Israel News for 5-17-2019

Gaza Update
According to a report on IDF Radio today, Hamas has ordered demonstrators to stay home today. One IDF source said, “Hamas is quieting the demonstrators so that Eurovision will pass calmly.” According to Palestinian media sources, the weekly protest has been canceled due to the current heatwave in Israel as well as the daily Ramadan fast.

Meanwhile, Israeli security forces are on high alert in Jerusalem’s Old City and roads are closed as thousands head to the Temple Mount for Ramadan prayers.

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Coalition Challenge
PM Netanyahu has yet to form a coalition, and his 2 week extension to do so is quickly running out. One of the major stumbling blocks is former defense minister Avigdor Lieberman and his Yisrael Beytenu party, who is vehemently against draft exemptions for yeshiva students and attempts at what he views as religious coercion. THe draft exemption is a dealbreaker for the ultra-Orthodox parties. Negotiations with the other small parties who would make up the coalition are also not reaching fruition because, as the PM said, their demands are “impossible” and “entirely contradictory”.

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Economy Booming
There was a sharp rise in GDP growth in Israel in the first quarter of 2019, the Central Bureau of Statistics reports. According to the first estimate the economy grew 5.2% on an annualized basis in the first quarter. This compares with 3.9% in the fourth quarter of 2018 and 2.8% in the third quarter of 2018.

Business output rose 5.8% on an annualized basis in the first quarter of 2019, after rising 3.9% in the fourth quarter of 2018 and 2.5% in the third quarter of 2018.

Imports of goods and services rose 6.7% on an annualized basis in the first quarter of 2019 after rising 12.2% in the preceding quarter. Exports of goods and services grew 4.9% on an annualized basis in the first quarter of 2019.

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