DAY 310 OF THE WAR: Terror Attack, Government Defies Legal Advisor, Military Court in Bet Lid, What the Next Few Days May Bring
Tel Aviv Diary, August 11, 2024
There was a terror attack today in the Jordan Valley near the Mehola Junction. It is believed that two terrorists fired on two vehicles driven by Israelis from a passing car. One Israeli, Yonatan Deutsch (23) of Bet Shean, was killed, and another was wounded. The terrorists escaped and are thought to have fled to Jenin.
GOVERNMENT DEFIES LEGAL ADVISOR
Today saw several political maneuvers in the midst of a war. The cabinet voted to approve Prime Minister Netanyahu’s plan to appoint the head of the Civil Service—despite the absence of a clear legal framework or specific legal provisions for this process. Prime Minister Netanyahu had requested his legal advisor to devise a method for appointing a new head, a position considered very important. However, Netanyahu was dissatisfied with the suggested approach, which involved establishing a search committee to recommend candidates for the role. It should be noted that the job of the head of the Civil Service is one of the most powerful positions in Israel. He or she has the authority to fire any civil servant for cause. Additionally, this individual is responsible for establishing the criteria for appointing civil servants and for evaluating their performance.
Instead, Netanyahu decided that he should appoint the person directly, after which the committee responsible for approving appointments would need to confirm that person. This committee is only meant to screen for individuals who are obviously unqualified. However, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara stated that Netanyahu’s suggested approach would violate the law. Nevertheless, the cabinet ignored the AG’s opinion and voted to empower Netanyahu to pick the next Civil Service head. During the meeting, members of the cabinet called for firing the Attorney General. At the same meeting, Justice Minister Levin, who initiated the efforts to weaken the Judicial system last January, declared that now is the time to resume those efforts.
Another issue that angered many of the government Ministers was the Attorney General's order to halt subsidies to daycare centers for ultra-Orthodox families whose fathers do not serve in the Army. These payments cost the Israeli government NIS 330 million each year. The reason for the AG’s ruling is straightforward—the law exempting ultra-Orthodox individuals from military service has expired. Without a valid law in place, ultra-Orthodox individuals are not entitled to receive any state benefits.
GAZA
Israel has instructed Gazans in another section of Khan Younis to relocate away from the area that was the origin of rocket launches yesterday. Israel has adopted a policy of requiring the evacuation of people from areas where rockets are launched, enabling IDF forces to enter these zones. The strategy aims to exert pressure on Hamas by leveraging locals to discourage rocket launches from their areas.
Here’s the IDF Spokesman’s statement regarding operations in Gaza today:
Due to numerous acts of terrorism, the exploitation of the humanitarian zone for terrorist activities, and the firing of surface-to-surface missiles from the Al-Jalaa neighborhood towards Israel, this area has become dangerous. Therefore, adjustments to this zone will be made at this time. The adjustments are based on precise intelligence indicating that the Hamas terrorist organization has established terror infrastructures in an area previously designated as a humanitarian zone.
This early warning is issued to minimize harm to the civilian population and to move them away from the combat zone. The IDF is preparing to take strong action against terrorist organizations and, therefore, calls on the remaining population in the Al-Jalaa neighborhood to temporarily evacuate to the newly adjusted humanitarian area.
Evacuation procedures are being carried out through SMS messages, recorded voice messages, phone calls, Arabic media broadcasts, and leaflets. The IDF will continue to act against the Hamas terrorist organization, which uses the residents of Gaza as human shields for its activities and terror infrastructures.May
JEWISH TERROR, MK INCITEMENT
Police have yet to open an investigation into Friday night's attack on the Arab-Israeli woman in the illegal hilltop West Bank settlement of Givat Ronen. President Herzog has reached out to apologize and console the family. Meanwhile, however, in the Knesset today, right-wing extremist MK Limor Son Har-Melech asserted that the family’s use of a car without an Israeli license plate could imply they were spies, suggesting that the attack on the women and children might have been justified.
Son Har-Melech’s statement was a step too far even for right-wing commentator Amit Segal, who questioned— “Is there any act of terror that she [Son Har-Melech] would not justify?” Segal expressed tonight that someone with her views should not serve in the Knesset. Son Har-Melech is a member of the Knesset from Ben-Gvir’s party. While nothing justifies her unconscionable remarks, it is worth noting that in 2003, Son Har-Melech was severely wounded, and her husband was killed in an attack by Palestinian terrorists.
Her statement forced the Chairman of the Yesha Council and Binyamin Regional Council, Israel Gantz, along with the Head of the Shomron Regional Council, Yossi Dagan, to issue the following joint statement:
Under no circumstances should anyone take the law into their own hands. Those who act violently should be punished according to the law. We condemn the slander and generalizations made by left-wing politicians against the entire settlement movement.
Anyone who engages in violent actions is committing a morally wrong act, harming the state and the settlement movement, and directly serving the propaganda of extreme left-wing organizations and Israel's enemies worldwide.
Council and community leaders are promoting various educational activities to eradicate such behavior, even when it is carried out by a small group of marginalized youth who do not represent anyone.
There is no community more dedicated to the State or abiding by the law than the pioneers living in Judea and Samaria. Data from the Israel Police clearly shows that the Judea and Samaria District has the least crime. These are the facts!"
I'm not entirely convinced by what they wrote, but it's positive that they expressed it publicly.
MILITARY COURT IN BET LID
The military court in Bet Lid extended the detention of the five suspects involved in the attacks on the Palestinian prisoner, citing sufficient reasons for their decision. During the court session, a demonstration was held in support of the accused soldiers. Demonstrators carried signs proclaiming ״Kahane was right!" and attacked journalists present at the scene, branding them traitors.
Meanwhile, the Chief Military Prosecutor, Major General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, was summoned to a closed session of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee to explain what led to the detention of the soldiers from Sde Teiman:
The Military Prosecution protects both the soldiers and their commanders and does not act against them. Investigations are conducted to uphold the values of the IDF and maintain the purity of the camp only when there is reasonable suspicion of a crime.
Major General Tomer-Yerushalmi went on to say: “The Military Advocate General (MAG), under my leadership, stands at the forefront of the legal battle to enable the IDF and the State of Israel to conduct this just war.” The MAG noted that these investigations maintain the IDF’s ability to continue operating in cooperation with foreign armies in the Western world. "These investigations allow us to distinguish between the exception and the rule," she said, giving the example of the UK halting arms exports to Israel. Tomer-Yerushalmi noted that conducting these investigations allows Israel to maintain its respected status in the world, and these mechanisms serve as arguments to continue supporting the State of Israel.
Major General Tomer-Yerushalmi also added: "The inquiry is directed towards ourselves and the world; we are a law-abiding nation, and this has always been our practice." The MAG emphasized that these cases that reach criminal investigations are very, very rare. She shared that out of 74 investigations that were conducted, only a few resulted in indictments.
SPECULATIONS ABOUT THE NEXT FEW DAYS
They say— “You should never bury the lead,” and in many respects, this is the lead story. However, the challenge is there's no concrete news, leaving only speculation, conflicting reports, and confusion. The two major current concerns are the anticipated attacks by Iran and Lebanon and the talks in Doha planned for Thursday aimed at negotiating a hostage release and ceasefire.
So, here are the latest speculations…
First, regarding the anticipated attack, recent reports suggest that the pressure on Iran may have been unsuccessful, leading to considerations of a direct attack on Israel. However, this decision may still be subject to change. Within the span of a single hour, I heard two completely contradictory analyses. One suggested that Iran and Hezbollah are deliberately not coordinating their attacks for fear that either Israel or the U.S. would discover the coordination. Shortly thereafter, another analyst claimed that the two entities had indeed coordinated. Around 8 PM, a report from Iran announced that their attack had begun, but minutes later, Israeli sources refuted this claim. When this is all over, we may all need a national psychologist.
At the same time, major uncertainty in the negotiations with Hamas revolves around whether Netanyahu truly seeks an agreement. Answering this question is impossible. One of Israel’s top journalists, Barak Ravid, suggested this morning that Netanyahu, facing the growing likelihood of his government's collapse, might choose to take the political risk and pursue an agreement. Another influencing factor could be the rapidly evolving American political landscape. If a month ago, it appeared almost certain Trump would be re-elected, which, sadly, might have influenced Netanyahu to further delay any agreements. However, now that the outcome of the 2024 U.S. Presidential race has become highly unpredictable—Netanyahu may consider it wiser to secure a deal while Biden is still in office. All of these considerations, however, are purely speculative.
AND … Everything I mentioned in this segment might become irrelevant, as Hamas has just announced that it will not participate in Thursday’s planned ceasefire talks. On the other hand, some Israeli sources are saying this announcement is only a tactical move by Hamas.
A GOOD WORD
One act that isn’t speculative, however, is a heartwarming exchange that recently took place. A few days ago, Israeli newscaster Oded Ben-Ami opened his broadcast by expressing gratitude to President Biden for all his steadfast support of Israel. Although some correspondents mocked Ben Ami, claiming Biden would never hear his kind thanks, it turns out that Biden not only saw the segment but also called Ben-Ami to thank him during a 12-minute phone call.
IRRESPONSIBLE MEDIA
One last comment on yesterday's widely reported attack on the school in Gaza. By last night, Hamas reported that a total of 40 people had been killed in all of Gaza yesterday due to Israeli actions. Nevertheless, this afternoon, CNN was still running with the story that 93 Gazans had been killed. It is absolutely remarkable that, even after ten months of war, a claim from Hamas is quickly picked up by global media, disseminated via push notifications to millions, and woven into the ongoing narrative—as “truth” that becomes accepted and cannot be disproven.
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
In what represents a sign of overbuilding in the commercial sector, combined with a continued concentration of companies in the Tel Aviv area, the sale of commercial land for the building of offices or stores has been especially weak. Last week, the Israel Land Authority (ILA) marketed three employment zones today (Wednesday) in the Elad Business Triangle area near the Nachshonim Interchange. Despite significant reductions in minimum prices, there were few bids, and the winning bids were approximately one-seventh of the appraised value.
The Shviro Group won two plots, measuring 4.2 dunams and 4.6 dunams. They will pay 9.5 million shekels for the first plot and, 4 million shekels in development costs (excluding VAT), and 10.5 million shekels for the second plot with an additional 4.5 million shekels in development costs (excluding VAT). The appraised values for these two plots were 64 million shekels and 70 million shekels, respectively.
The third plot, measuring 4.4 dunams, was won by Reisdoor. They will pay 11 million shekels and an additional 4.3 million shekels in development costs (excluding VAT). The appraised value for this plot had been reduced from 80 million shekels to 67 million shekels.
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A PIECE OF HISTORY
Ehud Barak, Elected Prime Minister
After the signing of the Wye Accords, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced significant challenges within his political coalition. Due to the concessions made in the agreement, which included territorial withdrawals, he lost considerable support from the right-wing factions. The situation was further complicated by internal conflicts within his government. For instance, Finance Minister Yaacov Neeman resigned when Netanyahu failed to back him during budget negotiations with the ultra-Orthodox parties, reflecting growing unrest even among Netanyahu's more moderate supporters.
Realizing that he was losing control of his coalition, on December 16, 1998, Netanyahu announced that he was calling for new elections, scheduled for May 17, 1999. As the election campaign unfolded, Netanyahu found himself up against several formidable opponents, not only from the left but also from within the right. Ehud Barak, leading the Labor Party, emerged as his primary competitor. Meanwhile, Defense Minister Yitzhak Mordechai, with whom Netanyahu had a tense relationship throughout his term, was dismissed and went on to form a centrist party. This new party, along with other splinter groups led by former Netanyahu allies such as Benny Begin and Avigdor Lieberman, further fragmented the right-wing vote.
Netanyahu's election campaign, orchestrated by his longtime strategist Arthur Finkelstein, faced difficulties. Unlike his previous campaigns, Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, were more involved in decision-making, emphasizing Netanyahu's achievements. However, their efforts to portray him as the best Prime Minister in Israeli history failed to resonate with voters.
Ehud Barak, a former Chief of Staff and the most decorated soldier in Israeli history, positioned himself as the natural successor to Yitzhak Rabin, even renaming the Labor Party to "One Israel" and forming a coalition with David Levy. Barak's campaign theme, "One Israel, One Draft," directly challenged the ultra-Orthodox exemption from military service, contrasting sharply with Netanyahu's increasing alignment with ultra-Orthodox parties, to whom he promised increased funding and a review of the Supreme Court's powers.
As the campaign progressed, Netanyahu's standing in the polls declined. His slogans, such as “Just Netanyahu, a Strong Leader for a Strong Nation," failed to gain traction, and his attacks on Barak, accusing him of having "too much ambition, too few principles," also had little impact. A debate with Mordechai, his former Defense Minister, turned into a setback when Mordechai publicly challenged Netanyahu's integrity and composure.
In the final days before the election, Mordechai and the other centrist candidates withdrew from the race, but the damage to Netanyahu's campaign had already been done. On May 17, 1999, Ehud Barak was elected Prime Minister with 56% of the vote, marking the end of Netanyahu's first term in office.
