APN's daily news review from Israel
Thursday July 2, 2015
Quote of the day:
“We are all humans and I wanted to share the good precious holy moments of Ramadan with other people.
Everyone has a different view and perspective we need to share it together to remove the anger and the sadness
in the area.”
--Bronka Tahboub said over a Ramadan iftar at her home in E. Jerusalem, which she shared with Jewish families she never met. (Read more.)
--Bronka Tahboub said over a Ramadan iftar at her home in E. Jerusalem, which she shared with Jewish families she never met. (Read more.)
You Must Be Kidding:
Days after being released from restraints, Khader Adnan, who is severely ill after just ending a 56-day hunger strike in protest against being held without charges, was shackled to his hospital bed again by Israel Prison Service in contravention of Israeli law. (Read more)
Days after being released from restraints, Khader Adnan, who is severely ill after just ending a 56-day hunger strike in protest against being held without charges, was shackled to his hospital bed again by Israel Prison Service in contravention of Israeli law. (Read more)
Front Page:
Haaretz
- ISIS made terror attacks on northern Sinai Peninsula; Israel: Hamas aiding Islamists
- Cost of revolution // Amos Harel
- Not a terror attack – war // Zvi Bar’el
- Europe rejected compromise Greece offered; Greek PM called to vote ‘no’ in referendum
- Graduates of state religious education system get lower scores on psychometric exams
- Mental health reform began, professionals began sanctions
- Haifa municipality to renew support for (Arab) Al-Midan Theater, but will supervise
- Mikveh from Second Temple period found during renovations in living room in Beit Hakerem
- Passing to a border // Haaretz Editorial
- Everything is fine // Gideon Levy
Yedioth Ahronoth
- ISIS on the border
- Getting closer to us // Alex Fishman
- Muslims, wake up // Ben-Dror Yemini
- Bankrupt state
- We chose to be strong – Two officers who replaces those who were killed in kidnapping incident in Operation Protective Edge talk about how they continue forward and the lessons IDF learned
- Expensive education: thousands of shekels
- Expose – Mysterious university awards dubious degrees to senior officials in Israel, including a judge and some police
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Egypt under attack
- Not a quick fix // Yossi Melman
- Greece: “Now it’s bad, but it’s going to terrible”
- “What didn’t we do good that this happened to us again?” - family of Malachi Rosenfeld, murdered in drive-by shooting in West Bank
- The trip ended in death – resident of north died of stroke caused by snake bite
Israel Hayom
- Meters from the border: ISIS in war against Egypt
- Real and tangible threat // Boaz Bismut
- We must support Egypt // Yoav Limor
- Cigarettes get more expensive again
- Approval from a mental health officer is no longer sufficient to get release from IDF
- Negotiations with Iran: Head of IAEA made surprise visit to Iran
- Drama in Greece: PM called to vote against European rescue plan
News Summary:
In the biggest attack in forty years on Egyptian military forces in the Sinai Peninsula, ISIS killed over 70 Egyptian soldiers – adjacent to the border with the Gaza Strip, raising security concerns in Israel and making the top story in today’s Hebrew newspapers. Also in the news, a Palestinian resolution to condemn – but not sanction Israel in the UN Human Rights Council over Operation Protective Edge.
Israel is interested in improving ties with Egypt and breaking the renewed ties between Egypt and Hamas. Following the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu offered condolences to Egypt and expressed solidarity with the Egyptian regime saying, “We are partners with the Egyptians in our battle against radical Islamic terrorism.” He also warned that, "ISIS is not just on the Golan, they are in Egypt as well, near Rafah, near our border." Meanwhile, unnamed Israeli sources told Haaretz+ and Yedioth’s Alex Fishman that Hamas militants have ties to the Sinai jihadists and that this is the main reason for Egypt’s anger at Hamas - allegedly giving them medical aid and paying them to guard weapons stashes in Sinai. However, that appears to contradict ISIS' vow to topple Hamas in Gaza because it was negotiating with Fatah and indirectly with Israel, which the papers reported a day earlier. After the attack, Hamas said it would reinforce its border with Egypt with extra military operatives and Israel approved more Egyptian troops to deploy in Sinai, Channel 2 reported. (Maariv) Wednesday's attacks came the day after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi pledged to carry out justice for the assassination of Egypt’s prosecutor general. Since ousting former president Mohammed al-Morsi, Al-Sisi has waged a crackdown that has led to thousands of arrests, mass convictions and death sentences, including of Morsi.
Interesting was the terminology the Hebrew papers used, particularly Haaretz. On the front page of the Hebrew edition, the attackers were called ‘terrorists’ even though their targets were soldiers, and in the English they were called ‘militants.’ In the past Haaretz+ referred to all attacks on soldiers, including Israeli soldiers, as ‘militants.’ Yet, even Avi Issacharoff of Times of Israel referred to them as ‘jihadists’ and ‘militants.’
In the biggest attack in forty years on Egyptian military forces in the Sinai Peninsula, ISIS killed over 70 Egyptian soldiers – adjacent to the border with the Gaza Strip, raising security concerns in Israel and making the top story in today’s Hebrew newspapers. Also in the news, a Palestinian resolution to condemn – but not sanction Israel in the UN Human Rights Council over Operation Protective Edge.
Israel is interested in improving ties with Egypt and breaking the renewed ties between Egypt and Hamas. Following the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu offered condolences to Egypt and expressed solidarity with the Egyptian regime saying, “We are partners with the Egyptians in our battle against radical Islamic terrorism.” He also warned that, "ISIS is not just on the Golan, they are in Egypt as well, near Rafah, near our border." Meanwhile, unnamed Israeli sources told Haaretz+ and Yedioth’s Alex Fishman that Hamas militants have ties to the Sinai jihadists and that this is the main reason for Egypt’s anger at Hamas - allegedly giving them medical aid and paying them to guard weapons stashes in Sinai. However, that appears to contradict ISIS' vow to topple Hamas in Gaza because it was negotiating with Fatah and indirectly with Israel, which the papers reported a day earlier. After the attack, Hamas said it would reinforce its border with Egypt with extra military operatives and Israel approved more Egyptian troops to deploy in Sinai, Channel 2 reported. (Maariv) Wednesday's attacks came the day after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi pledged to carry out justice for the assassination of Egypt’s prosecutor general. Since ousting former president Mohammed al-Morsi, Al-Sisi has waged a crackdown that has led to thousands of arrests, mass convictions and death sentences, including of Morsi.
Interesting was the terminology the Hebrew papers used, particularly Haaretz. On the front page of the Hebrew edition, the attackers were called ‘terrorists’ even though their targets were soldiers, and in the English they were called ‘militants.’ In the past Haaretz+ referred to all attacks on soldiers, including Israeli soldiers, as ‘militants.’ Yet, even Avi Issacharoff of Times of Israel referred to them as ‘jihadists’ and ‘militants.’
Quick Hits:
- Attacks continue in West Bank as settlers assault Palestinian man - A "mob of settlers" surrounded Mahmoud Salih Nofal, 60, assaulting him with pepper spray before violently beating him with rods. The settlers allegedly left Nofal bleeding in a field near his village or Ras Karkar, west of Ramallah. (Maan)
- IDF to distribute pepper spray to all non-combat soldiers - The military operations division is currently finalizing the budget resources that will fund the distribution in the face of a growing wave of terror attacks. (Ynet)
- East Jerusalem on high alert on the anniversary of the murder of Mohammed Abu Khdeir - Against the background of the recent wave of attacks, the security establishment fears revenge attacks on the anniversary of the abduction and murder of the Palestinian teen from Shuafat (who was burned alive). (Maariv)
- UN Human Rights Council to condemn Israel over Operation Protective Edge, but not demand sanctions - The Palestinian draft resolution will not include demands for any concrete steps against Israel, but it also does not address suspected crimes committed by Hamas. (Haaretz+)
- Palestinian detainee who ended hunger strike shackled to hospital bed again - Khader Adnan ended a 55-day hunger strike at the weekend and remains in a very weak condition. (Haaretz+)
- Haifa decides to renew funding of al-Midan theater - Haifa mayor unfreezes NIS 1.25 million in funding to theater that staged controversial play about Palestinian prisoner; 'This is an immoral decision,' say family of soldier Moshe Tamam. (Ynet and Maariv)
- Bennett to Netanyahu: Cancel Ramadan exemptions for Palestinians - Habayit Hayehudi drafts letter to prime minister demanding continued construction in West Bank in wake of terror attacks; 'Habayit Hayehudi will not ignore the murder of Jews.' (Ynet)
- Israel cancels Ramadan gesture in response to spate of Palestinian terror attacks - All men aged under 50 and women between 16 and 30 will require a permit to pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque on Temple Mount; IDF officer says move is not punishment, but necessary so as 'not to enable easy attacks under the cover of Ramadan.' (Haaretz+ and Maan)
- Shin Bet: 40 Palestinians arrested in crackdown on Hamas infrastructure in West Bank - Suspects were involved in setting up Hamas headquarters in Nablus and the area, security service says. (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
- Number of Palestinian prisoners up 26% since 2011 - Figure released at Knesset meeting as government backs request to ban security detainees from making phone calls to families. (Haaretz+)
- Ya’alon: Humanitarian aid only for Syrians who don’t harm Druze - Defense minister insists that Israel does not support Islamists. (Haaretz+)
- The end of an era in the Kfir Brigade: The youngest regiment was disbanded - Lavi Battalion, part of the brigade deployed in the West Bank, was established in 2001 during the Second Intifada and closed yesterday in a military ceremony. [Note: The battalion, which specializes in counter-terror opera tions in the West Bank, was first dismantled in 2005 because of mass refusals of its soldiers to follow orders to evict settlers from the Gaza Strip. The brigade has a history of incidents of harming Palestinians. – OH] (Maariv)
- Curricula spat could delay launch of first Israeli Arab college - The syllabi for the nursing and computer programs are the sticking point for the school that would open next year. (Haaretz+)
- The IDF lowered the death rate of injured soldiers: 91% of those injured in Operation Protective Edge survived - Using morphine candy, blood powder, advanced arterial tourniquets and in particular, a change in perception - the Medical Corps was able to dramatically lower the death rate on the battlefield during last summer’s war. (Maariv)
- Second Temple-era ritual bath found under house - Couple from Ein Kerem in Jerusalem discovered during renovations that a 2,000-year-old mikveh was right underneath their floors, giving credence to theory that there was a Jewish settlement at the site. (Ynet)
- Actor Moshe Ivgi, "(Murdered former minister Rehavam) Ze'evi was a criminal. The is no need to pay for memorializing him" - The actor attended a meeting of artists in Haifa and attacked the Likud ("they have not internalized that they are in power and are still blaming all the ills of the country on the left-wing."), the Minister of Culture ("It is not her job to be a censor and commissar") and the Prime Minister ("He unleashes Miri Regev on the public so people don’t pay attention to the gas issue"). (Maariv)
- Hidden cameras, invisibility cloaks on show at Israeli spy expo - About two dozen Israeli companies exhibit products used by militaries, police units and intelligence agencies in Israel and around the world. "It's the tip of the iceberg, what we show here," says retired Israeli military intelligence official. (Agencies, Israel Hayom)
- Guarding the walls: a joint police and municipality unit will patrol in Jerusalem - The mayor of Jerusalem and the Jerusalem District Police agreed to establish a special force of one hundred municipal police, in order to strengthen the city's defense system. (Maariv)
- Home of terrorists in Jerusalem synagogue murders sealed; Palestinians confront police - High Court allowed demolition of homes of four terrorists half-year ago, but operation was postponed, evidently due to fear of violent response; widow of one terrorist to be deported. (Haaretz+)
- PHOTOS: Israeli officials meet for 4th of July celebration - Amb. Dan Shapiro hosts party at his home complete with fireworks, McDonald's and celebrities; Netanyahu: We have to stop Iran. (Ynet)
- Israeli Arab man sentenced to three years for joining ISIS - Hamza Magamzeh left Israel with two friends in order to join ISIS, only to return after 10 days of training to face prosecution. (Ynet)
- Egypt cabinet passes anti-terrorism laws amid deadliest Sinai battle in 40 years - Contradicting earlier reports, army says at least 100 militants and 17 troops were killed in North Sinai. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Middle East Updates / UN declares highest-level humanitarian emergency in Yemen - Houthi shells kill 18 in Yemen, dengue fever spreading; Egypt security forces kill nine 'armed men' in Cairo suburb; at least 30 soldiers killed in Sinai attacks. (Haaretz)
- Poll finds dramatic decline in anti-Semitic attitudes in France - ADL survey of adults in 19 countries also reveals significant drops in anti-Jewish sentiments in Germany and Belgium; anti-Semitism markedly higher among Muslims in six European countries. (Ynet)
Features:
Israel's hottest new tradition: Ramadan tours
For Jewish Israelis yearning to get to know their neighbors, activities surrounding this month’s fasting and feasting are becoming a thriving business. (Judy Maltz, Haaretz)
Muslims, Jews hold joint iftar meals for Ramadan fast
Jewish families hosted by Palestinian families for post-fast meal; 'I wanted to share the good precious holy moments of Ramadan with other people,' says Arab woman hosting Jews for iftar. (Ynet)
A unique breeding ground for artists in Jaffa
Yafo Creative is conceived as a place for creative artists to meet, support one another and form profound and intimate creative relationships. (Itay Stern, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
For Jewish Israelis yearning to get to know their neighbors, activities surrounding this month’s fasting and feasting are becoming a thriving business. (Judy Maltz, Haaretz)
Muslims, Jews hold joint iftar meals for Ramadan fast
Jewish families hosted by Palestinian families for post-fast meal; 'I wanted to share the good precious holy moments of Ramadan with other people,' says Arab woman hosting Jews for iftar. (Ynet)
A unique breeding ground for artists in Jaffa
Yafo Creative is conceived as a place for creative artists to meet, support one another and form profound and intimate creative relationships. (Itay Stern, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
Jerusalem’s true (racism-free) sporting alternative (Anshel
Pfeffer, Haaretz+) Hapoel’s first championship is a crucial step toward saving our city from the
hate-mongers of Beitar.
The settlements are not part of Israel (Haaretz Editorial) The U.S. administration's sharp message that protection of Israel from boycott doesn't apply to the settlements should come as no surprise.
Target me with your boycott, please (Roy Isacowitz, Haaretz+) Sometimes there's no choice but a boycott, even if that means collective punishment for all – including the people you're seeking to help.
Israel and its moderate Sunni neighbors can save Gaza (Ari Shavit, Haaretz+) If Israel brings on board Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the Gulf emirates, it can launch massive construction projects on the road to a realistic peace.
Seeing Gaza through the eyes of an Israeli Dr. Strangelove (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon is right; no one is dying of starvation in Gaza. Cattle feed is indeed being supplied to the biggest pen in the world.
A state living by the sword can't afford to doze off (Eitan Haber, Yedioth/Ynet) While Arab armies learned the lessons of the Six-Day War, Israel has been making almost every possible diplomatic and military mistake ever since.
Obama’s 'malice' toward Israel is useful scapegoat for Netanyahu’s failures (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) There’s a good reason why the prime minister refused to distance himself from Michael Oren’s views: He agrees with them.
Free world has no leader in White House (Bambi Sheleg, Yedioth/Ynet) The American administration is directly responsible for the fact that we are receiving clips of crimes against humanity on a weekly basis, and that the world is not fighting ISIS with all its might.
The ISIS terror attack in Sinai: Al-Sisi’s determination will never be broken (Yossi Melman, Maariv) The attack raises questions about the intelligence and operational capacity of the Egyptian army. But it seems that despite the attacks, the president's people are continuing in their all-out war against terrorism in the Sinai. As in many countries, including Israel, it turns out that combating the terrorism monster has no quick fix solution.
As extremists strike in Sinai, it's time to assume Egypt’s truce with Hamas (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Cairo knows that Hamas needs the Sinai Islamic groups because they control the area containing arsenals and the few smuggling routes left.
ISIS in Sinai is a serious threat to Israel (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) The impressive fighting abilities demonstrated by the Islamic State in northern Sinai pose a new challenge to the IDF. The use of simultaneous suicide bombings, imported from Syria and Iraq, could one day be directed at Israel.
Egyptian source: If ISIS nears Gaza, Sissi may 'invite' IDF to act against it (Zvi Bar’el, Haaretz+) Egyptian army’s challenge is not only to destroy ISIS’ forces, but to prevent it from establishing strongholds in Sheikh Zuweid and El Arish, which would allow it to conduct a prolonged war of attrition.
IDF and Shin Bet can do better (Yossi Yehoshua, Yedioth/Ynet) The same creativity demonstrated by Israel's security organizations against terror infrastructures in the second intifada is needed as part of a new plan to stop the recent wave of terror.
Will Samantha Power keep her promise on Israel? (Seth Lipsky, Haaretz+) The U.S. envoy to the United Nations may have sworn to tirelessly defend America's ally, but that's not a commitment that a UN ambassador is always in a position to keep.
Men of peace in a realm of war (Clifford D. May, Israel Hayom) Conversations with two Palestinians and one Israeli on the West Bank.
BDS is driving a wedge between Diaspora Jews (Eliora Katz, Haaretz+) On U.S. college campuses, the situation is particularly painful.
Islamic State has opened a window for us (Ze’ev Jabotinsky, Israel Hayom) Israeli Arabs have begun understanding that only Israel will protect them from the evils of this group. Israel must use this development and engage in a real process of rapprochement.
The secret behind Netanyahu’s natural gas secrecy (Avi Bar-Eli, Haaretz+) The seemingly innocuous ‘stability clause’ in the government’s framework proposal strikes a blow against state sovereignty.
It isn’t antisemitism, but hysteria (Prof. Daniel Blatman, Haaretz Hebrew and English translation by Sol Salbe of the Middle East News Service, Melbourne Australia) There’s probably no other nation which has been targeted by more boycotts over the past few centuries than the Jewish people. A heightened level of BDS activity recently has prompted a great hue and cry about global anti-Semitism - emanating from the throats of government ministers and self-proclaimed experts on boycott and antisemitism issues. One of the most prominent of these is journalist Ben-Dror Yemini. Using an amalgam of empty slogans, half-truths and demagoguery, he has concluded that “we are dealing with a movement that is essentially denying Israel’s right to exist." But the boycott imposed on Jews by antisemitism and the boycott of Israel today have nothing in common.
The settlements are not part of Israel (Haaretz Editorial) The U.S. administration's sharp message that protection of Israel from boycott doesn't apply to the settlements should come as no surprise.
Target me with your boycott, please (Roy Isacowitz, Haaretz+) Sometimes there's no choice but a boycott, even if that means collective punishment for all – including the people you're seeking to help.
Israel and its moderate Sunni neighbors can save Gaza (Ari Shavit, Haaretz+) If Israel brings on board Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the Gulf emirates, it can launch massive construction projects on the road to a realistic peace.
Seeing Gaza through the eyes of an Israeli Dr. Strangelove (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon is right; no one is dying of starvation in Gaza. Cattle feed is indeed being supplied to the biggest pen in the world.
A state living by the sword can't afford to doze off (Eitan Haber, Yedioth/Ynet) While Arab armies learned the lessons of the Six-Day War, Israel has been making almost every possible diplomatic and military mistake ever since.
Obama’s 'malice' toward Israel is useful scapegoat for Netanyahu’s failures (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) There’s a good reason why the prime minister refused to distance himself from Michael Oren’s views: He agrees with them.
Free world has no leader in White House (Bambi Sheleg, Yedioth/Ynet) The American administration is directly responsible for the fact that we are receiving clips of crimes against humanity on a weekly basis, and that the world is not fighting ISIS with all its might.
The ISIS terror attack in Sinai: Al-Sisi’s determination will never be broken (Yossi Melman, Maariv) The attack raises questions about the intelligence and operational capacity of the Egyptian army. But it seems that despite the attacks, the president's people are continuing in their all-out war against terrorism in the Sinai. As in many countries, including Israel, it turns out that combating the terrorism monster has no quick fix solution.
As extremists strike in Sinai, it's time to assume Egypt’s truce with Hamas (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Cairo knows that Hamas needs the Sinai Islamic groups because they control the area containing arsenals and the few smuggling routes left.
ISIS in Sinai is a serious threat to Israel (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) The impressive fighting abilities demonstrated by the Islamic State in northern Sinai pose a new challenge to the IDF. The use of simultaneous suicide bombings, imported from Syria and Iraq, could one day be directed at Israel.
Egyptian source: If ISIS nears Gaza, Sissi may 'invite' IDF to act against it (Zvi Bar’el, Haaretz+) Egyptian army’s challenge is not only to destroy ISIS’ forces, but to prevent it from establishing strongholds in Sheikh Zuweid and El Arish, which would allow it to conduct a prolonged war of attrition.
IDF and Shin Bet can do better (Yossi Yehoshua, Yedioth/Ynet) The same creativity demonstrated by Israel's security organizations against terror infrastructures in the second intifada is needed as part of a new plan to stop the recent wave of terror.
Will Samantha Power keep her promise on Israel? (Seth Lipsky, Haaretz+) The U.S. envoy to the United Nations may have sworn to tirelessly defend America's ally, but that's not a commitment that a UN ambassador is always in a position to keep.
Men of peace in a realm of war (Clifford D. May, Israel Hayom) Conversations with two Palestinians and one Israeli on the West Bank.
BDS is driving a wedge between Diaspora Jews (Eliora Katz, Haaretz+) On U.S. college campuses, the situation is particularly painful.
Islamic State has opened a window for us (Ze’ev Jabotinsky, Israel Hayom) Israeli Arabs have begun understanding that only Israel will protect them from the evils of this group. Israel must use this development and engage in a real process of rapprochement.
The secret behind Netanyahu’s natural gas secrecy (Avi Bar-Eli, Haaretz+) The seemingly innocuous ‘stability clause’ in the government’s framework proposal strikes a blow against state sovereignty.
It isn’t antisemitism, but hysteria (Prof. Daniel Blatman, Haaretz Hebrew and English translation by Sol Salbe of the Middle East News Service, Melbourne Australia) There’s probably no other nation which has been targeted by more boycotts over the past few centuries than the Jewish people. A heightened level of BDS activity recently has prompted a great hue and cry about global anti-Semitism - emanating from the throats of government ministers and self-proclaimed experts on boycott and antisemitism issues. One of the most prominent of these is journalist Ben-Dror Yemini. Using an amalgam of empty slogans, half-truths and demagoguery, he has concluded that “we are dealing with a movement that is essentially denying Israel’s right to exist." But the boycott imposed on Jews by antisemitism and the boycott of Israel today have nothing in common.
Interviews:
'We helped an old Palestinian man who was lying on grenades'
Lt. Cols. Betzalel Schneid and Ofir Zilberstein vouch for IDF's ethical tactics, willingness to take risks to minimize harm to civilians • Zilberstein: There were very few cases in which we attacked a house that wasn't an explosives cache. (Israel Hayom)
In fantasy, Druze artist embodies his hybrid existence in Israel
Druze artist Asad Azi has split his new exhibition, 'Wandering Rider,' between two museums – one in an Arab town, the other on the site of an old kibbutz. (Interviewed by Shany Littman in Haaretz+)
Lt. Cols. Betzalel Schneid and Ofir Zilberstein vouch for IDF's ethical tactics, willingness to take risks to minimize harm to civilians • Zilberstein: There were very few cases in which we attacked a house that wasn't an explosives cache. (Israel Hayom)
In fantasy, Druze artist embodies his hybrid existence in Israel
Druze artist Asad Azi has split his new exhibition, 'Wandering Rider,' between two museums – one in an Arab town, the other on the site of an old kibbutz. (Interviewed by Shany Littman in Haaretz+)
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.