Attached photo credit: Mark Neiman (GPO) Israel President Rivlin: "I want to make it absolutely clear to you that in the State of Israel, and in any democratic state, there is one single sovereign - not the government, but rather the people. There are many different views and types of people. As a rule, the president has to take into account what the people wanted in the election, as expressed in the results of the vote." President Reuven (Ruvi) Rivlin today, Tuesday 26 March / 19 Adar II, taught a civics lesson to 12th grade students from schools, yeshivot and ulpanot (religious boys’ and girls’ schools) in Bet Shemesh. Bet Shemesh was chosen as the location for the conversation with the students because it proved that in the recent municipal elections, when Aliza Bloch was elected as mayor, that there is an alternative and that it is possible to aim for a different kind of politics, which seeks common ground between different groups. Mayor of Bet Shemesh Dr Aliza Bloch also spoke at the event. During the event, the president was asked questions from a panel of students from schools across the city: Netanel Ayalon from the Kiryat Chinuch yeshiva; Yael Mansour from Ahavat Yisrael ulpana; Naama Kayt from Branco-Weiss school; and Yisrael Libertovsky from Ahavat Yisrael yeshiva. The president was asked what is his role during the elections and how is the prime minister appointed? In his answer, the president stressed that the President of the State of Israel does not appoint the prime minister. That is the job of the Knesset. He also explained the meaning of democracy in Israel. “In the State of Israel, and in any democratic state, there is a single sovereign and that is not the government but rather the people. There are many different views and types of people. As a rule, the president has to take into account what the people wanted in the election, as expressed in the results of the vote. So, if there are more than 61 Members of Knesset who recommend one MK, that means that the people has decided to give that person the opportunity to form a government. The question is, what does the president do when there is no majority for a single person. What should he take into account? Perhaps the biggest party? It may be a question of how many MKs support one candidate as opposed to how many support a different candidate, and whether the MK who received the most support has the best chance of persuading others to form a coalition with him. These are very difficult questions for the president, and if necessary I’ll come back and consult with you.” At the end of the event, the students asked the president’s advice regarding their first vote. The president replied that, although voting is a simple act in practical terms, it is very important indeed. The way in which a citizen is sovereign to choose his or her representatives should not be taken for granted, and most people in the world do not have that right. He also said, “we should give our voting choices the appropriate level of consideration. To understand not only who is at the top of the list, but also who are the other candidates on it, and what their positions are on the issues that matter to us. These are only some of the questions we should be asking ourselves ahead of the vote. It is not the government’s right to lead the people, it is its duty to do so. The government is chosen by the people to lead it. Sometimes, the government is required to take decisions that appear controversial to the people, but that is because the people does not always know the full range of considerations and details that are involved in such decsisions. However, I want to stress that the role of the citizen in a democratic state does not end at the polling booth. The best advice I can give you is to be engaged and involved citizens during the elections, but also to be engaged and involved citizens after the elections.” At the end of his remarks, the president said, “the municipal elections may have shown us that there is an alternative, but the important process that you began a few months ago is still in its early stages. I wish for you and for us that the new reality that you are working so hard to create here continues to grow, to take root and to improve. I hope that the whole State of Israel, the other local authorities and the new Knesset that will be elected sees Bet Shemesh as an example and that they implement there what you are doing here.”

照片來源：Amos Ben-Gershom（GPO） 以色列總理本雅明內塔尼亞胡昨天（2019年3月25日星期一）在白宮會見了美國總統唐納德特朗普。在會議開始時，美國總統特朗普簽署了承認戈蘭高地的公告。 內塔尼亞胡總理在聯合聲明中發表以下言論： “總統先生，我親愛的朋友唐納德，你們一直表現出對以色列的不可思議的支持，因為我們有自衛的權利。當我們行使這種自衛權時，你們從未退縮。你們一直都在那裡，包括今天，謝謝你! 昨天，以色列的加沙遭受恐怖分子發射了一枚火箭彈。它襲擊了特拉維夫北部的一個家庭。它造成7人受傷，包括兩個小孩，奇蹟般地沒有人被殺，以色列不會容忍這一點！我不會容忍這個，正如我們所說，正如我告訴你的那樣，總統先生，就在此時，以色列正在對這種肆無忌憚的侵略作出有力回應。 我向以色列的敵人發出一個簡單的信息：我們將盡一切努力保衛我們的人民並捍衛我們的國家。在這次會議之後，我將提前返回家園，帶領以色列人民和以色列士兵。但在我去之前，總統先生，謝謝你真誠地邀請我來這裡-白宮，感謝你，這對我來說非常重要。 總統先生，多年來，以色列很幸運有許多朋友坐在這橢圓形辦公室，但以色列從來沒有比你這更好的朋友！你一次又一次地展示，當你退出與伊朗的災難性核協議時，你就表明了這一點。我記得在我們的第一次會議中，你說，“這是一個可怕的交易，我會離開的，“你這麼說; 你做到了！當你恢復對旨在摧毀唯一的猶太國家的種族滅絕政權的製裁時，你就表明了這一點。你說，“我會恢復那些制裁。”你這麼說; 你做到了 你表明當你認出耶路撒冷是以色列的首都並將美國大使館搬到那裡時。大衛是一位偉大的大使。你說的; 你做到了。總統先生，你今天再次展示了這一點！ 總統先生，女士們，先生們，這真是一個歷史性的日子。二十年來，從1948年到1967年，敘利亞在戈蘭高地向下面的以色列公民放下了致命的火災。一代以色列兒童一直處於危險之中。然後，在1967年6月的兩個輝煌的日子裡，以色列勇敢的士兵將這些令人畏懼的高度擴大，並解放了戈蘭。這對所有以色列人和我個人都具有深遠的意義。其中一位勇敢的士兵是我的兄弟，他在戰爭結束前三小時在戰鬥中受傷。幾年後，作為一個特殊部隊的軍官，我帶領我的士兵進入敘利亞的秘密任務，當我們回到戈蘭，回到以色列時，我們幾乎在一場眩目的暴風雪中凍死了。1967年，以色列奪取了製高點，這一點已被證明對我們的防禦具有無法估量的價值！因為在1973年，敘利亞對以色列發動了突然襲擊，事實證明，這些戈蘭高地也是如此，使我們能夠吸收最初的、可怕的攻擊並成功地擊退入侵的敘利亞軍隊。在三個星期內，我們在大馬士革的大門口。 在我們歷史上最艱苦的坦克戰之一之後，我們勇敢的士兵戰勝了因為那是我們勇敢的戰士，雖然以色列贏得了這兩場戰爭，但我們將不得不等待將近半個世紀，直到這個時候，在這個會議室裡，將我們的軍事勝利轉化為外交勝利。因此，總統先生，你決定承認以色列對戈蘭高地的主權是如此具有歷史意義。你的承認是雙重的歷史正義行為。以色列在公正的自衛戰中贏得了戈蘭高地，猶太人民在戈蘭的根源可以追溯到幾千年前。 在漫長的猶太歷史中，非猶太領導人代表我們的人民和我們的土地發表了一些宣言：偉大的波斯國王居魯士; 巴爾福勳爵; 哈里·杜魯門總統; 和唐納德·J·特朗普總統。 主席先生，你，你已經做過一次，不，應該是兩次：你對耶路撒冷的大膽宣言以及你今天在戈蘭的大膽宣言。你的宣言是在伊朗試圖在敘利亞建立威脅以色列的基地時，戈蘭對我們的安全比以往任何時候都更加重要。從敘利亞境內越過伊朗，伊朗向我們的領空發射無人機，導彈進入我國領土。 總統先生，正如以色列在1967年站得很高，就像它在1973年高高在上一樣，以色列今天站得很高。我們佔據制高點，我們永遠不會放棄。總統先生，我們在以色列有一句話。我會用希伯來語說。它說  HaAm im haGolan。這意味著人民與戈蘭在一起。但是，多虧你，我們現在知道有兩個人與戈蘭，以色列人民和美國人民站在一起。 特朗普總統代表以色列全體人民，謝謝你。感謝您的領導，感謝您的友誼，並感謝您為使美國和以色列之間的聯盟變得更加強大和前所未有所做的一切。“ 內塔尼亞胡總理向白宮工作人員贈送了戈蘭高地酒莊的葡萄酒。 以色列|內塔尼亞胡|美國|特朗普|戈蘭高地|INN NEWS|

Attached photo credit: Amos Ben-Gershom (GPO) Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, early this morning, made the following remarks upon departing Washington DC: “I am now returning from an historic visit to Washington. President Trump’s recognition of our sovereignty over the Golan Heights will be remembered for generations. There is a very important principle in international life – when you start wars of aggression, you lose territory; do not come and claim it afterwards. It belongs to us. We have historic foundations on the Golan Heights. When you dig there, you discover magnificent synagogues, which we are restoring. We have returned to the Golan; the Golan is ours. The Golan is ours by historic right and by right of self-defense, and President Trump recognizes this. That you are not covering this for more than a minute, is something you will be called to account for. However, in historical reckoning this is huge.” The Prime Minister added: “I am taking this plane quickly in order to return home and go directly to the Defense Ministry. We are dealing with the security matters. We have responded very, very forcefully. Hamas needs to know that we will not hesitate to go in and take all necessary steps – regardless of anything, any date, other than Israel’s security needs.”

A Palestinian stabbed an IDF soldier at Ariel junction, stole his weapon, fired at civilians, got into his car, drove to the Gitai Avishar Junction, and fired at Israelis at a bus station. Israel troops are searching for the terrorist. 3:44 am - March 17, 2019

照片來源：Mark Neiman（GPO） 以色列總統魯文（魯維）里夫林昨天，3月4日星期一/ 27日阿達爾一世與正在訪問以色列的薩摩亞總理圖伊拉埃帕·塞萊萊·馬列萊高伊舉行工作會議 里夫林總統歡迎總理訪問以色列，說“我們的國家雖然在地球不同地區，但我們之間的友誼是深刻而真實的。我知道你對氣候變化深感憂慮。我們生活在同一個星球上，呼吸同樣的空氣，喝同樣的水，我們共同的責任是確保氣候變化不會破壞我們的世界。我們的研究人員正在開發改變世界的新思想。我們相信這些發展可以使我們所有人受益，我們很樂意與您分享這些發展，就像我們在農業和水方面一樣。“ 薩摩亞總理對里夫林總統的熱烈歡迎表示感謝，並說：“總統先生，感謝你們歡迎我和我國代表團來到這個美麗的國家。以色列的知識經濟在全世界都很有名，我們希望利用你在許多領域取得的成就。世界變得越來越小，我們期待與您以及以色列和太平洋島嶼論壇（PIF）成員之間的更多互動。“

Photo credit: Mark Neiman (GPO) Israel President Reuven (Ruvi) Rivlin Yesterday, Monday 4 March / 27 Adar I, held a working meeting with Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi of Samoa, who is visiting Israel The president welcomed the prime minister on his visit to Israel, saying “our countries are on different sides of the globe but the friendship between us is deep and real. I know that you are deeply worried about climate change. We live on the same planet, breathe the same air and drink the same water and it is our shared responsibility to ensure that climate change does not destroy our world. Our researchers develop new ideas into that are changing the world. We believe these developments can benefit us all and we are happy to share them, as we are doing with you in agriculture and water.” The prime minister thanked the president for his warm welcome and said, “Mr President, thank you for welcoming me and my delegation to your beautiful country. Israel’s knowledge economy is well-known around the world and we want to make use of your achievements in many fields. The world is getting smaller and smaller and we look forward to greater interaction with you, and between Israel and the members of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).”

攝影：Kobi Gideon（GPO） 里夫林总统： “从犹太复国主义开始直到今天，一个起义的以色列是一个胜利的以色列。现在是时候开始了; 现在是胜利的时候" 里夫林总统对伊朗说： “伊朗将对以色列在叙利亚和黎巴嫩的政策作出更邪恶的回应。伊朗的挑战不是我们的北方，而是国际外交领域" 里夫林总统关于巴勒斯坦问题： “哈马斯及其人民的精神正以令人担忧的方式蔓延到犹太和撒玛利亚。如果哈马斯及其方式曾被巴勒斯坦领导人视为问题和威胁，那么今天巴勒斯坦官方领导人仍然将哈马斯作为最大威胁的方式" 里夫林总统在选举前的公开讨论中： “政治和意识形态的争斗正在成为真正的敌意。更糟糕的是，国家机关，主要是执法机关和司法机关- 不是为了他们的利益而违背他们的意愿- 已成为选举问题。我不需要在这里解释这种趋势对以色列社会以及以色列的安全有多么危险" 鲁文总统（Ruvi）Rivlin在11月28日星期一/ 22 Shevat在国家安全研究所（INSS）第12届年会开幕式上回顾了以色列国面临的挑战。会议在特拉维夫的Eretz Israel Museum举行。 “我会选择用两个词来形容以色列在不久的将来的战略地位：升级和复杂性，”总统在发言开头说。 “一方面是升级和集约化，另一方面是复杂性和日益复杂化。这是过去一年和不久的将来安全和政治舞台的两个核心特征。" 总统还谈到伊朗在该地区的介入情况，并表示“有些人认为伊朗的地区计划已经停止或被以色列的行动所改变。有些人看到冲突程度升级，无论如何，伊朗将对以色列在叙利亚和黎巴嫩的北方政策作出更邪恶的反应。伊朗的挑战不是我们的北方，而是国际外交领域。持续的伊朗弹道导弹试验和来自德黑兰的暗杀地块，长期以来一直是伊朗与欧盟成员国之间关系的争论来源。在上周与法国总统马克伦（Emmanuel Macron）的会谈中，这个问题与黎巴嫩问题同时出现。 里夫林总统还谈到了巴勒斯坦问题，他说：“加沙地带仍在升级，那里的人道主义局势严峻，而且巴勒斯坦内部对以色列的仇恨与分裂政治助长了这一局面。哈马斯和法塔赫之间发生巴勒斯坦内部冲突，阿布马赞决定对加沙实施严厉干扰，所有这些促使我们做出对付那两个对以色列威胁的大小势力的决定。以色列安全机构认为，单靠军事解决办法无法长期改善加沙局势。正是军事力量，部分遏制政策和以色列- 埃及外交取得成功的结合。但是，看起来，以色列公众很难接受这种遏制，特别是当其后果使以色列毗邻加沙的地区生活艰难时。在我看来，不仅哈马斯和加沙的复杂性不会消失，而且哈马斯及其人民的精神正以令人担忧的方式蔓延到犹太和撒玛利亚。如果哈马斯及其方式曾被巴勒斯坦领导人视为问题和威胁，那么今天部分人和巴勒斯坦官方导层的部分人仍然会将哈马斯视为最大威胁。这一新趋势已开始为以色列面对的真正复杂性。“ 总之，总统谈到选举前的公开讨论，称“从竞选活动到竞选活动，传播信息和激励选民的电子手段变得越来越复杂。由Dorit Beinisch法官领导的中央选举委员会提出的选举广播改革和透明度要求表明了对民主国家选举领域日益复杂的承认。以色列的政治舞台比以往任何时候都更加复杂，现在它也对极端主义持开放态度，因为需要区分政党并通过标记“我们”和“他们”来激励选民，使政治团体和个人脱离正当和不合法的地位。剩下。政治和意识形态的争斗正在成为真正的敌意。更糟糕的是，国家机关，主要是执法和司法- 而不是他们的利益和违背他们的意愿- 已成为选举问题。我不需要在这里解释这种趋势对以色列社会以及以色列的安全有多么危险。" “以色列现在强大而富有活力，”总统在发言结束时强调说。 “那些左翼和右翼声称面临复杂性和以色列人毫无防御和被动是错误的，误导了我们。我们不是被动的，我们以敏感、智慧、对武力、杀伤力、外部威胁和内部挑战作出回应。但似乎今天的反应还不够，我们必须采取主动。"总统继续说道，“我们必须制定战略并付诸行动。阿萨德在叙利亚的权力真空，黎巴嫩政府的系统性弱点以及民主力量退出中东，助长了伊朗政权的毒害行为。我们必须竭尽全力将我们的亲密盟友带回该地区，也许是在区域政治倡议的框架内。与巴勒斯坦人的现状不符合以色列的利益。我们必须努力改变它，特别是建立信任措施，以造福我们并造福巴勒斯坦人。以色列的政治舞台可以而且应该对不允许的事物和不允许的事情承担更多有意义的责任。跨越党派和集团关于行为准则的协议不会模糊立场和失去选票，而是提高公民对政治的信任，并加强我们作为一个社会和一个社区。从犹太复国主义开始直到今天，一个起义的以色列是一个胜利的以色列。现在是时候开始了; 现在是胜利的时候。"

攝影：Kobi Gideon（GPO） 里夫林總統： “從猶太復國主義開始直到今天，一個起義的以色列是一個勝利的以色列。現在是時候開始了; 現在是勝利的時候" 里夫林總統對伊朗說： “伊朗將對以色列在敘利亞和黎巴嫩的政策作出更邪惡的回應。伊朗的挑戰不是我們的北方，而是國際外交領域" 里夫林總統關於巴勒斯坦問題： “哈馬斯及其人民的精神正以令人擔憂的方式蔓延到猶太和撒瑪利亞。如果哈馬斯及其方式曾被巴勒斯坦領導人視為問題和威脅，那麼今天巴勒斯坦官方領導人仍然將哈馬斯作為最大威脅的方式" 里夫林總統在選舉前的公開討論中： “政治和意識形態的爭鬥正在成為真正的敵意。更糟糕的是，國家機關，主要是執法機關和司法機關 - 不是為了他們的利益而違背他們的意願 - 已成為選舉問題。我不需要在這裡解釋這種趨勢對以色列社會以及以色列的安全有多麼危險" 魯文總統（Ruvi）Rivlin在11月28日星期一/ 22 Shevat在國家安全研究所（INSS）第12屆年會開幕式上回顧了以色列國面臨的挑戰。會議在特拉維夫的Eretz Israel Museum舉行。 “我會選擇用兩個詞來形容以色列在不久的將來的戰略地位：升級和復雜性，”總統在發言開頭說。“一方面是升級和集約化，另一方面是複雜性和日益複雜化。這是過去一年和不久的將來安全和政治舞台的兩個核心特徵。" 總統還談到伊朗在該地區的介入情況，並表示“有些人認為伊朗的地區計劃已經停止或被以色列的行動所改變。有些人看到衝突程度升級，無論如何，伊朗將對以色列在敘利亞和黎巴嫩的北方政策作出更邪惡的反應。伊朗的挑戰不是我們的北方，而是國際外交領域。持續的伊朗彈道導彈試驗和來自德黑蘭的暗殺地塊，長期以來一直是伊朗與歐盟成員國之間關係的爭論來源。在上週與法國總統馬克倫（Emmanuel Macron）的會談中，這個問題與黎巴嫩問題同時出現。 里夫林總統還談到了巴勒斯坦問題，他說：“加沙地帶仍在升級，那裡的人道主義局勢嚴峻，而且巴勒斯坦內部對以色列的仇恨與分裂政治助長了這一局面。哈馬斯和法塔赫之間發生巴勒斯坦內部衝突，阿布馬贊決定對加沙實施嚴厲干擾，所有這些促使我們做出對付那兩個對以色列威脅的大小勢力的決定。以色列安全機構認為，單靠軍事解決辦法無法長期改善加沙局勢。正是軍事力量，部分遏制政策和以色列 - 埃及外交取得成功的結合。但是，看起來，以色列公眾很難接受這種遏制，特別是當其後果使以色列毗鄰加沙的地區生活艱難時。在我看來，不僅哈馬斯和加沙的複雜性不會消失，而且哈馬斯及其人民的精神正以令人擔憂的方式蔓延到猶太和撒瑪利亞。如果哈馬斯及其方式曾被巴勒斯坦領導人視為問題和威脅，那麼今天部分人和巴勒斯坦官方領導層的部分人仍然會將哈馬斯視為最大威脅。這一新趨勢已開始為以色列面對的真正複雜性。“ 總之，總統談到選舉前的公開討論，稱“從競選活動到競選活動，傳播信息和激勵選民的電子手段變得越來越複雜。由Dorit Beinisch法官領導的中央選舉委員會提出的選舉廣播改革和透明度要求表明了對民主國家選舉領域日益複雜的承認。以色列的政治舞台比以往任何時候都更加複雜，現在它也對極端主義持開放態度，因為需要區分政黨並通過標記“我們”和“他們”來激勵選民，使政治團體和個人脫離正當和不合法的地位。剩下。政治和意識形態的爭鬥正在成為真正的敵意。更糟糕的是，國家機關，主要是執法和司法 - 而不是他們的利益和違背他們的意願 - 已成為選舉問題。我不需要在這裡解釋這種趨勢對以色列社會以及以色列的安全有多麼危險。" “以色列現在強大而富有活力，”總統在發言結束時強調說。“那些左翼和右翼聲稱面臨複雜性和以色列人毫無防禦和被動是錯誤的，誤導了我們。我們不是被動的，我們以敏感、智慧、對武力、殺傷力、外部威脅和內部挑戰作出回應。但似乎今天的反應還不夠，我們必須採取主動。"總統繼續說道，“我們必須制定戰略並付諸行動。阿薩德在敘利亞的權力真空，黎巴嫩政府的系統性弱點以及民主力量退出中東，助長了伊朗政權的毒害行為。我們必須竭盡全力將我們的親密盟友帶回該地區，也許是在區域政治倡議的框架內。與巴勒斯坦人的現狀不符合以色列的利益。我們必須努力改變它，特別是建立信任措施，以造福我們並造福巴勒斯坦人。以色列的政治舞台可以而且應該對不允許的事物和不允許的事情承擔更多有意義的責任。跨越黨派和集團關於行為準則的協議不會模糊立場和失去選票，而是提高公民對政治的信任，並加強我們作為一個社會和一個社區。從猶太復國主義開始直到今天，一個起義的以色列是一個勝利的以色列。現在是時候開始了; 現在是勝利的時候。"

Attached photo credits: Kobi Gideon (GPO) President Rivlin: “From the inception of Zionism until today, an Israel that initiates is an Israel that is victorious. Now is the time to initiate; now is the time for victory” President Rivlin on Iran: “Iran will respond more forcefully to Israeli policy in the north, both in Syria and in Lebanon. The Iranian challenge is not to our north but in the sphere of international diplomacy” President Rivlin on the Palestinian issue: “The spirit of Hamas and its people is spreading in a worrying way into Judea and Samaria. If Hamas and its way were once considered a problem and a threat by the Palestinian leadership, today parts of the population and parts of the official Palestinian leadership see Hamas’s way as the solution” President Rivlin on public discourse in the run-up to elections: “Political and ideological rivalries are becoming real enmities. Worse than that, organs of the state, primarily law enforcement and the judiciary – not to their benefit and against their will – have become election issues. I do not need to explain here how dangerous this trend is for Israeli society and even for Israel’s security” President Reuven (Ruvi) Rivlin reviewed the challenges facing the State of Israel this evening, Monday 28 November / 22 Shevat in the opening session of the 12th annual conference of the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS). The conference took place at the Eretz Israel Museum in Tel Aviv. “I would choose two words to describe Israel’s strategic position in the near future: escalation and complexity,” said the president at the beginning of his remarks. “Escalation and intensification on one hand, complications and growing complexity on the other. Those are the two central characteristics of the security and political arena in the past year and in the near future.” The president also related to Iranian involvement in the region, saying “there are those who think that Iran’s regional plans have been halted or have been altered by Israeli action. There are those who see escalation in the level of conflict and, in any case, Iran – I believe – will respond more forcefully to Israeli policy in the north, both in Syria and in Lebanon. The Iranian challenge is not to our north but in the sphere of international diplomacy. Continued Iranian ballistic missile tests and assassination plots that emanate from Teheran have long been a source of contention in the relations between Iran and the members of the European Union. In my talks with French President Emmanuel Macron last week, this issue came up alongside the question of Lebanon. I feel that the Europeans are getting closer to Israel’s view of the situation regarding the dangers emanating from the Iranian regime.” The president also spoke about the Palestinian issue, saying “The Gaza strip is still bubbling, the humanitarian situation there is grave and it is fueled by the politics of hatred and division, both internal Palestinian and against Israel. We have the internal Palestinian conflict between Hamas and Fatah and Abu Mazen’s decision to impose heavy sanctions on Gaza. All these push us to make decisions which are the lesser of two evils. The Israeli security establishment believes that a military solution alone cannot bring a long-term improvement to the situation in Gaza. It is the combination of military force, a policy of partial containment and Israeli-Egyptian diplomacy that has been successful. But the Israeli public, it would appear, finds it hard to accept that containment, particularly when its consequences make life hard in the area of Israel contiguous to Gaza. In my view, not only will the complexity regarding Hamas and Gaza not disappear, but the spirit of Hamas and its people is spreading in a worrying way into Judea and Samaria. If Hamas and its way were once considered a problem and a threat by the Palestinian leadership, today parts of the population and parts of the official Palestinian leadership see Hamas’s way as the solution. This new trend has begun to create real complexity for Israel.” In conclusion, the president spoke about public discourse in the run-up to elections, saying “from election campaign to election campaign, the electronic means of disseminating messages and motivating voters become more and more sophisticated. The reforms in election broadcasts and the requirements of transparency proposed by the Central Elections Committee headed by Judge Dorit Beinisch, express an acknowledgement of the rising complexity in the field of elections in a democratic state. The Israeli political scene is more complex than ever, and now it is also open to extremism because of the need to distinguish between parties and to motivate voters by labeling ‘us’ and ‘them’, de-legitimizing political groups and individuals from right and left. Political and ideological rivalries are becoming real enmities. Worse than that, organs of the state, primarily law enforcement and the judiciary – not to their benefit and against their will – have become election issues. I do not need to explain here how dangerous this trend is for Israeli society and even for Israel’s security.” “Israel is strong and resilient at the moment,” stressed the president at the end of his remarks. “Those on the left and on the right who claim that faced with complexity and escalation Israel stands defenseless and passive are wrong and mislead us. We are not passive. We respond with sensitivity, with wisdom, with force, with lethality, to external threats and internal challenges. But it seems that today’s responses are not enough. We must take the initiative.” The president continued, “we must formulate a strategy and put it into action. The poisonous behavior of the Iranian regime is fed by Assad’s power vacuum in Syria, the systemic weakness of the Lebanese government and by the withdrawal of democratic forces from engaging in the Middle East. We must do all we can to bring our close allies back to the region, perhaps in the framework of a regional political initiative. The status quo with the Palestinians is not in Israel’s favor. We must make efforts to change it, particularly with confidence-building measures, for our benefit and for the benefit of the Palestinians as well. The Israeli political arena can and should take more meaningful responsibility for what is and what is not permitted. Agreements that cross party and bloc lines about norms of behavior will not blur positions and lose votes, but rather raise civic trust in politics and strengthen us as a society and a community. From the inception of Zionism until today, an Israel that initiates is an Israel that is victorious. Now is the time to initiate; now is the time for victory.”

附照片點數：Kobi Gideon（GPO） 以色列總統魯文里夫林今年1月28日星期一/ 22日在希瓦特與正在訪問以色列的意大利外交部長恩佐·莫維羅·米拉內西舉行工作會議。 總統對外交部長首次訪問以色列表示歡迎，並感謝他為加强两國關係所做的工作。里夫林總統指出了兩國之間的良好關係以及日益增長的合作。“我最近回訪了梵蒂岡和羅馬，在那裡我遇到了教宗，總統和總理。我們的討論非常好，也是我們兩國關係密切的標誌。我們在一系列領域開展合作，包括貿易，科學，文化，體育和國防 意大利外交部長感謝總統的講話，並表示意大利也非常重視兩國之間的關係，他很高興看到他們變得更加深刻。“我今天和你們在一起感到非常高興，”他說，“不久前我們在羅馬會面後。從羅馬來到耶路撒冷是為了在世界上最古老的兩座城市和文明之間架起橋樑。下週，我們將慶祝以色列和意大利之間70年的外交關係。七十多年來，我們建立了深厚而廣泛的關係，觸動了兩國人民的心，“他說。 總統和外交部長繼續討論地區威脅，包括最近發現的真主黨襲擊隧道和伊朗試圖破壞地區穩定的企圖。

Attached photo credits: Kobi Gideon (GPO) Israel President Reuven (Ruvi) Rivlin today, Monday 28 January / 22 Shevat, held a working meeting with Italian Foreign Minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi, who is visiting Israel. The president welcomed the foreign minister on his first visit to Israel and thanked him for his work to strengthen relations between the two countries. President Rivlin noted the good relations between the two countries and the growing cooperation. “I returned recently from a visit to the Vatican and Rome where I met the Pope, the President and the Prime Minister. Our discussions were excellent and a sign of the close relations between our two countries. We work together in a range of fields including trade, science, culture, sports and defense” The Italian Foreign Minister thanked the president for his words and said that Italy also sees great importance to the relations between the countries, and that he would be happy to see them become even deeper. “It is a great joy for me to be here with you today,” he said, “after our meeting not long ago in Rome. To come to Jerusalem from Rome is to bridge between two of the oldest cities and civilizations in the world. Next week, we will celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations between Israel and Italy. Over seven decades we have built deep and broad relations that touch the hearts of both our peoples,” he said. The president and the foreign minister continued to discuss regional threats, including the Hizbollah attack tunnels that were discovered recently and Iranian attempts to undermine regional stability.

Attached photo credit: Amos Ben-Gershom (GPO) Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Yesterday (Sunday, 27 January 2019), to mark International holocaust Remembrance Day, invited Moshe Haelyon, Mordecai (Motka) Weisel and Malka Steinmetz to his office in Jerusalem. Prime Minister Netanyahu heard the survivors' personal stories from during World War II and regarding their immigration to Israel, and said that their story was that of the state and its revival. Afterwards, the Prime Minister invited the three to join him at the weekly Cabinet meeting and hear the Cabinet briefing on the subject. Prime Minister Netanyahu made the following remarks at the start of the Cabinet meeting: "Today we mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day and Struggle against Anti-Semitism Day. We are honored with the presence of Moshe, Malka and Motka, Holocaust survivors that I just met before the meeting. Moshe survived the death camps and the death march. Malka lost her five sisters in the crematoria and has a number burned onto her arm. Motka, whose brother fell at Latrun, interrupted an SS officer who whipped his back. The penalty for such an offense was immediate death, but he somehow survived. By this unbelievable act of heroism he served as an example to thousands. The story spread among thousands and he served as an example to thousands, and to us. The moving stories of the revival of Moshe, Malka and Motka are the story of our revival. During the Holocaust, the Jewish people were completely helpless. Today the state of the Jews is among the strongest and most advanced in the world. First and foremost, we have restored to our people the strength to resist that we lost in exile. In contrast to the terrible helplessness of our people then, today we strike at those who seek our lives and hurt all those who try to hurt us. At the same time, we do not forget our dead, our enemies and our rescuers."