This week, prominent Religious Zionist Rabbi Yaakov Ariel made the suggestion that according to Jewish law, it is forbidden to establish a coalition in Israel that depends on a minority group. Rabbi Ariel is of the opinion that this is forbidden.
Ariel wrote an article for a book that examines issues of religion and state from the perspective of Jewish law. In this essay, he stated that members of underrepresented groups, such as Arabs, do not belong in positions of power within the Jewish state.
Even though he did not express so specifically, it looked as though he was alluding to the Bennett-Lapid cabinet that included the Islamist Ra’am party in the Israeli government for the very first time in the history of the country.
According to Rabbi Yaakov Ariel, Jewish law forbids forming a coalition with a minority in Israel.
Ariel also stated that non-Jews are not allowed to assume high-ranking posts in the Israeli government, arguing that since Israel is a state established for the Jewish people, it cannot overlook its primary function.
“The public image of the state must remain Israeli,” he stated, and this is represented in a variety of ways, including the prohibition of commercial activity on the Sabbath, the provision of kosher food in public institutions, and the implementation of the Law of Return.
Ariel did not, however, fully rule out the involvement of non-Jews in the decision-making process. He stated that as tax-paying citizens, non-Jews needed a voice in the allocation of finances, thus he did not completely rule out their participation.
According to what he said, political participation by representatives of minority groups is permissible, but only on issues that affect all people equally. However, it is impossible to build a coalition if it is dependent on a minority group.
It is only appropriate for Israelis to hold positions of political power in Israel, especially those as important as prime minister, president, speaker of the Knesset, defense minister, chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces, and foreign minister.
In less than two weeks, local elections will be held in Albania, and the Socialist Party of Albania has made an impressive move by allocating a portion of their campaign budget to plant trees in every city across the country.
Edi Rama, the prime minister of Albania, has stated that his and his party’s goal after these elections is to leave something positive for future generations. Hence, the slogan “Only Forward. Never Backwards.”
He added that citizens are weary of negativity and severe discourse in every election campaign and that, unlike his opponents, his party does not need to contaminate the social environment of the citizens of Albania with shouting, bullying, and political games.
Instead, the party adopts a long-term perspective and demonstrates a dedication to the welfare of Albanian citizens.
Edi Rama of Albania plans to plant trees in every city as part of his election campaign.
“We have decided to have a minimal appearance of large screens, pompous scenes, and advertising materials,” Rama stated at the campaign launch event. “We want to demonstrate that a campaign does not need to leave a wake of trash, pollution, and negativity,” he added.
The initiative has generated a favorable response from the Albanian populace. By accompanying the Prime Minister at rallies and planting trees together, many have shown their support for the initiative, viewing it as a welcome departure from traditional political campaigns that are solely focused on winning ballots.
If you believe this strategy to be naive or foolhardy, you are unfamiliar with Edi Rama. This initiative does not come as a surprise, as it exemplifies Rama’s citizen-centric, longstanding innovative and inventive approach to governance. During his two and a half tenure in office, Rama has prioritized enhancing the well-being and quality of life of Albanians.
In 2004, Rama was awarded the “World Mayor” trophy for transforming Tirana into a tourist destination by repainting the building facades. As part of his Tirana City Master Plan, Rama planted thousands of trees, widened and constructed new roads, and expanded existing ones.
” Now there is a new, colorful, cheerful Tirana with a modernized infrastructure and cultural life.”
Rama was commended by the United Nations Development Program for an additional reason. According to a UNDP report, Rama played a crucial role in the modernization of local administrations, empowering municipalities and granting them, for the first time, the ability to influence the community’s existence.
Due to his efforts, the citizens of Tirana elected him mayor for a decade. He was awarded Time magazine’s European Hero Award.
In addition to the tree-planting initiative, Rama has increased remuneration in the public sector, raised the minimum and average wage in the country, and is working to convince the private sector to follow suit.
During his tenure as head of state, he has made significant advances in digitalization, the rule of law, and anti-corruption policies. His government has instituted e-government services, easing citizens’ access to public services and reducing red tape. He has also prioritized fortifying the rule of law, combating corruption, and promoting government transparency.
With the election less than two weeks away, it won’t be long before we discover how effective this innovative tree-planting campaign was.
Certainly, if it does, it could provide a thrilling opportunity and potential for the global transformation of electoral campaigns, not just in Albania, but possibly globally as well.
President Zuzana aputová has decided to assume responsibility for stabilizing the country after months of witnessing ministers’ conflicting personalities impede political action in Slovakia. aputová has been forced to observe ministers’ squabbling and personality clashes delay political action in Slovakia.
On Friday, aputová announced her picks for an entirely new interim government, comprised exclusively of specialists in their respective disciplines and devoid of political party ministers.
Taking a cue from her own decision to leave a career in civil society to become president, she urged the Slovak public to remain open-minded and to recognize the enormous sacrifice the new appointees in the caretaker mandate were making by leaving their non-political positions to join the government.
Slovakia’s President Zuzana Čaputová has created an expert-led administration due to the country’s extended political instability.
“I am well aware of the difficulty of such a decision and the extent to which it impacts personal life. Those who pursue it have my admiration and gratitude. “Let’s give them a chance, and let’s not pre-judge and condemn them based on deliberate lies that will undoubtedly be uncovered,” the president said on Friday.
The interim government that had been in place since December collapsed last week when caretaker Prime Minister Eduard Heger resigned.
In his place, aputová, Slovakia’s first female president, who enjoys strong support from Western allies, chose an expert government led by udovt dor, who had been vice-governor of the National Bank of Slovakia until then.
President of the Institute of Public Affairs in Bratislava, Grigorij Mesenikov, told Euronews that the president has stated that she will appoint an expert administration if she believes the government is underperforming.
“The president is now a member of the executive government, and Zuzana aputová will co-rule with the government.”
For the first time in its history, Slovakia will have a cabinet composed solely of experts – or technocrats – with no party affiliation. This “government of experts” will commence their term on May 15.
Janardhana Reddy, a mining magnate-turned-politician who founded his own Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha (KRPP), was in the lead in Gangawathy constituency in Koppal district.
Reddy received 25,585 ballots, while Iqbal Ansari of the Congress party received 19,615 votes. Paranna Ishwarappa Munavalli of BJP polled 11,402 ballots. Reddy was in the lead with 5,969 votes.
In the Bellary municipal segment, Reddy’s spouse Gali Lakshmi Aruna received 13,653 votes.
Here, the BJP candidate is Somashekara Reddy, the sibling of Janardhana Reddy. Somashekar Reddy lagged behind in third place. He has received 8,920 votes thus far.
With 18,854 votes, Congress candidate Nara Bharath Reddy was in the lead.
During his years as Foreign Affairs minister, he may have visited Arusha often.
With regional and continental authorities based in Arusha, a cabinet minister controlling the docket was unsurprised.
In late 2015, the diplomatic city lost Mr. Bernard Membe, who died yesterday.
On April 27, he resurfaced in a non-diplomatic institution.
The Institute of Accountancy Arusha (IAA) asked him to speak on African peace and security issues.
The 30-year-old training center recently added a peace and security military science course.
His explanations of security issues wowed military strategy students, academics, and others.
At an accounting and auditing school, such a speech may not appeal to the audience.
It had to. Insurgencies plague eastern Africa from Mozambique through eastern DR Congo, the two Sudans, Ethiopia, and Somalia.
He discussed DDRRR, a diplomatic term for disarmament, demobilization, reintegration, resettlement, and repatriation, to halt the violence.
After the fourth-phase regime ended, the outspoken politician almost disappeared for years.
Mr. Membe was an intelligence officer, diplomat, MP, and minister.
After becoming an MP for Mtama in Lindi in 2000, he became known to the public.
He once halted a Parliamentary discussion on alleged corruption, misuse, or theft at a diplomatic station abroad.
He urged the House that public authorities should no longer be bashful about criticizing incompetent ones.
Mr. Membe’s political influence resurfaced after President Jakaya Kikwete appointed him Foreign Affairs minister.
However, he got caught up in several dramas, proving that politics is dangerous.
He was mocked in the mainstream and formal media as a minister preparing to become President Kikwete a few years later.
He delayed responding to the accusations while formulating Mr. Kikwete’s foreign policy during a period of high investment.
When he finally defended himself against accusations that he was unfit for the presidency, it was like a cheetah opening its claws.
He claimed at a media-covered gathering that he knew all those behind the nasty campaign against him and their networks and was ready to fight them.
While in the government, Mr. Membe boasted of his well-informed network.
However, Membe and Kikwete were close. He trusted the fourth-phase president completely.
A Tanzanian leader made innumerable formal visits to various nations, maybe barring South America, throughout that period.
Tanzania welcomed various world leaders from 2005 to 2015, including George W. Bush and Barack Obama in 2008 and 2013, respectively.
Due to its diplomacy, Tanzania hosted some of the most prominent conferences during those days.
AfDB and other global organizations organized several of those that attracted many delegates in Arusha.
Despite being engaged in the African Union (AU), Tanzania has never hosted the annual Heads of State Summits.
President Kikwete’s 4th term (2005–2015) took up the continental organization’s chairmanship.
Tanzania last headed the AU (formerly OAU) in 1984-85 under former President Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.
Although Membe died without becoming president, he was close to power.
He ran for president twice, first under the CCM in 2015, losing in the elimination stage to the late President John Pombe Magufuli.
He ran for president under ACT-Wazalendo in 2020 after losing favor with the ruling party. Opposition lost badly.
After previous presidents Jakaya Kikwete and Benjamin Mkapa, Mr. Membe served as Foreign Affairs minister the longest.
While the late Mkapa was Foreign Affairs minister for a record-setting 1977-1980 and 1984-1990, Mr. Kikwete, or JK, held the docket for 10 years (1995-2005).
He joined a “club” of famous diplomats who served as Foreign Affairs ministers since independence but never became prime minister.
Oscar Kambona, John Malecela, Ibrahim Kaduma, Salim Ahmed Salim, Joseph Rwegasira, Dr Asha-Rose Migiro, and Dr Augustine Mahiga.
Mr. Membe’s 2015 presidential loss is debated. He was eliminated last minute despite the incumbent’s support.
According to Mr Membe’s acquaintances, his political woes began following Dr Magufuli’s 2015 election win.
The late spy-turned-minister may have disagreed with the November 2015 fifth-phase President, however nothing is known.
Only days after Dr. Magufuli assumed office, he urged him to reconsider his international travel cutbacks, which he believed needless for the country.
The former minister said Tanzania and its economy needed global engagement to survive.
The first five years of the fifth-phase administration barred Mr. Membe from public sector appointments.
In 2021, he informed a local weekly newspaper that he was nominated for Commonwealth secretary general in late 2015, but the administration declined.
After a release of a clip in which he and other CCM stalwarts purportedly criticized the Magufuli government, he virtually stayed out of the government for the whole 2016 time, sparking suspicion.
After his expulsion from the CCM, Mr. Membe announced a 2020 vengeance mission.
He joined the opposition party ACT-Wazalendo and became a 2020 presidential contender. After commencing his presidential campaign in August 2020, he disappeared and traveled abroad again.
He denied withdrawing from the presidential contest during a political event days before the election.
Instead, he informed the assembly that he was still in the race, reminding them that in football, the last 90 minutes counted.
He finished third in the 15-person presidential contest.
He received 81,000 votes, compared to 12.5 million for Magufuli and 1.9 million for Tundu Lissu (Chadema).
Mr. Assah Mwambene, an AICC communication officer, was startled by his death yesterday.
He was really kind. He also helped others in need, he told The Citizen.
Mr. Mwambene worked with the late Membe while he was Foreign Affairs minister and oversaw the ministry’s media department.
He remembers the previous minister for his 2012–2013 Lake Nyasa conflict between Tanzania and Malawi.
He claimed he formed a team of specialists from both nations and beyond to determine if Malawi had jurisdictional control over the lake.
After the 2019 disgrace, Mr. Membe was restored as a CCM member, but Mr. Mwambene is unsure if he would return to politics.
I know he wrote works on diplomacy, peace, and security. The Institute of Accountancy Arusha (IAA) gave him a visiting lecturer position on the same.
The head of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Quds Force has stated that his organization will continue its verbal and material support for the Palestinian resistance until the Zionist system is destroyed. Brigadier General Esmaeil Qaani, speaking at a cultural festival in the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad, pledged the full support of the IRGC Quds Force for the youthful Palestinian resistance forces and their “strong heroic front.”
The commander pledged to maintain such collaboration and aid until the entire Zionist regime crumbled.
The Iranian commander praised young Palestinian warriors, saying, “These are the result of the resistance front and the global Islamic mobilization.” The operations were carried out against the Israeli authority in the West Bank, sometimes more than 30 in a single day.
The resistance front, General Qaani said, has expanded into a global axis that links together previously separate resistance movements.
After the fall of the Zionist authority began a few of years ago, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said in April that the Muslim world should grab the enormous opportunity it presents.
The Leader highlighted the fall of the usurping Zionist authority as evidence that the Palestinian cause was among the most basic in the Islamic world. The Islamic world, he added, must take advantage of the “great opportunity” presented by “this decline,” which he said had “accelerated now” after a slow start a few years earlier.
Former Florida Democrat Robert Wexler is a leading candidate to replace Tom Nides as U.S. ambassador to Israel, according to two Jewish Insider sources familiar with the confirmation process. Time and political constraints may prevent the administration from nominating a new ambassador before the November 2024 presidential elections, according to observers.
According to one source, Wexler, who served in the House from 1997 to 2010 and is presently the president of the S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace, “is in a strong position and has already established relationships with the Israelis.”
Other candidates being considered are Democratic fundraiser Michael Adler, who is currently the U.S. ambassador to Belgium; former Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY); former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Daniel Shapiro, who served from 2011 to 2017; and Deputy Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Aaron Keyak.
Keyak was interim special envoy during Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt’s protracted confirmation process.
Adler would have to abandon his present prestigious position in Brussels, and Israel, who currently operates a bookstore on Long Island and is a political commentator, might not want to return to the political arena. Shapiro is the current director of the N7 Initiative and a distinguished fellow in the Middle East Programs of the Atlantic Council. The Biden administration previously considered Israel, Adler, Shapiro, and Wexler for the position.
When asked about a prospective nomination, Wexler told JI, “There is nothing to share at this time.” Israel and Shapiro did not respond to comment requests.
According to one source, it may be difficult for the administration to find a nominee with Republican support in the Senate; therefore, “the question is whether Wexler can pass the Senate.”
In addition, it is uncertain whether the administration has the time or political capital to vet, nominate, confirm, train, deploy, and orient an ambassador prior to the 2024 election.
Senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Aaron David Miller believes the administration is inclined toward keeping current Deputy Chief of Mission Stephane Hallet in post as charge d’affaires until President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign concludes. One source who suggested potential candidates for the position concurred that this is a possibility.
“The reality is that from now on, risk aversion will pertain to foreign policy as the race for the presidency progresses. Already a significant constraint, domestic politics will become even more so. Miller stated, “I don’t know where a U.S. ambassador fits in the grand scheme of things or how urgent it is to have a very strong DCM.”
The last thing anyone would want is a congressional battle over this issue. Therefore, if you cannot identify a Teflon-resistant candidate who would cruise through confirmation, why rush?”
In the newest edition of AUTO ACTION, noted racing personality Greg Crick argued to Publisher and Editorial Director Bruce Williams that the open wheel category should be embraced before it’s too late.
He highlights the challenges he feels are holding open-wheeler formula S5000 participant numbers back, have generated much comment/feedback, and now with only nine racers at this weekend’s Phillip Island S5000 event, the category’s long-term future must be questioned.
Crick believes it’s time to act and that everyone isn’t being fair.
Crick was asked to engineer Garry Rogers Motorsport’s S5000 entry for PremiAir Racing Supercars driver James Golding for the Tasmanian S5000 race in February.
Crick was impressed with the vehicle and will again oversee Golding’s car in this weekend’s Phillip Island event, but he is concerned about the category’s limitations, especially for drivers hoping to race a Supercar.
“It’s pretty simple—they all are told that unless they take the Super2 route, they’ll never drive a Supercar,” he told AUTO ACTION.
I think that’s the key element and it’s unjust. S5000 drivers aren’t given enough credit for their expertise and safety.
James is living proof. He drove well already. After driving S5000, he drove Supercars better.
Crick also questioned Motorsport Australia’s selective Bathurst S5000 ban.
“Suddenly, they’ve decided that those cars are so dangerous that they’re going to fly over the fence into the crowd and kill someone?” he added.
“We’ve seen other cars fly. I saw an Aussie race car fall over the barrier and land outside the Bathurst racecourse, where they still race!
“Any race car can fly if the wheels get tangled or ride over bodywork. I’m confused.”
Crick also noted Supercars’ Formula Holden champions.
He advised looking at open-wheeler drivers who succeeded in touring automobiles. “There’s been some rippers—Mark Skaife, Craig Lowndes, Jason Bright, Mark Larkham, Rick Kelly, Neil Crompton, Bargs—all came from Formula Holden.” Let’s not forget that our Trans-Tasman IndyCar heroes Scott Dixon and Will Power also started in Formula Holden.
”These cars are even better to race and run than Formula Holden was back in the day and it’s time everyone recognizes that and gets on board.” Crick stated.
Chris Lambden, S5000’s “Father,” applauded Crick’s proactive help. “Greg is a very respected person in and around Australian motorsport,” he remarked.
“There have been some unique and frankly disturbing hurdles put in the way of something that has strong public support and potential competitor make-up.Yes, early entries are low, but it’s not simply owing to the economy, which is affecting most racing.
“There are some high-profile events coming up in the second half of the year, and I’m confident that, if we can knock over a hurdle or two, S5000 will regain even better numbers.”
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) is trusted, but the community-police relationship should not be taken for granted and allowed to deteriorate.
At the Police Workplan Seminar and Exhibition at the Singapore Expo on Friday, Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam said there are lessons to be learned from instances when police are perceived as the adversary rather than protectors.
He cited the January 2020 Capitol Hill riot.
After Trump lost the election to Democrat Joe Biden, his supporters attacked the US government building with stun guns, baseball bats, and other weapons.
Mr. Shanmugam claimed the police were engulfed in politics.
Despite property destruction, over 140 cops injured, and over 1,000 people detained, some in the media and politicians sought to minimize the rebellion for their personal advantage.
The Speaker of the House released surveillance video with Fox News earlier this year. Mr. Shanmugam said that the Republican Speaker is second in the presidential succession and that the pundit suggested the Democrats misled to Americans about the events.
The minister stated these political tactics involve the police in political arguments.
He said that it might happen in all democracies during a power struggle, with some factions exploiting the police as a scapegoat or collateral damage.
“So, we avoid this and support the police being neutral and independent, not used for political purposes. Mr. Shanmugam stated the police should not be politicked.
The minister used US gun ownership to show how regulations influence police officers’ daily work.
He claimed he doesn’t think Americans are more violent than others, even Singaporeans.
He noted that 50 to 60 police officers are killed by weapons each year, and knowing of colleagues who have been shot, will affect their thinking.
Mr. Shanmugam told SPF officers at the event: “If there are 4 million guns out there, for our 3.6 million citizen population, I think our officers will have a very different mindset.
You’ll fear every incidence. The smallest suspicion might cause an immediate reaction—to fire or be shot.”
Mr. Shanmugam warned against involving the police in social issues including race, religion, and politics.
He said government must address social concerns and police must execute the law.
“That means the government has to deal with the fault lines in society, and they have to be dealt with effectively, because when tensions escalate, public disorder breaks out, there are outcomes that the police have no choice but to deal with,” said Mr. Shanmugam.
“If there are serious socio-political divides, the police will be seen as taking sides, attacking particular ethnicities or demographics (those in the protests).”
He said that unresolved socio-political concerns caused the 2019 Hong Kong demonstrations.
The police were summoned to restore order, but the people accused them of being partial, repressive, and part of the problem. Mr. Shanmugam called it “people versus police”.
“The Hong Kong Police Force went from being ‘Asia’s Finest’ to being hated and even disgusted,” the minister said.
Mr. Shanmugam observed that police is a difficult profession and urged for fair pay for officers, who work shifts and on public holidays and are at danger of injury.
He noted that it’s also vital to defend cops and counter misinformation.
A 2021 Yishun police officer was unjustly accused of bullying an elderly woman.
Mr. Shanmugam used the fake news statute to force an Instagram user, Singapore Uncensored, and The Online Citizen (TOC) websites to issue corrections.
After TOC repeated its assertions, the police revealed two body-worn camera films from the policemen involved.
As a dispute between the minister and backbench Conservative MPs grew more heated, a prominent Brexiteer from the Conservative Party asserted that Kemi Badenoch did not intend to eliminate anything “material” as part of the Government’s “bonfire” of EU-era rules.
Former Cabinet member Sir John Redwood blasted the Business and Trade Secretary after the Government backtracked on its pledge to finish repealing thousands of laws by the end of the year.
In a U-turn that has prompted a ferocious backlash among Tory Eurosceptics, just about 600 legislation would be repealed as opposed to the 4,000 that were first promised.
Top Brexiteer criticizes Kemi Badenoch over EU legislation axing.
“I don’t think she [Ms. Badenoch] wants to get rid of anything material,” Sir John said to TalkTV. I have examined her list in the proposed amendment, and almost everything on it is either not applicable to Britain, has passed its expiration date, or was created for a specific reason that has since been fulfilled.
“We want some decent things that will make life better because it will take out cost, needless regulation, or needless tax imposition.”
His remarks followed Ms. Badenoch’s description of her Conservative opponents as “people who talk but can’t do” over the subject.
