PM Bennett Plays a Key Role in Russia-Ukraine Ceasefire Talks. Public Controversy Over War Refugees Continues: several international media outlets named Israeli PM Naftali Bennett as “key international broker” between Russia and the Ukraine in ceasefire talks. Ukraine President Zelensky will address the Israeli Knesset on Sunday, via Zoom. Russian ambassador to Israel, Anatoli Victoroff, asked for an urgent meeting with speaker of the Knesset Miki Levi, to voice concern over Zelensky’s address to the Knesset. Tel Aviv Municipality will broadcast the speech live at HaBima Square, followed by a vigil in support of the people of Ukraine.
The public controversy over Israel’s moral obligation to accept Ukrainian refugees continues. According to the Israeli immigration authority, more than 10,000 refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine entered Israel, of whom nearly 3,000 were eligible to make Aliyah or enter the country according to the law of return. President Herzog and the Mayor of Jerusalem, Moshe Leon, visited with Jewish refugees from the Ukraine who received temporary housing at a hotel in the city. Israeli media outlets reported that some refugees were under threat of expulsion from Israel, while their requests for asylum were still being heard by the court.
Oligarch Roman Abramovich Allegedly Obtained Portuguese Citizenship Through Fraud, Portuguese Authorities Claimed: Abramovich, who is one of Russian President Putins close allies, applied for Portuguese citizenship, based on a law that enables Jews whose ancestors were expelled from the Iberian peninsula, to apply for citizenship. The application has to be approved by the current Jewish establishment in Portugal. The chief Rabbi of Porto’s Jewish community was arrested on Saturday on his way to Israel and was accused of helping Abramovich, who does not have real roots in Portugal, to gain approval for his application. Portuguese citizenship gives him, and everybody else gaining it, European citizenship, and would have allowed him not only freedom of movement in the EU, but also visa free access to the UK. The United Kingdom have frozen all his assets in the country, including ownership of the famous soccer team Chelsea FC. Abramovich has Israeli citizenship based on the law of return which confers Israeli citizenship on all Jews and their nuclear family members. In addition, Israel has a law that enables those people who immigrate to the country not to report on their foreign businesses and also not pay taxes on foreign income for 10 years. Abramovich has some real estate in Israel. Abramovich uses Israel’s airport to travel to and fromMoscow with a private jet.
There is a lot of criticism against the support Israel provides for some of the oligarchs who have found refuge in Israel, when they are banned in all other western countries.
One of the Outcome of the War in Ukraine is a Sharp Rise in the Cost of Living in Israel, Mainly in the cost of Real-Estate: Like in many other places in Europe and elsewhere, the Ukraine war has had a significant influence on the economy. Gasoline prices rose and broke a record, and building material prices also increased. In addition there is a constant rise in real estate prices in the last decade due to a shortage of housing and shortage of new developments for new building projects. The Minister of housing and the Minister of the treasury are trying to initiate a national plan that will attempt to stabilize real estate prices. Due to current low interest rates, mortgages are cheap and many investors buy houses solely for investment, which creates more upward price pressure. Due to the war, and the shortage of flour, prices of bread and food are also rising.
Temperature in Israel Were Unprecedentedly Low Last Week: Record low temperatures were recorded this week in Israel, the lowest that were ever documented in March. The temperature in Jerusalem was close to freezing point for seven days straight, and in Tel Aviv, which usually has a very mild winter, the temperatures dropped below ten degrees Celsius (fifty Fahrenheit)
Purim in Israel Between Cold Weather and Possible Outbreak of a New COVID-19 Variant: Purim festivities were held this year without major disturbances. In localities affected by extreme cold weather, the schools’ Purim events were held a day early. For the first time in five years, the IDF did not declare a full curfew on the West Bank. Purim events and parties were held around the country with no restrictions, as senior health officials reported a rise in the infection rate, possibly due to a new variant of COVID-19.
For further reading:
Ukraine: Here, here, here, here, here
Abramovich: Here, here, here, here, here