The Last 7 Days in Israel
Restrictions on outdoor weddings and protests have been lifted. While it's unclear how many people can protest at a wedding, 20 people are allowed at weddings and 20 million people are allowed at protests.
The Last 7 Days in Israel
Hezbollah is doing everything it can to conceal this information. Not since O.J. Simpson has a party appeared more guilty and yet claimed it wasn’t.
The Last 7 Days in Israel
The declared intent of the curfew is to prevent large drunken parties/festive gatherings in the evenings. The upcoming video footage of attempted enforcement will be incredible!
The Last 7 Days in Israel
After the normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was announced, it was rumored that other Muslim countries were on the brink of following suit. That hasn't happened yet.
The Last 7 Days in Israel
Certainly the highlight of the process, at least for me, was Naftali Bennett's nominating himself.
The Last 7 Days in Israel
Everyone agrees that these numbers are up, but that's pretty much where agreement ends. Will the lockdown decrease the numbers?
The Last 7 Days in Israel
Naftali Bennett of the Yamina Party has declared his desire to be prime minister. Him being elected to that position in March is about as likely as me growing taller.
The Last 7 Days in Israel
Yair Lapid has only one week left to put together a governing coalition. He spent this week inking deals with parties that everyone already knew were with him.
The Last 7 Days in Israel
What we have here is a game of "Mexican chicken" to see who blinks first. There cannot really be a viable left-wing/Arab/fake right government – the numbers just aren't there.
The Last 7 Days in Israel
Malawi announced plans to open an embassy in Jerusalem. It would be the first African country to do so.
The Last 7 Days in Israel
The good trend continues: All bad numbers are down. However, it does seem that all the folks willing to get the vaccine have received it already. Very few people are going to get it now.
The Last 7 Days in Israel
Betzalel Smotrich of the National Union party announced that he would be launching a new party to run in the upcoming elections and would not partner with Naphtali Bennett's "New Right" Party.
The Last 7 Days in Israel
Israel is experiencing two dramatic trends – lots of vaccinations administered and lots of new cases of Covid-19.
The Last 7 Days in Israel
Retail stores have reopened this week in Israel and active corona cases continue to decrease – there are now about 8,000 active cases.
The Last 7 Days in Israel
One of the issues that has led to the political turbulence of the past few years is the draft. The Supreme Court previously ruled that the current law that exempts yeshiva students from military service is illegal.
The Last 7 Days in Israel
Last week, Prime Minister Netanyahu suffered what seemed like a severe political setback. The parties seeking to replace him, with the support of the Arab Ra'am party, formed a majority on a strategic Knesset committee.
The Last 7 Days in Israel
We have mentioned the overall incompetence of the Israeli police numerous times in the past, but this is a pretty egregious example.
The Last 7 Days in Israel
As of now, if a budget of some kind is not passed by the end of August, the government will be dismantled and new elections called for November.
The Last 7 Days in Israel
It's not uncommon for Bennett to do very well in the polls and then not perform on election day.
The Last 7 Days in Israel
Things are definitely heating up in the Middle East, despite it being quite cold. Could anyone have predicted this? Everyone did.
The Last 7 Days In Israel
Prime Minister Netanyahu claimed this week that Israel in on the verge of diplomatic agreements with at least four additional Muslim countries.
The Last 7 Days in Israel
Prime Minister Netanyahu, after receiving the mandate to form a coalition government from President Rivlin, continues to try to do just that.
The Last 7 Days in Israel
As his detention has continued without charges being filed, the terrorist went on a hunger strike. He has now been on that hunger strike for over 90 days!
The Last 7 Days in Israel
Meanwhile, illegal construction by Arabs remained rampant. And there were no changes in the status of endangered Jewish religious sites or politically significant areas.
The Last 7 Days in Israel
Ironically, the signings took place very close to the anniversary of the signing of the Oslo Accords – possibly the worst agreement since… ever… like in the history of the world.
The Last 7 Days in Israel
All of these conflicts between mostly Muslim countries further serve to fragment the Islamic world and could potentially push more countries to seek and benefit from the strength and relative stability of Israel.
The Last 7 Days in Israel
At this point, it seems the jack is out of the box and new elections are a done deal. Folks are already starting to maneuver.
The Last 7 Days in Israel
For his part, Prime Minister Netanyahu continues to call for "unity" and the preservation of the current coalition government.
The Last 7 Days in Israel
The enforcement of the lockdown regulations also continues to be quite contentious, particularly since it's only done in charedi areas.