Biden issues Israeli democracy warning * More volunteer reservists bow out as overhaul advances * Herzog about to address Congress * Archaeology: A door to the underworld

[Times of Israel]( [The daily edition]( Wednesday, July 19, 2023 Presented by [Groundwork]( [Biden indicates ‘special relationship’ on the line in absence of consensus on overhaul]( By ToI Staff US president tells NY Times’s Tom Friedman that ‘vibrancy of Israel’s democracy’ is at heart of ties between the 2 countries, but threatened by unilateral moves to weaken judiciary [Report: Netanyahu told Biden opposition parties aren’t serious about negotiations]( By ToI Staff [US House overwhelmingly passes GOP resolution backing Israel, meant to rebuke Dems]( By Jacob Magid [161 senior Air Force reservists bow out of volunteer duty to protest overhaul]( By Emanuel Fabian In response to government advancing controversial legislation, reserve officers in key roles say they are not able to fulfill duty under ‘a dictatorship,’ effective immediately [‘Won’t serve dictatorship’: Reservists to suspend volunteer duty over legal shakeup]( By Emanuel Fabian [‘We don’t have any other democracy’: Demoted Tel Aviv police chief takes his leave]( By Michael Bachner Live updates [LIVE: Herzog arrives at US Capitol ahead of address to joint session of Congress]( By Amy Spiro President invites grandchildren of both Harry Truman and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel to attend speech; Israeli anti-overhaul protesters gather outside from our sponsor [No Such Thing as Partial Democracy]( Back in February, at the beginning of what would come to be a year of historic demonstrations across Israel, we went to Tel Aviv to meet activist, Eran Nissan, who is leading the charge. [Hoping to head off ‘reasonableness’ bill, protesters begin 4-day march to Jerusalem]( By ToI Staff Hundreds of activists, including protest leaders, spend night at Ariel Sharon Park, urge more to join as group makes way to capital in time for vote on controversial legislation [Anti-overhaul protesters rally for women’s rights outside religious courts]( By ToI Staff [Hospital staff stage 2-hour strike against overhaul bill, warn of wider action]( By Michael Bachner [Police clear Ayalon Highway after long day of nationwide protests; 45 arrested in all]( By ToI Staff Tens of thousands gathered across the country to rail against overhaul legislation; leaders of the protest movement launch march to Jerusalem along Route 1 [Thousands mass at anti-overhaul rallies, block highway after rail station protests]( By Carrie Keller-Lynn and ToI Staff [ToI podcast / Daily Briefing July 19: 100s march on capital to back MKs who oppose contentious bill]( By ToI Staff [Likud minister calls attorney general ‘the most dangerous person’ in Israel]( By ToI Staff In Knesset speech, David Amsalem says Gali Baharav-Miara poses real threat to democracy; opposition leaders pan remarks as dangerous incitement, call for him to be fired [Herzog tells Biden Israel’s democracy ‘resilient,’ as overhaul protests rage at home]( By Jacob Magid and Lazar Berman US president avoids publicly mentioning judicial reform but privately says compromise vital, and that internal crisis complicates efforts to advance regional peace [100s march on capital to back MKs who oppose contentious bill]( [listen to the podcast]( Top Ops Guy Lurie [Under Levin, justice is delayed, and delayed, and delayed]( The public is being held hostage by a minister who is shirking his legal duty to convene the Judicial Selection Committee Meir Javedanfar [The world ignores Iran’s interest in Latin America to global detriment]( Iran’s shady activities in Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba help the regime defy sanctions and ignore the needs of its own desperate population Archaeology [New finds show cave near Beit Shemesh may have been seen as a door to the underworld]( By Melanie Lidman Oil lamps and fragments of human skull lead archaeologists to believe Teomim Cave was used for necromancy, or communication with dead, some 1,700 years ago [Lost Israeli antiquities said to reemerge in Trump’s Florida residence]( By Gianluca Pacchiani Interview [Disability advocate tours Israel on Segway as part of outdoor-focused Birthright trip]( By Charlie Summers Author and public speaker Brandon Farbstein, who has a rare form of dwarfism, says there is ‘much room for improvement’ in Israel when it comes to accessibility for disabled people [At Netanyahu trial, former Walla editor describes ‘outside meddling’ in coverage]( By Gianluca Pacchiani and ToI Staff Yinon Magal says there were ‘political and economic pressures’ on the news site to remove unfavorable coverage, including of PM’s family and associates [CRM]( [Crowded field of GOP presidential candidates vie for Christian Zionist vote]( By TIFFANY STANLEY DeSantis, Haley and Pence all speak at annual summit of Christians United for Israel, as Republicans court white evangelical base; Trump not invited [Trump predicts he’ll be indicted in investigation of January 6 riot]( By AFP More Headlines [Anger as abbot told to hide his cross on visit to Western Wall with German minister]( By ToI Staff [Israeli man arrested in Uganda on suspicion of murdering his wife]( By Stuart Winer [Syria accuses Israel of carrying out airstrikes on capital, wounding two soldiers]( By Emanuel Fabian [Smotrich said to want millions from Arab economic plan to cover yeshiva stipends]( By ToI Staff [Shunned by Western tourists, Iran looks to attract visitors from its neighbors]( By Payam DOOST MOHAMADI [High-tech complex opens in East Jerusalem to help create jobs for local programmers]( By Sharon Wrobel [Son of Nazareth politician shot dead – 125th Arab killed in violence this year]( By ToI Staff [US blacklists Israeli-controlled firms behind Predator spyware]( By AFP [Drawing closer / 23rd Animix Festival in Tel Aviv celebrates Disney]( By Jessica Steinberg [Scholar Aharon Ariel, War of Independence vet and ‘walking encyclopedia,’ dies at 97]( By Andrew Silow-Carroll [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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