Lapid: Must block Ben Gvir’s Temple Mt. visit * J’lem chief rabbi horrified by gay Knesset speaker * Almost 1 in 7 Israelis are Haredi * Gov’t to legalize illegal outpost

[Times of Israel]( [The daily edition]( Monday, January 2, 2023 Presented by [Moving Life]( [‘People will die’: Lapid calls on Netanyahu to prevent Ben Gvir’s Temple Mount visit]( By Carrie Keller-Lynn Former PM calls his successor ‘weak’ for not reining in the far-right minister; Liberman charges that new government is ‘the end of Zionism’ [Hamas warns Ben Gvir could ‘blow up the situation’ if he visits Temple Mount]( By Ash Obel and TOI staff [New police minister Ben Gvir gears up for Temple Mount visit, possibly this week]( By TOI staff [‘God have mercy’: J’lem chief rabbi pans Orthodox MKs who backed gay Knesset speaker]( By Judah Ari Gross Ex-chief rabbi of Israel Shlomo Amar, who has called LGBTQ people ‘wild animals,’ says it’s ‘unbearable’ that Amir Ohana was appointed to a position that is ‘meant to be lofty’ [Incoming religious services minister pledges to strengthen Rabbinate, boost salaries]( By Judah Ari Gross [In reversal, ministers inform top court of plans to legalize Homesh outpost]( By Jeremy Sharon State tells High Court that new government will repeal clause in 2005 law mandating that Homesh be evacuated; left-wing groups rail at move as settler leaders offer praise [New tourism minister Haim Katz vows to invest in West Bank, ‘Israel’s Tuscany’]( By Michael Horovitz from our sponsor [This Israeli startup will change your opinion on mobility scooters]( A clunky sort of golf-cart for old people? Think again. People with mobility issues can now ride around in style! [Haredim are fastest-growing population, will be 16% of Israelis by decade’s end]( By Judah Ari Gross Group includes 1.28 million people in 2023; Haredi women increasingly joining workforce while men’s numbers stagnate; poverty rate twice as high as in general population Analysis Lazar Berman [Israel has claimed some wins in UN vote — but the ICJ process is a serious threat]( Hague court could use ‘apartheid’ label and call for expanded probes, just as Israel’s new hardline government pledges to press what it believes to be its rights to the West Bank [Netanyahu to make first official trip to UAE, possibly as early as next week]( By Lazar Berman and TOI staff [Sissi calls to congratulate Netanyahu, cautions against inflammatory measures]( By Lazar Berman Live updates [LIVE: Netanyahu pans previous coalition’s ‘failures’; Gantz: He’s trying to stir civil war]( By Michael Bachner In Knesset, PM says he’s inherited ‘inaction’ on cost of living, Palestinian push at UN; Lapid urges Ben Gvir’s Temple Mount visit stopped; Liberman: Government is end of Zionism [Tensions on show at handover ceremonies for new ministers]( [listen to the podcast]( [Palestinians should be on trial, not Israel, says newly installed foreign minister]( By Lazar Berman In inaugural speech, Eli Cohen announces next Negev Summit in Morocco, says Israel will talk less on Russia-Ukraine war; will speak with Russian counterpart Lavrov on Tuesday [2 Palestinian gunmen killed by IDF during demolition of attackers’ homes]( By Emanuel Fabian [IDF clashes with Palestinians during demolition of gunmen’s homes]( By Emanuel Fabian [IDF dismisses officer, soldier for mistakenly firing at settlement security guards]( By Emanuel Fabian Top Ops Stephen Daniel Arnoff [Santos lies, Machiavelli sighs, and we get the leaders we deserve]( This lost, lonely young man and his complacent community teach us an essential lesson about leadership: We all stand on the shoulders of giants Yosef Blau [The coalition is throwing mental health professionalism to the winds]( UTJ’s agreement to eliminate the standard of qualifications for therapists puts the psychological health of the country at risk. It must be stopped [At defense handover, Gantz warns Gallant not to allow political interference in IDF]( By Emanuel Fabian With Bezalel Smotrich taking ministerial control of unit in charge of civilian affairs in West Bank, outgoing minister cautions about ‘disintegration of the defense establishment’ [Police minister urges force to ‘keep strong backbone’ as he hands over to Ben Gvir]( By Jeremy Sharon [ToI podcast / Daily Briefing Jan. 2: Tensions on show at handover ceremonies for new ministers]( By TOI staff [Syria says IAF strikes briefly put Damascus airport out of service, kill 2 soldiers]( By Emanuel Fabian Jerusalem does not generally comment on strikes, but is believed to have struck the airport in the past to counter Iran’s smuggling of arms to its regional proxies [US Air Force temporarily deploys six fighter jets to Israeli airbase]( By Emanuel Fabian [In 1st move as minister, Smotrich orders taxes on plasticware, sugary drinks nixed]( By TOI staff Move earns praise from Haredi MKs, who viewed previous government’s tax hike as targeting their community; ex-environmental protection minister says step ‘sends us back lightyears’ [At treasury handover, Smotrich vows to stick to Liberman’s free-market policy]( By Sharon Wrobel [Top Iranian general: Muslim youths determined to avenge death of Soleimani]( By TOI staff Ahead of third anniversary of US assassination of Revolutionary Guard general, foreign minister vows to use all means to bring perpetrators to justice [Iran arrests prominent soccer players at mixed-gender party with alcohol]( By AFP and TOI staff [Exiled Iran opposition figures predict 2023 will be year of ‘victory’ for nation]( By Stuart Williams [Israel ranks among 10 most powerful countries in annual list; 4th strongest military]( By TOI staff US News & World Report finds Israeli military behind only US, China Russia; country is world’s 6th most politically influential and 10th strongest power; but ranks only 37th ‘best’ God on his side? [Netanyahu and wife Sara visit Western Wall to mark election win]( By TOI staff Prime minister places note between ancient stones, declares duty to preserve Jewish heritage and legacy [Ex-IDF general says Sara Netanyahu, not PM, interviewed him for senior army position]( By Ash Obel [Bank suspends worker who allegedly tweeted hate against ‘leftists,’ praised Hitler]( By TOI staff [CRM]( Instantly transportive [Israel’s Ofra Haza makes Rolling Stone’s top 200 singers of all time]( By TOI staff Music magazine says the late artist, who came second in 1983 Eurovision, combed traditional vocal conventions with modern technique to create something ‘ahead of its time’ More Headlines [Israeli woman stabbed to death in Germany on New Year’s Eve; partner arrested]( By TOI staff [Catholics pay tribute to ex-pope Benedict at lying-in-state]( By Clement Melki [2,500-year-old looted sarcophagus returned to Egypt from US]( By AP [Jerusalem’s church bells ring as city’s Catholics grieve late ex-pope Benedict]( By AFP and TOI staff [Young Israeli man dies after feeling unwell at New Year’s party in Mexico]( By TOI staff [Israeli woman stabbed, seriously injured, at Rome train station — Italian media]( By Judah Ari Gross [Actor Jeremy Renner in critical condition after snowplow accident]( By AFP [Bank Hapoalim to halt mortgage rate hikes for over 10,000 first-time homeowners]( By Sharon Wrobel [Meta reportedly to decide soon whether Trump can return to Facebook, Instagram]( By Michael Horovitz and Agencies [2 teens charged with attempted murder over stabbing of 16-year-old at Rehovot school]( By TOI staff [The daily edition]( [facebook]( [twitter]( [instagram]( [View in browser]( [Contact support](mailto:support@timesofisrael.com) [Advertise with us](mailto:advertise@timesofisrael.com) Were you forwarded this email? 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