Tel Aviv Diary June 2, 2023

Yeshiva in Homesh,Judicial Overhaul Uncertain, Demonstrations Continue, Terror Strikes Again,Rabbinic Leader Dies, Economy, History and Reviews

CONSTRUCTION OF PERMANENT HOME FOR YESHIVA IN HOMESH

This week began with the construction of a permanent building for the Yeshiva at the evacuated settlement of Homesh. The Yeshiva was relocated to public land (a detail I will elaborate on later) from its initial placement on private Palestinian land — Despite the army's recommendation not to create a permanent settlement in the area, and the absence of a permit, making the move illegal. Defense Minister Galant and Minister Bezalel Smotrich overrode the army's counsel. The army feared that establishing a permanent settlement would escalate clashes with Palestinians. This concern proved valid when conflicts erupted on Thursday between settlers and Palestinians from the nearby village of Burqa. Notably, the Homesh settlement was evacuated concurrently with the Gaza disengagement in 2005, as Prime Minister Ariel Sharon considered the North Shomron settlement strategically insignificant and costly to protect.

STATE OF JUDICIAL REFORM

The state of judicial reform remains ambiguous. Prime Minister Netanyahu has been conveying mixed messages, fluctuating between advocating for broad support for the reform and suggesting it be entirely dismissed. While discussions at the President's House show minimal progress, they likely won't yield a consensus. A crucial deadline approaches in two weeks when a new committee to select judges is due to be appointed. It remains to be seen whether an opposition member will be included in the committee, as per usual procedure. Opposition Leader Yair Lapid and National Unity Party Head Gantz have declared this as a red line, warning that if an opposition lawmaker isn't included in the Judicial appointment committee, they will terminate negotiations. Meanwhile, the demonstrations continue Saturday night will be the 22nd week of demonstrations.

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Leading the push for Judicial reform, Justice Minister Levin claimed today that the court aims to usher Israel into a post-Zionist future. During a Likud meeting, he emphasized the necessity of seizing this opportunity to pass comprehensive Judicial reform. In Sunday's cabinet meeting, Levin was reportedly quoted as saying, "Arabs buy apartments in Jewish communities in the Galilee, causing Jews to leave these cities, as they're unwilling to live with Arabs. We need to ensure the Supreme Court includes justices who understand this.” Astonishingly, these remarks come from Israel's Justice Minister, seemingly echoing BDS rhetoric.

TWO CONTROVERSIAL BILLS

In the same cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Netanyahu dismissed two bills. The first would have effectively hindered any NGO receiving funding from a foreign government. Many coalition members are troubled by the fact that several governments, despite their substantial support for Israel, are also concerned about human rights and back organizations advocating for these rights (among other things). Years ago, I collaborated with the US Embassy on an American democracy project (pre-Trump), gaining exposure to many of the projects the embassy supported. None were political; all focused on education, women's rights, and similar areas. Reportedly, US Ambassador Nides personally requested Netanyahu to block the bill. The second controversial bill, introduced by National Security Minister Ben-Gvir, proposed that Zionism should supersede all other considerations in government decisions.

In a matter somewhat related to the  judicial reform issue, Efi Naveh, the former head of the Law Association, lost the appeal on his conviction for smuggling his girlfriend in and out of the country. After his indictment, Naveh was forced to resign. Currently, Naveh is campaigning to regain his position. Following the loss of his appeal, Naveh asserted that nothing prevented him from reassuming his role as Law Association Head, stating that he could even become a Minister. Naveh, largely viewed as a Levin supporter, is considered a Trojan horse to circumvent opposition to Judicial reform, given that the head of the Legal Association holds a seat on the Committee to appoint judges. It's baffling how a lawyer, recently convicted of a crime, considers it acceptable to reclaim the role of the Bar Association's head.

PASSING OF RABBI GERSHON EDELSTEIN

Rabbi Gershon Edelstein, leader of the non-Hasidic ultra-Orthodox community, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 100. He led the prominent Ponevezh Yeshiva, and was considered a moderate who sought to avoid conflict with the Israeli government. His death marks the end of an era, as he was the last of the rabbis whose authority was universally accepted within the ultra-Orthodox community. The lack of a single authority to decide for the Ultra Orthodox community will complicate any efforts to make changes to accommodate both the needs of the community and the needs of the nation at large.

TERROR

On Thursday night, Chana Nachenberg, 53, passed away in a Tel Aviv hospital. She had been in a vegetative state for the last 22 years, after being severely wounded in the Sbarro Pizza terror attack in Jerusalem. Her death raises the toll of those killed in one of the most horrific terror attacks during the second Intifada to 16.

Earlier in the week, reports suggested that Israel attacked Hezbollah storage facilities in Syria. Palestinian terrorists shot and killed Meir Tamari near his home in Hermesh, located in the Northern West Bank. The terrorists drove up next to his car and opened fire. This incident fits into a pattern of similar attacks in the West Bank over the past year. Hermesh residents blame the army for not manning the observation points near the settlement. While their frustration is understandable, it is likely that had these points had been manned, however the terrorists might have simply attacked elsewhere on the road.

PRIDE MONTH

Jerusalem kicked off Pride Month today with the Gay Pride Parade, in which thousands participated. It's noteworthy that support for gay rights in Israel has been increasing. A poll reveals that 61% of Israelis believe in full equal rights, while 26% oppose them. This number increases to 68% among Jewish Israelis, with only 17% opposing full rights. Among religious Jews, support and opposition are evenly split, with 33% supporting full rights and 32% opposing them. Among non-Jewish Israelis, 73% oppose full rights, while only 22% support them. The survey also found that 52% of Israelis support same-sex marriages.

DIPLOMACY

President Herzog paid a State visit to Azerbaijan this week. Azerbaijan has become a key ally of Israel. The country borders Iran and is a major purchaser of Israeli arms.

ECONOMY

The Eli Hurwitz Economic Forum took place this week, attended by all the major players in the economy. Finance Minister Smotrictch congratulated himself for the "excellent" budget he passed. However, he overlooked his own Director of Budgets, who gave a poignant speech. The Director warned that by the time his grandchildren go to school, 50% of the students will be ultra-Orthodox, and the country's economic landscape will resemble that of Eastern Europe. He expressed concerns about maintaining a world-class army or providing top-tier services to citizens, and how the recently passed budget could exacerbate these issues.

The Governor of the Bank of Israel highlighted how the political turmoil caused by attempts to reform the Judicial system have directly led to a 10% devaluation of the Shekel. According to the Governor, every 5% devaluation increases inflation by 1%. Therefore, our current 6% inflation rate should ideally be around 4%. The devaluation of the Shekel does come with a silver lining, making Israeli companies more competitive. It also provides start-ups that have raised funds but are cautious about raising more in the current challenging environment, with a longer runway. Furthermore, the devalued Shekel has made the country slightly less expensive for tourists. If you don't live here — now is a great time to visit!

BUSINESS

Elbit announced their first quarter results: they have a backlog of orders worth $15.8 billion, revenues of $1.39 billion, non-GAAP net income of $76 million, and GAAP net income of $62 million. Non-GAAP net earnings per share (EPS) were $1.70, while GAAP net EPS stood at $1.40.

Hyro, a company specializing in conversational AI technology, has raised $20 million in a Series-B funding round led by Macquarie Capital, bringing its total financing to $35 million. Amid an impending labor shortage in the US health system, Hyro's AI, established in 2018 by Israel Krush and Rom Cohen, offers an essential solution. Hyro's system enables users to schedule treatments, register for health services, solve technical problems, answer frequent questions, and renew prescriptions digitally, without human intervention.

Atley, which launched its app for crowd based city guides  this week and reported a $17 million Series-A funding round from Target Global and Tal Ventures, in addition to $1 million in seed money from smaller funds. Founded by Maslansky, Copenhagen, and Kaufman in early 2019, Atley currently employs about 50 people in Tel Aviv and New York.

A PIECE OF HISTORY— War of Independence:Part I

With the declaration of Israel’s Independence came the invasion of Israel by the armies of all surrounding Arab states. On that day, the Israel army consisted of 30,000 troops with no armor or other heavy equipment. Its Air Force comprised merely a few Piper Cubs. Though this changed in the subsequent weeks, in the early days of the war, the regular Arab armies held an overwhelming advantage in terms of men and materiel.

The Arab armies invaded from all directions. In the North, the Lebanese army seized the border crossing at Malkiyah. The Syrians attacked the area around the Sea of Galilee and advanced on Kibbutz Degania, where they were repelled. The Iraqis launched an assault across the Jordan River near the town of Besian but were forced to retreat. They then relocated their troops to Samaria, where they assumed defensive positions.

The most significant threat was the advance of the Egyptians. Their army split into two columns: one headed into the Negev Desert and up through the Hebron Hills towards Jerusalem. This brigade, headed for Jerusalem, was halted on the southern approach to the city at Kibbutz Ramat Rachel. The second column advanced along the coastal road towards Tel Aviv. For five critical days, this army was delayed by the brave defense of Kfar Mordechai. They next encountered Kibbutz Negba, which they eventually circumvented. The Egyptian forces then proceeded to where Ashdod is today and paused. On May 29, the Israelis launched a counter-offensive, halting the Egyptian advance and the threat to Tel Aviv

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THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT— “KUPAH RASHIT”

In today's installment of my episodic review of Israeli shows and movies available on Netflix, I turn my attention to "Kupah Rashit", which translates to "Head Cashier". This engaging sitcom is set in the bustling environment of an Israeli supermarket.

Though I'm typically not a big aficionado of sitcoms, "Kupa Rashit" managed to capture my interest. The seamless transition between episodes left me pleasantly surprised, as I hardly noticed the conclusion of one episode and the automatic loading of the next by Netflix. The narrative arc of the show revolves around the myriad challenges faced by the supermarket manager. She is constantly trying to navigate the quirks and eccentricities of her staff, including a defiant cashier who perceives herself as the de facto boss of the establishment. Another intriguing character is the butcher who sporadically showcases his religious side, adding an interesting flavor to his interactions

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The show isn't just about the staff; it also cleverly explores the idiosyncrasies of the customers who frequent the supermarket, which adds a layer of complexity to the plot and provides a rich source of humor. It's this delightful blend of characters and their interactions that make "Kupa Rashit" such an enjoyable watch. If you're in the market for light, yet entertaining Hebrew television, I heartily recommend "Kupa Rashit". As of this review, the show boasts three seasons, offering plenty of content for a fun, engaging binge-watch.

A TASTE OF TEL AVIV — Nordinio

RESTAURANT REVIEW, By Tali Schulman

Located on Nachalat Benyamin, just a few steps from the corner of Gruzenberg, you will find Nordinio. Owned by the same group as We Like You Too, Nordinio brings a European feel to Nachalat Benjamin with a stunning variety of pastries, sandwiches and of course delicious coffee. You wont be disappointed by the beautiful items display in the window, and the ever changing items available inside. The line is often long, but moves quickly. There are not always tables readily available, but it is always worth it! I recommend taking a few friends (so that you can taste more!), and bring goodies to the tayelet (beach boardwalk) for a beach-side picnic. I promise the beautiful view will only enhance the experience!

For more Tel Aviv restaurant recommendations, you can find me on Instagram @talischulman where I save all my food adventures in my highlights!