News Nosh 07.05.16

APN's daily news review from Israel
Tuesday July 05, 2016
 
Quote of the day:
"The world has a goal of establishing Palestinian contiguity from Bethlehem...What we want, though, is exactly the opposite: We want to establish contiguity from Talpiot to Gilo in order to keep Jerusalem united."
--Education Minister Naftali Bennett slams the extraordinary approval by the Prime Minister to build homes for Arabs in the strategic location of 'Givat Hamatos,' which would allow Arab contiguity from Bethlehem to southern Arab neighborhoods that are over the Green Line.**


Front Page:
Haaretz
Yedioth Ahronoth
  • Facebook law
  • Dozens of MKs signed: “We will boycott (MK) Haneen Zoabi”
  • (Tycoon) Dankner was convicted
  • Africa Israel – PM Netanyahu participated in ceremony marking 40 years since Entebbe Operation at Uganda Airport 
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
  • Prime Minister in Uganda: Continuing to fight terror
  • We returned to Entebbe // MK Omer Bar-Lev
  • In Habayit Hayehudi and Likud, they attacked construction of 600 housing units for Palestinians in [E.] Jerusalem: “The city will be divided”
  • Dankner convicted of stock manipulation
  • The last tycoon // Yehuda Sharoni
  • ISIS at Sarona entertainment area – Indictment against terrorists who made attack in Tel-Aviv…
Israel Hayom
  • I am moved to be standing in the place where my brother Yoni fell”
  • “Dankner knew his acts were criminal – and he disregarded
  • “Mom, dad was murdered in the attack”
  • IDF responded by shooting at Syria, but last night: Another ‘spillover’ into the Golan Heights
  • Agreement with the Finance Ministry ended: Holocaust survivors will continue to wait for their stipends
  • MP that allowed a party for his soldiers with “The Shadow” without informing his commanders – sent to 4 days in jail

News Summary:
On the first day of his Africa visit, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was ‘moved’ by the Entebbe 40th anniversary ceremony in Uganda and reminded the world that 'The campaign against terrorism continues to this very day,” an Israeli tycoon was convicted of being a cheat and a storm broke over the decision to approve housing for Palestinians in a strategic location in E. Jerusalem. Some Hebrew reporters did their homework and found the Palestinians who were first to rescue and give aid to the settler family, that was injured in a shooting attack on a road.
 
**Both Minister of Jerusalem Affairs Ze'ev Elkin (Likud) and Education Minister Naftali Bennett slammed Netanyahu’s extraordinary decision to include approval to build 600 housing units for Arabs in the announcement to approve 800 for Jews. The location of the approved Arab homes is in Givat Hamatos, a small but strategic piece of land which either blocks or connects Palestinian contiguity from Bethlehem to southern Arab neighborhoods over the Green Line, depending on who goes to live there. However, Meretz leader MK Zehava Gal-On slammed the decision to build 800 housing units for Jews in response to the recent attacks calling it "a cynical exploitation of the situation to expand settlement construction and prevent, as the Quartet warned, any possibility of a peace agreement with the Palestinians based on the principle of two states. The announcement that housing units would be constructed for Palestinians, too, is a mockery." And (surprisingly), Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon, chairman of the centrist Kulanu party, called to increase construction for Jews in E. Jerusalem and in the settlements in light of the wave of terror in recent days.

More details have been revealed about what happened immediately after the Palestinian shooting attack on a settler family in the Hebron area of the West Bank. There were two cars of Palestinians who stopped to help the family of Michael Mark, who was killed in the attack. First, a former security prisoner in an Israeli jail helped get the two children out of the back seat. "I did what I did out of humanity," the unnamed Palestinian man told Channel 2 News. "There were children inside. There were people inside. I didn't hesitate at all.” Then Dr. Ali Abu Sharkh, a Palestinian doctor driving by stopped and gave first aid to Mark's wife and sent a message to the couple's children via Ynet’s Elior Levy who tracked him down and interviewed him. Yesterday, the children told their wounded mother that their father was murdered.
 
Quick Hits:
  • Foreign Funds at Center of New Police Investigation Against Netanyahu - Channel 2 report says the money transfers under examination took place since Netanyahu resumed office in 2009. (Haaretz)
  • IDF attacks two Syrian army targets - Gun shots fired at the security fence on the northern border prompt reaction from IDF against two Syrian army targets: 'We are not involved in the fighting in Syria but will defend ourselves against any unusual incidents.' (Ynet)
  • New Regulations Allow Israel Police to Respond to Stone-throwing, Firecrackers With Live Fire - Previously classified rules were loosened in December in response to East Jerusalem violence. (Haaretz+) 
  • Livni says British police sought to question her - The former foreign minister was summoned by the British police over her role in the 2008-2009 Operation Cast Lead in Gaza; the MK, on a private visit to London, called the non-mandatory summons 'unacceptable' and did not comply. (Agencies, Ynet
  • Suspects behind Tel Aviv attack indicted for murdering four Israelis - Palestinian trio planned to attack train as revenge for Duma arson, but changed plans after seeing metal detectors at station entrance. (Haaretz+) 
  • Palestinians behind Tel Aviv attack were inspired by ISIS, Shin Bet says - Investigation says Palestinian assailants did not receive aid or instruction from Islamic State group; Sarona was randomly chosen as a target on the day of the attack. (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
  • Palestinian incitement rife on social media  -With 80 percent of Palestinians getting their news from Facebook and Twitter, Hamas leads in exploiting those networks for explaining how best to stab and glorifying 'martyrs.' (Ynet)
  • Clashes in West Bank as Israel cracks down on Palestinian assailants' families, IDF demolish terrorists' homes, arrest brothers of Hallel Ariel's killerֿ - Troops face violence in Qalandiya and Dura as they demolish homes of Jaffa Gate terrorists and arrest brothers of Hallel Yafa Ariel's murderer; Several other Palestinians arrested and six wounded during clashes. (Ynet and Haaretz+)
  • Born hours after the burial, a new baby named after Hallel Ariel - The Gellars' seventh child was born on Saturday night; good friends of the Ariel family, whose daughter Hallel was murdered in her bed overnight Wednesday, the Gellars named their daughter Karmi Hallel. (Ynet
  • Despite losing eye, man who fought terrorist remains upbeat - "I love my people and the Land of Israel; this is who I am, this is my life's mission, and I don't need anything else," says Shuki Gilboa, who was seriously injured when confronting a terrorist last week. His wife, Shulamit, vows to "continue fighting." (Israel Hayom
  • Wife of terror victim shows signs of improvement - After a deadly terror attack snatched her husband from her and left her in serious condition, Chava Mark is beginning to show signs of recovery. Her children cite miracles, prayer and the work of their father from heaven as cause of the recovery; 'Friends, this is a miracle thanks to your prayers,' says daughter. (Ynet
  • PA: Netanyahu doesn't condemn Israel's killings of innocent Palestinians - Sources close to Abbas says Israel is too busy worrying about PA not condemning recent terror attacks instead of preventing them. (Haaretz+) 
  • IDF commander jailed for inviting radical right-wing rapper to army party - Company commander was sentenced to a week in military prison, but then dropped to four days, after surprising troops with appearance of the rapper 'The Shadow,” without informing his superiors. ‘The Shadow’ is associated with radical right wing groups and has an active social media presence by which he spreads his views, which have been criticized by many as racist and inciting. (INN and Ynet Hebrew
  • Likud fires back at Yedioth over efforts to mar PM's Africa trip - Likud post, shared on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Facebook page, accuses Israeli paper Yedioth Ahronoth of deceptively reporting "wastefulness" of historic trip to Africa • The costs stem mainly from security, medical necessities, party explains. (Israel Hayom)
  • Coalition Reportedly Weighing Plan to Stave Off Evacuation of West Bank Settlement Outpost - Likud MK suggests offering state land to Palestinian owners in exchange for the Amona outpost. (Haaretz+) 
  • Money to banks in Gaza: details of reconciliation deal with Turkey revealed -  State responds to High Court petition against Turkey deal. (Ynet Hebrew and Ynet English)
  • Terms of Israel-Turkey deal condition Gaza aid on calm  - Agreement links Ankara's aid program to the Palestinians on "a prolonged calm in the area." Deal "fully releases the State of Israel ... from any and all liability or legal claim, be it civil or criminal" filed in Turkey over the 2010 Marmara raid. (Israel Hayom)
  • Pro-BDS groups in Israel receive foreign funding, report finds - NGO Monitor says that of 398 nongovernmental organizations operating in Israel, only 185 comply with financial transparency guidelines on foreign funding. Over 50% of foreign donations go to groups with clear anti-Zionist agenda, report finds. (Israel Hayom)
  • Israeli Defense Industry Warns of Layoffs if U.S. Changes Military Aid Rules - Industry sources say the move could also impair development of new technologies in Israel. (Haaretz+)
  • Ex-N.Y. mayor Giuliani on U.S. aid to Israel: 'Any president would be better than Obama' - The former mayor, a supporter of Donald Trump, warns that Clinton “would not be particularly good for Israel” because “She would cave in to the left wing of her party.” (Haaretz)
  • Prestigious travel magazine dubs Tel Aviv a world culinary capital - Conde Nast Traveler ranks White City's food scene alongside international cultural giants such as London, Rio de Janeiro, Sydney, and Singapore • In 2015, the magazine ran a feature calling Tel Aviv's vegetarian food "the best in the world." (Israel Hayom)
  • Archaeologists Unearth Unique 12,000-year-old Galilee Grave of Female Shaman - Well-preserved findings in burial cave from Natufian era 12,000 years ago shed light on surprisingly complex funereal rituals. (Haaretz
  • Iran: ISIS Militants Paid 600,000 Euros to Carry Out Bombings in Tehran - Two weeks ago, Iranian intelligence authorities arrested 10 militants, and seized about 100 kilograms of explosive material. (Agencies, Haaretz)
  • 167 People Killed in Two Bombings in Baghdad; ISIS Claims Responsibility - Two separate blasts come after sundown in a crowded commercial area; deadliest of the attacks is one of the worst single bombings in Iraq over more than a decade. (Agencies, Haaretz)
  • Tens of Thousands Are Starving in Syria, UN Warns - Top UN official demands immediate and unconditional humanitarian access to two towns encircled by pro-government forces, two others blocked by rebels. (Agencies, Haaretz


Features:
Will Marwan Barghouti be the Palestinian Nelson Mandela?
Nearly a decade and a half after he began serving multiple life sentences for his role in the killings of the second intifada, Marwan Barghouti is still seen – among most Palestinians, many Israelis and world leaders – as the man who could lead his people to independence. Through a mediator, Barghouti tells Haaretz that he remains a staunch proponent of the two-state solution and that he intends to run for Palestinian president should elections be held. (Gidi Weitz and Jack Khoury, Haaretz
Light in the darkness
When their children were born with severe sight problems, it took time for the parents of Lur, from an Arab family from E. Jerusalem, and David, from an ultra-Orthodox Jewish family, to deal with the shock. But in a mixed and unique kindergarten, in which the toddlers learn Arabic and Hebrew, they understood that despite the difficulties, the skies are the limit. “They are perfect together with their sight problems.” (Carmit Sapir-Weitz, Maariv)
Hijabs and Swim-skirts: Modest-fashion Sites Unite Jews, Muslims and Mormons
Surging business on Israel's ModLi site and other online marketplaces reflects global demand among Jewish and non-Jewish women alike to buy, and design, stylish but non-revealing attire. (Sara Toth Stub, Haaretz+)
 
Commentary/Analysis: 
Israel's Planned Construction Beyond the Green Line Cynically Exploits the Terror Wave (Haaretz Editorial) These are construction plans that would never have passed international muster had they not been preceded by acts of gruesome violence. 
No, Mark Zuckerberg, Tel Aviv Blood Is Not on Your Hands (Elihay Vidal, Haaretz+) Israeli minister Gilad Erdan believes Facebook should monitor itself, but he’s still living in the analog age when it comes to modern media.
The Black Continent: Who benefits from Netanyahu's widely publicized trip to Africa?  (Yitzhak Ben Ner, Maariv) After the conference of African leaders and Netanyahu, the moment they unite against Iran, ISIS and al-Qaida is just around the corner. It remains only to ask what rating the prime minister will get. 
First Signs Emerge of ISIS-inspired Lone-wolf Terrorism in Israel (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Israel's significant role in the struggle against ISIS is recognized by neighboring countries and could be one of the reasons for the improved regional relations, despite differences over the Palestinian issue. 
An incomprehensible deal (Martin Sherman, Israel Hayom) The best way to promote conditions likely to induce an authentic, durable enhancement of Israeli-Turkish relations, is to undermine Erdogan.
The Populist Right's Main Characteristic: The Desire to Silence the Forgotten People (Yitzhak Laor, Haaretz+) It seems as if the only place where there is still a left that hasn’t capitulated to the rule of ego is the Communist Party, which preserves the flame of political logic. But it’s too little.
 
Interviews:
Palestinian doctor who tried to save terror victims says he is no hero
One of the first people to arrive on the scene of Friday's terror attack on the Mark family's car was Palestinian doctor Ali Abu Sharkh; Doctor says he isn't a hero, 'just carrying out my duty.' Gave message to children of Mark family: “I want them to know I did all I could to help them.” (Interviewed by Elior Levy in Ynet)
 
Idi Amin's son: 'My dream is to meet with Entebbe victims' families to apologize'
He was raised by one of the most notorious tyrants in history, but the son of Ugandan despot Idi Amin wants to come to Israel with a conciliatory message: 'I have a list of the five Entebbe victims from Israel, and I want to meet with their families to say sorry,' says Jaffar Amin. (Interviewed by Itamar Eichner in Yedioth/Ynet)
 
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.