Ben Gvir Claims Altalena Legacy as Mortgage Debt Rises and Public Sector Gender Exclusion Grows
This week, Itamar Ben Gvir asserted control over the Altalena legacy, a key symbol of the Israeli right-wing, complicating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's position. Netanyahu sought to acknowledge the Altalena ship discovery without appearing alongside Ben Gvir, who has repurposed the story to fuel right-wing grievances and arm civilians, diverging from the original lessons of unity and restraint taught by David Ben-Gurion and Menachem Begin.
In the financial sector, Bank of Israel data revealed a 1.5% increase in balloon and bullet mortgage loans last month, with a 20% rise over the past year. These loans allow buyers to defer payments, relying on hopes of future interest rate reductions. However, if rates rise instead, the mortgage sector faces increased risks, potentially delaying or reversing rate cuts.
Meanwhile, the Israel Land Authority (Rami) canceled a public New Year's musical event featuring female performers, citing gender segregation policies. This decision, made by Yehuda Eliyahu, a temporary Rami director linked to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, reflects a broader government trend of excluding women from public roles, despite a 2011 government directive to combat such exclusion. The Civil Service Commission remains silent on the issue.
Regarding defense spending, the security establishment is pushing for an immediate budget increase to capitalize on urgent procurement deals. The Finance Ministry argues current funds suffice and warns against mid-year budget changes. Observers suggest postponing decisions until after upcoming elections to avoid politicized allocations.
Finally, the new school year begins amid ongoing educational challenges, including declining knowledge, violence, teacher burnout, and staff shortages. The concept of "studies" as an organized, continuous framework has eroded over the past seven years due to crises like pandemics and conflicts, leaving the education system in disarray without clear accountability from policymakers.
