FM derides US veep after she backs independent judiciary * Smotrich shunned in France * First Israeli case of ‘Benjamin Button’ disease * Analysis: Pence on Jews, Israel

[Times of Israel]( [The daily edition]( Wednesday, June 7, 2023 Presented by [Anti-Defamation LeagueÂ]( [FM on Kamala Harris: ‘Wouldn’t be able to name one overhaul clause that bothers her’]( By ToI Staff and Jacob Magid After US vice president speaks up for independent judiciary, Eli Cohen says he believes she hasn’t read proposal, later stresses ‘deep respect’ for her and Washington [VP stresses importance of independent judiciary at Israeli embassy independence bash]( By Jacob Magid Live updates [LIVE: After fatal attack, Gallant says ‘female and male IDF fighters are one and the same’]( By Amy Spiro Defense minister responds to criticism following Egyptian border incident in which 3 soldiers in mixed-gender battalion were killed: ‘I am very proud of the female IDF fighters’ [Blinken visits Saudi Arabia to rebuild strained ties, promote Israel normalization]( By AFP, ToI Staff and Jacob Magid Top US diplomat discusses expanding Abraham Accords with MBS in Jeddah, will travel to Riyadh for GCC event; State Department official says ‘tremendous amount of work to be done’ [Gantz rules out joining gov’t to secure Saudi normalization, would offer safety net]( By Jacob Magid [Iran reopens embassy in Saudi Arabia, touts ‘new era’ in ties]( By AFP from our sponsor [Antisemitic Incidents are Nearly 5x Higher Since 2013]( There are many ways to join the fight against antisemitism. Learn how you can take action with ADL today. [Smotrich shunned by French officials, Jewish leaders on Paris trip]( By ToI Staff Finance minister participates in OECD gathering, but turned down for meetings with local counterparts; heads of three Jewish groups said to also rebuff Religious Zionism chief [Kherson Jews among thousands forced to flee rising water after Ukraine dam rupture]( By Canaan Lidor Some 20 Jewish families living in low-lying areas of frontline southern city being aided by community, says rabbi, with help also planned for those in danger in countryside [ToI podcast / Daily Briefing June 7: How Jews of war-torn Kherson are faring in Dnipro dam disaster]( By ToI Staff [Ukraine, Russia trade blame for devastating dam collapse that displaces thousands]( By ToI Staff and Agencies [Israel sees its first-ever case of rare rapid aging ‘Benjamin Button’ disease]( By Renee Ghert-Zand 2-month-old girl is being treated at Haifa’s Rambam hospital; children with progeria disorder age extremely quickly and suffer ailments of the elderly while still very young [How Jews of war-torn Kherson are faring in Dnipro dam disaster]( [listen to the podcast]( [Levin calls current judge selection process ‘invalid’ and ‘unworthy’ of a democracy]( By Carrie Keller-Lynn Justice minister casts doubt on plans to convene appointment panel, says present method is at root of judicial system flaws; Knesset to elect MKs to sit on panel next week [OECD projects more moderate growth for Israel, citing judicial overhaul tensions risk]( By Sharon Wrobel [Ending squabble, opposition aligns behind Yesh Atid’s Elharrar for judicial panel]( By Carrie Keller-Lynn National Unity and Labor acquiesce to Lapid’s pick, citing centrality of committee to their united fight against government’s planned justice system overhaul [Analysis / Wrangling over nominations for judicial selection panel strains overhaul talks]( By Carrie Keller-Lynn Top Ops Benjamin Porat [When all Haredi boys default to yeshiva study, what we lose is excellence]( Flooding study halls with mediocre students eliminates the chance of great scholars who would delve deeply into Torah study Jona van der Schelde [Words that ring, resemble, reverberate]( When it comes to onomatopoeia, nothing sounds more like the thing it describes than uncorking a bottle and pouring from it – in Hebrew [US urges IDF to re-evaluate use of deadly force after Palestinian toddler killed]( By Jacob Magid State Department’s Office of Palestinian Affairs offers condolences to family of Mohammed Tamimi, calls on Israelis, Palestinians ‘to take responsible actions to end conflict’ [Israeli motorist lightly hurt in terror shooting near flashpoint Huwara — IDF]( By Emanuel Fabian [New Israeli technology improves prediction of patient response to immunotherapy]( By Renee Ghert-Zand Ben-Gurion University researchers develop innovative biosensor, team up with Israeli biotech company OncoHost in bid for FDA approval [Israel can best any Iranian weapon, Gallant says after hypersonic missile claim]( By Emanuel Fabian During visit to Northern Command headquarters for major drill, defense minister also threatens to ‘send Lebanon back to the stone age’ if Hezbollah goes to war against Israel [US sanctions network linked to Iranian missile program]( By FATIMA HUSSEIN [Right-wing MKs spearhead effort to broaden controversial ‘admissions committees’ law]( By Charlie Summers Villages with up to 1,000 households and West Bank settlements would be allowed to cherry-pick residents; Arab rights group condemns bill as strengthening a system of segregation [Government moves to reinstate 1-year residency requirement for passports]( By Carrie Keller-Lynn [Lithuanian city vows to preserve ancient Jewish cemetery it had sought to dig up]( By Canaan Lidor Reversal in Vilnius follows highly publicized 10-year battle; activists issue two reports with cultural preservation strategies to avoid similar problems in the future [Polish city throws bubble party on playground over Jewish graves]( By Dinah Spritzer [NYC police report 100 anti-Jewish hate crimes since start of year, down from 2022]( By Luke Tress Analysis Ron Kampeas [As he takes on Trump, Pence brings starkly different approach to Jewish concerns]( Now a 2024 hopeful, former US veep has held pro-Israel views throughout his political career, which has been heavily influenced by his evangelical beliefs and Christian Zionism [Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie files paperwork for presidential run]( By AFP [CRM]( [In Jerusalem’s Old City, Armenian community members fear eviction over land deal]( By AP and ToI Staff Outrage over sale to Australian-Israeli businessman partnered with Emirati hotel group prompts Armenian patriarch to go into hiding and leads to defrocking of broker priest More Headlines [US denounces Roger Waters performance in Berlin as antisemitic]( By Matthew Lee [Tel Aviv ranked eighth most expensive city in the world for foreigners]( By ToI Staff [Vienna to tilt statue of antisemitic mayor admired by Hitler to shift ‘perspective’]( By Gabe Friedman [Top cop tasked with combatting Arab community violence quits as killings spike]( By ToI Staff [State to examine if Netanyahu trial witness violated deal and should be prosecuted]( By ToI Staff [Intel to sell $1.5 billion of Mobileye stake via secondary share offering]( By Sharon Wrobel [Rabbi-curious? / Ultra-Orthodox MK cheered for (mistakenly) joining LGBTQ rights meet]( By Stuart Winer [Two residents of south arrested over theft of 26,000 bullets from IDF base]( By Emanuel Fabian [Police unprepared to deal with multi-front outbreak of violence, chief warns]( By ToI Staff [Israel to triple amount of open space dedicated to solar energy production]( By ToI Staff [Turkey jails teen who drew ‘Hitler mustache’ on Erdogan poster]( By AFP [Opening shot / Golda Meir biopic starring Helen Mirren to open 40th Jerusalem Film Festival]( 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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