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1. Freeze Opponents Move to Convene Likud Central Committee
by Gil Ronen
MK Danny Danon (Likud) arrived at the offices of Likud Central Committee Chairman Moshe Kachlon on Sunday and delivered the necessary signatures for convening the Likud Central Committee. The purpose: to debate the settlement freeze in Judea and Samaria.
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"The signatures express public opinion within the Likud and the opinion of ministers who are not here today,” Danon said.
Kachlon, who is the Minister of Communications, said that “in times of crisis, too, we must involve the Likud members and debate the issues.”
Hundreds of people showed up at a gathering organized by MK Danon in Raanana Saturday evening, against Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's decision to freeze construction in Israels mountainous heartland.
MK Tzipi Hotovely also participated in the gathering, as did Likud municipal council heads and local branch chairmen. Signatures were collected and MK Danon informed those assembled that he would deliver them Sunday morning and demand that the Central Committee be convened.
Danon told the gathering that “Netanyahu needs to tell [US President Barac Obama – 'I will not fold.' Today we are beginning the blocking move that is intended to prevent these harsh decrees.”
The head of the Jewish Leadership faction in Likud, Moshe Feiglin, said at the gathering that “the freeze is a completely racist law. After all, it will not be enforced on the Arabs and their illegal construction. Whoever here claimed that Bibi [Netanya betrayed us is wrong. He did not hoodwink anyone. The writing has long been on the wall.”
2. Ketzaleh Takes State to Court over Abductions
by Gil Ronen
National Union chairman MK Yaakov Katz (Ketzaleh) petitioned the High Court for Justice on Sunday, asking it to instruct the State to explain why it refuses to reveal the recommendations of the Shamgar Committee on the right way to handle abductions by the enemy, such as the case of Sgt. Gilad Shalit.
Katz explained in the petition that the committee, known as the “new Shamgar Committee” to differentiate it from previous committees headed up by Justice (ret.) Meir Shamgar, is apparently the “ultimate authority of legal, moral and security considerations that the Jewish people and the State of Israel can establish.” The committee's conclusions and recommendations are “a guiding ray of focused light” for the Israeli public and the decision makers in the matter of prisoner exchanges like the proposed swap for Sgt. Shalit, he said.
Now that the committee has apparently ended its work, Katz contended, it must publish its conclusions and recommendations. The committee owes a debt to the Israeli public, he added, “to place before it red lines if there are such; guiding lines for solving the moral dilemmas which the difficult situation poses before society.”
"The question of the proper balance between the values of saving the life of the abducted soldier vis-a-vis the danger posed to the public by releasing a large number of murderers... is decided these days by the personal instincts of decision makers who are influenced by pressure applied from different sides,” the petition said.
Attorney Naftali Wurtzberger, who filed the petition, told Arutz Sheva that while it is not known with certainty that the committee has finished its work, “rumors” and “leaks” say that it has. The committee was not charged with recommending action in the specific case of the Shalit abduction, but rather with formulating a general policy with regard to such events.
Wurtzberger said it appears that someone is trying to purposely put off the publication of the committee's findings so that they do not interfere with the controversial Shalit deal.
3. Activist: We Can Bypass Construction Freeze
by Malkah Fleisher
Israel Lands Fund activist Aryeh King is calling on Jews to circumvent the "discriminatory" 10-month ban on construction imposed by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Jewish building in Judea and Samaria .
Don't Build, Buy!
"I call on Jews who hesitate to build in order not to be put under the microscopes of the inspectors, to buy homes of Arabs," suggested King. "I'm talking about thousands of buildings and luxury residential homes and houses scattered in throughout Judea and Samaria… that the inspectors could not prevent. The Defense Minister could prevent the purchase permit, but if you work by the book and buy homes, then it will be difficult to fight us. I call on people to continue to buy houses in order to escape the eyes of the anti-Jewish unit."
Mazuz's 'Grim Picture'
King condemned recent statements made by Attorney General Menachem Mazuz that there is a shortage of building inspectors available to ensure the Jews of Judea and Samaria do not build.
"Menachem Mazuz exposed the grim picture of the illegal building of Arabs in Judea and Samaria, in Jerusalem, as well as Bedouin building in the Negev," said King. "To illustrate the discrimination, it should be noted that there are currently 3,000 building offenses carried out by Judean and Samarian Jews being investigated by 16 inspectors from the special anti-Jewish unit of the civil administration whose goal is to catch Jews. Juxtapose that to [Ara eastern Jerusalem, in which 26,000 building violations are being investigated by just 6 inspectors from the Jerusalem municipality. In the Galilee, 18,000 building violations are being investigated by just 8 inspectors."
Regarding inspectors who have been trained specifically to catch Jews, King said, "These are quality folks that were put on to the task of nabbing Jews in illegal development inside blue lines and open areas – they're not going into Areas B and C in the event of illegal Arab construction."
King also decried the relentless persecution of Jews who conduct illegal building, and said Jews are specifically targeted, as juxtaposed to Arabs who are sometimes not administered over at all.
"Menachem Mazuz is right about the shortage of inspectors, but I suggest he first compare the situation to that which prevails in eastern Jerusalem. The Jerusalem municipality and the Interior Ministry are supposed to halt the illegal building in Jerusalem, and there are whole neighborhoods they won't even go into." King referred to the Arab neighborhoods of Qalandia and Shuafat, in which he said he personally submitted requests for building investigations to the authorities, but received no "appropriate response."
King also accused inspectors of intensifying their conduct toward Jews for political motives. "The inspection unit of the Ministry of Defense was instructed to worsen and increase their enforcement against Jews, prompted by Defense Minister [E Barak, seemingly to strengthen the Labor Party [of which Barak is a membe."
4. IAF Maps Existing Construction, as Beit El Mayor Rips Up Order
by David Lev
The Israel Air Force on Friday used its planes to conduct a flyover of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria – in order to photograph the current construction status in communities where the government's building freeze order is to go into effect beginning Sunday. Meanwhile, the stop building orders were being distributed to local authority heads on Friday and Saturday night - with one of the first to receive them, Beit El local authority head Moshe Rosenbaum, ripping it to shreds.
The IDF has conducted many flyovers like this in the past – but usually over enemy territory, such as Gaza, in order to locate terror bases where bombs and rockets are being prepared for use against Israel.
The last time the IDF conducted a flyover to inspect Jewish building in Judea and Samaria was in June 2004. The photos were used to determine the borders of each community, after a commitment by then Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to the United States that any construction would be done only within those borders. The photos were the basis of negotiations by Israel and the U.S. to determine what the "building line" in each community was.
The new building freeze orders issued beginning Friday are far more serious, because they forbid any building whatsoever – even something as simple as turning a porch into an enclosed room, or adding a floor to an existing home. Residents can, if they wish, request a special permit from the Civil Authority for such construction, which until now was granted by the local authority.
Civil Authority officials began distributing the official orders instituting the building freeze on Friday. The freeze strips local authorities of powers to approve any building within the borders of the area under their jurisdiction, and prohibits construction on any site where a foundation for a building has not yet been dug – even if the site has a building permit.
Among the first local authority heads to receive the orders was Beit El's Rosenbaum , who took the orders and ripped them up. In an interview with Arutz 7, Rosenbaum said he spoke to the director of Prime Minister Binyamin Netayahu's office, Eyal Gabai, and told him that to remind Netanyahu that he needed to keep his promises to voters. "This freeze is shameful," said Rosenbaum. "In the British 'White Paper' there were severe restrictions on the sale of land to Jews, and here a Jewish leader in the state of Israel has undertaken a similar racist policy. I am shocked by this decision," Rosenbaum said.
5. Knesset Members to Get Bible Lessons
by Malkah Fleisher
What can Knesset Members learn from the Nation of Israel's biblical leaders?
In a joint initiative between Hebrew University, the Knesset, and the Ministry of Education, Jewish studies experts from Hebrew Univesity will give courses to Israeli parliamentarians on the Jewish Bible.
Professors Yair Zakovich (Department of Bible) and Avigdor Shinan (Department of Hebrew Literature) of the Institute of Jewish Studies at the Hebrew University will arrive at the Knesset building this Tuesday, to begin a series of meetings on "Personalities in the Bible and Midrash". The courses will also address issues of leadership.
The first meeting will focus on: "Elijah: From Fiery Prophet to Answerer of Dilemmas and Problems."
Professor Zakovich, whose expertise lies in early Biblical commentaries, will explore the persona of Elijah the Prophet in the Bible. "We'll discuss the way Elijah went from being tough and punitive in biblical literature to a merciful prophet in the literature of the Sages," said Professor Zakovich, who sees a similarity between the prohet's role in biblical society and that of the modern state comptroller.
Professor Avigdor Shinan, whose expertise is Talmudic and Rabbinic literature, will take a look at Elijah's persona in later Judaism. "Elijah in Jewish tradition is the nice Jew who comes on Seder night and to circumcisions, appears in the songs sung after Shabbat, and is thought of as the prophet who arrives in the moments of difficulty and solves questions and problems – that's a different Elijah, not the Elijah of the Bible," said Professor Shinan.
Upcoming lectures in the series include: "Joshua and Rahav: The Odd Couple," "Jacob and Esau: From Two Brothers to Two Nations," and "Samson: From Burly to Righteous."
Professor Zakovich served as head of Hebrew University's Department of Bible, Head of the Institute of Jewish Studies and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the Hebrew University. He is considered to be one of the foremost experts in biblical research and instruction in Israel.
Professor Avigdor Shinan is a researcher in Talmudic writing, Midrash, and the prayerbook, and served as head of he Department of Hebrew Literature at Hebrew University and as Dean of Students. He has published numerous books and articles on his research and works to spread Talmudic literature among the general public.
Together, the pair have authored two books: t Was Not Written That Way in the Bible" and "This Also Was Not Written That Way in the Bible".
6. How Hamas is Islamicizing Gaza
by Hillel Fendel
A report by the Shin Bet (Shabak, Israel’s secret security force) describes how Hamas has instituted Islamic law and thought in all areas of Gaza life since its violent takeover of the area.
Hamas is also threatening to take over Judea and Samaria, and is favored to win the next elections, if and when they are held.
Among the report’s main points are these: A dress code for women on the street, in schools and in courts is enforced. Principals can expel female students who do not wear a head covering and wide dresses. Judges have been instructed not to hold sessions if female lawyers do not appear in Islamic garb. On official Hamas TV, Al-Aqsa, women announcers wear a veil, and Islamic content is increasingly featured in the programs.Men may not swim in the ocean without a shirt, and female mannequins may not be exhibited in store windows. Mixed-gender public ceremonies may not be held, and men may not teach in girls’ schools. Hamas is also trying to separate boys and girls in the UN-run schools. Fatah-identified teachers are being replaced by Hamas members.Hamas police arrest immodestly clad women and enforce gender separation. Unmarried couples may not appear in public; married couples must be ready to produce a marriage certificate on demand.Religious-studies classes have been added in schools, mosques and prisons. Prisoners who become more religious can have their sentences shortened. An across-the-board 1% public sector pay cut was imposed during the summer months in order to pay for summer camps for reviewing the Koran. The pace of building mosques, medrasahs and Islamic sharia courts is being stepped up.Hamas is working on establishing the Islamic National Bank and an Islamic insurance company.The Bureau for Legal Counsel and Legislation is preparing a new criminal code based on Islamic law. In June 2009, for instance, the Legislative Council passed amendments to the code for the purpose of “preventing immoral incidents in public.”The Shabak report emphasizes that the instilling of these and other Hamas ideas into public life is the result of a carefully orchestrated Hamas program. Hamas, as the ruling body in Gaza, “dictates daily Islamic routine,” the report states.
In addition, the report notes, some organizations have cropped up to the right of Hamas, claiming that Hamas is too compromising and moderate.
7. Freeze will Cause Unemployment
by Gil Ronen
The freeze on construction in Judea and Samaria which Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu declared last week will cause hundreds and possibly thousands of people to lose their employment and sustenance. This concern is being voiced in regional councils throughout Judea and Samaria, following the issuing of an order that declares that only developers who have already begun laying the foundations of their houses may continue to build them, while all others must freeze their plans and no new ones may be undertaken.
Hundreds of plots have been bought in dozens of communities throughout Judea and Samaria in recent years, sources explained to Arutz Sheva. A person who bought a plot and and invested money in its development will not be able to continue construction if the foundations have not been placed, according to the Prime Minister's decision last week. This means that the freeze will hurt all those whose income depends on construction in the communities: architects, engineers, and the contractors who were supposed do do the actual building will find themselves unemployed. In addition, construction workers – including many Arabs – will be hard pressed for employment and so will professionals in the fields of carpentry, marble for kitchens and bathrooms, and more.
In many communities, people who received permits for construction have already ordered products made for the house, even though the foundations have not been laid.
In addition, employees in the construction committees in local government will be adversely affected, as well as local government inspectors and engineers who have been stripped of their authority to grant permits.
