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Home , Benny Begin, Gadi Eizenkot, Gilad Erdan, Gilad Kariv, Yariv Levin, Yizhar Hess

To provide greater exposure to primary Israeli news sources and opinions in order to become better informed on the issues, and to gain a better understanding of the wide range of perspectives that exist in Israeli society and politics. Issue 1009 • June 3, 2016 • 26 Iyar 5776

NEW DEFENSE MINISTER TAKES OFFICE, PLANS TO WORK ‘24/7’ Post has learned. ( Hayom 6/1/16) The US, which publicly has taken a wait-and-see approach to the French-led Newly appointed Defense Minister sought to convey a summit, is considered to be the dominant actor, whose positions will go a message of unequivocal support to the General Staff Tuesday, telling the long way toward determining the outcome of the conference. officers that "the IDF and its commanders are the widest consensus in Israeli Prime Minister – who has come out adamantly against society, and that is the military's greatest asset." the meeting – spoke out against it again Wednesday night at a graduation Speaking during his first General Staff meeting, held at Rabin Base, the IDF's ceremony at Bar-Ilan University’s medical school in Safed. headquarters in , Lieberman said, "Israel is the only country in the “The way to peace does not go through international conferences that seek world were the phrase 'the people's army' is not a cliche but a reality. Even to impose agreements, make the Palestinians’ demands more extreme and now, the majority of fighting forces comprise reservists, meaning civilians. thereby make peace more remote,” he said. This is why the IDF's role in Israeli society is far more significant than the Instead, Netanyahu added, the way to peace is through direct negotiations roles played by other militaries, and its missions are far more diverse." without any preconditions. “This is the way it was when we reached peace Since its inception, the IDF "has been more than Israel's shield -- it is Israeli with Egypt and with Jordan, and this is the way it needs to be with the society's melting pot and its civilians roles are just as important as its military Palestinians,” he said. “If the countries gathered this week in Paris really want ones. This is why I see the IDF's primary mission in maintaining national to advance the peace, they should join my call to Abu Mazen [Palestinian resilience. No other body is as qualified as the IDF to shoulder the Authority President Mahmoud Abbas] to come to direct negotiations.” responsibility not only for the troops' operational competence, but for the Paris has indicated regarding previous initiatives it has floated over the past nation's resilience," Lieberman said. year that if after a specified amount of time negotiations do not produce He warned that "Israeli society cannot afford to wage elective wars. We will results, it would recognize a Palestinian state. wage war when there is no other choice, and we have to win them. We also Israel’s position is that this only hardens the Palestinian negotiating position, don't have the luxury of waging wars of attrition. Over all, in a democratic since they will have no incentive to genuinely negotiate if they know that if no society, matters of war and peace must express the will of the majority of the agreement is reached, they will get international recognition anyway. people -- not be decided upon by the narrow majority of one vote." Concluding his speech before the General Staff, Lieberman said, "I believe in PA PRESIDENT ABBAS: I’LL JUDGE LIEBERMAN’S ACTIONS, NOT HIS diplomatic pragmatism and military power. I come here with an open mind WORDS ( 6/1/16) and I plan to work 24/7. I would like to thank my predecessor, [Moshe] Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas commented Tuesday on Ya'alon, and while I disagreed with him many times, he has many credits and Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman's appointment as defense he contributed greatly to Israel's security. I plan of fully cooperating with Chief minister, saying he did not rule out resuming dialogue with Israel. of Staff Gadi Eizenkot and the General Staff, and I'm sure that together, we "I don't judge people by their political affiliation or their words, only by their will keep Israel safe and secure." Israel Report is a Student Publication of NEWEST MK YEHUDA GLICK GETS ARMED BODYGUARD (Arutz-7 INN.com 5/23/16) Daniel Zolty, Editor-in-Chief Yonatan Kurz, Moshe Davis, Alex Ostrin and Eli Levine, Editors On Monday the Knesset Guard Sergeant-at-Arms Brigadier General Yossi We are proud to be distributed by these institutions, though they do not necessarily support or condone Grif assigned a bodyguard to Israel’s newest MK, Temple Mount activist any of the material published: Yehuda Glick, following threats upon his life. Anshei Chesed Cong., Boynton Beach, FL Hillel at California State University - Long Beach Bergen County High School of Hillel at Columbia University Glick, who was shot and severely wounded in an assassination attempt in Boca Raton Synagogue, FL Hillel at Johns Hopkins University 2014, has been the subject of regular death threats by Arab terrorists. He will Carmel School, Hong Kong Hillel at Yale University Chabad of Oak Park, CA Hillel High School, Deal NJ be one of the few Knesset members to have protection by an armed guard. Cong. Agudath Achim, Bradley Beach, NJ Jewish Center of Teaneck, NJ Replacing out-going MK and former Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon, Cong. Ahavas Achim, Highland Park, NJ Kehillas Bais Yehudah Tzvi, Cedarhurst, NY Cong. Ahavath Achim, Fairfield, CT Kemp Mill Synagogue, Silver Spring, MD Glick will be sworn in to the Knesset at a ceremony on Wednesday. Cong. Anshe Shalom, Jamaica Estates, NY Mizrachi Shul, Johannesburg, SA In light of a prohibition established by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu Cong. Beth Aaron, Teaneck, NJ North Shore Hebrew Academy HS, NY Cong. Beth Shalom, Monroe Twp, NJ Suburban Torah Center, Livingston, NJ against MKs visiting the Temple Mount, Glick will be unable to tour the Mount Cong. Bnai Yeshurun, Teaneck, NJ The Learning Shul, Columbia, SC during his tenure as a Knesset Member. He ascended the holy site one last Cong. Ohr Torah, Edison, NJ Woodsburgh, NY Minyan time on Monday before meeting with Netanyahu, who warned him not to set Cong. Rinat Yisrael, Teaneck, NJ Young Israel Bet Tefilah of Aberdeen, NJ Cong. Shomrei Torah, Fair Lawn, NJ Young Israel of Brookline, MA foot on the Temple Mount so long as he serves in the Knesset. Cong. Sons of Israel, Allentown, PA Young Israel of East Brunswick, NJ “This is the last time you do something like this to me,” Netanyahu told Glick. Cong. Zichron Mordechai, Teaneck, NJ Young Israel of Fort Lee, NJ Cong. Zichron R. M. Feinstein, Brooklyn, NY Young Israel of Hancock Park, CA Glick responded by saying that the visit had been coordinated with Internal Delray Orthodox Synagogue, Delray Beach, FL Young Israel of Holliswood, NY Security Minister . East Denver Orthodox Synagogue, CO Young Israel of Houston, TX Flatbush Park Jewish Center, Mill Basin, NY Young Israel of New Hyde Park, NY Harvard University Library Young Israel of North Woodmere, NY ISRAEL TALKING TO US IN EFFORTS TO IMPACT PARIS SUMMIT Hebrew Academy of Long Beach, NY Young Israel of New Rochelle, NY Hillel at Baruch College Young Israel of Sharon, MA (JPost 6/1/16) Hillel at Brandeis University YI Shomrai Emunah, Silver Spring, MD Israel’s efforts at affecting the results of Friday’s scheduled Middle East We encourage our readers to subscribe to our sources on the internet. For more information or to summit in Paris are focused on discussions with the Americans, The subscribe by e-mail, reach us at [email protected] 2 actions for peace," he said. Minister Avigdor Lieberman, and Bayit Yehudi head , will react Lieberman, who officially assumed office on Tuesday, said he remains to the new bill on the matter. committed to promoting dialogue with the Palestinians, as well as the two- state solution. PM COMMITED TO ‘FINDING A SOLUTION’ TO KOTEL PRAYER U.N. Mideast envoy Nikolay Mladenov on Tuesday welcomed Lieberman's DESPITE ‘DIFFICULTIES’ (JPost 6/1/16) statement, saying his remarks, as well as Prime Minister Benjamin Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains committed to the original plan Netanyahu's expressed support for the Arab peace initiative and for Egyptian for creating a pluralist prayer section at the southern end of the Western President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi's idea to promote a regional peace deal, Wall, leaders of the progressive Jewish movements said Wednesday. could facilitate significant moves in the Middle East. The Prime Minister’s Office said later that evening that Netanyahu “remains "These statements could facilitate the negotiations for a two-state solution, committed to finding a solution for prayer arrangements at the Kotel, and and reinforce the Egyptian president's remarks about going forward and made clear to the heads of the [Reform and Conservative] movements the developing the historic step Egypt took in favor of peace. The Quartet has great difficulties in implementing the government decision and that he is underscored in the past the importance an overall [regional] agreement in working on the issue.” resolving the [Israeli-Palestinian] conflict. This opportunity should not be The leaders of the Reform and Conservative movements as well as the missed and must be followed up with concrete action," Mladenov said. organization said they felt “frustration” and Also on Tuesday, Lieberman's statements received favorable coverage in the “disappointment” at the stalled implementation of the deal. international media. The New York Times quoted Lieberman as saying the Their comments come following a meeting held Wednesday afternoon Arab peace initiative has "positive elements that support a serious dialogue between Netanyahu and Rick Jacobs (Reform), Steve Wernick with all of Israel's regional neighbors." (Conservative) and Julie Schonfeld (Conservative), along with Women of the The British Independent said, "With the appointment of Avigdor Lieberman, Wall chairwoman Anat Hoffman, Jewish Agency chairman the Israeli Left hangs by a fraying thread. ... have grown less and leaders of the progressive Jewish denominations in Israel. supportive of a two-state solution, and the generational difference is stark: In March, Netanyahu asked cabinet secretary David Sharan to come up with Teens and millennials are much more right-wing than their parents." bridging proposals within 60 days, following extreme opposition to the plan by Meanwhile, Turkish Ambassador to the Palestinian Authority Mustafa Sarnic the haredi political leadership. said Monday that Ankara and Jerusalem have made further progress in the According to the executive director and CEO of the Masorti Movement talks to normalize relations, adding he believes a deal will be signed within (Conservative Judaism in Israel), Yizhar Hess, who attended Wednesday’s two months. sit-down, the meeting was positive and “serious,” and said that the prime minister is still committed to the plan approved by the government in January. RIGHT-WING CAUCUS CHALLENGES NETANYAHU ( 5/31/16) “I have no doubt that the prime minister, who believes in the [original] Caucus chairmen MKs (Likud) and Bezalel compromise plan for the , who well understands that the State Smotrich (Bayit Yehudi) launched its campaign Tuesday to extend Israel's of Israel cannot allow for a rift with Diaspora Jewry, knows how to bring the sovereignty over the settlement, Ma'ale Adumim crisis to an end,” said Hess. A survey conducted for the lobby, which is in effect a settlers' lobby in the Details of any possible changes to the plan were not discussed with the Knesset, revealed that 76 percent of Israelis believe that it is not reasonable prime minister, although Netanyahu did say that he was not reopening the to leave Ma'ale Adumim without an established political and legal status. 77 agreement for renegotiation and had no intention of starting from scratch, as per cent of respondents said that since politicians from the right and the left the haredi parties have demanded. agree that in any eventual peace agreement with the Palestinians Ma'ale According to the leaders in the meeting, the prime minister’s team said they Adumim will be under Israeli sovereignty, it is possible to apply sovereignty hoped progress could be made in the coming weeks. over the city without an agreement. Rabbi , head of the Reform movement in Israel, who was also "Something transpired in Israel, the most nationalistic government has arisen present, welcomed Netanyahu’s stance, but said further delays to since the founding of the state, and its role is to promote the national agenda implementation would lead to demands to simply partition the main Western on which we were elected," explained Smotrich. "This poll shows that Israel Wall prayer area into three sections, male, female and a third section for the knows what is good for itself and that the great majority of its citizens progressive Jewish movements. supports Israeli sovereignty over Ma'ale Adumim. In the next Knesset “We praise Prime Minister Netanyahu, who repeated his commitment to the session we will submit a bill to apply sovereignty and we will promote it." plan, but as was made clear in the meeting, our expectation is that there will Unlike East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, Ma'ale Adumim was not be progress in the coming weeks,” Kariv said. annexed by Israel, meaning that the GOC Central Command is considered to This renewed commitment by the prime minister comes despite intense have sovereignty over it. The laws which are applied there bear an efforts by the haredi political leadership to annul several critical aspects of amalgamation of Ottoman, British, and Jordanian roots. Over the years, the agreement reached earlier this year. International law and some Israeli law has also been applied. “In a statement to the press after the meeting, Women of the Wall called on The annexation bill will, in effect, determine that Israeli law will apply to the Netanyahu “to stand up to the ultra-Orthodox attempts to derail the plan, settlement. This would mean, among other things, that Ma'ale Adumim would [and] not to give in to the bullying and pressure of the haredi lawmakers who be subject to Israeli planning and building laws, which will permit building in wish to exclude women and non-Orthodox Jews from Jewish life in Israel.” the city to proceed without requiring the approval of the Minister of Defense nor that of the Civil Administration. MICROSOFT LAUNCHES NEW EARLY STAGE VENTURE CAPITAL ARM During the previous Knesset, (Likud), currently Tourism Minister, IN 3 US CITIES-AND TEL AVIV (Ha’aretz 6/1/16) submitted a series of bills for the application of Israeli sovereignty over parts In further evidence of Israel’s power as a high-tech innovator, IBM said it of the West Bank, including Ma'ale Adumim. However, due to early elections, bought the Israeli startup EZScource and Microsoft said it was establishing a Levin's proposal never came to fruition. His proposal was supported by many new venture capital unit that will initially have offices in the U.S. tech centers currently serving as government ministers, including Ze'ev Elkin and Miri of San Francisco, Seattle and New York as well as Tel Aviv. Regev. The question is how these ministers, including Levin, Defense IBM, which has acquired 13 other Israeli startups since 1998, said Wednes- 3 day it expected to complete the acquisition of EZSource in the current quarter In a nutshell, here’s the plan: two sovereign states with open borders, every subject to completion of governmental review. It did not disclose financial house stays where it is, and all people get to live where they want. Forget terms. about uprooting settlements, evacuating residents, building high walls, and Noting that building applications for mainframe computers can involve swapping territories. The border, under this plan, will be in the exact same millions of lines of code, whose updating can take weeks, IBM said. place it was on the eve of the 1967 Six Day War, and all those Jews living on EZSource simplifies the process with a visual dashboard that shows the other side are welcome to stay where they are provided they are willing to developers which applications have to be adjusted or updated. live as Israeli citizens under Palestinian sovereignty. In other words, they get EZSource, was founded in 2003 and has offices in Israel, the United States, to vote in Israeli elections, but their speeding tickets will be issued by Europe and Japan, counts ING Life, Maybank and 7-Eleven as clients. Palestinian police. The same holds true for Palestinian nationals who choose Meanwhile, Microsoft said its new venture arm would give it entree to the to live under Israeli sovereignty. (Yes, this initiative does accept the youngest startups and an insight into the newest industry developments. Palestinian demand for right of return – anathema to most Israelis.) “We’ve done a lot of investing, but not a lot of early-stage. Because we would Several days before the official launch of their peace plan, a small group of often invest alongside commercial deals, we were not a part of the early activists – some new to the cause, others engaged from the start – have industry conversations on disruptive technology trends. With a formalized convened at their usual haunt, a hotel in this small town near Bethlehem, for venture fund, Microsoft now has a seat at the table,” said Nagraj Kashyap, some last-minute preparations. corporate vice president for Microsoft Ventures, in a blog post Monday. “The difference between this initiative and others,” explains Awni Elmashni, The new venture operation will focus on cloud computing, machine learning its lead Palestinian architect, as they settle down, “is that we try to work with and computer security, he said. “In the coming days and weeks ahead and reality rather than change it.” beyond, you will see us showing up as an investor in companies that Elmashni, who was born in the Dehaishe refugee camp, spent 12 years in complement these spaces,” added Kashyap. Israeli prisons before moving up the ranks of the Fatah movement. He is in a Another Microsoft division that had previously gone by the name Microsoft better position than many to know that certain key elements of the plan – Ventures has now been named Microsoft Accelerator, and it too has a Tel keeping the settlements intact, for example – will not go down well with the Aviv office. Microsoft has a major presence in Israel, which includes research average Palestinian. But what better alternative at the moment is there, he and development centers in Herzliya and Haifa employing a workforce of asks. about 1,000. In March it opened an R&D center in Nazareth. “Everything else that’s been tried has failed,” he notes. “And we are right now EZSource, an Israel-based application discovery company, aids developers in a situation where there is no political horizon, and the status quo is in modernizing mainframe applications for digital business. unsustainable.” It all began in 2012 when Elmashni was introduced to Israeli journalist Meron NEW IDF UNIT FORGING TIES INSIDE SYRIA (Arutz-7 INN.com 5/29/16) Rapoport, whom he was told had some “original ideas” about solving the The Israeli Defense Forces announced on Sunday the formation of a special decades-old conflict. Elmashni heard him out and liked what he heard. new unit charged with developing ties with Syrians living near Israel’s Operating largely under the radar, the Israeli and Palestinian set out to build northern border. a movement. They organized parlor meetings, met privately with key opinion While the plan may seem far-fetched, the idea draws heavily from a similar leaders, drafted position papers and reached out to communities not typically operation conducted during Israel’s presence in southern Lebanon, when the part of the peacemaking discourse. IDF worked to forge ties with elements of the Lebanese population. More often than not, they were dismissed as delusional. After all, who in their Like Lebanon in the 1980s, Syria’s civil war has left large swaths of the right mind could believe that after years of bloodshed, Israelis and country without effective governmental control. Palestinians would be able to put all the bad feelings behind and live happily While in many cases local governments or armed militias divided along among one another? confessional lines have stepped in to fill the vacuum, such areas are Yet, slowly but surely, they succeeded in winning over some less cynical susceptible to terrorist infiltration or takeover. hearts. Much like the status quo ante prior to the war in Lebanon, where PLO cells That would include people like Nuri Gross, a 25-year-old college student who operated freely across much of the Lebanese-Israel frontier, Israeli security grew up in a right-wing Orthodox family and participated in demonstrations officials fear the chaos along the Israeli-Syrian border could give ISIS – or against Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza. “On the one hand, I care about other Iran – the perfect opportunity to strike northern Israel. people, so right-wing style solutions don’t appeal to me,” he says. “On the The Syrian frontier with Israel is largely beyond the control of the Syrian other hand, all those on the left who call for separating from the Palestinians government, with various rebel factions and local militias controlling much of – to me, there’s also a bit of racism in that.” the border area, while the Al-Nusra terrorist group maintains a presence near Gross was first introduced to the confederation idea during a parlor meeting the southern Golan Heights. held at the home of Hadassah Froman at the West Bank settlement of Many of the neighboring villages are Syrian Druze, and it is likely that as Tekoah. Following in the footsteps of her late husband, Rabbi Menachem during the Lebanese civil war, the IDF will seek an understanding with ethnic Froman, Hadassah, a core activist in the movement today, has evolved into a minorities living along the Israeli border, like the Druze. rare breed of peace activist settler. “What I heard in her home really made sense to me,” says Gross. IN NEW PEACE INITIATIVE, PALESTINIANS AND SETTLERS FIND Even newer to the movement is 37-year-old Pnina Pfeuffer, an ultra- COMMON GROUND (Judy Maltz, Ha’aretz 6/1/16) Orthodox mother of two involved in various efforts to engage the Haredi Countless proposals for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have been community with the Israeli political discourse. Pfeuffer had always supported bandied about over the years. What sets this one apart, beyond everything the classic two-state solution that involved building a wall to separate Israelis else, is the unusual mix of supporters it has galvanized – among them and Palestinians. “But as far as I’m concerned, any solution is better than no Palestinians, settlers, ultra-Orthodox Jews, and left-wing activists. solution, and if we can get Israelis and Palestinians to support this new idea, Out with separation, in with confederation – declare the proponents of the then I’m all for it,” she says. “Two States One Homeland” initiative that will have its official launch on For the leaders of the new initiative, a recent coup was signing up Eden Thursday at a special full-day conference in Tel Aviv. Riskin, the grandson of Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, the prominent American-born 4 founder and spiritual leader of Efrat, the largest West Bank settlement. He shot and killed Martin as he played tennis on a court in Haifa. joins two well-known Haredi activists, Shmuel Drilman and Rabbi Shmuel Once the state was established, it is unsurprising that the state’s earliest Pappenheim. Some notable representatives of the Israeli left are former European-suit-wearing leaders were not big tennis players. That said, state Peace Now executive director Moriah Shlomo, activist Avi Dabush, founder and first prime minister David Ben-Gurion was supportive of efforts to author (and contributor) Nir Baram, and prominent civil rights expand Israel’s meager tennis facilities. The tennis-playing philanthropist attorney Limor Yehuda. Hart Hasten records in his autobiography that the American businessman Yehuda, formerly head of the occupied territories department at the Israel Joe Shane once came to Ben-Gurion and asked for land on which he and Civil Rights Association, estimates the number of core activists in the other tennis- loving Americans could build tennis courts for Israeli youth. Ben movement at “several dozen,” but says “we are growing every day.” Gurion liked the idea, saying, “That sounds like a good idea, Mr. Shane, but Israelis on the left tend to have two key reservations about the confederation in order to acquire the land, you must confer with the minister of culture, who plan. Like most Palestinians, they don’t like the idea of leaving the settlers handles everything related to sports.” where they are in what could be construed as handing them a victory. Where Shane went to the minister – unfortunately not identified by name in Hasten’s they differ the with Palestinians is on the issue of repatriation of refugees: account – and repeated his request. The minister acceded to the request, Even hard-core leftists tend to draw the line there, seeing the Palestinian telling Shane, “Yes, that all seems good and fine, Mr. Shane. I’ll be happy to right of return as an existential threat to the Jewish state. work with you, and you may count on my full cooperation.” Many of the details of the plan have yet to be worked out, but according to Just before Shane left, though, the minister called him back, saying, “Oh, Eran Tzidkiyahu, an Israeli activist in the movement, “the main obstacle is not there’s just one more thing, Mr. Shane. deciding whether Jerusalem will have one mayor or two mayor but Could you tell me please, vos is Tennis?” (Yiddish for “what is tennis?”) As overcoming the lack of trust on both sides.” the state grew wealthier and more secure, tennis became a more established At one point, he and his fellow activists debated the possibility forming a part of Israeli culture. It became particularly popular in the Israeli military, political party. They eventually concluded that growing the movement from especially among Israeli generals. , and David the ground up was a preferable option. “The Israeli politicians aren’t there “Dado” Elazar – IDF chief of staff during the Yom Kippur War – were all yet,” laments Yehuda. “Either we have to wait until we’ve gained more public tennis players. Elazar even died in the saddle so to speak, while playing support or until there are different politicians in power.’ tennis in 1977. Like Liberman today, Sharon was himself subjected to a They do take heart, though, from recent support expressed by President withering quip by a political opponent about his tennis playing. In 1994, for the idea of confederation (even if not exactly in the format dismissively predicted that Sharon was as likely to become they advocate), as well as some Knesset members on the Israeli left, whose Likud Party head as he was to become a tennis champion. Begin would be names they prefer not to mention. proven wrong, as Sharon became Likud party leader in 1999, and prime About two weeks ago, Al-Mashni organized a gathering of 70 Palestinians in minister in 2001. Ramallah to hear about the initiative. “There was great interest,” he reports. Without a doubt, the most prominent tennis-playing Israeli politician has been “But what’s most important for our people is to know that there is a serious Yitzhak Rabin. Rabin loved the sport, watched it regularly on the TV in his Tel partner on the Israeli side.” Aviv apartment, and played for 20 years. Interestingly, on the Saturday on which he was killed in 1996, he skipped his weekly game because of an eye TENNIS-PLAYING PART OF A LONG ISRAELI TRADITION (Tevi Troy, infection. Despite his being an avid player, there are some questions JPost 5/29/16) regarding Rabin’s skill level. The American diplomat Richard Haas recalled Avidgor Liberman, Israel’s new defense minister, has engendered some playing tennis with Rabin at George H.W. Bush’s Kennebunkport home in controversy because of his hardline views. Another criticism, however, has 1992. According to Haas, Rabin was unimpressive on the court: “Rabin kept been that he lacks the impressive military experience shared by most of his hitting the ball out or into the net and he kept saying he was sorry.” predecessors in the post. Liberman did indeed serve in the IDF, but only Hart Hasten, the Indianapolis philanthropist, was even starker in his reached the lowly rank of corporal. assessment. He “had observed Rabin play tennis, and he was truly an His undistinguished military service has prompted the quip circulating in the atrocious player.” papers these days that the closest Liberman has come to a projectile After Rabin’s tragic assassination, Hasten had nice things to say about Rabin whizzing by his head has been on the tennis court. as a statesman, but not as a tennis player. As he put it: “When they start to This is not the first time that Liberman’s well-known love for tennis has been say that he was a great tennis player, that’s where I draw the line.” an issue in his political career. In 2015, ran a piece As for Liberman, he may have trouble playing as frequently given his new about a Facebook video showing Liberman, a sitting member of the Knesset, portfolio. On the other hand, serving as defense minister will give him access playing tennis in the midst of a work day. The piece, entitled “Life is boring in to the whole Israeli officer corps as potential partners. Either way, it seems the opposition,” linked Liberman’s midday court visit to wider public frustration likely that over parliamentary inactivity. The article also noted that Liberman was a Liberman regular who appeared at the Israel Tennis Center at least once a week. will be Liberman is only the most recent Israeli politician to have an affinity for the writing a sport of kings. In fact, tennis has been important in Israel since the state’s new creation, and even beforehand. In 1946, in the midst of the Jewish quest for chapter in independence, Jewish groups were engaged in a regular and deadly battle of the long wits against the British security forces. One of the most skillful British tradition of operatives was Sergeant Thomas Martin, who had a particular gift for seeing tennis in through the disguises of Lehi, or Stern Gang, fighters. Israeli In fact, Martin had been able to recognize and arrest Lehi leader and future politics. prime minister via his bushy eyebrows, despite the fact that Shamir was wearing rabbinical garb at the time. Two months after this incident, in August of 1946, two Lehi assassins dressed as tennis players