“I don’t speak because I have the power to speak; I speak because I don’t have the power to remain silent.” Rav Kook z"l

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

Shas and UTJ Making Deal With Arab Parties to Oppose Granting Ben-Gvir Power to Enforce Illegal Arab Construction

 

 This report is from the Jerusalem Post and I really hope this isn't true! Both the Chareidim and the Arabs are denying it. 


The article explains that the Chareidie Parties need the Arab Parties to back them to pass laws to exempt Chareidim from the Draft! 

Why am I surprised?

They will sit with Eichmann and Hitler ym"s as long as they back them in their selfish scheme to get "leidegeirs" from doing what should required of every Jew. 



National Security Minister and Otzma Yehudit chairman MK Itamar Ben-Gvir announced on Monday that his party would no longer adhere to coalition discipline and would vote in the Knesset as it sees fit, after the two ultra-Orthodox (haredi) parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism (UTJ), refused to support a move that would give him broader powers to enforce construction violations.

The seemingly inconsequential spat touched on simmering political tensions on additional issues such as the haredi exemption from military service, and provided a glimpse into political wheeling and dealing occurring behind the scenes

The plenum was scheduled on Monday to approve Ben-Gvir’s takeover of the National Unit for Enforcing Planning and Construction Laws. The unit was formed in 2017 as part of the Kamenetz Law, the purpose of which was to tighten enforcement of illegal construction, especially in the Arab sector.


The unit, which has the authority to hand out fines and other sanctions for construction violators, has been under the auspices of the Finance Ministry. However, the Likud agreed, in coalition agreements signed in November 2022, that the unit would move to Ben-Gvir’s ministry.

Ben-Gvir has promoted stricter enforcement against construction violations, especially among Bedouin nomad communities in the South, and having the unit under his auspices will give him more power over it.


However, Ben-Gvir announced on Monday that the haredim were unwilling to support the move, and therefore the coalition did not have a majority for it to pass. According to Ben-Gvir, the reason the haredim opposed the move was that they had made a deal with the Knesset’s two Arab parties.

The deal was that the haredi parties would agree to block Ben-Gvir’s move in exchange for support from the Arab parties on a future bill to regulate haredi conscription to the IDF. The Arab parties strongly oppose the Kamenetz Law and argue that it is discriminatory towards Israeli Arabs, who are forced to build illegally due to insufficient urban planning by the state in Arab cities and towns.



The haredi parties are seeking to pass a new law to enable as many yeshiva students as possible to remain exempt from IDF service, after the law that granted them a blanket exemption expired.

Sources from both the haredi and Arab parties denied Ben-Gvir’s claim. The haredi and Arab parties have collaborated in the past on the issue of laws providing an exemption from IDF service, but this time that was not the case, the sources said. Hadash-Ta’al MK Ahmad Tibi called Ben-Gvir a liar, saying in a speech in the plenum that even though the

Arab parties supported the haredi exemption, they would vote against such a bill to bring down the government if their votes were the deciding factor. A source from UTJ confirmed that there was no deal between the two groups.

Following the October 7 Hamas massacre and ensuing war, the haredi constituency will no longer accept cooperation with the Israeli Arab parties, the source said.

Shas Religious Affairs Minister Michel Malkieli filibustered on the Knesset dais for approximately an hour while the sides tried to work out their differences behind the scenes, but this was unsuccessful, and the vote to move the National Unit for Enforcing Planning and Construction Laws to Ben-Gvir’s ministry was removed from the agenda. The Knesset is currently in recess and sessions are rarely held, and only after receiving special approval, and it is unclear when the next vote on the matter will occur. 

People Getting Murdered on the Streets of NYC Yet The AG Pushing this Sham Trial .. Trying to Jail Trump on a Misdemeanor

 

Trump should risk arrest and attend son's graduation, force Dems into 'political suicide'

 

After New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan told former President Trump he would face arrest if he did not attend daily court sessions in his hush money trial, Fox Nation host Piers Morgan said the presumptive GOP presidential candidate should attend his son Barron's graduation, and challenge the judge's warning. "Donald Trump should go to his son's graduation … go to the graduation.

 Honestly, if you're watching, President Trump, just go to the graduation. Every parent in America, whether they like you or hate you, will go, 'Yeah, I'd have done that, too,'" Morgan said Monday on "The Five." 

 Barron Trump is graduating later this month from Oxbridge Academy in Palm Beach, Fla., while his father is scheduled to appear before Merchan in a New York courtroom 1,200 miles away. Morgan, who notably interviewed Trump for Fox Nation in a sometimes tense back-and-forth in 2022, called the case one of "the most petty, self-harming acts of political suicide I've ever witnessed."

The "Piers Morgan: Uncensored' host also called Merchan's case, brought by New York County District Attorney Alvin Bragg, "utterly ridiculous."

Judge Jeanine Pirro, who held court in neighboring Westchester County and served as its Republican prosecutor for many years, said Merchan can indeed issue a bench warrant for Trump and have him arrested, but left open whether – as Morgan suggested – it would be politically advantageous.

Morgan went on to call the idea that a former president would be taken to court with a potential 10-year felony sentence over "potentially, a one-night-stand with a porn star" completely nonsensical.

"Have you lost your minds, America? What a demeaning way to treat a former president. Secondly, if you're on the left, why would you think this would possibly work? Why would you not think that what you're doing here is going to almost guarantee Donald Trump wins the next election?" he asked.

For his part, Trump said Merchan's decision that he cannot attend Barron's graduation or Supreme Court arguments for another case he is involved in are collectively a "perfect" ploy to help the "radical-left Democrats."

"That's exactly what they want. This is about election interference, that's all," he said in remarks following his day in Manhattan court.

Fox News host Jesse Watters added that former President Bill Clinton also made headlines for his 1998 legal settlement with former Arkansas state employee Paula Jones, but did not receive the same scrutiny Trump has.

Jones received an $850,000 payment over her 1991 claim Clinton – then the state's governor – harassed her inside a Little Rock hotel. Jones – one of several Clinton accusers Trump invited as guests to a Missouri debate against the Democrat's wife Hillary during the 2016 race – claimed Clinton exposed himself and made sexual advances.

At the time of the settlement, Clinton attorney Robert Bennett said Jones claim was meritless.

Clinton White House Press Secretary Michael McCurry said at the time that Clinton was "pleased that he has received the vindication he has long awaited."

Jordan allowed Israeli fighter jets into its airspace

 

Jordan allowed Israeli fighter jets into its airspace to intercept incoming Iranian missiles and drones, an Israeli air force official told NBC News on Monday.

“In order to address something that comes from the east, we need to fly somewhere that is east of Israel,” the official was quoted as having said in a briefing to reporters. “This was done with coordination.”

While Iran’s direct attack against Israel on Saturday night was unprecedented, so was the scale of coordination between Israel and its Arab neighbor in the response. Jordanian and Israeli fighters — coordinated by the US military — acted together to intercept the barrage of drones and missiles.

In a statement on Sunday, Jordan’s government said the interceptions were made to ensure the safety of its citizens, rather than in the defense of Israel, but it is thought to be the first time the two countries’ militaries have fought side by side.

Jordan signed a peace deal with Israel in 1994 but relations have been cold at times. Many locals are against the treaty. In addition, the Jordanian parliament, which is made up mostly of Islamists, remains anti-Israel and its members have more than once called to annul the peace treaty.

The Jordanian parliament has in the past approved a proposal to establish a committee to re-evaluate all formal ties with Israel, including the peace agreement.

That decision does not necessarily mean that the peace accords with Israel will be annulled, as such a decision requires the approval of the government, the royal palace and the council advising Jordan's King Abdullah II.

Charedim will agree to draft up to 50% of yeshiva students

 


After dozens of discussions on the Draft Law, a proposal was put forward to begin drafting approximately 25% of yeshiva students who come of age each year, and later raise the percentage to 50%, which would amount to 6,000 yeshiva students, Israel Hayom reported.

According to the report, the main delay in advancing the law is connected to Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who has tied his support of the bill to Minister Benny Gantz's approval of it. Gantz opposes the current draft.

Currently, discussions on the details of the law are under intense discussion. Meanwhile, the haredim have agreed to allow thousands of yeshiva students to enlist, compared to the 1,200 who currently enlist each year.

According to data from haredi sources, over 1,000 young men who are exempted from army service because "their Torah is their occupation" are not in the yeshivas at all.

Many others are registered in yeshivas which haredim refer to as "yeshivas for drop-outs," attended by yeshiva students who are not capable of learning but who are registered in these yeshivas in order to avoid enlistment. The haredi representatives engaged in discussions on the Draft Law are aware of this.

Mother of fallen hostage: It was not the soldiers' fault, I am glad Hamas didn't kill him

 


Iris Haim, mother of the hostage Yotam who was killed by IDF fire while trying to escape from Hamas, spoke with Arutz Sheva - Israel National News about a ceremony held today by President Herzog to honor the parents of the three hostages killed in that incident.

“It's a very emotional day for my family, exactly four months from the day that, as I call it, Yotam went free. I know that he and his friends were heroes, but getting this recognition from the President is emotional and exciting. We're happy and sad together.”

She referred to a comment she made in the aftermath of the incident, exonerating the soldier who fired at the escaping hostages. “I know that this was not their fault. They were really afraid of Hamas. This was all because of Hamas.”

“I'm glad Hamas didn't kill him" she added, "He went out of this world as a free man.”

Since the incident, she has traveled to many Jewish communities and received enormous support. “I'm going everywhere in the world and meeting the Jewish people in the diaspora. They're always telling us to continue. It's so important for them that Israel be strong.”

El Al’s Price Hike Sparks Backlash, Calls For End To Subsidies From Israeli Government


 An uproar ensued online Monday when journalist Dov Eichler of Kan Moreshet criticized El Al Airlines for fare increases following a spate of flight cancellations by other carriers due to the current security situation.

“I have no complaints against El Al, who are now charging an arm and a leg for every flight following the wave of cancellations,” he said. “My complaint is against Israel that does not immediately stop all subsidies to El Al and is even compensating it for all extras that the airline has received for years from the Israeli taxpayer’s money.”

The debate intensified with comments from another journalist, Kobi Bornstein. “But you must applaud El Al because they brought reserve soldiers from around the world at the beginning of the war. And now we are all paying for it. Do you want to go abroad while most airlines have canceled their flights? Isn’t it great that we have a national airline, that will not take advantage of the situation at all and will take you anywhere for a measly price of only a trillion dollars per ticket?” he remarked sarcastically.

Adding personal accounts to the discussion, journalists Merav Sever and Simcha Tauman shared their experiences with El Al’s pricing. Sever noted she paid $1,000 for a flight to Paris, while Tauman humorously likened the cost to buying tickets for 30 flights at once: “It’s not an arm and a leg, it’s ‘only’ one thousand dollars. It’s as if they’re telling us, or we fly with El Al for the rest of our lives, or for one flight out of 30 that we are traveling with them, we will pay for all 30 together.”

In response to the outcry, El Al stated that it is actively working to stabilize its flight operations and has adjusted its schedule to better accommodate passengers amid the return to routine at Ben Gurion International Airport.

“With the return of the Ben Gurion International Airport to routine operations, El Al is operating its flight schedule after making certain adjustments. We are working to stabilize the flight schedule as soon as possible and recommend that all passengers verify their updated departure time before leaving for the airport,” El Al said in a statement.

El Al also highlighted its efforts to provide reasonable pricing options for those affected by cancellations, citing specific fares: from Athens at $217, Paris at $361, and from New York at $795, among others. These prices are part of a special offer valid until April 20.

Moreover, the airline announced a flexible change and cancellation policy for its customers, allowing them to alter or cancel their flights without additional fees under certain conditions until the specified date.

Iran’s Jewish Community “Praises” Drone And Missile Strikes On Israel

 


In a move that was obviously coerced, Iran’s Jewish community has publicly praised the country’s recent attack on Israel. The message expressed gratitude towards Iran’s armed forces for their role in the aerial bombardment of Israel, but experts say this support comes under duress.

Alireza Nader, an expert on Iran, told the Jerusalem Post that the regime exploits the Jewish minority for propaganda purposes, noting that such expressions of support often come under pressure. “Whenever Iran seeks retribution against Israel, it tends to turn to its Jewish citizens, effectively holding them hostage to its political agenda,” Nader explained.

The statement referenced Iran’s retaliation against Israel following the reported strike that killed Iranian General Mohammad Reza Zahedi and six other regime officials in Damascus on April 1. It commended the Iranian armed forces for their efforts in “punishing the Zionist enemy.”

Despite the outward expressions of support, Iran’s Jewish population faces significant challenges. With only around 9,000 Jews remaining in the country, they are a stark minority in a population of nearly 90 million. Experts classify Iran’s Jews as second-class citizens, subjected to various forms of discrimination.

In 2023, the Iranian government pressured the Jewish community not to celebrate the end of Pesach but instead participate in the annual anti-Israel demonstration known as al-Quds Day.

Judge in Trump Doesn't Want Frum Jews as Jurors

 

Trump Attorney Gedalye Stern 


 The Trump-hating judge in the hush-money trial in New York City has reportedly disqualified all Orthodox Jews from being jurors. Although the official reason given is because it will create a scheduling conflict on Shabbos, the real reason is clearly because the judge is aware that Orthodox Jews generally support President Trump.

Here is a report from Newsweek:

“The judge overseeing Donald Trump’s falsifying business records case has been accused by some conservative and MAGA figures of a “sleazy” move to prevent Orthodox Jews from sitting on the New York jury by holding proceedings on Fridays.

“Ahead of proceedings starting in the Manhattan courtroom, Judge Juan Merchan, who is presiding over the trial, is accused of taking steps to stop Orthodox Jewish people from being selected for the jury. Proceedings in the case will take place on Fridays, when Jewish people observe a period of rest known as the Shabbat that prevents them from undergoing work or other activities such as driving or cooking.

“However, as others have pointed out, Shabbat occurs between sunset on Friday and Saturday, meaning that observant Jews could hypothetically still take part in jury duty during the day as the sun will be setting around 7:30 p.m. in New York. The sun will set later in the day as the trial continues into the summer, by which point court proceedings would have ended for the day.”

If accurate, this would mean that most DIN News readers, who tend to be religious Jews, would be disqualified from being jurors.

In addition, according to reports about jury selection, jurors are being given a list of 42 questions, including which podcasts they listen to.

It is very likely that listeners to Ben Shapiro or The Yaakov M Show will be disqualified by DA Alvin Bragg, because they tend to be Trump supporters.

Monday, April 15, 2024

The "segula" to get rid of annoying neighbors!”

 


by Menucha Chana Levin

This is a true story.

We had been living peacefully in our apartment for several years until the Gruskin family above us decided to move out. They were a quiet family except for their eight-year-old daughter Aviva who had an annoying habit of screeching whenever she could not get her way. Our fifteen-year-old daughter Malkie, whose bedroom was just below Aviva’s, was only too happy to see them leave.

Little did we realize that our new neighbors, the Steinharts, would be infinitely more problematic. Things got off to a dampening start when our ceiling suddenly flooded. Apparently, Mrs. Steinhart’s method of cleaning her living room floor was to drench it with several inches of water which soon dripped down through our ceiling. When informed of this unfortunate occurrence, she offered only a mild apology. This was only the first of many problems we had to endure with them. With her penchant for watery ventures, Mrs. Steinhart put a little swimming pool for her kids on their porch. It didn’t take long for the pool to overflow and cascade down upon ours. On another occasion when my husband Yehuda was sitting on our porch a huge, heavy log of wood fell down barely missing his feet. Why they kept a tree-sized log on their porch was beyond our comprehension, but Mrs. Steinhart, claiming it was ‘just an accident,’ sent us a homemade cupcake with a note stating she wanted to be a good neighbor.

Shortly afterwards, they announced they were commencing renovations, and asked politely if they could measure our kitchen to obtain some ideas for their own. To reciprocate their neighborly gesture, we agreed to it.