Volume L, Issue 46; November 19, 2017
Politics: Knesset votes in favor of National School Voucher Act
By: Shabadras Akhtar
Members of the Knesset cast votes on the School Voucher Act
After two years of amendments, revisions, and committee hearings, Feldshuh's primary promise in regards to education, the National School Voucher Act, has passed the Knesset and amendments to the legal code have been made.
The act, which passed the Knesset 127-73, withdraws a portion of funding to the Iraelian National School System to be dedicated to a school voucher system. Within this system, economically disadvantaged students shall receive a stipend from the government with which they may seek and pay tuition for a private school system. This policy was a staple of the Feldshuh campaign in 2015 and was the first piece of legislation introduced to this session of the Knesset. The legislation underwent numerous amendments and was forestalled by Feldshuh's death, but was maintained by sitting Minister of Education, Sarit Lernar, who co-authored the legislation. The full effects of the act shall take effect upon the beginning of Fiscal Year 2020 and shall have a renewal date of Fiscal Year 2030. The Ministry of Education has already begun trial releases in the most impoverished communities of former Shaiva.
Yamesh praised the legislation, stating, "It is a wonderful method by which we can subsidize the consumer and bridge the class divide between the rich and poor. As a child, this program would have been a miracle for my community, and all impoverished communities throughout this nation." Even Leader of the Opposition Taneli Gadi has stated her support for the bill, applauding it as a bipartisan reform to our educational system that does seek to alleviate the problems that exist within Iraelia today.
Gadi's Labour and Worker's Party colleagues were not as welcoming. Member of the Knesset and Chairman of the Worker's Party, Arni Yeshir viciously attacked the act as a capitalist ploy. "This is nothing but a thinly veiled attempt to increase the class divide and turn the lower and middle class against itself. This is far from bipartisan reform, it's Conservatism 101." The Labor Party Chairman, while not as scathing, denounced the defunding of the existing public school system instead of seeking to solve it's problems and flaws.
In spite of it's weight, the impacts of this bill will not be known until the trial programs are concluded by the end of this year.
News: Yamesh to attend conference at Saito
By: Yoav Evida
Yamesh addresses media about Saito conference
Upon the change in Skandan government after the actions of the newly chosen Premier, Misaka Tawanoa, Yamesh shall attend a conference in Saito to establish the new diplomatic relations between the two powers. At these talks, Yamesh and Tawanoa will discuss recent drama between the two nations, Skanda's new relations towards the Iterian League, and the creation of a diplomatic neutral ground between Skanda and Iraelia where they can meet to discuss relations between the two.
Skanda recently transitioned from a republican system to a communist state when then President Misaka Tawanoa dissolved the parliament, and, soon thereafter announced the creation of the Democratic People's Republic. The decision sent shock waves throughout the continent, hearkening back to the Socialist Republic of Skanda and the horrors of the Iterian War. Many nations, Iraelia and Kaandar in particular, are very loathe to see a communist power arise in Iteria due to the recent resurgence of communism led by Cogoria. This conference may very well shape the diplomatic landscape of the continent.
Yamesh was very clear in outlining his priorities for this conference, "The national security of Iraelia is my primary concern at this conference, and we as a nation must not let our guard down. That being said, Skanda is one of our largest trading partners and an essential pillar of the Iterian League. We must tow a fine line between ensuring continued economic and political cooperation and maintaining Iraelia's national security interests, and this will be the primary challenge of this meeting." His move was widely praised by the Opposition, specifically members of the Civic-Democratic Union, Liberal, and Labour parties.
Yamesh faced significant opposition from within his own Government, with Chairman of the National front Addai Abimelech stating that Yamesh is "weak" and "unfit to negotiate". An official statement released from the National Front condemned Yamesh's statement, calling for the severing of all diplomatic ties with the new governments and for sanctions to be put in place. Some Nationalist MKs have even suggested that Skanda be removed from the Iterian League, however these calls have been largely ignored by the governing Conservative Party.
Yamesh is set to arrive in Saito on this Sunday.
Feature: The Feldshuh Era
By: Sabah el-Ahmed
Tzufit Feldshuh in the Bari Desert whilst serving as a Marshal during the Iterian War alongside several Syrixian soldiers
My fellow countrymen, it has been several months since the former Iraelian Prime Minister and War Hero, Tzufit Feldshuh, has passed. His death rocked the world, his last words haunting all those in attendance of his fatal heart attack. So in honor of this profound man, we here at The Adonai-Jireh Times found it imperative to analyze his life and the contributions he made to this great state.
Feldshuh first entered the service of his nation following the conclusion of the Fascist Wars. Iraelia was a fledgling state with a small ally to the south in the newly formed Free Republic of the Bari, and so it was natural that national armament must occur. The Iraelian State rapidly began research into weapons development and sought to rapidly increase it's military size. This drew the attention of a wide eyed Yihuddian boy who, in 1961, joined the armed forces. He quickly rose through the ranks and achieved a post as a Marshal shortly before the outbreak of the Iterian War. During this conflict, Feldshuh tested his metal and served as the spiritual successor to Reuhen Adaret, who had since retired and served the nation as Minister of Defense. He was responsible for many a successful battle during the war and was party to the conference that would ratify the treaty closing the war. Feldshuh was crucial to all events transpiring during this period.
Following the war, Feldshuh sought a place in the Knesset. Here too, he easily excelled. He serve as Minister of Finance, Foreign Affairs, and Prime Minister starting in 1980. It is here he shaped Iraelia as we know today. He, with the advice of famed Iraelian economist Nator Avil, established the Iraelian Negative Income Tax system as an alternative for traditional welfare within the nation. This system has become so influential that it remains today as Iraelia's primary form of welfare. He also introduced fiscal reform, successfully passing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the constitution. However, his downfall came after a scandal involving several of his cabinet ministers and the abuse of Skandan prisoners. This caused the Liberal-Labour Coalition to win the 1985 election and Feldshuh to step down as Chairman of the Conservative Party in 1990.
In retirement, Feldshuh did not stand idle. He established his own legal practice and provided counsel to several court cases before the Iraelian Supreme Court. However, in 2015, Feldshuh decided to re-enter the political scene upon the request of his good friend Avrohom Kadish, Chairman of the Republican Party. Together, they were able to pull together a governing coalition led by Kadish as President and Feldshuh as Prime Minister. Even during his short two year term, he managed to lay the groundwork for the National School Voucher Act, a major overhaul to our nation's education system.
Be you a liberal, conservative, or a centrist, it is undeniable the effect he had on this nation and the place he held in many a heart.
Sports: Iraelian Rugby League pushes for international competition
By: Srijan Badikar
The Iraelian National Rugby team poses for a photo after practice
Following the unprecedented success of the past season of the Iraelian National Rugby League, the League Commissioners have pushed for international competition. The League has reached out to Skanda, the Iterian League, and others in an attempt to spur the growth of international rugby matches.
This past season, the National Rugby League saw unprecedented profits and viewership this season as Iraelian love of rugby has grown. With such profits, the League has sought an aggressive national expansion by creating new stadiums, refurnishing team kits, and most prominently, seeking international competition. The League compiled, among it's players, an Iraelian National Rugby team, representing the best talent that Iraelia has to offer within the sport, with the express intent of engaging other nations in rugby.
The League has three major goals in mind when it comes to international competition. The first, a match against Skanda. Skanda and Iraelia have had a longstanding rivalry stemming from political disagreements and two major wars between the nations. League Commissioners have thus sought to pit the Iraelian team against the incredibly strong Skandan team and start a sports rivalry between the two. Next, an Iterian Rugby Union. Many nations throughout Iteria, including Kaandar, Iraelia, and Skanda, have some form of national level rugby within the nation. If this love of rugby continues, then it is very plausible that an Iterian Rugby Association may form in the coming years. Finally, an engagement between the Iraelian team and a team from another continent. If the League is able to stir popularity of the sport outside of Iraelia, they will be able to market games to an even larger audience for an even larger profit.
In spite of the daunting task, some of these goals are already becoming a reality. Upon being asked about the possibility of a match between Iraelia and Skanda, the coach of the Skandan National Rugby Team, Yoshio Iaukea, said, "It is definitely a possibility, my boys have been itching for a challenge for quite some time. Though I doubt you northerners would prove to be much of a threat." Nevertheless, nothing has been made official and any sporting competition between the to will most likely be put on hold until the Saito Conference concludes.
The National Rugby Team will most likely disband before the Rugby season starts this year to ensure the player may train with their respective teams.
Opinion: Stan Yera's actions against Thederic Nors are morally reprehensible
By: Batya bet Etiel
Grand General and Federal Premier of Stan Yera, Sfan Kter
Following a myriad of interventions within the nation of Thederic Nors, the Yeran government has taken the task of ensuring a level playing field into it's own hands and blockaded the nation. While it claims to do so to fight imperialism, the action does the opposite and only serves to show the moral bankruptcy of Sfan Kter.
The blockade began shortly after Maloria and Kanada marched into Thederic Nors to save the royal family, a line with direct familial ties to the ruling family of Maloria, the Severyns. In response, Cogoria announced it will be sending more troops within the nation to allow the syndicalists to hold out. In an attempt to stop this perceived imperialism, the Yeran government then began the blockade of the nation. This in and of itself reeks of moral bankruptcy and Yeran nihilism. By intervening, Sfan does nothing but uphold foreign influence and imperialism within the nation. Using it's military force to bully and strong arm weaker neighbors is textbook imperialism. The fact of the matter is that Stan Yera is no better then Cogoria, a communist imperialist nation. One that views every unstable government as a way to advance it's perverse ideology. I will not have it.
However, not only is it hypocritical, it is morally repugnant. The people of Thederic Nors are suffering and starving. They desperately need food to stay alive yet any shipment of food required to enter the nation has very little chance of making it past the blockade. If Stan Yera is really a government for the People, then why does it continue to cause suffering to the people of Thederic Nors? It makes no logical sense. If you want to punish the royals, then by all means punish the royals. But the peasants did not choose to become the playground of foreign influence, that was the monarchs.
Ultimately, if the Yerans really do stand for anything at all, they must withdraw their blockade. They must allow food to flow freely into Thederic Nors, they must remain neutral militarily so as to ensure no excess foreign influence is put on the nation, and they must rebuke all those nations that have gotten involved in the conflict, not the nation they claim to care about.
So Sfan, I beg and plead of you. End this blockade now for the greater good of Thederic Nors.