(Jerusalem, Israel) — Benjamin Netanyahu, the longest-serving Prime Minister in Israeli history, is celebrating his 70th birthday this week. He had also hoped to be celebrating yet another term as Prime Minister.
Instead, Bibi was forced on Monday to concede that for the second time this year he has not been able to form a majority of at least 61 seats in the Knesset.
He is also waiting for final word from the Attorney General — likely soon — on whether he will be formally indicted.
And a brand new poll bears serious bad news for Netanyahu.
Tonight, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin is expected to give the mandate to form a government to Bibi’s main political rival — former IDF chief of staff Benny Gantz, now head of the “Blue & White” political party. Gantz will have 28 days to get the job done and emerge as Israel’s next premier.
Can Benny succeed where Bibi has not?
I wish I could tell you the answer but it’s simply unknowable at this moment.
“65% believe that Netanyahu – if indicted – should resign from his position as chair of the Likud party”
“53.5% of Israelis think that he should already resign now”
Remarkably, “47% of right-wing voters support Netanyahu’s resignation” — this includes “31% of Likud voters,” Bibi’s own political party
What’s more, while “56% of the public support rotation between Netanyahu and Gantz in the position of prime minister” — is, a national unity government — only “14% support a rotation only if Netanyahu is first in line to serve as PM.”
Please pray that Israel can form a broad, stable, national unity government quickly and does not have to go to a third round of elections.
Please also pray for the Prime Minister and his family, and for General Gantz and his family, and for all of their Knesset colleagues and advisors — for wisdom and for a willingness to work together for the good of the country.
“The rain fell upon the earth for forty days and forty nights” Genesis 7:12
TOP STORY
Soaking Rain Marks Early Beginning of Winter
Israelis were awakened early Wednesday morning to the sounds of thunder and rain as an early winter storm washed the country and began the process of re-filling lakes, streams, rivers and subterranean aquifers after the heat of summer. “We’re at the beginning of fall, therefore temperatures are still nice and warm during the day,” Meteo-Tech forecaster Tzachi Waksman told Ynet. “The rainfall might resume over the weekend and maybe even get colder in the days that follow.”
The Kremlin issued a statement Wednesday following a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Reccep Tayyip Erdogan, saying the two had struck a deal that would see the Syrian Kurdish factions withdrawing their forces from the Turkish border region and redeploying further south under the supervision of Russian and Assad regime troops. The statement added a warning to the Kurdish factions that they had been abandoned by the US, broadly hinting to other US allies in the region that this was unlikely to an isolated case.
Amidst speculation that Israel might be headed to yet another Knesset election early next year, a poll was released Tuesday evening showing that a slight majority of voters is ready for Blue and White leader Benny Gantz to replace Benjamin Netanyahu as Prime Minister. Netanayhu appeared unfazed by the poll, celebrating his 70th birthday on Tuesday with the help of some of his comrades from his days of commanding the IDF General Staff Reconnaissance Unit at the Crusader fortress at Kochav Hayarden National Park in northern Israel.
Israel Blesses the World
A delegation of Israeli health care specialists recently visited the Russian Republic of Bashkortostan to assist the regional government there in improving health services. The specialists from the Israeli health system representatives and Maccabi Health Services are scheduled to make more such trips in the future and be ready for regular consultations as the project, which has been given a $100 million budget, moves forward.
Toyota Partnering with Israeli Venture Capital Firm
In the latest defeat for efforts to Boycott, Divest and Sanction (BDS) Israel, Toyota Tsusho Corporation, the trading arm of the Toyota Group, announced this week that it is entering into a partnership with Jerusalem-based venture capital crowdfunding platform OurCrowd. “The future belongs to the bold who are implementing game changing technologies,” said Minoru Murata, executive vice president, regional CEO & CTO of Toyota Tsusho. “Our partnership with OurCrowd will bring us these key technologies and leaders to work together on the next generation of global challenges.”
OPINION
Turkey and the Kurds
James M. Dorsey, BESA
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan appears to have miscalculated the fallout of what may prove to be a foolhardy intervention in Syria and neglected alternative options that could have strengthened Turkey’s position without sparking the ire of much of the international community. His strategic error is rooted in a policy of decades of denial of Kurdish identity and suppression of Kurdish cultural and political rights that was more likely to fuel conflict than encourage societal cohesion.
Brian Katz, a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank’s International Security Program and the Transnational Threats Project, breaks down the situation on the ground following the U.S. decision to pull troops out of northern Syria, discusses where ISIS stands, and offers insights into Russia’s stance of the unfolding situation and what it means for the region.
Arise aims at mobilizing an army of young Christians who are uncompromisingly committed to following God’s plan for their lives. Through an interactive website, bi-monthly newsletter and various tours and programs, Arise informs young adults about Israel and offers them opportunities to take an active role in blessing the Jewish people.
Today’s news was written and compiled by Aaron Hecht.
ICEJ News is a free email service providing news and comments on Middle East affairs compiled by journalists at the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem and supported by donations from subscribers.
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