Israel News for 12-28-18

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Hamas Balloons
A cluster of 10 balloons attached to an explosive device landed today near a kindergarten yard in moshav Kfar Maimon in the Sdot Negev Regional Council, close to the Israeli border with Gaza. Police were called to neutralize the device. The incident comes after several weeks with no reports of incendiary balloons being launched from Gaza. The IDF is on high alert at the Gaza border today in anticipation of potential rioting and infiltration attempts.

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Brazil Visit
PM Netanyahu landed in Rio De Janeiro and will meet with the president-elect of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, later today. Netanyahu’s visit centers on the inauguration of Jair Bolsonaro as Brazil’s new president on Jan. 1 in the country’s capital city, Brasilia.

The historic visit – the first of a sitting Israeli prime minister to Brazil – is considered strategic because both leaders will discuss the details of the transfer of the Brazilian embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, one of Bolsonaro’s key promises during his campaign. Netanyahu will be the first and only foreign leader to meet with Bolsonaro before he is sworn in next week.

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New Parties
Lieutenant General (res.) Benny Gantz, former chief of staff of the IDF, registered a new political party yesterday called “Hosen Leyisrael’, apparently to be known in English as the “Israel Resilience Party”. Member of Knesset Orly Levy-Abekasis, who resigned from the Yisrael Beiteinu party, has also registered a new party, called “Gesher” (“Bridge”). Recent polls indicate that Gantz’s new part will win over 10 Knesset seats in the upcoming election. This could be a game changer.

The early elections were confirmed by a vote by the Knesset on Wednesday to disperse.

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