Internal Israeli Politics | The American Task Force on Palestine

Netanyahu's day of reckoning is nearing
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Amir Oren - (Opinion) November 27, 2011 - 1:00am

Two separate legal processes in the area of public law that are finally nearing completion will rock Israel's political establishment in January, possibly even to the point of bringing down the government. The first is State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss versus Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the matter of the Carmel forest fire of last December. The second is Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein versus Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, whose indictment for money laundering, fraud, breach of trust and harassing a witness, among other charges, is a near certainty.

Binyamin Netanyahu attacks Arab spring uprisings
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian
by Harriet Sherwood - (Analysis) November 24, 2011 - 1:00am

Binyamin Netanyahu has launched a scathing attack on the uprisings in the Middle East, saying that Arab countries are "moving not forward, but backward" and support from the US and European countries was naive. The Israeli prime minister said the Arab spring was becoming an "Islamic, anti-western, anti-liberal, anti-Israeli, undemocratic wave". Speaking to the Israeli parliament amid renewed protests and violence in Egypt, Netanyahu said concessions to the Palestinians were unwise in a period of instability and uncertainty in the region.

New 'Jewish identity' bill will cause chaos in Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Shlomo Avineri - (Opinion) November 21, 2011 - 1:00am

In response to the scathing criticism and pressure within his Kadima party, MK Avi Dichter retreated from his original proposal for a Basic Law on Israel - the Nation-State of the Jewish People. Instead, he proposed what was ostensibly a softened version. But anyone who opposes the first version will oppose the second. In the new version, too, the bill is unnecessary and merely deepens tensions between Jews and Arabs, as well as among various parts of the Jewish population. And it will give Israel a bad name. There is only one remedy for this bill - to shelve it completely.

Israel delays foreign funding bill -gov't source
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Maayan Lubell - November 20, 2011 - 1:00am

JERUSALEM, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu put on hold on Sunday legislation to limit foreign funding of non-governmental organisations, a government source said, after critics denounced the bill as a bid to mute left-wing groups. A ministerial panel last week gave preliminary approval to the proposal. Supporters of the bill said it would help to prevent intervention by foreign states in Israeli politics.

Left’s revenge will come
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Yair Lapid - (Opinion) November 18, 2011 - 1:00am

Imagine that we are in the year 2013, and the Left is in power. The first thing it will do is pass the “Law for protecting IDF officers and soldiers,” whereby the army would immediately evacuate any community whose residents abuse IDF soldiers. When the Right would furiously claim that the law’s only purpose is to prompt settlement evacuation in Judea and Samaria, Leftist Knesset members will show puzzlement while playing dumb, saying that this is not a leftist law – after all, leftists who reside in settlements will also be evacuated should they dare abuse IDF troops.

The ultra-Orthodox are changing the face of the IDF
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Amos Harel - (Opinion) November 18, 2011 - 1:00am

The 19 reservist major generals who signed the letter to Chief of Staff Benny Gantz on Monday, warning of extremist religious trends in the Israel Defense Forces, "were in the army long ago," Rabbi Avichai Rontzki declared this week. Brig. Gen. (res. ) Rontzki, who was chief army rabbi until a year and a half ago, claimed that the veteran officers don't know what the IDF is like anymore. "Things are different nowadays," he explained.

Israeli lawmakers push ahead contentious bills
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
by Amy Teibel - (Analysis) November 15, 2011 - 1:00am

At the end of a stormy debate, Israeli lawmakers pushed ahead two bills that critics say would threaten the independence of the country's Supreme Court, just days after Cabinet ministers advanced another proposal to sharply limit funding for dovish groups. Opponents say both developments reflect attempts by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to stifle dissent and pluralism. Netanyahu himself was absent from the parliament vote on Monday, which dominated newspapers headlines and radio talk shows.

Who funds Israel's right-wing organizations?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Nir Hasson - (Opinion) November 15, 2011 - 1:00am

The sponsors of two bills approved by the Ministerial Committee for Legislation on Sunday accurately identified the soft underbelly of Israel's left-wing and human-rights organizations: They are the only ones who receive funding from foreign governments and international organization - and this is the exact kind of funding the bills seek to curtail. Right-wing groups get no funding whatsoever from these sources. What do you think of the proposed legislation over NGO funding? Visit Haaretz.com on Facebook and share your views.

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