Israel News for 6-22-18
Sara Indicted
Sara Netanyahu, the PM’s wife, has been indicted for fraudulently obtaining benefits under aggravated circumstances, fraud and breach of trust. She is suspected of ordering private meals worth some NIS 350,000 (roughly $96,600) from high-end restaurants with the state footing the bill, despite the fact that a cook had been hired to prepare the meals at the residence.
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More Fires
Fifteen fires broke out in the western Negev on Thursday afternoon as a result of incendiary kites and balloons launched from Gaza that set fire to trees in the Shokeda Forest and the Be’eri Forest. Firefighters fought to contain the fires.
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Fake News
According to an indictment filed against 20-year-old Gaza resident Mahmoud Omar, who was arrested when he tried to break the Gaza border fence during the “March of Return” riots last month, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar paid Omar’s family to lie and say that his eight-month-old niece, Leila al-Ghandour, had died from tear gas inhalation rather than from a blood disease. The media subsequently reported that the baby was killed by IDF teargas.
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Peace Team
The US Mideast peace team, led by Jared Kushner and Jason Greenblatt, arrived in Egypt on thursday and met with Egyptian president al-Sisi. A White House statement said that the meeting focused on “the need to facilitate humanitarian relief to Gaza.” Jordan’s King Abdullah is set to meet President Trump on Monday.
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Ambassador Extension
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked the government to extend Israeli Ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer’s five-year tenure by another year—until September 30, 2019. The standard term for an ambassador is 3 years. Netanyahu said his request was based on “unique political circumstances in the international arena in general and in light of our relationship with the US in particular.”
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Low Water
The Sea of Galilee (Kinneret) is currently 213.57 meters below water level and 57 cm below the lower red line. Significant evaporation is expected to take palce during the summer, which threatens to cause yet a further decrease in the Kinneret’s water level. However, the National Infrastructure Ministry and the Water Authority are planning to pour desalinated water into the disappearing lake as part of the national effort to preserve its water line.
However, the Mekorot Company, Israel’s national water company, is still pumping some 100 million cubic meters of water, which is equal to 60 cm in water level, from the Kinneret. According to the peace treaty with Jordan, Israel is obligated to transfer 50 million cubic meters annually, with 20 million cubic meters being salt water transferred to the eastern side of the southern Jordan River. The salt water is mixed with 10 million cubic meters of sweet water. Additional water is pumped to supply the residents of Tiberias and other communities surrounding the lake with drinking water, as well as water to irrigate the Golan Heights communities.
As a result of the dropping water level, two islands have been formed and are expanding in the Kinneret.
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Royal Visit
Prince William of England will kick off the first official royal visit to Israel on Monday when he lands and spends the night at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem. On Tuesday morning the Prince will visit Yad Vashem and lay a wreath at the Memorial Hall. In the afternoon he will meet with PM Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara at their official residence. Afterwards, the prince will meet President Reuven Rivlin at the President’s Residence.
Then he will travel to Jaffa “where he will meet with young people involved in the work of two organizations focused on co-existence between the young people of different religious and ethnic communities – the Equalizer and the Peres Centre for Peace.” His next stop will be a visit to central Tel Aviv together with Mayor Ron Huldai. He will also attend a reception at the British Embassy in Ramat Gan together with 350 guests.
On Wednesday, William will visit the Beit Ha’ir Museum and meet with representatives of leading Israeli start-up companies and watch a presentation on Israeli innovation. He will also meet with young activists, both Jewish and Arab, who are involved with youth, education and social programs. He is also expected to attend a cultural event in the city as well and, of course, make a stop at the beach.
Also on Wednesday, the Prince will visit Ramallah and meet Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. He will also attend an event focusing on Palestinian refugees and “celebrate Palestinian culture, music and food; and a chance to meet a number of young Palestinians. At night he will deliver a speech at a reception at the home of the American Consul in Jerusalem.
On Thursday the Prince will visit the Old City of Jerusalem, which the British Foreign Office and the palace has called “Occupied Palestinian Territories”, to the consternation of Israeli officials. According to the Princes official itinerary published by Kensington Palace, “the programme in the Occupied Palestinian Territories will begin with a short briefing on the history and geography of Jerusalem’s Old City from a viewing point at the Mount of Olives. From here His Royal Highness will travel a short distance to the Church of St Mary Magdalene where he will pay his respects at the tomb of his great-grandmother, Princess Alice.” Princess Alice was recognized as “Righteous Among the Nations” by Yad Vashem for saving a Jewish-Greek family during the Holocaust.
Prince William will also visit the Western Wall. The two official photographs of the visit will be from the Prince’s visit to the Western Wall and Yad Vashem.
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