News Nosh 11.30.16

APN's daily news review from Israel
Wednesday November 30, 2016  
 
Quote of the day:
“Outpost legalization is not just an act of retroactive approval of facts on the ground, but it also serves as a green light for future illegal construction, out of the understanding that the government will retroactively legalize illegal construction."
-- Peace Now said in report released Tuesday about the impact of the outpost Regularization Bill being voted on in Knesset today.*


Breaking News:
Israeli Jets Attack Near Damascus, Syria Confirms; 'Hezbollah Arms Targeted'
Arab media report two sorties near Damascus; alleged attack comes days after Israel and ISIS clashed along northern border. (Haaretz, Ynet, Israel Hayom)

Front Page:
Haaretz
Yedioth Ahronoth
  • The lies and the deal – (Gen.) Ofek Buchris will admit to sex crimes – and won’t sit in jail
  • Not to be a Katsav // Yossi Yehoshua 
  • Not justice, correction // Chen Artzi-Srur
  • Kahlon: “Anyone whose home was burnt will get compensation”
  • The (police) van ran over and killed 10-year-old Chen when he was riding his bicycle
  • Winter is finally coming: rainy weekend
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
Israel Hayom
  • Buchris will admit: I committed sex crimes – on the way to a plea bargain
  • (Outpost) Regularization bill – going to first reading
  • The compensation is getting closer: Agreement between state and insurance companies
  • Coldplay on the way to a performance at Masada 
  • After the dryness and the fires – winter arrives, big time: today rainy, tomorrow storm
  • Tragedy: 10-year-old rode his bike – and was killed when hit by a police vehicle
News Summary:
A religious IDF general who was accused of raping a female officer and consistently claimed ‘he never touched that woman’ will admit to sex crimes in a plea bargain and avoid jail, and three controversial bills - outpost legalization, muezzin silencing and early childhood custody - go up for a vote today in the Knesset making top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers.
 
Ironically, yesterday, the day before the Israeli government cabinet was to discuss whether to approve a law that would make it legal to retroactively steal privately-owned Palestinian land in the West Bank for the purpose of housing Israeli settlers, was the United Nations 'International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.’ Ynet and Times of Israel noted that the President of the UN General Assembly wore a keffiyeh to mark the day. UN Chief Ban Ki-Moon called on the international community to reiterate its commitment to peace negotiations, warning that lack of progress has strengthened radicals on both sides. Israel's UN envoy slammed the event as an 'Israel-bashing festival.' And in an opinion piece published in The New York Times former US president Jimmy Carter wrote that the US must recognize Palestine before President Barack Obama leaves office. Meanwhile, Israel will mark a fairly new day of Israeli commemoration: the day of the expulsion of Jews from Arab and Muslim lands. 
 
*The Knesset is expected to approve the preliminary reading of the bill that will retroactively legalize Amona outpost – slated for destruction by December 25th – and 54 of Israel’s settlement outposts built on privately-owned Palestinian land – essentially paving the way for settlers to commit the crime in the future, Peace Now said in a report quoted in Maariv. More from the report here. Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon opposed voting in favor of the bill that rejects the High Court’s ruling so coalition chairman MK David Bitan proposed voting on two versions of the bill, which coalition sources said was intended to stall for time while alternative solutions can be sought. The Security Cabinet is to meet on Wednesday to discuss the bill and the alternative, which is supported by Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit and which entails temporarily relocated Amona residents. 
 
Ahead of the preliminary hearing today over the disputed ‘Muezzin Bill’ to silence mosque loudspeakers President Reuven Rivlin asked Minister Kahlon to oppose it. Rivlin also hosted Jewish and Muslim religious leaders in effort to promote dialogue and understanding over the work of muezzins across the country. Israel Hayom (of all papers) reported on the meeting with some very interesting quotes. Islamic Shariah Court President Sheikh Abdel al-Hakim Samara said, "We can reach a verbal agreement over a solution anywhere the loudspeakers are a problem. Solutions can be achieved even without the threat of the law looming over our heads. We all agree there is a need to lower the volume in problematic areas and we will act to ensure this, regardless of the law." And Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, Rabbi Aryeh Stern, said, "I see the need for a joint call for dialogue, which should be issued by the highest Jewish and Muslim religious leadership in the country, which in turn will possibly pull the rug out from under the need for such a bill to be passed." Arab Knesset members said that "Even if approved, the Muezzin law will not be respected, reported Maariv, which ran two Op-Eds on the subject. Ehud Rambah, chairman of the community council in Pisgat Zeev (a settlement neighborhood built over the Green Line in between Arab neighborhoods on the periphery of Jerusalem) called the muezzin’s call for prayer "vocal terrorism.” Dr. Thabet Abu Ras and Amnon Beeri-Sulitzeanu, co-executive directors of the Jewish-Arab organization The Abraham Fund Initiatives wrote that the “Whole purpose of the law is to mark the Muslim citizens as a threat, a public nuisance, undesirable. Netanyahu's insistence in promoting the harshest version indicates that this goal is important to him on a personal level.” 
 
Quick Hits:
  • Israel Fire: Police Deny Claims That Blazes Were Caused by 'Terrorism' - A dispute is brewing between the Israeli police and the national tax authority over whether any of the fires that destroyed hundreds of homes in the country last week are a result of "pyro-terrorism." In a dispute with tax authorities proposing state compensation for fire victims, police say it has not yet been determined which if any of last week's fires were caused by arson. (Haaretz+)
  • Top Israeli Justices Face War Crimes Suit in Chile for Authorizing West Bank Wall - Lawsuit made by six Palestinians from Beit Jala, near Bethlehem, whose lands will be separated from the village as a result of the barrier's construction. Five of the plaintiffs are (also) Chilean nationals residing in the country. The suit is based on precedent of Nuremberg trials and receives support from local lawmakers. (Haaretz+ and Maan)  
  • Following complaints, bus company removes Arabic-language announcements - Residents of Be’er Sheva were enraged to find out that a new bus company had announcements in both Hebrew and Arabic. After numerous complaints, one protest ringleader said it 'insulted her eyes and ears,' the Transport Ministry acted to end the Arabic announcements. [NOTE: Arabs have lived in Beersheva prior and since Israel became a state. - OH] (Haaretz, Maariv and +972mag
  • Israeli Jerusalem municipality demolishes structures in Palestinian neighborhoods - In Silwan, the municipality confirmed that they “executed court orders to dismantle an illegal extension” to a Palestinian family’s home. (Maan
  • Bedouin demolishes own home as tribe prepares for destruction of its village - 'It’s not easy to uproot a human being. And it’s not just me. There are 40 other people here,' says resident. (Haaretz+) 
  • Israeli forces enter southern Gaza Strip, level lands - Witnesses told Ma'an that five military bulldozers escorted by military vehicles crossed the border fence in the eastern outskirts of the town of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, “and carried out earthworks near the border fence.” (Maan
  • MK Yachimovitz slams the Sderot Conference organizers: "The survey you took is a disgrace" - After the Sapir College released a poll indexing who and what Israelis like in the country ahead of their annual Sderot Conference, MK Shelly Yachimovich (Zionist Camp) rebuked them: "Maybe you won’t invite me next year, (but)…you have done a grave act. You've been drawn into a divisive debate, and instead of fulfilling your role and trying to create a common dialogue and mend – you spilled fuel on the fire. Our role as leaders in Israeli society is to find solutions…. What did you get out of this – a headline in the media? It's just not legitimate. There is nothing actually constructive in this. What should a gay Mizrachi man conclude, for example? That he must be straight and Ashkenazi to be more popular? Does he have to stop being a partner in the struggle for equal rights for gays because it's not popular? What does (the index) contribute? And do religious people need to throw out their prayer shawls because secular people are more popular? And what did you get out of the fact that Israeli Arabs are at the bottom (least popular) of the index, and that the left-wing is hated?” (Maariv
  • Pro-Palestinian hackers suspected of disrupting Israel's main newscasts - During 'hostile takeover' of Israeli television, images of Muslim holy sites were shown along with images from recent fires and the words 'Allah is great' in Hebrew. (Haaretz
  • Religious Zionist rabbis declare war on mixed combat units - Leading rabbis band together to fight military's gender integration plan for infantry units. Prominent rabbis meet with IDF chief Eizenkot, warn him against "crossing red line." Issue of mixed combat units could cause a coalition crisis, they threaten. (Israel Hayom)
  • Israeli air force awaits 'new generation' of F-35 stealth fighters - First planes to land in Israel within two weeks as government decides to buy 17 more: 'We are not buying the F-35 to attack Gaza.' (Haaretz+) 
  • Israeli students see drop in math and science performance - Eighth-graders' achievements in two fields worse compared to 2011, a comprehensive study of 39 countries reveals. Performance still higher than average. Education Ministry: New study includes new and stronger countries, which skew results. (Israel Hayom and Ynet)
  • Growing Chance That Israel-Germany Submarine Deal to Be Canceled, Shipyard Source Tells German Daily - A source within German conglomerate ThyssenKrupp says corruption suspicions over the €1.5 billion submarine deal are being investigated and may lead to its cancellation; sources say former IDF Navy head threatened to end work with ThyssenKrupp if (Israeli) Miki Ganor was not hired. (Haaretz and Ynet
  • Police Looking Into Ties Between Australian Billionaire James Packer and Netanyahu's Family - Packer, who is trying to gain residency in Israel, has taken the first step and registered with Israeli tax authorities, minister confirms to Channel 10. (Haaretz
  • Israeli prosecutors dragging feet on indicting Sara Netanyahu - Six months ago police recommended charging premier's wife for irregularities in running their residences; implicated deputy director of Prime Minister's Office has been questioned again. (Haaretz+) 
  • Netanyahu adviser involved in acquisition proposal of "Globes" newspaper - Nir Hefetz appears to be involved on behalf of foreign businessman of Russian origin. Hefetz claims he only provided opinions on the value of the paper in light of his experience in the telecommunications market. (The Marker - Hebrew)
  • Billionaire Edgar Bronfman’s Bid Rejected by Time Inc - Edgar Bronfman offered $18 per share for the publisher of Time, People and Fortune magazines, valuing the publisher at $1.78 billion. (Agencies, Haaretz
  • Fatah movement re-elects Abbas, opens leadership conference - Some 1,400 Fatah members gather in Ramallah for a conference, where delegates are to hold elections for the party's two main decision-making bodies; the conference is likely to result in further consolidation of the longtime leader Mahmoud Abbas, while thwarting the return of his rival and critic Mohammed Dahlan. (Haaretz, Maan and Ynet)  
  • Egyptian Actor Karim Kassem Reveals His Mother Is Jewish - The prominent actor in Egyptian movies and TV series tells an Egyptian show he discovered his roots while complaining about Jews as a boy. He stressed that his maternal grandfather was not a Zionist. (Haaretz and Times of Israel
  • Erdogan urges Muslims to 'embrace Palestinian cause and protect Jerusalem' - Turkey's president says safeguarding the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem should not be left to children armed with stones. (Agencies, Haaretz
  • 'Anti-Balfour Declaration campaign is political warfare' - Former Foreign Ministry Director General Dore Gold attends House of Commons event in defense of the Balfour Declaration. Gold says recently launched campaign against historic letter part of "Palestinian refusal to accept the rights of the Jewish people." (Israel Hayom)
  • Human Rights Activist Takes Over Helm at Canada’s (Version of) J Street - JSpace sees itself as the natural home for those among Canada's nearly 400,000 Jews who favor a two-state solution and oppose the occupation. (Haaretz


Features:
The Battle Over the Balfour Declaration, 100 Years Later
At stake, as per usual, is the question of who was promised what, when, by whom and why - and, to the main point at hand - what is Britain going to do about it now. (Danna Harman, Haaretz+) 
Jews of Aden recall the pogrom sparked by UN vote on partition
'It's terrible to make this comparison, but fewer people were killed in the Kishinev pogroms than were killed in Aden. Perhaps if we’d had a Bialik, our memory would look different.' (Ofer Aderet, Haaretz+)
 
Commentary/Analysis:
Forget Breaking Up Trump and Netanyahu's Romance With the Working Class (Larry Derfner, Haaretz+) You can't challenge the Mizrahi working class’ long-running affair with Netanyahu or Trump's success with white working class Americans with economics. The loyalty is tribal. 
The anti-Zionist right (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) Instead of having the state’s best interest in mind, Likud Knesset members are insisting on enacting damaging laws in order to gather a few more votes from the settler bloc.
The Smoke Cleared, and Here Was Subhi With Me (Avraham Burg, Haaretz+) Battling together for our home, hours of risk to lives and real dangers forged us in solidarity without borders. 
A wooden bridge to peace (Dr. Reuven Berko, Israel Hayom) The assistance many Israeli Arabs offered to Jews who suffered losses in the fires indicates hope that a bridge to peace remains, as long as the inciters from the Joint Arab List don't burn it down.
Evacuate and Be Done With It (Haaretz Editorial) It’s time to stop this continuing farce in Amona. The scofflaw homes must be demolished and the theft law must be rejected.
Zionism at Its Best (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) The land that Israel has designated for the joyous settlers is called Atir/Umm al-Hiran, and for 60 years it has been home to members of the Bedouin Al-Qi’an tribe. 
Who will pay for the government's demagogic terrorism? The sucker citizens of the state (Ran Adelist, Maariv)
In Rahat, Anas Abudabbas, a social activist was arrested (and released) for posting a parody of Jewish fervor. I have not heard of a similar arrests by Public Security Minister Erdan for the hundreds of posts by Jews of the known type. How convenient, dangerous and effective. 
Preparing for the Era After Abbas (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) Israel must now, if only for its own sake, allow the Palestinians to establish their next generation of leaders. 
Netanyahu Will Survive (Israel Harel, Haaretz+) Because he has abandoned Ben-Gurion's path - not because of his vision or talents - Netanyahu has served longer in the Prime Minister’s Office than the founding father of the country. 
When the past comes marching in (Annika Hernroth-Rothstein, Israel Hayom) A neo-Nazi rally in Sweden is countered by leftists who call for Israel's destruction and the banning of Jewish practices. Both sides are our enemies, but the leftists are more dangerous since they are stronger and are lauded as "good."
Today Could Have Been Palestine's 65th Birthday (Irwin Cotler, Haaretz+) The State of Palestine could have been 65 years old today if the UN partition plan of 1947 had been accepted by the Arab world. A just and lasting peace between two sovereign states is still prejudiced by the false narrative that Palestinians were the only refugees created in 1947.
 
 
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.