PM Netanyahu

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Elections – Round Two

October 6, 2019 By Bella Davidov Leave a Comment

What just happened? Who’s in charge? How can this end?

The outcome of the September 17, 2019 election:

The election results were that the Kahol Lavan (Blue and White) party, headed by Benny Gantz won 33 out of 120 parliamentary seats; Netanyahu’s Likud party won 32. However, in the bloc of supporters, Likud had 55 party members, mainly the religious and right-wing, and Blue and White had 54, mainly center and left parties, including the Joint Arab List party. Israel’s Joint Arab List party announced its endorsement of Gantz’s party.

In between the two major parties and their blocs is Liberman’s Israel Beytenu (Israel our home) party with 8 members. He supports neither Netanyahu or Gantz. He again likely to be kingmaker with the power to send the country into yet another round of elections.

“The picture is clear. There is only one option and it’s a broad liberal unity government,” he insisted, referring to a potential coalition composed of his Yisrael Beiteinu, Likud, and Blue and White. He doesn’t care who would be prime minister first. “They can flip a coin for all I care.”

Who is Liberman?

Liberman, born in the Former Soviet Union, was previously a member of the Likud Party until 1999 when he left to form his own far-right Yisrael Beytenu (Israel our home) party, appealing to fellow Russian-speakers with his secularist agenda and tough talk against Palestinians.
Liberman served in several Israeli cabinets, most recently as Netanyahu’s defense minister. He resigned last year because Netanyahu agreed to a ceasefire with Hamas after a massive attack from Gaza which was in his opinion “surrendering to terror.” Liberman’s pull-out toppled the government and forced an early election in April this year, in which Liberman’s party gained five seats. Even though he recommended Netanyahu’s Likud party and Netanyahu to be the one to form a government in that election, in the negotiations he refused to join the coalition because he didn’t get all his demands, mainly anti-religious legislations.

Liberman’s party gained 8 seats in this election.

Liberman is now promoting a national unity government that would include his party.

After the president gave Netanyahu the mandate to form a government, Liberman was invited by Netanyahu to a meeting. He still insists that there be a unity coalition with both Likud and Blue and White.
[See Composition of the Israeli Electorate]

Who is the President of the State of Israel?

The Nassi (President) is in the office of the presidency which is above and beyond party politics. The President is elected by Knesset (parliament) members for a single term of seven years.

Presidential duties, which are mostly ceremonial and formal, include among other things opening the first session of a new Knesset; nominating a prime minister after national elections to form a new government; accepting the credentials of foreign envoys; signing treaties and laws adopted by the Knesset, and; pardoning prisoners.

Current Israeli President Reuven Rivlin gave Benyamin Netanyahu the mandate to form a new government after Netanyahu received pledges of support from 55 ministers out of 120 parliament members. Benny Gantz, leading the other large party Kahol Lavan (blue and white), received 54 recommendations including 10 of the Arab members. Neither Netanyahu’s Likud party nor Kahol Lavan has a majority of at least 61 Knesset seats needed to form a coalition.

Should Netanyahu be unable to get a majority on his side, he returns the mandate to the President who would then most likely give Gantz the task of attempting to form a coalition.

After Netanyahu received the mandate to form a government, he called for a unity government with Kahol Lavan, adding that “national reconciliation” was needed in light of threats from Iran and the unveiling of US President Donald Trump’s “deal of the century” plan for peace in the Middle East. Gantz, however, said he would not join a government led by a Prime Minister facing possible indictment on corruption allegations. Another issue is who will be the first to serve as Prime Minister in the rotation government. Blue and White officials say Netanyahu must deal with his legal issues first and allow Gantz to lead initially. Gantz also insists that Netanyahu join only with his Likud party and not his entire bloc of the right and religious parties.

Meanwhile, the Joint Arab List party has announced its endorsement of Gantz’s party. By supporting the Blue and White leader, the Arab bloc broke with its own precedent of withholding support for either of the top Israeli candidates they consider Zionists since bringing down Netanyahu was its primary objective. “We want to bring an end to the era of Netanyahu, so we recommend that Benny Gantz be the one to form the next government,” said party head Ayman Odeh. By joining together to one Arab Joint List, gained 13 seats in this election, making it the third largest party in the Knesset . Netanyahu came against the Arab party’s support for Gantz, claiming their main leaders are anti-Zionists and suppor Palestinian terrorists. He said Israelis were now faced with two choices: “a minority government that leans on those that reject Israel as a Jewish, democratic state” or a “broad national government” composed of his and Gantz’s parties.

So, What Might Actually Happen Next?

Most heads of parties have made promises to their voters that they will not be able to keep; each one will have to make compromises if they want to avoid another election. The election results seem to indicate the only option is a unity coalition government led by Likud and Blue and White. The political reality requires the entire right-wing bloc to sit together on one side of the coalition, while Blue and White brings in parties from the Left that will contribute to a broad, inclusive government. This, on its face, seems unlikely as Blue and White received the votes it did based upon the promise it would not join a government with the religious parties in participation.

As compromises, Netanyahu will have to share power as Prime Minister in rotation and Gantz will have to join a government that includes Netanyahu, even though he promised not to do so. He will have to accept Netanyahu’s natural partners like the religious and the far right parties which is a violation of his promise to have a secular (no religious) government.

Due to the results of the election, there was a struggle over who would be first or second to assemble a government. If the first candidate fails, it will be the second candidate’s turn to attempt to form a government.

Initially, Gantz wanted to be the first candidate but was advised against it for tactical reasons. If Netanyahu goes first and fails to form a government, and with the threat of a third election, Gantz can appeal to Likud members to defect to his side. Thereby Gantz can lead a government with Likud but without Netanyahu. For that reason he had the Joint Arab List party give up 3 seats leaving only 10 to recommend him, making his bloc less than Netanyahu’s. Therefore, President Rivlin gave Netanyahu the initial mandate to form a government.

Should Gantz also try and fail, it doesn’t mean there is automatically another election. The law allows another 21 days for any of the candidates, even those who failed (Netanyahu in this case) to form a coalition of at least 61 MKs and swear in a new government.

In this case, Gantz may have to compromise and agree to a united coalition with Netanyahu and his religious affiliates.

Another possibility (unlikely) is that Gantz fails to hold onto his allies, either from Blue and White or the other left-wing parties, and Netanyahu becomes Prime Minister with a coalition of right-wing and religious parties, including elements from the Left.

A further possibility, is Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman concedes to joining a Netanyahu government, along with his religious political partners, who will also have to make compromises in Liberman’s direction. Such a government–and the most desirable–could potentially be the most stable since Liberman would re-join the Right, which was his natural place until he departed resulting in the last election. Knowing his strong and stubborn personality, it will take a miracle for this to happen.

There is the always the possibility that Israel will be required to hold a third election. We all pray that it won’t happen.

Understanding Israel’s Elections

March 8, 2019 By Bella Davidov 1 Comment

Israelis will conduct elections for the 21^st Knesset
The election is scheduled for April 9, 2019.

There is a crisis in Israel concerning the upcoming elections.

Currently, (and for the past 10 years) Israel has had a government that is basically right wing, with Binyamin (Bibi) Netanyahu as Prime Minister and his Likud party in the majority of the coalition. Under his leadership, Israel has become a major world power; as a matter of fact, was just listed internationally in the 8^th place of world power nations. (Read about all of his domestic and international achievements here.)

One of the most important laws the Israeli government has passed recently was the State Law declaring that Israel is the nation of the Jewish people, and that while non-Jewish citizens have the same civil rights, they don’t have the Right of Return (only Jews have the right to instant citizenship). The Law of Return is the only aspect of the State Law where Jews and Arabs are not equal.

Bibi’s greatest concern for Israel is security. He insists that any peace negotiation with the Palestinians must include their accepting Israel as a Jewish state and that dismantling settlements will not be a part of a future peace deal. Many Israeli voters like his security-first approach to politics. Also, his fluency in English and decades of experience give him an international stature that no other Israeli politician can rival. He has won three consecutive elections. Elections are held every four years. Under certain circumstances, a Knesset (Israeli Parliament or Congress) may be dispersed before the end of a term and that determines the date of the next elections.

Over the last three years, however, there have been continual reports about police investigations against PM Netanyahu. The accusations are of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in three separate cases. Read more details in our website blog “Cases against Netanyahu”.

As of recent polls, Bibi exceeded everyone else in popularity, as he has for the last three elections. But with the looming legal battles, and other issues of dispute in the coalition, Bibi decided it was the right move to call for early elections. However, probably for political reasons, these accusations led to the threat of a recommendation for indictment, (pending a hearing) by the Attorney General. Bibi and the Likud party requested that indictment not become public until after the election, because he didn’t have time to refute the accusations. But the AG made it public a little over a week ago. Therefore, rather than having a fair trial in the court of law with a full defense, Bibi is being judged by the media and the public, and his popularity is declining. This is what brings us to the current crisis because if Bibi fails in the elections the opposition will succeed.

Who is the opposition and why is it so crucial in this election?

Two very popular men joined together in order to defeat Netanyahu. One of them is Yair Lapid who was a favorite in the previous election but was demoted because of constantly undermining Bibi while serving in his coalition as Minister of Finance. His party, Yesh Atid declined in the last elections and ended up in the opposition in the current government.

The other is Benny Gantz, 59-year-old former Israel Defense Forces’ Chief of Staff, who is a newcomer to politics. He entered the race forming his own Hosen Israel (Strength of Israel) party and immediately jumped in the polls, ahead of Lapid but still behind Netanyahu. Lapid and Ganz joined forces and formed a new party. Their joint new party is called Kahol Lavan (Blue and White), which are the symbolic colors of the state of Israel.

Their platform is unclear, but although claiming to be a centrist party they lean more to the left. One thing Gantz and Lapid declare clearly is that they plan to change the State Law. Their main goal is to replace Netanyahu and become PM of Israel on rotation basis. Gantz, who is in first place, serving as PM for the first 2 and a half years and Lapid serving for the rest of the term.

The electoral process in Israel is complicated and confusing for most of the public, but suffice it to say that the situation is crucial.

The reason the Blue and White party opposition is so crucial is that whichever party is elected has to form a coalition consisting of at least 61 MK (Knesset Members). Blue and White would have to include most of the left and far left wing small parties (the right wing parties support Netanyahu, all claiming that he remains innocent until and if proven otherwise). Blue and White would have to include the Arab parties, who have always been in the opposition, some of them have even been temporarily suspended from the government for siding with Israel’s enemies and calling Israeli soldiers terrorists. The one MK that is the most crucial to possibly being in the coalition is Tibi.

Who is Tibi and why is he crucial?

Arab MK Ahmed Tibi, a former adviser to Yasser Arafat, recently split from the Joint List Arab party in order to run separately as head of his Ta’al party.

Tibi is an anti-Zionist who supports Israel withdrawing to the pre-1967 borders and a two-state solution with an independent Palestinian state, including a Law of Return for Palestinian refugees and their descendants. He opposes the idea of Israel being a Jewish state and considers it racist. He opposes Israel having a Jewish national anthem and an Israeli flag. He takes the Palestinian side and has even praised the Palestinian Authority’s terrorists, referring to them as “martyrs” at a ceremony held on the “Palestinian Martyrs’ Day”.

Both Blue and White chairman Benny Gantz and co-chairman Yair Lapid have stated that they would amend the “National State Law,” something Tibi would love to see. “We want to topple the Right, we say it openly,” Tibi said. He stated his desire to one day become Israel’s prime minister, “and if not I then another Ahmed, Mohammed or Mahmoud,” Tibi said recently.

Herein lies the danger to Israel. The possibility that a man like Tibi and other anti-Israeli MKs would be in the coalition is what makes this election so crucial for those who love the Land and the People of Israel and believe in God’s promises..

The new Likud slogan is: “it’s Bibi or Tibi.”

I (Bella) am a member of Netanyahu’s Likud party and attended last Monday’s evening rally in support of Netanyahu. I witnessed thousands of loyal cheering Likud members shouting “Bibi, Bibi, we love you.” He explained the slogan: “it’s mathematical, simple addition that you learn in first grade: Lapid and Gantz can not reach the minimum 61 KM required for a coalition in the government without bringing in the Arab parties…so it’s Bibi or Tibi.”

The scriptures encourage us to pray for our leaders: “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority” 1 Tim. 2:1-2.

Dear Lord, teach us how to pray in this complex situation for the upcoming election. Raise Israeli leaders who are able to care for Your people, as You have promised to do when You regathered Your own people back to the land of Your promise (Jeremiah 23:3-4).

Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. ⁴I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the Lord.”

You know the hearts of men; reveal the truth of all the cases against Netanyahu, if He is Your chosen one to lead Israel for such a time as this. We know you have promised the mountains of Israel, including Judea and Samaria to Your people Israel in Ezekiel 36. Israel needs a leader who can stand against the world and the left wing in Israel who want to divide Your Land. Help Israelis to choose the right leader. We pray for PM Netanyahu to open his heart to Your leading. We pray for Your justice and righteousness to prevail. We pray You will not allow the enemy from without and from within to win. You give Israel the victory. We acknowledge Your sovereignty in this election, in Israel, and in the world. In the Name of our Yeshua, and for Your Glory, Amen.

Holocaust Memorial and Documentary about the Warsaw Ghetto

April 24, 2017 By Bella Davidov Leave a Comment

Last evening Holocaust memorial ceremony, PM Netanyahu spoke about the lesson we have learned through the Shoah (Holocaust) and still face all the time, that in our world the weak have little chance to survive. “That we have to defend ourselves by ourselves. The ones who are planning to annihilate us will themselves be destroyed…It’s the only way to ensure our future and we have the ability to do it…I say it in the name of all the generations of Israelis who have and are building Israel, and in the name of Holocaust survivers here, together we have made this incredible CHANGE from a HELPLESS and DEFENSELESS people to a POWERFUL nation able to defend itself …in less than 70 years we are now one of the strongest nations in the world, and we continue to develop our military, intelligence and technological abilities…”

Today Israel is observing the memorial of the Holocaust. Here is a short clip from a documentary I am watching. My mother escaped from Warsaw Getto and all her family were killed there…

And here is a beautiful memorial ceremony:

From: FJC – Federation of Jewish Communities of the CIS – FSU