At the Very Last Moment Granted to Him By Law, Netanyahu Announced: I Managed to Assemble a Government. Minutes before midnight Wednesday night, elected PM Netanyahu called President Herzog and told him that he has agreements with all parties that will be members of his coalition government.
Netanyahu’s path to assemble the coalition puzzle with all the party members is challenging. One of the main challenges is the need to change a basic law, so that a person who was convicted and sentenced to prison, will be able to be a minister in the government. One of his senior coalition partners, Shas leader, Arye Deri, was convicted of tax fraud, and was sentenced to probation. According to the current law, he cannot serve in the government unless the law is changed. The new law is in process, but another challenge is waiting down the road: an appeal to the Supreme Court of Justice. If the court disqualifies the new enabling law, then Netanyahu will consider new legislation to bypass the anticipated Supreme Court ruling.
Netanyahu is doing all he can to satisfy all the demands of his coalition partners, and they all have long lists of demands and conditions. Deri’s legislation is only one change in law, there are others that need to be legislated in order to enable Netanyahu to close all the coalition deals.
Meanwhile many circles have strongly criticized the changes, claiming that Netanyahu is destroying fragile democracy in Israel. Former supreme court justices, the head of the Israeli bar association, tens of constitutional law professors from all the academic institutions, former senior police officers, former senior state security agencies, and even senior and leading high-tech workers all expressed their concern for the new unfolding political reality.
The new government may be sworn in next Thursday if all the political deals are signed.
NYT Publishes Editorial Criticizing Incoming Government, Netanyahu Responds: On December 17th, the New York Times published an article by an editorial board titled: “The Ideal of Democracy in a Jewish State Is in Jeopardy”. The article analyzes the potential implications of the incoming far-right government’s policies on the two-state solution, democratic principles, and US-Israel relationships. The article also suggests that Netanyahu is now under the influence of extreme right-wing parties, his coalition partners, driven by his desire to escape a possible prison sentence, if found guilty of counts of bribery, fraud, and breach of public trust.
The article made headlines and was quoted by the Ha’aretz daily news outlet and by analysts and activists who are following with grave concern the legislative initiatives by the new coalition. Incoming PM Netanyahu slammed the NYT for “demonizing Israel for years”, and his supporters went on social media seeking to undermine the importance of the editorial piece. Outgoing Minister of Defense Gantz said, in his address at the Jewish media summit in Jerusalem: "I respect the democratic process and the results of this process in Israel, the only true democracy in the Middle East region. Our partners and friends, however entitled to their opinions, should not interfere in Israel’s internal politics." Gantz was later criticized for his statement by analysts and activists who expect the incoming opposition to act and, if possible, block the new coalition’s legislative initiatives.
A Man and His 2-Year-Old Son Shot to Death in Nazareth: Fares Heib and his son, Firas, a toddler, were shot dead in their family car earlier this week. The youngest son, an eighteen month-old baby, who was also in the car during the shooting, was unharmed. More than 100 people have been killed by firearm violence in Israeli Arab communities in 2022, including eight children.
According to the police, the killing of father and son occurred in the context of an ongoing feud between two rival underworld gangs. Police officials also told the media that the level of violence between the rival gangs is escalating, since the shooters knew that Fares’ sons were in the car with him and shot them anyway. The police also expressed their concern for reprisal actions, in revenge for the killing in Nazareth. Police Commissioner Shabtai said that they are closely following the actions of crime organizations in the Arab community. The police will allocate additional forces to keep the peace during the Christmas festivities in Nazareth that draw thousands of international and local tourists.
Happy Hannukah and Merry Christmas in Israel: this year, the two holidays overlap, and in many major cities around the country one can see decorated Christmas trees alongside giant Hannukah Menorahs. However, the beauty of colorful and joyous lights was somewhat smeared by critical remarks from right-wing Jewish pundits who decry the placing of Christmas trees on university campuses and other shared public spaces.
Like Nazareth and Bethlehem that draw thousands of pilgrims and tourists, both international and local, the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem also draws thousands of visitors for festive candle lighting. US Ambassador Thomas Nides participated in a candle lighting ceremony held by the Movement for Reform Judaism at the egalitarian plaza at the Western Wall. In his brief remarks at the ceremony, he self-identified as a proud Reform Jew, and received warm applause.
On the same night, minister of defense Gantz also attended a candle lighting ceremony at the men’s section of the Western Wall. During his attendance, he was verbally attacked by a right-wing activist for a statement he made at one point, that there is room for “another capital in Jerusalem”, in the context of a future peace agreement. Haredi politicians condemned the verbal attack on Gantz.
Tens of Israeli Hikers Were Rescued From Machu Picchu, Peru Last Weekend: The hikers were stranded at the popular tourist site, during a violent uprising in Peru due to a political crisis in the country. The train that carries the travelers to the site stopped running. With help from the Israeli embassy in Lima, and rescue companies, all the travelers were safely brought to the nearest town Cusco and were able to continue their trips. The travelers were not endangered at any time.
We wish all of our readers around the globe Happy Hannukah and Merry Christmas!
Further Reading:
Nazareth shooting: Here, here, here