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Dov Lipman

Dov Lipman

Dov Lipman was elected to the 19th Knesset in January 2013, making him the first American born MK in 30 years. He holds a masters degree from Johns Hopkins University and is the author of seven books about Israel and Judaism.

The new mega-party of former premier Ehud Barak, Meretz and Labor Party defectors look to “set Israel back on correct path.”
Parties have only until Aug. 1 to submit their final candidate lists to the Central Elections Committee. Until then, everything is up in the air.
Israel was led by NBA prospect Deni Avdija, who scored a game high of 23 points with seven assists. He was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award, but told the cheering crowd: “There is no one MVP. We are a team!”
“To survive as long as he has in Israel’s raucous political system is no small feat. He has clearly left a deep imprint on the country and its future,” Michael Freund, the prime minister’s deputy communications director from 1996-99, told JNS.
On his first visit to Israel, former NBA player Mike Sweetney sits down with JNS to talk about depression, loss, family, faith and basketball.
He will be “throwing a series of ‘Hail Mary’ passes at every opportunity on every issue, including diplomacy, security, social welfare, religion and economy,” said adviser Mitchel Barak, CEO of Keevoon Research, Strategy and Communications Ltd.
While many in Israel bemoan the financial burden of the new elections this fall, the major cost to the country will likely lie in other realms.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s embattled party has only 70 days to win back the supporters responsible for its April 9 victory.
Barak, the most decorated soldier in Israel Defense Forces history, served as IDF chief of staff from 1991 to 1995, and then as prime minister from 1999 to 2001, defeating a young Netanyahu after his first term as prime minister.
If the parties fail to form meaningful partnerships that combine forces to pass the electoral threshold, the right is at risk of seeing seven or more mandates go to waste, thereby preventing Netanyahu from being able to form a right-wing, nationalist government.
All eyes are on former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak and Tiberias Mayor Ron Kobi, though many developments will likely pop up between now and the Aug 2. deadline to submit party lists for the Sept. 17 elections.
Amir Ohana and Bezalel Smotrich are making headlines with their staunch views, although some say it’s more about politicking than policy.