Tel Aviv Diary November 25, 2022
Terror in Jerusalem, Coalition Building,El Al Profitable, and more
TERROR
The steadily increasing pace of terror attacks reached new heights this week, as two bombs exploded a few minutes apart in Jerusalem. The coordinated bombings killed one teenager and wounded 19 other people. Police believe that the bombs, which were detonated by remote control, were set by more than one person. Initial suspicion has focused on East Jerusalem residents. This week’s Jerusalem bombing — the first bombing in the holy city since 2011 — raised traumatic memories of the bombings from the second Intifada for many Israelis. In the endless news shows that took over Israeli broadcasting on Wednesday morning, psychologists warned Israelis might suffer bouts of PTSD triggered by reports of the bombings. My thoughts went directly to my daughter who had lived in Jerusalem during the second Intifada and saw way too much — especially when a bomb went off in a busy cafe across from her apartment.
At the scene of the bombing, MK Ben Gvir, slated to become Minister of National Security in the new government proclaimed he would immediately take steps to end the terror — including reinstatement of targeted assassinations, placement of the village or town the terrorist came from under curfew, and employment of more strenuous conditions for security prisoners. The only problem with these suggestions is that the first two have already been implemented. As to making prison conditions more difficult, a government commission during Netanyahu’s previous term made that same recommendation, but the government did not put those suggestions into practice, for fear of reactions from Hamas and other terror groups.
The latest Jerusalem bombing follows a string of attacks in Ariel, Hebron, and other places. On Tuesday night, another assault took place — this time against a Druze-Israeli. The nearly 18 year-old young man, had been wounded in a car accident and was lying in critical condition in a Jenin hospital. A group of armed men broke into the intensive care unit, disconnected the dying young man from life support, and kidnaped him. It’s not clear what exactly what caused the young man’s death, but for 24 hours, the Palestinian gunmen refused to return his body.
Israel made clear that if the body was not returned by diplomatic means, it would take decisive military action to retrieve the young man’s remains. Israel’s threats were bolstered by an enraged Druze community, who made clear that they (most of whom are IDF combat veterans) would take matters into there own hands, if necessary. Finally, it seems the Druze community in Lebanon made it clear to members of the Islamic Jihad there that if the body was not returned swiftly, they should not feel safe in Lebanon. Near dawn, on Thursday morning the body was returned. Tiran Fero was buried on his 18th birthday.
On Thursday, there was an attempted terror attack on a teenager in a pre-army school in Beersheva. This young man was sadly run over. Initial reports indicate the perpetrator was a Beduoin from Rahat. Fortunately, he was not seriously wounded.
POLITICS
Coalition talks have moved forward, with a tentative deal inked between the Likud and Itamar Ben Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit Party. Ben Gvir will become the minister in-charge of the newly created “National Security Ministry,” which is an expansion of the current Ministry of Internal Security. Ben Gvir’s party will also get the Ministry of Galil and Negev with added funding, as well as the Ministry for Jewish Heritage, and another new Ministry tentatively called the “Ministry of National Fortitude”. Bezalel Smotritch’s demand to become Defense Minister, and his willingness to serve as Finance Minister only if he is given authority over portions of other ministries, has delayed progress. Based on past performance, we can expect negotiations between the parties to continue up until the last moment, which is three weeks away.
BUSINESS & FINANCE
El Al returned to profitably for the first time since the start of the pandemic. The company earned $66.8 million in Q3 of 2022; in contrast to their loss of 136 million in 2021. Income rose 147% to 625 million. El Al also recorded a profit in Q2 2022, but that was from the sale of its frequent flyer program. This time, profits were from its operations
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This week, Israel’s State Comptroller issued a scathing report. One of the report’s targets of criticism was the Tel Aviv Light Rail Project. The first light rail line is still not open, and next week’s expected opening was recently delayed until March. The project’s cost has nearly doubled and has been delayed five times, so far. The Comptroller stated it is unlikely the government would have approved the project, had the full cost been known from the start. Of course, the same people who were in charge of construction of the first line have already been given the go-ahead to begin work on two additional lines
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The Electric Company, which received 2 billion shekels to modernize and become more efficient was the other target of the Comptroller’s report. According to the Comptroller the necessary overhaul has not happened. Instead, the Electric Company remains inefficient, and half its employees receive excessively high salaries. Today, an announcement was issued stating electric rates would go up 8.9% next year — despite the fact the electric company's cost for natural gas is protected in a long-term contract.
Israeli banks reported record profits in the last quarter. Bank Hapoalim, Israel’s largest bank declared a net profit of NIS 1.79 billion for Q3 2022, which is up 48% from the same quarter last year. The reason for this across the board increase was the rise in interest rates by Bank of Israel. Hapoalim, aș well as the other Israeli banks immediate raised the interest rates to their customers when the Bank of Israel raised the prime. At the same time they have only slowly raised the amount they are paying on deposits, thus making all sectors of lending more profitable,
A PIECE OF HISTORY — Haganah Founded
The year 1920 saw the replacement of the “Shomrim” by the Haganah — the official underground army of the Jews in Palestine. The Haganah was initially established under the direct control of the Achdut Avodah party. With the establishment of the Histadrut, the Haganah came under the direct control of the Histadrut. The Haganah’s first actions took place during the 1920 Arab riots in Jerusalem. During subsequent riots in 1921, the Haganah acquitted itself well in Jerusalem, but did not handle the riots in Jaffa as successfully.
During the period between 1921 and 1929, when relative quiet reigned in Palestine, the Haganah stagnated. The riots in 1929 caught the Haganah by surprise. Although in most cases the Haganah was able to defend Jewish settlements against attack, it could not prevent the slaughters that took place in Hebron and Safed. After the Arab riots, the Haganah was reorganized and the importation, as well as the local production of armaments was substantially increased. In 1931, non-Histadrut elements of the Haganah seceded and formed their own group. The 1936 riots resulted in a reorganization which put the Haganah under the direct control of the World Zionist Organization, and the splinter faction rejoined.
The 1936 riots accelerated the growth of the Haganah. During the initial stage of the riots, the Haganah was able to successfully defend each and every Jewish settlement so that none needed to be abandoned. By the end of 1936, the Haganah had formed highly capable mobile units that were able to take the offensive against Arab attackers. In 1937, the British decided that in order to maintain order during the Arab revolt, they would have to cooperate with the Jewish community, and thus they organized a legal Jewish police force, which was essentially under the control of the Haganah. This force grew to include over 1,000 full time members and 22,000 militia members.
In 1938, the British Army authorized Captain Orde Wingate to organize special 'night squads.' Their night attacks were a major element in the successful suppression of the Arab revolt. With the British issuance of the White Paper, the Haganah began to concentrate on illegal immigration. With the outbreak of World War II, the Haganah once again began large-scale cooperation with the British, encouraging many of its members to join the British armed forces. At war's end, the Haganah concentrated its efforts once more on smuggling illegal immigrants into Palestine, as well as preparing the way for independence. When Israel's independence was declared, the Haganah became the Israel Defense Forces.
A TASTE OF TEL AVIV — Cafe Barzilay
RESTAURANT REVIEW, BY TALI SCHULMAN
If you’re looking for some really great bowls for lunch in Tel Aviv, Cafe Barzilay is your spot. Located on the corner of Mikve Israel and Barzilai Street (just around the corner from Kuli Alma for those who know the area), Cafe Barzilay offers a fairly standard cafe menu, aside from their bowls (tofu and chicken bowls in particular), where I personally think they shine! My favorite is their supper bowl with chicken. For a filling, hearty, and healthy lunch you will definitely not be disappointed! Along side your food, try their “ice blends,” the ice blend matcha in particular, for the matcha lovers out there.
For more Tel Aviv restaurant recommendations, you can find me on Instagram @talischulman where I save all my food adventures in my highlights!