APN's daily news review from Israel
Thursday June 16, 2016
Quote of the day:
“The message is: You are still the favorite child, but a spoiled and annoying child and the time has
come to set borders.”
--Yedioth’s commentator Alex Fishman writes that US President Barack Obama is changing the rules in regards to America’s dealings with Israel.**
You Must Be Kidding:
An Israeli-Spanish woman, who calls herself “Yael Cohen,” said she was the 'aunt' of the two Palestinian murderers at Sarona Market.**
--Yedioth’s commentator Alex Fishman writes that US President Barack Obama is changing the rules in regards to America’s dealings with Israel.**
You Must Be Kidding:
An Israeli-Spanish woman, who calls herself “Yael Cohen,” said she was the 'aunt' of the two Palestinian murderers at Sarona Market.**
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Attorney General ruled: Netanyahu barred from dealings with telecom magnate Shaul Elovitch
- Establishment of new settlement building in heart of Silwan (E. Jerusalem) approved
- Key witness in Mimran affair hiding in Israel and refusing to return to France in order to testify against him
- (Controversial) Bill passed to expand authorities for battle against terror
- New message from the Defense Ministry: Abbas is a problem and a war with Gaza is unavoidable
- Wrongful preference // Haaretz Editorial
- “This is our money” – The attorney who exposed Netanyahu’s expenses abroad: “There was no reason for us not to receive the information”
- Artist Dani Karavan: I’m ashamed of the wall that I created in the Knesset. I asked that they remove it
Yedioth Ahronoth
- The Gaza wall – the underground obstacle against the tunnels
- “In the next fight, Hamas will be eliminated”
- Lieberman to fly to Washington – with the storm over the budget aid in the background
- Communications Minister won’t be able to deal with communications
- The important thing is that he is seen // Nahum Barnea
- Gantz comes to march: former IDF chief of staff joins the equality protest
- The dispute with LeBron, the dismissal from Cleveland, the signing on in Turkey – Basketball coach David Blatt tells all
- She’s no longer against us: Peneplope Cruz wants to visit Israel
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- The White House: The aid won’t increase; Netanyahu’s Office: We will receive more budget
- (Netanyahu’s) Dangerous game // Yossi Melman
- “It would be nice if Gilad (Shalit) would come sometimes to the memorial event” – Neli Barak, mother of Captain Hanan Barak, the commander of the tank from which Gilad Shalit was kidnapped. Barak was killed
- The return home – Russia returned yesterday the tank from the battle in Sultan Yaakub (Lebanon), which is believed to be the tank of the three missing soldiers, Zacharia Baumel, Yehuda Katz and Zvi Feldman
Israel Hayom
- “The next fight with Gaza: the last with Hamas” – senior official in Defense Ministry
-
Senior official in US administration: The aid to the defense systems will increase – as
part of the long-term aid agreement; Netanyahu: No budget cut;
Lieberman flies to the US - Gal Hirsch on the Second Lebanon War: “They stabbed knives in my back in the midst of the battles”
- 40 years after the Antebbe Operation: Sarah Davidson reveals the diary she wrote in captivity
News Summary:
Besides the Israeli Attorney General barring the Communications Minister, which is the Prime Minister, from dealings with an associate who heads the largest communications company in the country, the Hebrew papers focused on the military aid crisis with the US and the threatening declarations by senior Israelis in the defense establishment, but largely ignored the calls for peace by the ambassadors of Egypt and Jordan.
While the Obama Administration said it would not tack the money for an Israeli missile defense system to the 2017 US defense budget, it said it would be part of separate aid to Israel. Netanyahu insisted the military aid budget wasn’t being cut and that it would be increased. MK Tsipi Livni blamed Netanyahu for the crisis over the aid, Maariv reported. And Yedioth’s Alex Fishman wrote that Israel had lost the indulgent treatment it received from the US – not over money but over politics. (See Commentary/Analysis below.) Meanwhile, the new Defense Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, is traveling Saturday to Washington, D.C. to meet his counterparts.
At the Herzliya Conference, an Israeli general threatened a devastating war to Israel’s neighbors, while the Egyptian and Jordanian ambassadors to Israel spoke of the need for peace with the Palestinians and the danger of things imploding if Israel doesn’t move in that direction. Military Intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Herzl Halevi said that Israel does not want another war with Hezbollah, but that "Israel is the strongest power in the region” and in next war, “Lebanon will become a refugee state.” Halevy also praised the Saudi king for his stance on Iran and the economy.
Haaretz’s military analyst, Amos Harel, noted the ‘harsher tone’ taken by Lieberman's Defense Ministry, different from that of when Moshe Yaalon was in charge. The papers quoted what Harel called “someone who we will refer to as a senior Defense Ministry official,” [meaning it was likely a spokesman – OH] who said that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was Israel's main problem, accusing Abbas of waging ‘diplomatic terrorism’ and that war against Gaza was 'inevitable’ and that Israel would ‘eliminate’ Hamas. Meanwhile, Yedioth revealed that Israel will build an underground wall around the Gaza Strip.
In another session at the Herzliya Conference, Egypt's ambassador to Israel, Hazam Hirat, said that "ignoring the reality could lead to an explosion" and the Jordanian Ambassador to Israel, Walid Abeidat, called on Israel to adopt the Arab Peace Initiative. "Jordan thinks the Arab Peace Initiative is the main initiative for regional peace, complete peace, complete security. It is not only supported by the Arab states, but also by all 58 countries of Islam. What more could Israel ask for?" he said. (Maariv and Ynet)
Besides the Israeli Attorney General barring the Communications Minister, which is the Prime Minister, from dealings with an associate who heads the largest communications company in the country, the Hebrew papers focused on the military aid crisis with the US and the threatening declarations by senior Israelis in the defense establishment, but largely ignored the calls for peace by the ambassadors of Egypt and Jordan.
While the Obama Administration said it would not tack the money for an Israeli missile defense system to the 2017 US defense budget, it said it would be part of separate aid to Israel. Netanyahu insisted the military aid budget wasn’t being cut and that it would be increased. MK Tsipi Livni blamed Netanyahu for the crisis over the aid, Maariv reported. And Yedioth’s Alex Fishman wrote that Israel had lost the indulgent treatment it received from the US – not over money but over politics. (See Commentary/Analysis below.) Meanwhile, the new Defense Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, is traveling Saturday to Washington, D.C. to meet his counterparts.
At the Herzliya Conference, an Israeli general threatened a devastating war to Israel’s neighbors, while the Egyptian and Jordanian ambassadors to Israel spoke of the need for peace with the Palestinians and the danger of things imploding if Israel doesn’t move in that direction. Military Intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Herzl Halevi said that Israel does not want another war with Hezbollah, but that "Israel is the strongest power in the region” and in next war, “Lebanon will become a refugee state.” Halevy also praised the Saudi king for his stance on Iran and the economy.
Haaretz’s military analyst, Amos Harel, noted the ‘harsher tone’ taken by Lieberman's Defense Ministry, different from that of when Moshe Yaalon was in charge. The papers quoted what Harel called “someone who we will refer to as a senior Defense Ministry official,” [meaning it was likely a spokesman – OH] who said that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was Israel's main problem, accusing Abbas of waging ‘diplomatic terrorism’ and that war against Gaza was 'inevitable’ and that Israel would ‘eliminate’ Hamas. Meanwhile, Yedioth revealed that Israel will build an underground wall around the Gaza Strip.
In another session at the Herzliya Conference, Egypt's ambassador to Israel, Hazam Hirat, said that "ignoring the reality could lead to an explosion" and the Jordanian Ambassador to Israel, Walid Abeidat, called on Israel to adopt the Arab Peace Initiative. "Jordan thinks the Arab Peace Initiative is the main initiative for regional peace, complete peace, complete security. It is not only supported by the Arab states, but also by all 58 countries of Islam. What more could Israel ask for?" he said. (Maariv and Ynet)
Quick Hits:
- Terrorism Law approved with penalties for attacks laid out in statute - The minister of justice's flagship and sweeping bill lays out the sanctions to be implemented for different actions relating to and supporting terrorism. Arab parties: “Law is 'draconian and unacceptable.” Meretz Chairwoman Zahava Gal-On supports the battle against terror, but opposed the bill because this battle must be waged “effectively and morally,” without violating fundamental rights, she said. (Ynet, Haaretz, Israel Hayom and Maariv)
- Defense Ministry to Abu Khdeir family: There is an enormous difference between Arab attacks and attacks by Jews – The response was sent to the lawyer of the family of Mohammed Abu Khdeir, the 16-year-old boy who was burned (alive) in response to the family’s request that the homes of the Jewish murderers be demolished. Family considering appealing to High Court. (Maariv)
- Jerusalem okays Jewish housing in flashpoint Palestinian neighborhood - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had sought to avert the move in order to prevent controversy in Silwan. The Ateret Cohanim nonprofit group is behind the plan, one of its latest efforts to expand the Jewish presence in the East Jerusalem neighborhood. (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
- Israel revokes VIP permit of Palestinian official - Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman cancels VIP entry permit of Mohammed Al-Madani, Palestinian Authority's outreach liaison to Israeli society, saying Al-Madani engaged in "subversive political activities." Al-Madani denies the accusation. Yedioth questions move, calling Al-Madani 'moderate.' (Haaretz+ and Israel Hayom)
- US ambassador: Obama working to thwart boycott - US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro spoke at the 2016 Herzliya Conference, saying, 'Others may advocate boycotting Israel, but we are doing the exact opposite' Shapiro expressed US's solidarity with Sarona Market victims. (Ynet)
- Citing 'Dictatorship,' Israeli Artist Wants His Work Removed From the Knesset - Dani Karavan, who designed the wall that serves as the backdrop to those addressing parliament, says he has repeatedly asked that his art be removed until the Knesset reflects 'the spirit of the Declaration of Independence.' (Haaretz)
- Cyberattacks on Israel Rose Exponentially in Past Four Years - eLoan seeks Tel Aviv Stock Exchange listing; Landa Digitial printing lands 450 million euros in orders; Phoenix in joint venture with Arkin to invest in pharmaceutical startups. (Haaretz)
- Israeli interior minister pledges greater funding for Arab towns - Arye Dery says the Arabs are integrating, adding that ‘in Sweden there’s a greater identification with the Islamic State than in Israel.’ (Haaretz+)
- New bill to expand presidential pardons to guilds' disciplinary tribunals - The minister of justice has submitted a new bill that would enable the president of the state to wield his power of clemency over sanctions cast by professional tribunals; another bill submitted would allow appeals courts to add prison terms to convictions. (Ynet)
- A terrorist's mother makes 'V' sign at site of attack - Parents of Muhannad Halabi, who murdered two Jews in Jerusalem's Old City in October, visit site of attack. Jerusalem organization calls on state to "do something about the glorification of terrorists by their families," including barring such visits. (Israel Hayom)
- A Short Visit by the Netanyahus to New York Cost Israeli Taxpayers Over $1.7 Million - Details of the costs of the prime minister's hairstyling, wine and laundry during the UN General Assembly revealed following a lengthy battle under the Freedom of Information Law. (Haaretz)
- Middle Eastern Youth to Gather for Fifth Online Peace Conference - The group's growth shows that most young people in the Middle East detest extremism and just want 'a normal life,' says Uri Savir, a former Israeli peace negotiator. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Key Witness in French Tycoon's Fraud Case Is Holed Up in Tel Aviv Flat - Haaretz-Mediapart probe traces moves of Jeremy Grinholz, alleged major cog in French case involving Arnaud Mimran dubbed 'sting of the century.' (Haaretz)
- Iraq plans to sue Israel over 1981 nuclear reactor bombing - Iraq's parliament has been working on initial steps for demanding compensation from Israel for several years. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Kerry Ready to Review Iran's Sanction Relief Complaints - U.S. administration had lived up to both the letter and the spirit of the agreement and had gone the extra mile to explain to foreign firms what they are now permitted to do, Kerry says. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- ISIS Twitter Accounts Hacked and Replaced With Gay Porn 'For Orlando' - Pro-ISIS content on the hacked Twitter accounts was replaced with messages such as “I’m gay and proud” and “Out and proud.” (Haaretz)
Features:
**Jewish woman may have been aunt of Sarona terrorists
An Israeli Jew originally from Spain, who years ago married a family member of the Sarona terrorists, recounts her experience with Khaled and Mohammed Makhamra, who carried out the attack; she explains how the two terrorists are not the first to dress like Haredim to deceive Israelis. (Elior Levy, Yedioth/Ynet)
New Community Sets Sights on Young Israelis Who Left the Orthodox Fold
Neveh Dror in the West Bank targets people who want to maintain a connection to religious life while living among Jews with a more take-it-easy lifestyle. (Judy Maltz, Haaretz+)
Tank for a souvenir
This week was the 34th anniversary of the cursed battle at Sultan Yaakub. Yonatan Hilleli returned to one of the symbols of the first Lebanon War and brought the full story of the tank that Putin decided to return to Israel. (Yonatan Hilleli, Maariv’s Magazine supplement, cover)
Back to Entebbe: Former Israeli hostage reveals diary
Sarah Davidson and her family were on a bar mitzvah trip when their flight was hijacked and flown to Entebbe, Uganda • Forty years later, she is still awed by the daring Israeli rescue: "Words cannot describe how I felt. Our heroes made it all the way." (Eran Navon, Israel Hayom)
Israeli Druze women seeking to break into workforce face catch-22
Most of Druze women who do work are employed in teaching and education, with very few in other fields. The focus on the education field perpetuates high unemployment and low salaries. (Janan Bsoul, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
Lieberman's Defense Ministry takes harsher tone, and IDF better prepare (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Though Lieberman has yet to implement any new measures, his ministry's new doctrine has marked the Palestinian president as Israel's main problem and is talking of war in Gaza as 'inevitable.'
The global lone-wolf Intifada: Terrorism of individuals is not an Israeli phenomenon (Shmuel Rosner, Maariv) The new wave of attacks adapts itself to the violent era of the internet discourse. The United States and Europe will have to get used to and adapt to a new reality that requires new tools.
On Copycats and the Escalation of Conflict (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) Both Israelis and Palestinians have their reasons for emulating violence in this lone-wolf uprising.
The IDF response in Yatta (the town of the Tel-Aviv attackers) - Punishment to the whole area does not change the existing situation (Ran Edelist, Maariv) I do not know what was Lieberman's contribution to the IDF response in the Hebron-area town, but this is, a “reaction” that does not lower or increase by one iota the situation, which is continuous blood-letting.
Quiet Please - There's a Burial of a Terror Victim in Progress (Yossi Klein, Haaretz+) Everyone knows that another attack is only a question of time. It will come because nothing will be done in order to prevent it.
Risky game: Netanyahu is upsetting Obama (Yossi Melman, Maariv) The Prime Minister is playing with fire at the expense of the interests of Israel. The American president is willing to increase aid, but met with resistance from those who intentionally annoyed him.
On the US military aid – Obama is changing the rules of the game (Alex Fishman, Yedioth) In regards to Israel, which was accustomed to special and exceptional behavior, both in regards to military aid and in the flexibility of Congress’ attitude, Obama’s message is: you are still the favorite son, but a spoiled and annoying child and the time has come to set borders. And so that no mistake is made, the problem is not the money. The negotiations over the aid is political. The Israeli confrontational policy in recent years, which also dragged with it personal strained relations, inevitably affects the generosity on the Israeli side.
Nobel Laureate's Love of Israel Has Become a Tormented One, Thanks to the Occupation (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) The road Peruvian novelist Mario Vargas Llosa has taken with Israel is a sad mirror image of the country's deterioration.
To Complete His Legacy, Obama Needs a New Direction on Israel-Palestine (Ari Shavit, Haaretz+) In navigating his ship of state, the U.S. president has made many historic achievements. The only international issue he has utterly failed on is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Enemies of peace: The Oslo Camp is guilty of the chronic illness of terror (Nadav Haetzni, Maariv) The responsibility for not destroying the kingdom of incitement should not be removed from Netanyahu, but aside from the murderers themselves, the Oslo camp is guilty of the bereavement and the terror. And its guilt is many times more today because it refuses to admit its mistakes and atone for its sins.
Israel Putting Settlements Before Culture (Haaretz Editorial) Culture Ministry's change in criteria for allocating state funds to cultural institutions is an infringement on the central democratic concept of freedom of expression.
If Orlando Terrorism Can Be Covered Without Bloody Images, Why Not in Israel? (Allison Kaplan Sommer, Haaretz+) Media coverage of the Pulse massacre managed to be compelling without showing gore or corpses. Let's learn from that.
Time to call a spade a spade (Dr. Ephraim Herrera, Israel Hayom) When will the West acknowledge radical Islamic terrorism for what it is?
After Orlando, Who Dares Contradict Trump, the West's Shining Knight? (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) It's as if Omar Mateen, beyond being a despicable murderer, finally liberated the United States, and not only it, from the shackles of political politeness.
#VoteLeave vs #StrongerIn: What's at Stake for Israel if Britain Leaves the EU (Azriel Bermant, Haaretz+) Israel’s nationalist camp, long suspicious of, if not hostile to, the European Union’s attempts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, would - unwisely - celebrate Britain leaving the EU.
An Israeli Jew originally from Spain, who years ago married a family member of the Sarona terrorists, recounts her experience with Khaled and Mohammed Makhamra, who carried out the attack; she explains how the two terrorists are not the first to dress like Haredim to deceive Israelis. (Elior Levy, Yedioth/Ynet)
New Community Sets Sights on Young Israelis Who Left the Orthodox Fold
Neveh Dror in the West Bank targets people who want to maintain a connection to religious life while living among Jews with a more take-it-easy lifestyle. (Judy Maltz, Haaretz+)
Tank for a souvenir
This week was the 34th anniversary of the cursed battle at Sultan Yaakub. Yonatan Hilleli returned to one of the symbols of the first Lebanon War and brought the full story of the tank that Putin decided to return to Israel. (Yonatan Hilleli, Maariv’s Magazine supplement, cover)
Back to Entebbe: Former Israeli hostage reveals diary
Sarah Davidson and her family were on a bar mitzvah trip when their flight was hijacked and flown to Entebbe, Uganda • Forty years later, she is still awed by the daring Israeli rescue: "Words cannot describe how I felt. Our heroes made it all the way." (Eran Navon, Israel Hayom)
Israeli Druze women seeking to break into workforce face catch-22
Most of Druze women who do work are employed in teaching and education, with very few in other fields. The focus on the education field perpetuates high unemployment and low salaries. (Janan Bsoul, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
Lieberman's Defense Ministry takes harsher tone, and IDF better prepare (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Though Lieberman has yet to implement any new measures, his ministry's new doctrine has marked the Palestinian president as Israel's main problem and is talking of war in Gaza as 'inevitable.'
The global lone-wolf Intifada: Terrorism of individuals is not an Israeli phenomenon (Shmuel Rosner, Maariv) The new wave of attacks adapts itself to the violent era of the internet discourse. The United States and Europe will have to get used to and adapt to a new reality that requires new tools.
On Copycats and the Escalation of Conflict (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) Both Israelis and Palestinians have their reasons for emulating violence in this lone-wolf uprising.
The IDF response in Yatta (the town of the Tel-Aviv attackers) - Punishment to the whole area does not change the existing situation (Ran Edelist, Maariv) I do not know what was Lieberman's contribution to the IDF response in the Hebron-area town, but this is, a “reaction” that does not lower or increase by one iota the situation, which is continuous blood-letting.
Quiet Please - There's a Burial of a Terror Victim in Progress (Yossi Klein, Haaretz+) Everyone knows that another attack is only a question of time. It will come because nothing will be done in order to prevent it.
Risky game: Netanyahu is upsetting Obama (Yossi Melman, Maariv) The Prime Minister is playing with fire at the expense of the interests of Israel. The American president is willing to increase aid, but met with resistance from those who intentionally annoyed him.
On the US military aid – Obama is changing the rules of the game (Alex Fishman, Yedioth) In regards to Israel, which was accustomed to special and exceptional behavior, both in regards to military aid and in the flexibility of Congress’ attitude, Obama’s message is: you are still the favorite son, but a spoiled and annoying child and the time has come to set borders. And so that no mistake is made, the problem is not the money. The negotiations over the aid is political. The Israeli confrontational policy in recent years, which also dragged with it personal strained relations, inevitably affects the generosity on the Israeli side.
Nobel Laureate's Love of Israel Has Become a Tormented One, Thanks to the Occupation (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) The road Peruvian novelist Mario Vargas Llosa has taken with Israel is a sad mirror image of the country's deterioration.
To Complete His Legacy, Obama Needs a New Direction on Israel-Palestine (Ari Shavit, Haaretz+) In navigating his ship of state, the U.S. president has made many historic achievements. The only international issue he has utterly failed on is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Enemies of peace: The Oslo Camp is guilty of the chronic illness of terror (Nadav Haetzni, Maariv) The responsibility for not destroying the kingdom of incitement should not be removed from Netanyahu, but aside from the murderers themselves, the Oslo camp is guilty of the bereavement and the terror. And its guilt is many times more today because it refuses to admit its mistakes and atone for its sins.
Israel Putting Settlements Before Culture (Haaretz Editorial) Culture Ministry's change in criteria for allocating state funds to cultural institutions is an infringement on the central democratic concept of freedom of expression.
If Orlando Terrorism Can Be Covered Without Bloody Images, Why Not in Israel? (Allison Kaplan Sommer, Haaretz+) Media coverage of the Pulse massacre managed to be compelling without showing gore or corpses. Let's learn from that.
Time to call a spade a spade (Dr. Ephraim Herrera, Israel Hayom) When will the West acknowledge radical Islamic terrorism for what it is?
After Orlando, Who Dares Contradict Trump, the West's Shining Knight? (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) It's as if Omar Mateen, beyond being a despicable murderer, finally liberated the United States, and not only it, from the shackles of political politeness.
#VoteLeave vs #StrongerIn: What's at Stake for Israel if Britain Leaves the EU (Azriel Bermant, Haaretz+) Israel’s nationalist camp, long suspicious of, if not hostile to, the European Union’s attempts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, would - unwisely - celebrate Britain leaving the EU.
Interviews:
Polish Foreign Minister: There's more to us than the Holocaust
Witold Waszczykowski recently gave an interview on the occasion of his visit to Israel, expressing his beliefs that Russia is provoking Europe, that a Britain-free EU would be bad, and that Iran can aid in creating regional peace. (Interviewed by Eldad Beck in Yedioth/Ynet)
Polish Foreign Minister: There's more to us than the Holocaust
Witold Waszczykowski recently gave an interview on the occasion of his visit to Israel, expressing his beliefs that Russia is provoking Europe, that a Britain-free EU would be bad, and that Iran can aid in creating regional peace. (Interviewed by Eldad Beck in Yedioth/Ynet)
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.