months.

Missionary Law in Israel

April 28, 2021 By Bella Davidov Leave a Comment

Israel is a Jewish and Democratic state, and as such its laws reflect both the Jewish Rabbinic traditions, as well as the obligation to international norms regarding human rights and freedoms. The courts and law enforcement authorities uphold the right of freedom of expression and freedom of religion for minority groups in Israel. A precedent was established when judges ruled that: “The spread of opinions by way of distribution of flyers to passersby in public places deserves special recognition and protection of the court…”

Questions regarding missionary activity in Israel usually concern Christian organizations, or Messianic Jewish groups, such as Jews for Jesus. The reason is that these believers often see evangelizing Israel as a fundamental expression of their faith.

In Israel, it is legal to express one’s worldview, including religious beliefs, even if they are not accepted by the majority of the public. The exception to this rule is what is known in Israel as the “Missionary Law.” The “law” is actually composed of two separate sections of the Israeli criminal code:

Section 174 of the Penal Code – 1977 forbids a person to entice another to change his or her religion in exchange for material benefits (such as financial support and/or donations, helping feed and clothe the poor, or in any way give charity while evangelizing.)
Section 368 of the Penal Code forbids persuading or encouraging a minor (under the age of 18) to change his or her religion. This law prohibits conducting any ceremony for a minor to change religion without the consent of both parents.

The Israeli Declaration of Independence, signed by David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first Prime Minister and the nation’s founding fathers, states the following:

“Israel will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture; it will safeguard the Holy Places of all religions; and it will be faithful to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.”

In 1992, the Knesset (the Israeli parliament) passed the Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty, which declares Israel as a “Jewish and Democratic” State. The Israeli Supreme Court ruled that basic human rights–such as the right of freedom of religion and conscience, as well as freedom of speech and expression–are protected in Israel since they are an inherent part of a person’s dignity as a human being.

Demographic statistics of the population in Israel

Israel’s population is estimated at 9,300,000 residents. Out of these, close to 7,000,000 (about 74% of the total population) are confirmed Jews. 1,966,000 (about 21.1%) are Arabs and 467,000 (5.0%) are considered Others.

Those identified as “Others” include; non-Arab Christians, Seventh-Day Adventists Bahai’s, Samaritans. Other “Others” are Karaite Jews, Messianic Jews, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and immigrants from the former Soviet Union. They identify themselves as Jews but do not satisfy the Orthodox Rabbinical Authorities’ definition of “Jewish” which the Israeli government uses for civil procedures.

The Jewish (recognized as such by the government) population of Israel can be divided into three groups: Orthodox, Traditional, and Secular. Secular Jews make up 41.4% of the Jewish population, Traditional Jews 38.5% of the population, 20% are Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox. In Israel, the Reform and Conservative movements are estimated to make up 7.6% of the Jewish population, a significantly lower number compared to the Jewish diaspora.

Secular Jews

Secular Jews make up a little over 40% of the Jewish population. They identify themselves as Jewish, but not in a religious way and many don’t even believe in God. Many secular Jews practice certain aspects of the religion, such as celebrating the traditional Passover evening meal with family and friends, and/or observing the day of Yom Kippur by fasting and even attending synagogue services. They may even have Friday evening/ Saturday meals with the lighting of candles and blessing the wine and bread, but would drive afterward and light a cigarette. Secular Jews are largely supporters of the Israeli Labor Party and a Secular Zionist state.

Traditional Jews make up about 30% of the Jewish population in Israel.Many of these “traditional Jews” differ from the Orthodox only by less severe observance of the Rabbinic laws. As far as political involvement, many traditional Jews join the Likud political party (the largest party headed by PM Benyamin Netanyahu) or the Sephardic (Jews from Middle East countries) religious party, Shas. they are often seen wearing knitted Kippahs (a small brimless cap.)

30% of the Jewish population identifies as Orthodox (“dati”) or “ultra-Orthodox” (“Haredi”).Politically, they join one of the major religious parties, such as Torah Judaism (Yahadut HaTorah, mainly Ashkenazi, Jews from eastern and western Europe.) Orthodox Jews also wear Kippas, not necessarily knitted.

The ultra-Orthodox (Charedi) is the smallest part of the population, representing only 12% of Jews living in Israel. The Charedim tend to live in their own communities, observing stricter Jewish law by following moral and dress codes passed down from many generations. This part of the population is seen wearing black hats and black Kippahs, and include some Hasidic (sect of ultra-orthodox Jews).

The Arab Population in Israel

Among the 17% of the Arab population in Israel (citizens,) 83% are Muslims, 9% are Arab Christians (mostly Nominal) 8% are Druze. About 10% of the ones who consider themselves Muslims are secular, about 30% are traditional – not so religious. About 50% are religious and 9% are very religious.

Enforcing the Messianic Law

There have been cases where the police detained people accused of illegal missionary activity in Israel, but no one has been charged or sentenced according to these laws. Thus, the authorities’ anti-missionary activity is largely in the form of border controls by the immigration authorities and through the Ministry of Interior’s limitations on aliyah (Jewish immigration to Israel) for missionary activists or those suspected of being involved in missionary activity in Israel.

The Israeli border control immigration officers are authorized to approve or refuse entry to Israel for foreign visitors who wish to enter the country as tourists. The border control officials have a wide range of discretion when making the crucial decision to deny entry to a potential visitor. In July 2017, the Ministry of Interior published an updated list of reasons that may cause denial of entry to Israel. Suspicion of missionary activity was also placed on this list for the first time in 2017.

It has happened that tourists have been expelled due to allegations of missionary activity. These cases usually involve participation in a public missionary campaign with a high-profile organization. This activity may attract resistance from the local public and complaints to the police. Although the allegations may be false, it is extremely difficult to stop the expulsion process once it starts.

The Ministry of Interior is particularly suspicious of Christians and Messianic Jews in relation to aliyah to Israel. It is therefore recommended to receive legal counsel prior to starting such a process. Regardless of the legally grey zone surrounding these issues, a person actively engaging in missionary activity in Israel will almost certainly be denied the right to immigrate. This is because Christian proselytizing is considered contrary to the purpose of the Law of Return.

In accordance with the Law of Return, any Jewish person (or descendant of a Jewish person up until the third generation) is entitled to obtain citizenship as a new Oleh (new immigrant) of Israel, so long as they did not convert to another religion. In general, the State of Israel considers Messianic Jews to be Christians, and so, any Jew in the Messianic stream of Judaism is deemed a convert to Christianity. Thus, aliyah becomes very difficult for a Jew who embraces faith in Yeshua (Jesus). That said, there is no legal prohibition against someone who is not Jewish according to Jewish Rabbinic Law (does not have a Jewish mother) making Aliyah if the father has a Jewish mother. This applies even if they are part of another religion, as long as they did not convert. This applies also to Messianic Jews whose mother converted to Christianity before they were born.

Israel’s New Governmental Crisis

April 20, 2020 By Bella Davidov Leave a Comment

What’s going on in Israel?

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” I Tim 2:1-4

God said that whatever can be shaken will be shaken. Our world is being shaken and we seem to be losing control of our lives. At this time and in this situation, we must stay on the Rock of Salvation, Yeshua/Jesus, meaning Salvation in Hebrew. He is our anchor. Just a few months ago we could fly to other countries, visit friends and relatives, near and far, whenever and wherever we wanted. Now, no more. We are locked-down, and all because of a tiny virus. So many things are uncertain – the economy, jobs, schools, even governments.

Before the coronavirus crisis, Israel’s economic condition was very good, but now no one can predict how the economy will recover, even though efforts are being made to salvage it. Israel needs a strong and stable economy based on a strong and stable government.

After the March 2nd election, Gantz was granted the first chance to form a government, and the only way he could have done so was with the Joint Arab List (anti-Zionist, pro-Palestinian leaders of the Arab-Israeli citizens) backing him. Although his supporters were deeply divided, they were united in their ‘Just Not Bibi’ (PM Netanyahu) platform. Gantz immediately started attempts to recommend legislation that would have disqualified the indicted Netanyahu from serving as Prime Minister in the future. Some members of his bloc, who opposed allowing the Arab Joint list to be a part of the bloc pulled out, leaving Gantz with less than the 61 members needed to form a coalition.

With the increase of the coronavirus crisis, and his three-faction alliance crumbling, Gantz made a surprise move by accepting PM Netanyahu’s call to form a joint government to deal with the pandemic. After several meetings, Gantz and Netanyahu have not been able to agree on several issues:

Even with fewer elected members than the Likud, Gantz demanded equal members from his bloc to receive major offices, including the Justice Office.
Another major disagreement was Netanyahu’s insistence that sovereignty be declared as soon as possible to implement part of President Trump’s Plan that gives Israel sovereignty over parts of Judea and Samaria. Two members of Netanyahu’s bloc threatened to leave and move to the opposition if he gave in to Gantz on this issue.
A most important issue was Gantz and his party’s attempt to replace the committee with its current judges (who were appointed by former and present ministers of Justice – right wing) with a law giving the Knesset (that includes members of the left) the right to appoint new judges to the Supreme Court, which Netanyahu and his bloc oppose. That would give the Supreme Court even more power than it already has to overrule government decisions. (The Court objects to the development of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria.)

With the expiration of Gantz’s mandate to form a government, the just and fair thing President Rivlin could have done was to ask Netanyahu to form a government, which is common practice when the first person assigned fails to do so. Instead, he gave the Knesset 21 days to form a government by choosing any member it thinks could get the support of at least 61 members. If this fails, then the Knesset will dissolve itself and a fourth election will ensue.

As it stands now, it is unlikely that any member has enough support to form a government, so elections are most likely. Netanyahu’s party and the right bloc hope that this time they can win over Gantz’s reduced Blue & White party.

However, elections will cost the nation a lot of money, which it can hardly afford now that it continues to deal with the coronavirus pandemic crisis.

Meanwhile, talks between Likud and Blue & White resumed this morning even after the task of the Knesset to name a Prime Minister wen to the Knesset, in the hope that they will be able to finally form a coalition and avoid a 4th election.

However, Likud negotiators warn Blue & White that proposing the legislation aimed at preventing Netanyahu from serving as PM will result in the immediate termination of the negotiations.

Please, your prayers are urgently needed. We ask God to grant our leaders direction, discernment and understanding, to ultimately carry out God’s purposes. We acknowledge God’s sovereignty and supreme authority, and ask that the leader would ultimately carry out His will and purposes.

“There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the LORD’s counsel—that will stand.” Proverbs 19:21 NKJ

Two Roadblocks to a Unity Government

April 20, 2020 By Bella Davidov Leave a Comment

At present, the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) is still an interim government. However, the coronavirus crisis has now forced the two larger parties and their blocs to attempt to form an emergency unity government. Two main roadblocks are hindering the formation of a unity government. The Likud and Blue & White, continue to meet despite their disagreements.

The First Roadblock: DESTROYING OUR DEMOCRACY

One roadblock is Likud’s demand for legislation preventing the High Court of Justice to rule on Netanyahu’s right to serve as Prime Minister as he faces three charges of corruption.

Gantz, leader of Blue & White and currently Knesset speaker, wants legislation that would bar an MK under indictment from serving as Prime Minister (meaning Netanyahu.) This would change the ‘Basic Law’, which can only happen by winning a vote. At least 61 Knesset Members must vote for the change. ‘Basic Laws’ form the roots of democracy in Israel. Clause 18 stipulates that the Prime Minister may continue in office even if under indictment. The law also states that the Prime Minister can remain in office even if a district court convicts him of a crime carrying moral turpitude because the ruling can be appealed before the Supreme Court. He would only be removed from office if the Supreme Court rejects such an appeal and the ruling becomes final.

In most democracies, the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond any reasonable doubt. If found guilty and convicted, the accused can still appeal. In the case of Israel’s Basic Laws, the decision by the administrative authority to try someone doesn’t make the elected official guilty. The lawmakers rightly believed that a public official (unelected judges, or Attorney General) should not be empowered with the authority to dismiss a Prime Minister. In a democratic country, the will of the people is the foundation of democracy. The Prime Minister is chosen by the public. An Attorney-General or a court cannot and should not intervene in the political arena and dismiss an elected official. This is what the Likud and Netanyahu are objecting to.

Israel needs to maintain its strength and stability during the storm that rages around us. Just before the current coronavirus crisis, Israel faced the possibility of a government coalition that would include the Joint Arab List with its anti-Jewish leaders. The Joint Arab List is made up of Israeli Arab factions whose leaders reject Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state. Israel, being a democracy, allows ANY elected Israeli citizen to serve as a Knesset member (a member of the Parliament,) even when they openly support Palestinian terrorism and the Palestinian cause. Some of them publically object Israel’s right to self-determination and accuse an Israeli army general of war crimes against the Palestinians in the international court. Hence, it was surprising that the Blue & White party, which is made up of three Israeli army generals would admit those Arab leaders in their bloc. Many Israelis objected, and even within the bloc, there was an outrage, causing some members to leave the party.

Leader of Blue & White, Benny Gantz and another former IDF chief, Gabi Ashkenazi agreed to Prime Minister Netanyahu’s call to try to form a unity government with Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc. The Arab Joint List pulled out, thereby the disaster that would have endangered Israel’s identity as being the State of the Jews was avoided.

The Second Roadblock: ESTABLISHING BORDERS

Gantz announced very proudly that without him, Netanyahu cannot form a government. The thought that Netanyahu needs him, gave him the power to increase his demands, which were disproportional to the size of his bloc compared to the Likud. He may have had the interest of the nation in mind and the urgent need for unity at this crucial time, but he is taking advantage of the situation to try and force Netanyahu to give in to his demands.

Does Gantz understand the need at this time for clear, bold strategic actions to maintain Israel’s stability in the region? Israel must fortify the borders, making clear Israel’s intention to defend them. Our neighbors must know exactly where Israel’s red lines are and not to cross them.

Israel’s borders with Egypt and Lebanon are clear, and by annexing the Golan heights a few years back (and thanks to US recognition of Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights), the border with Syria is clear. These neighbors know where the line is located, but not so on the eastern border. The eastern border is problematic as well as Judea and Samaria.

Now we have the opportunity to apply national law (annexation) to the Jordan Valley and Northern Dead Sea region. This will prevent confusion and uncertainty. With the help of President Trump’s peace plan, Israel can expand its communities, and direct transportation, road infrastructures in the Valley to link the eastern area to the rest of the country.

Gantz is concerned that this move will jeopardize the peace with Jordan. Therefore, he thinks Israel must first receive Jordan’s approval before applying its law to the border. But empowering Jordan with the right to define Israel’s border, will also empower the most extremist among the Jordanians and will contribute to Jordan’s instability. It is therefore in the best interest of Jordan and of maintaining the peace with Israel that the eastern border is clearly set. The same is true regarding the Palestinian Authority in Judea and Samaria.

There are more than 300,000 Israelis in Judea and Samaria who must be connected to Israel proper. Even the Health Ministry agrees that annexing Judea and Samaria will provide better care in the coronavirus crisis for all its citizens.

The PA authority in the territory also benefits from Israeli know-how and guidance in dealing with this crisis, thereby increasing the stability of the region. The more certainty and stability Israel conveys, the more the Palestinians in Judea and Samaria will agree to live in peace with Israel. By opposing the application of Israel’s sovereignty in these areas at this time, Gantz and his bloc uphold the left’s naive and false belief that the only way to peace is through appeasement.

The worst period of Palestinian terror occurred when Israel compromised the most, and failed to determine clear boundaries. We must not allow this to happen again.