Israel Week Ending October 22
Bennett and Putin, Law Barring Indicted Politician Becoming PM,Tel Aviv Light Rail, Anti-Semitism v. Anti Zionism, El Al and more
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
It’s been another busy week for Israeli diplomats— starting with the visit of Sweden’s Foreign Minister Ann Linde, (marking the first such visit in seven years). Foreign Minister Lapid has made an effort to reach out to Western European nations, with whom our relations have been frosty in recent years. Lapid’s view is that we do not have to agree on everything, but dialogue remains essential.
On Tuesday, Lapid participated in a virtual four-way meeting with the Foreign Ministers of the UAE and India, together with US Secretary of State Blinken, to discuss potential economic cooperation. This week, Indian President Modi extended an invitation to visit India to Prime Minister Bennett, as did the Crown Prince of the UAE, to be a guest of his country.
Prime Minister Bennett flew to Sochi, Russia today, to meet with President Putin. Putin’s opening remarks were very warm. He talked about the special relationship the two countries have had, and his hope that rapport would continue. Putin acknowledged the shared interests of the two countries to fight terror. He also spoke about Russia’s desire to cooperate in the area of hi-tech.
Bennet responded after noting the heroism of Russian soldiers in World War II and how special the relations between Israel and Russia are “I expect to discuss with you a whole range of current issues, to strengthen ties between the countries in economic, technological, scientific and cultural matters. In Israel we have a million ambassadors, Russian-speaking Israelis who constitute a great contribution to Israeli culture. They bring with them a mentality of hard work and strength. This is a very great contribution to the State of Israel.”.
The most crucial part of today's meeting with Putin, i.e., the question of Iran’s nuclear program, will no doubt be kept secret. Putin has more influence on the Iranians than almost any other world leader. While Putin enjoys making life difficult for the US, it is not in Russia’s interest for the Iranians to develop the bomb. The meeting lasted five hours (much longer then planned) and Bennet was forced to stay in Russia for Shabbat
This past week, Israel and the UAE signed a joint agreement regarding Space exploration. The deal includes the UAE taking part in Israel’s “Breisheet 2” project, aimed to land a probe on the moon. The joint Space exploration understanding constitutes the 15th bilateral agreement signed between the countries, since the peace accord was announced a year ago.
POLITICS
The primary story in the Israeli political world this week, was the introduction of Justice Minister Gideon Sa’ar’s proposed legislation to bar an indicted politician from forming a government coalition. The strident howls of Likud politicians, alleging Saar seeks to turn Israel into North Korea or Iran were heard across the country. They protest Saar’s proposal, dismissing it as a “personal legislation,” expressly meant to single out Netanyahu. Of course, Likud zealots conveniently forget that Netanyahu supported this exact legislation when Ehud Olmert was under investigation. (However, Olmert respectfully chose to resign as Prime Minister, before his trial began.) Likud objection professes that one prosecutor who decides to pursue an indictment should not determine who is able to become Israel’s Prime Minister.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, the decision to indict a senior politician goes through many stages. In order for such an indictment to be issued, many people must be convinced there is sufficient evidence for a conviction to be likely. In Netanyahu's case, the process took over two years, from the start of a serious investigation, until the issuance of three indictments against him.
Sa’ar’s proposed legislation would apply to anyone who would face three years or more of jail time, if convicted. Interior Minister Shaked, who is trying her best not to burn her bridges to the Likud, opposes this legislation. It’s unclear whether or not her opposition is significant, since Shaked resigned from the Knesset (in keeping with the Norwegian law that allows ministers to resign their Knesset seat, so they have time to do their ministerial work). Strangely, it's actually not in the new government's interest to pass Saar’s proposed law, since if this law does pass, and Netanyahu decides to retire from politics, the coalition could fall apart. However, that is, of course, two big “Ifs”.
The existential test of the coalition is coming soon, with the challenge of finally passing a national budget. Every few days, there is a story highlighting one or another of the coalition partners with issues concerning one thing, or another. In most cases, the Israeli-Arab Raam Party is the disenchanted partner. On Thursday, Lapid spent time working to ensure Raam’s support by spending the day with Mansour Abbas, touring the Bedouin towns in the Negev. During the visit, Lapid emphasized the government's commitment to the coalition agreement, which calls for the legalization of three long-established Bedouin villages, and connection of other Bedouin villages to the electric grid.
It is quite clear that the budget will pass, thereby, safeguarding the new government’s survival for the next two years. In other news, the Knesset has approved the gradual rise of the age for women's retirement from 62 to 65. The Knesset also endorsed a tax on non-reusable plastic dishes and sweetened soft drinks.
DEFENSE
The Blue Flag exercise began this week. Before the actual drill, there was a joint flyover the Knesset, by the Commander of the Israeli Air Force and the Commander of the Luftwaffe. Clearly a historic moment, but one at least to me, is also strangely unsettling. Germany, Italy, Britain, France, India, Greece, and the US, all participated in this exhilarating exercise. The drills are being hosted at Israeli’s Uvda airbase, in the Negev.
COVID–19
New daily Covid infection numbers continue to decrease in Israel. Yesterday, 983 cases were reported, the first weekday report of under one thousand new daily cases since Delta took hold in the country. There are now only 311 people in serious condition; down from a peak 723 in September. Nevertheless, Israel passed a sad milestone this week, as over 8,000 Israelis have died, to date, from Covid. I still fear that most people are not careful enough, however, I seem to be in the minority. In the meantime, Israel announced that as of November 1st, the country will be open to tourists who are fully vaccinated.
TEL AVIV
Tel Aviv reached a significant milestone Wednesday night, when the first train successfully completed a test run across the entire length of the city’s Light Rail line. The inaugural line, which begins in Petah Tikvah, traverses Tel Aviv, and ends in Bat Yam. After years of disruptions, closed intersections are finally being completed, as sidewalks and bike lanes are added, and station entrances built. While it will be another year until this line begins to operate, work has begun on two additional lines.
Anti-Semitism v. Anti Zionism
A few words about the controversy surrounding the actions of the DC Chapter of “The Sunrise Movement,” who recently pulled out of a rally for voting rights. The Sunrise Movement claims they took this actions because of the participation of the Jewish Council For Public Affairs, National Council of Jewish Women, and the Religious Action Center of the Reform Movement. Maintaining that they could not participate in a rally that included “Zionist” organizations. The Sunrise Movement went on to say, “Given our commitment to racial justice, self governance and indigenous sovereignty, we oppose Zionism and any state that enforces its ideology’
Many were quick to condemn the act as anti-Semitic, though a few defended the statement as merely anti-Zionist. IMO this was a clear act of anti-Semitism. I do not believe that all those who support the BDS movement are antisemitic; most BDS supporters are clueless and think that BDS is only against the occupation, and does not dispute the right of the state of Israel to exist.
I think that those who oppose Israel as a Jewish State are clearly flirting with anti-semitism, but even that can be a nuanced discussion. However, once you start boycotting every Jew or organization that supports the state of Israel is some way, you are clearly be an antisemite. The overwhelming majority of Jews, and almost every mainstream Jewish organization, supports Israel in some form or other. Therefore, to refuse to be at the same rally with left-leaning Jewish organizations, whose main focus is not Israel, is clearly antisemitic. Unfortunately, this is where intersectionality is leading the American left.
BUSINESS
Thursday night, Zim announced it has acquired seven second-hand vessels (built between 2007-2009), in several separate transactions. The purchase included five 4,250 TEU vessels and two 1,100 TEU vessels, for a total consideration. With cargo rates currently the highest they have ever been, Zim has done exceptionally well this past year, and can easily afford the expansion.
While sea freight is doing quite well, Israeli airlines continue to struggle with persistent losses caused by Covid and related governmental restrictions. This week, El Al announced it has been conducting merger talks with Arkia, Israel's second-largest airline. The government indicated it supports that idea. El Al, (which received considerably less support from the Israeli government than other national airlines around the world have received from their respective governments), is yet to finalize a post-pandemic business strategy, in a world where travel may never return to the way it was before Covid.
Deci announced it has raised $21 million, in a Series-A funding round. This brings the total sum raised by the company to $30.1 million. Deci believes their technology allows companies to deploy AI at a lower cost, and in a shorter time frame. The company helps businesses integrate AI into their products. Insight Partners led Deci’s latest round of financing. Square Peg, Emerge, and Jib Ventures, all participated, as well.
“Amidst an increase in the adoption of deep learning models, shortening time to market and increasing the success rate in production is becoming critical as more and more enterprises look to commercialize their deep learning-based solutions,” said Yonatan Geifman, CEO and co-founder of Deci.
X-trodes completed a $4.5 million seed round of financing. The company develops wearable technology for advanced electrophysiological measurement and analytics. Its first two products are:
Medical-grade sleep monitoring — a truly wireless system for sleep monitoring, especially for neurological and psychiatric disorders. X-trodes single patch for multi-modality measurement retrieves meaningful insights and diagnostics from patients' beds in their natural environment.
Muscle recovery: A flexible wearable system that prevents muscle injuries and accelerates healing by monitoring electrophysiology function in dynamic environments, by analyzing every muscle with wireless AI-driven insights.