Marcy Oster
Israeli election campaign heats up
JERUSALEM – In an election season compressed into just three weeks due to the military operation in Gaza, during which campaigning ground to a virtual halt, Israel’s political parties have begun to roll out their campaigns ahead of the national elections Feb. 10.
The first round of publicly sponsored and legally restricted TV advertisements aired during a special hour of political broadcasts Tuesday night. Each party was allotted a specific amount of time based on the number of seats it holds in the current Knesset. Due to flagging interest in this year’s campaign, Israeli TV channels have declined to air subsequent broadcasts of the ads during prime time.
Federation leaders visit south, pledge aid
KARNEI SHOMRON, west bank – Less than an hour-and-a-half after a long-range Grad missile struck a home in Ashkelon, the rebuilding began. As members of the United Jewish Communities national mission stood and watched on Monday, neighbors came and began carefully removing undamaged window frames, knocking out the broken glass in preparation for new glass.
Captured soldier Shalit a pawn in Gaza operation
KARNEI SHOMRON, west bank – Two days into Israel’s operation in the Gaza Strip, Arab media outlets began reporting that captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit had been wounded in an Israeli airstrike.
While Israeli defense officials dismissed the reports as psychological warfare and manipulation, the report was a reminder that Hamas knows it is holding what the Israeli defense establishment has called a “valuable asset” in its conflict with Israel.
