APN's daily news review from Israel
Wednesday April 20, 2016
Note: During the Passover Holiday, News Nosh will be off on Friday April 22nd and Friday April 29th and will be published in a truncated version from Sunday through Thursday, April 24-28th.
Note: During the Passover Holiday, News Nosh will be off on Friday April 22nd and Friday April 29th and will be published in a truncated version from Sunday through Thursday, April 24-28th.
Quote of the day:
"A publisher of children's educational materials had forced its triumphalist and intolerant fantasy of
Jerusalem into our homes and the minds of our children."
--After his daughter received a Passover Hagada from kindergarten that had a photo of the Old City with the Dome of the Rock removed, Rabbi Leon A. Morris writes that his family moved to Israel to give his children a stronger Jewish identity, but now he’s scared that here, their Jewish and Israeli identity won't allow space to see and to respect Muslims and Christians.
--After his daughter received a Passover Hagada from kindergarten that had a photo of the Old City with the Dome of the Rock removed, Rabbi Leon A. Morris writes that his family moved to Israel to give his children a stronger Jewish identity, but now he’s scared that here, their Jewish and Israeli identity won't allow space to see and to respect Muslims and Christians.
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Education Ministry formulating expansive educational program to strengthen Jewish identity
- Orthodoxy pluralism // Or Kashti
- Ronit Elkabetz 1964-2016(An actress of)
- Mythical power that left its mark // Uri Klein
- Despite Netanyahu’s declarations, the technological solution to the tunnels from Gaza are still far // Amos Harel
- Biden: The US administration feels overwhelming frustration from the policies of the government of Israel
- Herzog: We must stop giving the feeling that we always love Arabs
- Under pressure from France, Abbas considers freezing the petition (against settlements) at the UN
- Zeev Hever (‘Gambish’), head of the movement for building [settlement] outposts, was interrogated on suspicion of fraudulent acquisition
- Court cancelled election of Bat Yam mayor due to election corruption
- Quiet on the [Temple] Mount // Haaretz Editorial
- They broke her // Yuval Yoaz
- A hippie band from the Negev is a hit in Turkey
- Pulling one over on you? Hotels change the price on the Internet according to the language of the user
- Suspicion: Enormous fraud at the diamond bursa
- Unforgettable: Ronit Elkabetz 1964-2016
- 7,000 supporters [for the Shooting Soldier] at the square – Organizers expected more
- Exposed on the bus – The terrorist who exploded on Bus #12 got on when security people were not on the bus
- A rally without masses [for the Shooting Soldier]
- Sting at the diamond bursa
- Last act – The culture world bows its head, trailblazing actress Ronit Elkabetz died at age 51
- Elections in the US: The prestigious struggle – the battle over New York
- New York test – [photos of Trump and Clinton]
- Ronit Elkabetz 1964-2016
- Court revoked results of Bat Yam elections
- They came to support Elor [the Shooting Soldier from Hebron]
- IDF detonated part of the tunnel that was exposed; increasing assessment: the critically wounded man from the Jerusalem [bus] attack – is the terrorist
- Diamond dealer suspected of stealing diamonds from companies at the bursa worth hundreds of millions of shekels
News Summary:
Trials and sentences and support and lack of support for alleged murderers and convicted murderers were top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers along with the sudden death of renowned Israeli actress, Ronit Elkabetz at age 51.
Meanwhile, Opposition leader, MK Isaac Herzog raised eyebrows when he said there was a need to shake the image that Labor Party members are “Arab-lovers” (also Maariv) and his fellow party member, MK Erel Margalit, raised eyebrows with a sharply-worded video clip in which he blasts ‘the psychopaths that the right-wing raised' and and calls for the right wing to “give us back our country," saying that the Labor party needed to reassess its own direction. (Maariv)
Even Israel Hayom’s reporter wrote that the solidarity rally for Elor Azaria, the soldier who shot in the head and killed an already shot and wounded Palestinian assailant, was ‘scary.’ The papers and the organizers agreed that the number of supporters who came out was lower than expected. Ynet wrote that 2,000 showed up, while Israel Hayom wrote 5,000. Among the slogans chanted by rally attendees were "Elor the Hero," "Terrorists shouldn't be neutralized - they should be killed," and "Kill or be killed." The head of the far-right-wing LEHAVA organization, Bentzi Gopstein was there with LEHAVA members along with members of the racist fanclub of Beitar Jerusalem soccer team, La Familia. Maariv’s Eyal Levy called it a small, marginal fringe event. MK Shelly Yachimovich (Zionist Camp) said, "This is a rally of solidarity for a despicable deed that has nothing heroic about it,” Maariv reported. Yachimovitch wrote on her Facebook page: "(Elor Azaria) is not the ‘child of all of us’ [as his supporters say – OH]. I'm sure my children would not do such a thing."
In another case of a killing of a Palestinian, the primary suspect in the horrifying murder of 16-year-old Mohammed Abu Khdeir from E. Jerusalem was convicted after the court rejected Yosef Chaim Ben-David’s insanity plea.
Today the Shin Bet revealed it caught a Jewish terror cell responsible for attacks against Palestinians. Some of the seven suspected members of the cell confessed to the crimes under in their interrogation.
And in the case of a Palestinian driver, Sahban Titi, charged with manslaughter for running over Israeli settler Avraham Hasano, the family appealed and the charge was changed to murder. In October 2015, Hasano ran in front of Titi’s vehicle with a club while chasing stone-throwers. Titi turned himself in afterward. Originally, the judge had said it was impossible to prove that Titi had intended to run over Hasano. Maariv wrote that it was the pressure from the family that changed the indictment.
And in the case of an ultra-Orthodox man who murdered a teen who participated in the Jerusalem Gay Pride Parade, the court convicted Yishai Schlissel and also criticized police for failing to take precautions after Schlissel was released from prison only a month earlier for a similar, but less deadly, attack.
Although today's papers focused more on who would win the primaries in New York, they also reported that at the J Street national conference, US Vice President Joe Biden lamented the US administrations ‘overwhelming frustration’ with the Netanyahu government. “There is, at the moment, no political will that I observed from either Israelis or Palestinians to go forward with serious negotiations,” Biden said in his address. The White House spoke out in defense of Biden’s harsh rebuke of Netanyahu and his government.
Quick Hits:
- Jerusalem Bus Terror Attack Probe Under Gag Order - The identity of the injured man whom police suspect of setting off the explosion is still unknown. He is suffering from severe injuries to his lower extremities. (Haaretz+)
- Abbas Condemns Jerusalem Attack as Hamas Blasts PA Security Ties With Israel - While on a visit to Germany, Palestinian leader says he seeks a solution via 'diplomatic means and peaceful resistance.' (Haaretz)
- Palestinians Mull Freezing UN Resolution on Settlements in Wake of French Pressure - French told Palestinians that attempt to push anti-settlement resolution through UN Security Council will fail and undermine attempt to put together international peace summit. (Haaretz+)
- Arab Knesset member: 'Intifada' connotes a legitimate popular uprising - MK Aida Touma-Suliman (Joint List) was responding to Supreme Court Justice Joubran’s declaration that a call for an intifada is not necessarily incitement to violence. (Haaretz+)
- Palestinian Teens Held for Stabbing Israeli Soldiers Last Month - Two soldiers were wounded in the attack at Har Bracha; Shin Bet says additional terror cell discovered. (Haaretz+)
- New developments in case against Jewish arsonists - Investigation into five Jews suspected of hate crimes against Palestinians continues, while their remand was extended. (Ynet)
- New School Program Will Bring Young Israelis Closer to Judaism - 'Israeli Jewish Culture' program is the first part of a wider process initiated by Education Minister Naftali Bennett to strengthen Jewish culture within schools and outside them. (Haaretz+)
- Israeli Army to Increase Supervision of Military Rabbinate - IDF tells units not to accept rabbinate's free educational weekend activities, bans private donations for this purpose. (Haaretz+)
- Bedouin Boy of 12 Found Shackled and Bloodied in Negev Water Hole - Police have arrested a 30-year-old relative as a suspect in the assault. (Haaretz+)
- IDF prepares new training to counter Hamas tunnels - As the military's engineering corps continue searching for other sections of the recently-discovered tunnel, the army trains for underground combat, and teaches regular battalions to find and block tunnels. (Ynet)
- Hamas denies report that Gaza tunnel-builder is in Israeli hands - Group says detained man is a private individual; says Israel's declaration that it discovered a tunnel was meant to 'hide the fear that has taken hold' of citizens. (Haaretz+)
- Two Israeli Settlement Leaders Questioned in Fraud Investigation - Amana officials Zeev Hever and Moshe Yogev are suspected of allegedly taking kickbacks from a settlement development firm. (Haaretz+)
- 'EU doesn't recognize Israeli occupation of the Golan' - Federica Mogherini stresses that the European Union 'recognizes Israel within its pre-1967 boundaries, regardless of the (Israeli) government's claims on other areas.' (Agencies, Ynet)
- 12-year-old girl unearths ancient Egyptian amulet in Jerusalem - Neshama Spielman finds a pendant-shaped antique bearing the name of ruler Thutmose III. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- ExclusiveLiberal Orthodox rabbis 'blacklisted' in Israel for conversion - Chief Rabbinate releases 'not exhaustive' list of foreign 'kosher' rabbis, whose signatures are accepted for conversions. (Haaretz+)
- Yemen Rebels Arrest Jew for Smuggling Out Old Torah Scroll - Jewish agency official confirms the scroll was smuggled out of Yemen with a rabbi and 18 other members of the Jewish community who left to Israel last month. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Jews who refused to leave Yemen having second thoughts - 67 Yemeni Jews turned down the Jewish Agency's offer to make aliyah; they say their neighbors treat them poorly and fear no one can provide a Jewish education for their children. (Ynet)
- After Dozens Killed in Airstrikes, Syrian Talks Appear Doomed - It was not immediately clear whose aircraft were responsible for the strikes. Both Syria's own air force and that of its Russian allies have been operating despite the truce. (Agencies, Haaretz)
Features:
At Passover seder, African asylum seekers ask: Where’s our freedom?Non-alcoholic
beverages, a reworded and relevant Haggadah and Bob Marley were all part of the event, held at a detention
center near the Israel-Egypt border. The symbolism and irony were not lost. (Judy Maltz, Haaretz+)
Welcome to my hell
How does it feel to be a Jewish woman in one of the most hostile neighborhoods in E. Jerusalem? Neighbors you meet at the kiosk become terrorists, the Israeli soldiers call you a traitor. The unbelievable story of Tali, who moved to live with her Arab husband in Jabal Mukabber, found herself in a violent nightmare and managed to escape at the last minute. (Yifat Ehrlich, Yedioth’s ’24 Hours’ supplement, cover)
With His Work, Palestinian Graffiti Artist Brightens Up Gaza
From cars, handbags, street walls as well as human bodies, Belal Khaled is leaving his prints almost everywhere in the Strip. (Nidal al-Mughrabi, Agencies, Haaretz)
Commentary/Analysis:
Don't Teach Children to Rebuild Jerusalem by Airbrushing Out the Dome of the Rock (Rabbi Leon A. Morris, Haaretz+) I understand why this triumphalist, intolerant freebie Haggadah was an attractive handout for preschool teachers around the country. But this Passover, let's dream of a different sort of rebuilt Jerusalem.
Israeli Security Assessments Are Reality Built on a Lie (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) In 2008, about half-a-million Gazans surprised the Egyptians when they broke through the fences and went into Sinai. What will the Israeli inventor-warrior do if that happens?
Jerusalem bus bombing has imprints of organized attack (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) The explosive device detonated on a Jerusalem bus on Monday appears to have been made by a professional; while there is still a dearth of details regarding the bombing, the attacker likely detonated the bomb at the back of the bus to ignite the gas tank.
Jerusalem bus attack not necessarily a sign of violent escalation (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Until now no explosives have been found in West Bank raids to compare with the quality of those that killed hundreds of Israelis a decade ago.
On the way to an explosion: the blockade of Gaza is the real story (Ran Adelist, Maariv) The identification, exposure and destruction of the tunnel is a considerable tactical achievement, technologically, militarily and for the moral. The problem is that this…has not advanced the solution of the problem of Gaza. The question is whether Gaza will explode, and the answer is yes. The potential of explosion depends on the siege, and the statistics about the plight of Gazans are reported almost daily. (Adelist writes that Turkey demands as part of reconciliation with Israel that Israel end the siege on the Gaza Strip, but any attempt to do so will bring demands by the families of Israeli soldiers whose bodies are being held by Hamas that the corpses be returned first. But for that to happen, writes Adelist, Hamas demands that Israel release all the Palestinians Israel rounded up and jailed during [Operation Brother’s Keeper and] Operation Protective Edge in the summer of 2014.) That’s the whole story in Gaza. And all the rest - uncovering a negligent tunnel, the potential for explosion and the numerous bombastic statements from the prime minister (are) to cover up his inability to decide.
Welcome to my hell
How does it feel to be a Jewish woman in one of the most hostile neighborhoods in E. Jerusalem? Neighbors you meet at the kiosk become terrorists, the Israeli soldiers call you a traitor. The unbelievable story of Tali, who moved to live with her Arab husband in Jabal Mukabber, found herself in a violent nightmare and managed to escape at the last minute. (Yifat Ehrlich, Yedioth’s ’24 Hours’ supplement, cover)
With His Work, Palestinian Graffiti Artist Brightens Up Gaza
From cars, handbags, street walls as well as human bodies, Belal Khaled is leaving his prints almost everywhere in the Strip. (Nidal al-Mughrabi, Agencies, Haaretz)
Commentary/Analysis:
Don't Teach Children to Rebuild Jerusalem by Airbrushing Out the Dome of the Rock (Rabbi Leon A. Morris, Haaretz+) I understand why this triumphalist, intolerant freebie Haggadah was an attractive handout for preschool teachers around the country. But this Passover, let's dream of a different sort of rebuilt Jerusalem.
Israeli Security Assessments Are Reality Built on a Lie (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) In 2008, about half-a-million Gazans surprised the Egyptians when they broke through the fences and went into Sinai. What will the Israeli inventor-warrior do if that happens?
Jerusalem bus bombing has imprints of organized attack (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) The explosive device detonated on a Jerusalem bus on Monday appears to have been made by a professional; while there is still a dearth of details regarding the bombing, the attacker likely detonated the bomb at the back of the bus to ignite the gas tank.
Jerusalem bus attack not necessarily a sign of violent escalation (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Until now no explosives have been found in West Bank raids to compare with the quality of those that killed hundreds of Israelis a decade ago.
On the way to an explosion: the blockade of Gaza is the real story (Ran Adelist, Maariv) The identification, exposure and destruction of the tunnel is a considerable tactical achievement, technologically, militarily and for the moral. The problem is that this…has not advanced the solution of the problem of Gaza. The question is whether Gaza will explode, and the answer is yes. The potential of explosion depends on the siege, and the statistics about the plight of Gazans are reported almost daily. (Adelist writes that Turkey demands as part of reconciliation with Israel that Israel end the siege on the Gaza Strip, but any attempt to do so will bring demands by the families of Israeli soldiers whose bodies are being held by Hamas that the corpses be returned first. But for that to happen, writes Adelist, Hamas demands that Israel release all the Palestinians Israel rounded up and jailed during [Operation Brother’s Keeper and] Operation Protective Edge in the summer of 2014.) That’s the whole story in Gaza. And all the rest - uncovering a negligent tunnel, the potential for explosion and the numerous bombastic statements from the prime minister (are) to cover up his inability to decide.
Netanyahu Must Call on Israeli Lawmakers to Maintain Calm on the Temple Mount (Haaretz Editorial) The correlation between the expressions and actions of
Israeli politicians regarding the Temple Mount and terror attacks is written in blood.
On a Sad Passover in Israel, a Word of Thanks to Badass Women (Bradley Burston, Haaretz+) Badass women may not save Israel. At this point, maybe only God can do that. But I believe that badass women definitely can be the salvation of Judaism. And will be.
Beware an undesired escalation (Yoav Limor, Israel Hayom) The discovery of a Hamas terror tunnel and the Jerusalem bus bombing have made a volatile situation even more precarious.
Discovery of Hamas tunnel explains the drums of war - and politics (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Though the political rivals of Benjamin 'Mr. Security' Netanyahu have pounced on the discovery of new attack tunnels to criticize his government, the prime minister would rather put off the next confrontation. What happens next depends on Hamas' behavior.
The [solidarity] rally at Rabin Square was strange, scary and exciting, almost like [far-right-wing journalist and former politician] Sharon Gal (Haim Etgar, Maariv) When I arrived, I debated whether to buy a black shirt bearing the words "Kill before you are killed first," which clearly was a local hit, or go for something a little more exotic - a sweatshirt with the caption that read: Speed up the construction on the Temple Mount.”
On Palestinian Human Rights, We in America Need to Move From Talk to Action (Wardah Khalid, Haaretz+) When Bernie Sanders, the State Department and U.S. senators all condemn Israel's human rights abuses of Palestinians in the space of a few weeks, is the American conversation about Israel-Palestine finally changing?
A plea bargain for everyone's good (Dr. Haim Shine, Israel Hayom) The IDF belongs to us all, both Left and Right, and no one can drive a wedge between it and the citizens of this country.
Netanyahu Has No Plans to Topple Hamas Despite Cross-border Gaza Tunnel Discovery (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Netanyahu’s announcement of an imminent solution to the tunnel problem seems to be an exaggeration. It isn’t yet 'an underground Iron Dome,' as he proclaimed.
Pinkwashing: Israel’s Rainbow Flight to Nowhere (Aeyal Gross, Haaretz+) The state has commandeered the gay community for propaganda. The gay pride parade must therefore include the struggle for democracy, equality and freedom for all.
Why So Many Palestinians in New York Support Bernie Sanders (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) Considering his stance on corporations and the distribution of wealth, Sanders supporters believe a progressive stand against the Israeli occupation is a given.
On a Sad Passover in Israel, a Word of Thanks to Badass Women (Bradley Burston, Haaretz+) Badass women may not save Israel. At this point, maybe only God can do that. But I believe that badass women definitely can be the salvation of Judaism. And will be.
Beware an undesired escalation (Yoav Limor, Israel Hayom) The discovery of a Hamas terror tunnel and the Jerusalem bus bombing have made a volatile situation even more precarious.
Discovery of Hamas tunnel explains the drums of war - and politics (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Though the political rivals of Benjamin 'Mr. Security' Netanyahu have pounced on the discovery of new attack tunnels to criticize his government, the prime minister would rather put off the next confrontation. What happens next depends on Hamas' behavior.
The [solidarity] rally at Rabin Square was strange, scary and exciting, almost like [far-right-wing journalist and former politician] Sharon Gal (Haim Etgar, Maariv) When I arrived, I debated whether to buy a black shirt bearing the words "Kill before you are killed first," which clearly was a local hit, or go for something a little more exotic - a sweatshirt with the caption that read: Speed up the construction on the Temple Mount.”
On Palestinian Human Rights, We in America Need to Move From Talk to Action (Wardah Khalid, Haaretz+) When Bernie Sanders, the State Department and U.S. senators all condemn Israel's human rights abuses of Palestinians in the space of a few weeks, is the American conversation about Israel-Palestine finally changing?
A plea bargain for everyone's good (Dr. Haim Shine, Israel Hayom) The IDF belongs to us all, both Left and Right, and no one can drive a wedge between it and the citizens of this country.
Netanyahu Has No Plans to Topple Hamas Despite Cross-border Gaza Tunnel Discovery (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Netanyahu’s announcement of an imminent solution to the tunnel problem seems to be an exaggeration. It isn’t yet 'an underground Iron Dome,' as he proclaimed.
Pinkwashing: Israel’s Rainbow Flight to Nowhere (Aeyal Gross, Haaretz+) The state has commandeered the gay community for propaganda. The gay pride parade must therefore include the struggle for democracy, equality and freedom for all.
Why So Many Palestinians in New York Support Bernie Sanders (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) Considering his stance on corporations and the distribution of wealth, Sanders supporters believe a progressive stand against the Israeli occupation is a given.