APN's daily news review from Israel
Wednesday February 4, 2015
Quote of the day:
"The truck was even wider than the road. It's certain death. We should all be angry at those who run
the country like this. Someone murdered (these women). Look at this road. Let the officer who
authorized opening such road should come here."
--Ali, a relative of some of the killed and wounded in the horrific road accident on Road #31, which kills an average of nine people a year, told Maariv.
--Ali, a relative of some of the killed and wounded in the horrific road accident on Road #31, which kills an average of nine people a year, told Maariv.
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Israel caused the dismissal of head of UN investigation of Operation Protective Edge
- Haaretz probe: (Attorney General) Weinstein was misled; the revenue from the bottles continued also after the admission and the return
- Eight killed and 30 wounded in bus crash in south
- ISIS executed the Jordanian pilot
- High Court discusses infiltration law for third time: “The question is whether the limitation on freedom remains”
- 3 French soldiers stabbed outside Jewish center in Nice
- Council for Higher Education does not recognize advanced degrees from Ariel University (in West Bank settlement)
- Britain to allow birth of child from DNA of 3 parents
- ¼ page ad: They are already talking (photo of Herzog, Netanyahu and Livni) – Leaders of the Zionist Camp refuse to commit not to sit in government with Bibi. Now Herzog and Livni say it’s “us or them,” but it’s possible tomorrow that it will them and him? It’s definitely not you. People of the left, it’s important you know: A vote for Meretz party is a certain vote recommending Herzog for Prime Minister, a vote that will never ally with a right-wing coalition, and will always preserve your values: peace, democracy, equality and human rights. – Meretz and Herzog or Bibi and Herzog – Left-wing is Meretz
Yedioth Ahronoth
- The bus of death – Truck carrying tractors crashed into passenger bus killing 8 women from Bedouin community of Hora
- 30 years to the Habonim (bus crash) disaster: This is how the survivors deal with the pain
- Unlimited cruelty – ISIS broke its record of evil: Released video clip documenting burning alive of captive Jordanian pilot
- Meni Naftali: Today I will tell the police everything about the conduct of the Netanyahu couple
- The tree cares – Yes: plants see, smell, remember and they hate hugging
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- The tragedy of the mothers – Eight women residents of Negev Bedouin community of Hora were killed and 30 others wounded in accident between a bus and a truck
- New record in ISIS cruelty: Burned Jordanian pilot alive
- Drama in Argentina: Arrest warrant for President found in apartment of dead prosecutor
Israel Hayom
- Bus of death – Tragedy in south: 8 killed and 28 wounded in horrifying traffic accident
- Horror of the barbarians – ISIS broke record of cruelty: burned Jordanian pilot alive
- It is no longer possible to say: “We didn’t know” // Boaz Bismuth
- (Yedioth publisher) Noni Moses’ most vulgar election campaign in carrying hatred // Isi Leibler
- Rouhani will continue to smile: “We are close to an agreement in the nuclear talks with the West”
- Today is Tu B’shvat: Humans are the tree of the field
News Summary:
A terrible crash on a deadly road kills eight Negev Bedouin women and ISIS kills the Jordanian pilot by burning him alive making top news in Hebrew newspapers today. Also in the news, the head of the UN investigative commission on Operation Protective Edge resigned after Israel showed he had authored a legal opinion on behalf of the PLO, for which he was paid $1,300. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu welcomed William Schabas’ resignation and said the whole commission should be shelved.
Schabas gave an interview to Yedioth’s Yaniv Halili, “I was not insulted. I have no respect for your leaders.” He also said his resignation will not affect the continued work of the commission, whose report is expected in March. “You cannot move the clock back and it is impossible to form a new commission. And even if there were another commission, Netanyahu would have opposed it. People like Netanyahu will accuse any commission of being anti-Israeli.”
Schabas explained why he didn’t declare in the past his legal consulting work for the Palestinians. “I have a long record of consultation activity and they did not ask me about this work. It never occurred to me that it was important or relevant. I am a professional who is asked to give (legal) opinions to organizations and governments. I don’t take a side and I did not represent the Palestinians.”
Yedioth’s Halili told Schabas people say he is biased towards the Palestinians. “You are biased and I imagine Netanyahu is biased. Is every one who criticizes Israel biased? Biased means to act unfairly, and no one said I acted such. I explained in my resignation letter that if there is a question mark over the neutrality of one of the members of the commission, that person won’t continue in his work. I resigned in order for the commission to continue its work.”
Was your resignation a victory for Israel? “When the report will be published, Israel will know if it succeeded or failed. It is childish to define a resignation as a victory. The report needs to do justice to the victims of both sides. The residents of the kibbutzim around the Gaza Strip testified before the commission. Among them was Gadi Yarkoni, both of whose legs were amputated. Did Netanyahu thing that the things that Yarkoni said before the commission should be ignored?”
What were your impressions from the meeting with the (Israelis) from the communities around the Gaza Strip? “Their stories moved me. I don’t want them to continue to live in fear and to be exposed to danger. They have a right to live in peace without fear, exactly as the residents of Gaza and the West Bank do.”
Foreign Minister Lieberman said that your appointment to investigate Israel is like a parable for appointing Cain to investigate who murdered Abel. “That is not worthy of a response. I did not murder anyone. Is legal consultation to the PLO a mistake? Is criticizing Netanyahu a crime? Eighty percent of the residents of Israel criticize Netanyahu. Did they also murder someone?”
Were you insulted by the criticism from leaders of Israel against you? “I wasn’t insulted. In order to insult you one needs to respect the people that are insulting you and I have no respect for them. Particularly not when they speak that way.”
US Judge McGowan Davis, who was already on the commission, will replace Schabas as head. Haaretz+’s Barak Ravid writes that McGowan Davis is expected to be more balanced toward Israel, but that the report is still expected to be hard on Israel.
A terrible crash on a deadly road kills eight Negev Bedouin women and ISIS kills the Jordanian pilot by burning him alive making top news in Hebrew newspapers today. Also in the news, the head of the UN investigative commission on Operation Protective Edge resigned after Israel showed he had authored a legal opinion on behalf of the PLO, for which he was paid $1,300. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu welcomed William Schabas’ resignation and said the whole commission should be shelved.
Schabas gave an interview to Yedioth’s Yaniv Halili, “I was not insulted. I have no respect for your leaders.” He also said his resignation will not affect the continued work of the commission, whose report is expected in March. “You cannot move the clock back and it is impossible to form a new commission. And even if there were another commission, Netanyahu would have opposed it. People like Netanyahu will accuse any commission of being anti-Israeli.”
Schabas explained why he didn’t declare in the past his legal consulting work for the Palestinians. “I have a long record of consultation activity and they did not ask me about this work. It never occurred to me that it was important or relevant. I am a professional who is asked to give (legal) opinions to organizations and governments. I don’t take a side and I did not represent the Palestinians.”
Yedioth’s Halili told Schabas people say he is biased towards the Palestinians. “You are biased and I imagine Netanyahu is biased. Is every one who criticizes Israel biased? Biased means to act unfairly, and no one said I acted such. I explained in my resignation letter that if there is a question mark over the neutrality of one of the members of the commission, that person won’t continue in his work. I resigned in order for the commission to continue its work.”
Was your resignation a victory for Israel? “When the report will be published, Israel will know if it succeeded or failed. It is childish to define a resignation as a victory. The report needs to do justice to the victims of both sides. The residents of the kibbutzim around the Gaza Strip testified before the commission. Among them was Gadi Yarkoni, both of whose legs were amputated. Did Netanyahu thing that the things that Yarkoni said before the commission should be ignored?”
What were your impressions from the meeting with the (Israelis) from the communities around the Gaza Strip? “Their stories moved me. I don’t want them to continue to live in fear and to be exposed to danger. They have a right to live in peace without fear, exactly as the residents of Gaza and the West Bank do.”
Foreign Minister Lieberman said that your appointment to investigate Israel is like a parable for appointing Cain to investigate who murdered Abel. “That is not worthy of a response. I did not murder anyone. Is legal consultation to the PLO a mistake? Is criticizing Netanyahu a crime? Eighty percent of the residents of Israel criticize Netanyahu. Did they also murder someone?”
Were you insulted by the criticism from leaders of Israel against you? “I wasn’t insulted. In order to insult you one needs to respect the people that are insulting you and I have no respect for them. Particularly not when they speak that way.”
US Judge McGowan Davis, who was already on the commission, will replace Schabas as head. Haaretz+’s Barak Ravid writes that McGowan Davis is expected to be more balanced toward Israel, but that the report is still expected to be hard on Israel.
Quick Hits:
- Settler shoots, injures Palestinian youth in East Jerusalem - Muhammad Yusuf Burqan, 17, was shot by a settler while tending to a small herd of sheep in Silwan neighborhood of E. Jerusalem. “…(I) found him lying on the ground surrounded by about 15 settlers, one of whom had a gun in his hand. I tried to access Muhammad and give him first aid, but the settler with the gun threatened to shoot me, while the others started to swear at me," said Muhammad’s cousin, Suheib Burqan. (Maan)
- Supreme Court extends remand of suspects in Jerusalem bilingual school fire - Court overturned district court ruling to allow the two Twito brothers, who allegedly set the fire last November, to be released to house arrest. (Haaretz+)
- Settlers storm Palestinian housing site near Bethlehem - A group of Israeli settlers from Efrat and nearby outposts broke into a private Palestinian unfinished housing site in Khalayil al-Lawz near Bethlehem Tuesday accompanied by soldiers, witnesses said. (Maan)
- Settler car crashes into Palestinian security vehicle near Hebron, 7 injured - Palestinian security officials said crash occurred Monday near el-Arrub refugee camp north of Hebron, with initial reports indicating that the incident was deliberate, injuring seven security officers. (Maan)
- Israel prevents Palestinian farmers from reaching lands near Hebron - Despite coordination with the Israeli side, farmers from the Sabarneh and Abu Maria families were not allowed to work on their lands, which are located on territory that was confiscated for the Israeli settlement of Karmei Tzur. (Maan)
- Ariel University advanced degrees unaccredited by Israel - The newly-upgraded school and the panel overseeing academic institutions in the West Bank failed to receive an approval for the granting of master's degrees, doctorates and professorships. (Haaretz+)
- Palestinian activists erect protest tents in solidarity with Bedouin - Dozens of activists on Tuesday erected a new protest village in Abu Dis east of Jerusalem in protest of Israel's plans to displace Bedouin in the E1 corridor (between E. Jerusalem and Maaleh Adumim). (Maan)
- Israeli police officers tour Aqsa compound - Eleven police officers led by a commander entered the compound via the Moroccan Gate and toured the area, before exiting via the Iron Gate. Over 20 Israeli rightists also toured the compound. (Maan)
- Israeli troops fire at farmers in central Gaza - Witnesses said the farmers were trying to reach their fields east of al-Maghazi refugee camp when Israeli soldiers fired at them from military watchtowers on the other side of the border. (Maan)
- Report: 4 Palestinians who crossed into Israel from Gaza detained - The four unarmed men crossed the border fence near the Israeli town (kibbutz) of Beeri, east of central Gaza, and were detained by Israeli soldiers. (Maan)
- Fake selfie of Palestinian being chased by IDF soldiers goes viral - Palestinian rap group DAM allegedly behind fake selfie showing Palestinian running from two IDF soldiers. (Ynet)
- Hamas claims to have arrested Israeli agent in Gaza Strip - According to local reports, the man worked for Israel for 15 years and is considered to be a key operative. (Haaretz+ and Maan)
- In breach of rules, state employees monitored Netanyahu’s political rivals - For six years, media department was used for prime minister's personal and political matters. (Haaretz+)
- Watchdog asked to probe Netanyahu family's use of state resources to monitor media - Following Haaretz report, MK Nachman Shai (Labor) wants to know whether government staff is being used for 'inappropriate' purpose. (Haaretz+)
- Eyal Arad: Netanyahu offered me a job with foreign funding in 1994 - Top political strategist lashes out at PM over Likud accusations he's behind leftist NGOs campaign funded by foreign sources. (Ynet)
- Anti-Netanyahu NGO V15, New Israel Fund fire back at Likud - Police complaint, threat of lawsuit come in response to ‘inciteful’ claim of illegal activities. (Haaretz+)
- Israel Police expect investigation of spending at Netanyahu’s residence - Attorney general considering probe after receiving state comptroller’s findings on alleged improper handling of expenditures. (Haaretz)
- Israeli wardens harass daughters of Palestinian prisoner during visit - Two daughters of prisoner Yahya Sharida from Tubas in the northern West Bank were "harassed because they were wearing Niqab (face cover)" during a visit to their father and were threatened they wouldn’t be allowed to see him again in prison. (Maan)
- Group: Tension rises at Ofer prison after 2-hour search raid - In section 14, which holds 128 Palestinian prisoners, Israeli "suppression forces" searched the area for two hours and damaged belongings of several prisoners, The Palestinian Prisoner's Society statement said. (Maan)
- Hamas supporters in Gaza protest Egyptian court ban - Waving the green flag of the movement, which is the de facto power in the coastal Palestinian territory, demonstrators chanted "Hamas is not terrorist" and "Hamas is our pride" during the rally in the northern Gaza town of Jabaliya. (Maan)
- Report: Draft warrant for president found in dead prosecutor's home - New York Times report says lead investigator in prosecutor Alberto Nisman's death found draft of arrest warrant for President Kirchner and Foreign Minister Timerman at his apartment, pointing to heightened tension between the two parties before Nisman's death. (Ynet)
- Shas signals preference for right-wing government - Shas MK Yakov Margi: Most of our constituents want Shas to be part of right-wing government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid vows to push for new anti-corruption legislation in the next Knesset. (Israel Hayom)
- (Israeli) Ambassador's tweet mocks the White House on Netanyahu's speech to Congress - Super Bowl tweet poked fun at the White House claim that Congress had violated protocol in inviting Netanyahu to speak on Iran. (Haaretz)
- US family testifies in $1 billion suit against Palestinian entities - Mark and Rena Sokolow testify in Manhattan federal court as lead plaintiffs in lawsuit against PA and PLO for six attacks in Israel from 2002 to 2004 that killed or wounded Americans. Defense claims Palestinian officials were not privy to the attacks. (Agencies, Israel Hayom)
- US is Israelis' favorite holiday destination - Survey conducted ahead of Tel Aviv tourism fair reveals Israeli travelers favor New York over Paris, would like to visit Dubai if they could. (Ynet)
- Abbas orders probe into West Bank Muhammad cartoon - The cartoon, which appeared Sunday in Al-Hayat al-Jadida, depicted what appeared to be a giant Muhammad standing on top of the world, sprinkling grains of love and acceptance from a heart-shaped satchel. (Maan and Haaretz)
- Netanyahu feared for his safety in Paris march - Le Monde report says prime minister was highly nervous before joining world leaders in march against terrorism, expressed concern over lack of armor on bus. (Ynet)
- French job ad seeks 'non-Jewish' workers - Internet responds with uproar to job ad in France that writes 'if possible, not Jewish' in criteria section for graphic design job; company employee says looking for workers not restricted by religious concerns. (Ynet)
- French soldiers attacked while guarding Jewish center in Nice - More than 10,000 soldiers have been deployed around the country to protect sensitive locations, including synagogues, since deadly Paris attacks. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Hamas supporters in Gaza protest Egyptian court ban - Waving the green flag of the movement, which is the de facto power in the coastal Palestinian territory, demonstrators chanted "Hamas is not terrorist" and "Hamas is our pride" during the rally in the northern Gaza town of Jabaliya. (Maan)
- Middle East Updates / Australia PM thanks Egypt for helping to free reporter - Gunmen storm Libya's al-Mabrook oil field; Japanese PM expresses anger over 'outrageous' killing of Jordanian pilot. (Haaretz)
- US, Iran discussing nuclear talks compromise over uranium enrichment - Experts warn that any reduction in centrifuge efficiency is reversible more quickly than a straight decrease in the number of machines. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Report: US caving into Iran in nuclear talks - Army Radio: U.S. offers concessions in nuclear talks in exchange for Iran using its influence to ensure stability in Middle East hot spots. U.S. reportedly agrees to let Iran keep 6,500 centrifuges and lift all constraints on Iran after 10 years. (Israel Hayom)
- Iran admits to exporting arms to Hezbollah, Palestinians- 'Islamic Republic of Iran has helped Iraq, Syria, Palestine and Lebanon’s Hezbollah by exporting technology needed for production of missiles and other equipment,' top Iranian general says. (Ynet)
Features:
Service included: The complex dilemma of the Desert Reconnaissance Battalion of the IDF
While the Bedouins make headlines because of violent confrontations with the police [over house demolitions and indiscriminate use of weapons causing the killing of locals – OH], far off the media radar there are combat soldiers from the Bedouin community who are guarding the south of the country, and they come from those same communities and they are proud to serve in the IDF. (Eyal Levy, Maariv)
The Bedouin villages present: How to create change with real coexistence
Volunteer teachers that give each lesson in Hebrew and Arabic, activities and games during breaks, and open conversations with students about current issues: this is how to produce a change in the south. (Yaakov Bar-On, Maariv)
Commentary/Analysis:
While the Bedouins make headlines because of violent confrontations with the police [over house demolitions and indiscriminate use of weapons causing the killing of locals – OH], far off the media radar there are combat soldiers from the Bedouin community who are guarding the south of the country, and they come from those same communities and they are proud to serve in the IDF. (Eyal Levy, Maariv)
The Bedouin villages present: How to create change with real coexistence
Volunteer teachers that give each lesson in Hebrew and Arabic, activities and games during breaks, and open conversations with students about current issues: this is how to produce a change in the south. (Yaakov Bar-On, Maariv)
Commentary/Analysis:
Netanyahu is wrong: Riling Obama won't make U.S. tougher on Iran (Mel
Levine and Oded Eran, Haaretz+) As prime minister, Netanyahu not only has a duty to ensure Iran doesn't achieve
a nuclear weapon, but to also preserve U.S. support, goodwill and readiness to stand by Israel.
The world is helpless against jihad (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) After 9/11, it seemed the world would be never be the same, that it was waking up, beginning to understand; but jihad has become stronger and more murderous, and the free world is even more powerless.
In the service of the Netanyahu family (Barak Ravid, Haaretz+) The story of state media employees being instructed to monitor publications about the Netanyahu family is another marker on the slope of corruption down which the prime minister is sliding.
Should Israel favor containment or war? (Efraim Halevy, Yedioth/Ynet) Military conflict between Israel and Iran on Syrian soil will start off with favorable conditions for Israel. But Israel will also have to take Russia's stance into account and will require serious security and diplomatic American backing.
Egypt's fight, America's apathy (Dr. Reuven Berko, Israel Hayom) Has the United States accepted a new partition of the Middle East?
President Rivlin in New York: A hasbara (PR for Israel) success story (Shlomo Shamir, Maariv) There no memory in recent years of a visit to New York by an Israeli leader that produced such quality hasbara (PR) crop such as the one that the President reaped during his visit to New York.
Herzog needs to be shaken awake (Tal Niv, Haaretz+) Again and again it must be repeated: Netanyahu is not an edict of fate and he is not to be feared so much. Is Isaac Herzog afraid of him?
Netanyahu's security guards must speak up (Shimon Shiffer, Yedioth/Ynet) Generations of security personnel have been exposed to insane, unethical incidents, bordering on criminal, in the prime minister's homes and trips abroad; law enforcement authorities should make them provide a firsthand testimony of what they saw.
Rule of law, without bottles (Dr. Haim Shine, Israel Hayom) The "Zionist Camp" and its representatives in the media can continue dealing with bottles and lawn furniture, while the government continues to deal with the existential interests of the state.
Likud: Dirty, but it’s home (Zvi Bar’el, Haaretz+) The king may be corrupt, but the vassals will always remain loyal. How else to explain the party’s rise in the latest Haaretz poll despite a cascade of scandals?
Saying thank you to our heroes (Yossi Yeshoshua, Yedioth/Ynet) The 'spoiled' young soldiers, the Facebook and Instagram kids, proved to be courageous and determined fighters in last summer's war.
A toast to David Landau (Noga Tarnopolsky, Haaretz+) To Landau, whose love for the better things in life was ambivalent.
The world is helpless against jihad (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) After 9/11, it seemed the world would be never be the same, that it was waking up, beginning to understand; but jihad has become stronger and more murderous, and the free world is even more powerless.
In the service of the Netanyahu family (Barak Ravid, Haaretz+) The story of state media employees being instructed to monitor publications about the Netanyahu family is another marker on the slope of corruption down which the prime minister is sliding.
Should Israel favor containment or war? (Efraim Halevy, Yedioth/Ynet) Military conflict between Israel and Iran on Syrian soil will start off with favorable conditions for Israel. But Israel will also have to take Russia's stance into account and will require serious security and diplomatic American backing.
Egypt's fight, America's apathy (Dr. Reuven Berko, Israel Hayom) Has the United States accepted a new partition of the Middle East?
President Rivlin in New York: A hasbara (PR for Israel) success story (Shlomo Shamir, Maariv) There no memory in recent years of a visit to New York by an Israeli leader that produced such quality hasbara (PR) crop such as the one that the President reaped during his visit to New York.
Herzog needs to be shaken awake (Tal Niv, Haaretz+) Again and again it must be repeated: Netanyahu is not an edict of fate and he is not to be feared so much. Is Isaac Herzog afraid of him?
Netanyahu's security guards must speak up (Shimon Shiffer, Yedioth/Ynet) Generations of security personnel have been exposed to insane, unethical incidents, bordering on criminal, in the prime minister's homes and trips abroad; law enforcement authorities should make them provide a firsthand testimony of what they saw.
Rule of law, without bottles (Dr. Haim Shine, Israel Hayom) The "Zionist Camp" and its representatives in the media can continue dealing with bottles and lawn furniture, while the government continues to deal with the existential interests of the state.
Likud: Dirty, but it’s home (Zvi Bar’el, Haaretz+) The king may be corrupt, but the vassals will always remain loyal. How else to explain the party’s rise in the latest Haaretz poll despite a cascade of scandals?
Saying thank you to our heroes (Yossi Yeshoshua, Yedioth/Ynet) The 'spoiled' young soldiers, the Facebook and Instagram kids, proved to be courageous and determined fighters in last summer's war.
A toast to David Landau (Noga Tarnopolsky, Haaretz+) To Landau, whose love for the better things in life was ambivalent.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.