Source: Haaretz, 3-17-13
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held meetings on Sunday with Likud Knesset members and leading coalition partners to complete a last-minute cabinet shuffle, in advance of the swearing-in ceremony for Israel’s 33rd government on Monday….READ MORE
Posted by bonniekgoodman on March 17, 2013
http://togetherwithisrael.wordpress.com/2013/03/17/israel-political-brief-march-17-2013-pm-benjamin-netanyahu-names-moshe-yaalon-as-defense-minister-gideon-saar-as-interior-minister/
Source: JTA, 10-17-12
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will ask his Cabinet to approve some of the conclusions of a report that says West Bank settlements are legal under international law….READ MORE
Posted by bonniekgoodman on October 17, 2012
http://togetherwithisrael.wordpress.com/2012/10/17/israel-political-brief-october-17-2012-report-pm-benjamin-netanyahu-to-ask-cabinet-to-approve-panels-findings-on-legality-of-settlements/
Source: PMO, 10-14-12
Following are Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s remarks at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting.
“First, I would like to commend the IDF’s precise action in the Gaza Strip last night. Global Jihad has stepped up its efforts to attack us and we will continue to operate against it, aggressively and in strength, both in response and in preventive counter-terrorism.
At the same time, there are increasing attempts to carry out cyber-attacks on computer infrastructures in the State of Israel. Every day there are attempts, even many attempts, to infiltrate Israel’s computer systems. It was because of this that I established the National Cyber Bureau and it is working to block these attempts by developing what I would call a ‘digital Iron Dome’ for Israel to defend against computer terrorism. Just as we have Iron Dome against missiles and a security fence against infiltrators and terrorism – we will have a similar defense against cyber-attacks. But like building the fence, time is needed to complete it, and we are working on it nonstop.
Today we are marking the International Day of Older Persons. We will submit to the Cabinet a proposal to promote employment among older people. I believe that a job is the most social thing there is for people of all ages and I call your attention to the fact that over the past four years we have added over 300,000 jobs, an all-time record, and this was during a global economic crisis that has not only toppled economies, but has increased unemployment rates around the world. Even during the three month election period, we will continue to act responsibly in order to safeguard the economy and, most importantly, to maintain Israelis’ jobs and even add to them.
Today we will also declare Be’er Sheva, the capital of the Negev, to be a national priority community. We are investing very much in Be’er Sheva and in the rapid transportation routes to it, to link it with the center of the country and also allow it to develop. It is developing quickly with considerable momentum. I would like to take this opportunity to note that we have an excellent partner in Mayor Rubik Danilowitz, and I say to him, thank you very much. Thank you for your cooperation and we will continue to work together.
And to the students. I would like to say something to the 300,000 students who are starting the academic year: No government has contributed more to higher education than this one. We have invested billions in higher education and there has been a welcome change here, also amidst the great crisis. We have added, we have supported, we have developed, and we wish you a successful academic year.”
Posted by bonniekgoodman on October 14, 2012
http://togetherwithisrael.wordpress.com/2012/10/14/full-text-israel-political-brief-october-14-2012-pm-benjamin-netanyahus-remarks-at-the-weekly-cabinet-meeting/
Source: JTA, 7-8-12
Israel’s government has budgeted more than $10 million to provide college scholarships and Hebrew language schools to new immigrants.
The Cabinet decision Sunday to continue to financially support the Immigrant Absorption Ministry Student Authority is “ensuring the continuation of its joint projects with the Jewish Agency which, due to budgetary constraints, faced uncertain futures,” according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office….READ MORE
Posted by bonniekgoodman on July 8, 2012
http://togetherwithisrael.wordpress.com/2012/07/08/israel-political-brief-july-8-2012-israeli-government-to-provide-new-immigrant-students-college-scholarships-hebrew-language-schools/
Source: JTA, 5-7-12
Israel’s Cabinet agreed to hold early elections for the 19th Knesset on Sept. 4.
The Cabinet on Sunday authorized the Ministerial Committee on Legislation to submit a law for Knesset approval to hold the vote on that day.
New elections did not need to occur before October 2013, the official end of the current Knesset’s term.
“I would have been very happy if we could have completed the term, which was also my goal, but it is no secret that with the start of the government’s fourth year, the coalition is fraying somewhat,” Netanyahu said at the start of the Cabinet meeting. “It therefore seems to me that the right thing to do is to go for a brief election campaign.”
“We are proposing Sept. 4, after which, God and voters willing, we will receive a mandate, create stability and successfully lead the State of Israel in dealing with the great challenges we still face.”
Netanyahu said he intends to form “as broad a government as possible” following the upcoming elections. Current polling data shows that his Likud Party could garner up to 30 seats, up from its current 27, in the next election.
Netanyahu was embarrassed Sunday night at his party’s convention, where he had hoped to be elected president of the Likud Central Committee in order to determine who will be chosen to fill the new Knesset seats.
Hundreds of Central Committee members signed a petition calling for a secret ballot for the vote; an open vote reportedly would have increased the chances of Netanyahu being elected. Lawmaker Danny Danon will challenge Netanyahu for the position.
The vote for president of the Likud Central Committee was delayed. Likud primaries are expected to be held in early June.
Posted by bonniekgoodman on May 7, 2012
http://togetherwithisrael.wordpress.com/2012/05/07/israel-political-brief-may-7-2012-israels-cabinet-dissolves-knesset-calls-new-elections-for-september-4/
Source: JTA, 4-22-12
Israel’s Cabinet approved the establishment of a memorial on Mount Herzl to Israel’s fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism.
The Hall of Names memorial approved Sunday will list the 22,993 names of those who have been killed fighting in Israel’s declared and undeclared wars and those slain in terrorist attacks. The names of the dead will be inscribed on bricks.
Also Sunday, Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz visited the graves of three soldiers who recently died while in uniform, including 2nd Lt. Hila Bezaleli, who was killed last week when the lighting scaffolding collapsed onto the stage set up during a rehearsal at Mount Herzl for the annual Memorial Day/Independence Day ceremony. Defense Minister Ehud Barak visited Bezaleli’s parents.
The memorial hall, which is expected to cost nearly $11 million, also will serve as a venue for state ceremonies and official visits, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel has been talking about a central hall to enshrine the memories of the fallen for decades and “the time has come to make a decision.”
“We are a people that overflows with memory,” he said. “We are doing this out of deep recognition of the contribution of the fallen, and I hope that such places will no longer be necessary.”
According to official figures released in advance of this week’s Israel’s Remembrance Day for Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism, the total number of fallen security personnel and terror victims from 1860 to 2012 stands at 22,993, with 126 killed since last Remembrance Day. There are 10,524 bereaved families of security personnel, 2,396 orphans and 4,992 widows of the Israeli military and the defense establishment.
Source: PMO, 4-22-12
The Cabinet today unanimously approved the establishment of a ‘Hall of Names’ for the fallen of Israel’s wars, in the military cemetery on Mt. Herzl in Jerusalem, at a cost of approximately NIS 40 million.
The Hall of Names will, under one roof, enshrine the names of all those who have fallen in Israel’s wars and will serve as a venue for state ceremonies and official visits.
Prime Minister Netanyahu said that, “We have no central hall to enshrine the memories of the fallen of Israel’s wars. After decades of talking about it, the time has come to make a decision. We are a people that overflows with memory. We are doing this out of deep recognition of the contribution of the fallen, and I hope that such places will no longer be necessary.”
Posted by bonniekgoodman on April 22, 2012
http://togetherwithisrael.wordpress.com/2012/04/22/israel-political-brief-april-22-2012-israeli-cabinet-approves-hall-of-names-memorial-for-israels-fallen-soldiers-terror-victims-on-mount-herzl/
Full Coverage of President Barack Obama's Middle East Tour & Israel Visit from March 20-23, 2013 @ Obama Israel Visit
