Israel general discussion - what's hot in the Levant

[Hnv1]

Well I reckon matters revolving Israel (and accordingly Palestine) should have their own thread. so let's kick off.

American SoS, John Kerry, is working vigorously on getting Netanyahu and Abbas to resume direct negotiations; heretofore his labour had proved futile. Sources claim the gaps are small though and both sides may resume talks soon (I fear that they will only to please Kerry).

Palestinians want construction in the settlements halted, and a small portion of prisoners (120) released. Netanyahu is unwilling to get for an expressed construction halt and is willing to stop things without all the fuss (Jerusalem secluded from the bargain), regarding the prisoners he is willing to let them off in several batches and not all together.

Politically, in Israel there are mounting rumours that Netanyahu really wants to start rolling towards a solution, with him and ministers from his government giving interviews expressing their willingness to resume talks asap. Atlas members will have to forgive me if I'm skeptic of Netanyahu, so far he had given me no reason to trust a word he says.

International relations aside. The first 100 days of the new government were not so pleasant with fractures in the coalition (mainly between Livni and Benet) already evident. Lapid is receiving a far amount of loathing from the left due to the state budget he put forth as Minister of Treasury.

In Netanyahu's own party there is a growing stir against him due to the failure in the general election and the alliance with Liberman.
       

[Famous Mortimer]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but there have been no resignations or party switches in this Knesset so far, have there? It's the same 120 people and the same party standings as when they were first elected. That seems pretty remarkable.

Although I did read a little while ago that Moshe Feiglin isn't taking the Likud whip.

[Hnv1]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but there have been no resignations or party switches in this Knesset so far, have there? It's the same 120 people and the same party standings as when they were first elected. That seems pretty remarkable.

Although I did read a little while ago that Moshe Feiglin isn't taking the Likud whip.

It's too early for floor-swapping. Feiglin, and former speaker Rivlin are both running a pretty independent agenda. Livni and Benets' parties are at each other throats. Netanyahu is very suspicious of Lapid and is downright hostile towards Benet. with numerous incidents this coalition is creaking. 

[Hnv1]

New twist from the Prisoner 'X' scandal. For those unfamiliar with the incident: Mossad  agent Ben Zeiger strayed during his conduct, he was put into a maximum security prison cell where his identity was kept secret (he received the name X), there he committed suicide (despite the cell being monitored 24/7). The scandal was published by an Australian news agency (X was an Australian citizen) and due to Israeli strict military censorship laws Israeli media could run pieces about it. The incident broke censorship after MKs from the left during their speeches broke the ban.
Back then Meretz Chairwoman, MK Zehava Galon, raised a query for the Minister of Interior security, were there more prisoners with no name in Israel? he claimed there were none. Now, the incident inspection committee revealed there is indeed another John Doh in Israeli prison