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The Times of Israel liveblogged Tuesday’s events as they unfolded.
Sunni diplomats reportedly seek security cooperation with Israel
Israeli diplomats met secretly in Jordan with diplomats from Arab countries with which Israel has no official relations, Israel Radio reports.
The Palestinian Ma’an News Agency quoted a report on Israel Radio that said the meeting was also attended by diplomats from the United States and EU countries.
According to the report, the Arab diplomats said Middle Eastern countries should prepare for the day when US influence in the region diminishes. They also reportedly expressed interest in cooperating with Israel on security issues.
Israel and Sunni Arab countries have found a common foe in Iran, which is expected to grow stronger since a pending deal on its nuclear program would see the lifting of international sanctions. The outline of a deal between Iran and world powers, decided on in Lausanne, Switzerland, at the beginning of April, was met with criticism both in Jerusalem and in the capitals of Sunni Arab countries.
Rings with IS logos caught in airport shipment
In a shipment from a Turkish exporter en route to Ramallah examined by customs in Ben Gurion airport, one crate contained 120 rings with symbols and slogans of the Islamic State terror group.
“The rings are considered illegal propaganda material and as such importing them into Israel is prohibited. They were confiscated and taken to be destroyed. Information on the matter was transferred to relevant security agencies,” a statement from the Tax Authority says.
משלוח של כ-120 טבעות הנושאות כתובות המזוהות עם ארגון הטרור דאע"ש, נתפסו החודש ע"י עובדי המכס בנמל התעופה בן גוריון pic.twitter.com/AeDpkYtpEZ
— שי ויספיש (@shai0527) May 19, 2015
New ministers pose with president
Channel 2 reporter Yair Sherki tweets a picture of the new government posing for a photo-op with President Reuven Rivlin.
— יאיר שרקי (@yaircherki) May 19, 2015
Cabinet plans Jerusalem’s 50th
The cabinet holds a special meeting at the Israel Museum in honor of Jerusalem Day two days ago, and approves a series of decisions intended to strengthen the city of Jerusalem ahead of the 50th anniversary of its reunification in the 1967 Six Day War.
The cabinet decides to establish a preparatory team (a ministerial committee) to plan 2017’s events, which will include various events in the fields of education, tourism, culture and sports, with an emphasis on the 2017 Maccabiah games.
Additionally, a five-year plan (2016-2020) will be formulated on upgrading infrastructures and encouraging visits to the Western Wall plaza including continued development of the Western Wall plaza and tunnels, the preservation of archaeological finds, upgrades to transportation infrastructure, and expanded educational activity for students and soldiers. The full plan will be submitted for cabinet approval within two weeks, the Government Press Office said in a statement.
Cabinet members pose during a special meeting at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, together with Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, May 19, 2015. (Marc Israel Sellem/Flash90)
Tourist’s body found at Masada
A tourist of approximately 20 years of age was found dead in the Masada national park, Israel Radio reports. Magen David Adom paramedics pronounced her death at the scene.
The woman’s body bore signs of injury. Police were investigating the incident.
PM talks economy in photo op with Rivlin
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu notes five goals of his new government, speaking at the cabinet’s photo op with the president.
“First, opening new markets with Asian giants – China, India and Japan. They want it, we want it – these things are happening before our very eyes,” says Netanyahu.
“Second, developing new products and services in fields where Israel enjoys a competitive edge, most of all the cyber industry. In only a few years, Mr. President, we made Israel a world power in this field and it already creates great change for Beersheba, the Negev and the economy of the rest of Israel.
“Third, we’ll continue accelerating the development of infrastructure that will connect the Negev and the Galilee to the center, as well as the communications infrastructure revolution. This creates a dramatic social revolution, since it allows every boy and girl in Israel, in any minority population village or developing town, to touch, to connect to the world of tomorrow – in education, in culture, in economics, in information, literally in any field.
“Fourth, developing the gas and energy market that will lower the cost of living and make Israel an energy exporter. This has diplomatic, economic and security implications.
“Lastly, fifth but not least, reforms, reforms, reforms. We believe these reforms should be conducted according to some basic principles – advancing competition, cutting red tape, streamlining the government mechanism and cooperating with the private sector, which produces the lion’s share of added value to the economy of Israel and the citizens of Israel,” says Netanyahu.
25 American tourists dehydrate near Dead Sea
Fifty-six hikers were extricated by the Megilot rescue unit and Magen David Adom paramedics. Twenty-five of them – 19-year-old American tourists – were taken to Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem after suffering from dehydration.
Sarah Silverman promotes NIF Shavuot Tikkun
The New Israel Fund is sponsoring a Shavuot Tikkun by a group called Rabbis to Holot, at the Holot detention facility for African migrants in the south of Israel.
The Tikkun, a Shavuot holiday tradition in which Jews learn throughout the night, is “dedicated to solidarity with asylum seekers held in the facility.”
US comedian Sarah Silverman took a selfie with a sign quoting the Biblical phrase “For you were strangers in the land of Egypt,” to publicize the event.
More details on tourist’s death near Masada
The American tourist who was found dead near Masada was part of a group. When she fell, she hit her head and lost consciousness, and it took more than an hour before the group noticed she was missing, Ynet reports.
A Magen David Adom paramedic says, “At the bottom of the cliff we noticed a young woman, about 20, lying unconscious, not breathing and with no pulse, with systemic injuries and signs of heatstroke. We began resuscitating her but after some time had to pronounce her dead.”
PM ‘to continue supporting internet reform’
The Prime Minister’s Office issues an unusual statement responding to criticism leveled at Netanyahu for his termination earlier this week of Avi Berger, director general of the Communications Ministry.
“The market reform will continue to receive my full backing and unequivocal support,” the statement reads.
Berger’s termination, which was criticized as a political act, raised concern that his reforms will be terminated as well. However, the reform is in line with Netanyahu’s personal economic credo. Netanyahu was a great proponent of privatization and deregulation when he served as finance minister in the early 2000s.
“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu led the large-scale reforms in the Israeli markets over the last two decades, as prime minister and as finance minister, and he is the person who opened the market to competition….
“The prime minister intends to continue this policy determinedly also in his current role as communication minister. The prime minister supports the reform, promoted during the previous Netanyahu government, and will continue to lead the increased competition and lowering of prices of landline telephony and internet packages offered to the public,” the statement reads.
Iran extends new credit line to Syria
Syria’s official news agency says Iran is extending a credit line to make up for market needs and reports that the two countries have signed several agreements in the fields of electricity, industry, oil and investment.
The new credit was announced Tuesday during a visit to Damascus by Ali Akbar Velayati, a top aide to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran is a top ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad and is believed to have supplied his government with billions of dollars since the Syrian conflict began in March 2011. Tehran extended a $1 billion credit line to Syria to help support the local currency in June 2013.
The new credit — it was not clear how much — comes as the Syrian pound’s depreciation has accelerated.
— AP
Jordan rejects Syria charge of training ‘terrorists’
Jordan on Tuesday rejected Syrian accusations that “terrorists” were being given military training on its soil, insisting Amman favored a political solution to its neighbor’s conflict.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry, in a protest letter sent to the United Nations on Monday, alleges that Jordan “provides logistical support to armed terrorist groups, including (Al-Qaeda affiliate) Al-Nusra Front.”
It accuses Jordan of having “set up terrorist training camps on its soil as well as operation centres to help these groups and facilitate the infiltration of thousands of terrorists a day.”
Syria’s government refers to all those seeking President Bashar Assad’s ouster as “terrorists.”
Jordan’s government spokesman Mohamed al-Momani, quoted by state news agency Petra, says the charges had “no basis in reality.”
— AFP
PM meets FIFA president in Jerusalem
Netanyahu meets with FIFA President Sepp Blatter in Jerusalem and says he knows Blatter objects to the politicization of the sport, which should be “a vehicle of goodwill among nations.” He added that Israel provides aid to Palestinian soccer. Netanyahu added that politicization of international soccer would cause the “deterioration of a great institution.”
Blatter tells Netanyahu he is happy to be back in Israel. Soccer is a strong institution and should unite people, not separate them. He said he was certain a solution to the Palestinians’ complaints would be found.
The Palestinian soccer association threatens to bring to a vote a motion to expel Israel from FIFA. The Palestinians claim Israel is not allowing players to cross from the Gaza Strip to the West Bank, and are also unhappy about the inclusion in FIFA of Israeli clubs located in West Bank settlements.
Illinois passes anti-BDS legislation
Illinois lawmakers unanimously passed a bill that bars state pension funds from including companies that participate in the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign against Israel.
The bill passed the state’s House of Representatives on Monday by a vote of 102-0. The state Senate had passed the measure unanimously as well, 49-0.
With the expected signature of Gov. Bruce Rauner, Illinois would be the first state to legislate against BDS.
In a tweet Monday shortly after the bill passed the House, Rauner wrote, “Looking forward to signing #SB1761 making IL first in the nation to fight BDS against Israel.”
— JTA
Looking forward to signing #SB1761 making IL first in the nation to fight BDS against Israel. Great work @StateRepSara & Sen. Silverstein
— Bruce Rauner (@GovRauner) May 18, 2015
New Hamas clip features Bar Rafaeli
A new propaganda clip from Hamas featuring the visage of Israeli model Bar Rafaeli and aimed at Israeli viewers threatens to become another dancefloor hit, after a song debuted during Operation Protective Edge became so popular with Israelis that it was used as a phone ringtone and even played at weddings.
The new song, “Never to become a soldier,” is sung in Hebrew with subtitles in Arabic. It is in the familiar so-called “Middle Eastern” pop style which swept Israel’s airwaves long ago: a mixture of Greek and Arabic influences with a euro synth-pop arrangement.
The lyrics are in the first person, with the speaker saying how he would not want to join the army but would prefer to be a supermodel (yep). At that point in the clip images of Israeli model Bar Rafaeli appear on the screen, apparently as posters in some unknown teen’s room.
Later on the clip shows Israelis cowering in stairwells during siren alerts and coffins draped with the Israeli flag, as well as images of mangled APCs. It is not clear whether the footage is taken from Operation Protective Edge or other conflicts.
A still from a Hamas clip featuring images of Bar Rafaeli. (Screen capture: Facebook)
Hotovely meets Norwegian foreign minister
Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely meets Norwegian Børge Brende, the first high-level meeting by the young Likud minister.
Hotovely thanks Brende for the Norwegian government’s battle against anti-Semitism and says that the new government in Israel is representative of the will for dialogue and is against unilateral Palestinian actions.
Hotovely adds that Israel expects the Norwegians to pressure the Palestinian leadership to recognize that Israel is the homeland of the Jewish people.
Knesset team prepares for futsal cup
The Knesset’s Futsal (junior soccer) team holds its last training session ahead of the finals of the Knesset Chairman Cup (yes, it exists) that will be held next week in Eilat.
On the Knesset team captain Tzachi Hanegbi (Likud) leads Eli Ben Dahan (Jewish Home), Ayman Odeh (Joint List), Oren Hazan (Likud), Osama Sa’adi (Joint List), Isawi Frege (Meretz), Yinon Magal (Jewish Home), Eitan Cabel (Zionist Union), Sharon Gal (Yisrael Beytenu), Ayoub Kara (Likud) and Hamed Amar (Yisrael Beytenu). The team’s activity is managed by Deputy Knesset Secretary Nassim Bader.
From left to right: A member of the Knesset Guard who joined the training, MK Osma’a Sa’adi (Joint List), Tzachi Hanegbi (Likud), Issawi Frege (Meretz), Ayman Odeh (Joint List) and Oren Hazan (Likud), playing on the Knesset’s Futsal team. (Courtesy Knesset)
Kahlon wants to introduce rent control program
Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon is looking to introduce legislation that would freeze rental prices for three to five years from the date on which a lease is signed, Channel 2 reports.
Such legislation, if successful, would harm the profits of landlords but would be hugely beneficial for renters. It is the latest in a series of initiatives aimed at solving a persistent housing crisis.
According to Israel’s current laws, there is no control over rent.
Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon (Photo credit: Miriam Alster/Flash90)
‘Rent will be fixed to CPI or rise by no more than 2% annually’
According to new legislation proposed by Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon, rent would either rise by a fixed 2 percent annually, or alternatively be fixed by the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The legislation is not Kahlon’s brainchild – it was proposed in the last Knesset but was never passed.
Meanwhile, the government also approves Kahlon’s request to have control of the Planning Administration which was until now in the purview of the Interior Ministry. The transfer of the administration to the Finance Ministry is part of the coalition deal between Kulanu, Kahlon’s party and Likud. Transferring the Israel Lands Authority from the Housing Ministry to the Finance Ministry was also approved.
“Transferring the Israel Lands Authority and the Planning Administration to the Finance Ministry is a first step in the complex journey to solve the housing crisis. I am pleased the government chose to tackle this important issue in its first meeting and to approve the cornerstones of the reform,” says Kahlon.
Woman jailed after fleeing to avoid circumcising 4-year-old son
A Florida woman is in jail after fleeing with her 4-year-old son to keep him from being circumcised.
Heather Hironimus, 31, of Boynton Beach was arrested last week after going into hiding with her son Chase three months ago rather than give her consent and turn the boy over for the surgery.
Hironimus and the boy’s father, Dennis Nebus of Boca Raton, had agreed to the circumcision three years ago as part of their separation deal. Hironimus backed out of the surgery and Nebus took her to court. In May, an appeals court in Florida upheld lower court rulings in favor of Nebus and the circumcision. The couple, neither of whom is Jewish, were never married.
On Monday, a US District Court judge received assurances from Nebus’ attorney that the judge will receive 10 days notice prior to the procedure. Chase is in the custody of his father in an undisclosed location.
The judge, Kenneth Marra, made no ruling on an emergency request by Hironimus to put a temporary restraining order on the procedure.
Nebus has called circumcision “just the normal thing to do.”
— JTA
FIFA head says Palestinians holding Israeli soccer ‘hostage’
FIFA President Sepp Blatter tells reporters the Palestinian soccer association was holding its Israeli counterpart “hostage in a fight against our government.”
Blatter, who met Netanyahu earlier, says he is on a “mission of peace” to resolve tensions between the Israeli and Palestinian soccer federations in the hope of staving off a Palestinian bid to oust Israel from the world governing body.
As part of his vision of using sports as a bridge between people, Blatter has proposed holding a peace match in Zurich between the Israeli and Palestinian national teams.
Seated alongside Blatter, the president of the Israeli federation, Ofer Eini, immediately accepted the offer.
Palestinians say Israeli security restrictions are limiting movement of Palestinian players, visiting teams and soccer equipment and have put forward a proposal to suspend Israel from world soccer at the 209-nation FIFA meeting on May 29. Blatter opposes the suspension vote, saying Israel has not broken FIFA statutes in a political issue outside of soccer’s control.
— AP
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