Smotrich: Moody’s outlook downgrade ’no big drama’ * PM in talks on new terms for Haredi army exemptions * Many Jews opt not to marry at Rabbinate * Int’w: Susanna Hoffs

[Times of Israel]( [The daily edition]( Sunday, April 16, 2023 Presented by [Americans for]( [Ben Gurion University]( [Dismissing Moody’s downgrade, Smotrich says any economic damage is fault of protests]( By Sharon Wrobel Finance minister says pulling of ‘positive’ outlook is ‘no big drama’; economist warns Israel set to be on investors’ and credit rating agencies’ ‘watch list’ [Economists: PM, Smotrich response to Moody’s downgrade ‘disconnected from reality’]( By ToI Staff [PM’s associates reject Moody’s downgrade: ‘They aren’t well-versed on the issues’]( By ToI Staff [Netanyahu in talks on new IDF draft law that would lower age for Haredi exemption]( By Emanuel Fabian Senior officer says latest proposal to set age of exemption at 23 is acceptable; ultra-Orthodox lawmakers not present in meeting on controversial issue [Hundreds of thousands rally against judicial overhaul plans for a 15th straight week]( By ToI Staff Protest organizers vow to push on until legislation shelved; smaller pro-overhaul rallies take place in 12 locations, with police minister Ben Gvir at Netanya counter-demonstration [In deposition, airport workers union head says strike was coordinated with Netanyahu]( By Ash Obel [Live updates (closed) / Police disperse protesters blocking Ayalon Highway amid anti-overhaul rally]( By ToI Staff from our sponsor [Israel at 75: Rally Around What’s Right and Celebrate the Remarkable]( Doug Seserman The truth is that at a moment like this, celebrating Israel is more important than ever. Live updates [LIVE: Citing ‘deals in the dark,’ Labor quits judicial overhaul talks with president]( By Amy Spiro Party says it joined negotiations despite ‘great skepticism,’ but says there is ‘no point in continuing’ due to the government’s conduct Top Ops Barukh Binah [To US Jewish leaders: Don’t boycott Netanyahu – talk to him]( From a longtime diplomat to my brothers and sisters coming to the GA: you have a role to play at this difficult time Linda F. Burghardt [Homeland or hell: My parents and the Vienna of Leopoldstadt]( For my mother and father, who lost everything, there was never a sense of belonging after they fled Austria and the Nazis Sarah Tuttle-Singer [The miracle of the Holy Fire]( Believers say the flame kindled in the church will never hurt you. I’ve never touched it so I wouldn’t know Ilyse Muser Shainbrown [‘Say Yes to the Dress’ – and helping others always]( With roots in Brooklyn, I naturally bought my wedding dress at Hedda Kleinfeld’s bridal empire. What I hadn’t known was the shop’s place in Jewish history [‘They live on through you’: Netanyahu visits grieving Dee family at Efrat home]( By Ash Obel and ToI Staff Rabbi Leo Dee tells PM he doesn’t regret for one moment moving to Israel; daughter Tali asks PM how he dealt with pain of the death of his brother Yoni in 1976 Entebbe raid [Visiting grieving family, general vows to catch terrorists who killed mom, daughters]( By Michael Horovitz [Saudis said set to host top Hamas delegation, further dimming Israeli hopes for ties]( By ToI Staff Palestinian terror group’s political leadership, including Ismail Haniyeh, reportedly to arrive Sunday and discuss improving relations after years of tension [ToI podcast / Daily Briefing Apr. 16: Saudis host Hamas as chaos in Israel may tangle regional web]( By ToI Staff [No consensus among envoys on Syrian Arab League return]( By AP Out of this world [Unusually bright meteor seen over Israel, as some report hearing blast]( By ToI Staff Israeli Astronomical Association says bolide visible over country’s center and north for several seconds; unclear if any pieces survived fiery descent [Saudis host Hamas as chaos in Israel may tangle regional web]( [listen to the podcast]( [Many Jews eligible to marry via Rabbinate elect to do so abroad instead — survey]( By Canaan Lidor Report finds 1 in 3 couples who got a civil marriage could’ve had a religious ceremony in Israel, indicating rising alienation from religious bodies even as observance remains high [Ahead of annual memorial day, 147,199 Holocaust survivors living in Israel]( By ToI Staff Figure includes 521 survivors who immigrated from Ukraine after Russian invasion; around 15,000 died over previous year; average age of survivors is 85 [Czech toothpaste found near interim refuge of Holocaust survivor orphans in England]( By ToI Staff [Clinton-produced ‘How Saba Kept Singing’ tells story of cantor’s Auschwitz survival]( By Gabe Friedman [‘I slaughtered her’: Woman from Kuseife is killed, brother said to confess]( By ToI Staff 26-year-old Azhar Abu Rabia is 10th woman murdered by someone known to her, 49th person killed in the Arab community this year; reports say her throat was slit [CRM]( [Likud’s Amsalem calls to put Supreme Court chief, protest leaders on trial]( By ToI Staff Minister admits lacking coalition support for overhaul, vows it’ll pass; Likud’s Gotliv claims left ‘betrayed’ Israel, Obama paid Israeli news site for anti-Netanyahu stories [Coalition scrambles to give Regev responsibility for Independence Day torch event]( By Ash Obel Interview [Bangles singer Susanna Hoffs’ newest cover is her debut novel, ‘This Bird Has Flown’]( By Dave Gordon At age 64, the musician-author isn’t exactly singing a new tune; she tells The Times of Israel that she’s had a passion for literature her whole life and is a voracious reader [‘Never seen anything like it’: 56 killed as Sudanese army battles rival paramilitary]( By AFP and ToI Staff Fighting goes on between leader Burhan’s military forces and his deputy’s Rapid Support Forces, with officials saying over 600 have been injured [Pro-Israel Rep. Jeffries penned defense of uncle’s antisemitism and Farrakhan in 90s]( By Ron Kampeas Resurfaced article written by Democratic congressman while at college contradicts his claim he was only vaguely aware of relative’s remarks; Jewish Republicans demand answers More Headlines [4 Israelis remain critical after deadly South Korea bus accident]( By ToI Staff [Israeli-born Moldovan oligarch sentenced in absentia to 15 years over $1b bank theft]( By AP [Iran begins crackdown against violators of mandatory hijab laws]( By AFP [Jersey City’s Jewish mayor running for state governor]( By Ben Sales [Historic flooding complicates journey home for Passover vacationers in South Florida]( By Ron Kampeas [Russian strike kills 11 civilians in east Ukraine; Moscow claims gains near Bakhmut]( By Jonathan Brown [‘End of an era’: Germany shuts down its last 3 nuclear reactors]( By Sebastien ASH [Defying protests, Macron signs France pension law raising retirement age to 64]( By Baptiste PACE and Stuart Williams [2 dead in second mass shooting in Louisville in under a week]( By AP [Sandstorms driven by climate change slowly burying Iraq’s ancient treasures]( By Asaad Niazi and Guillaume Decamme [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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