New IDF chief vows to keep politics out * Hamas tries to pressures Israel with captive video * Exclusive: WATCH animated Gaza interviews * Meet Kyiv’s audacious rabbi

[Times of Israel]( [The daily edition]( Monday, January 16, 2023 [Herzi Halevi formally takes over as chief of staff, vows to keep politics out of IDF]( By Emanuel Fabian Israel’s 23rd army chief sworn in at Prime Minister’s Office before series of appearances in Jerusalem, as he succeeds Aviv Kohavi at a time of turmoil for the military [Analysis / Herzi Halevi takes reins of IDF as it marches into political minefield]( By Emanuel Fabian [Coalition said open to only minor ‘cosmetic’ compromises on judicial makeover]( By TOI staff Justice Ministry professionals set to present position on plan to dilute court’s power over government, are reportedly expected to raise difficulties [Deputy AG: If reforms pass, ‘government won’t be above the law; it will be the law’]( By Carrie Keller-Lynn Live updates [LIVE: Hamas publishes undated video purportedly of Israeli captive Avera Mengistu]( By Amy Spiro In unverified clip, Mengistu asks how long he will remain captive; military wing of Gaza terror group says video is message to outgoing IDF chief; brother: I’m not sure it’s him Whispered in Gaza, Part 1 [What’s life like under Hamas? ‘Whispered in Gaza’ offers unique, courageous testimony]( By Center for Peace Communications and Times of Israel In an unprecedented series of animated videos, drawn from interviews carried out by the NY-based Center for Peace Communications, ordinary Gazans tell heartwrenching stories [Introducing ‘Whispered in Gaza’ — 25 short, animated interviews on life under Hamas]( By Center for Peace Communications, Times of Israel and Whispered in Gaza [Cabinet okays far-right MK Maoz as overseer of external programming at schools]( By TOI staff In response to openly homophobic politician’s appointment, some 160 academics join registry of lecturers willing to come to schools to speak free of charge [Smotrich: My voters don’t care if I’m a homophobe or fascist; my word is my bond]( By Michael Bachner In recording from a few months ago, far-right minister heard saying he could act against LGBTQ community without repercussions from his base; ‘I won’t stone gays [to death]’ [‘This is an emergency’: Thousands of students rally against judicial makeover plan]( By Michael Bachner Coordinated ‘strike’ held in over a dozen universities and colleges, with organizers vowing to fight ‘liquidation of the justice system’; counter-rallies back ‘fixing’ of judiciary [Driver who swerved to threaten anti-government protesters indicted]( By TOI staff [Majority of Israelis united in distrust of state institutions]( [listen to the podcast]( ToI podcast [Daily Briefing Jan 16: Majority of Israelis united in distrust of state institutions]( By TOI staff Editor David Horovitz and senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur delve into the annual Israeli Democracy Index and discuss ongoing reactions to the coalition’s planned judicial overhaul [Israelis deeply split on courts and rights, but united in gloom, distrust — poll]( By TOI staff [Palestinian teen, 14, killed in clashes with IDF; 19 arrested in West Bank]( By Emanuel Fabian Military says suspects hurl explosives, stones, firebombs at troops in Dheisheh refugee camp; gunmen also open fire at forces in Qabatiya and Nablus [IDF issues demolition order for home of terrorist who killed 3 Israelis near Ariel]( By Emanuel Fabian [Bus traveling between Kiryat Arba and Jerusalem comes under gunfire]( By Emanuel Fabian Top Ops Gavriel D. Rosenfeld [Riding the antisemitic tiger: Kanye, Dave and the MAGA Republicans]( Trump and his groupies are locked in a dynamic of mutual radicalization reminiscent of Hitler’s rise to power, but history doesn’t have to repeat itself Zvi Gluck [A mental health matter of life and death]( Shortcut therapy degrees for Haredi women will endanger the most vulnerable, especially child sexual abuse victims [Foreign Ministry director general resigns, key intelligence official to step in]( By Lazar Berman FM appoints Ronen Levy, the National Security Council’s former point man in Arab world and Africa, to senior post; some diplomats aren’t thrilled [Ben Gvir appoints officer in charge of policing anti-Netanyahu protests to top post]( By TOI staff Profile [Ukrainians love this audacious rabbi for his wartime aid and viral ‘chizuk’ videos]( By Lazar Berman Rabbi Moshe Azman heads Kyiv’s Brodsky Synagogue, knows Volodymyr Zelensky, and is a former IDF chaplain. He’s made his community an aid hub for civilians, government institutions [German defense minister steps down amid criticism of Ukraine policy]( By Geir Moulson and Frank Jordans [Death toll in Russian missile strike on Ukrainian apartment building rises to 35]( By AP [Doctor falsely accused of praising terrorist to return to work at Hadassah]( By TOI staff Months after incident, hospital allows Dr. Ahmad Mahajneh to return to work, with officials saying he never made the comments initially attributed to him [Israel’s inflation at 5.3% in 2022, its highest level since 2008]( By Sharon Wrobel Consumer price index rose 0.3% in December, led by gains in housing, food, transportation, and telecommunications prices, according to Central Bureau of Statistics [Rise in housing prices slows but still up almost 19% from 2021]( By Danielle Nagler [CRM]( [Extradited modeling agent charged with sexual assault]( By TOI staff Shai Avital accused of two attacks, one against 16-year-old girl who claims he gave her pill that left her helpless; another 24 complaints still being investigated [Police foil alleged attempt to smuggle 15 kilos of drugs worth millions into Israel]( By TOI staff More Headlines [Haredi protesters clash with police outside Jerusalem cellphone store]( By TOI staff [Sha-bot shalom / Rabbi ‘plagiarizes’ AI sermon but says humans aren’t obsolete yet]( By Michael Horovitz [Chevron says it discovered ‘significant’ natural gas find off Egypt’s coast]( By Sharon Wrobel [Police find baby in locked cage during drug bust in Haifa]( By Michael Horovitz [Israeli man stabbed, lightly hurt in apparent argument in West Bank town]( By Emanuel Fabian [Nothing but net / Israeli soccer team sets record with 31-0 win]( By Ash Obel [Jerusalem museum showcasing Armenian history reopens after 5-year renovation]( By Ilan Ben Zion [68 dead, 4 missing in Nepal’s deadliest aviation disaster in 3 decades]( By UPENDRA MAN SINGH, SHEIKH SAALIQ and ANISH BHATTARAI [Former UK residents no longer banned from giving blood in Israel]( By Amy Spiro and Ash Obel [‘My captors enjoy taunting me’: US citizen jailed in Iran announces hunger strike]( By AFP [Two teens to face charges for vandalizing Christian cemetery in Jerusalem]( By TOI staff and AP [Never let go / Veteran progressive rock band Camel returns to Israel]( By Jessica Steinberg [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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