First, a sad and yet predictable update to the bill that MK Mati Tzarfati-Harkavi (Opposition, Yesh Atid) proposed yesterday, to advance gender equality in the Israeli workplace. The coalition down-voted and blocked the bill, even and ironically, with the Minister for the Advancement of Women, May Golan, voting Nay.
(MK Mati Tzafrati-Harkavi at the “Chair of Her Own” conference, Knesset)
MK Tzarfati-Harkavi said, “ Unfortunately, members of the governing coalition were unable to rise above petty party politics.” If/when/whenever there are elections, perhaps then the MKs will be able to establish a positive and fruitful future for our daughters and granddaughters.
It is well-known that PM Netanyahu over the years has funneled hundreds of millions of dollars to Hamas, previous to the war, in order to supposedly destabilize the Palestinian Authority and the Fatah political party. In the latest reveal of Netanyahu’s alleged corruption, there are unconfirmed reports that Qatar sent money via Israel to Hamas AND/OR directly for the benefit of Netanyahu himself. Again, unconfirmed and alleged, as the investigation continues, but this surely throws doubt and suspicion both upon the PM and Qatar, as a primary negotiator for the hostage-prisoner deal.
Defense Minister Gallant yesterday proclaimed that “we are closer than ever” to a deal to bring the hostages home, potentially within three weeks. Yeah, yeah, and I have a bridge to sell you.
In disturbing leaked messages, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was heard to say that “Palestinian civilian deaths are necessary sacrifices” to keep the war going. Normally I would say that when a person tells you who they are, believe them, but the world seems to have abandoned truth and common sense.
Since the start of the war, only two or three people know the whereabouts of Sinwar, who does not carry a cell phone so he cannot be traced. A source told the London-based newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, “A very small circle of no more than two or three people at most knows his whereabouts and secures his various needs, as well as ensuring his communication with the movement’s leaders inside and outside.”
I find it incredibly unreasonable that between Israel’s intelligence capacity and the independent resources of the United States and the EU that no one can find Sinwar and eliminate him. The tunnel system is complicated, but someone must be talking to him, so he can refuse the 5732rd version of a hostage-prisoner exchange deal.
Sinwar gives Carmen Sandiego a run for her money.
After the targeted killing of Muhammad Nimah Nasser, senior Hezbollah commander yesterday, over 200 rockets were fired today, along with another 20 armed military drones, into the North of Israel. Twice today already, sirens have warned of incoming rocket fire toward Nahal Oz near the Southern Border.
(The legacy of Benjamin Netanyahu.)
Clearly, if there is no agreement or intervention, Israel will soon be fighting an intense war on two fronts, with a chain reaction of instability throughout the Middle East.