Aug 7 - Week #31

👉🏽 Because of Ben-Gvir’s new relaxed gun laws, new gun licenses are up 280% compared to last year, a total of 11,393 firearms licenses. There are concerns about increased domestic violence, suicide, and seepage of the weapons to criminal elements. (Jerusalem Post)

👉🏽 2800 teachers is the number we are short this year, the Education Ministry announced. (If none of the schools open in September that may be the quickest way to bring down the government :)

👉🏽 The rumors were true: Religious Zionist party Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced a freeze of NIS 200 million earmarked to support the Arab community, “saying he is re-examing its use.” (JPost)

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👉🏽 JPost reports that Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich ignored National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi’s appeal asking Smotrich to release the NIS 200 million earmarked for the Arab sector, citing national security.

👉🏽 Kohelet denies Israeli media reports claiming it reversed course and is now against judicial reform legislation, despite Kohelet’s loss of US billionaire donor Arthur Dantchik.

👉🏽 PM Netanyahu, in interview with Bloomberg News, confident that Israel and Saudi Arabia will sign a peace deal. “It will have enormous economic consequences for investors,” Netanyahu said. Public opinion in Saudi Arabia remains opposed to recognition of Israel and no press statement from Saudi Arabia was forthcoming.

👉🏽 YNet reports that the medical “White Coats” group, if faced with a situation where the government refuses to obey the courts, will immediately strike. The last medical strike was curtailed when the Coalition got an injunction to prevent the Israeli Medical Association from striking. Over 3,000 doctors are discussing relocation on WhatsApp, and an estimated 500+ have already made plans to leave.

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