Arutz Sheva Daily Israel Report
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Monday, May. 09 '16, Iyar 1, 5776
HEADLINES:
1. ISRAEL'S POPULATION: OVER 8.5 MILLION
2. LIKUD TO VOTE ON WHETHER TO FIRE DEFENSE MINISTER YAALON
3. ZIONIST RESPONSE: JEWS RECLAIM HOUSE AT SITE OF TERRORIST MURDER
4. HEVRON SOLDIER'S TEAM: TOP POLITICIANS INTERFERING IN TRIAL
5. CHABAD RABBI BUILDING '1ST MIKVAH IN WEST AFRICA' IN NIGERIA
6. REPORT: WOMEN OF THE WALL BRING 'DANCER' TO THE KOTEL
7. HAREDI REPORTER DEFIES ANTI-ZIONIST TRADITION
8. WATCH: MLK III GIVES AWARDS FOR ETHIOPIAN ISRAELI ACTIVISM
1. ISRAEL'S POPULATION: OVER 8.5 MILLION
by Arutz Sheva Staff
With the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, the population stood at about 806,000. 68 years later on Yom Haatzmaut (Independence day) 2016, Israel's population stands at approximately 8.522 million, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics.
The Jewish population is approximately 6.377 million (74.8% of the population), the Arab population is approximately 1.771 million (20.8%) and the rest of the population (non-Arab Christians, other faiths and no religious affiliation by registering in the Population Registry) is approximated at 374,000 (4.4%).
Since last Independence Day, Israel's population grew by approximately 182,000, an increase of 2.2%.
During this period, Israel welcomed approximately 195,000 babies, and about 47,000 people died during that same period. The number of Olim (new immigrants) coming to Israel was 36,000 people.
About 75% of the Jewish population are "Sabras" (born in Israel) and more than half are second generation in the country, compared to only 35% in 1948.
In 1948 there was only one city in Israel with more than 100,000 residents – Tel Aviv-Jaffa. Today, there are 14 cities with more than 100,000 residents. Of those, 8 cities have more than 200,000 residents: Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Rishon Lezion, Petah Tikva, Ashdod, Netanya and Beersheba.
According to population projections, the State of Israel's population is expected to reach 11.3 million by 2035
2. LIKUD TO VOTE ON WHETHER TO FIRE DEFENSE MINISTER YAALON
by Hillel Fendel
The Supreme Court of the Likud Party has ruled that the party bodies must hold discussions on the "failures" – in the words of the petitioners – of Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon in his expulsion of Jewish residents from Beit Rachel V'Leah in Hevron.
The court ordered the Likud's Central Committee, Diplomatic Desk, Management, Secretariat, and Knesset faction to conduct the discussions. The participants will vote at the same time on a proposal to call upon the Prime Minister to fire Yaalon.
The Court also ruled that discussions must be held on a proposal to call upon the party's Knesset Members to act immediately to reverse the decision to remove the Jews from the legally-purchased property in Hevron.
The ruling was handed down in response to a petition filed by six members of the "Likud Land of Israel Loyalists" group, headed by Attorney Aviad Visoly. The six had demanded Yaalon's suspension from the party, based on a most unusual clause in the party constitution: "A Likud member who provides aid to an opposing political party is to be suspended from the Likud for two years."
The petitioners claimed that Yaalon's order, this past January, to remove the Jews from the house they had legally purchased helps the country's left-wing parties, which seek to liquidate the Jewish settlement enterprise in Hevron.
The Court ruled that Yaalon's decision to remove the residents is worthy of a "piercing debate" regarding a reversal of the decision or the prevention of its recurrence. The Court itself is not the proper venue for such, according to the party judges. They further ruled that it will ensure that this debate is in fact held in the above-mentioned party organs.
Visoly has asked that the relevant bodies be convened, within seven days, for the purpose of court-ordered discussions and debates. The proposal will be raised in the Central Committee and in the Secretariat to call upon Prime Minister Netanyahu to fire Yaalon.
3. ZIONIST RESPONSE: JEWS RECLAIM HOUSE AT SITE OF TERRORIST MURDER
by Hillel Fendel
An old residential building in the northern part of the Muslem Quarter in Jerusalem's Old City is now under Jewish ownership, following its purchase facilitated by the Ateret Cohanim association.
The purchase is billed as a traditional "true Zionist response" to the terrorist murders of Rabbi Nechemiah Lavi and Aharon Bennet in the vicinity of the building last year.
In a statement released today, Ateret Cohanim announced that as a result of the purchase, "more Jewish families and Yeshiva students will move into the old Jewish Quarter (Moslem Quarter) of the Old City." No date has yet been set for the move, nor has the building been given a name.
The building will house three or four Jewish families, as well as a number of Yeshiva students. Over 1,000 Jews, including many Yeshiva students, currently populate what is now known as the Moslem Quarter. Some 4,000 Jews live in the Jewish Quarter.
This most recent acquisition, which as passed all the legal requirements, is situated not far from Flowers Gate, in the northern part of the Old City. It originally belonged to Jews, but was seized by Arab settlers during the 1930s.
Rabbi Nechemiah Lavi and Aharon Bennett were murdered nearby this past October. "Arab incitement, terror and hatred, only increases Jewish resolve," Ateret Cohanim announced, "and now yet another building is in Jewish hands in the Old City."
"Arab terror and ongoing Arab incitement and violence aims to drive Jews out of Jerusalem," Ateret Cohanim declared, "to keep Jews away not only from the Temple Mount, but also from the Western Wall and the entire Old City. It also intends to weaken the resolve of the Jewish people, especially of the families and students in and around the Old City. However, the Arab are mistaken on all fronts. We will not be driven out of our Jerusalem, and their acts of violence have only strengthened our resolve, strength of conviction, faith and fortitude."
On Saturday evening, October 3, 2015, Rabbi Lavi heard from his apartment the screams of Aharon Bennett and his wife and baby as Arab terrorists attacked them. He ran down to help, and was himself stabbed to death by the same terrorists, as was Aharon Bennett. Rabbi Lavi, an IDF reserve officer and father of seven, was armed with a gun, but the terrorist stabbed him from behind and seized his weapon.
4. HEVRON SOLDIER'S TEAM: TOP POLITICIANS INTERFERING IN TRIAL
by Shlomo Pitrikovsky
The trial of IDF soldier El-or Azariya began at the Yafo Military Court Monday, as he faces charges of manslaughter for shooting a wounded Arab terrorist in Hevron on March 24.
The defense opened by stating that evidence against Azariya was "piecemeal" at best, and asked to delay their formal response to the indictment against him.
The prosecutor, Lt. Col. (res) Nadav Weissman - who was called up for reserves for the express purpose of prosecuting the case - asked the court to reject the request and demand that the response to the indictment be given immediately. Evidence against the soldier amounts to two and a half binders' worth, he said.
The defense rejected the idea that the request was made in order to buy time, saying "our interest is not to gain time but finish this as quickly as possible so that the soldier will not remain in custody."
The military court judge suggested that both sides sit for a criminal mediation; the defense agreed immediately, but the prosecution said it would "consider" the offer.
After the opening statements, the indictment against Azariya was read.
The defense asked that the soldier be released for Independence Day (Yom Ha'atzmaut) Thursday, but the prosecution objected on the grounds that there is no room for another vacation after the soldier went on vacation during Passover.
The military court granted a two-week extension to Azariya's team to respond to the indictment, but also ruled to keep the soldier on "open house arrest" on his military base.
Azariya's team fired after the session that senior political officials had clearly influenced the ruling, to reduce public interest in the case.
5. CHABAD RABBI BUILDING '1ST MIKVAH IN WEST AFRICA' IN NIGERIA
by JTA
An Israeli firm and a Chabad rabbi working in Nigeria are preparing to open the first known Jewish ritual bath, or mikvah, in West Africa.
Yisroel Ozen, a prominent Chabad emissary based in Nigeria, is supervising the construction of a mikvah for women in the Nigerian capital of Abuja on land purchased for him by an Israeli firm operating in the country, the Israeli daily Maariv reported last week.
Ozen said the mikvah is the only known one in West Africa, a claim that is also stated on a Hebrew- and English-language sign announcing the project in front of the construction site.
Ozen said Nigeria has "a thriving Israeli community that nonetheless lacks basic amenities." He said that from the point of view of the halacha, Jewish religious law, "a community cannot exist without a mikvah because it's the key to the continuity of the Jewish people." Some 1,200 Israelis live in Nigeria, according to the Maariv article.
Jewish law states that women should immerse themselves in the mikvah before marriage and at least once a month in a ceremony meant to purify them after menstruation.
Another mikvah is planned at a later stage for men, Maariv reported, and may be broadened after the opening this year to include a community center.
EMI Systems LTD, a security firm that is based in Abuja and is owned by the Israel-born businessman Eyal Mesika, ordered materials from Europe and the United States to build the mikvah. The article did not specify the cost of construction.
6. REPORT: WOMEN OF THE WALL BRING 'DANCER' TO THE KOTEL
by Yedidya Ben-Or
S.P., a resident of the Jewish Quarter who regularly prays at the Kotel (Western Wall), spoke Monday morning to Arutz Sheva about what happened when she visited the Kotel for Rosh Chodesh (new month) morning prayers.
According to her, apart from the usual provocations, the Women of the Wall took to a new type of provocation going against the customary way of prayer at the Kotel.
"They put on tefillin (phylacteries) and wrap themselves in talitim (prayer shawls) - so be it. It is also annoying that they sing loudly, but this morning they took it a step further – there was a dancer at the Kotel," she says.
S.P. emphasizes that the dancer "was not dressed appropriately for the (Kotel) plaza, it was perhaps appropriate for the beach, and no one can even speak up. The police protect them and no one can say anything."
At this point, S.P. said she decided to just leave the plaza, "I closed my siddur (prayer book) and went home, it is better to pray at home. Us Jewish Quarter residents do not have the option to pray properly amidst such a situation."
"Here in Israel we are about to celebrate our independence and sing, 'lihyot am chofshi beartzeynu' (to be free in our country), and I ask what is going on here? where will come next? what will follow the dancer?" wondered S.P.
Women of the Wall confirmed that a dancer was present but said she was not related to their group.
7. HAREDI REPORTER DEFIES ANTI-ZIONIST TRADITION
by Shoshana Miskin
As most Zionist Israelis decorate their cars with Israeli flags ahead of Independence Day, this is not a common sight among the haredi community. While the vast majority of haredim do not share the extreme belief to deny the celebration, they are also in no hurry to take part in them.
Despite this, one haredi man, Akiva Weiss, a political correspondent of the Behadrey Haredim website, decided this year to put an Israeli flag on his car for the first time.
In a heartfelt post to his Facebook page, Weiss explained that for him, it is a corrective experience.
Titled "in memory of the flags," Weiss said that as a schoolboy, his haredi-extremist educators preached flag-burnings.
"I was maybe 8 years old, a child being taught Talmud Torah in an extreme anti-Zionist way. As obedient children, we used to snatch the Israeli flags off of parked vehicles and burn them in the Lag B'Omer bonfire," wrote Weiss.
"First, I ask forgiveness of those car owners whose flags were taken. Each flag has an owner ... Secondly, as a corrective experience, I decided to put a flag on my car, hoping that a young Satmar student will not tear it off, and who knows, maybe one day he will become a political reporter."
"Happy Independence to those celebrating," he concluded.
8. WATCH: MLK III GIVES AWARDS FOR ETHIOPIAN ISRAELI ACTIVISM
by Eliran Baruch
Martin Luther King III, the son of American civil rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr. and President of the Drum Major Institute, held a special ceremony Sunday to honor Ethiopian-Israeli community activists.
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King held the event along with Chairman of the Executive of The Jewish Agency for Israel Natan Sharansky.
Honorees included singer Idan Raichel, former MK Pnina Tamano-Shata, and journalist Anat Saragusti.
The ceremony was held at the National Institutions Building, the Jewish Agency headquarters in Jerusalem.
The three received the 2016 Unsung Hero Award from the Drum Major Institute, a civil rights organization established in 1961 by Martin Luther King, Jr. adviser Harry Wachtel and revived in 1999 by Martin Luther King III, New York attorney William Wachtel, and former US Ambassador to the UN and Mayor of Atlanta Andrew Young.
"Any time that individuals are recognized as unsung heroes and heroines who are doing work around human rights, it's very very important to be able to come here, to this center, today," MLK III stated to Arutz Sheva, noting the honor was for him as well.
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