Tel Aviv Diary, January 20, 2023
Protests, Supreme Court Nixes Deri Appointment, New IDF Chief, Reviews, History and more
PROTEST IN SUPPORT OF THE SUPREME COURT
Last Saturday night, between 80,000 and 100,000 demonstrators stood in the pouring rain at Tel Aviv’s Habima, to attend a rally in protest against the new government’s plans for judicial “reforms,” which would profoundly weaken Israel's courts. A smaller number of protestors also gathered in Haifa and Jerusalem. After waiting for the rain to stop for nearly an hour, speakers at the rally railed against these proposed changes, which would give the government unlimited power — chanting and vowing to stop them.
Sadly, I fear that despite the strong rhetoric and large turnout, the opportunity to stop these dangerous changes was at the ballot box in November. It is likely that now may be too late. As I stood in the rain surrounded by thousands of like-minded people, I primarily felt a sense of powerlessness. I do not believe we will be able to stop the plans of our extremist government. I can only hope that enough of the country will wake up before the next election and understand that there is a better way forward. In the meantime, an even larger rally of the same like-minded demonstrators is expected to take place again this Saturday night on Rechov Kaplan.
KNESSET LAW COMMITTEE
This week, initial hearings were held by the Knesset Law Committee, chaired by MK Simcha Rothman — who is even more committed to the proposed changes to the judicial system than Justice Minister Levine. Last week, I covered the changes the Likud party wants to implement. However, it is important to keep in mind that beyond removing all judicial oversight from government actions, it is the actions themselves regarding which we must be most concerned. These include: mandating permanent exemption from military service for Yeshiva students; decriminalizing discrimination based on grounds of religious objection; legalizing illegal settlements in the West Bank; and ending the ongoing trial of Prime Minister Netanyahu. To accomplish these goals, the Likud party seeks to eliminate the Supreme Court’s ability to rule that any of these actions violate Israel’s Basic Laws.
SUPREME COURT VS. ARYE DERI
On Wednesday, Israel’s new government received a significant setback, when the Supreme Court ruled (in a 10-1 decision) that Arye Deri cannot serve as a Minister. The Court did not address whether the change in Basic Law that seemingly allows Deri to serve as a minister was a “personal law,” (to be passed for his benefit alone, and not the common good) and thus not valid.
However, most of the judges ruled that it was not reasonable for Deri, who has been convicted of three crimes, to serve as a minister. This fact would likely be self-evident in any other democracy — but in Israel, where the Prime Minister is currently on trial for corruption while in office, so anything seems possible. The government was not surprised by the high court’s decision — since part of their legal reform aims to do away with the entire category of judicial discretion.
Yet, what caught the government by surprise was the viewpoint of five of the judges, all of whom are considered among the most conservative, stating Deri could not serve as a minister because he gave one legal justification in his plea agreement, and another, conflicting claim when he appeared before the Supreme Court — thereby invalidating his petition to serve. This is known as the Judicial estoppel. The other judges did not disagree with this viewpoint, they just thought the issue of “reasonableness” (or lack thereof) was more significant.
The problem for Deri and the government is that there is no apparent way around the viewpoint of the five justices — as it is a pillar of Israeli law that a person cannot assert one thing in one forum, and a totally different narrative in another court. The government is vigorously trying to find a role for Deri, possibly as an “Alternate” Prime Minister. However, it is not clear how that can be accomplished, or whether the Supreme Court will allow it. Furthermore, if Prime Minister Netanyahu was to become incapacitated, it raises the question of whether Israelis are ready for a Prime Minister who has not served in the army, and turns to the Council of Rabbis to make decisions.
Deri and his supporters have once again resorted to playing the ethnic card; claiming that the only reason Deri was banned by the Supreme Court from serving as a minister, is because he is Sephardic. This is the same claim Deri made when he was convicted the first time (in 1999). Deri and the Shas Party he leads have had a detrimental impact on Israel, by creating ethnic divisions that do not need to exist.
On Thursday, the Attorney General sent a letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu demanding that he dismiss Deri and appoint new individuals as to serve as Minister of Interior and Minister of Health. So far, Netanyahu has been evasive on the matter.
According to a poll conducted by Channel 13, 67% of the public supports the court's decision that Deri is unfit to be a minister. Among Likud voters, 59% believe he should not hold the position, with 50% believing the decision was based on sound legal principles and 30% believing it was politically motivated. Additionally, the poll found that Likud voters are divided on Levine's proposed "reform", with 36% supporting it and 36% opposing it. Overall, the poll suggests a lack of strong support for Deri and Levine's proposed reforms within the Likud party.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
On Thursday, the US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan traveled to Israel to meet with the country's new National Security team. Sullivan held a joint meeting with the National Security Advisors of the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, along with Tzachi Negbi, Israel's new National Security Advisor. In addition, Sullivan met with Prime Minister Netanyahu, new IDF Chief Halevi and Defense Minister Galant.
Sullivan discussed issues related to Iran, as well as, the situation in the West Bank. He requested that Israel remove the new sanctions it placed on the Palestinian Authority, stating that turmoil in the West Bank could impede US involvement in taking joint action against Iran. It appears that Prime Minister Netanyahu may have been taking heed of calls no to let the situation further deteriorate, as the army evacuated a newly established settlement today, despite appeals from right-wing Ministers Itamar Ben Gvir to Defense Minister Galant to refrain from doing so.
DEFENSE
Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi retired this week from the IDF. He was replaced by Herzi Halevi, a general whose army experience is very similar to that of Kohavi.
On Wednesday, Israeli soldiers killed two Palestinians early in the morning, during a raid in Jenin. One of the victims was a 58-year-old school teacher.
BUSINESS
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has unveiled a new precision missile system called “The Point Blank”. This electro-optically guided missile system is designed to be lightweight and portable, with the capability to be carried in a soldier's backpack. The Point Blank system weighs approximately 15 lbs. and is around three feet in length. The missile can fly at altitudes of up to 1,500 feet, reaching a maximum speed of 178 mph. Additionally, it is equipped with the capability to hover or loiter in the air, using electro-optical systems to collect surveillance information and confirm the target's nature, and exact location before an attack.
The technology company, Exodigo has raised an additional $12 million in a round of funding, which is still being referred to as a seed round. This brings the total amount raised in the seed round to $41 million. Exodigo has developed a system that creates 3D models of the ground beneath the surface, which is highly useful in various excavation projects.
nsKnox a cyber company specializing in preventing interference in payments as well as internal embezzlement has raised $17 million.
aiOla a company that specializing in using AI to improve work flow in traditional industries has raised $25million. The company was founded in 2019 and has 55 employees.
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT— THE BAND’S VISIT
Netflix has announced that it plans to release one new Israeli film every Friday. I watched one of the first film in the series, called "The Band’s Visit." This film is about an Egyptian police band that comes to Israel to play at the opening of an Arab Cultural Center. Instead of going to Petah Tikvah, they get on a bus that takes them to a development town somewhere in the Negev desert. Despite the weakness of the story line, I liked the film. I appreciated the excellent job done by "The Band’s Visit" to depict the local residents of the development town, the strong acting of those who played those local residents, and the robust characters of a number of the band members.
A PIECE OF HISTORY— THE FIFTH ALIYAH
The rise of anti-Semitism that accompanied the Great Depression of 1929 resulted in a sustained increase in the number of immigrants arriving in Palestine. In 1932, 9,500 immigrants reached the holy land, twice the previous year's figure. In 1933, the year Hitler rose to power in Germany, the number of new immigrants to Palestine rose to 30,000. In 1934, 42,000 Jews arrived, and in 1935, that total increased to 62,000 immigrants. British government restrictions dropped the figure to 30,000 in 1936, a sum that continued to decline due to new, restrictive British policies. From 1929 to 1936, there were 188,000 new immigrants, a number that more than doubled the Jewish population of Palestine. The makeup of the immigrants during this period also changed greatly. Many of the new immigrants came from Germany and were highly educated, resulting in the Jewish community in Palestine gaining a new class of professionals, including doctors, lawyers, and university professors. Eighty percent of the newcomers during this Fifth Aliyah wave of immigration settled in the cities— with Tel Aviv undergoing astounding growth. The population of the city grew from 46,000 in 1931, to 160,000 in 1939, as the city expanded.
A TASTE OF TEL AVIV — HIBA
RESTAURANT REVIEW, by Tali Schulman
Today, we’re going to a part of town I don’t generally find myself, self-proclaimed “Mid-town,” which is in fact not in the middle of Tel-Aviv at all, and much more accurately on the outskirts on Begin Boulevard. There’s honestly not very much reason to find yourself there, if you don’t live or work in the area — unless, you are searching Hiba, Chef Yossi Shitrit’s newest restaurant. Hiba, offers an ever-changing tasting menu of around 9 courses, comprised of unique dishes that embody the Israeli and middle eastern essence. Diners can reserve seats for either the 6pm or the 9pm seating, and can expect to be wowed by the entire dining experience from the moment they walk in, through every dish, and until the moment they leave. Between the open kitchen, impeccable service, and the finishing touches completed in or around the table you can be sure to enjoy a dining experience. My one recommendation (aside from arriving hungry!!!), is that you should plan to be at Hiba for 3 hours. Hiba very much focuses on the experience surrounding the food, so do not expect to be in and out quick.
For more Tel Aviv restaurant recommendations, you can find me on Instagram @talischulman where I save all my food adventures in my highlights
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