September 3 - Week #35
👉🏽 Religious Zionist Simcha Rothman filing a motion to disqualify Supreme Court President Esther Hayut from chairing the Reasonableness hearing, claiming Hayut exhibited bias. The hearing is set for September 12, and all 15 justices, including Hayut, are currently expected to rule. An August 10 petition requesting recusal because of bias was already rejected by the court.
👉🏽 Press reporting that PM Netanyahu calling for mass immediate deportation of Eritreans who rioted Saturday in Tel Aviv, injuring 160, protesting an event at the Eritrean embassy.
Jewish Power National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir proposing a bill to override Basic Law: Human Dignity and Freedom, which would allow deportation of illegal Eritreans. Since section 12 of the law states the law itself can’t be suspended or over-ridden, Ben Gvir’s override will likely be ruled on by the court. PM Netanyahu met earlier today to discuss cancelation of work visas and imposing administrative detention without trial of those who protested.
👉🏽 Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara called on the High Court to strike down the reasonableness law, though there is question about the legality of canceling a basic law amendment.
👉🏽 National Religious Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich blamed Israel’s Supreme Court for the Eritrean protests on Shabbat that saw over 100 rioters and 50 police injured, and connected it to judicial overhaul. “The High Court has prevented any action that would allow the (Eritrean) infiltrators to be returned to their homes. That is precisely why we are leading the reforms in the judicial system that will allow elected officials to make decisions and carry them out for the citizens of Israel, their safety and security,” Smotrich said. Likud’s May Golan concurred, telling Channel 12, “There are 15 dictators in the Supreme Court who decide what is right in southern Tel Aviv.” PM Netanyahu is said to be looking into deportation. The Eritreans were protesting a cultural event sponsored by the Eritrean embassy in Tel Aviv.
👉🏽 Agudat Yisrael right-wing Haredi newspaper haModiya reported Friday that
PM Netanyahu will “make any deal with the Saudis possible, even at the price of toppling his own government” for a U.S.-sponsored Saudi Arabia normalization deal. Netanyahu denied the reports; Likud spokespeople called it a “far-fetched fabrication.”
👉🏽 Government plan to undermine freedom of the press, according to Times of Israel. “The central concern is that there will be politicization of the media, that it will lose its freedom. It can lead us to having Pravda,” said Itai Zilber, who leads Tel Aviv University’s journalism studies program. Likud Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi’s plan is being spun as a media market liberalization scheme, but in practice seems to be geared to aiding right-wing media such as Channel 14.
👉🏽 Security prisoners are hunger-striking as of Rosh Hashanah to protest Jewish Power National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s recent new restrictions on prisoners. “He wants war, he will get it,” prisoners reportedly said. Likud’s Tally Gotliv announced on Twitter/X “it’s good to know the Israeli Defense Forces and Shin Bet work for terrorists and security prisoners. All of the deep state is against Ben Gvir.”
👉🏽 A Channel 12 poll rated Likud Defense Minister Yoav Gallant as the best government minister, and Jewish Power National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir the worst.
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