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Britain-based international jazz vocalist Emma Smith debuts in Israel at the upcoming Hot Jazz series opening concert with the Denny Ilett All Stars Jazz Band.  Smith has performed in leading jazz clubs in New York City and collaborated  and recorded with top artists. Speaking from London ahead of the upcoming concerts around Israel, January 6th through the 13th, Smith talked to  KAN's Naomi Segal about growing up in a family steeped in music, exploring her Jewish roots, and the healing power of music. (Photo: Christian Larsen, DR Big Band)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More fighting in Gaza, northern border. Security cabinet to discuss Day After on Thursday night. US envoy  Hochstein arrives in effort to prevent Lebanon escalation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

   The High Court of Justice ruled by a majority vote Wednesday  that the amendment to Basic Law: Government, which severely curtailed the circumstances under which the prime minister might be declared incapacitated, would only be applied after the next Knesset was sworn into office.  According to the majority opinion, the amendment was “patently personal” and was tailored to suit Prime Minister Netanyahu’s specific needs and, as such, constituted “abuse” of the Knesset’s authority.   Justice Minister Yariv Levin said the court’s decision to hand down such  rulings during a war was an act that was damaging to the national unity. KAN's Mark Weiss spoke with attorney Michael Partem from the Movement for Quality Government in Israel, one of the organizations that petitioned the high court on the incapacity law. (Photo:Flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With antisemitism at alarming pace on U.S. university campuses, the resignation last night of Claudine Gay as president of Harvard University over allegations of plagiarism is more than just an academic dishonesty scadal. It was also over her testimony at a congressional hearing where she was unable to say unequivocally that calls on campus for the genocide of Jews would violate the school’s conduct policy. But will Gay’s resignation have any impact on rising antisemitism on campuses? We put this question to Sasha Roytman the CEO of the Combat Antisemitism Movement. (photo: Mark Schiefelbein/AP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What will be the impact from, and potential reaction to, the assassination of senior Hamas official Saleh al-Arouri in a blast the terror group has blamed on Israel in Hezbollah's south Beirut stronghold? Prof. Amatzia Baram, of the Department of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at the University of Haifa, and an expert on the history of Iraq, Iran and Shi'i radical movements, spoke to KAN's Naomi Segal.  (Photo: Associated Press)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

IDF on alert after Hamas deputy leader killed in Beirut blast terror group blames on Israel. IDF soldier killed in battle in northern Gaza Strip. UN Security Council to discuss Houthi attacks on shipping vessels in Red SeaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MK Ofer Cassif of the Hadash Communist party totally rejected the idea proposed by the IDF of clan rule for the Palestinians, saying it was akin to colonial tactics from a bygone era. He told reporter Arieh O’Sullivan that Israel had already tried this twice and it failed and what the Palestinians wanted was statehood. Cassif also welcomed the High Court ruling. But said it wasn’t sufficient for Israel’s transformation to a true democratic state. (photo: GPO)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a landmark decision, Israel's High Court of Justice ruled 8-7 to strike down the reasonability clause, an amendment to the Basic Law: The Judiciary, that was passed by the coalition last year as part of its controversial judiciary overhaul and which eliminated the court's ability to apply the reasonableness standard to government and ministerial decisions. This marked the first time the High Court has nullified an element of a quasi-constitutional Basic Law. Notably, 12 of the court's 15 justices also ruled that the court has the authority to exercise judicial review of Basic Laws, in "unusual and extreme cases" when they violate basic principles of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. Dr. Amir Fuchs, Senior Researcher at the Israel Democracy Institute, spoke to KAN's Naomi Segal about the significance of the decision.  (Photo: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The IDF has formulated plans for Palestinian clans would manage the distribution of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip. According to the plans, Gaza will be divided into districts and sub-provinces, which will be controlled by each clan. In addition to distributing humanitarian aid coming in from Egypt and Israel, the clans will manage civilian life in Gaza for an interim period. The proposed scheme may also extend to the West Bank and recommends dividing the territories into emirates, and Israel retaining security control. Dr. Mordechai Kedar, a researcher on the Middle East and Islam at the Begin Sadat Center for Strategic Studies at Bar Ilan university, said that clan rule is prevalent across the Middle East and was the most stable form of rule in the region. He told reporter Arieh O’Sullivan that the concept of clan rule may not sit well with the West but was successful in the East. (photo: Ilan Bruner/GPO)  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

IDF strikes targets in Syria, Troops kill four Palestinian gunmen in counter-terror raid in West Bank, IDF proposes Gazan clans run Gaza Strip to help distribute humanitarian aidSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

First reserve troops released from Gaza. Rockets fired at Tel Aviv as New Year ushered in. Hamas delegation in Cairo for truce talks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

South Africa has filed a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) alleging that Israel is engaging in "genocidal acts" in Gaza. Israel has strongly rejected the allegation, calling it "baseless". "Israel rejects with disgust the blood libel spread by South Africa", the foreign ministry said. The ICJ, which is based in the Hague in the Netherlands, is the UN's principal judicial organ. It settles disputes between states and gives advisory opinions on international legal issues. Following its application to the ICJ, South Africa's presidency said in a statement that the country was obliged "to prevent genocide from occurring". KAN's Mark Weiss spoke with Nick Kaufman, a defense counsel at the International Court in the Hague and a former UN prosecutor, asking him the significance of the South African move. (Photo: Associated Press)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the Israel-Hamas conflict continues, academic institutions are grappling with how to best support and protect their diverse student bodies. A survey conducted by the aChord Center ahead of the scheduled opening of the academic year at universities assessed attitudes Jewish and Arab students hold toward each other – and their concerns and fears at this time. KAN's Naomi Segal heard more about findings and the atmosphere on campus from Dr. Sarit Larry, Director of Academia Department at aChord Center at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. (Photo: File photo. Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two IDF soldiers killed in Gaza fighting. Egyptian delegation reportedly visited Israel to raise ceasefire proposal. University academic year opens after war-related delaysSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A delegation of Israeli civil organizations recently returned from the United States, where representatives sought to help US Jewish communities understand the complexities related to the ongoing war, and foster ties with Israel. Nati Birman Manoim, CEO of the Israeli Movement, spoke to KAN's Naomi Segal about the trip.  (Photo: Protest opposite UN headquarters, December 4, 2023. Yakov Binyamin/Flash90)  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Four injured in suspected car-ramming attack in Har Hebron area. Sirens in northern Israel, IDF expands operations in Khan Younis area in southern Gaza Strip. Former Prime Minister Bennett deflects criticism over his revealing details of Iran strikes See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

3 more KIA in Gaza. IDF apologizes for Maghazi camp bombing that killed dozens of civilians.  Shin Bet reportedly  received precise tip off from Gaza informant ahead of October 7th attack.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Residents of Kochav Yair-Tzur Yigal, a town of about 9,000 in Israel’s Sharon region, have told authorities in recent weeks that they feel “shaking and drilling and excavation noises”  at night.  The town is located only a few hundred kilometers from the West Bank city of  Kalkilya, which is governed by the Palestinian Authority. Residents are concerned that they are hearing  excavations of tunnels of the sort used by Hamas  in the October 7th attack.   KAN's Mark Weiss spoke with Yuval Arad, mayor of Kohav Yair-Tsur Yigal. (Photo:IDF Spokesperson)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prof. Efraim Inbar, President of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, said that the IDF change of tactics will be taking into account the US pressure to lower collateral damage and that would cost more Israel casualties. He added that no one wants to accept any of the millions of civilians from Gaza, because Arab leaders fear they have become radicalized and would create instability in their regimes. But he told reporter Arieh O’Sullivan that if Palestinians do move into their territory, Egypt and Jordan would not likely abrogate the peace treaty with Israel. (photo: Mohammed Dahman/AP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

3 IDF soldiers killed in Gaza Strip. In north, several interceptions in rocket barrage from Lebanon, no injuries. Hamas denies Iran's claim that October 7th attack was revenge for assassination of Quds Force commander  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.