5 Ways the New Conservative Israeli Government Can Help American Interests  

THAT’S ASSUMING AMERICA WANTS THESE THINGS

BY ELLIOT NAZAR, FOREIGN DESK   NOVEMBER 10, 2022

Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to US President Joe Biden, from a Likud office in Tel Aviv on November 7, 2022. (Courtesy Likud)

1. Strong Stance Against Terrorism

During Israel’s elections, Netanyahu and other members of Israel’s Right-wing campaigned on taking a tougher stance against terrorism in Israel, which has been one of the main threats American troops and allies face in the Middle East. With the Assad regime receiving aid from Russia and the Islamic Republic of Iran and the continuous threat of Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon, the new Israeli government has vowed to confront these threats by any means necessary.

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November 11, 2022 | 1:02 am | Comments »

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Coalition talks: Smotrich inclined to take defense portfolio  

Nov 10, 2022, 11:18 AM (GMT+2)

 

Bezalel SmotrichNoam Revkin Fenton/Flash90

Religious Zionism chairman MK Bezalel Smotrich is currently inclined to choose the defense portfolio in the incoming government, Kan Reshet Bet reported Thursday. Over the past week, Smotrich consulted with retired generals and other defense experts regarding the possible appointment as Defense Minister.

In a meeting on Wednesday, Smotrich told Prime Minister-elect Benjamin Netanyahu that although he is still debating between the finance and defense portfolios, he is currently inclined to choose defense. According to sources that were involved in the discussion, Netanyahu did not express opposition to Smotrich taking the defense position.

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November 10, 2022 | 1:17 pm | Comments »

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Israel blamed for deadly strike on Iranian convoy at Syria-Iraq border  

US denies involvement while Jerusalem remains mum as per its policy; Iranian state TV claims trucks were carrying fuel to Lebanon, but others claim weapons were also being shipped

9 November 2022, 7:39 pm

Illustrative: Iraqi security forces prepare to open the crossing between the Iraqi town of Qaim and Syria’s Boukamal, in Qaim, Iraq, Monday, Sept. 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Israel was accused Wednesday of carrying out a series of overnight airstrikes on a convoy near the Syria-Iraq border that left at least 10 people dead, including a number of Iranian fighters.

There has been no claim of responsibility for the strikes on a series of trucks as they crossed into Syria from Iraq at the al-Qaim crossing shortly before midnight Tuesday. The trucks were reportedly carrying fuel and possibly weapons from Iran to Lebanon.

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November 10, 2022 | 1:10 pm | Comments »

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Israel could be en route to a tyranny of the majority  

T. Belman. When Canada repatriated its constitution from Great Britain, it amended its Charter to allow for a “notwithstanding clause”. which is sometimes referred to as the override power, and it allows Parliament or provincial legislatures to temporarily override sections 2 and 7–15 of the Charter. It lasts for 5 years and then must be renewed.

The sky has yet to fall.

I venture to say that the rights of the minority will not be seriously hampered, if at all.

The ‘override clause’ planned by the incoming coalition risks leaving Israel without an effective independent judiciary and no guaranteed civil liberties

Today, 10:05 am

All four parties in Benjamin Netanyahu’s incoming coalition are interested in reducing the power of the Supreme Court by legislating a so-called “override clause” that would drastically restrict the justices’ capacity to intervene in Knesset legislation and government decisions.

Among the arguments advanced in support of such a move is the court’s ostensible over-involvement in lawmaking; the claim that our politicians, as elected representatives of the people, should hold ultimate sway over non-elected judges; and the fact that parliament holds primacy over the courts even in such mighty democracies as Britain.

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November 10, 2022 | 12:43 pm | 3 Comments »

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Here We Go Again… Suspicious Ballots Arrive Way After Legal Deadline in Detroit  

By Kan Donovan, WESTERN JOURNAL

“Here We Go Again… Suspicious Ballots Arrive Way After Legal Deadline in Detroit,” Ben Wetmore reported on Wednesday, after a confusing election night.

According to the Detroit Free Press, Michigan voters on Tuesday decided to enshrine reproductive rights, early voting and financial disclosures on behalf of certain elected officials into the state constitution. Voters in Oakland County came out to support transit.

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November 10, 2022 | 10:12 am | Comments »

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Netanyahu Commits to Top Court Override Clause in Next Government  

Netanyahu is likely to form a government within a week or two, after a compromise has been found regarding the details of the proposal that will allow the Israeli coalition to reenact laws overturned by the Supreme Court and avoid judicial oversight

By Michael Hauser Tov, HAARETZ
Credit: Photos: Hadas Parush, Ohad Zwigenberg, Debbie Hill / Artwork: Anastasia Shub

Officials from Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party said on Wednesday that the coalition agreement with the heads of the right-wing parties that are likely to join the government will contain a commitment to enact a parliamentary override clause.

The party heads made it clear they would not be satisfied with anything less, and would not sign a coalition agreement that only includes the distribution of ministries and a promise to reverse the previous government’s legislative agenda.

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November 10, 2022 | 9:55 am | 2 Comments »

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US ambassador Nides: ‘We will fight against any attempt at annexation’  

T. Belman.  The battle lines are drawn. Will Bibi weigh on on the matter and try to thwart annexation? Regardless, it all depends on whether Smotrich is the Min of Defense or removes Area C from the Civil Administration.

Nov 10, 2022,

 

US Ambassador to Israel Thomas Richard NidesOlivier Fitoussi/Flash90

United States Ambassador to Israel Thomas Nides sent a warning regarding the possibility that the next government will attempt to annex land in Judea and Samaria. In an interview with Kan News on Thursday, the ambassador stated that he will fight against any attempt to make such a move and explained, “The United States and most of the Arab nations oppose annexation.”

The ambassador opened by expressing his willingness to work with the new government, saying, “I want to start with a relationship with this government that is strong and enduring, I want to work closely with Prime Minister Netanyahu, I want to work closely with his government.”

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November 10, 2022 | 9:30 am | 2 Comments »

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Joshua Teitelbaum on Israel and the Persian Gulf: Dawn of a New Era  

by Marilyn Stern, Middle East Forum Webinar    October 31, 2022

 

Joshua Teitelbaum, Bar-Ilan University professor and author, spoke to an October 31st Middle East Forum Webinar (video) about the increasingly open relations between Israel and the countries in the Persian Gulf region.

Teitelbaum touted the progress that has been made between the Jewish State and the Gulf countries, noting that the past vitriol expressed toward Jews and Israel by many Arab countries and their leaders is diminishing. He said the United Arab Emirates (UAE), “a pioneer in the relations,” has employed “soft power” since it joined the Abraham Accords brokered by Washington under the Trump administration. Describing the UAE’s method, Teitelbaum said, “First, they make Judaism kosher, and then they make Israel kosher.”

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November 10, 2022 | 7:10 am | Comments »

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Israel’s Right-Wing Coalition Gets the Cold Shoulder From Biden  

Many on the left warn that democracy is in peril, just because the government they back isn’t in power.

By Eugene Kontorovich, WSJ

The victory of Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition has many on the left bemoaning the end of democracy in Israel. Even before voting began, Sen. Robert Menendez (D., N.J.) threatened harm to bilateral relations should Israelis vote to the right. The State Department has said it would boycott some right-wing ministers, and President Biden waited almost a week before calling to congratulate Mr. Netanyahu. Yet Secretary of State Antony Blinken apparently had time Friday to phone Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who last stood for election (to a four-year term) in 2005.

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November 10, 2022 | 6:50 am | 3 Comments »

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BREAKING. Russian Army Announces It Will Withdraw From 2,000 Square Miles of Ukrainian Territory  

By streiff, RED STATE | 1:30 PM on November 09, 2022

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has publicly directed the Russian Army to withdraw from Kherson City and all occupied territory on the right bank of the Dneiper River

This is the rather bizarre, stage-managed conversation in which General Sergey Surovikin, commander of Army Group South of the Russian Army in Ukraine, presents his assessment to his boss and gets permission to do what he would have to do without permission.

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November 10, 2022 | 2:56 am | 2 Comments »

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The Partisan Rigging of the 2022 Election  

Election reform candidates are not the threat. The threat to democracy is to leave things the way they are.

By 

In a society that retains trust in its institutions, the most authoritative source for news and information would probably be the publicly funded media property that is supposed to adhere to the highest standards of journalistic objectivity. Here in America, that would have been PBS. Except it isn’t. The American media, by and large, along with Silicon Valley’s social media communications oligopolies, are doing everything they can to deny American voters the opportunity to politically realign their nation.
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November 9, 2022 | 6:54 pm | 2 Comments »

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Russia Says It’s Withdrawing From Kherson City, a Blow to Putin’s War Effort  

Kyiv sees ‘no signs’ of Russian pullout from Kherson

By AFP  Today, 6:54 pm

Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhaylo Podolyak says Kyiv sees “no signs” that Russian forces are withdrawing from the southern city of Kherson, shortly after Moscow ordered the pullout.

“We see no signs that Russia is leaving Kherson without a fight,” Podolyak writes on Twitter, suggesting the announcement could be a ploy and calling the order from Russia’s defense minister a “staged TV statement.”

New York Times

Credit…Andrey Borodulin/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

November 9, 2022 | 6:41 pm | Comments »

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Comprehending the underwhelming performance of the GOP  

By Rajan Laad, AM TH

There was supposed to be a red wave that would put the corrupt, entitled, arrogant Democrats in their place. The GOP was supposed to take the House by an emphatic margin and possibly the Senate, too.

They said it was not a question of if, but when it would happen.

As someone on Twitter rightly observed, at this point, the GOP would be lucky to have Red Trickle. Even if the GOP takes the House, it will be by a slim margin.
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November 9, 2022 | 2:39 pm | 9 Comments »

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The Knesset doesn’t have to follow High Court rulings.  

T. Belman.  A few months ago I suggested that a right wing government or just the IDF should demolish all illegal Arab buildings in Area C in defiance of the Court and asked, what can the Court do about it. At worst, they can hold the perpetrators  in contempt but even then can’t enforce their contempt rulings. Meanwhile the illegal construction would be no more. The Knesset should then override the contempt rulings so that the rule of law is maintained.

Tally Gotliv, aiming for chair of Knesset judicial committee, claims court has no authority to strike down legislation, echoing claims by others in presumptive coalition.
Incoming Likud MK says she intends to ignore High Court rulings

An attorney set to enter the Knesset with the Likud party next week says she intends to ignore rulings from the High Court of Justice striking down legislation, claiming Israel’s highest court lacks the authority to do so.

Tally Gotliv, a freshman lawmaker, told the Ynet news site in remarks published Tuesday that planned efforts to pass a clause that would allow lawmakers to override court vetoes were not needed.

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November 9, 2022 | 10:02 am | 1 Comment »

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AMB. DANIEL KURTZER: Cancel Netanyahu’s Trial. And Save Israel From the Far Right  

T. Belman.  Kurtzer is begging the Left to come off their high horse and drop the charges against Netanyahu and agree to join his government, in order to keep Smotrich and Ben Gvir out. If either Lapid or Gantz go for it, then Netanyahu will join with the taker rather than with Smotrich and Ben Gvir.

The stakes are extremely high: Either keep Netanyahu on trial, or risk Israel’s democracy, its civil rights and its international standing and alliances.

By Amb Daniel Kurtzer, HAARETZ

The anti-Netanyahu parties need to assess carefully what is most important to them and to Israel. The stakes are extremely high

This is not a column detailing how awful the Religious Zionism Party and its leaders are. Yes, I agree that they are a dangerous group of racists, misogynists, and anti-democratic homophobes. And I agree that they should not be part of any coalition committed to the rule of law and the values on which the State of Israel is based. This possibility should concern all the good and decent people who comprise the vast majority of Israel’s citizens.

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November 9, 2022 | 9:40 am | 6 Comments »

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