APN's daily news review from Israel
Monday February 22, 2016
Quote of the day:
“To the Wailing Wall and Al-Aqsa Mosque they travel in the same train, so why not smile on the way one
to the other?"
--Daniel Halevy, Director of the 'True Spirit' pre-military academy said about his gap year students' choice of activities for Jerusalem Day.*
You Must Be Kidding:
“The commander came into the tent at 7:15am while we were sleeping. He threw a grenade, and the whole tent went white. After a minute everyone got out, but there was one injured soldier with crutches inside a sleeping bag and it took him a few minutes to get out with the help of his friends. The soldiers were tearing up, and they started choking from all the smoke. Another soldier was vomiting, and another one hit himself on a metal peg of the tent. I myself broke my toe.”
--A soldier in an IDF Paratroopers platoon in a testimony at the trial of his platoon commander, who threw a tear gas grenade into the soldiers' tent when they didn't wake up as scheduled.**
--Daniel Halevy, Director of the 'True Spirit' pre-military academy said about his gap year students' choice of activities for Jerusalem Day.*
You Must Be Kidding:
“The commander came into the tent at 7:15am while we were sleeping. He threw a grenade, and the whole tent went white. After a minute everyone got out, but there was one injured soldier with crutches inside a sleeping bag and it took him a few minutes to get out with the help of his friends. The soldiers were tearing up, and they started choking from all the smoke. Another soldier was vomiting, and another one hit himself on a metal peg of the tent. I myself broke my toe.”
--A soldier in an IDF Paratroopers platoon in a testimony at the trial of his platoon commander, who threw a tear gas grenade into the soldiers' tent when they didn't wake up as scheduled.**
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Attorney General to probe testimony of enormous donation to Netanyahu; Prime Minister: I received the money when I was a private citizen
- Israeli Ambassador Dermer will give speech at conference to strengthen the Republican party in the elections
- Bennett vs. Netanyahu: You can’t support Israel in Hebrew and establish Palestine in English
- Knesset Interior Affairs committee expected to approve easing construction of hotels near coast
- Switzerland rejected by national referendum the initiative to give every citizen a basic salary
- IDF re-examining decision to allow soldiers to demonstrate at protests
- The Nature and Park Reserves Authority will stop holding musical concerts at national parks on Shabbat
- The disgrace of the [political] detentions // Haaretz Editorial
- Full Disclosure // Michael Sfard
Yedioth Ahronoth
- The summer camp protests reach the Knesset
- The state obligation // Smadar Shir
- For the information of Netanyahu and Herzog: Likud Ministers and MKs prefer Bennett
- June 1967, war diary – IDF Archives reveals the dramatic testimonies of chief of staff (Yitzahk) Rabin and the generals
- Special for Blindness Day – today’s newspaper can be heard on the app and not only read
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Attorney General to probe whether Netanyahu received a million Euros as a primaries contribution
- He’ll leave over the million? // Ben Caspit
- Eve of Prime Minister’s trip to Moscow, Naftali Bennett attacks him: “It is impossible to support the Land of Israel in Hebrew and to establish a Palestinian state in English”
- Police Commissioner vs. the media: “The police advanced, some of the criticism is unsubstantiated”
- Two life sentences to man who murdered his small children
Israel Hayom
- Likud: Bennett – the biggest threat to the right-wing government
- “I told Rabbi Goren: Prepare the shofar” – IDF Archives reveals the dramatic testimonies of the IDF generals
- United forever [Photo of religious right-wing Israelis dancing with Israeli flags at entrance to Damascus Gate of Old City in E. Jerusalem]
- Prime Minister’s Office: Netanyahu did not receive any prohibited contribution – Attorney General ordered probe in affair of French businessman who testified: I contributed a million euros
- Today: Prime Minister leaves for Russia; Will discuss with Putin the pension agreements of immigrants
- Shock in Unit 8200: Soldier suspected of raping his female colleague
News Summary:
Israel’s Attorney General will open a probe into suspicions that a corrupt French tycoon gave Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu one million Euros for elections campaigning, Education Minister Naftali Bennett slammed Netanyahu for expressing support for a two-state solution as Jerusalem Day passed fairly quietly and the IDF Archives revealed testimonies from IDF generals from after the ’67 war making top news in today’s Hebrew newspapers.
Netanyahu faced two threats to power on Sunday. The first came when the Attorney General announced a probe over the allegations by a Jewish French billionaire and supporter of Netanyahu, who is on trial in France for fraud, that he contributed a million Euros to Netanyahu’s election campaign in 2009. Maariv’s Ben Caspit wondered whether this would be what would finally bring down Netanyahu. Later in the day, Netanyahu spoke at a Jerusalem Day event, marking 49 years since the east side of the city was conquered in the Six Day War. Netanyahu said that Jerusalem would never be divided again. But his coalition partner, leader of the Habayit Hayehudi party Naftali Bennett, slammed Netanyahu for speaking in English about establishing a Palestinian State and in Hebrew about the Land of Israel. "There are those, both in Israel and the world, who are signing up for various Arab peace initiatives, according to which Israel will be divided – God forbid, Jerusalem will be divided – and we'll return to the '67 lines.” It appears many in Likud would agree with Bennett. Yedioth asked the 29 Likud ministers and MKs if they wanted to part with Habayit Hayehudi party in exchange for the Zionist Camp, the condition that Zionist Camp chairman Isaac Herzog made for joining the coalition. 27 opposed the exchange, two, MK Benny Begin and MK Yuli Edelstein, did not answer. Nevertheless, 'the Likud party' said that Habayit Hayehudi was the most threatening factor in the government.
The controversial Jerusalem Day march and ‘Flag Dance’ through Jerusalem’s Old City passed relatively calmly, with only a few chants of 'Mohammed is dead’ and police restrictions on news photographers. Haaretz+ revealed that the Prime Minister’s Office and an American NGO are big funders of the controversial march. At the Temple Mount, 208 right-wing Jews were allowed to enter under heavy protection by Israeli police and special forces, Maan reported. The US warned citizens to 'exercise caution' in the capital.
Some Israelis ‘celebrated’ Jerusalem Day differently. Among them was a one-year after-high school gap year program, ‘Ruach Nachon’ (True Spirit), which holds dialogues in the spirit of Rabbi Menachem Fruman (RIP). It marked Jerusalem Day as an opportunity to promote tolerance in the city, Yedioth reported. At the train station next to the Jerusalem Municipality, which is adjacent to the Old City and on the seamline of E. Jerusalem, they put up signs with verses about peace from the Torah and the Quran. “To the Wailing Wall and Al-Aqsa Mosque they travel in the same train, so why not smile on the way one to the other? It’s true the religious people of both sides are not prepared to compromise, but neither Islam nor Judaism accept the dominance of the other, but traveling together they can. And maybe one day, pray together,” said director of the pre-military academy, Daniel Halevy.
The Hebrew press made no mention that for the Palestinians it was Naksa Day, meaning “setback”, marking the Israeli invasion and occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, Sinai, and the Golan Heights that began on June 5, displacing some 300,000 Palestinians from their homes, as well as thousands of Syrians. But Maan did and reported that Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah warned of the dangerous ramifications of Israeli actions in occupied East Jerusalem. Interestingly, Israeli forces blocked a Naksa Day march near Hebron - not by using tear gas, but by forming a human chain to prevent activists from marching forward. However, one of the organizers, Muhammad Abulrahman al-Jibrini, 38, was reportedly attacked by soldiers.
Meanwhile, the IDF Archives released debriefings of Israeli generals from immediately after the ’67 war that showed that they hoped to drive Arabs out of the West Bank, but were concerned over looting from the Arabs in Jerusalem. Then IDF chief of staff Yitzhak Rabin said there was “a clear prohibition against conquering the Old City” of Jerusalem and the Commander of the Central Command, Gen. Uzi Narkis, said, “There was no direct order to conquer the Old City.” Also worth noting, Gen Dado Elazar, who later became chief of staff, revealed: “I fought furiously against conquering the Gaza Strip because I thought this was folly and disastrous.”
Most of the Hebrew media did not mention that the Muslim holy month of Ramadan began early this morning. (Yedioth did!) Maariv reported that MKs from the Joint (Arab) List planned to visit the Temple Mount / Harram Al-Sharif despite the prohibition by the Police Commissioner and a Knesset committee. The paper did not mention that Ramadan began early this morning.
Israel’s Attorney General will open a probe into suspicions that a corrupt French tycoon gave Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu one million Euros for elections campaigning, Education Minister Naftali Bennett slammed Netanyahu for expressing support for a two-state solution as Jerusalem Day passed fairly quietly and the IDF Archives revealed testimonies from IDF generals from after the ’67 war making top news in today’s Hebrew newspapers.
Netanyahu faced two threats to power on Sunday. The first came when the Attorney General announced a probe over the allegations by a Jewish French billionaire and supporter of Netanyahu, who is on trial in France for fraud, that he contributed a million Euros to Netanyahu’s election campaign in 2009. Maariv’s Ben Caspit wondered whether this would be what would finally bring down Netanyahu. Later in the day, Netanyahu spoke at a Jerusalem Day event, marking 49 years since the east side of the city was conquered in the Six Day War. Netanyahu said that Jerusalem would never be divided again. But his coalition partner, leader of the Habayit Hayehudi party Naftali Bennett, slammed Netanyahu for speaking in English about establishing a Palestinian State and in Hebrew about the Land of Israel. "There are those, both in Israel and the world, who are signing up for various Arab peace initiatives, according to which Israel will be divided – God forbid, Jerusalem will be divided – and we'll return to the '67 lines.” It appears many in Likud would agree with Bennett. Yedioth asked the 29 Likud ministers and MKs if they wanted to part with Habayit Hayehudi party in exchange for the Zionist Camp, the condition that Zionist Camp chairman Isaac Herzog made for joining the coalition. 27 opposed the exchange, two, MK Benny Begin and MK Yuli Edelstein, did not answer. Nevertheless, 'the Likud party' said that Habayit Hayehudi was the most threatening factor in the government.
The controversial Jerusalem Day march and ‘Flag Dance’ through Jerusalem’s Old City passed relatively calmly, with only a few chants of 'Mohammed is dead’ and police restrictions on news photographers. Haaretz+ revealed that the Prime Minister’s Office and an American NGO are big funders of the controversial march. At the Temple Mount, 208 right-wing Jews were allowed to enter under heavy protection by Israeli police and special forces, Maan reported. The US warned citizens to 'exercise caution' in the capital.
Some Israelis ‘celebrated’ Jerusalem Day differently. Among them was a one-year after-high school gap year program, ‘Ruach Nachon’ (True Spirit), which holds dialogues in the spirit of Rabbi Menachem Fruman (RIP). It marked Jerusalem Day as an opportunity to promote tolerance in the city, Yedioth reported. At the train station next to the Jerusalem Municipality, which is adjacent to the Old City and on the seamline of E. Jerusalem, they put up signs with verses about peace from the Torah and the Quran. “To the Wailing Wall and Al-Aqsa Mosque they travel in the same train, so why not smile on the way one to the other? It’s true the religious people of both sides are not prepared to compromise, but neither Islam nor Judaism accept the dominance of the other, but traveling together they can. And maybe one day, pray together,” said director of the pre-military academy, Daniel Halevy.
The Hebrew press made no mention that for the Palestinians it was Naksa Day, meaning “setback”, marking the Israeli invasion and occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, Sinai, and the Golan Heights that began on June 5, displacing some 300,000 Palestinians from their homes, as well as thousands of Syrians. But Maan did and reported that Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah warned of the dangerous ramifications of Israeli actions in occupied East Jerusalem. Interestingly, Israeli forces blocked a Naksa Day march near Hebron - not by using tear gas, but by forming a human chain to prevent activists from marching forward. However, one of the organizers, Muhammad Abulrahman al-Jibrini, 38, was reportedly attacked by soldiers.
Meanwhile, the IDF Archives released debriefings of Israeli generals from immediately after the ’67 war that showed that they hoped to drive Arabs out of the West Bank, but were concerned over looting from the Arabs in Jerusalem. Then IDF chief of staff Yitzhak Rabin said there was “a clear prohibition against conquering the Old City” of Jerusalem and the Commander of the Central Command, Gen. Uzi Narkis, said, “There was no direct order to conquer the Old City.” Also worth noting, Gen Dado Elazar, who later became chief of staff, revealed: “I fought furiously against conquering the Gaza Strip because I thought this was folly and disastrous.”
Most of the Hebrew media did not mention that the Muslim holy month of Ramadan began early this morning. (Yedioth did!) Maariv reported that MKs from the Joint (Arab) List planned to visit the Temple Mount / Harram Al-Sharif despite the prohibition by the Police Commissioner and a Knesset committee. The paper did not mention that Ramadan began early this morning.
Quick Hits:
- Palestinian youth sentenced to 18 years for terror attack - A 17-year-old was found guilty of a stabbing terror attack; he was neutralized by Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat and his bodyguard; presiding judge voiced concern over “a growing number” of attacks led by “very young children.” (Ynet and Maan)
- In plea bargain, Palestinian minor accused of stab attack risks 6 1/2 year prison sentence - The lawyer for 14-year-old Muawiya Alqam reached a plea bargain with the Israeli military prosecutor, according to which the boy will be jailed for six and a half years and his family ordered to pay a fine of 26,000 shekels ($6,759). (Maan)
- Israel renews detention of two PFLP leaders, held for 1 year without charge - Jamal Barham, 56, and Shahir Ali al-Rai, 47, have been in Israel’s Ktziot prison in the Negev since their detention on June 3, 2015. (Maan)
- Israel releases correspondent for Iranian TV from custody - Bassem Safadi, 43, from the Golan Heights, said his interrogation had focused on things he wrote on Facebook rather than on his work for Al-Alam TV. (Haaretz)
- Another Gaza tunnel digger captured - A 17 year old Palestinian was captured and detained after crossing border fence from Gaza; Revealed an abundance of information regarding tunnel routes, Hamas strategy. (Ynet and Maan)
- Palestinian teen injured by Israeli forces in Kafr Qaddum protest - Wael Abdullah,16, was shot in the thigh as Israeli forces dispersed a protest on Saturday afternoon. (Maan)
- **IDF Commander awakens troops with tear gas - Officer who threw a tear gas grenade into a tent full of soldiers on trial; eyewitnesses claim commander was often violent: 'We were choking, vomiting;' Officer says he did it out of 'love.' (Ynet)
- Israeli forces close major West Bank checkpoint for 3 hours - Israeli forces closed the main road between Bethlehem and Ramallah Sunday, preventing thousands of Palestinian commuters from reaching their work places. (Maan)
- Empty Israeli bus reportedly attacked in Nablus - Israeli forces said on Monday morning that a settler bus was attacked with “steel balls” near the northern occupied West Bank town of Huwwara south of Nablus. (Maan)
- Knesset Panel to Rule if NGO Bill Would Also Apply to Private Donors, Right-wing Groups - The latest version of the bill specifies that organizations that receive most of their funding from 'private foreign elements' will be subject to reporting requirements. (Haaretz+)
- Israeli Lawmakers to Discuss New Bill Banning non-Orthodox Jews From Ritual Baths - Knesset Interior and Environment committee to debate bill, proposed by members of the religious parties and intended to bypass a High Court of Justice ruling. (Haaretz+)
- Soldier wounded in Gaza raises 1.2 million via crowdfunding - Defense Ministry refuses to fund unauthorized construction in a settlement to allow disabled soldier to return to an accessible home • Sgt. Yehuda Hayisraeli's family thrilled by the immediate, generous response received on crowdfunding website Headstart. (Israel Hayom)
- At Least 7,000 Eritreans in Israel Survived Torture, Rape in Sinai - Most women and girls were gang raped daily by Bedouin traffickers; many men raped as well. (Haaretz+)
- Amid Rising Death Toll for Builders in Israel, Knesset to Crack Down on Construction Accidents - Proposed legislation will force shutdown of building sites where serious safety incident occurred. (Haaretz+)
- Asher Yadlin, disgraced Labor leader in 1970s, passes away - Yadlin was convicted of bribery in scandal that rocked party leadership before losing election to Likud for first time. (Haaretz+)
- Olmert's Old Friends From Knesset Visit Him in Prison - Zionist Union's Peretz, Hasson spend 45 minutes with former PM, who's serving 19-month sentence for bribery and obstruction of justice. (Haaretz+)
- BDS Fight Is Shifting From Campuses and Churches to Statehouses - At least 20 U.S. states so far, and two local governments, have taken up the boycott issue and have passed laws or are considering doing so. (Haaretz+)
- BDS: Israel responsible for cyber attacks - The boycott movement has claimed that the Jewish State was directly involved in DDoS attacks against six BDS sites in February and March; no smoking gun has been procured, but the attacks are allegedly technologically advanced and match Israel's plans to fight the BDS movement online. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- At Height of U.S. Elections Frenzy, Israeli Ambassador to Address pro-Republican Conference - Except for Ron Dermer, all other speakers at 'The Road to Majority’ conference will be Republican congressmen; 'conference isn’t political,' embassy source insists. (Haaretz+)
- Father of Slain Journalist Daniel Pearl Recalls Muhammad Ali's Kind Gesture - 'I appeal to you to show Daniel Pearl compassion and kindness,' Ali implored Pearl’s abductors, who would behead the journalist in Pakistan after nine days of captivity. (Haaretz)
- ISIS Kills Dozens of Own Members Amid Spy Scare - Over 30 ISIS members have been executed on suspicion of acting as informants for the U.S.-led coalition after a string of airstrikes killed prominent figures. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Report: Jordanian citizen was arrested in Saudi Arabia on suspicion of collaborating with Mossad - The newspaper "Okaz" reported that the Jordanian was in contact with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and with a senior Mossad official via messages transferred by e-mail. Punishment is nine years in prison and expulsion from the kingdom. (Maariv)
Features:
Lone soldiers on the home front: The tank crewman from New Jersey
Around 3,300 lone soldiers from abroad currently serve in the IDF. Most haven't seen their families in months. Shortly ahead of Independence Day, Yedioth Ahronoth and the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) came up with an idea: Send four of them a trip home, and surprise their loved ones. Part 4 of 4. (Etti Abramov, Yedioth/Ynet)
WATCH: Israeli TV Shows Channel John Oliver With News Satire
These three Israeli shows turn reality into a joke. (Haaretz+)
Remembering the 4,000 Jews who fell in the desert
On Jerusalem day the Israeli-Ethiopian community commemorates the 4,000 Ethiopian Jews who died in the Sudanese desert trying to make it to Israel; PM Netanyahu: 'you are flesh and blood part of our nation.' (Danny Adino Ababa, Yedioth/Ynet)
Commentary/Analysis:
The bitter truth comes via Arnaud Mimran, an integral part of the Netanyahu family (Ben Caspit, Maariv) It is possible that a French billionaire crook, who testified that he contributed to Netanyahu a million Euros, will be the one to help raise the required curtain from the money machine and the elections of the Prime Minister.
What is behind the announcement of Netanyahu and Lieberman about the regional political initiative? (Uri Savir, Maariv) The 2002 Arab (peace) initiative is actually positive. It allows normalization with all Arab countries and conditions the solution to the refugee issue to Israel's consent. These are the positive things that Netanyahu and Lieberman referred to.
Israel's First Openly Proud Lawmaker Too Terrified of Gays (Avner Bernheimer, Haaretz+) According to Likudnik Amir Ohana, the real threat to the LGBT community comes from 'leftist thugs.' What nonsense.
Netanyahu's moment of truth: the excuse of the 61st government's is over (Kalman Libeskind, Maariv) The moment the Prime Minister includes the Zionist Camp to his government, will be the moment when each of the 985,408 Likud voters can feel entitled to go to the nearest police station and file a complaint against Netanyahu for stealing his vote.
Israel's Military Justice System Seems to Have Gone Too Far (Haaretz Editorial) No security situation justifies the detention of a Palestinian legislator for her public activities. No stone-throwing validates the mass arrests of children, and nothing can rationalize detention without trial, a practice that is unacceptable and intolerable in a country governed by civil laws. The increasingly violent resistance to the occupation does not give Israel and its security apparatuses a license to deny liberty to innocent people.
Political dust far from settling (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) The will to strike a Likud-Zionist Union deal is there, but the way may be obstructed by boisterous opposition within each party.
Netanyahu Must Decide if He's the Prime Minister of the Jewish Nation or Israel (Odeh Bisharat, Haaretz+) Netanyahu is betraying his job. This man has to go, and soon. We are all tasked with that sacred mission, and especially the Arab citizens.
The Old City: The crowning glory (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) The peace process and any two-state solution always find themselves dashed on the ancient rocks of Jerusalem.
Broken Embraces: Even a patriotic Jerusalemite like myself cannot ignore the difficulties of the city (Galit Dahan Carlebach, Maariv) There really is no coexistence in Jerusalem, the city imposes existence on its residents. Here, beggars, prophets and sidelined poets are are received, not always with a welcome.
Israel's Ultra-Orthodox: More Israeli, More Rightist (Pnina Pfeuffer, Haaretz+) As young ultra-Orthodox people continue to blend into society and develop an Israeli identity, the Haredi leadership must consider its steps.
Terrorism by other means (Judith Bergman, Israel Hayom) The slogan of BDS activists, "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," is the rallying cry of Hamas.
Things may accidentally roll to start a peace process (Revital Amiran, Maariv) 16 years ago, Ehud Barak created the concept of "No partner" and pushed us into a corner of refusal. Netanyahu and Lieberman are more likely to get us out of there almost by accident.
Hollande Is Dancing Badly in the Footsteps of His Countryman Picot (Moshe Arens, Haaretz+) It’s clear that no Palestinian has stepped forward in recent years who can make and implement agreements. Still, we get the French president’s theatrics.
Around 3,300 lone soldiers from abroad currently serve in the IDF. Most haven't seen their families in months. Shortly ahead of Independence Day, Yedioth Ahronoth and the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) came up with an idea: Send four of them a trip home, and surprise their loved ones. Part 4 of 4. (Etti Abramov, Yedioth/Ynet)
WATCH: Israeli TV Shows Channel John Oliver With News Satire
These three Israeli shows turn reality into a joke. (Haaretz+)
Remembering the 4,000 Jews who fell in the desert
On Jerusalem day the Israeli-Ethiopian community commemorates the 4,000 Ethiopian Jews who died in the Sudanese desert trying to make it to Israel; PM Netanyahu: 'you are flesh and blood part of our nation.' (Danny Adino Ababa, Yedioth/Ynet)
Commentary/Analysis:
The bitter truth comes via Arnaud Mimran, an integral part of the Netanyahu family (Ben Caspit, Maariv) It is possible that a French billionaire crook, who testified that he contributed to Netanyahu a million Euros, will be the one to help raise the required curtain from the money machine and the elections of the Prime Minister.
What is behind the announcement of Netanyahu and Lieberman about the regional political initiative? (Uri Savir, Maariv) The 2002 Arab (peace) initiative is actually positive. It allows normalization with all Arab countries and conditions the solution to the refugee issue to Israel's consent. These are the positive things that Netanyahu and Lieberman referred to.
Israel's First Openly Proud Lawmaker Too Terrified of Gays (Avner Bernheimer, Haaretz+) According to Likudnik Amir Ohana, the real threat to the LGBT community comes from 'leftist thugs.' What nonsense.
Netanyahu's moment of truth: the excuse of the 61st government's is over (Kalman Libeskind, Maariv) The moment the Prime Minister includes the Zionist Camp to his government, will be the moment when each of the 985,408 Likud voters can feel entitled to go to the nearest police station and file a complaint against Netanyahu for stealing his vote.
Israel's Military Justice System Seems to Have Gone Too Far (Haaretz Editorial) No security situation justifies the detention of a Palestinian legislator for her public activities. No stone-throwing validates the mass arrests of children, and nothing can rationalize detention without trial, a practice that is unacceptable and intolerable in a country governed by civil laws. The increasingly violent resistance to the occupation does not give Israel and its security apparatuses a license to deny liberty to innocent people.
Political dust far from settling (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) The will to strike a Likud-Zionist Union deal is there, but the way may be obstructed by boisterous opposition within each party.
Netanyahu Must Decide if He's the Prime Minister of the Jewish Nation or Israel (Odeh Bisharat, Haaretz+) Netanyahu is betraying his job. This man has to go, and soon. We are all tasked with that sacred mission, and especially the Arab citizens.
The Old City: The crowning glory (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) The peace process and any two-state solution always find themselves dashed on the ancient rocks of Jerusalem.
Broken Embraces: Even a patriotic Jerusalemite like myself cannot ignore the difficulties of the city (Galit Dahan Carlebach, Maariv) There really is no coexistence in Jerusalem, the city imposes existence on its residents. Here, beggars, prophets and sidelined poets are are received, not always with a welcome.
Israel's Ultra-Orthodox: More Israeli, More Rightist (Pnina Pfeuffer, Haaretz+) As young ultra-Orthodox people continue to blend into society and develop an Israeli identity, the Haredi leadership must consider its steps.
Terrorism by other means (Judith Bergman, Israel Hayom) The slogan of BDS activists, "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," is the rallying cry of Hamas.
Things may accidentally roll to start a peace process (Revital Amiran, Maariv) 16 years ago, Ehud Barak created the concept of "No partner" and pushed us into a corner of refusal. Netanyahu and Lieberman are more likely to get us out of there almost by accident.
Hollande Is Dancing Badly in the Footsteps of His Countryman Picot (Moshe Arens, Haaretz+) It’s clear that no Palestinian has stepped forward in recent years who can make and implement agreements. Still, we get the French president’s theatrics.
Interviews:
Saudi official: it's now or never for peace
Dr. Anwar Eshki, the senior Saudi official who regularly meets with Israelis, states in exclusive Yedioth Ahronoth interview that there was never a better time for a peace deal, if only PM Netanyahu would announce his support of the Arab peace initiative in front of the UN. (Interviewed by Smadar Perry in Yedioth’s Friday ‘Musaf L’Shabbat’ supplement)
Saudi official: it's now or never for peace
Dr. Anwar Eshki, the senior Saudi official who regularly meets with Israelis, states in exclusive Yedioth Ahronoth interview that there was never a better time for a peace deal, if only PM Netanyahu would announce his support of the Arab peace initiative in front of the UN. (Interviewed by Smadar Perry in Yedioth’s Friday ‘Musaf L’Shabbat’ supplement)
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.