Tel Aviv Diary February 24, 2022
First Steps to Weaken the Courts, Protest Continue, Defense and Politics, Reviews and a Bit of History.
MILITARY
According to reports from foreign sources, Israel conducted a successful attack on a building in Damascus on Saturday night, believed to house Iranian arms specialists. This operation highlights Israel's exceptional intelligence capabilities, as they were able to accurately target one building, at the precise time when the Iranians were present.
On Wednesday, Israeli forces attempted to arrest a terrorist in the Kasbah of Nablus (Shechem), which resulted in a major firefight. The operation led to the death of ten Palestinians, all but two of whom were fighters, and left one hundred others wounded. Some are questioning the utility of these operations but they are so far in the minority. In response to the incident, Palestinian militants fired eight missiles from Gaza towards nearby towns and cities, including Ashkelon. Fortunately, all of the missiles were intercepted by the Iron Dome. The Israeli Air Force then carried out retaliatory strikes on targets in Gaza overnight.
DEFENSE/POLITICS
The ongoing dispute between Finance Minister Smotritch and Defense Minister Galant to determine who possesses authority over actions in the West Bank has been resolved. Minister Smotritch had threatened to hold back his approval of the budget, potentially resulting in the fall of the government. Ultimately, Smotritch won the dispute, as Netanyahu gave in to all of his demands.
Under the new agreement, Minister Smotritch will now be responsible to appoint officers in the Civil Administration command. Smotritch will also have control over enforcement, construction, planning, transportation, and determination of locations for new parks in the West Bank. It must be noted that the army was opposed to this change of authority— it has been reported that this decision was made without proper staff planning, which has left many uncertain about the implications of the decision. This new arrangement with Smotritch is problematic, to say the least
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PROTESTS CONTINUE…
Protests and demonstrations against proposed Judicial reforms continued across Israel this week. On Saturday night, weekly demonstrations were held in Tel Aviv and several other cities, drawing at least 150,000 Israelis to the streets. The following Monday, protestors blocked a major intersection and highway for an hour, in preparation for another mass demonstration in Jerusalem, where over 100,000 people gathered
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The American Administration also weighed in on the proposed reforms, with columnist Thomas Friedman asking President Biden for his opinion, and US Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides issuing a statement calling on Prime Minister Netanyahu “to slow down the legislative blitz and seek agreement with those who oppose the reforms.” In response, Likud Minister of Diaspora Chikli declared that the US should "mind its own business.”
Despite a multitude of calls for moderation and compromise from every sector in Israel and a flood of allies from abroad, many are convinced the proposed reforms will proceed as planned, without any significant slowdown. On Monday, the coalition government began the process of passing its Judicial reform plan without pausing for any negotiations, as had been requested, pleaded by President Herzog.
The first piece of legislation to pass its first reading on Monday established a new composition of the Committee for judicial appointments. (It should be noted that Israeli law requires three readings of any legislation to pass in order to take effect.) Under the previous guidelines, the Judicial Selection Committee was composed of representatives from the government, the Knesset, Bar Association lawyers, and members of the Supreme Court. The appointment of a judge had required agreement between government representatives and the justices. Under the new system, government representatives will possess sufficient votes to approve any candidate they choose.
The second piece of legislation passed in its first reading on Monday, was a law that would prevent the Supreme Court from reviewing "Basic Laws.” While this second law eliminating Supreme Court oversight may seem logical, approval of this law has been challenged based on the fact that Israelis consider their Basic Laws to be similar to a Constitution— despite the fact that a Basic Law can be passed with just 61 votes, and moreover, there is no clear definition of what constitutes a Basic Law.
Therefore, a law which would allow an individual under conviction to become a Minister (e.g., Arye Deri), could be deemed a Basic Law by the government, even though it may not necessarily have the same constitutional significance as other Basic Laws.
On Wednesday, the Knesset continued its marathon session of passing controversial laws. The first law the government passed stated the Supreme Court could not intervene in the appointment of a government Minister, specifically in the case of Deri. This law was intended to override the court's order to ban Deri from public office.
The second law passed on Wednesday legislated that the Supreme Court could only override a regular law, if it conflicted with a Basic Law— and only if the decision was unanimous. According to the text of the law, the Basic Law must be explicit, and therefore, the implied understandings of Basic Laws, such as rights of free speech, and the right to work, would not be valid. Furthermore, they ruled that the government can pass any laws that violate these rights— even in the case of an unanimous decision by the Supreme Court. All that is required to overturn the unanimous court decision would be a 61-vote majority in the Knesset. This effectively eliminates judicial review of any act of the Israeli Knesset or the government.
The Knesset also passed a law allowing hospitals to check visitors for chametz during Passover; and the first reading of a law that grants Rabbinical courts the ability to adjudicate civil matters outside of marriage, if both sides agree. Nevertheless, the latter law could be problematic — since one side could be considered coerced into agreeing, and Rabbinical courts have a reputation for favoring men over women, and Jews over non-Jews.
Finally, the Knesset passed a law removing the police investigative unit from the hands of the police, and into the political hands of the Justice Ministry. This is just the beginning of the laws the government intends to pass— none of which would pass muster with the court, without the narrow override clause the government just instituted.
FOREIGN RELATIONS
One piece of positive news is that Oman has approved Israeli airlines to fly over its airspace, thanks to the efforts of the Biden administration. This decision is expected to significantly reduce the duration of flights from Israel to the Far East, and provide new opportunities for Israeli airlines, such as Arkia and Israir, to expand their reach into places like India, which were previously beyond their range.
TEL AVIV
Over 40,000 runners participated in the Tel Aviv Marathon today. The full marathon winners were Mibei Dominic Kipngeno at 02:10:11 (male) Njuguna Margaret at 02:42:40 (female). This year’s run was sponsored by Playtika, Israel-based digital entertainment company.
ECONOMY
Economists and bankers continue to warn about the potential consequences of the Judicial reform laws, as more money flows out of Israel. A group of ten Israeli "Unicorns" (companies valued at over $1 billion) are reportedly considering developing a campus overseas, most likely in Cyprus or Greece, where they could relocate their activities. This move would enable them to stay close to their workers, who could fly home for the weekend. While it remains to be seen if this will happen, it is clear that the current political and social strife has caused significant concern.
In an op-ed published in The Times of Israel, Barry Topf, a former high official in the Bank of Israel, wrote an excellent piece, titled: "The Reckless Engagement of the Start-up Nation." Topf explores the potential risks of the Judicial reform laws and their impact on the Israeli economy.
During a cabinet meeting to discuss the budget, both the Chief economist for the Ministry of Finance and the Governor General of the Bank of Israel, Professor Amir Yaron, expressed their distress over the economic impact of the Judicial reform laws. Yaron warned of a potential economic catastrophe if the laws were to be implemented. These warnings have added to the growing chorus of voices calling for caution and restraint in the implementation of these laws.
On Friday afternoon, the government approved a budget for the next year. The total budget is 484 billion shekels. There are many groups (including teachers and those in the tourist industry) who are very unhappy with the budget approved … More on that next week.
BUSINESS
Entitle, founded in 2021 by alumni of 8200, raised $15 million in a seed round led by Glilot Capital. The company has developed a management platform for cloud-based systems, using machine learning.
Chaos Labs raised $20 million, led by Galaxy Digital and PayPal Ventures.
A PIECE OF HISTORY— THE WHITE PAPER
Beginning in 1936, the Arabs of Palestine began rioting against British rule. In response, the British government appointed various Royal Commissions to find a solution. Despite recommendations for partition made by the Peel Commission, the Arabs rejected the proposal. In an attempt to bring the Arab and Jewish communities to the negotiating table, the British organized the London Conference, however, this effort was also unsuccessful. As war loomed on the horizon, the British issued the White Paper of 1939.
The White Paper was heavily one-sided, meeting Arab demands without satisfying any Jewish ones. It declared that the Balfour Declaration had only called for the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine, and with over 450,000 Jews already living in Palestine, Britain had fulfilled its responsibility under the declaration. The paper went on to state that Britain would work towards the establishment of an independent State in Palestine over the next ten years. Over the course of the next five years, only an additional 75,000 Jews would be admitted—and any Jews who arrive illegally would be deducted from that quota. It also forbade any further Jewish purchase of land
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The Jewish community in Palestine and the rest of the Jewish world were outraged by what they saw as a betrayal by the British. The Jewish community began their revolt against the British and organized illegal immigration. However, with the outbreak of World War II, the Jews of Palestine had no choice but to work with the British to fight the Nazis. David Ben Gurion, the Chairman of the Jewish Agency for Palestine and leader of the Jewish community stated: “We will fight the war as if there were no White Paper, and we will fight the White Paper as if there were no war.” The White Paper helped seal the fate of European Jewry, who now had nowhere to flee.
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT— “LACES”
A MOVIE REVIEW
The 2018 Israeli film, “Laces,” is now available on Netflix. “Laces” follows the story of a 38-year-old man with special needs, whose mother, his primary caregiver, dies suddenly in a car accident. His divorced father, who has had little to do with him, is now forced to take on the responsibility of caring for the young man. The film beautifully depicts the developing relationship between the father and son, highlighting the challenges they face as well as the bonds they form. However, things take a dramatic turn when the father falls seriously ill and requires a transplant. I won't reveal any more of the plot so that you can experience the story for yourself when you watch the film. Suffice it to say, “Laces” is a powerful and compelling film that is definitely worth watching
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TASTE OF TEL AVIV — CAFE LEVINSKY
A RESTAURANT REVIEW, by Tali Schulman
In the heart of Shuk Levinsky, you will find Cafe Levinsky— a tried and true Tel Aviv institution. Don’t let the name fool you, this is not where you will find a classic Israeli breakfast … But it is where you will get the best “gazoz” beverage you can find. In Israel, Gazoz typically refers to mixing a concentrated syrup (generally raspberry flavor) with sparkling water (or soda as it is referred to there). Cafe Levinsky has put a fun and healthier spin on this well-known classic. Benny Briga, the mastermind behind this beautiful concoction, creates incredible syrups and fermentations in the back of the shop. This, paired with the best fresh fruit and herbs, makes for one of the most delicious soft drinks around. The shop is small with only a window for ordering — where you just simply ask for a Gazoz, and they will hand you a cup filled with their mixture of the day. It’s truly one of the most refreshing beverages on a hot Tel Aviv day. I highly recommend making it your first stop on any Levinsky Market tour, especially because they offer free sparkling water refills — so you can always go back for more!
For more Tel Aviv restaurant recommendations, you can find me on Instagram @talischulman where I save all my food adventures in my highlights!