Slippery Slope

The NGOs Adam, Teva v’Din and the Movement for the Quality of Government appealed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (HaLikud-Beitenu), requesting that he prevent the appointment of Hezi Tzaig, a former Likud activist, to the position of chairman of the plenum of the Nature and Parks Authority. According to the organizations, the appointment was made with improper procedure by outgoing Minister for Environmental Protection, Gilad Erdan (HaLikud-Beitenu), in the last days of the sitting government, and there is a fear it might be politically motivated.

(Hebrew – Haaretz)

The attorney general ordered an investigation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after suspicions arose that he received money illegally from Haredi singer and businessman Dedi Graucher, who is suspected to have transferred hundreds of thousands of Shekels in cash to Netanyahu’s driver. (Times of Israel)

(Hebrew – Nana10)

Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Justice Elyakim Rubinstein, has determined that the Likud-Beitenu party broke the elections law when singer Sarit Hadad performed next to Prime-Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.  The law stipulates that artists cannot participate in election campaigning. (Ynetnews)

(Hebrew – Ynet)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during a tour of the Israel-Egypt border fence that he “has committed to the return of all the tens of thousands of African infiltrators to their countries of origin or to other countries.” (Ynetnews)

(Hebrew – Ynet)

A new reporter, Ze’ev Schneider, was recently appointed to the news division of the national radio broadcaster, Kol Yisrael, without being assigned a regular field of coverage.  Schneider has no prior experience in journalism, and did not pass a journalism course.  Schneider’s father is Nehemia Schneider, a Likud activist who serves as a paid advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

(Hebrew – The Marker)

The Prime Minister’s Office demanded that Prof. Rivka Feldhay, a faculty member of Tel Aviv University, cancel her participation in a meeting between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Netanayhu with academics in Berlin, because of her political views and criticism of government policy. (Haaretz)

(Hebrew – Haaretz)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) has decided to approve the construction of approximately 3,000 housing units in East Jerusalem and West Bank settlements, including in area E1, which connects Jerusalem with the settlement Ma’aleh Adumim. (Haaretz)

(Hebrew – Haaretz)

MK Ofir Akunis (Likud) asked the Attorney General, Yehuda Weinstein, to open a criminal investigation of MK Afou Agbaria (Hadash) on the charge of incitement against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.  The request follows a status on his Facebook page of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu with blood-stained hands and blood-splattered clothes at the start of the Pillar of Defense military operation.  The caption under the image says: “Citizens of Israel, vote for me! Look, I have fresh blood on my hands!” (Arutz7)

(Hebrew – Walla!)

Likud convention members voted on the agreement between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.  The members of the convention were required to vote on the agreement without seeing it or knowing its details.

(Hebrew – ynet)

The State Comptroller’s report on the Carmel Fire places overall responsibility for the low level of preparedness of the fire services on the whole government, headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.  The report places special responsibility on Interior Minister Eli Yishai who is in charge of the fire services and on Minister of Finance Yuval Steinitz who conditioned the transfer of funds to the fire services on their completion of an organizational reform. (Haaretz)

(Hebrew - Walla)