Deadly quakes hit Turkey, Syria * Israel sending aid to Syria, rescue teams to Turkey * No Israel quake signs, but hard to predict * Herzog overhaul pause plea rebuffed

[Times of Israel]( [The daily edition]( Monday, February 6, 2023 In partnership with [Israel Story]( [Death toll surpasses 2,300 in Turkey, Syria in wake of devastating earthquake]( By GHAITH ALSAYED and Suzan Fraser Over 1,400 killed in Turkey, with hundreds more dead in Syria; fatalities likely to rise as rescuers battle severe weather; second 7.5-magnitude quake rocks same area hours later [Strong quake knocks down buildings in Turkey and Syria; shaking felt across Israel]( By TOI staff and AP [Over 640 killed as devastating earthquake brings down buildings in Turkey, Syria]( By Agencies and TOI staff [‘Request was received’: Israel to send earthquake relief to Syria as well as Turkey]( By Lazar Berman and Amy Spiro Israel readying to send tents, medication, blankets; will receive wounded for medical treatment if requested, report says; first of two Israeli teams to head for Turkey tonight [ToI podcast / Daily Briefing Feb. 6: Israel offers to help Turkey after earthquake. Syria, too?]( By TOI staff [Israel to dispatch emergency aid, teams to earthquake-stricken Turkey]( By Amy Spiro and Lazar Berman Live updates [LIVE: First IDF search and rescue team leaves for Turkey as toll mounts in deadly quakes]( By TOI staff Second 7.5 temblor rattles already devastated region, felt in Israel; Jerusalem also preparing to send humanitarian aid to Syria Israel Story PODCAST [Free as a Bird]( Stories that are ostensibly about birds, but are really about the heights to which the human spirit can soar — and the depths to which it can plunge. Produced in partnership with The Times of Israel. [No sign of impending major earthquake in Israel, but issue hard to predict — experts]( By Sue Surkes No abnormal seismic activity seen recently in Israel following Turkey tremor, but Geological Survey head says complexity makes it difficult to know for certain [White Helmets rescue team says Syria ‘in a state of catastrophe’ after quake]( By AFP Hundreds killed in Syria, many in rebel-held areas; rescuers fear toll will rise with people trapped under rubble, stuck in freezing conditions [Misery of war-weary Syrians exacerbated by deadly earthquake]( By GHAITH ALSAYED and ABBY SEWELL [Israel offers to help Turkey after earthquake. Syria, too?]( [listen to the podcast]( [At least 5 gunmen killed as IDF targets West Bank terror attack cell, officials say]( By Emanuel Fabian Military says attackers planned ‘mass murder spree’ at eatery near Jericho; after failing to apprehend pair over weekend, unit enters Aqabat Jabr, kills prime suspects and others [Over 1,500 gather at illegal Homesh West Bank outpost for Tu Bishvat seder]( By TOI staff Rabbis, yeshiva students join ceremony; IDF says it cleared out the participants after a number of hours; government has vowed to legalize wildcat settlement From the blogs Moshe Koppel [This reform will end limitless power for unelected elites]( Opponents equate their loss of political power with ‘the end of democracy,’ but with some modifications, consensus is within reach Top Ops Jennie Rosenn [Jewish institutions’ best tool for fighting climate change: their bank accounts]( By vocally divesting from fossil fuels, US Jews can support clean energy and align finances with values Haim Taib [In Africa, we must see the wood for the trees]( Tu BiShvat not only celebrates nature, but it pushes us to create a more sustainable future, beginning with reforestation Naomi Chazan [Critical questions for traumatic times]( The government’s assault on Israel’s checks, balances and civil rights is fueling a civil war. Is there no turning back? Ahmad Hashemi [Warming Israel-Azerbaijan ties and the Iranian ire they stoke]( This secular Muslim country is Israel and the West’s valuable ally in pushing back against Iran, Russia, and Islamist terrorism [Ukraine said to demand Israel denounce Russia ahead of visit by foreign minister]( By Ash Obel Kyiv also reportedly says government must agree to treat wounded soldiers, loan $500 million and more, with meeting between Eli Cohen and Zelensky hanging in balance [Report: Iranian officials visit Russia to scout out site for drone-building factory]( By TOI staff Reaching for the sky [In crowded Japanese-style forest, Israeli trees find space to grow]( By Sue Surkes Miyawaki method mimics nature to reforest degraded land, in what proponents claim speeds process up tenfold [President urges pause to judicial shakeup; Levin: I’m not stopping ‘for a minute’]( By Ash Obel Herzog pleads for compromise, says Israel in a ‘very volatile moment’; justice minister argues attorney general’s legal opinion warning of damage to democracy ‘doesn’t hold water’ [Deputy AG says judicial overhaul would render Israel a ‘very weak democracy’]( By Michael Bachner [CEOs, senior execs call for dialogue on government’s judicial makeover plans]( By Sharon Wrobel [Skirting concerns over new government, NY lawmakers vow firm support for Israel]( By Luke Tress Congressional delegation tells Jewish community leaders that Washington will continue to back Israeli defense, with little mention of judicial overhaul, Palestinians [PM said to have sought support for judicial changes from ex-US Treasury head Summers]( By TOI staff [CRM]( [Coalition whip pushes bill to grant mayors immunity from arrest]( By TOI staff Ofir Katz of Likud says municipal leaders need protection similar to that enjoyed by Knesset members to dissuade ‘enemies’ seeking to tarnish reputations [Government advances plans for new community near Gaza Strip]( By Danielle Nagler [Boston’s Hebrew College will now ordain rabbinical students with non-Jewish partners]( By PHILISSA CRAMER The decision makes the pluralistic institution only the second major rabbinical school in the United States to do away with rules that bar dating or marrying non-Jews [Ex-president and former PM of Iran speak out in favor of political reform]( By AFP Mohammad Khatami says he is seeing ‘widespread discontent’ among citizens, while Mir Hossein Mousavi says Iranians need to see ‘a fundamental transformation’ in their country [Jill Biden awards Grammy to Iranian singer for viral anti-government anthem]( By Jon Gambrell [Vinyl, record player shop in Nablus aims to preserve a fading musical heritage]( By Gareth Browne More Headlines [Storm Barbara blows in with furious winds, heavy rain, snow; injuries reported]( By TOI staff [Suspect in Gedera rape denies any connection to crime during court appearance]( By TOI staff [IDF opens probe after rocket alarms ‘unnecessarily’ sound in Sderot, border towns]( By Emanuel Fabian [Israeli insurer Menora bids to buy control in Isracard at NIS 3.07b valuation]( By Sharon Wrobel [In 2nd incident in a week, man crosses border from Israel into Lebanon]( By Emanuel Fabian [NBA’s Irving traded to Mavericks, whose Jewish owner criticized antisemitism scandal]( By Gabe Friedman [Up and coming / Surrogate parents, comical politics among new Keshet shows]( By Jessica Steinberg [Man found dead in Tel Aviv, carbon monoxide poisoning suspected]( By TOI staff [A lot on his plate / Man suspected of forging license plates, passports for imaginary kingdom]( By Michael Horovitz [Two women killed in deadly collision near Tel Nof airbase]( By Michael Horovitz [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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