Sleepwalking Through The Campaign

Where is hatred when you need it? Where is the fervor and the fire − or at least a little smoke?
--Gideon Levy talks of the sleepy election for the 19th Knesset.

• Israel removes Palestinian protest camp outside Jerusalem -  Tent city pitched near Beit Iksa just a week after Israel evacuated Palestinian encampment in E-1. (Haaretz)
  
• Obama wrote the Prime Minister: "Looking forward to continuing to work with you" - Netanyahu sent Obama a letter yesterday congratulating him on his inauguration as US President. He also sent him a letter wishing him a happy New Year to which he got a response a few days ago signed by the President. Labor Chairwoman Shelly Yachimovich also wrote Obama congratulations. (Israel Hayom, p. 25)
  
• Report: Israel brings Yemeni Jews - Palestinian weekly Al-Manar reports that a group of Yemeni Jews arrived in Tel Aviv via Doha on a Qatari flight. Efforts to bring Yemeni Jews apparently involve a number of government offices, MKs and Shas party. (Israel Hayom)
  
• Housing more than twice as pricey in Israel as in the U.S., data shows - Comparing Israeli numbers to an annual survey of international housing affordability confirms what Israelis already know – it's hard to afford a home here. (Haaretz+)
  
• A quarter of Israeli citizens struggle with Hebrew, survey finds - New survey released Monday reveals that 60% of immigrants from former Soviet Union have difficulty filling out forms and writing letters in Hebrew, while 45% of Israeli Arabs have trouble with such paperwork. (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
  
• Malaysian PM in first visit to Hamas-ruled Gaza - Najib Razak's visit is political boost for Gaza's internationally isolated rulers. During first-ever visit to the territory, Razak expects to meet with Hamas leaders, tour sites bombed by Israel and visit school funded by his predominately Muslim nation. (Israel Hayom)
  

For the full News from Israel.