Defense Minister Benny Gantz Met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas: Gantz hosted Abbas at his residence for what he defined as a trust building step. This is the first meeting of the Palestinian President with Israeli officials in Israel for years. Israel has not participated in any peace negotiations with the Palestinians for years, and the tension is growing. The current Israeli government, which is based on a right-wing party, is not planning to start any discussions with the Palestinians, apart from maintaining the current routine and ensuring they are holding to security cooperation norms. The meeting was supported by PM Bennett, whose views oppose any compromise on occupied lands.
Since Israeli holds and manages the Palestinian registry of residents, Gantz promised the head of the Palestinian Authority Abbas to register a few thousand Palestinians who changed their addresses. Gantz also promised to increase the number of VIPs who have a special permit allowing them freedom of movement, and to give the Palestinians a loan. Abbas promised that he will continue with security cooperation, which is extremely important for Israel.
Meanwhile Hamas expressed their resentment resulting from the meeting and on Wednesday afternoon a man was injured on the Israeli side of the border with Gaza. Israeli forces immediately responded by firing rockets towards targets in Gaza.
PM Bennett Was Ordered to Enter Isolation After His Daughter tested Positive for COVID. Bennett had to leave a government meeting. Later he was politically forced to go to the Knesset assembly and participate in a debate while sitting in a special area for members of Knesset who are in quarantine for COVID.
Bennett accused the head of the opposition, Netanyahu, of forcing him to come to the Knesset, and for playing an unfair game.
In a few interviews to summarize the first six months of his government, Bennett expressed Israeli concern about Iran and it’s efforts to obtain a nuclear weapon. Many analysts commented on the nature of the interview which was open, relaxed and civilized. Unlike the tone of the very few interviews held by former PM Netanyahu which often turned expression of conflict.
Chaim Walder, Renowned Haredi Writer, Takes Own Life Following Multiple Allegations of Sexual Violence: earlier this week, Walder, prominent Haredi author, publicist, and counselor, was found dead in a cemetery, near his son’s grave, after police received reports of gunshot sounds. Following the publication of an investigative piece in Ha’aretz, 23 people came forward and filed complaints of sexual violence against Walder to the Haredi “Beit-Din” (court). The Haredi community was torn over the case: most of the established Haredi press and media outlets ignored the charges made against Walder and the fact that he took his own life and published obituaries commending him as a prominent author and educator, while some Haredi publications and civil society Haredi activists rushed to support his victims and frame his suicide as a final act of violence. Some Haredi leaders went so far as pointing a finger at the investigative journalists who published the story and blamed them for “Lashon Hara’” (defamation). Rabbi Eliyahu, Head of the Haredi Beit Din, said that “the lives of the victims come first”, in reference to the covert and overt accusations made against those who came forward. Israeli media reported today (Friday) that one of Walder’s alleged victims was found dead in her apartment. Her close friends say that she took her own life following the attack on Walder’s victims in Haredi circles. Feminist and women’s groups published posts in support of Walder’s victims and offered hotline counseling.
Mayor of Ramat Gan Causes Public Uproar and Debate, as He Orders Removal of Piece of Art from Exhibition in City’s Museum: Carmel Shama Hacohen, Mayor of Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, ordered the removal of a work of art by David Reeb, “Jerusalem”, from a group exhibition at the city museum, claiming that it was outrageously offensive to the Haredi community. The piece depicts photos of the Western Wall with a Haredi man praying, with slogan: Jerusalem of gold on one side, and Jerusalem of Shit on the other side. The mayor claimed that most city members, as well as 70% of the residents who responded to a survey posted on his Facebook account, were in favor of removing the piece. The mayor’s order was in violation of the Tel Aviv District Court ruling, following a petition by the Association for Civil Rights, on behalf of the artist . However, the museum’s leadership decided to remove the piece, “being aware of wider considerations and the need to balance between principles of freedom of speech and artistic creation and public sentiment”. More than 40 artists from across the country signed an open letter against the removal of the piece, and a group of artists participating in the group exhibition demanded that their works be removed from the exhibition, until Reeb’s work is restored. Later, a group of artists entered the museum and covered the works exhibited in black cloth. The Tel Aviv Museum of Art and the Israel Museum in Jerusalem both made public statements against what they framed as political interference with artistic freedom.
Tourist Sites and Chicken Coops in Israel Hit by Bird Flu, Epidemiologists Warn that Disease May Infect Humans: avian flu has infected thousands of wild birds, as well as farmed animals, mainly chickens. Hundreds of thousands of chickens were hit by the flu and died. Chairman of Israel’s National Council for Community Health said they were tracking the spread of the virus and its mutations, primarily through the respiratory system. While experts say that catching bird flu, via consumption of eggs laid by sick chickens, is highly unlikely, the government ordered the destruction of all eggs laid in chicken coops in areas affected by the virus. This will lead to a shortage of eggs, as well as an economic blow to the farmers.
And before we end this roundup, we want to wish everybody a Happy New Year - 2022.
For further reading:
Gantz & Abbas: Here, here, here, here
Bennett: Here, here, here, here
Chaim Walder: Here, here, here, here