Headlines from Jerusalem: Recent Episodes
Nicole Jansezian
In this episode I spoke with Andrey Levin, a Ukrainian-born Israeli – and an amazing musician and worship leader – who lives in the Tiberias area. He talks about the strategic importance of his hometown and the siege his relatives and friends are living under – and where is mother-in-law is now trapped. To support Andrey's contacts in Mariupol through his PayPal account.
To learn more about outreach to the Russian-speaking community about Israel that Andrey is part of, see Galil TV and, to hear Andrey leading worship, check out "Abba, Abba."
RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR:
Here is another video with Viktor Michaylov, a Christian in Kyiv where we heard explosions during our conversation.
This week we spoke with Viktor Michaylov as explosions were happening outside his home in Kyiv. Michaylov works for Ezra International rescue, return and restore the Jewish people. He is currently helping people in his home city who need food or transportation as the Russian invasion approaches their city.
Most of the world has heard that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau enacted the Emergency Powers law in his nation. Israel has its own version of that law and that is the primary reason for the #IsraeliFreedomConvoy that arrived in Jerusalem this week and is ongoing.
I spoke with the protestors – many of whom have set up camp – and attorney Rotem Brown. Brown is extremely concerned with the Special Powers Law in Israel, the government’s quest to give everyone a digital code and the general governmental overreach, which includes a concealed agreement with Pfizer to test how or if Israel can reach herd immunity with its vaccine.
She discussed all this and more in an exclusive interview.
First tourists couldn't get into Israel. Now, they can't get out! Hear what happens when a tourist in Israel tests positive for COVID after a routine PCR test to leave the country.
Show notes:
NSO, international angle
NSO, domestic angle
NSO – Netanyahu
What is NSO and the infamous Pegasus software?
In this episode, I met up with real, live tourists in the Holy Land! I had a great conversation with Patrick and Danielle Hagerty and Marlise Flanagan in Jerusalem. It wasn't easy getting into Israel and they tell us all about the challenges. But was it worth it? No spoiler alerts here :) Listen to find out.
ARTICLES:
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Netanyahu breaks silence – says plea deal is off the table
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Fewer than 170,000 Holocaust survivors live in Israel as numbers dwindle due to advanced age
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Let it snow – and let the kids play! Jerusalem residents get a 'snow holiday'
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New record: Israel registered more COVID cases this month than in all 2021
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THE TOP 22 IN 2022: Here is the ALL ISRAEL NEWS list of the 22 most powerful, provocative and popular Israelis to watch this year
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ISRAEL REOPENS TO CHRISTIAN TOURISM: Max Lucado, David Jeremiah, Skip Heitzig, Chuck Swindoll among major Evangelical leaders planning tours to the Holy Land in 2022, 2023
This week I spoke with a fascinating Israeli political expert about the plea deal that has allegedly been offered to former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The news that Netanyahu could take a guilty plea in order to avoid jail time managed to wipe COVID off the front pages for several days now over here.
Chaim Weizmann gives us a thorough review of the all the potential scenarios that could play out in the coming days. Check out our detailed – if not controversial – interview!
ARTICLES:
Netanyahu negotiating plea deal to reduce criminal charges, but deal might force Bibi to leave Israeli politics forever, say Israeli media reports
Is Netanyahu on the verge of a deal that would change the landscape of Israeli politics?
Most Israelis oppose a Netanyahu plea deal but a majority believe that the former premier is guilty in at least some of the cases against him
TEL AVIV—As many as 7,000 Israelis – possibly up to 10,000 according to the organizers – joined a protest against the Green Passport and the continuous cycle of quarantines, which have worsened for the non-vaccinated. As I publish this podcast, Israel topped 38,000 infections in one day. Some 80,000 students and school staff around the country are in quarantine, most of them from coming into contact with someone who tested positive though they are not infected themselves – including my three kids. Feel free to send homeschooling tips to: nicole@allisrael.com :)
In this podcast, I covered the protest and spoke to a few of the speakers including Dean Braun – the mall protester who went viral here – and Dr. Amir Shahar, who excoriated a fellow Israeli doctor who said the unvaccinated should not be treated.
ARTICLES:
Video of mall protester goes viral, shows some Israelis are not taking the new mall regulations lightly
Top Israeli doctor warns unvaccinated not to expect ‘compassion’ when needing medical treatment
Israel shortens quarantine for COVID patients; Coronavirus czar threatens lockdown
Tourists back in Israel today as country reopens to foreigners
WHEN LIFE IMITATES ART: Israel's SNL takes down the government's shifting sands of COVID policies
We are still stuck on Christmas here in the Holy Land with two more celebrations to go! In this episode I was privy to an "exclusive" interview with Santa Claus. Yes, really.
First though, I spoke with Katharine van der Beek, an Israeli tour guide who has started an initiative to raise support for her Palestinian peers who arguably have been hit harder than those in the Israeli tourism sector. Van der Beek has mobilized locals and internationals to raise support for Christians in Bethlehem whose lives have been impacted by Israel's border closures.
"It’s not something you could prepare for in advance – it was a very sudden thing," she said about the closure that impacted tourism for Israelis and Palestinians alike.
If you feel moved to send a "Christmas" gift to Palestinian Christians suffering during this season, you can make a donation here: https://app.securegive.com/KKCJ/king-of-kings-ministries/donate/category. Specify that you want your gift to go to “West Bank tourism.”
Here is some of our holiday coverage from Christmas and New Year's:
Little town of Bethlehem lies quieter than ever for Christmas with borders closed and tourists forbidden from entering Israel – and hence Palestinian areas
CHRISTIANS IN ISRAEL: Evangelical bishop says Israel must deal with attacks, discrimination against Christians coming from ‘radicalized’ Jewish groups
In this episode I take you to the protest organized by tourism industry workers to listen to their cry for help. They urge those who are longing to come back to plead with the Israeli government on their behalf.
OP-ED: The latest decision to allow only Jewish groups into the country damages trust between Israel and Christians – and may have long-term consequences, by Uri Steinberg
NO-FLY LIST GROWS, BORDER CLOSURE EXTENDED: Is this Israel's way of shutting down the country, without forcing another lockdown?
Jews in, Christians out? Outrage over Jewish tour group exemption from Israel’s border closure
Report from the protest itself: 'WAKE UP NAFTALI BENNETT!' – Israelis in the tourism industry make emotional plea for international support of
their desperate plight
Even as we published this podcast, Israel decided to add the United States, Canada and other countries to the no-fly list meaning Israelis cannot go there and travelers from those countries most certainly cannot come in. This, by no means, helps the tourism industry.
With fears of the Omicron variant overtaking Israel, the government decided last week to extend its current border closure to all foreigners for another 10 days which would end to Dec. 22. In addition, there is now a three-day quarantine in place for vaccinated travelers which would bring us to Christmas day.
In this episode, I spoke with two experts in the travel industry about these latest restrictions and how they are going to impact Holy Land tourism:
Elisa Moed is the CEO of Travelujah (www.travelujah.com) and a cofounder of Breaking Bread Journeys (https://breakingbreadjourneys.com)
Uri Steinberg runs Uri Steinberg Consulting and is on the Advisory Board of ALL ISRAEL NEWS. Here is the article referred to in the podcast: When will tourists be able to come back to Israel? You're not going to like the answer
**Register for the ALL ISRAEL/ALL ARAB NEWS–Travelujah Christmas Tour – Exploring the Nativity Trail from Bethlehem to Nazareth
Date: Dec. 19 at 2 p.m. EST, 9 p.m. Israel time
Link: https://virtualholylandtours.as.me/christmas
Cost: Free (Tip supported)
What is the situation with abortion in Israel and will new legislation designed to make it easier to get one pass the Knesset? In this episode, ALL ISRAEL NEWS Editor and senior correspondent Nicole Jansezian speaks with Sandy Shoshani, national director of Bead Chaim, and Israeli pro-life organization. Here is a link to Bead Chaim to learn more about Sandy's work in Israel: https://beadchaim.com
In this episode ALL ISRAEL NEWS Editor and senior correspondent Nicole Jansezian talks about the arrival of the coronavirus "Super Variant" to the shores of Israel and the subsequent decision by Israel's Corona Cabinet that will affect our lives in the coming weeks. Here are my show notes: Israel slams the doors on tourists leaving tourists and tour companies reeling from the decision – and families separated from loved ones (https://www.allisrael.com/israel-slams-the-doors-on-tourists-leaving-tourists-and-tour-companies-reeling-from-the-decision-and-families-separated-from-loved-ones) Closed borders, new adapted PCR tests and sewage monitoring: Israel's plan to contain Omicron, the new COVID-19 variant (https://www.allisrael.com/israel-shuts-the-border-to-tourists-for-two-weeks-in-order-to-contain-new-strain) Vote on controversial 'Special Powers' law delayed for now amid opposition, protests (https://www.allisrael.com/vote-on-controversial-special-powers-law-delayed-for-now-amid-opposition-protests) Knesset to consider 'Special Powers' COVID law that would consolidate authority under coalition to make emergency laws (https://www.allisrael.com/knesset-to-consider-special-powers-covid-law-that-would-consolidate-power-under-coalition-to-make-emergency-laws-during-pandemic) Knesset member tells ALL ISRAEL NEWS it's time to rethink COVID restrictions and get Christian tourists back to Israel (https://www.allisrael.com/knesset-member-tells-all-israel-news-its-time-to-rethink-covid-restrictions-and-get-christian-tourists-back-to-israel) Hanukkah begins tonight – and the show will go on without COVID-related lockdowns (https://www.allisrael.com/hanukkah-begins-tonight-and-the-show-will-go-on-without-covid-related-lockdowns) And a side note: As we watch the OMICRON variant unfold in the coming days, I encourage those of you who like word games to find an anagram of the new strain :) Have fun with that and have a great week!