Israel News for 8-13-18
Draft Bill
PM Netanyahu has threatened to dissolve the government and hold new elections if a compromise cannot be reached with the Ultra Orthodox parties regarding the new draft law, which would make thousands of Haredim eligible for the draft. Even without the votes of the Ultra Orthodox parties, the bill has enough support to pass because the opposition parties will vote for it. But Netanyahu does not want to alienate the Haredi since he will probably need their support if he has to form a new coalition.
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Gaza Balloons
One way to stop Hamas from terrorizing Israel with incendiary balloons is to nip the problem at the source. So over the past few weeks Israel has confiscated 3 shipping containers with tens of thousands of balloons bound for Gaza. But what about all those birthday parties?
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Expensive City
Tel Aviv has been ranked as the world’s ninth most expensive city, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). The ranking is based on the cost of a basket of 160 products and services including basic foods, clothing, car rental and purchase, apartment rents, and household maintenance and equipment.
The EIU noted, “Tel Aviv, which was ranked 34th just five years ago, is now the ninth most expensive city in the survey. Currency appreciation played a part in this rise, but Tel Aviv also has some specific costs that drive up prices, notably those of buying, insuring and maintaining a car, which push transport costs 79% above New York prices. Tel Aviv is also the second most expensive city in the survey in which to buy alcohol.”
Tel Aviv is ranked behind Singapore (1), Paris (2), Zurich (3), Hong Kong (4), Oslo (5), Geneva (6), Seoul (7), and Copenhagen (8). Sydney is in tenth place and New York in 13th place (the most expensive US city).
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Runner Blooper
Kenyan born Israeli runner Lonah Chemtai Salpeter was on her way to win a silver medal at a European Athletics Championship race in Berlin, when she mistakenly thought she had finished the race and stopped running a lap too early. When she figured out her mistake she was too far behind to get back into medal contention, although she still ended up coming in 4th and breaking an Israeli record. Salpeter won a gold medal in the 5000 meter race last week.
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