Photo essay:
Photo essay: Jerusalem celebrates Purim
The streets of Jerusalem were especially festive on Monday in honor of Purim, per Jewish law, celebrated a day later than most of the world. Arutz Sheva is out in the capital capturing the joy.
Arutz Sheva political correspondent
News by Hezki Baruch
Evacuees from North and South: ‘We must still celebrate Purim’
After five months away from home, residents of Kiryat Shmona and Sderot, evacuated to Jerusalem, find it difficult to celebrate Purim in the shadow of war and longing for their homes.
MK to South African Rep.
MK to South African Rep.: ‘You support terrorism and defend Hamas' crimes’
Terse confrontation at Inter-Parliamentary Union conference between MK Danon and South African representative who expressed concern over the situation in Gaza.
Watch:
Pres. Herzog reads Purim megilla in Jerusalem - with evacuees
Pres. Isaac Herzog attends reading of Megillat Esther at the 'theater' hotel in Jerusalem, along with evacuees from Kiryat Shmona and Sderot.
'Completely Crazy':
Border Police uproot trees in Judean town
MK Simcha Rothman denounced the operation, saying 'we have gone completely crazy.'
'Close the branch of Hamas'
Protesters block UNRWA offices in Jerusalem: 'Close the branch of Hamas'
Dozens of protesters from the Tzav 9 organization block UNRWA's offices in Jerusalem, call on Israeli government to bring back hostages. 'UNRWA is the root of Hamas, we are at war against them.'
Coming soon:
Request passports and ID’s (te’udot zehut) online
Knesset plenum approved the Interior Minister's proposal to allow citizens to submit online requests for biometric passports.
Defense Ministry opposes terrorism compensation law
The Ministry of Defense submitted a reservation against a law that will enable terror victims from suing the terrorists and their senders, because it might: ‘harm the Palestinian Authority.’
Final Approval:
Final Approval: Annual day of commemoration for orphans' families in Israel
According to the bill an annual day of commemoration will be held on 25 Kislev for the families of orphans and marked by a special session in Knesset plenum and some of its committees.
Test-run for Palestinian workers? Foreign Affairs and Def. Com: ‘don't repeat mistake’
Likud outraged by PM’s remarks that a test-run was being held to bring back Palestinian workers to Israel. Netanyahu’s advisors claimed that this was only a one-time plan.
Report:
Netanyahu: US attacks focus on me because I won't allow Palestinian state
'If I'd speak about two countries for two nations and give up on an attack on Rafah, I would have a great relationship with the Americans,' PM Netanyahu says.
Coalition MKs amend law to shut down Al Jazeera in Israel
MKs from the coalition change a government bill to shutter Al Jazeera in Israel. 'Unprecedented and important.'
Ben Gvir mocks Lapid:
Ben Gvir mocks Lapid: To which Lapid am I responding?
Minister Ben Gvir dedicates an entire speech in the Knesset plenum to opposition leader Yair Lapid, mocks the fact that he makes contradictory statements.
Unanimous vote
Unanimous vote | National Day of Remembrance for October 7th Massacre
The government unanimously approved a National Day of Remembrance to be held on the 24th of Tishrei, to commemorate the October 7th massacre and the Sword of Iron War.
Liberman:
Liberman: This is why they didn't want me in the War Cabinet
Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman attacks Minister Benny Gantz for vetoing Liberman and Sa'ar's entry into the War Cabinet: Is this unity?
Doctors immigrating to Israel:
Doctors immigrating to Israel: 'War made us realize where we belong'
Physicians looking to move to Israel explain how they came to realize where their true home should be.
Knesset approves 2024 budget
62 MKs voted for the budget while 55 objected. Yair Lapid: 'The most sectarian, disconnected, and careless budget in the history of the state.'
Netanyahu's response to Biden?
Netanyahu: '‘You can't support us and then object to our actions’
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an apparent response to US president, ‘Our victory is within reach. I know that the vast majority of the American people stand with us.’
Calls for release of hostages
PM's wife writes to Qatari Emir's mother, calls for release of Israeli hostages
Sara Netanyahu sends personal letter to the Emir of Qatar's mother on the occasion of Ramadan and for the release of the hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza.
Netanyahu:
Netanyahu: 'We can't leave a quarter of the Hamas terror army in place'
PM Netanyahu says 'victory is at hand,' adds that without Rafah operation, 'Hamas will reconstitute itself with these four battalions, reconquer Gaza.'
New initiative:
New initiative: Shuttering Al Jazeera won't require PM's approval
MK Tzvi Succot files reservation on bill, aiming to grant full authority to Communications Minister to shutter Al Jazeera.
Netanyahu orders:
Netanyahu orders preparation of more jail cells for terrorists
Netanyahu instructed the Finance, Defense, and National Security Ministries to urgently prepare thousands of places of confinement for new detainees and prisoners.
Around 3,500 housing units approved in Judea and Samaria
'Our enemies seek to harm us and weaken our hold on the land, and our message is exactly the opposite,' Finance Min. Smotrich says.
Amid reports about his health:
Amid reports about his health: Netanyahu examined by his personal physician
The Prime Minister's Office says Netanyahu is in good condition, denies reports that he is suffering from a serious case of the flu.
Mother of hostage:
Leshem-Gonen: 'Every morning I ask Romi to forgive me'
Merav Leshem-Gonen, tearfully: ‘I ask for Romi’s forgiveness, because 150 days have passed and I have managed to bring her home.’
Hostage's brother:
Hostage's brother: ‘Ramadan is month to murder Jews; not a holy time’
Yair Mor, brother of hostage Eitan Mor, speaks at Knesset session: ‘Increase military pressure during Ramadan, so that they learn not to mess with us.’
Law to bypass gov't:
MK Moshe Tur-Paz suggests: President to award the Israel Prize
Deputy Speaker of the Knesset MK Moshe Tur-Paz proposes a bill to bypass the government when awarding the Israel Prize: 'when petty politicians are busy with petty politics, we need it.'
Israelis broke through a checkpoint and crossed into the Gaza Strip
Israelis protesting near the Erez checkpoint broke through a military checkpoint and crossed the border from Israel to the Gaza Strip.
Senior IDF official:
Senior IDF official: 'Settler violence just a handful of incidents'
A senior IDF official said in a confidential discussion at the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee that "there is no such concept 'settler violence.' We have great respect for the settlers."
Turnout in municipal elections - 45% voted by 8pm
Elections for local authorities are taking place almost without any incidents. The percentage of voting, as of 8 pm, stands at 45%. Police arrested a Beit Shemesh resident on suspicion of election bribery in the city.
Hundreds protest in Jerusalem for 'equal draft'
Parallel to Supreme Court hearing, hundreds protest in favor of drafting haredim; haredi groups hold counter-protest insisting, 'I will not draft to an army of Torah destruction.'
Former Meretz chairman to lead new party
Former minister Nitzan Horowitz says he intends to form a new party ahead of the next Knesset elections.
Adi describes her miracle:
Adi describes her miracle: 'I said 'Shema Yisrael' and he fired at me'
Adi Zohar, a pregnant woman seriously injured in a shooting attack near Maaleh Adumim, speaks about the miracle she experienced: 'G-d was with me, that I didn't lose consciousness protected my fetus.'
Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf to PM:
Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf to PM: 'Declare UNRWA a terrorist organization'
Housing Min. Yitzhak Goldknopf asks PM Netanyahu why the National Security Council (NSC) objects to any proposal to declare UNRWA a terrorist organization and demanded that the PM intervene.
MK Tzvi Sukkot's move against the Palestinian Authority
Religious Zionist MK submits bill similar to the Taylor Force Law in the US, which will give the Minister of Finance the power to deny payments to the Palestinian Authority.
Who is sending threatening letters to MKs' families?
Avi Saada, brother of MK Moshe Saada, received a threatening letter from the 'Israeli Revengers.' MK Tally Gotliv's son received a similar letter.
Netanyahu: We will approve plans for Rafah operation
PM Netanyahu says Cabinet will meet to approve plans for Rafah operation, evacuation of Gaza civilians.
MK Rothman:
MK Rothman: Palestinian state 'would endanger the entire world'
Talk of founding a Palestinian state following events of October 7 'not idiocy but pure evil towards the Jewish nation,' MK Simcha Rothman tells participants at CPAC antisemitism panel.
MK Avigdor Liberman:
MK Avigdor Liberman: Cancel the Knesset's winter break
Yisrael Beytenu chairman sends letter to Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, asks him to cancel the winter break of the Knesset due to the war.
Netanyahu presents:
Netanyahu presents: The plan for 'the day after Hamas'
Prime Minister Netanyahu brings before the Cabinet his proposal for the "day after" Hamas, which includes the shutting down of UNRWA and a complete demilitarization of Gaza.
