Ben Caspit
@BenCaspit · Israeli journalists — political, diplomatic, legal
Ben Caspit is a senior columnist for Maariv and Al-Monitor and a veteran Netanyahu biographer-critic.
Eli Goldschmidt sent this WhatsApp message to Ofir Pines on June 29, 2023. Just like that, out of nowhere, he apparently missed the Knesset, influence, and the center of things: Hi Ofir. How are you? Ages and ages… Today someone approached me and said, "I miss you and Ofir Pines in the Knesset..". And it isn't the first time someone has said that to me. We are apparently identified with what the Labor Party was until a decade or two ago, in the good sense of the word. I just wanted to share the experience with you… All the best, Eli Goldschmidt.
Translated from HebrewMr. Winter, we would welcome your response. Where is the IDF spokesperson’s statement you talked about?
Translated from HebrewDespite strict US economic blockade on Iran, Israel cannot exclude Tehran deciding to strike during the Jewish High holidays. Israeli defense industries at full speed, accelerating munition production. https://t.co/qIPoQJvVcm
*Blue and White said in response to Yoaz Hendel:* "Yoaz, there are 5 hours left until the lists close, you have enough time to move to another party."
Translated from HebrewI know, it’s starting to get trite, but here’s a takedown of Netanyahu in four minutes, the way only Eli Goldschmidt knows how to do it!
Translated from HebrewHe had months to plan this. Long months. And how hard he fought for these reserved slots. In the end, it looks like this. In other words, like the country looks and is run. This is "Mr. Security." This is the father of the new security concept. This is the super-statesman from another league. What a disgrace. How shallow. Couldn't he have made sure in advance that patriot Oren Dobronsky didn't want to give up his American citizenship? Or check Eli Goldschmidt's archive? Wait, we haven't even talked about Bardugo yet. More will be said.
Translated from HebrewThis is the best and most comprehensive. Here he calls Netanyahu "the Pied Piper of Hamelin," saying that we all followed his flute into the abyss. He asks Likud voters whether they were hypnotized. How can it be that you are still voting for him? Eli, could it be that you, of all people, were hypnotized? Are you willing to debase yourself to such an extent, just to return to the Knesset?
Translated from HebrewThe minister responsible for all this is one of the worst failures in the history of Israeli politics. To think that Yoav Kisch burst into our lives on the ticket of the "new Likudniks" and a campaign for compulsory enlistment for everyone. How pathetic.
Translated from HebrewLikud's weakening is encouraging; Ben-Gvir's dramatic strengthening is troubling. I pray that the friends on the left, and also in the non-Bibiist center, will try this time not to make their usual stupid mistake and not ask to disqualify Ben-Gvir from running. If the disqualification request had any chance at all, I would try to understand the logic behind it. But it doesn't. It won't pass the High Court. Even the demand to fire him from his position as National Security Minister is currently being delayed, and rightly so, because it is worth at least 2 seats to Ben-Gvir. Right now, the Likud campaign is stuck and Ben-Gvir's campaign is sleepy. He doesn't have much merchandise to sell to the public. Oh, he made the prison conditions of Hamas prisoners harsher. Applause. How long can he ride that? A demand for his disqualification (one-third of the members of the Central Elections Committee is required) will wake up the campaign and inject it with adrenaline. It will move to a hearing before Judge Solberg, receive dramatic media coverage, and from Solberg it will move to a hearing before 9 High Court judges, days of broadcasting and characteristic drama. That is pure gold for Ben-Gvir. It wakes up his base, transfers 2–3 seats to him, fuels the ridiculous “deep state” campaign and constitutes a magnificent own goal for the alliances. It’s permissible to be smart once, and not right. It seems to me the time has come.
Translated from HebrewThere are several people who are supposed to know about the conversation between Netanyahu and Mohamed bin Zayed. Such a conversation must be documented. I do not trust the crook Tzachi Braverman, who was chief of staff. The aforementioned allegedly already tried to falsify the time of that October 7 conversation. I do not know whether Tzachi Hanegbi is supposed to know, since Netanyahu did not report the conversation to the heads of the security establishment, so would he report it to the head of the National Security Council? The person who must know is the one who was military secretary, Maj. Gen. Avi Gil. The public is waiting. And one more thing: We should hope that the Qatari agents in Netanyahu's office did not report this golden piece of information, which came from the Emirates, to the one that has funded Hamas terrorism (and them) all this time—namely Qatar.
Translated from HebrewBenny Begin on his father, Menachem Begin, and on “the betrayal.” A must-read and share.
Translated from HebrewA nice initiative by Yashar! With Eisenkot. The last ten spots on the list (spots 110-120): Ohad Ben Ami, a member of Kibbutz Be’eri who was released after 491 days in Hamas captivity, will close out the list in spot 120. In the ten honorary spots, 110-119: Maj. Gen. (res.) Gideon Shefer, Shira and Eli Albag, Yoni Levy, Adina Bar-Shalom, Sapir Hamami, Col. (res.) Gideon Abbas, Prof. Manuel Trachtenberg, Hartal Gershtein and Dan Meridor
Translated from HebrewIf I may, and this is a very unpopular opinion on my side, a missed opportunity by the liberal bloc. It has an electorate among moderate Religious Zionists that could have flowed toward the right side. I hope I am wrong. And I am wrong quite often.
Translated from HebrewAyelet is skipping it. She is not running in these elections
Translated from HebrewHe barely spoke with the Chief of Staff at this hour
Translated from HebrewThe truth: On the morning of October 7, he did not function. It took him three and a quarter hours to speak, his first conversation with the Chief of Staff. Two hours to get to the Kirya (Gallant beat him there by more than an hour). He gave no order, had no influence, did not encourage, did not contribute. Nothing whatsoever. His ineptitude is embodied in that morning, which sums up the years that preceded him. Strong in talk, nonexistent in deeds. A fresh column from Maariv
Translated from Hebrew“Likud,” meaning what remains of this party, issued a harsh statement yesterday against things Yoram Cohen said about the settlements on “Meet the Press.” What did he say? He opposes a Palestinian state, supports settlement, and opposes evacuating settlements. When asked about the farms, he said: Everything built legally by the government stays. Everything that wasn’t, doesn’t. And here we are, waking up this morning. How pathetic can these clowns be, who have taken over what was once a governing party.
Translated from HebrewFollowing the uproar caused by the publication of the interview with Dr. Ruth Bar, Netanyahu’s strategic adviser who had an affair with him 33 years ago, as a result of which he was forced to confess on television, here she is, life-size, recommending “Brain Under the Influence.” A link to her website and to the interview itself is also attached.
Translated from HebrewAhead of Rome talks, as Washington pushes to advance on deal with Lebanon, Israel going all the way in dismantling Ali al-Taher ridge, major Hezbollah nerve center. https://t.co/B07RcPJ28S
At the audience's request: the full interview with Dr. Ruth Bar, Netanyahu's lover from the "hot recording" affair, about her three years as the designer and strategist of Bibi's image in his early years in politics, about the first signs of the poison machine that were already visible then, and about her new book "Mind Under the Influence."
Translated from HebrewShe remained silent for 33 years. Dr. Ruth Bar, the unwilling heroine of the "Hot Tape" affair, the woman with whom Netanyahu had an illicit affair and who was his strategic adviser for 3 years, speaks. An extensive in-depth interview about building the Netanyahu brand, his character, the beginnings of the poison machine that were already visible then, their acquaintance, and a great deal about politics. Her book "Mind Under the Influence" is being published these days. Tomorrow in Maariv. The promo is attached
Translated from Hebrew*Former prime minister and chairman of the “Together – Led by Bennett” party, Naftali Bennett, on Deri’s remarks:* “While Netanyahu is spreading blood libels against IDF commanders, Deri is harming IDF soldiers. Aryeh Deri cannot sit in another government in Israel, the IDF is crying out for soldiers, and Deri is lying and making up excuses. With us, this will not happen. Deri will not sit in the cabinet and will not make decisions about our sons who are fighting beyond the enemy lines, whoever does not take part in defending the state will not decide matters of its security. The next government will be a Zionist government founded on an alliance of those who serve. Only this way will we be able to enlist everyone. Together, we will fix it.”
Translated from HebrewIt turns out that looting the public coffers comes at a price. Billions upon billions are being transferred to the little coffers of the “finance minister,” and the IDF is going bankrupt. A bunch of lunatics
Translated from HebrewRead the response by the shrill Gottlieb and tell her that yes, it is possible. There is no connection. A law can be passed before the swearing-in of the government. It is not easy, but it is entirely possible. The Knesset begins to serve from the moment of its first convening after the elections, and from that moment it is a Knesset in every respect. And it can also legislate.
Translated from HebrewIsrael's defence minister Katz said today that escalation vs Iran is possible: "They like to attack on Jewish holidays because they hate Jews, but we are fully prepared and completely coordinated with the United States. Our aircrafts are ready to take off at any moment". My analysis in @AlMonitor https://t.co/2vu9xmbKOm
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