News from Israel by Carolyne Davis
Tonight is the third night of Chanuka:
The Festival of Lights that commemorates the victory of the Maccabees, in 164 BC, who rose up against the Greek-Syrian oppressors . The oil they found in the Temple was only enough for one night, but the miracle tells us it burned for 8 nights. We therefore light our Chanukias for eight nights, and eat food like latkes and donuts cooked in oil to celebrate.
Many holidays and events are celebrated because of mythical stories, as was Chanuka until very recently.
Now, however, the story of Chanuka has physical proof. Due to the find of a preserved wooden box by the Dead Sea, containing a cache of 2,200 year old silver coins, we know that the the Jews did in fact, flee to the Judean Desert and hid their valuables in caves, during the upheaval and persecution under the Chanuka villain Antiochus.
Presumably, they intended to return to claim the coins, but were probably killed in the battle for the Temple. The coins have laid undisturbed guarding their story for over 2,000 years.
My granddaughter, who is in her Bat Mitzvah year who given the honour of climbing the desert mountains behind her Kibbutz, together with her family on the second night, to light a giant Chanukia, that can be seen for miles around the night sky. How amazing to be celebrating and remembering a miraculous and victorious event against oppression 2,000 years later in the desert only hours from those actual caves!
Israel continues to be a beacon of light against oppression ,and the hysteria that the country is turning into a right wing dictatorship since the election results are ill placed.
Despite the elections being weeks ago, no one yet has yet managed to form a working government.
Bibi’s Likud is charged with forming the next government, and he only has a few days left, having already requested an extension. The wrangling and horse trading are continuing with each party demanding portfolios, changes to the law and money for their causes in exchange for supporting the government.
As in any democracy that is split, I would estimate around 50% of the electorate are unhappy, and even those who prefer the right perhaps didn’t envisage such a strong leaning right wing to be negotiating such important positions. It should be remembered that as the centralist parties refuse to sit with Bibi, he is forced to the right.
Ultimately, if Bibi wants to take the helm once again, he will have little choice but to grant ministries to those partners who many people find too extreme. However, the last coalition included an anti Israel Arab party, so I guess in politics people take their friends where they can find them in order to stay in power.
The predictions that the sky is about to fall in on Israel are hopefully way off the mark and this government like all previous governments will fall out with each other and we will be back at the polling stations before too long.
Talk of normalisation with Saudi Arabia could be a very positive step forward for the region. If Bibi can pull that off and add it to the Abrahams Accord it will be worthwhile suffering this new coalition. In the Bay of Eilat tonight a cruise ship was spotted that had come from Dubai. A few years ago this would have been thought totally impossible.
We entered Israel recently via the King Hussein crossing in Jordan. From passport control to our house was 25 minutes. On the flight we made a friend who then travelled on to Amman. While not reported in the news, he told us that the road journey was very scary due to riots, burning tyres and rock throwing on the roads.
I mention this as events in Israel are so often reported out of proportion, and Israel is regularly singled out for negative news, while other countries with less freedoms manage to suppress their news .
I wish you all happy holidays whatever you are celebrating this week and hope to write again in the New Year with positive news .
The speculation is over
So the speculation is over and the results are in: loud and clear.
As predicted Bibi’s Likud party won the lion’s share of the vote and will be forming the next government with the right wing block.
The centre/ left block did particularly badly, some say due to their dull campaign and because the 2 smallest left wing parties failed to merge, losing vital votes and one did not even cross the electoral threshold.
With Bennet bailing out politics for the moment, after having abandoned his right wing supporters by forming a centre left coalition, most of his votes went back home to the Bibi camp and some to the far right parties.
The violence on the streets and recently was demonstrated in attacks on soldiers also drove many voters right, as Bibi has always maintained that only he can keep us safe. Sadly, lately it has been looking true.
It is not clear if the increase in attacks were generated to push the electorate to the right, as the newly formed government with its tougher security policies will garner less support from the left wing US administration, while the anti Israel EU and UN will be glad to justify their resolutions against Israel and blame the new government.
Many centralist and left wing Israelis are sitting with their hands their heads weeping, while the more religious, and the settler communities are delighted. Such is democracy.
The greatest fear comes from the influence that Ben Gvir’s party will weld over Bibi. Previously, we only had to worry about the Charedi parties demanding money for their projections, in return for propping up the government. This newly formed Religious Zionism, however, has deeply held right wing political views. We must wait and see which ministries Ben Gvir and Smotrich are offered and how it will effect the running of the country.
The most worrying proposals are changes to the judiciary system, but they are long and complicated so here is a link explaining:
The last government didn’t address any of these changes for fear they may have been beneficial to Netanyahu and his upcoming trial as he is accused of Breach of Trust, which is not a tangible crime and difficult to identify and prosecute. It is very hard to prove using the usual onus of proof relating to a criminal charge.
Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount is a much divided debate: Even the Rabbi’s cannot agree if even entering the Temple Mount, (the holiest site in Jewish Religion) is allowed), and while it is administered by the Jordanians it is a dangerous place for Jews to pray or enter.
It is rather premature for other countries to declare they will not deal with this new administration, which some in Biden’s administration have already suggested, as it is democratically elected, and as yet nothing untoward has occurred.
It should be noted that Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East and the cries of the anti-Bibi camp, citing Bibi was “destroying democracy” were proved totally spurious, when he stepped down and allowed the last government to rule until they collapsed.
Netanyahu’s new government should be more cohesive and stable, than the previously coalition, that was cobbled together from many different factions, so will be at less risk of collapsing quickly.
There are some very important issues to be addressed in Israel.
Security always remains at the forefront and internal challenges are increasing.
Of courses, the threats from a nuclear Iran remain a real and current concern.
The rise of crime in the Arab sectors which is on the increase.
Israel is not exempt from the cost of living crisis that is hitting the world ,and the economy is very much on people’s minds as prices rise and rise and housing in the centre has become unaffordable.
It is imperative that the Abraham Accords remains intact and we reach out to other neighbouring countries in peace. The newly thrashed out maritime oil deal with Lebanon will probably not be torn up as promised by Bibi in his campaigning . It can only bring more prosperity to Israel, even if it does benefit Hezbollah.
It is unlikely that this government will move an inch on concessions to the Palestinians, which will anger western powers. They are more likely to put Israel’s security first and foremost as sadly, historically every concession granted , has been met by violence, intifadas and broken promises on the part of the Arabs. Until the PA has a new leader, who is prepared to talk in a sensible manner and look for a long term peace process, very little will change. Gaza remains Gaza and nothing can change until Hamas are overturned by the people or the Egyptians absorb the area. A weaker Iran will help to bring both Hamas and Hezbollah down,
It is likely the settlements in the West Bank will be expanded to provide for the extra infrastructure needed for the growing population.
Transport on Shabbat is likely to see little light of day, as there are so many religious parties in the new government.
The shared burden that Lapid introduced will also probably be put on the back burner.
The fears of a religious theocracy emerging in Israel can also be put away, as Bibi is not in favour of the country becoming extremist and he is clever and crafty politician, who will control those who make up his government.
The prospect of a Republican victory in the US will sit well with this government.
One Arab leader, (I forget who) commented that the elections result was like the difference between Pepsi and Coke. I agree, the taste will vary a bit , but in the end every government be it left or right only wants to preserve and guard , the Jewish State, keep it citizens safe and healthy with good education and housing , and hopefully bring a bit of wealth for the people to share. The rest is just background noise.
Shabbat Shalom