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Israeli
Israeli's Journal
Israeli's Journal
May 22, 2023
By TOI STAFF and JACOB MAGID
Today.
The United States expressed deep misgivings with National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s “provocative” visit to the Temple Mount Sunday, chiding the Israeli hardliner for using “inflammatory rhetoric” and politicizing the holy site.
The statement from State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller also spoke out against Jerusalem for lifting a ban on Israelis entering the area of the former Homesh outpost, paving the way for settlers to return and build a formal settlement there.
Ben Gvir, leader of the extremist Otzma Yehudit party, took a highly visible tour of the Temple Mount on Sunday, boasting that he was flexing Israel’s sovereignty over the flashpoint site holy to both Jews and Muslims.
“We are also concerned by today’s provocative visit to the Temple Mount/Haram al Sharif in Jerusalem and the accompanying inflammatory rhetoric,” the State Department said.
“This holy space should not be used for political purposes, and we call on all parties to respect its sanctity,” it added.
During the tour, Ben Gvir made clear that his visit was intended to send a political message.
“We are in charge here,” Ben Gvir declared
Continued @ :
https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-flogs-ben-gvir-for-provocative-inflammatory-tour-on-tense-temple-mount/
US flogs Ben Gvir for 'provocative, inflammatory' tour on tense Temple Mount
State Department slams far-right minister for politicizing holy site with visit meant to show Israeli muscle; move paving way for resurrection of Homesh outpost also pannedBy TOI STAFF and JACOB MAGID
Today.
The United States expressed deep misgivings with National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s “provocative” visit to the Temple Mount Sunday, chiding the Israeli hardliner for using “inflammatory rhetoric” and politicizing the holy site.
The statement from State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller also spoke out against Jerusalem for lifting a ban on Israelis entering the area of the former Homesh outpost, paving the way for settlers to return and build a formal settlement there.
Ben Gvir, leader of the extremist Otzma Yehudit party, took a highly visible tour of the Temple Mount on Sunday, boasting that he was flexing Israel’s sovereignty over the flashpoint site holy to both Jews and Muslims.
“We are also concerned by today’s provocative visit to the Temple Mount/Haram al Sharif in Jerusalem and the accompanying inflammatory rhetoric,” the State Department said.
“This holy space should not be used for political purposes, and we call on all parties to respect its sanctity,” it added.
During the tour, Ben Gvir made clear that his visit was intended to send a political message.
“We are in charge here,” Ben Gvir declared
Continued @ :
https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-flogs-ben-gvir-for-provocative-inflammatory-tour-on-tense-temple-mount/
May 17, 2023
By TOI STAFF
Today, 4:59 am
The US is urging “calm” and “restraint” ahead of a highly controversial nationalist parade through the Old City of Jerusalem on Thursday, where tens of thousands of Jewish Israelis are expected to march through the Muslim Quarter waving Israeli flags. The event will come less than a week after Israel and terror group Palestinian Islamic Jihad finalized a ceasefire agreement following five days of deadly conflict.
The annual rally of religious nationalists is regularly a tense affair, with thousands of largely Orthodox participants marching from Independence Park to the Western Wall to mark Israel’s reunification of East and West Jerusalem during the 1967 Six Day War. The Jerusalem Day march has gained notoriety over the years, as it is often marred by hate speech and sometimes violence by Jewish participants toward Palestinians.
On Tuesday, State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said Washington would “continue to urge the parties to refrain from actions and rhetoric and activities that would inflame tensions,” in response to a question about the controversial march during a press briefing.
Continued @ :
https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-urges-calm-restraint-ahead-of-contentious-jerusalem-flag-march-in-old-city/
US urges 'calm, restraint' ahead of contentious Jerusalem Flag March in Old City
State Department spokesperson says Washington supports right of peaceful expression, calls to ‘refrain from actions, rhetoric and activities that would inflame tensions’By TOI STAFF
Today, 4:59 am
The US is urging “calm” and “restraint” ahead of a highly controversial nationalist parade through the Old City of Jerusalem on Thursday, where tens of thousands of Jewish Israelis are expected to march through the Muslim Quarter waving Israeli flags. The event will come less than a week after Israel and terror group Palestinian Islamic Jihad finalized a ceasefire agreement following five days of deadly conflict.
The annual rally of religious nationalists is regularly a tense affair, with thousands of largely Orthodox participants marching from Independence Park to the Western Wall to mark Israel’s reunification of East and West Jerusalem during the 1967 Six Day War. The Jerusalem Day march has gained notoriety over the years, as it is often marred by hate speech and sometimes violence by Jewish participants toward Palestinians.
On Tuesday, State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said Washington would “continue to urge the parties to refrain from actions and rhetoric and activities that would inflame tensions,” in response to a question about the controversial march during a press briefing.
Continued @ :
https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-urges-calm-restraint-ahead-of-contentious-jerusalem-flag-march-in-old-city/
April 10, 2023
By JEREMY SHARON
Today, 1:24 pm
Under heavy security protection, thousands of settler activists and members of right-wing organizations, together with senior government ministers, marched to the illegal West Bank outpost of Evyatar on Monday afternoon.
Organizers said the march was to strengthen the settlement movement and to pressure the government to allow the outpost to be repopulated.
Some of the government’s most senior cabinet ministers, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, participated in the march against their own government’s policy, along with four of the most senior rabbis in the religious-Zionist community.
(snip)
On Sunday, security officials warned that the march to Evyatar would put more pressure on security forces already “spread thin” by the security situation in the West Bank, and the threats from other fronts.
Source : https://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-including-ministers-march-to-illegal-west-bank-outpost-under-heavy-guard/
We protest in defence of democracy and equality for all .
They march for apartheid , annexation and the total destruction of any chance of a Two State Solution .
Thousands, including ministers, march to illegal West Bank outpost under heavy guard
The rally, including far-right minister Ben Gvir, goes to Evyatar settlement in campaign to legalize the outpost, stretching already strained security forcesBy JEREMY SHARON
Today, 1:24 pm
Under heavy security protection, thousands of settler activists and members of right-wing organizations, together with senior government ministers, marched to the illegal West Bank outpost of Evyatar on Monday afternoon.
Organizers said the march was to strengthen the settlement movement and to pressure the government to allow the outpost to be repopulated.
Some of the government’s most senior cabinet ministers, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, participated in the march against their own government’s policy, along with four of the most senior rabbis in the religious-Zionist community.
(snip)
On Sunday, security officials warned that the march to Evyatar would put more pressure on security forces already “spread thin” by the security situation in the West Bank, and the threats from other fronts.
Source : https://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-including-ministers-march-to-illegal-west-bank-outpost-under-heavy-guard/
We protest in defence of democracy and equality for all .
They march for apartheid , annexation and the total destruction of any chance of a Two State Solution .
March 29, 2023
WASHINGTON — US President Joe Biden on Tuesday urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “walk away” from his current judicial overhaul legislation, saying he was “very concerned” about the health of Israeli democracy, and warning that Israel “cannot continue down this road.”
“Like many strong supporters of Israel, I’m very concerned. And I’m concerned that they get this straight,” Biden told reporters who asked him about the well-being of Israeli democracy and Netanyahu’s bid to shackle the judiciary.
“They cannot continue down this road. And I’ve sort of made that clear,” he added, speaking before he boarded Air Force One at the Raleigh-Durham airport, in remarks plunging US-Israel ties into open crisis.
Continued @
https://www.timesofisrael.com/biden-israel-cannot-continue-down-this-road-no-netanyahu-invite-in-near-term/
Biden: Israel 'cannot continue down this road'; no Netanyahu invite in 'near term'
President tells PM to ‘walk away’ from current overhaul law, says he’s very concerned for democracy; Netanyahu retorts: Won’t bow to overseas pressure, even from ‘best of friends’WASHINGTON — US President Joe Biden on Tuesday urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “walk away” from his current judicial overhaul legislation, saying he was “very concerned” about the health of Israeli democracy, and warning that Israel “cannot continue down this road.”
“Like many strong supporters of Israel, I’m very concerned. And I’m concerned that they get this straight,” Biden told reporters who asked him about the well-being of Israeli democracy and Netanyahu’s bid to shackle the judiciary.
“They cannot continue down this road. And I’ve sort of made that clear,” he added, speaking before he boarded Air Force One at the Raleigh-Durham airport, in remarks plunging US-Israel ties into open crisis.
Continued @
https://www.timesofisrael.com/biden-israel-cannot-continue-down-this-road-no-netanyahu-invite-in-near-term/
March 23, 2023
The U.S. State Department summoned Israeli Ambassador Michael Herzog overnight Wednesday in a rare move to protest the "outrageous" passage of an amendment to the Disengagement Law by the Knesset that will allow Israelis to return to evacuated settlements in the northern West Bank.
According to the State Department, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman conveyed at the meeting Washington's concern over the legislation and called to avoid actions that could increase tensions before the upcoming holidays — referring to the holidays of Passover, Easter and Ramadan which overlap this year.
A senior U.S. official told Ynet that Washington was very upset with the "outrageous" move and what he deemed its hasty passage. He added that the Biden administration was "exhausted" from 'chasing' the almost-daily controversies unfolding in Israel like a "rabbit in a hole".
Summoning the Israeli envoy signals that the Americans' patience with Israel's hardline government is wearing thin with each new crisis — from home demolitions in East Jerusalem, through new settlement construction, to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's provocative statements calling to "wipe out" the Palestinian town of Huwara and claiming "there is no such thing" as a Palestinian people next to a flag showing a "Greater Israel" which incorporated the territory of Jordan.
This is the first such call-up of an Israeli ambassador by Washington in 13 years.
Continued @ https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r1quv7ug3
U.S. summons Israeli envoy in protest of 'outrageous' Disengagement Law repeal
Senior U.S. official tells Ynet Biden administration 'exhausted' from chasing the almost-daily controversies unfolding in Israel like a 'rabbit in a hole' as patience with Israel's hardline government is wearing thinThe U.S. State Department summoned Israeli Ambassador Michael Herzog overnight Wednesday in a rare move to protest the "outrageous" passage of an amendment to the Disengagement Law by the Knesset that will allow Israelis to return to evacuated settlements in the northern West Bank.
According to the State Department, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman conveyed at the meeting Washington's concern over the legislation and called to avoid actions that could increase tensions before the upcoming holidays — referring to the holidays of Passover, Easter and Ramadan which overlap this year.
A senior U.S. official told Ynet that Washington was very upset with the "outrageous" move and what he deemed its hasty passage. He added that the Biden administration was "exhausted" from 'chasing' the almost-daily controversies unfolding in Israel like a "rabbit in a hole".
Summoning the Israeli envoy signals that the Americans' patience with Israel's hardline government is wearing thin with each new crisis — from home demolitions in East Jerusalem, through new settlement construction, to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's provocative statements calling to "wipe out" the Palestinian town of Huwara and claiming "there is no such thing" as a Palestinian people next to a flag showing a "Greater Israel" which incorporated the territory of Jordan.
This is the first such call-up of an Israeli ambassador by Washington in 13 years.
Continued @ https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r1quv7ug3
March 23, 2023
By TOI STAFF and CARRIE KELLER-LYNN
Today, 6:43 am
The Knesset passed into law a bill that would protect Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from a court order to recuse himself, in an early Thursday morning final vote of 61 Knesset members in favor and 47 against.
The bill passed its second and third (final) readings following hours-long, heated discussions in the plenum that stretched into the early morning.
The opposition had filed numerous objections to the bill, which was fast-tracked in Knesset’s House Committee, and promised to stage a fiery filibuster against the legislation, seen as being “tailored” to save Netanyahu from potential legal trouble. The stalling proved to be largely symbolic, as the bill’s sponsor, Likud faction chairman MK Ofir Katz, agreed with the opposition to limit debate on the recusal bill to a maximum of 16 hours. Deliberations began Wednesday night, and the law passed around 6 a.m. Thursday.
The legislation explicitly blocks the top court from ordering a prime minister to take a leave of absence, and is widely seen as a reaction to fears that the High Court of Justice could force Netanyahu to step down, due to the potential conflict of interest created by him overseeing his coalition’s bid to dramatically overhaul the judiciary while he is himself on trial for multiple corruption charges.
Netanyahu is on trial in three separate cases and facing charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust for allegedly taking expensive gifts from benefactors and attempting to arrange secret deals with media companies for more positive coverage. He denies wrongdoing.
Continued @ https://www.timesofisrael.com/knesset-passes-law-shielding-netanyahu-from-recusal-in-61-47-final-vote/
Knesset passes law shielding Netanyahu from court-ordered recusal
Final readings of Likud-sponsored bill, seen as tailored to save PM from potential legal trouble, approved after long night of heated debate; Lapid blasts ‘obscene, corrupt law’By TOI STAFF and CARRIE KELLER-LYNN
Today, 6:43 am
The Knesset passed into law a bill that would protect Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from a court order to recuse himself, in an early Thursday morning final vote of 61 Knesset members in favor and 47 against.
The bill passed its second and third (final) readings following hours-long, heated discussions in the plenum that stretched into the early morning.
The opposition had filed numerous objections to the bill, which was fast-tracked in Knesset’s House Committee, and promised to stage a fiery filibuster against the legislation, seen as being “tailored” to save Netanyahu from potential legal trouble. The stalling proved to be largely symbolic, as the bill’s sponsor, Likud faction chairman MK Ofir Katz, agreed with the opposition to limit debate on the recusal bill to a maximum of 16 hours. Deliberations began Wednesday night, and the law passed around 6 a.m. Thursday.
The legislation explicitly blocks the top court from ordering a prime minister to take a leave of absence, and is widely seen as a reaction to fears that the High Court of Justice could force Netanyahu to step down, due to the potential conflict of interest created by him overseeing his coalition’s bid to dramatically overhaul the judiciary while he is himself on trial for multiple corruption charges.
Netanyahu is on trial in three separate cases and facing charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust for allegedly taking expensive gifts from benefactors and attempting to arrange secret deals with media companies for more positive coverage. He denies wrongdoing.
Continued @ https://www.timesofisrael.com/knesset-passes-law-shielding-netanyahu-from-recusal-in-61-47-final-vote/
March 8, 2023
How do you report
someone who is constantly making abusive personal attacks and
then deleting his message ?
March 1, 2023
Ynet, News agencies
Major demonstrations and disruptions to traffic, education and business took place on Wednesday as opponents of a contentious judicial overhaul stepped up its fight against the government.
In the early morning hours, protesters blocked the main highway between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, halting rush hour traffic for about an hour. At busy train stations in Tel Aviv, protesters prevented trains from departing by blocking their doors.
Police said four protesters were arrested for disturbing the peace, including a 70-year-old woman.
Protestors declared that throughout the day, marches and protests across Israel will continue, ending with a large demonstration in Tel Aviv and in front of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem.
In response, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir instructed the police to prevent road blockages by what he protesters, whom he labeled "anarchists."
"We will not allow a civil uprising and anarchists to block major roads," Ben-Gvir said.
Source : https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hjbstdhro#autoplay
Israelis step up fight against government with 'national disruption day'
Demonstrators block roads and stop train travel in protest over legislative push to reform judicial system; call on government to stop their 'assault on Israel's democracy and push to destroy the judiciary'; police use force to clear roadsYnet, News agencies
Major demonstrations and disruptions to traffic, education and business took place on Wednesday as opponents of a contentious judicial overhaul stepped up its fight against the government.
In the early morning hours, protesters blocked the main highway between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, halting rush hour traffic for about an hour. At busy train stations in Tel Aviv, protesters prevented trains from departing by blocking their doors.
Police said four protesters were arrested for disturbing the peace, including a 70-year-old woman.
Protestors declared that throughout the day, marches and protests across Israel will continue, ending with a large demonstration in Tel Aviv and in front of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem.
In response, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir instructed the police to prevent road blockages by what he protesters, whom he labeled "anarchists."
"We will not allow a civil uprising and anarchists to block major roads," Ben-Gvir said.
Source : https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hjbstdhro#autoplay
September 28, 2022
Gilad Grossman|
Published: 09.28.22, 00:03
The viral parody about far-right MK Itamar Ben Gvir is yet another sin of the media for being part of what legitimizes him and the racism attached to his name.
Unfortunately, the media has once again chosen the easy way to cope, by focusing on the symptoms rather than the disease.
Ben-Gvir, who is continuing the ideology of racist Meir Kahana, was legitimized as a political figure by former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in his efforts to secure his government's survival.
In the same broadcast that showed a political parody of the racist member of Knesset, Israeli news reported on a story of Jewish youths' violent behavior in Jerusalem.
The report showed racist bullying that set out to inflict fear in the Palestinian residents of the city, with the aim of showing them who's boss. The reporter's tone was, unsurprisingly, filled with shock and horror.
One can ask: where do we stand, that our people are no longer embarrassed by being racist?
We can certainly offer explanations. We can blame the growing nationalism in the world, the influence of social networks, and the extreme religious elements in politics.
However, all these excuses cannot justify the extremist racists, who have already adopted the chant "burn their villages," as a rallying cry to others, to target Palestinians.
Continued @ https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rkkiihpzo
Rise of far-right party shows racism deep-rooted in Israel
Opinion: Many of us are taken aback when we come upon blunt racism, but it's likely because we simply prefer it in the form of policy, as it has been for the past 74 yearsGilad Grossman|
Published: 09.28.22, 00:03
The viral parody about far-right MK Itamar Ben Gvir is yet another sin of the media for being part of what legitimizes him and the racism attached to his name.
Unfortunately, the media has once again chosen the easy way to cope, by focusing on the symptoms rather than the disease.
Ben-Gvir, who is continuing the ideology of racist Meir Kahana, was legitimized as a political figure by former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in his efforts to secure his government's survival.
In the same broadcast that showed a political parody of the racist member of Knesset, Israeli news reported on a story of Jewish youths' violent behavior in Jerusalem.
The report showed racist bullying that set out to inflict fear in the Palestinian residents of the city, with the aim of showing them who's boss. The reporter's tone was, unsurprisingly, filled with shock and horror.
One can ask: where do we stand, that our people are no longer embarrassed by being racist?
We can certainly offer explanations. We can blame the growing nationalism in the world, the influence of social networks, and the extreme religious elements in politics.
However, all these excuses cannot justify the extremist racists, who have already adopted the chant "burn their villages," as a rallying cry to others, to target Palestinians.
Continued @ https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rkkiihpzo
August 17, 2022
By Oren Ziv and Meron Rapoport August 16, 2022
Anyone who has been to an Israeli anti-occupation demonstration recently will have noticed dozens, if not hundreds, of new faces. Many of these newcomers are activists who took part in the 2020 Balfour Street protests, organized for months outside the Jerusalem residence of then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and who, for various reasons, eventually turned to demonstrations that went beyond the slogan of “Anyone but Bibi.”
This process, which has been described as the “Balfourization” of the anti-occupation struggle in Israel, has had an impact on the activities of veteran organizations such as Peace Now, which in recent months resumed direct actions in the occupied West Bank. Interestingly, these demonstrations were characterized by rowdiness — in line with the image that has, rightly or wrongly, been increasingly attached to Peace Now in recent years.
Last February, Peace Now, and other groups took part in a protest march to the Evyatar settler outpost demanding its evacuation. In late May, it was one of the leaders of a demonstration that brought a bulldozer to try to dismantle the illegal Homesh settlement. And last month, its activists were leading members of a protest against attempts by the settler group Nachala to establish a series of new outposts throughout the West Bank.
(snip)
At a protest in Tel Aviv last month marking 55 years of the occupation, Peace Now activists marched with a Palestinian flag. Twenty years ago, members of the same movement tried to prevent people from flying a Palestinian flag at a Rabin Square demonstration.
“There is a broad range of ideologies in Peace Now,” Mills explained. “There are people more on the Zionist left and others more at the center. But they manage to gather around a shared action. I think that the Palestinian flag, because it’s so frightening to the right, is part of the defiance, and of the statement that it is not scary. In the name of a Zionist movement I have no problem with holding a [Palestinian] flag. It doesn’t threaten me and it doesn’t make me an anti-Zionist.”
Continued @ :
https://www.972mag.com/peace-now-balfour-settlements-outposts/
Then you have us .....not part of the Zionist Left , or the Centre.....not Zionists but not anti-Zionist.
Post zionism is growing with each generation .
Meretz will not pass the threshold next elections .
We are looking for a new home .
Where do you think we will go Mosby ?
Peace Now is taking direct action against settler outposts. Can it succeed?
The anti-occupation group is pushing the Zionist left to adopt more disruptive tactics, says interim head Dana Mills. But are there limits to its approach?By Oren Ziv and Meron Rapoport August 16, 2022
Anyone who has been to an Israeli anti-occupation demonstration recently will have noticed dozens, if not hundreds, of new faces. Many of these newcomers are activists who took part in the 2020 Balfour Street protests, organized for months outside the Jerusalem residence of then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and who, for various reasons, eventually turned to demonstrations that went beyond the slogan of “Anyone but Bibi.”
This process, which has been described as the “Balfourization” of the anti-occupation struggle in Israel, has had an impact on the activities of veteran organizations such as Peace Now, which in recent months resumed direct actions in the occupied West Bank. Interestingly, these demonstrations were characterized by rowdiness — in line with the image that has, rightly or wrongly, been increasingly attached to Peace Now in recent years.
Last February, Peace Now, and other groups took part in a protest march to the Evyatar settler outpost demanding its evacuation. In late May, it was one of the leaders of a demonstration that brought a bulldozer to try to dismantle the illegal Homesh settlement. And last month, its activists were leading members of a protest against attempts by the settler group Nachala to establish a series of new outposts throughout the West Bank.
(snip)
At a protest in Tel Aviv last month marking 55 years of the occupation, Peace Now activists marched with a Palestinian flag. Twenty years ago, members of the same movement tried to prevent people from flying a Palestinian flag at a Rabin Square demonstration.
“There is a broad range of ideologies in Peace Now,” Mills explained. “There are people more on the Zionist left and others more at the center. But they manage to gather around a shared action. I think that the Palestinian flag, because it’s so frightening to the right, is part of the defiance, and of the statement that it is not scary. In the name of a Zionist movement I have no problem with holding a [Palestinian] flag. It doesn’t threaten me and it doesn’t make me an anti-Zionist.”
Continued @ :
https://www.972mag.com/peace-now-balfour-settlements-outposts/
Then you have us .....not part of the Zionist Left , or the Centre.....not Zionists but not anti-Zionist.
Post zionism is growing with each generation .
Meretz will not pass the threshold next elections .
We are looking for a new home .
Where do you think we will go Mosby ?
