News
Knesset sworn in under shadow of terror
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What happened: Yesterday morning three people were killed and another three injured close to the entrance of Ariel, a city in the northern West Bank.
- The terrorist, a 19 year old from a nearby Palestinian village, who worked in the city’s industrial zone began his attack by stabbing one of the civilian security guards at the entrance.
- From there he ran to a petrol station close by and stabbed three more people.
- He then stole a car, entered onto the main road out of the city and rammed head on into a car that had pulled over, killing the driver.
- When a passing car stopped to help (presuming it had been a car accident) the terrorist commandeered the second car driving in reverse towards oncoming traffic.
- It was only then that two IDF soldiers caught in the traffic, got out of the cars, identified the perpetrator and shot and killed him.
Knesset opening: Usually this is a celebration of Israeli democracy, however yesterday afternoon the ceremony was conducted in a more sombre atmosphere. All 120 MKs took the oath of office and President Isaac Herzog addressed the chamber.
- Herzog began by relating the attack in Ariel noting, “an attack that wounds the heart and rattles the soul, in which a depraved terrorist targeted innocents.”
- He noted, “Our historical experience teaches us that every time this nation has chosen to walk down separate paths; every time a disagreement was not conducted by peaceful means; every time one side turned one way, and the other side turned another, down one path to Judah and down another to Israel, the result was unspeakably awful. We lost our way. And we lost our home. This is all the more true nowadays, when in the whirlwind of elections, what unites us was pushed out of sight, and what divides us stole the show.
- He urged “Responsibility…. investigate the facts, and engage in careful consideration before every speech, interview, or time you hit the keyboard. Responsibility to strengthen the partnership between all stripes of Israeli society, from all faiths and religions—Jews, Muslims, Druze, Christians, and Circassians, Haredi and secular, traditionalist and religious; those who are finely represented in this House, and those who are less so; those who will receive the reins of power, and those who will sit on the Opposition benches. Responsibility to walk arm-in-arm as we continue our collective journey.”
- He outlined their challenges, “To lower the cost of living; to enhance personal security; to improve education and welfare; to solve the congestion on the roads; to reduce inequality between the periphery and the centre; to contribute and to play a role in the global confrontation with the climate crisis, which endangers our lives and our children’s lives; to develop, nurture, and improve the lives of all of us here, as lives full of values and meaning, identity, pride, and hope, and so many more important challenges”
- He reminded the parliamentarians, “this country’s founders’ choice, based on Theodor Herzl’s doctrine and vision, of a representative democratic regime, in which all citizens have equal rights, and in which there are limitations on power, and authorities are separated and balanced, was a good and wise choice.”
- Referring to potential reforms, he added “we recall that the power of the legislature is part of a necessary and broader system of checks and balances. Let me underscore: not only is change possible; there are places where change is proper and desirable. It is allowed, and sometimes even required, to reopen for debate the division of powers and authorities between the various branches of government, which balance each other.”
- For the President’s full speech click here.
Terror attack context: The terrorist is another example of a ‘lone wolf’ attacker. He had been employed by a cleaning company and had permission to enter the Barkan industrial zone, that employs both Palestinians and Israelis.
- The assailant, nor any of his family had any prior connection to nationalist violence and were not members of any terror organisation.
- Following the attack, the IDF focused the investigation on understanding why after the first victim was stabbed the second security guard did not shoot the attacker, but only fired in the air. From the initial assessment it appears he was concerned with shooting anyone innocent by accident. The whole attack lasted close to twenty minutes which is a much longer time than usual incidents of this nature.
- Twenty-nine Israel civilians and soldiers have been killed in terror attacks this year, with hundreds injured in thousands of incidents.
- In parallel to the swearing-in, incumbent PM Netanyahu met with Bezalel Smotrich the leader of the Religious Zionist Party, as they picked up negotiations over government guidelines and portfolios after three days of not talking.
- Smotrich has declared he expects to receive either the Finance and Defence portfolios. This leaves Netanyahu in a bind. His senior partner, Aryeh Deri the leader of Shas also covets the Finance role and Netanyahu is reticent to place Smotrich in defence, which makes him the de facto ruler of the West Bank and risks angering the US government that has raised concerns over Smotrich’s influence in security matters.
- The appointment of Deri as Finance Minister is also legally questionable as he was found guilty last year of tax offenses.
Looking ahead: Due to ongoing disagreements over positions in the future government a new Speaker of the House which is usually voted on at the opening has not yet been chosen. It will almost certainly be a Likud MK, but its possible that a compromise candidate – Moshe Gafni from UTJ will be appointed in a temporary capacity next week.
- Netanyahu now has until 11th December to present a government, with the possibility to request a 14-day extension if he needs more time.
- The security establishment is on high alert, particularly as in the past incidents like yesterday’s have precipitated copy cat attacks.