Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, paid a farewell visit to Israel in which she participated in a ceremonial government meeting and visited the National Holocaust Memorial, Yad Vashem, in Jerusalem. Merkel is stepping down from office after 16 years in power. While in Israel she discussed with PM Bennett the Iran deal and the army attack submarines Germany helped Israel obtain from the German company.
Merkel did not schedule a meeting with opposition leader ex PM Netanyahu, and met only with the current PM Bennett.
She also made a gesture to the women in the government and had a photo with them. In her last visit to Israel she mentioned the very low number of women ministers in Netanyahu’s government, so now that the number is much higher she was glad to give them all her support and visibility during her visit.
Israeli Politics in the #Metoo Era: Leading Candidate to Head the Jewish Agency Steps Down. Former MK and Diplomat Reveals Sexual Assault by Shimon Peres in the 1980’s: Minister of Intelligence, Elazar Stern, stepped down from the race to head the Jewish Agency, following a public uproar that broke out after he confessed, in a radio interview, that he used to shred anonymous complaints, possibly including sexual harassment complaints, during his tenure as head of the IDF Human Resources Division. After the interview, two women came forward and said that Stern dismissed their sexual harassment complaints or put pressure on them to not pursue it further. Stern attempted to minimize damages and apologized, reiterating his commitment to combat sexual violence against women. However, and although he had the endorsement and support of his party chief, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid), he announced his withdrawal from the race.
Colette Avital, former MK (Labor) and former Consul General in NY, told in an interview to Ha’aretz, that Shimon Peres, sexually assaulted her on two different occasions, in the 1980’s, when he served as Prime Minister. Avital also put an end to the stubborn (and sexist) rumors that she had an affair with Peres to promote her political career. Peres died five years ago, after serving as Israel’s 9th president. Labor Chief and Minister of Transportation Merav Michaeli voiced her support of Avital, and said, at a labor faction meeting: “I always believe the complainants and I believe Collette Avital, too.”
MK Bezalel Smotrich Lashed out Arab Citizens from the Knesset Podium: MK Smotrich, of the far-right Religious Zionism party, and former Minister of Transportation, said that he will have nothing to do with Arab political leaders, who are traitors and supporters of terror. Furthermore, he stated that Arab citizens are here “by mistake”, because David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first prime minister, didn’t “finish the job” kicking all Arabs out of the country in 1948. Political leaders from the left severely criticized his speech, while others from the center-left did not. MK Aida Touma (Arab Joint List) tweeted: “"But don't think about us (Arab members of Knesset), think about how every Arab citizen in Israel feels when such things are said offhandedly in parliament, how a young Arab feels when the right threatens to start a second Nakba," she added
Yuli Edelstein Challenges Netanyahu as Chief of the Likud Party: Edelstein, former Speaker of Knesset, and former Minister of Health, won 2nd place in the last round of Likud primaries. In an interview to a prime-time news show, He said he decided to run against Netanyahu, since he does not believe that Likud could win the next elections or enter a right-wing unity government without elections, under Netanyahu’s leadership. Edelstein also said that he believes the current government is dangerous for Israel, but if the Likud is to regain power, it must first do some internal soul searching.
Israeli Soccer Team is Trying to Compete at the Pre World Cup Tournament to Qualify for a Slot In the World Competition. But the Israeli team is not strong enough and have not made it to the World Cup Final Tournament since 1970. Even so, all the games that the Israeli team is playing in are being broadcast live on the public TV channel.
For Further Reading:
Merkel in Israel: Here, here, here, here
Stern and Avital: Here, here, here, here, here