Protests mount after Israel passes judicial bill

Israeli doctors began a 24-hour strike, and black ads covered newspaper front pages in a furore over the hard-right government’s ratification of the first part of judicial reforms that critics fear endanger the independence of the courts. Read more

High Court ruling on judicial reform could trigger constitutional crisis

If Israel’s Supreme Court strikes down the “reasonableness law” that the Knesset enacted on Monday, it would create an unprecedented constitutional crisis, legal experts told the Tazpit Press Service. Read more

Rough Trade (Rogue Projects)

A Melbourne theatre review by Alex First Read more

Not when it’s against the Jews

I believe in judging people for their actions, which is why I am so appalled that the New Zealand government would fund an organisation that teaches children to glorify terror and employs staff who incite violence and praise Hitler on social media. Read more

Opposition to petition High Court against ‘reasonableness bill’

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid) will petition the Supreme Court in Jerusalem on Tuesday after the Knesset voted into law a bill to restrict judges’ use of the “reasonableness” standard. Read more

AIJAC and ZFA react to the new legislation

Both the Zionist Federation of Australia and The Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council have expressed misgivings over the passing of the Reasonableness Standard Law in Israel. Read more

Netanyahu refutes claims his judicial reforms harm Israel’s democracy

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected criticisms that his government is harming Israel’s democracy with the passage of its judicial reforms. Read more

Protests rage as Israel passes contested court curbs

Israel’s parliament has ratified the first bill of a judicial overhaul sought by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after last-gasp compromise efforts collapsed and failed to ease a constitutional crisis that has been convulsing the country for months. Read more

Confronting world-wide antisemitism

Major Jewish organizations in Australia, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Argentina have announced the formation of the J7, the Large Communities’ Task Force Against Antisemitism. Read more

Walanbaa Yulu-Gi: Burn the Floor

A Melbourne theatre review by Alex First Read more

From Australia’s Jewish Past: Lewis Wolfe Levy – widely respected businessman, politician and community stalwart

Lewis was born on 13 June 1815 in London, the son of Benjamin Wolfe Levy,  a merchant, and his wife Martha, who was also a Levy prior to their marriage. Read more

Israeli air mission helps Greece from wild inferno

In a heroic operation, Israeli teams have triumphed over the scorching flames in Greece, leaving the region safe and secure. Read more

Far Away

A Melbourne theatre review by Alex First Read more

Bloom

A Melbourne Theatre Company production reviewed by Alex First Read more

Tishah B’Av – the fast that will become a feast

One day the Tishah B’Av fast will become a yom-tov…writes Rabbi Raymond Apple. Read more

Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine will end West Bank confrontations

The continuing silence of any Israeli non-government organisations (NGOs) to endorse the implementation of the 2022 Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine solution (HKOPS) is of grave concern as the security situation in Judea and Samaria (West Bank) worsens. Read more

Fitted with his new pacemaker, Netanyahu to attend Israel vote

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he is “doing excellently” after an unscheduled pacemaker implant and planned to be in parliament for a judicial reform vote that has brought country-wide protests to a boil and stirred calls for compromise. Read more

Herzog’s lamentable performance

Far from the diplomatic triumph that some are making it out to be, Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s address to Congress this week left a bad taste in the mouth. Read more

On the other hand

We are at the moment in the midst of the three-week period leading up to Tisha B’Av when Jews worldwide commemorate the destruction of the two Temples, exile and other associated catastrophes. Read more

Thousands of Israeli troops threaten to quit on reforms

Shortly before a crucial vote on a controversial judicial reform bill in parliament, the Israeli military has raised the stakes in an effort to prevent it from passing. Read more

Netanyahu has pacemaker implanted

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a pacemaker implanted in the early hours of Sunday morning. Read more

New Zealand pro-Palestine group claims Jane Campion asked Jerusalem festival not to show her movie

The New Zealand Palestine Solidarity Network has claimed in a media release that acclaimed film director Jane Campion requested that her 1989 movie “Sweetie” not to be screened at the Jerusalem Film Festival. Read more

Rising tide of hate symbols: Australia’s battle for legislation

In a shocking turn of events, hate symbols that were once a rarity in post-World War II Australia have now appeared in the public sphere. Read more

Shabbat Devarim: The books of the bible

Why do we call the fifth book of the Torah that we start this week Devarim but non-Jews ( and some Jews) call it Deuteronomy? Read more

Soldiers with disabilities earn special berets

Eleven young men and women with various disabilities recently joined an unforgettable Israel Defence Forces “Beret March,” marking their induction as full-fledged soldiers. Read more

Utopia

In 1551 the English diplomat and scholar Sir Thomas More, living in the reign of King Henry 8^th, wrote a book called Utopia. Read more

Unhinged

I am not sure what is actually causing the insanity currently being displayed internationally and domestically. Read more

Special guests offer expert analysis and in-depth insights on UIA’s weekly Israel updates

Meir Javedanfar, Iranian-Israeli Middle East analyst, author, speaker and commentator, will be joining the Israel Update as a guest on Tuesday, 25 July, on Zoom. Read more

Date set for Malka Leifer’s sentence

Malka Leifer will soon learn her fate after a marathon ordeal bringing her to justice for child sexual abuse. Read more

EU Commissioner commits to PA funding freeze over textbook incitement

The European Union official who oversees aid to the Palestinian Authority has voiced support for conditioning the release of funds on the removal of incitement and antisemitism from P.A. textbooks. Read more

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