In October, the Palestinian security forces arrested a man named Issam Akal, a resident of [East] Jerusalem. Akal was suspected of the crime of selling land to Israelis - treason.

Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem Rav Aryeh Stern paskened, in a letter sent to encourage working for Akal's release, that efforts to resolve Akal's situation and get him released fall under the category of the mitzva of pidyon shvuyim - redeeming captives, which is a tremendous mitzva.

Rav Stern referenced the Gemara that says we support poor gentiles along with poor Jews, so the same will also apply for redeeming gentile captives just as we redeem Jewish captives. Rav Stern said anyone working for his release would also have a mitzva of yishuv haaretz - settling of the land, as others will see that the Jews work to protect them and will also be encouraged and willing to sell land to jews.
source: Israel Hayom and Kikar

1. interesting. especially when Rav Chaim Kanievsky chuckles..
2. I am not sure why this person wastes Rav Chaim Kanievsky's time with such silly and unimportant questions
3. I don't know why he has to stick his face in Rav Chaim Kanievsky's face and scream
4. Until nearly the end I did not understand a word of what Rav Chaim Kanievsky mumbled. I wonder if this guy really understands, when he takes a 3 word mumbled answer and explains it, or if he is just making things up..

As in years past, the City of Jerusalem will be distributing free Christmas trees to residents celebrating the holiday. The distribution will take place this Thursday (for details, if relevant, see Janglo).

I am surprised there are only 250 celebrating Christians in Jerusalem, but that's what it says. Maybe 250 is the city's limit on the free distribution and everyone beyond that has to go buy their own.

I have no problem with the City of Jerusalem being involved in this, though some people do. My only issue is why distribute Christmas trees for free and not Hanukkah menoras or matza for Pesach? Or maybe free lulav and esrog for Sukkos? I don't know what equipment Muslims need for their holidays (besides sheep?), but maybe they should get something free as well...

The news has reported and made a big deal that Yair Netanyahu, the son of, has been suspended from facebook for his recent calls for expelling Arabs from Israel...

You aren't anybody until your Facebook account has been suspended, so maybe now he will have some authority behind is statements.

In the meantime, until Yair gets back online and in our faces, so many people are proud of him and of what he said and are saying he should be the future prime minister (next? in 20 years?)

Yair has never really done anything, besides for being the son of Bibi. He has not done anything for the public, he has not led organizations or movements. He really has been nothing but the son of Bibi. I am not sure why so many people think he is qualified to be a prime minister just because he said one thing they happen to like.  He seems to be more of an entitled loudmouth rather than someone with actual leadership qualities, though I admit I don't know him well or about him enough...

Anyways, if he takes after his father at all, he will probably say a lot of policy statements that he never intends to keep... Maybe that is really what right wingers actually like - just the appearance of being right wing, and not actually implementation of policy...

Minister Naftali Bennett and Mk Motti Yogev (Habayit Hayehudi) have proposed a law that would allow the government to expel the families of terrorists.

The catch is really where they will be expelled to.

INitially they tried to pass the law to allow the government to expel the families to Gaza, but after that did not pass on a number of attempts, they changed it to expel them from their villages/towns and relocate them to others parts of Judea and Samaria.

PM Netanyahu opposed the proposal, as does Attorney General Avihai Mandelblit (mandelblit says this will bring problems with the international court in the Hague for war crimes), but Bennett would not postpone the vote on this any longer and pushed it through, with the vote passing unanimously. This is what can happen with a  government of 61..


The right to expel will apply to the family of a terrorist who committed an act of terror, or tried to, within 7 days of the incident, for the purpose of deterrence.

The vote on this passed in the ministerial committee and will be brought before the Knesset for passage.
source: Maariv

I am pretty confident this will almost never be used, except perhaps in the most extreme acts of terror. Hopefully the possibility of it being used will be enough deterrence on its own. The law should, if anything, allow the government to expel them from the country, not just to another area within Judea and Samaria. The way Yitzchak Rabin did when he dumped 400 terrorists on a mountain in Lebanon.

this is actually cute. I read somewhere that the guy who made this and stars in the video is a Lebanese television personality and comedian..anyways, obviously you have to read the Hebrew subtitles...

The Prime Minister of Australia, Scott Morison, announced that Australia recognizes West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

At least that. Maybe it is a good first step.

So, will Australia move its embassy to West Jerusalem?

Not so fast, buddy. Morrison says that they will not be moving the embassy to West Jerusalem at this time but will begin the search for a suitable site. They are planning to move the embassy when it will be practical, after a final status agreement with the Palestinians.

So basically never.

I am not sure why though. If they already recognize West Jerusalem as the capital, why does moving the embassy - to West Jerusalem - require waiting for a final status agreement? Get started now on moving it - find the site, start building or refurbishing the building, etc.

Nu nu.

כל מי שיעלה מחירים לציבור הצרכנים, שלא בצדק, יתחרט על כך במהרה.

בכל מקום שתהיה עליית מחירים לא מוצדקת, נפחית מכסים ונגדיל את התחרות בשוק, בדיוק כפי שעשינו עד היום.

— משה כחלון - Moshe Kahlon (@KahlonMoshe) December 15, 2018