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US to Israel – We Can Agree to Disagree
US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter arrived in Israel to meet with PM Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yaalon. Carter supports the Iran deal but claims that he won’t try to convince Israel to do the same.”I’m not going to change anybody’s mind in Israel,” Carter said in an interview. “We can agree to disagree.” Carter hasn’t indicated that the US will compensate Israel militarily for the Iran deal. The fear is that ending the sanctions currently in place against Iran will provide Iran with resources to increase their military capabilities and finance their terror proxies including Hezbollah and Hamas.
Background
Regarding compensation, PM Netanyahu said, “if this deal is supposed to make Israel and our Arab neighbors safer, why should we be compensated with anything?” Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz added, “We are very grateful for the assistance we get from the United States, but I think it’s wrong to use the word compensation because there is no real compensation for a nuclear threat.”
Just two months ago Washington announced a $1.9 billion arms sale to Israel for a range of missiles and bombs, including bunker busters that can penetrate reinforced defenses to reach underground targets, but doesn’t include the Pentagon’s biggest bunker buster bomb. Under the current US-Israel defense pact, Israel receives about $3 billion in military aid from the US each year. The pact expires in 2018 and is currently being renegotiated.
Upshot
Meanwhile, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the highest authority in Iran, said yesterday that the nuclear deal would not change Iran’s policy in supporting allies in Syria, Iraq, Bahrain, Yemen, Lebanon and among the Palestinians. That’s bad news for Israel and the rest of the free world.
Protecting Iran’s Nuclear Capability
Israeli security officials are puzzled and worried, to say the least, about one small paragraph in the nuclear accord between the Western powers and Iran. Paragraph 10 on page 142 agrees to, “Co-operation through training and workshops to strengthen Iran’s ability to protect against, and respond to nuclear security threats, including sabotage, as well as to enable effective and sustainable nuclear security and physical systems.” That sounds like the US and European allies will be responsible for helping protect Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Background
Over the years there have been numerous acts of sabotage targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities that have significantly slowed Iran’s bomb making efforts. While no one has ever claimed responsibility, the CIA and Mossad are assumed to be involved. The security “co-operation” clause in the new agreement would obligate the allies to protect Iran from these kinds of attacks, including those originating in Israel. The clause obviously applies only to non military nuclear facilities. Of course, Iran claims to only have non-military facilities.
Upshot
If you believe that Iran plans to continue it’s ultimate goal of developing nuclear weapons, as Israel clearly does, then this clause presents Israel with a huge problem. Will sabotaging Iran’s nuclear capabilities be viewed as an attack against the US? Bizarre, and scary.
Germany Stands Up for Israel in Iran
German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel urged Iran at the start of a three-day visit to improve its relationship with Israel if it wants to establish closer economic ties with Germany and other western powers. He offered Germany as a mediator. “You can’t have a good economic relationship with Germany in the long-term if we don’t discuss such issues too and try to move them along,” Gabriel told a gathering of German and Iranian business people in Tehran. “Questioning this state’s (Israel’s) right to existence is something that we Germans cannot accept.”
Germany was once Iran’s leading overseas supplier until 2007, when it lost its position to China. The Germans view the nuclear agreement as the first step in the process of winning new business. Trade between the 2 countries could equal 6 billion Euros within just two years.
Herzog denies Unity bid
Opposition leader Isaac Herzog of the Zionist Union party denied that he was engaged in negotiations to join the current government coalition. He said, “Benjamin Netanyahu must be replaced. He needs to be sent home. I’m saying no to crawling into Netanyahu’s extremist right government.”
Government sources have said that there are ongoing discussions about the possibility of a unity government, something that many in the government favor. But without compromising their fundamental right wing principles, a joint venture seems impossible. Democracy rules.
Terrorists arrested. Leader still free.
Israeli security forces have arrested the terror cell responsible for the murder of Israeli farmer Malachi Rosenfeld last month and for shooting at an ambulance and other Israeli vehicles.The leader of the terror cell, Ahmad Najar, a Hamas operative, was not among the suspects arrested. Najar was jailed for taking part in murdering 6 Israelis but was released in the Gilad Shalit exchange. He currently lives in Jordan where he continues to organize terror attacks.
Terror Vs. Terror in Gaza
A radical Isis inspired terror group called Salafists are thought to be responsible for bombing 6 vehicles in Gaza belonging to Hamas and Islamic Jihad officials. The Salafists have been bombing public buildings, attacking Hamas and Islamic Jihad operatives, and firing occasional rockets into Israel to provoke Israeli retaliation against Hamas. Hamas has been arresting Salafists. And the cycle continues.
Don’t Be Afraid of the Cursing Rabbi
Ezra Sheinberg, the Safed rabbi and kabbalist jailed for allegedly molesting and raping at least 11 women, has been placing Kabbalistic curses upon his jailers. In response the Chief Rabbi of Safed, R. Shmuel Eliyahu, has told the corrections officers not to fear. “I don’t believe that someone in Heaven is listening to his curses.” R. Eliyahu then gave them his own blessing and told them that they are performing a Mitzvah by guarding the criminal. It’s unclear whether this will be enough to keep some of the guards from steering clear of the cursing rabbi.
Israeli Gambling Domination
Israeli gaming company 888 Holding plc operate the world’s largest online casino and poker operation. It just got even bigger by acquiring the British-Austrian gambling company Bwin.party Digital Entertainment for $1.4 billion. This gives the term “holy rollers” a whole new meaning.
Brain Drain
According to latest government figures there are 21,400 Israeli academians, including 2,400 PHD’s, living and working outside of Israel. Minister of Trade Aryeh Deri said that he’ll continue working on getting them back home to help build Israel’s economy. Good luck.
Yes, This Really Happened
Trying to flee from police, a 28 year old burglar in Ramle hopped into the backseat of a car and yelled, “drive, drive”. The driver was a detective in an unmarked car. Yup, that really happened.
israelAM for July 23, 2015
/by Arnie Singer< back to sign up
Norway Comes to Israel
The Knesset has advanced a bill that would allow a cabinet minister or deputy minister to resign from the Knesset, hold on to their cabinet post, and be replaced by another member of his or her party. The bill is call the “Norwegian Law” and is based on a similar law in, you guessed it, Norway.
Background
In the Israeli electoral system voters elect parties, not individual candidates. Based on the number of votes they earn, each party gets a set number of seats in the Knesset. They then assign those seats to members of their party list. For example, if a party wins 6 seats, they give those to the top 6 members on their list.
Most cabinet ministers are also Knesset members, but they spend the bulk of their time on their ministerial jobs. The “Norwegian Law” would solve this by allowing them to focus on their cabinet positions and give their seats to their party colleagues who didn’t make the “list cut”. The law would only apply to parties with fewer than 12 Knesset seats and would allow ministers to take back their seats if they resign or are fired, bumping their sub back down to civilian.
The bill has been advanced by Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, who wants to quit the Knesset to let the next candidate on her Habayit Hayehudi list take her seat.
Upshot
The new law could make the knesset a more efficient place and help decrease unemployment among party members who didn’t quite make it in the first time around.
Controlling the Law
Based on yesterday’s Knesset vote, the Israeli court system might be set to take a right turn. The vote appointed Nurit Koren (Likud) and Robert Elyatov (Yisrael Beitenu) to the committee responsible for appointing judges in Israel. When you add Justice Minister Ayalete Shaked (HaBayit HaYehudi), who is automatically on the committee, the chances of judges who agree with the policies of the current government are pretty darn good. Big win for Netanyahu, who threatened to scuttle the “Norwegian Law” if his coalition partners didn’t vote according to his wishes. Israeli politics at it’s finest.
EU vs. Israel, Again
The EU has already agreed to require labels that identify Israeli goods made in West Bank settlements. Now they’re contemplating imposing restrictions on dealings with Israeli banks who do business in the territories. That would include all of the major Israeli financial institutions. While product labeling hasn’t had a material effect on the Israeli economy, the banking restrictions could. For now there are no formal European Commission proposals in the works, but the sentiment in the EU is clearly not favorable for Israel.
Tourism Way Down
Tourism in Israel is still suffering from last summer’s Gaza war. According to the Israel Hotel Association, tourist overnights were down 25% in the first 6 months of 2015. Hotel room occupancy was down 9%. This translates into 1.2 billion shekels of lost revenue, besides all of the ancillary revenue loss to local businesses. Israelis have made up some of the shortfall by increasing their overnights by 8%.
Hiding the Ayalon
It will take many years and a half a billion dollars, but Tel Aviv officials have approved a plan to cover most of the Ayalon Highway (that cuts through the city) with parks, sports centers, bike paths, and cafes. Israel’s version of Central Park, without the horse carriages…well, you never know.
Sleeping and Driving
According to a survey by the Green Light foundation, 15% admitted to have fallen asleep while driving. They didn’t say how many were texting, reading, eating or holding their phones and talking behind the wheel. If you’ve driven in Israel you already know that percentage is way higher than 15%. Drive safely, for everyone’s sake.
israelAM for July 22, 2015
/by Arnie Singer< back to sign up
Hotovely vs. EU
Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely (Likud) plans to instruct the Foreign Ministry to work against funding provided by European governments to left-wing organizations in Israel. She wants to ban government funding of organizations who support a boycott of Israel, the right of return for Palestinian refugees or who conduct activities that slander IDF soldiers or advance legal procedures against them. “Under the guise of safeguarding human rights, these organizations actually work to undermine Israel’s right of existence,” Hotovely said.
Background
Over 100 million euros have been donated to left wing Israeli organizations by European governments in the past few years. Hotovely, a right winger, wants it stopped and is willing to support legislation to make that happen. That’s what she told a delegation from the European parliament, the Dutch ambassador to Israel, and the foreign ministers of Spain and the Netherlands.
Upshot
Is this a battle even worth fighting given all the other foreign policy issues facing Israel, like Iran and a Palestinian state?
Iran Nukes Good for Israel
Not everyone in Israel is against the Iran nuclear deal. Ami Ayalon, a former head of Shin Bet, the Israeli FBI, and former chief of the Israeli Navy agrees that while it isn’t perfect, the accord is “the best option” for dealing with Iran’s nuclear capability.
Explain
“When negotiations began, Iran was two months away from acquiring enough material for a [nuclear] bomb. Now it will be 12 months,” which Ayalon claims is significant. He also believes that without a deal the sanctions will fall apart in any case, leaving Iran with money to race towards a bomb without any restrictions. But he feels that President Obama needs to take a stronger stance against potential Iranian violations and make it clear that the US will use military force to prevent Iran for getting the bomb.
Upshot
If the deal results in the US cracking down on Iran for their non-nuclear behavior, like supporting terrorism, it’s a good thing for Israel and the world. That’s a big if.
Housing Supply Rising
Defense Minister Yaalon has approved permits for the construction of a total of 906 new housing units in the West Bank Jewish towns of Beit El, Maale Adumim, Givat Zeev and Psagot. This is the first such approval in over a year.
Sticks and Stones
The Knesset has approved a law to crack down on people convicted of throwing rocks at moving vehicles. Under the law, stone throwers could face 10 years in prison, and up to 20 years if it is determined that they intended to seriously harm the occupants in a vehicle. Yes, stones can kill.
Arafat Dies Naturally
Two years after his widow demanded an investigation into the cause of his death, French experts have concluded that Yasir Arafat died of natural causes. Swiss experts had previously found traces of poisonous material in his body, but couldn’t determine conclusively whether they were related to his death. But the French are sure. For now.
A Sweet Payout
Microsoft just acquired Israeli cloud security company Adallon for $320 million. The company’s 3 founders, aged 27, 31 and 31 will each get $25 million from the sale. They are all veterans of the elite IDF 8200 intelligence unit. Pretty sweet payout for them, but does the IDF get its cut for training provided? It could help solve some of their budget issues. Something to consider.
Chicken for Shabbat
Until about 2300 years ago, chickens were used exclusively for entertainment (cock fights). Then the Israelites started cooking and eating them for dinner. That’s according to recent archeological findings at Tel Maresha in Israel, where they found piles of chicken bones with butchering marks on them. They didn’t find any traces of chicken soup. That doesn’t mean grandmas weren’t making it.
israelAM for July 21, 2015
/by Arnie Singer< back to sign up
Streamlining the IDF
The Locker Committee, headed by Reserve General Yohanan Locker, has released it’s recommendations for streamlining the IDF. They include cutting pensions for officers, reducing the period of regular service for men from 3 to 2 years, discharging 2 thousand servicemen, and several other budget cutting measures.
Response
The IDF isn’t happy, especially about the pension cutting since it could dissuade talented personnel from becoming career officers. They have presented their own budget plan and cutting measures, which are much less painful.
Upshot
Whether the IDF can win this battle isn’t certain, but they usually come out on top. Game on.
US and EU vs. Israel
The EU and the US are calling on Israel not to destroy illegally built Palestinian homes in the West Bank village of Sussia. The plan is to move the inhabitants to the nearby village of Yatta. Sussia is an ancient Jewish archeological site and is adjacent to a Jewish settlement of the same name. It’s complicated, to say the least.
PM Spending Under Fire
Israel Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein has ordered a criminal investigation into spending at the prime minister’s residence in Jerusalem and his private home in Caesarea. The chief suspect is Ezra Saidoff, the deputy director general for material and operational resources in the Prime Minister’s Office. The PM and wife aren’t personally under investigation. The issues under investigation include the hiring of an electrician, refunds on recycled bottles, and garden furniture. Seriously.
Red Meat to Eat and Purify
The Ramat Negev Regional Council has received funding from US donors to import frozen embryos of Red Angus cows to Israel to raise for meat. One of these future red calfs could actually turn out to be the biblically prescribed Red Heifer, a prerequisite to rebuilding the Third Temple in Jerusalem. That’s why the Temple Institute reached an agreement with the owner of a Negev cattle farm where the cows are being raised to allow them to check the cows to find a holy candidate (holy cow?). The US donors are furious. The rabbis are hopeful. The saga continues.
Israeli Teens Higher Than Ever
According to the latest study, more Israeli teens and university students are smoking pot than ever before, mainly because they just don’t see it as being dangerous. Marijuana use in Israel is still relatively low. The country ranks 23rd out of 29 European countries, which could explain the high stress level of most Israelis. Think about it.
Secret Affairs Revealed
An anonymous hacker group has hacked AshleyMadison.com, a website that lets married people find extramarital affairs. The group claims to have stolen the personal data of 37 million users including 180,000 based in Israel. They are threatening to reveal names unless the site is taken down. Lots of nervous folks are holding their breath.
Beware of Your Bartender
A female Israeli detective is revealed to be responsible for the arrest of at least 30 drug dealers in Rishon Letzion. She worked undercover as a bartender in a popular local pub for several months. You never know.
israelAM for July 20, 2015
/by Arnie Singer< back to sign up
US to Israel – We Can Agree to Disagree
US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter arrived in Israel to meet with PM Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yaalon. Carter supports the Iran deal but claims that he won’t try to convince Israel to do the same.”I’m not going to change anybody’s mind in Israel,” Carter said in an interview. “We can agree to disagree.” Carter hasn’t indicated that the US will compensate Israel militarily for the Iran deal. The fear is that ending the sanctions currently in place against Iran will provide Iran with resources to increase their military capabilities and finance their terror proxies including Hezbollah and Hamas.
Background
Regarding compensation, PM Netanyahu said, “if this deal is supposed to make Israel and our Arab neighbors safer, why should we be compensated with anything?” Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz added, “We are very grateful for the assistance we get from the United States, but I think it’s wrong to use the word compensation because there is no real compensation for a nuclear threat.”
Just two months ago Washington announced a $1.9 billion arms sale to Israel for a range of missiles and bombs, including bunker busters that can penetrate reinforced defenses to reach underground targets, but doesn’t include the Pentagon’s biggest bunker buster bomb. Under the current US-Israel defense pact, Israel receives about $3 billion in military aid from the US each year. The pact expires in 2018 and is currently being renegotiated.
Upshot
Meanwhile, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the highest authority in Iran, said yesterday that the nuclear deal would not change Iran’s policy in supporting allies in Syria, Iraq, Bahrain, Yemen, Lebanon and among the Palestinians. That’s bad news for Israel and the rest of the free world.
Protecting Iran’s Nuclear Capability
Israeli security officials are puzzled and worried, to say the least, about one small paragraph in the nuclear accord between the Western powers and Iran. Paragraph 10 on page 142 agrees to, “Co-operation through training and workshops to strengthen Iran’s ability to protect against, and respond to nuclear security threats, including sabotage, as well as to enable effective and sustainable nuclear security and physical systems.” That sounds like the US and European allies will be responsible for helping protect Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Background
Over the years there have been numerous acts of sabotage targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities that have significantly slowed Iran’s bomb making efforts. While no one has ever claimed responsibility, the CIA and Mossad are assumed to be involved. The security “co-operation” clause in the new agreement would obligate the allies to protect Iran from these kinds of attacks, including those originating in Israel. The clause obviously applies only to non military nuclear facilities. Of course, Iran claims to only have non-military facilities.
Upshot
If you believe that Iran plans to continue it’s ultimate goal of developing nuclear weapons, as Israel clearly does, then this clause presents Israel with a huge problem. Will sabotaging Iran’s nuclear capabilities be viewed as an attack against the US? Bizarre, and scary.
Germany Stands Up for Israel in Iran
German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel urged Iran at the start of a three-day visit to improve its relationship with Israel if it wants to establish closer economic ties with Germany and other western powers. He offered Germany as a mediator. “You can’t have a good economic relationship with Germany in the long-term if we don’t discuss such issues too and try to move them along,” Gabriel told a gathering of German and Iranian business people in Tehran. “Questioning this state’s (Israel’s) right to existence is something that we Germans cannot accept.”
Germany was once Iran’s leading overseas supplier until 2007, when it lost its position to China. The Germans view the nuclear agreement as the first step in the process of winning new business. Trade between the 2 countries could equal 6 billion Euros within just two years.
Herzog denies Unity bid
Opposition leader Isaac Herzog of the Zionist Union party denied that he was engaged in negotiations to join the current government coalition. He said, “Benjamin Netanyahu must be replaced. He needs to be sent home. I’m saying no to crawling into Netanyahu’s extremist right government.”
Government sources have said that there are ongoing discussions about the possibility of a unity government, something that many in the government favor. But without compromising their fundamental right wing principles, a joint venture seems impossible. Democracy rules.
Terrorists arrested. Leader still free.
Israeli security forces have arrested the terror cell responsible for the murder of Israeli farmer Malachi Rosenfeld last month and for shooting at an ambulance and other Israeli vehicles.The leader of the terror cell, Ahmad Najar, a Hamas operative, was not among the suspects arrested. Najar was jailed for taking part in murdering 6 Israelis but was released in the Gilad Shalit exchange. He currently lives in Jordan where he continues to organize terror attacks.
Terror Vs. Terror in Gaza
A radical Isis inspired terror group called Salafists are thought to be responsible for bombing 6 vehicles in Gaza belonging to Hamas and Islamic Jihad officials. The Salafists have been bombing public buildings, attacking Hamas and Islamic Jihad operatives, and firing occasional rockets into Israel to provoke Israeli retaliation against Hamas. Hamas has been arresting Salafists. And the cycle continues.
Don’t Be Afraid of the Cursing Rabbi
Ezra Sheinberg, the Safed rabbi and kabbalist jailed for allegedly molesting and raping at least 11 women, has been placing Kabbalistic curses upon his jailers. In response the Chief Rabbi of Safed, R. Shmuel Eliyahu, has told the corrections officers not to fear. “I don’t believe that someone in Heaven is listening to his curses.” R. Eliyahu then gave them his own blessing and told them that they are performing a Mitzvah by guarding the criminal. It’s unclear whether this will be enough to keep some of the guards from steering clear of the cursing rabbi.
Israeli Gambling Domination
Israeli gaming company 888 Holding plc operate the world’s largest online casino and poker operation. It just got even bigger by acquiring the British-Austrian gambling company Bwin.party Digital Entertainment for $1.4 billion. This gives the term “holy rollers” a whole new meaning.
Brain Drain
According to latest government figures there are 21,400 Israeli academians, including 2,400 PHD’s, living and working outside of Israel. Minister of Trade Aryeh Deri said that he’ll continue working on getting them back home to help build Israel’s economy. Good luck.
Yes, This Really Happened
Trying to flee from police, a 28 year old burglar in Ramle hopped into the backseat of a car and yelled, “drive, drive”. The driver was a detective in an unmarked car. Yup, that really happened.