Yossi Alpher is an independent security analyst. He is the former director of the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies at Tel Aviv University, a former senior official with the Mossad, and a former IDF intelligence officer. Views and positions expressed here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily represent APN's views and policy positions.
This week, Alpher discusses PM Netanyahu's threats to take the country to new elections and their relation to his demand to dismantle a new broadcasting authority; why the broadcasting authority issue is the focus of political tensions; why Netanyahu launched this bombshell while on his way to China; and where the security factor regarding Syria and Lebanon fits in.
--The number of seats the ruling Likud party would receive if elections were held today, down from 30. Yair Lapid's Yesh Atid party would come in second with 25, followed by 13 each for far-right Habayit Hayehudi party and Israeli Arab 'Joint List' party.*
Israel’s new Entry Law is actually much worse than we originally thought.
It turns out that its final language is even more draconian than the text published in the media when the law was adopted. The new language uses a much broader definition of who would be subject to denial of entry into Israel. It seems that right before it was brought to a final vote someone changed the language of the bill to include anyone who acts “for the sake of” an organization that calls for boycotts (rather than people who “represent” such organizations).
“The messages say everyone hates us already from the era of the Bible, which is also the only legitimization for Israel mentioned in the course...The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is presented with no context – no explanation is given for the Arab hatred and there’s no distinction between Israel and the West Bank."
--Angry parents of students, who like all students participating in competitions abroad must now take a compulsory online right-wing indoctrination course beforehand. Arab students are also required to take the course.
--Dr. Ezzeldin Abu al-Aish, the Palestinian doctor whose three daughters and niece were killed in an IDF tank shelling during Operation Cast Lead, said outside an Israeli courtroom where has filed a civil suit against the state.*
--Prof. Asa Kasher, who wrote the IDF's ethics code told a special Knesset discussion on purity of arms that Sgt. Elor Azaria was wrong to kill Palestinian assailant Abdul Fattah Al-Sharif.**
Police detained Jeff Halper, a prominent Jewish American-Israeli left-wing activist, for suspected incitement.**
Peace Now reports:
Last night, Channel 2 News reported that Prime Minister Netanyahu intends to argue to American officials that the
new settlement for the Amona outpost evacuees should not be considered as such. Yet based on its proposed location,
the new settlement, often referred to as “Geulat Zion,” cannot be considered as anything but a new settlement.
Geulat Zion is located approximately 2.5 kilometers east of Shilo, on an empty hilltop, and beyond the settlement’s
jurisdiction.
--In an interview during his visit to Israel, actor Richard Gere slams the demonization of left-wing pro-peace organizations by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Trump administration’s new ambassador to Israel, David Friedman.*