(today)
Israel:
Total Cases: 812,823
New Cases: +1,331
Total Deaths: 5,955
New Deaths: +5
Total Recovered: 770,156
Active Cases: 36,712
Serious, Critical: 645
Archiv: Yuli Edelstein
Israel Coronavirus Cases:
Newly Infected vs. Newly Recovered in Israel
Pfizer, BioNTech say Israeli data suggests vaccine greatly reduces asymptomatic infections
Findings not yet peer-reviewed, interaction of vaccine with B1351 variant unclear due to limited data
With rise in infections, health officials weigh slowing down Israel’s COVID lockdown exit plan
(01.03.2021)
Israel celebrates 5 millionth coronavirus vaccination
(08.03.2021)
Israel has administered over 8.7 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine to its population of 9.3 million. Over 3.7 million Israelis — more than 40% — have received both of the doses required for maximum immunity.
Israel Is the World’s Most Vaccinated Country. Why Are Cases Rising?
(07.02.2021)
While Israel races ahead on putting shots in arms, the country is also seeing a spike in cases, with almost 74 out of every 100,000 Israelis testing positive for the virus, compared to about 40 out of every 100,000 Americans. On Thursday, the death toll in Israel crossed 5,000.
When asked about the seemingly contradictory puzzle, Galia Rahav, the head of the infectious-disease unit at Tel Aviv’s Sheba Medical Center, sighed, chuckled, and said: “This is Israel. We have to be extreme in everything.”
Infections rise in Israel despite one in three people being vaccinated
(04.02.2021)
INFECTIONS are rising in Israel despite a third of the population having already received the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine
Coronavirus Live: Four People Test Positive for New Strain of Coronavirus in Israel
(today)
A fourth case had been discovered in an Israeli who had not been abroad recently. The Health Ministry said they are investigating the case and will update accordingly.
„Over the past few days we are making a concerted effort to check that the mutation from Britain has not infiltrated [Israel]. Until several minutes ago, we had been optimistic, and now we are less optimistic,“ Health Minister Yuli Edelstein said.
Knesset Mutiny, Produced and Directed by Netanyahu, Will Live in Infamy
Never before has such a senior public official – Edelstein is second in line to President Rivlin in the state’s official hierarchy – thumbed his nose so directly at Israel’s judicial system, sparking an unprecedented constitutional crisis in the midst of the coronavirus crisis which is plaguing both Israel and the world.
There’s no direct analogy, of course, with the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor that spurred FDR to make his famous “infamy speech” while asking Congress to approve a declaration of war against Japan – other than in the potential if not existential threat that Edelstein’s move poses to Israel’s future.
Israel’s Rivlin: „It is our obligation to obey court’s decrees“
This prompted the High Court to convene urgently to decide how to move forward, with proceedings seemingly set to extend into the night.
Knesset Speaker Resigns, Subverts High Court Ruling to Hold Vote on His Replacement
According to Knesset protocols, Edelstein’s resignation will come into effect within 48 hours. The Knesset won’t be able to vote on a new Knesset speaker until then, and Edelstein said that the Knesset will not be able to convene for a vote until Monday. Benny Gantz’s Kahol Lavan is looking into ways to circumvent the protocols and appoint an acting Knesset speaker.
Netanjahu-Verbündeter tritt als Parlamentspräsident zurück
Nach starkem Druck der Opposition zu seiner Ablösung hat Israels Parlamentspräsident Juli Edelstein heute seinen Rücktritt erklärt. Der Schritt erfolgte vor einer erwarteten Abstimmung über einen neuen Parlamentspräsidenten. Das höchste Gericht in Jerusalem hatte festgelegt, die Wahl müsse spätestens heute abgehalten werden.
Top Likud Ministers Change Tune on High Court Ruling, Back Vote on Knesset Speaker
Hanegbi, who heads the Agriculture Ministry, and Elkin, minister for Jerusalem affairs and environmental protection, are joining Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan and Likud parliamentarian Gideon Sa’ar, who is known as a Netanyahu rival, in supporting the court’s decision.
Despite also voicing criticism of the ruling, on Monday Erdan said „we must respect the ruling or else resign ourselves to anarchy,“ while Sa’ar stressed that calls not to accept a direct court ruling are „unacceptable.“
Didn’t take long for the High Court to get back to Edelstein and now they’re not “requesting” any more. They’re ordering him in a 19-page ruling to let the vote for his replacement go ahead by Wednesday + accusing him of undermining democracy.
Crazy turn of events.
High Court rules Edelstein must allow vote for new Speaker
The High Court ruled in a unanimous decision Monday that Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein must convene the Knesset no later than Wednesday, to elect his replacement.
Israel: Edelstein poised to answer High Court as Likud members call to defy ruling
Israel’s High Court of Justice approved Knesset (Israel’s Parliament) Speaker Yuli Edelstein’s request to submit his answer today at 9 pm (local time) regarding whether he will convene a parliamentary vote for his replacement.
Israel: Supreme Court hears petition on replacing Knesset Speaker Edelstein
Throughout Israel’s 72-year existence, the Knesset Speaker had only been replaced once a new government was sworn in. Thus, replacing Edelstein before a government is formed would represent an unprecedented move, even with a majority vote.
Israel’s top court orders parliament to clarify speaker vote
The Supreme Court on Monday ordered the country’s parliament to reconvene for the selection of a new speaker, dealing a blow to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he tries to steer the country through the coronavirus crisis and fend off a looming corruption trial.
The current speaker, Yuli Edelstein of Netanyahu’s Likud party, suspended the parliament’s activities last week, citing procedural issues and restrictions on large gatherings due to the virus.
Hundreds protest in front of Knesset, calling on speaker to resign
Edelstein, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling Likud party, last week suspended parliamentary activities, preventing the newly elected legislature from choosing a new speaker and forming committees critical to the country’s fight against coronavirus.
Lawmakers arrive at first session of Israeli #Knesset greeted by protesters demanding to replace speakers of the parliament @YuliEdelstein . @Likud_Party say if he is replaced they will scuttle unity government .
Coronavirus Crisis Accelerates Israel’s Slide Into Erdogan-style Authoritarianism
Monday is an important test for Israeli democracy. The Knesset is due to resume its deliberations amidst the political crisis and the spread of the coronavirus.
If the Knesset chairman Yuri Edelstein, backed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his political hatchetmen from Likud, continue with their delay tactics to prevent the legislative branch performing its duty, Israel will win the dubious title of the only „parliamentary democracy“ to fail to recognize the results of its last democratic general election and to be governed by an inoperative parliament.
Knesset Speaker Edelstein and His Puppet Master Netanyahu, Free Israel’s Parliament
Since a majority of Knesset members – 61 out of 120 – oppose the government, Edelstein was dispatched to block the activity of the legislature and prevent it from voting in a new speaker. It is inconceivable that a temporary speaker would use his authority to set the agenda in order to prevent the selection of a permanent speaker. It is parliamentary bullying, and it must stop immediately.
Israeli police tries to stop thousands of cars raising black flags on their way to Jerusalem, to protest anti-democratic measures in midst of #Covid_19 outbreak, such as closure of Knesset. When asked ‘why’, this policeman said ‘because!’
Police Arrest Protesters Against ‚Assault on Democracy‘ at Knesset
Protesters said they were angry at anti-democratic measures being taken to fight the coronavirus outbreak, such as this week’s decision to use cyber measures to track the location of people diagnosed with the virus as well as suspected coronavirus patients, in addition to strict restrictions to achieve social distancing, such as barring thousands of people from leaving their homes.
Further, Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein dispersed parliament on Wednesday, deepening the paralyzation of Israel’s legislative body, which critics have seen as an attack on the checks and balances within Israel’s democratic institutions.
Blue and White going to court to force Knesset to meet
Blue and White expressed outrage, accusing Edelstein of „trampling Israeli democracy at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s behest.“ The party said it would appeal to the Supreme Court against Edelstein on Thursday to force him to convene the plenum and „end the craziness.“
Netanyahu’s Coronavirus Coup: Israelis’ Basic Rights Are Now on Life Support
We are about to let the government gain absolute control over our lives – and thus know who we are, where we have been, when and with whom and who we speak to and when – without any form of consent or restriction.
Speaker Adjourns Parliament, Israeli President Warns Him Against ‚Undermining Democracy‘
By preventing the formation of the organizing committee, Speaker Yuli Edelstein also hampers the formation of the Knesset oversight committees on the coronavirus crisis
Rivlin warns Edelstein that adjourning the Knesset is ‚undermining Israeli democracy‘
Edelstein has effectively prorogued parliament and with a total coronavirus shutdown expected in Israel any day now, politicians and political commentators have argued that the speaker’s actions have engendered one of Israel’s severest constitutional crises ever.
Edelstein: Still unsure how Knesset inauguration will occur on Monday
(14.03.2020)
„The manner of how the inauguration will take place will be decided after another assessment tomorrow with relevant professionals,“ Edelstein said.
Gantz’s Party Seeks Vote on New Knesset Speaker on Monday
(13.03.2020)
Replacing Edelstein could let Kahol Lavan push through legislation to prevent Netanyahu from forming a government while under indictment
Will the Knesset Speaker Be Loyal to the Country or to the Man Holding It Hostage?
As Knesset Speaker, Yuli Edelstein has the authority to block the Knesset Arrangements Committee from meeting, thereby blocking the convening of the House Committee and preventing it from discussing the immunity request.
This is Edelstein’s most important test as an elected official: Will he be faithful to his position as Knesset speaker, or will he be faithful to the man who has decided to hold the country hostage?
Report: Knesset speaker failed to form unity gov’t under his leadership
According to the report, Edelstein planned to announce an agreed deal in a press conference on Wednesday, after receiving signatures supporting the move from Blue & White’s Benny Gantz, Yisrael Beiteinu’s Avigdor Liberman, and two-thirds of the Likud faction.
However, at the end of a five-day political maneuver, the Likud’s second on the Knesset list — preceded only by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — realized he does not have enough votes to push forth the idea,