Tel Aviv Diary July 21, 2023
Air Force Crosses Red Line as Netanyahu Seems Ready to Take Country Over the Cliff: Herzog in Washington, Business, History and a Review
NETANYAHU SPEAKS, NOTHING CHANGES
The nation collectively held its breath as Prime Minister Netanyahu announced his intent to address the country at 8:10 PM on Thursday night. Could Netanyahu possibly have decided to halt the divisive, controversial proposed legislation and return to broader negotiations? Perhaps the pressure from the White House, the imminent thrusting of our Air Force over the brink, and the looming threat of war, might have convinced him to pause? Could the fact that people are genuinely discussing the potential onset of a civil war make the Prime Minister reconsider?
Sadly, when Netanyahu finally spoke, his words offered nothing new or unifying — In lieu of taking the high road, Netanyahu chose to once again attack the members of the Air Force and all others who have been demonstrating against his coalition’s proposed Judicial reforms. Netanyahu unconvincingly tried to assert that removal of the “reasonability clause” had broad support, and was once even backed by the opposition. [However, no members of the opposition ever accepted the current version of the proposed reasonability clause!]
Once again, Netanyahu prioritized his own political interests over what is undeniably in the best interest of the country. As it becomes increasingly less likely that his legal woes will magically disappear, Netanyahu seems resolved to drive us all over the edge of a cliff.
PRESIDENT HERZOG HEADS TO AMERICA
On Monday evening, President Herzog departed for the United States to address Congress and meet with President Biden. Before leaving, Herzog sat down with Netanyahu to discuss Iran and other significant matters. One of the central questions leading up to the trip was whether Herzog would act as a proxy for Netanyahu to secure the Prime Minister his long-awaited invitation to the White House.
The day prior to Herzog’s departure Netanyahu and President Biden conversed over the phone for the first time in four months. Jerusalem's official statement suggested that Netanyahu had received an invitation to meet with Biden. However, the White House report did not mention a visit, focusing instead on Biden's request for Netanyahu to halt the proposed judicial reforms and instead work to reach a broad consensus; to take steps to improve the Palestinians' situation, to maintain the possibility of a two-state solution in the future. Instantaneously following the call, spin doctors battled each other throughout the evening debating whether or not Netanyahu had indeed received an invitation to the Oval office. It seemed that the truth fell somewhere in the middle — Biden hinted that he would meet Netanyahu in the US soon, but did not indicate where.
HERZOG’S RED CARPET WELCOME
On Tuesday, Herzog was warmly welcomed by President Biden, followed by an hour-long meeting. The precise nature of their conversation remains unclear, but Iran and Israel’s proposed Judicial reform were significant topics. In the subsequent remarks, Judicial reform wasn't mentioned, only the significance of shared values. Reform supporters in Israel seized this omission to suggest that the matter was not of paramount importance to Biden. However, word of this spin reached the White House, and led Biden to take an unprecedented step. Biden invited veteran, acclaimed New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman to the White House and explicitly told Friedman that he had asked Netanyahu to put the judicial reform on hold until a broad consensus could be reached. Friedman published the President’s admonition in a special article that appeared early on Wednesday morning in Israel and quickly became the day's hot topic
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PROTESTS, PROTESTS EVERYWHERE
Meanwhile, on the streets of Israel, the metaphorical temperature was rising in step with the actual temperature. Over 200,000 individuals turned out across the country for the weekly Saturday night demonstrations.
Tuesday was a day marked by national disruption. The day began with a thousand people assembling in Habima Square. From there, they marched down Rothschild Boulevard to the Stock Exchange, where a demonstration took place. A few miles away, thousands of protesters, predominantly veterans, gathered in front of the Defense Ministry and IDF headquarters, effectively blocking the main gate. Another contingent of hundreds demonstrated in favor of womens’ rights at the Rabbinate in Tel Aviv
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Similar demonstrations were held in various parts of the country. Later in the afternoon, as previously announced by the organizers, there was an attempt to disrupt rail service. The physical effort to block the stations and tracks only partially succeeded. However, soon after the protests at the railway stations began, a “technical issue” with the railroad’s main computerized control system occurred, halting all rail service in the country for one hour.
That evening (Tuesday) a major protest was held again on Kaplan Street, at the junction of Menachem Begin Street — site of the largest weekly demonstrations over the course of the last almost 29 weeks — has now been renamed by the Tel Aviv Municipality — Kikar HaDemocratia “Democracy Square”. At the end of the demonstration a group of a few hundred led by the leader of the protest movement began a March to Kaplan street in Jerusalem [From Kaplan to Kaplan]. As of Friday morning, while the march set off toward the foothills of Jerusalem towards the capital their numbers had swelled to 10,000.
This morning Nadav Eyal reported that Israeli intelligence services have reached out to their Russian counterparts demanding that they stop their secret social media influence campaigns in Israel. These campaigns seem to have dual purposes, to lessen support for Ukraine, and even more problematic to deepen the divides here in Israel.
AIR FORCE CROSSES A RED LINE
On Friday, 1,142 Air Force reservist including 513 pilots signed a letter stating they were stopping to volunteer for reserve duty. This is has reached a point where the war-readiness of the Air Force is now in question. Joining the pilots are military doctors. Approximately 20% of the reserve doctors have now decided they will stop volunteering if the proposed law to eliminate the “reasonability clause" passes. While most of the politicians including those in the opposition have said they do not support these actions, many prominent former security officials have come out in support, including on Thursday the former head of the Security Services “Shabak”.
The coalition’s right-wing and ultra-Orthodox MKs, many of whom have never served, have amplified their criticism of the pilots. Some continually assert that we don't need them (the pilots), others argue that these “privileged” individuals have no right to blackmail the government. A video circulating online on Thursday showed an infantry unit in trouble calling for air support, with the pilot inquiring whether the soldiers in need supported or opposed the Judicial reforms. This video drew widespread criticism, including from Defense Minister Galant and the official army spokesman. However, Minister Ben-Gvir reposted it and refused to take the post down. In a meeting with military correspondents, IAF Chief Tomer Bar expressed his concern that the damage caused by the increased slander against the pilots would take years to rectify.
ANGER AND RESENTMENT ABOUND
The anger on the streets appears to be escalating, part of which is resentment directed towards the “elite privileged Ashkenazim”. I've personally encountered this anger a number of times, despite the fact that those leading the Judicial reforms are ALL Ashkenazi (Netanyahu, Rothman, and Levin), while some of those leading the opposition, like former IDF Chief of Staff and Air Force Commander Dan Halutz, are Sephardic. The anger, largely related to events that occurred one or two generations ago, is very real, and appears much more raw than my anger at the Germans for the Holocaust. All of which is, to say the least, very troubling.
REASONABILITY ON THE WAY OUT
This week, the Knesset Law Committee approved the bill to end the court’s ability to use reasonability as a legal factor, and now that legislation is scheduled to be voted on by the full Knesset on Monday. Netanyahu still has the power to halt the vote, but it appears very unlikely that he will.
PRESIDENT HERZOG’S SPEECH TO CONGRESS
After his meeting with Biden on Tuesday, President Herzog addressed a joint session of Congress on Wednesday, to commemorate Israel's 75th year. Herzog’s speech, which touched on the threats posed by Iran, the rise in anti-Semitism, and shared US-Israeli values, was very well received — including over two dozen standing ovations. Herzog asserted during his address: “Criticism of Israel must not cross the line into negating the State of Israel’s right to exist. Questioning the Jewish people’s right to self-determination is not legitimate diplomacy, it is anti-Semitism.
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DEFENSE
Israel reportedly conducted air strikes near Damascus on Tuesday night. On Thursday, a resident of Jerusalem was critically wounded, but is in stable condition, after a knife attack perpetrated by a Palestinian from East Jerusalem.
NETANYAHU’S BRIEF HOSPITAL VISIT
Prime Minister Netanyahu made headlines when he was urgently rushed to Sheba Medical Center on Saturday, when he collapsed and hit his head. After undergoing extensive tests and having a heart monitor implanted, Netanyahu was discharged the next day. The incident was attributed to dehydration from exposure to the sun on Friday, a justification many have questioned. This episode underscored the fact that Israel does not have a Vice President, and Netanyahu has declined to appoint a deputy who could act in his stead. As a result, should something occur, the deeply divided cabinet would be left with the task of selecting a successor.
A PIECE OF HISTORY— KASTNER TRIAL
A trial commenced in Jerusalem on January 1, 1954, revolving around a libel case. Dr. Rudolf Kastner, a government employee and former Chairman of the Jewish Rescue Committee of Hungary during the war, had been accused by Malkiel Greenwald of collaborating with the Nazis. Greenwald, a Polish immigrant since 1938, published a newsletter specializing in exposing corruption within the ruling Mapai Party. In a 1953 edition of his newsletter, he charged Kastner with profiting from Hitler's loot and murders, prompting the government to file a lawsuit against Greenwald for defaming a public servant.
Certain details of the case remain contentious to this day, yet the fundamental narrative is clear-cut. Adolf Eichmann, responsible for the extermination of Hungarian Jews, proposed a trade to Kastner associate Joel Brand with war material in exchange for the lives of the Hungarian Jewish population. Brand traveled to Turkey, only to be detained by the British in Syria, and Eichmann's proposal was subsequently rejected by the Allies. Meanwhile, Kastner had negotiated with Eichmann, who, to demonstrate his sincerity, allowed 200 families to leave the country unscathed. Kastner provided a list of 1,685 Jews, including 388 from his hometown of Cluj, all of whom were permitted to depart for Switzerland in two special trains.
Throughout the trial, Greenwald's attorney, Shmuel Tamir, a former Etzel member and Cherut party affiliate, questioned Kastner on why he had not warned Hungarian Jews of their impending deportation to Auschwitz. Kastner responded, stating he was concerned that doing so might jeopardize the ongoing negotiations he hoped would spare the majority of Hungary's Jews. As to allegations of Kastner's personal gain from the negotiations, beyond possibly saving some of his relatives, evidence proved Kastner had arrived in Israel destitute.
Judge Benyamin Halevi issued a 300-page ruling on June 22, 1955, concluding that Kastner had not taken measures to warn Hungary's Jews. Halevi stated Kastner had essentially sold his soul to the devil, leading to the dismissal of the libel case. The verdict sent shockwaves through Israel, causing Sharett's government to collapse.
Kastner's life met a tragic end on March 15, 1957, when he was ambushed and killed outside his Tel Aviv apartment by three assassins, later identified as supporters of the outlawed far-right militia, Lechi. In a turn of events, the Supreme Court overturned the lower court's decision in January 1958.
BUSINESS
Loora, an Israeli-based startup specializing in generative AI language learning, has formally emerged from its stealth phase with an impressive capital injection of $9.25 million in seed funding. The firm's strategic aim is to democratize access to English conversational fluency, targeting the expansive market of over one billion prospective learners worldwide.
The Tel Aviv-based enterprise has successfully secured this seed funding under the guidance of Emerge, a venture firm with a keen interest in early-stage investments. In this initial financing round, Loora also gained the backing of the US-based venture capital firm, Two Lantern Ventures Partners, and Kaedan Capital, a private investment entity located in Tel Aviv. Notably, this round of financing saw contributions from angel investors Zohar Gilon and Amit Gilon, as well as influential founders from leading technology companies such as Lightricks and ironSource.
Israeli startup Wing Cloud, which is developing a programming language for cloud computing called Winglang, revealed that it has raised $20 million since its inception in 2022. Co-founded by a former Amazon Web Services engineer and an entrepreneur who previously sold his company to Verizon, the Tel Aviv-based company has 16 employees and aims to simplify the creation of distributed systems utilizing cloud infrastructure.
Elbit Systems Ltd. announced that it was awarded a $150 million contract to supply PULS™ (Precise and Universal Launching Systems) rocket launchers and a package of precision-guided long-range rockets to an international customer. The contract will be performed over a period of three years. Elbit Systems' PULS provides a comprehensive and cost effective solution, that can launch unguided rockets, precision guided munitions and missiles with an effective range of up to 300km. With its unique design, the PULS can also support future growth capabilities such as the ability to launch loitering munitions, including the canister launched configuration of Elbit Systems' SkyStriker loitering munition. The PULS launcher is fully adaptable to existing wheeled and tracked platforms, enabling a significant reduction in maintenance and training costs
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Yehuda (Udi) Vered, General Manager of Elbit System Land: "We are seeing an increased demand for our advanced artillery solutions from militaries looking to increase the effectiveness of their armed forces. This contract provides an additional vote of confidence in Elbit Systems' PULS rocket artillery solutions.”
A TASTE OF TEL AVIV– CAFE PUAA
RESTAURANT REVIEW, by Tali Schulman
Cafe Puaa, located on Rabbi Yochanan Street, Yafo, is a true gem and a staple in the Tel- Aviv cafe scene. From the moment you step inside, you'll be captivated by its warm and inviting ambiance. The cafe's delightful fusion of rustic and contemporary decor creates a cozy and charming atmosphere that's perfect for a relaxed meal or catch-up with friends. The food at Cafe Puaa is a delightful blend of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavors, prepared with fresh and high-quality ingredients. Whether you're a fan of hearty breakfasts or crave flavorful lunch options, their menu has something to please every palate. If you’re looking for a delicious Shakshuka in Yafo, this is where you should go
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For more Tel Aviv restaurant recommendations, you can find me on Instagram @talischulman where I save all my food adventures in my highlights!