APN's daily news review from Israel
Tuesday April 05, 2016
Quote of the day:
“I have a feeling he wasn’t so excited to do it.”
--Israeli Professor Michael Bar about the response he received from US President Barack Obama after Bar asked Obama to deal with the “Jewish people’s intransigence” regarding solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
--Israeli Professor Michael Bar about the response he received from US President Barack Obama after Bar asked Obama to deal with the “Jewish people’s intransigence” regarding solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Israel Electricity Corp disrupts power flow to West Bank: Every day power cut in different area
- European Union began to deport refugees to Turkey
- Education Ministry prohibits selling baked goods, snacks and sweet drinks at schools
- Shaked attacks High Court for revoking gas agreement: Diverging from its authority and acting without responsibility
- State Prosecutor: The TV series about (murdered) Tair Rada – a real danger to democracy
- Medicine developed by Israeli researchers eliminated Alzheimers symptoms in mice
- Police investigating (real estate entrepreneur) Inbal Or for fraud and theft
- After a series of slips and scandals, a loss in Wisconsin could stop Trump
- High Court must stop (house) demolitions // Haaretz Editorial
- The heir (to Bank Hapoalim – Ari Pinto)
- (Culture Minister) Regev considering canceling HaBimah’s status as the national theater
Yedioth Ahronot
- Head to head – Justice Minster against High Court
- Case, media // Tovah Tzimuki
- (Rada Tair case - ) Justice Danziger: “Murder conviction – only by unanimous vote”; Criminal judge looked at the TV series on Tair Rada’s murder. What did he think?
- Guest in Israel: Monica Lewinsky – Participated in Forbes Magazine event in Tel-Aviv
- The Porsche ran over the baby
- “The hope I had inside me in the beginning that for certain they would return Ron (Arad) ended in a thin silent sound – Rare interview with (wife) Tami Arad
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Justice Minister against High Court
- “Criminal cases are not a reality show” - State Prosecutor sparked storm over his sharp criticism of the producers of the documentary series over Tair Rada’s murder
- Herzog and Mandelblit’s salad – Chairman of opposition filmed over breakfast with Attorney General, who is expected to rule in a probe on him
- Inbal Or affair: Police opening criminal investigation against the entrepreneur and summoned top people in her company; Today: court to decide whether to liquidate her company
Israel Hayom
- The battle over the High Court – Following the rejection of the gas agreement: Justice Minster makes sharp attack; shockwaves in the judicial establishment
- State Prosecutor: “Justice is not a reality show”
- Smuggled meat in fancy restaurants
- Will they like it or not? The end to borekas and French fries in schools
- Horror in the crosswalk (Porsche ran over baby and mother)
- Police opened investigation against Inbal Or; Today: court to decide whether to liquidate her company
News Summary:
Israel’s Justice Minister blasted the High Court over the gas deal ruling, its State Prosecutor blasted documentary film makers over its investigation into the brutal murder of a young girl, and the IDF Military Advocate General blasted anyone who thought that social media polls regarding the ‘Shooting Soldier in Hebron’ would affect the case – making top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers – along with the famous entrepreneur Inbal Or who is suspected of fraud. And, the latest on diplomacy.
Numerous High Court Justices past and present slammed Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked for her attack on the Court over its ruling that the gas agreement with the monopoly was unconstitutional, and warned of harming the High Court, Maariv reported.
Meanwhile, State Prosecutor Shai Nitzan caused a storm when he blasted a television series investigating the murder of schoolgirl Tair Rada saying it was a danger to democracy. Also High Court President Miriam Naor warned of 'alternative courts' being created on TV. The documentary questions the conviction of Roman Zadorov in the 10-year-old murder case that has gripped the country.
The IDF’s chief legal counsel made his first statement in the case of the Shooting Soldier from Hebron, saying that public opinion won’t affect the military court’s ruling. Today the soldier goes to the military appeals court, which is set to hear the prosecution’s appeal of a judge’s decision to release the soldier to open arrest on an army base. (Also Maariv)
The family of the Palestinian assailant plans on suing the IDF in an Israeli court for the murder of their son by the ‘Shooting Soldier in Hebron,’ who shot Abd al-Fattah al-Sharif, 21, in the head when he was lying on the ground already injured. Maan reported that the Palestinian Authority will take the “execution” case to The Hague. (Maariv) The family also called on the Palestinian Authority to work to get Israel to return the body, which was autopsied on Sunday. The Palestinian coroner said al-Sharif was shot by seven or eight bullets which caused 17 wounds in his body, including the shot to the head that killed him. Meanwhile, Israel’s High Court will consider an appeal by Palestinian families seeking the return of their relatives' withheld bodies.
In diplomacy - or what appears to be so:
- Turkish and Israeli negotiators to meet Thursday in bid to seal reconciliation agreement (Haaretz+)
- Netanyahu responded to Abbas’ declaration of willingness to meet Netanyahu and again invited Abbas to meet (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
-
Senior Israeli defense official: Israel has informed the U.S. that if its demand for an
increase in security aid is not met, it will wait for the next president (Israel Hayom)
Quick Hits:
- Israel disrupts power to major West Bank city, plans daily outages over Palestinian debt - Power-supply reductions and interruptions in Bethlehem and other cities due to the Palestinian Authority's accumulated debt of 1.7 billion shekels, say Israel Electric Corp. officials. (Haaretz, Maan and Ynet)
- Soldier wounded in stabbing suspected of fabricating attack - The soldier, in his 20s, said he was stabbed in Tzur Yizhak; he suffers light wounds. Security forces have yet to determine the nature of the incident. (Haaretz)
- Officer, soldier from Israeli army's religious combat unit arrested - Cause of arrest not immediately known, but appears to be security-related. (Haaretz)
- Israeli forces seriously injure Palestinian boy in East Jerusalem clashes - A 12- year-old Palestinian boy was seriously injured on Monday evening after an Israeli soldier shot him with a rubber-coated steel bullet to the head in the al-Issawiya neighborhood of occupied East Jerusalem, after Israeli forces stormed the neighborhood and deployed heavily in the streets. (Maan)
- Israel razes home of three terrorists who killed Border Policewoman - Demolition takes place as High Court rules against destroying home of two terrorists peripherally involved in death of Israeli in September. (Haaretz+, Maariv and Times of Israel)
- PLO slams Israel after 7 Palestinian homes torn down - In the early hours of Monday morning, Israeli forces tore down three homes belonging to slain Palestinian attackers in the village of Qabatiya south of Jenin, and another four homes that were built without permits -- one in Surif, two near Duma, and one in occupied East Jerusalem. (Maan)
- Israeli forces detain brother of Duma attack victim, Palestinian lecturer and 11 others - Israeli forces on Monday detained the brother of Riham Dawabsha – who was killed in the deadly arson attack in the village of Duma last year, and Hamas member Adnan Asfour, who works as a lecturer in al-Najah University in Nablus [and Hamas spokesman in Nablus, who has been detained numerous times for extended periods with trial – OH] - along with his son, and 10 others in pre-dawn raids across the occupied West Bank. (Maan)
- For the second time this week: Stones were thrown at the same vehicle, Israeli woman was lightly injured - A woman was injured while riding in her car in the town of Huwwara, south of Nablus. Border Police officer at the scene caught the stone throwers who committed the act. (Maariv)
- New Peace Now director: Former IDF officer who stopped a Hebron massacre - Avi Buskila, credited for stopping a 1997 Hebron shooting as an IDF soldier, will be succeeding Yariv Oppenheimer as director of two-state solution advocacy group. (Haaretz)
- Expired meat from Palestinian territories sold in Israeli restaurants - After a lengthy investigation, a smuggling network consisting of nine Israelis and Palestinians was caught; the meat was smuggled into Israel by forging expiration and slaughter dates and kosher certifications. (Ynet)
- Palestinian construction worker dies after falling from height in West Jerusalem - Ismail al-Ajouri, who was in his fifties and from Duheisha camp near Bethlehem, fell during work at a construction site. (Maan)
- Raising some eyebrows: Herzog and Mendelblit sit together at Bar Association meet - Mendelblit will have to decide whether to launch an investigation into suspicions of campaign finance irregularities by the leader of the Labor Party and of the Zionist Union. Herzog says they only talked about the food. (Haaretz+)
- An Israeli citizen asked for the help of the US President, and was answered in a letter – Retired left-wing researcher of theoretical chemistry, Prof. Michael Bar, beseeched President Obama to pass a bill in the UN Security Council to establish a Palestinian state. Bar, who was a senior scientist of Israel’s security establishment and worked at Israel’s nuclear research center in Nahal Sorek, wrote “I ask of you to use the most of your strength of mind to deal with the intransigence of the Jewish people regarding everything that is concerned with unraveling the Gordian knot on the subject of the conflict between the two peoples.” Obama sent him back a letter: “We won’t give up searching for a solution to the conflict…Both sides need to deal with difficult choices and make difficult decisions…” Prof. Bar was disappointed with the response letter: “I have a feeling he wasn’t so excited to do it.” (Yedioth, p. 30)
- Lockheed Martin: First F-35s will arrive in Israel in December - Lockheed official, Israel Air Force Chief of Staff Brig. Gen. Tal Kalman dispel rumors about delays, snags in development of cutting-edge F-35 fighter jet. Kalman calls F-35 "better and cheaper" than other aircraft currently on the market. (Israel Hayom)
- Accusing Hamas of pilfering, Israel halts cement deliveries to Gaza - Shipments of cement for large international projects will continue, body that oversees Israel's civilian policy towards Gaza says in statement, accuses Hamas of 'flagrant deviation from the agreements.' (Haaretz+)
- Man sets himself on fire in Gaza hospital and dies - Bystanders rushed to help Muhammad Abd al-Rahman Ghazal, 45, after he spilled gasoline on his body and set fire to his clothes. He was officially registered as a “patient suffering from depression since 2003.” (Maan)
- Hamas fighter dies in accident during Gaza 'mission' - The brigades said in a statement that 24-year-old Musab Muhammad al-Sheikh, from Jabaliya in northern Gaza, was accidentally shot dead by a bullet from his own gun. (Maan)
- TechNation/ Haaretz Joins Facebook as First Israeli Paper to Publish News in New App - Elbit cyber unit wins $20m Asian contract | Israeli restrictions cost Palestinian mobile companies $1 billion | Israeli cancer-drug startup raises $18 million. (Haaretz)
- Hebrew translation causes Egyptian furor - World famous Cairene author Alaa Al Aswany's book 'The Yacoubian Building' has been translated into Hebrew; the author alleges that it was without his permission, but Egyptian media is condemning him strongly, regardless. (Ynet)
- Archaeological Council: Egalitarian prayer space at Western Wall will damage priceless ruins - The planned prayer space, which is slated to accommodate non-Orthodox worshipers, will cause major damage to archaeological remains from the Second Temple period, archaeologists say. (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
- Ancient Romans Influenced Jewish Ritual Slaughter, Says Archaeologist - Jerusalem was a hub of pilgrimages when close cultural ties between the Romans and Jews were a fact of life. (Haaretz+)
- Remnants from ancient church unearthed in Gaza by construction workers - Archaeologists think pillars discovered say may be part of a Byzantine church dating from around 1,500 years ago. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Sanders says positive U.S.-Israel ties contingent on improving relations with Palestinians - In recently released transcript, Sanders says he would demand Israel halt settlement construction, adding that if Israel 'want us to have a positive relationship, they're going to have to improve their relationship with the Palestinians.' (Haaretz)
- In Jerusalem, House Speaker Ryan promises Congress will fight any boycott effort against Israel - After meeting with Netanyahu, bipartisan delegation of U.S. congressmen led by Ryan reaffirms U.S.-Israel ties. (JTA, Haaretz)
- Jewish Son-in-law Kushner Guided Trump's Triumphant AIPAC Speech - An Orthodox Jew with connections to Israel, Kushner helped his father-in-law fine tune his Israel policy, sources say. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- BDS Protesters in France Lose Case to Overturn Racism Convictions - High appeals court upheld hate-crime judgement against seven individuals who called for a boycott of the Jewish State during a demonstration in 2010. (JTA, Haaretz)
- Iraqi Army Begin Liberation of Town Besieged by ISIS Militants - Assisted by shelling and airstrikes ground forces have begun clearing the terror group from the area, thousands have fled the violence. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Prominent Leader of Syria's Nusra Front Believed Killed in U.S. Strike - U.S. airstrike targeted a meeting of senior Al-Qaida operatives, including Abu Firas, 'the Syrian.' (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Report: Personal Details of Nearly 50 Million Turks Leaked Online - 'Do something about Erdogan!' individual who leaked data writes; Israeli security firm says on its face at least, the leak appears to be genuine and contains wealth of information about each individual. (Haaretz+)
Features:
More and more Israelis support Trump: "We trust him, he will be better than Hillary"
Despite the vulgarity, the provocations and the problematic statements: More and more Israelis support the controversial candidate. The Facebook page "Trump blue and white," founded by Nimrod Zuta and Itamar Zion, two young men from Haifa, has more than 1,000 likes. A considerable number of supporters of the page see Trump as a mentor. "Vulgar man? Politics is not a place for nice people," said one of them. A poll taken last month showed that although most Israelis would prefer to see the Democratic candidate, Hillary Clinton, settling into the White House, most of them rely on Trump even more to look after Israeli interests. (Eyal Levy, Maariv Magazine supplement, cover)
Israelis talk with citizens of Arab countries under the noses of their leaders
(Exchanging) recipes of Iraqi food, blog entries about holidays and Middle Eastern music, and not a word about politics. Using social networks they are managing in Israel to reach the Arab public in neighboring countries, despite the incitement. (Dana Somberg, Maariv)
Reporting from the field: why is coverage of security issues and police still considered male territory?
The incident on the ‘Friday Studio’ Channel 2 news program when Arab Affairs reporter Ehud Yaari called Political Affairs reporter Dana Weiss a ‘surrenderer’ and told her she was commenting on a subject at hand - radical Islamic terrorism - that she did not understand, aroused a great storm, but it didn’t surprise the women working in the media. Women journalists of past and present, who covered areas such as the military, tell of the ordeals they had to go through to get legitimacy. Military affairs reporter Carmela Menashe: "(Former chief of staff) Eitan asked me: 'What right do you have to interview the chief of staff?" (Carmit Sapir-Weitz, Maariv)
Commentary/Analysis:
No, the Israeli Soldier Who Executed a Palestinian Is Not My Son (Carol Cook, Haaretz+) We, mothers of soldiers, must publicly reject the Israeli prime minister and public’s ‘solidarity’ with Soldier E. who shot a wounded man lying bleeding on the sidewalk.
Hebron Shooting Legal Battle to Focus on Soldier's Subjective Feelings (Amos Harel, Haaretz) The battle between the prosecution and the defense in the case of Sgt. E., who shot a subdued terrorist in the head, will focus on what he sensed at the time.
Unsafe Places: The Racism Behind Identity Politics (Nitzan Horowitz, Haaretz+) Misguided attempts to combat racism are simply conservative politics in disguise.
Courts, not the street, will decide the fate of the Hebron soldier (Dr. Haim Shine, Israel Hayom) Anyone who wants the best for the soldier involved in the Hebron shooting should wait patiently for the court to rule based on the evidence. Thank the Lord we live in a country where the fate of a person on trial is decided by the courts.
The IDF: The Most Semi-moral Army in the World (Avraham Burg, Haaretz+) If half of the Israeli population is racist, violent, bloodthirsty, aggressive and ultra-nationalist, does that mean that half of the Israeli army is, too?
Hamas' weak hand (Dr. Reuven Berko, Israel Hayom) The measures taken by Hamas to fawn over Egypt are a desperate display of the organization's financial, political and military crisis.
The Dangerous Political Battle for Israel's Extreme Right (Tzvia Greenfield, Haaretz+) Netanyahu, Bennett and Lieberman are trying to draw a small but dangerous group to their respective sides, allowing an extremist, irresponsible minority to effectively control the Israeli agenda.
Israel's High Court Must Stop Collective Punishment of Terrorists' Families (Haaretz Editorial) Law, logic and morality all indicate that demolishing the homes of innocent people is not a deterrent, and even the IDF agrees.
Why are they afraid of criticism? (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) 'It is doubtful whether there is another civilized country where the court assumes such authority and violates the separation of powers as Israel does...In most civilized countries an issue such as the gas plan would never have gotten to the Supreme Court'.
Why is Israel the second poorest nation in the OECD? (Meirav Arlosoroff, Haaretz+) Jobs can prevent poverty, but not for ultra-Orthodox, says the latest BoI annual report, highlighting need for government intervention - but which kind?
The Long Descent From Ben-Gurion to Netanyahu (Iris Leal, Haaretz+) The reason for the ugly face of Israeli society today can be found in the strikingly different way each leader regarded the same problem.
Abdullah's secret talks: an unusual glimpse into Israeli-Jordanian relations (Yossi Melman, Maariv) Rare statements made by Jordan's King at a meeting with US senators shed light on Israel's special relationship with the kingdom - including coordination of military operations, especially with regard to Syria.
Nagorno-Karabakh: The conflict no-one, including Israel, wants to solve (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) In recent years Azerbaijan has become Israel's main supplier of oil, while, according to foreign sources, Azerbaijan has become a major client for Israeli arms.
Don’t Write Off Al Jazeera Just Yet (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) The Qatar-funded television network is paying the price for its boldness and support of the Muslim Brotherhood. As it downsizes, it needs to reach a new audience.
The Obama Doctrine and How America Is Disengaging From Israel (Don Futterman, Haaretz) Forget the candidates' AIPAC love-in. With the possible exception of Hillary Clinton, they’re all in basic agreement with Obama: pulling back from the Middle East is crucial for America’s future.
Selling Out: Why Did American Jewish Leaders Meet With Turkey’s Authoritarian President Erdogan? (Louis Fishman, Haaretz+) His government violates human rights on a massive scale, closes down media critical of his actions, and has openly sanctioned anti-Semitism. Is Erdogan trying to co-opt U.S. Jewish leaders to launder his reputation?
Despite the vulgarity, the provocations and the problematic statements: More and more Israelis support the controversial candidate. The Facebook page "Trump blue and white," founded by Nimrod Zuta and Itamar Zion, two young men from Haifa, has more than 1,000 likes. A considerable number of supporters of the page see Trump as a mentor. "Vulgar man? Politics is not a place for nice people," said one of them. A poll taken last month showed that although most Israelis would prefer to see the Democratic candidate, Hillary Clinton, settling into the White House, most of them rely on Trump even more to look after Israeli interests. (Eyal Levy, Maariv Magazine supplement, cover)
Israelis talk with citizens of Arab countries under the noses of their leaders
(Exchanging) recipes of Iraqi food, blog entries about holidays and Middle Eastern music, and not a word about politics. Using social networks they are managing in Israel to reach the Arab public in neighboring countries, despite the incitement. (Dana Somberg, Maariv)
Reporting from the field: why is coverage of security issues and police still considered male territory?
The incident on the ‘Friday Studio’ Channel 2 news program when Arab Affairs reporter Ehud Yaari called Political Affairs reporter Dana Weiss a ‘surrenderer’ and told her she was commenting on a subject at hand - radical Islamic terrorism - that she did not understand, aroused a great storm, but it didn’t surprise the women working in the media. Women journalists of past and present, who covered areas such as the military, tell of the ordeals they had to go through to get legitimacy. Military affairs reporter Carmela Menashe: "(Former chief of staff) Eitan asked me: 'What right do you have to interview the chief of staff?" (Carmit Sapir-Weitz, Maariv)
Commentary/Analysis:
No, the Israeli Soldier Who Executed a Palestinian Is Not My Son (Carol Cook, Haaretz+) We, mothers of soldiers, must publicly reject the Israeli prime minister and public’s ‘solidarity’ with Soldier E. who shot a wounded man lying bleeding on the sidewalk.
Hebron Shooting Legal Battle to Focus on Soldier's Subjective Feelings (Amos Harel, Haaretz) The battle between the prosecution and the defense in the case of Sgt. E., who shot a subdued terrorist in the head, will focus on what he sensed at the time.
Unsafe Places: The Racism Behind Identity Politics (Nitzan Horowitz, Haaretz+) Misguided attempts to combat racism are simply conservative politics in disguise.
Courts, not the street, will decide the fate of the Hebron soldier (Dr. Haim Shine, Israel Hayom) Anyone who wants the best for the soldier involved in the Hebron shooting should wait patiently for the court to rule based on the evidence. Thank the Lord we live in a country where the fate of a person on trial is decided by the courts.
The IDF: The Most Semi-moral Army in the World (Avraham Burg, Haaretz+) If half of the Israeli population is racist, violent, bloodthirsty, aggressive and ultra-nationalist, does that mean that half of the Israeli army is, too?
Hamas' weak hand (Dr. Reuven Berko, Israel Hayom) The measures taken by Hamas to fawn over Egypt are a desperate display of the organization's financial, political and military crisis.
The Dangerous Political Battle for Israel's Extreme Right (Tzvia Greenfield, Haaretz+) Netanyahu, Bennett and Lieberman are trying to draw a small but dangerous group to their respective sides, allowing an extremist, irresponsible minority to effectively control the Israeli agenda.
Israel's High Court Must Stop Collective Punishment of Terrorists' Families (Haaretz Editorial) Law, logic and morality all indicate that demolishing the homes of innocent people is not a deterrent, and even the IDF agrees.
Why are they afraid of criticism? (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) 'It is doubtful whether there is another civilized country where the court assumes such authority and violates the separation of powers as Israel does...In most civilized countries an issue such as the gas plan would never have gotten to the Supreme Court'.
Why is Israel the second poorest nation in the OECD? (Meirav Arlosoroff, Haaretz+) Jobs can prevent poverty, but not for ultra-Orthodox, says the latest BoI annual report, highlighting need for government intervention - but which kind?
The Long Descent From Ben-Gurion to Netanyahu (Iris Leal, Haaretz+) The reason for the ugly face of Israeli society today can be found in the strikingly different way each leader regarded the same problem.
Abdullah's secret talks: an unusual glimpse into Israeli-Jordanian relations (Yossi Melman, Maariv) Rare statements made by Jordan's King at a meeting with US senators shed light on Israel's special relationship with the kingdom - including coordination of military operations, especially with regard to Syria.
Nagorno-Karabakh: The conflict no-one, including Israel, wants to solve (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) In recent years Azerbaijan has become Israel's main supplier of oil, while, according to foreign sources, Azerbaijan has become a major client for Israeli arms.
Don’t Write Off Al Jazeera Just Yet (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) The Qatar-funded television network is paying the price for its boldness and support of the Muslim Brotherhood. As it downsizes, it needs to reach a new audience.
The Obama Doctrine and How America Is Disengaging From Israel (Don Futterman, Haaretz) Forget the candidates' AIPAC love-in. With the possible exception of Hillary Clinton, they’re all in basic agreement with Obama: pulling back from the Middle East is crucial for America’s future.
Selling Out: Why Did American Jewish Leaders Meet With Turkey’s Authoritarian President Erdogan? (Louis Fishman, Haaretz+) His government violates human rights on a massive scale, closes down media critical of his actions, and has openly sanctioned anti-Semitism. Is Erdogan trying to co-opt U.S. Jewish leaders to launder his reputation?
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.