APN's daily news review from Israel
Tuesday December 6, 2016
You Must Be Kidding #1:
“This is a historic day. Today, the Israeli Knesset moved from heading toward establishing a Palestinian state to heading toward sovereignty in Judea and Samaria, and to remove any doubt about it -- the outpost regulation bill is the tip of the iceberg in applying sovereignty."
--Education Minister and leader of Habayit Hayehudi party, Naftali Bennet said after the passing of the settlement outpost legalization bill.*
You Must Be Kidding #2:
“Legal terror of left-wing organizations against settling the land has come to an end.”
--Settler and MK Bezalel Smotrich (Habayit Hayehudi) celebrated the passing in a preliminary reading of a bill to expropriate Palestinians' lands for Jewish settlers.**
You Must Be Kidding #3:
Haaretz+ reported that 'Even though the IDF has decided that civilian organizations will no longer conduct seminars and other educational activities for officers and canceled all such contracts, the Defense Ministry is now looking for a private religious institution to be responsible for “strengthening the ‘Torah-world [view]’ of the religious commander and soldier.”'
Tuesday December 6, 2016
You Must Be Kidding #1:
“This is a historic day. Today, the Israeli Knesset moved from heading toward establishing a Palestinian state to heading toward sovereignty in Judea and Samaria, and to remove any doubt about it -- the outpost regulation bill is the tip of the iceberg in applying sovereignty."
--Education Minister and leader of Habayit Hayehudi party, Naftali Bennet said after the passing of the settlement outpost legalization bill.*
You Must Be Kidding #2:
“Legal terror of left-wing organizations against settling the land has come to an end.”
--Settler and MK Bezalel Smotrich (Habayit Hayehudi) celebrated the passing in a preliminary reading of a bill to expropriate Palestinians' lands for Jewish settlers.**
You Must Be Kidding #3:
Haaretz+ reported that 'Even though the IDF has decided that civilian organizations will no longer conduct seminars and other educational activities for officers and canceled all such contracts, the Defense Ministry is now looking for a private religious institution to be responsible for “strengthening the ‘Torah-world [view]’ of the religious commander and soldier.”'
Quote of the day #2:
"I'm not willing to offer my knowledge and time to the media affiliated with the settlement enterprise.
As I said to a reporter from Arutz Sheva (settler radio), as soon as they return to Israel's borders I will be
happy to be interviewed."
--Hebrew University Professor, Yuri Pines, explained why he refused to be interviewed by Arutz Sheva, a settler radio station based at Bet-El settlement.*
--Hebrew University Professor, Yuri Pines, explained why he refused to be interviewed by Arutz Sheva, a settler radio station based at Bet-El settlement.*
Front Page:
Haaretz
- (Tycoon) Nochi Dankner sentenced to two years prison
- The severe judge had mercy on Dankner // Ido Baum
- The battle against corruption is far from over // Rotem Starkman
- Bill to expropriate privately-owned Palestinian land was passed in preliminary reading
- Another blow the European establishment: Italy’s Prime Minister was defeated in national referendum and resigned
- High Court to discuss today in expanded panel of judges whether to cancel child support when parents have similar salaries
- Family of Trump’s son-in-law donated money to Yitzhar settlement yeshiva
- Yes, in our school // Haaretz Editorial
- Not just a tyrant // Ada Ushpiz
- The man who represents the connection between tycoons and government (‘The Marker’ editor Eitan Avriel) succeeds even in interviewing Netanyahu
Yedioth Ahronoth
- The bill passed, Amona will be evacuated
- Tycoon on the way to jail: Nochi Dankner – the fall
- Expose: State Comptroller examining: Where did the money for the evacuees of Gush Katif (Gaza Strip settlers) go?
- Kosher? A senior official in the Religious Authority: “Pay your kashrut supervisor under the table or we’ll revoke your kosher certificate…”
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Decision made: Amona will be evacuated
- “I hope they learned lessons from Operation Protective Edge” – Political establishment tense ahead of publication of Comptroller report
- “We’re not talking about a one-time slip” – Court sent Nochi Dankner to jail
Israel Hayom
- Without Amona, with a storm: (Outpost) Legalization bill passed preliminary reading
- Nochi Dankner on the way to two years in jail: “He damaged the public trust”
- “(Brig. Gen.) Buchris, you lied, apologize” – father of ‘A.’
- Health Ministry: Some 3000 people died last year as a result of mistakes and exceptional events
- Shake-up in Italy: Prime Minister resigned; fear of collapse of European Union
News Summary:
*Aside from the prison sentence of an Israeli tycoon, today’s big story in the Hebrew newspapers was the preliminary passing of the legislation that will ‘legalize’ expropriating privately-owned Palestinian land for the use of Jewish settlers. MK Benny Begin was the only Likud member to oppose the bill. The left-wing called it one step before annexation. Yesh Din, the Israeli human rights organization that filed the petition about the ownership of the land that started the controversy over Amona outpost, said in a statement that "the outpost regulation bill does not even allow Palestinians to object to their land being stolen." According to a Peace Now report published this week, the bill if passed “will legalize over 3,900 structures built on privately owned Palestinian land, including both permanent structures and caravans. Some 3,125 of the buildings stand in official settlements and almost 800 are located in illegal outposts,” Israel Hayom reported.
To the chagrin of Amona outpost settlers, Amona was not named in the revamped bill and an evacuation deadline of December 25th from a High Court ruling still stands. Haaretz’s Amos Harel reported that “army officers believe that outpost leaders who oppose violence will have a hard time controlling young people planning to come with the intention of helping the settlers resist its demolition.”The police plan to deploy four police officers for every settler on the day of eviction. Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit still opposes the bill, noting that it contravenes international law. Meanwhile, Palestinians filed four claims Monday on the adjacent land that the government plans to move Amona outpost caravans and settlers to, Haaretz+ reported, leaving only two plots at the site where no ownership claims have been made. The settlers want to stay on that hilltop to keep Jewish control over it, the media reported. The claims are meant to block the plan to temporarily relocate Amona northward,
*Aside from the prison sentence of an Israeli tycoon, today’s big story in the Hebrew newspapers was the preliminary passing of the legislation that will ‘legalize’ expropriating privately-owned Palestinian land for the use of Jewish settlers. MK Benny Begin was the only Likud member to oppose the bill. The left-wing called it one step before annexation. Yesh Din, the Israeli human rights organization that filed the petition about the ownership of the land that started the controversy over Amona outpost, said in a statement that "the outpost regulation bill does not even allow Palestinians to object to their land being stolen." According to a Peace Now report published this week, the bill if passed “will legalize over 3,900 structures built on privately owned Palestinian land, including both permanent structures and caravans. Some 3,125 of the buildings stand in official settlements and almost 800 are located in illegal outposts,” Israel Hayom reported.
To the chagrin of Amona outpost settlers, Amona was not named in the revamped bill and an evacuation deadline of December 25th from a High Court ruling still stands. Haaretz’s Amos Harel reported that “army officers believe that outpost leaders who oppose violence will have a hard time controlling young people planning to come with the intention of helping the settlers resist its demolition.”The police plan to deploy four police officers for every settler on the day of eviction. Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit still opposes the bill, noting that it contravenes international law. Meanwhile, Palestinians filed four claims Monday on the adjacent land that the government plans to move Amona outpost caravans and settlers to, Haaretz+ reported, leaving only two plots at the site where no ownership claims have been made. The settlers want to stay on that hilltop to keep Jewish control over it, the media reported. The claims are meant to block the plan to temporarily relocate Amona northward,
Quick Hits:
- ***Defense Ministry seeks religious groups to teach soldiers, despite top brass' plans - Classes include such topics as the 'love of the land of Israel,' 'purity of arms' and ethics in battle, and 'leadership and faith in the righteousness of the path.' (Haaretz+)
- Israeli Rabbi (from Yitzhar) May Face Indictment for Incitement to Violence Against Palestinians - Rabbi Yosef Elitzur of Yitzhar settlement, who co-wrote a controversial book on the killing non-Jews, published online articles praising perpetrators of hate crimes against Palestinians. (Haaretz+)
- Kushner Foundation Donated to West Bank Settlement Projects (including Yitzhar)- Donations include small sum to a radical yeshiva in Yitzhar that has served as a base for violent attacks against Palestinian villages and Israeli security forces. (Haaretz+)
- *'I don’t give interviews to settlers' - Hebrew University Professor Yuri Pines refused to be interviewed by Arutz Sheva (settler radio based in Beit El settlement): 'I don’t give interviews to settlers and I don’t tolerate them.' (Israel Hayom Hebrew and Arutz Sheva)
- Manslaughter charge may be dropped against Israeli policeman who killed Palestinian - Ben Dery is accused of firing live bullets against orders in the death of 17-year-old, Nadim Nuwara. (The killing was caught on film.) (Haaretz+ and Maariv)
- Molotov throwers arrested along Highway 60 - The IDF has thwarted a molotov cocktail attack on Highway 60, south of Bethlehem; the area is a well known spot for Molotov cocktail throwers; 10 other suspects were arrested throughout the West Bank on terror offenses. (Ynet)
- In First, Israel Denies Entry to pro-BDS Religious Activist - Officials say Isabel Phiri of Malawi, who is active with World Council of Churches and landed Monday, was the first to be turned away expressly for pro-boycott activity against Israel. (Haaretz)
- New bill seeks to further shorten IDF male service to 30 months - A year after the IDF shortened mandatory service for males from three years to 32 months, a new bill passes second and third readings in the Knesset to lower the length of service to 30 months; bill is meant to stimulate economy by sending more workers into the market at a younger age. (Ynet and Israel Hayom)
- Lawmakers Set to Repeal 1933 Ordinance Enabling Government to Shutter Press - The Interior Ministry has invoked its authority to prevent the publication of newspapers at least 62 times over the past 10 years. (Haaretz+)
- Comptroller to look into NIS 5 billion in missing funds for Gush Katif evacuees - MK Stav Shaffir says billions of shekels missing from the records of the Gaza Disengagement Authority, which is now part of the Agriculture Ministry. The funds are meant to help resettle the evacuated families, 160 of which have yet to move into a permanent home. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- Police interview IDF officials on submarine affair - Ongoing police investigation into role in submarine scandal of David Shomron, PM's attorney, reveals that IDF officers were involved; police gather officers' testimony. (Ynet and Maariv)
- Police seize illegal arms, anti-Israel propaganda in Hebron - IDF troops, police, and border police raid a Hebron home, confiscate several weapons, munitions, and a computer containing inflammatory propaganda. Father and son arrested. (Israel Hayom)
- Apple retailer complains, Israeli mall agrees to stop hiring Bedouin guards - Decision was backtracked after Bedouin worker – who was suddenly fired after warning about a faulty door prepared for theft and which hours later Be'er Sheva's Apple store was robbed – threatened to publicize story. (Haaretz+ and Maariv)
- Google Removes 'Are Jews Evil' Search Suggestion, but So Far Keeps 'Are Muslims Bad' - 'We took action within hours of being notified on Friday of the autocomplete results,' a Google spokesperson told The Guardian on Monday. (JTA, Haaretz)
- Anti-Semitism in U.S. as Bad as in 1930s Germany, ADL Chief Tells Israeli Lawmakers - Jonathan Greenblatt also warns Israeli leaders not to abandon the two-state solution out of belief they will have a freer hand under a Trump administration. (Haaretz+)
- Pictures of Israel [and Palestinians] make best AP photos of the year - The Associated Press has come out with its best pictures from the year 2016; included are photos of Israel; AP photographers take tens of thousands of pictures a year. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Israel releases one of two fishermen detained Sunday off Gaza coast - The two fishermen were detained Sunday shortly after Israeli naval forces opened fire at their boat as they were on a fishing trip near the northwestern Gaza Strip. (Maan)
- Kushner Family's Settlement Donations Alarm U.S. Jewish Groups - 'It's alarming how many of Trump's advisers on Israel have a long history of close personal and financial ties to some of the most extreme settlements.' (Haaretz+)
- Amid Trump's Threats, China and Iran Back Nuclear Deal - A decision by Trump to scrap the deal would probably give Iran's hard-line Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps an opportunity to regain power it lost during talks between the current Iranian leadership and major nations. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- ISIS Incites Sympathizers Worldwide With Call for Fresh Wave of Attacks - ISIS' new spokesman targeted the 'secular, apostate Turkish government' urging for attacks in Turkish embassies, and for sympathizers to 'redouble' efforts. (Agencies, Haaretz)
Commentary/Analysis:
Hebron shooting: A micromodel of Israel’s maladies (Sima Kadmon, Yedioth/Ynet) The upcoming ruling in the Elor Azaria trial is a reflection of the biggest problem the State of Israel is dealing with – the occupation.
Sex, Lies and Alleged War Crimes Ratchet Up Tensions Between Religious and IDF (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Brig. Gen. Ofer Winter is the latest senior officer to come under media scrutiny, with religious politicians, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, rushing to his defense.
Peace out (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth/Ynet) If the prime minister means what he says about the Iran deal, he should plead with US President-elect Trump to cancel it. The possible outcome, according to concerned experts, is a nuclear arms race in the Middle East, starring Iran.
Anti-Semitic? Disqualifying? Keith Ellison’s Views on Israel Are the Same as Most U.S. Jews (Rebecca Zimmerman Hornstein, Haaretz+) It would be tragic if a smear campaign espoused by the Jewish community kept Keith Ellison from the leadership position Democrats desperately need him to fill.
The ADL's Bad Call on Keith Ellison (Haroon Moghul, Haaretz+) For the sake of Jewish-Muslim coalition building in the age of Trump, let's hope the organization’s un-endorsement of the DNC chair candidate isn't its final word.
The perpetual optimist: What would Peres say about the state of the world after his departure? (Uri Savir, Maariv) Had the former president been alive, he would have been disappointed with the election of Trump, convinced that the EU will overcome its enemies, and continues to fight for a Jewish, democratic and value-based Israel.
The Hunting of 'Jenin Jenin': A Never-ending Story (Filmmaker and actor, Mohammad Bakri, Haaretz+) In my film, I tried to give a platform to the camp residents who had no voice. I didn’t know I would spend the next 14 years defending myself in court, my family from death threats and my reputation from an ongoing media and political lynching.
If I Were a Mizrahi Zionist, I Would Be Offended (Odeh Bisharat, Haaretz+) Instead of adding yet another national day to widen the rift between them (The Day "to mark the departure and expulsion of Jews from the Arab countries and Iran”), I would have chosen a day to express the connection between Jews and Arabs.
Winds of elections blowing through the Knesset (Sima Kadmon, Yedioth/Ynet): Despite the Regulation Bill, the Public Broadcasting Corporation and the different investigations breathing down Netanyahu’s neck, the main issue being discussed in the Likud party these days is whether early elections are on the horizon.
Yes, in Our Schools (Haaretz Editorial) Naftali Bennett is trying to scare principals and deepen the delegitimization of the occupation’s opponents. He won’t succeed.
How the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Affects the Brains of Arabs and Jews (Ido Efrati, Haaretz+) Show a teenager a photo of someone suffering, and they'll immediately feel their pain. But what happens when an Israeli Jew learns it's an Arab suffering, and vice versa? A new study sought to find out.
Iraq After ISIS: Anarchy and Power Struggles (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) The Islamic State regime in Iraq has been replaced by the anarchy arising from infighting between local tribes and militias.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.