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https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NjgiuU-Jf-U&feature=youtu.be YouTube VIDEO: Weekly Israel Update Published on Feb 22, 2019 Rabbi Moshe Rothchild of the Global Israel Alliance summarizes the news from Israel for the week ending February 22, 2019

Zionist Union’s No. 2 drops bombshell 12 hours before election; Netanyahu, Herzog accuse each other of ‘panicking’. The Zionist Union’s Tzipi Livni announced Monday evening that she would give up the rotation of the premiership with the slate’s leader, Isaac Herzog, an agreement the two made months ago when her Hatnua party merged with his Labor Party. Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign up! In response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the party was “panicking,” while Yesh Atid party leader Yair Lapid and Jewish Home party leader Naftali Bennett...

"The historic announcement of Livni and Herzog marks new lows in terms of broken promises," MK Yariv Levin (Likud) stated Monday night. "If, until today, we had grown accustomed to the Left breaking its promises after elections, now these promises are being broken even before the polls open." "Whoever can't handle the stress of the night before elections is not able to handle the day-to-day stresses of premiership," he added. "Now it is absolutely clear that there is only one suitable candidate for Prime Minister - Binyamin Netanyahu - and that only one party fulfills its promises: Likud." "Livni's misstep...

MK Tzipi Livni (Hatnua) fired back at Jewish Home chairman Naftali Bennett on Wednesday, after Bennett mocked her and suggested, following the terrorist attack in France, that she “get on a plane to Paris to solve the problems there” and “offer the French to 'end the occupation'”. "On this day we stand together with the French people against terrorism and against Islamist extremism," said Livni. “Unlike Bennett, who is not ashamed to dance on the blood of innocent people to achieve political gain, thus deepening the hostility and isolation of Israel in the world, I spoke today with the French...

Justice Minister Tzipi Livni sharply criticized Economics Minister Naftali Bennett Monday, after the Jewish Home party leader remarked at a faction meeting that a Palestinian state would "crush" the Israeli economy. "The Economics Minister must decide if he represents the Israeli people, or just the residents of isolated settlements," Livni insisted. "In these trying times, when both left-wing and right-wing businessmen are deeply concerned about the future of the Israeli economy, the person in charge of that economy actually prefers to listen to extremist Rabbis," Livni claimed. "The role of a responsible, Zionist leader is not to side with policies...

US Secretary of State John Kerry's scheduled meeting with President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Thursday has been postponed due to the snowstorm which hit the capital, American sources told The Jerusalem Post. Kerry, who is due to arrive on Thursday, is still expected to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah. .....

Justice Minister Tzippy Livni on Sunday spoke with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, discussing the possibility that Israel would pay reparations to the families of nine Turkish supporters of Hamas who were killed in 2010 aboard the Mavi Marmara, after they attempted to attack and murder IDF soldiers as part of the Gaza flotilla. Turkey's vice-premier, Bulenbt Arink, told Turkish media Sunday that a meeting and discussion in compensation had taken place, but gave no details. Turkish media reported Sunday that the families were due to receive “tens of millions of dollars” in compensation. Israel has named former director general...

Tzipi Livni responded...to the final approval of 1500 new housing units in Ramat Shlomo. "The Ramat Shlomo construction represents everything that is problematic in the Netanyahu government. Housing priority is given to Haredim under the guise of national interest which infuriates the world against us and puts Jerusalem under a magnifying glass and international questions. Great national damage."

Avigdor Yitzchaki, one of the founders of the Kadima party, expressed support, Monday, for Member of Knesset Meir Sheetrit's attempts to divide the party. Interviewed on Arutz Sheva, the former Knesset member said, "I wish him success." Referring to the other candidates for the party chair, he said, "Both Mofaz and Dichter crowned with glory and courage of their military service and security but they are not demonstrating it in politics." The Director-General of the Prime Minister's Office during Ariel Sharon's tenure as prime minister had harsh criticism for incumbent Tzipi Livni's conduct, saying she "has made very big mistakes....

The announcement by Israel that it is to build several thousand homes in Jerusalem, Gush Etzion and Ma'ale Adumim is a “punishment” against the Palestinian Authority for its being accepted into UNESCO as a full member, Kadima head Tsipi Livni said Wednesday – and this will not help Israel retain the blocs in a final status agreement. Livni met with Palestinian Authority head negotiator Sa'eb Erekat during a security conference in Tel Aviv Wednesday. Speaking at the conference, Livni said that “construction as a method of punishing the Palestinians will simply not be understood. It won't help keep the blocs...

On September 17, Tzipora "Tzipi" Livni was elected to head Israel’s ruling Kadima Party, succeeding Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Olmert resigned as party leader after an official investigative ccommission accused him of "serious failure in exercising judgment, responsibility and prudence" during Israel’s war with Hezbollah in 2006. If Livni is able to establish a ruling coalition in the Knesset within 42 days… the deadline being October 29, just six days before the U.S. elections… she will become Israel’s first female prime minister since Golda Meir led Israel from March 1969 until June 1974. What is significant from the American perspective...

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will hand in his resignation to President Shimon Peres at 7:30 p.m. Sunday to carry out an orderly transfer of power, Cabinet Secretary Ovad Yehezkel announced. Once Peres receives the letter, he will meet with the heads of the 13 Knesset factions to consult with them about whom he should appoint to form a new coalition before formally appointing new Kadima leader Tzipi Livni. She will then have 42 days to form a coalition - but her goal is to present a new government to the Knesset when it returns for its winter session on October...

Israel's popular foreign minister called Wednesday on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to resign _ positioning herself to replace him and dealing the toughest blow yet to his efforts to stay in power after a scathing report on his performance in the war in Lebanon. Olmert said he does not plan to resign, despite the growing number of allies deserting him. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni became the highest-ranking official to call for Olmert's ouster, telling him in a meeting that he had lost the public's support and setting herself up to become Israel's second female prime minister, after the legendary Golda...