APN's daily news review from Israel
Thursday July 21, 2016
Quote of the day:
"[Mahmoud] Darwish is like the [Chaim Nahum] Bialik of the Palestinians. He is a figure that the
Arab-Israelis really identify with. At our high school I did a project where I taught both about the poet [Darwish]
and about other Arab and Palestinian writers. But that is unusual and it is not easy to teach Jewish pupils about
Arab writers. My students initially objected to learn about the identity of the Other and to learn the works of
non-Jews. But they went through a process of getting to know that there is another narrative and other quality
poets and authors, Arabs.”
--A Jewish Israeli literature teacher at a high school in Holon tells Maariv about the importance of teaching Mamoud Darwish's works to Jewish students.*
--A Jewish Israeli literature teacher at a high school in Holon tells Maariv about the importance of teaching Mamoud Darwish's works to Jewish students.*
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Habayit Hayehudi and Kulanu parties: Netanyahu cannot postpone by a year the operation of the Public Broadcasting Corp
- The Knesset approved finally the law that will allow the expulsion of MKs
- 2000 police will secure the Jerusalem gay pride parade today
- Erdogan: It’s possible that foreign countries aided in the coup attempt
- Asylum seeker from Ivory Coast held in an Israeli jail for a decade because he doesn’t agree to return to his country
- In Poland, calls to open mass grave of Jews to determine who were the murderers
- Important parade // Haaretz Editorial
- Shenkar art school will establish an ‘Ethics Council’ that will approve controversial works of students
Yedioth Ahronoth
- Battle over the (opening of the) Public Broadcasting Corp.: Kahlon vs. Netanyahu: There won’t be any postponement
- (Netanyahu) lost the brakes // Sima Kadmon
- The Darwish storm – Attorney General told Defense Minister Lieberman: You are prohibited from intervening in the content of Army Radio broadcasts
- Jerusalem [gay pride] parade
- Doesn’t apologize – Gidi Orsher raises the fire and declares that his critics are “sub-contractors of discrimination, like ISIS”
- “Scared that the [Army Radio] station will be closed”
- [Army Radio] More essential than ever // Avi Benayahu
- The [Jerusalem gay pride] parade and the fear
- “I copied from Michelle Obama’s speech for Melania Trump”
- Anger at State Prosecutor’s office over change in opinion in favor of Katsav; Decision over his [early] release was postponed
Israel Hayom
- Alertness ahead of the [Jerusalem gay pride] parade
- Netanyahu: “Free press? So why did they want to shut down ‘Israel Hayom’?”
- Official: Trump is the candidate for the presidency; His opponents also joined in
- The convention center was shaking from the applause and the media looked askance // Amos Regev in Cleveland
- Mystery in the Knesset: Who forgot a bag of marijuana in the bathroom?
- After 49 years of disconnect: diplomatic relations with Guinea were renewed
- Stays in jail, in the meantime: Decision to release Katsav was postponed to July 31
News Summary:
Limits to freedom of speech and the consequences were top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers. Israeli ministers blasted Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's delay to the opening of the new public broadcasting, while Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman called in the head of Army Radio to blast him for a program about national Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, and Culture Minister Miri Regev sought to cut-off state funding for the Tel Aviv Cinematheque because of an event about IDF conscientious objectors. At the same time, the army demanded that Rabbi Yigal Levinstein retract his statements against homosexuals just as the gay pride parade takes place today in Jerusalem under heavy security.
Ministers spoke out against Netanyahu’s decision to delay the launch of the new public broadcasting corporation, a move which some believed was meant to weaken public broadcasting and keep a lid on the establishment.
Lieberman called in the director of Army Radio for a meeting today to rap him for a program about the Palestinian Poet Mahmoud Darwish. Lieberman said Darwish’s works “are still used as fuel for terror attacks against Israel.” Army Radio employees told Maariv they were worried that the station would be closed. But Lieberman was criticized for his intervention. The Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit told Lieberman he cannot interfere in the radio programming content. Lieberman’s predecessor, Moshe Ya’alon, criticized the Soviet-born politician 'for trying to turn Army Radio into Pravda'. Israeli poet Haim Gouri asked: “Doesn’t Defense Minister Lieberman have work to do?" Gouri slammed Lieberman for calling in the director saying, "This is a scandal that will not pass quietly." (Maariv) Meanwhile, the papers noted that Mahmoud Darwish’s poetry is being taught in Israeli schools, and that Darwish is even mentioned in the controversial new civics textbook. Maariv interviewed Israeli literature teachers who spoke, without giving their names, about how important Darwish’s work were both because of the quality of the poetry and the way he teaches the narrative of the ‘Other.’ Haaretz provided one of Darwish’s most famous poems, ‘ID Card,’ which angered both Lieberman and Culture Minister Miri Regev. And, Regev asked the Attorney General if the state may withhold funds from the Tel Aviv Cinematheque on grounds it is ‘hosting an illegal event,’ an event for conscientious objectors.
Meanwhile, the army is also seeking clarifications from Rabbi Yigal Levinstein, the head of a military-yeshiva academy in Eli settlement, who called gay people perverts. But 250 Israeli rabbis publicly backed Levinstein in a petition and slammed 'attempts to silence Levinstein. But the Defense Ministry will make clear to Lowenstein that he either apologizes for his words or lose the defense ministry funding for the military-yeshiva he heads. (Maariv)
Meanwhile, the Jerusalem Police commander said the Gay Pride Parade takes place as planned today, despite threats from radical religious Jewish groups. Some 2000 police will guard the parade. Last year, a 16-year-old girl was murdered at the parade by a religious man. Yet the Mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat, refused to participate in the parade, saying he did not want to offend religious Jews. A gay couple will marry at the parade today in response to Barkat’s no-show.
Quick Hits:
- Year after [Jewish] arson attack in Palestinian village that killed his family, 6-year-old boy goes home - Ahmad Dawabsheh sustained burns to 60% of his body in the firebombing by Jewish terrorists that killed his parents and younger brother. He continues to wear a pressure suit to treat the burn scars. Grandfather Hussein Dawabsheh, who will raise him, thanked the hospital staff and said: "He isn't excited about going home. You're excited when you know you're going home to mom and dad and your house." (Israel Hayom and Yedioth, p. 27)
- Year after Duma killings, Palestinians report fresh firebomb attack - Relative of Dawabshe family lightly hurt as home set ablaze in West Bank village; Palestinians blame Jewish terrorists, Israeli officials say fire may have been result of a rivalry between various clans in the West Bank village. (Times of Israel, i24News and Maan)
- 12-year-old Palestinian boy laid to rest a day after being killed in al-Ram - Israeli police denied using live fire during the clashes in which Muhyee Sidqi al-Tibakhi, 12, was killed, claiming that his death may have been the result of a “local dispute.” (Maan)
- Funeral held for 22-year-old Palestinian killed by Israeli troops during al-Ram raid - Anwar Falah Al-Salaymeh, 22, was killed by Israeli forces on July 13 in the town of al-Ram in the West Bank district of Jerusalem, when he and two friends driving in the area stumbled upon an ongoing Israeli army raid in the area. (Maan)
- Israeli forces shoot, injure Palestinian farmer in central Gaza - The 33-year-old man was hit by a rubber-coated steel bullet while working on his agricultural land near the Israeli border. (Maan)
- Israeli forces detain 4 Gaza fishermen - Israeli naval ships obstructed a fishing boat sailing off the coast and detained four fishermen who were on board. Israeli forces regularly detain Palestinian fisherman off the coast of Gaza working within the fishing zone, generally for alleged security reasons. (Maan)
- Israel demolishes Palestinian graves in East Jerusalem - Employees of Israel’s Nature and Parks Authority reportedly demolished Palestinian graves at the Bal al-Rahma cemetery in occupied East Jerusalem on Tuesday. (Maan)
- Israeli forces demolish Palestinian structures in Jerusalem for second consecutive day - Kamal Abu Sneina added that he was not given the opportunity to empty the structures and vehicles of his belongings before they were destroyed. (Maan)
- Report: IAF attacks Syrian target - A German report quoted a Syrian security official claiming an Israeli jet attacked positions in the Golan Wednesday, killing one and injuring others; Hezbollah denies the veracity of report, positing that explosion was caused by al-Qaeda in Syria. (Ynet)
- Dog tag saves soldier from likely errant bullet near Lebanon border - Fragment from bullet ricochet strikes soldier's chest at IDF outpost near Metula. Fragment blocked by metal ID tag, resulting in minor injury. Rockets strike Syrian town near Golan Heights -- Syrian rebels blame Israel, Hezbollah points to al-Qaida. (Israel Hayom)
- Netanyahu visits construction site of new separation barrier in Hebron - The 42-kilometer security barrier will extend from the illegal Israeli settlement of Meitar in the south to the Palestinian village of Turkamiya in the western part of Hebron, according to Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post. The project is expected to take a year to complete. (Maan)
- Joint List to act abroad against impeachment law: “A level of apartheid” - The faction announced that it will contact the international organization of parliaments for it to pressure the Knesset and the government to repeal the law and to protect Arab Knesset members from political persecution. (Maariv)
- Hundreds of Canadian and American immigrants move to Israel - 218 Olim moved to Israel to fulfill the Zionist dream; 'I thought about it for 50 years and now I am finally here,' says Elain from New Jersey; Immigrants greeted by Minister of Immigrant Absorption and by dozens of Israelis. (Ynet and Israel Hayom)
- Bereaved families protest release of bus bombing accomplice - Bereaved father Yossi Tzur: How can Mounir Rajbi return to Haifa, the place where the bereaved families can run into him on a daily basis and see the murderer of their children living, having a family, free from any restrictions? (Israel Hayom)
- Knesset rejected a bill requiring marking subliminal ad placement in the media - "Members of Knesset, even in my camp, did not vote in favor of the law because they have a dark deal with certain media outlets," said MK Miki Rosenthal (Zionist Camp), who proposed the bill. "Some MKs aren't working for the public, they are working to get elected again and for that you need a connection to the media outlets...in exchange you get positive and too much media coverage." The bill also proposed stopping subliminal advertising content of political sources. Habayit Hayehudi MKs strongly opposed the law, and it didn't pass. (Army Radio Online Hebrew and Maariv, p. 4)
- Israel and Guinea announce diplomatic relations - The Muslim sub-Saharan state of Guinea opened up diplomatic relations with Israel for the first time on Wednesday in a bi-lateral agreement signed in Paris. (Ynet)
- Kenyan-born runner going the distance for Israel - Marathon runner Lonah Chemtai, who first came to Israel to care for the children of the Kenyan ambassador, will represent Israel at the 2016 Rio Olympics after receiving Israeli citizenship earlier this year. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Mighty Fortifications Found by Archaeologists Show Kingdom of Geshur More Powerful Than Thought - Vast 6-meter thick fortress walls and huge towers uncovered at Bethsaida, Galilee show the might of the Geshurite kingdom around 2700 years ago. (Haaretz+)
- Book donated by President Rivlin reveals Persian-Jewish treasures - Rivlin presented the 19th-century manuscript, which belonged to his father, to the National Library three months ago. Volume includes previously unknown poems, being scanned and posted online. Poems will provide scholars with new research material. (Israel Hayom)
- EU eyes Israeli technologies for spotting terrorists online - At conference in Tel Aviv, EU Counterterrorism Coordinator Gilles de Kerchove says Israeli companies could help the states sift through massive databases to detect lone-wolf terrorists. He warns that new means could put EU privacy laws to the test. (Israel Hayom)
- Syrian Rebels Investigating Child Beheading by Group Member - Video footage circulated of a boy being killed prompted the investigation by U.S. backed Syrian rebel group. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- BDS Efforts Reportedly Cause Spanish City to Lose Tel Aviv Flight - The capital city's far-left ruling party was accused of sabotaging talks with El Al as a direct result of the boycott motion; center-right opponents condemn 'anti-Semitic overtones' and the blown opportunity for the tourism economy. (JTA, Haaretz)
Features:
Evangelical-funded Rabbi Aims for Slice of Jewish Donor Business
In new fundraising strategy, Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein and his International Fellowship of Christians and Jews will, for the first time, compete with federations for Jewish charity dollars. (Judy Maltz, Haaretz+)
Exclusive excerptHow Bobby Kennedy cemented his relationship with U.S. Jews
In his new book, author Larry Tye reveals how Robert F. Kennedy escaped the anti-Semitic shadow of his father and came to be seen as one of America’s strongest supporters of Jewish causes, and of Israel, before being assassinated in 1968. (Larry Tye, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
In new fundraising strategy, Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein and his International Fellowship of Christians and Jews will, for the first time, compete with federations for Jewish charity dollars. (Judy Maltz, Haaretz+)
Exclusive excerptHow Bobby Kennedy cemented his relationship with U.S. Jews
In his new book, author Larry Tye reveals how Robert F. Kennedy escaped the anti-Semitic shadow of his father and came to be seen as one of America’s strongest supporters of Jewish causes, and of Israel, before being assassinated in 1968. (Larry Tye, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
Come and March in Jerusalem's Pride Parade (Haaretz Editorial) Jerusalem's mayor must know that his absence and resulting support
for those who call gays 'perverts' is not legitimate.
Netanyahu in his element (Aviad Kleinberg, Yedioth/Ynet) The opposition had a golden opportunity to ask the prime minister hard and probing questions this week, but squandered it by being disorganized and allowing him to easily dismiss the serious issues they raised.
Freedom of Faith: The debate over the Gay Pride Parade is a deeper debate over the freedom of expression (Avihu Sofer, Maariv) Israeli society has different views and beliefs, and as long as no harm is done – both the rabbis and the pride parade marchers are allowed to speak and say what they please. The debate here does not end on the debate on freedom of expression and about what it allows. It is deeper and relates to the question of where we want to evolve as a society, or how to maintain a society in which individuals are very different from each other and contribute, each in from his uniqueness…while maintaining the common thread that unites between its details?
Secular People, Gays and Arabs Don't Have Feelings in Israel (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) I’m offended to the depths of my soul by what is done here in my name every day, but being neither religious nor right-wing, on one cares about offending my sensibilities.
Challenging the boundaries of discourse: the relationship between Rabbi Levinstein and Donald Trump (Shmuel Rosner, Maariv) Like the presidential candidate Donald Trump, Rabbi Yigal Levinstein thought that when he broke the rules and said the truth, it would turn out that his view is the one held by the silent majority, who is afraid to speak. Whether Trump was right or night in his assessment we will find out in November. In the case of Levinstein, it appears we already know.
Trumpistas Stumping for White Privilege? In Israel They’re Called Leftists (Gershom Gorenberg, Haaretz+) Who thinks the country has slipped out of the hands of its rightful owners and political correctness has run amok? The American right – and the Israeli left.
Do not broadcast the enemy's message (Dr. Haim Shine, Israel Hayom) A military radio station should not involve itself in politics, and it should certainly not serve as a platform for the enemy.
Despite the blowing winds - Army Radio Station is more vital than ever (Avi Benayahu, Maariv) I do not know what the Defense Ministry Director, who is currently examining the issue of the Army Radio station, will recommend about its status…or what Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman will decide. In any case, the closure of Army Radio will harm the public interest.
Whether You're an Evangelical or a Rabbi, 'Religious Freedom' Is No Excuse for Homophobia (Allison Kaplan Sommer, Haaretz+) From Donald Trump’s VP pick Mike Pence to Israeli Rabbi Yigal Levinstein, free expression and religious liberty are clashing with the protection of the civil rights of LGBT citizens.
Relationship of younger generation of American Jews with Israel eroding (Ned L. Siegel, Yedioth/Ynet) As the perception of Israel changes among young US Jews in light of its policies, it's going to become harder to mobilize in support of Israel as it fights international battles against BDS and attempts to isolate it.
No, Haaretz. Permitting a Nude Painting of Shaked Is Not a Legitimate Form of Opposition (Orit Kamir, Haaretz+) Haaretz's editors don't agree with Shaked politically, but is her human dignity to be smeared in an unrestrained attempt to humiliate her?
Netanyahu in his element (Aviad Kleinberg, Yedioth/Ynet) The opposition had a golden opportunity to ask the prime minister hard and probing questions this week, but squandered it by being disorganized and allowing him to easily dismiss the serious issues they raised.
Freedom of Faith: The debate over the Gay Pride Parade is a deeper debate over the freedom of expression (Avihu Sofer, Maariv) Israeli society has different views and beliefs, and as long as no harm is done – both the rabbis and the pride parade marchers are allowed to speak and say what they please. The debate here does not end on the debate on freedom of expression and about what it allows. It is deeper and relates to the question of where we want to evolve as a society, or how to maintain a society in which individuals are very different from each other and contribute, each in from his uniqueness…while maintaining the common thread that unites between its details?
Secular People, Gays and Arabs Don't Have Feelings in Israel (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) I’m offended to the depths of my soul by what is done here in my name every day, but being neither religious nor right-wing, on one cares about offending my sensibilities.
Challenging the boundaries of discourse: the relationship between Rabbi Levinstein and Donald Trump (Shmuel Rosner, Maariv) Like the presidential candidate Donald Trump, Rabbi Yigal Levinstein thought that when he broke the rules and said the truth, it would turn out that his view is the one held by the silent majority, who is afraid to speak. Whether Trump was right or night in his assessment we will find out in November. In the case of Levinstein, it appears we already know.
Trumpistas Stumping for White Privilege? In Israel They’re Called Leftists (Gershom Gorenberg, Haaretz+) Who thinks the country has slipped out of the hands of its rightful owners and political correctness has run amok? The American right – and the Israeli left.
Do not broadcast the enemy's message (Dr. Haim Shine, Israel Hayom) A military radio station should not involve itself in politics, and it should certainly not serve as a platform for the enemy.
Despite the blowing winds - Army Radio Station is more vital than ever (Avi Benayahu, Maariv) I do not know what the Defense Ministry Director, who is currently examining the issue of the Army Radio station, will recommend about its status…or what Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman will decide. In any case, the closure of Army Radio will harm the public interest.
Whether You're an Evangelical or a Rabbi, 'Religious Freedom' Is No Excuse for Homophobia (Allison Kaplan Sommer, Haaretz+) From Donald Trump’s VP pick Mike Pence to Israeli Rabbi Yigal Levinstein, free expression and religious liberty are clashing with the protection of the civil rights of LGBT citizens.
Relationship of younger generation of American Jews with Israel eroding (Ned L. Siegel, Yedioth/Ynet) As the perception of Israel changes among young US Jews in light of its policies, it's going to become harder to mobilize in support of Israel as it fights international battles against BDS and attempts to isolate it.
No, Haaretz. Permitting a Nude Painting of Shaked Is Not a Legitimate Form of Opposition (Orit Kamir, Haaretz+) Haaretz's editors don't agree with Shaked politically, but is her human dignity to be smeared in an unrestrained attempt to humiliate her?
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.