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The Daily Edition

What Matters Most On Friday, August 18, 2023

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View of an arch in Caesarea's ancient Roman aqueduct that collapsed on August 18, 2023. (Muhammad Khater/Israel Antiquities Authority)

'It's pure luck that bathers weren't killed'

2,000-year-old arch in Caesarea aqueduct collapses; official: ‘We sounded the alarm’

Antiquities Authority issues angry statement saying repeated pleas for preservation work at famous site were ignored, warns Acre’s aqueduct faces even greater danger of ruin

Passengers at a Tel Aviv light rail station on its first day of service, August 18, 2023. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

Protesters rally to denounce train not operating on Shabbat

‘We waited a long time for this’: Tel Aviv light rail sets off after years of delays

100,000 passengers as Israelis nationwide flock to ride on inaugural trains, with Koti Elazar, 70, recognized as first passenger; ‘This rail will take Bat Yam forward,’ mayor vows

Inside StoryTel Aviv light rail launches amid multiple challenges, criticism over Shabbat closure

By Deborah Danan

New ‘very different’ COVID-19 variant detected in Israel, Denmark and US

By Renee Ghert-Zand

Health organizations worldwide monitoring Omicron variant with over 30 protein spike mutations; expert says it is too early to know its impact

In the foreground is a 3D print created in 2020 of a spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 virus. In the background is a 3D print of a SARS-CoV-2 virus particle. The spike protein enables the virus to enter and infect human cells. The spike proteins appear in red on the virus model. (AFP/ National Institutes of Health)

Academy of Motion Pictures mum on how Jews fit into new inclusion standards

Rules taking effect for next year’s Best Picture award aim to encourage diversity in film industry, raising questions and criticism

An Oscars statue outside the Dolby Theatre for the 87th Academy Awards in Los Angeles on February 21, 2015. (Matt Sayles/Invision/AP, File)

Dana Ivgi (right) in 'The Other Widow,' nominated for nine Ophir Awards; the ceremony will take place September 10, 2023. (Courtesy: Vered Adir)

Film frenzyFilms nominated for Israeli Oscars to get special screenings

By Jessica Steinberg

Report: Smotrich to ask cabinet to approve $180m plan to expand settlements

Money includes millions for services like health, education and youth clubs, but also large amounts for promoting and enlarging Israel’s civilian footprint in the West Bank

Religious Zionism party chief Bezalel Smotrich (center) and party members at the settlement of Efrat in the Gush Etzion region of the West Bank, October 26, 2022. (Gershon Elinson/Flash90)

Orly Erez Likhovski

I’ve been fighting for women’s rights in Israel for 20 years

Israelis finally understand that discrimination against women is intolerable – just as the government wages war on women’s rights

The ‘hipardut’ rift would be a national disaster

Separating secular and religious Jews into different countries would undermine the very essence of Judaism – and the Zionist dream

Journalist Oren Kessler, author of 'Palestine 1936.' (Hadas Parush)

ToI podcast'This chapter in the conflict hasn't remotely gotten its due'

What Matters Now to author Oren Kessler: 1936 Palestine’s missed peace deal

By Amanda Borschel-Dan

In ‘Palestine 1936,’ Kessler delves into dusty archives to bring to life the overlooked saga of the 3-year Arab Revolt that arguably forms the roots of today’s Middle East conflict

Pair discusses advancing Saudi normalization deal

Blinken presses Dermer for steps to calm region, as US awaits pledged boost for PA

DC sit-down comes month after Jerusalem agreed to help PA deal with crises to mollify Washington, but never actually followed through; Smotrich blamed for delay

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (left) hosts Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, August 17, 2023. (Secretary of State Blinken, via Twitter)

Illustrative: A police officer keeps watch from an observation tower at the Gilboa Prison in northern Israel on September 6, 2021. (Jalaa Marey / AFP)

Some 1,000 Hamas prisoners warn they’ll launch hunger strike over conditions

Hamza Abu Sneineh, 30, who was shot with a rubber bullet by Israel Police during clashes on the night of May 7, 2021, at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. (Twitter screenshot: used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

Palestinian man dies of injuries from May 2021 Temple Mount clash

By Michael Horovitz

Analysis

As IDF takes hit from reservist protests, US eyes threat to its security interests

Israel’s preoccupation with its domestic turmoil ‘could mean that the US needs to do more in this region,’ says one expert. But ‘the US doesn’t want to do more in this region’

Israelis wave Israeli and American flags as they protest the coalition's judicial overhaul legislation, outside the US consulate in Tel Aviv, March 7, 2023. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

Palestinian security forces stationed at a main junction in the West Bank city of Jenin, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (AP/Nasser Nasser)

After Israeli raids, Palestinian police struggle to reassert control in terror hotbed

Screen grab from an unverified video circulating on social media said to show fire from an explosion at a defense facility in Iran's Isfahan after an alleged drone strike, January 29, 2023. (Used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

Report: Russian drone experts took cover in Tehran hotel during alleged Mossad strike

Leaked documents obtained by Washington Post shed light on January incident at Shahed-136 UAV factory, reveal Iran helping Moscow make progress on advanced drone production

New York Mayor Eric Adams set for 3-day visit to Israel next week

By Luke Tress and ToI Staff

Adams, who has strong ties to NY Jewish community, will meet politicians and business leaders, discuss efforts to tackle antisemitism and learn about Israeli tech

New York City Mayor Eric Adams speaks at the Lincoln Square Synagogue in New York City, December 12, 2022. (Luke Tress/Times of Israel)

Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy waves after taking part in a Fair-Side Chat with Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds at the Iowa State Fair Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP/Jeff Roberson)

Long-shot GOP candidate Ramaswamy says Abraham Accords should replace aid to Israel

By Gabe Friedman

Former US president Donald Trump looks on during Round 3 at the LIV Golf-Bedminster 2023 at the Trump National in Bedminster, New Jersey, on August 13, 2023. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP)

Trump’s lawyers want his interference trial pushed to 2026, long after next election

By AFP

US President Joe Biden, center, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, left, talk to reporters before a lunch with Senate Democrats on his budget and political agenda, at the Capitol in Washington, March 2, 2023. (AP/J. Scott Applewhite)

White House said briefing top Democrats on Saudi-Israel normalization talks

Meetings part of tacit effort to rally support for deal, keeping lawmakers in the loop regarding negotiations

Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, left, and his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan hold a joint press conference in Riyadh on August 17, 2023. (Fayez Nureldine/AFP)

On 1st Saudi visit since ties restored, Iran FM touts Islamic unity, slams ‘Zionists’

By AFP and ToI Staff

Opposition pans request: 'This is a transparent ploy'

Coalition seeks delay of court hearings on reasonableness law, as Hayut’s clock ticks

Court chief’s imminent retirement creates a hard deadline for her involvement; attorney for coalition argues complexity of issues demands ‘thorough and comprehensive’ preparation

Supreme Court President Esther Hayut (center) alongside Justices Uzi Vogelman (left) and Isaac Amit (right) during a hearing on petitions against the coalition's recusal law, August 3, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Then-defense minister Benny Gantz and then-outgoing prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in the Knesset plenum, June 13, 2021. (Noam Moskowitz/Knesset)

Gantz said to rule out unity coalition with Netanyahu, while some in party back idea

Haredi men and anti-overhaul activists argue aboard a bus bound for Bnei Brak, Israel on Aug. 16, 2023. (Courtesy of Brothers in Arms)

'We don’t come to your buses, why do you come to ours?'

Ostensible bid for ‘dialogue’ with Haredim on bus devolves into angry singing match

By Canaan Lidor

Videos show women from Brothers in Arms protest movement and Bnei Brak-bound passengers trying to drown out each other’s words with song

Jewish comedian Alex Edelman speaks to seniors at Inspir Jewish Living about his solo Broadway show 'Just for Us.' (Hundred Stories PR via JTA)

'If we didn't ask our questions, what would he have to say?'

Alex Edelman, the summer’s hottest comedian, finds tough Jewish crowd at senior home

By julia GERGELY

Although residents of NYC’s Inspir Carnegie Hill mostly liked the performer’s solo Broadway show ‘Just for Us,’ they were less impressed when he showed up at the facility in person

More Headlines

Ukrainian refugees and new immigrants disembark from a plane on their arrival at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport, near Tel Aviv, on December 22, 2022. (Gil Cohen-Magen / AFP)

After lapse, Israel extends Ukraine refugees’ health benefits till year’s end

Danny Aweke. (Courtesy)

After nearly 5 years, Turkey to release Israeli caught smuggling khat — minister

Police chief Kobi Shabtai (left) during a police operation in Lod on August 17, 2023. (Israel Police)

Police say 85 suspects arrested in operation targeting crime in Arab community

Police and rescue personnel try to extract two firefighters and another man from a hole into which they fell, in the northern village of Deir al-Asad, August 13, 2023. (screenshot used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law))

Two firefighters dropped from operational activity after fatal pit rescue attempt

File: A Palestinian woman receives medicine from a doctor at a clinic run by the agency for Palestinian refugees, or UNRWA, in the Ein el-Hilweh refugee camp in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, June 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)

UNRWA halts services in Lebanon camp to protest Palestinian gunmen on site

Palestinian children enjoy the company of cats on the opening day of Meow Cafe in Gaza City, August 17, 2023. (AP/Fatima Shbair)

A bit of fluffGaza’s first cat cafe offers distraction for enclave’s residents

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