Israel news:
Netanyahu postpones vote on law proposal to cancel disengagement which would enable forced evacuees to return to their homes. This is thought to be caused by US pressure not to jeopardize the potential for a peace initiative with the PA. MK Shuli Mualem-Refaeli of the ‘Jewish Home party and one of the bills proposers said postponing the vote ignores the wishes of the citizens who voted the Knesset into power and is insensitive.
IDF will defend the Druze town of Hader in Syria against rebel forces as rebels are attacking the town trying to get a foothold in this Syrian Golan town near the Israeli border. The town backed the Syrian regime and earned the ire of the rebels for this, so ironically Israel will fight the rebels in this instance which may help the regime but it’s mainly to secure stability near Israel’s borders.
Handicapped protestors block entrance to Haifa refineries this morning preventing trucks from entering as part of their ongoing protest which needs to keep on going in light of the government’s shamefully ignoring them.
World news:
US ambassador to UN Nikki Haley spoke of the deep US Israel relationship in the UN and of US policy on the deal with Iran.
Dozens of princes and former officials were arrested in Saudi Arabia. This is an anti-corruption move by the crown prince Mohammed bin Salman which shows he is serious about cleaning up the country. The crown prince has values that are more western then his predecessors including women’s rights and is also heavily invested in many leading western companies including Apple. Opponents say this move was not against corruption but against any potential adversary, a consolidation of power.
2,000 people evacuated and 2 people died so far in Malaysia flooding: Penang, a north Malaysian island state with manufacturing and tourism was flooded by relentless rains beginning Shabbat afternoon. In certain places the floods even rose to a height of 12 feet (3.6 meters).