LIFE AND NEWS NOTES FROM A CHILDLESS CAT LADY (ACCORDING TO VANCE) BEAVERING AWAY IN ONE OF THE SUB-BASEMENTS OF THE MINISTRY OF SNARK

NEWS NOTES

We have two fascinating elections coming up – the American mid-terms and the Israeli elections. It is extremely interesting and disturbing to read about the Israeli elections since there are so many similarities in what Netanyahu is doing and what Trump is doing to ensure a victory for themselves.

Quote of the Day:

“Israelis who care about democracy and civil liberties must be vigilant. Leaders around the world who are aligned with Netanyahu’s authoritarian politics have tried to subvert the democratic process in order to avoid defeat at the ballot box. Netanyahu (note: and Trump) wouldn’t hesitate to do the same if given the opportunity.” Noa Sattath, Haaretz (7/20/26).

Noa Sattath of Haarets reminds us that we should watch the actions of the Shin Bet and their leader closely in the run up to this election.

She reminds us of a “flurry of anti-democratic laws passed by the outgoing Knesset.” Most of these laws, she writes “will likely be thrown out by the Israeli Supreme Court. Those that survive judicial review could easily be overturned by the next Israeli government, assuming it is led by someone other than Netanyahu.” Assuming it is someone other than Netanyahu.

The Shit Bet must be watched. Netanyahu appointed David Zini to serve his personal interests, not the interests of the courts, which Zini has called “monstrous,” and human rights, which Zini has called “nonsense.”

For example, the Knesset passed an “openly racist death penalty law,” which applies to Palestinian terrorists but not Jewish ones. The right has tried for years to pass such a law, but failed because of the opposition from the Shin Bet whose leaders always argued that the law would make martyrs out of Palestinians and only encourage terrorism.

But when Netanyahu appointed former IDF general David Zini, the position of the Shin Bet about this death penalty law changed completely to supporting it.

Another concern is that in the upcoming elections, Zini will support efforts to disqualify some of the political parties representing Israel’s Arab minority from participating in the election. He could do that by presenting secret evidence.

Noa Sattath is the executive director of the Association for Civil Rights Israel, Israel’s largest and oldest civil and human rights NGO.

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David Zini, Netanyahu’s head of Shin Bet, is right-wing and ultra-Orthodox.

“Too Dangerous: The Religious Far Right”

Article: Uri Misgav (7/9/26) Opinion: “Too Dangerous: The Religious far right infiltrates Israel’s Internal Security Agency. Haaretz.

Reporter, Uri Misgav, describes a “disturbing speech” by David Zini, head of the Shin Bet. He writes that the speech is equivalent to “coming out of the closet.” Zini had no reason to hide his far-right religious beliefs. He was speaking to a friendly audience, the equivalent of a right-wing think tank.

The statements he made reveal an “organized worldview: that of the nationalist ultra-Orthodox, or haradlim.

The hardalim believe that the state is an instrument, the “donkey carrying the messiah.” There is no sanctity in the state. One should use it in the most “profitable way on the road to redemption.” In addition, “the liberal-democratic world is an abomination…Goyuim, Arabs, secular people, leftists, jurists and gay people are inferior races. Women are good for the kitchen, the bedroom and childbirth. “

Zini evidently considered his son a special class of person. He suspended investigations of, and the fight against, Jewish terrorism.” “One of Zini’s sons was part of the …hilltop youth and a target of Sin Bet investigations.”

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Article: Limone, Noa (7/13/26) “How Netanyahu’s Court pundit is sabotaging Israeli journalism.” Haaretz.

In addition to right-wing religious views, special classes of people, and anti-democratic laws, the Netanyahu government is making moves to silence the press. (The Trump administration just issued subpoenas to New York Times journalists and also is investigating the people they associate with).

Netanyahu associate and Channel 14 commentator, Jacob Bardugo, has repeatedly called for an investigation into how Channel 12 learned of Israeli’s planned Iran strike – putting journalist’ ability to protect their sources at risk.

Bardugo maintains he is not a “journalist” but a “media personality.” (Note: I think some Fox News commentators have made the same argument in the past). And he is evidently “part of the government’s campaign against journalists.”

Bergman stated on a TV interview that ever since Zini was appointed to the Shin Bet, they had been collecting information about journalists who don’t identify with the government’s positions and is using technological tools to identify people with whom they are in contact.

The authoritarian movement is stretching around the world, and we must stop it before it’s too late.

Do something. Do anything. Protest. Write. Phone your Congressperson. Read.