APN's daily news review from Israel
Sunday March 02, 2014
Quote of the day:
It’s hard to believe we still are waging a quixotic war about the fact that we are Jews and our state
is Jewish.
--Yoel Marcus writes in Haaretz+ that Israelis must focus on how to live in peace with the Palestinians and divide what was once Palestine.**
--Yoel Marcus writes in Haaretz+ that Israelis must focus on how to live in peace with the Palestinians and divide what was once Palestine.**
Front Page News:
Haaretz
- Despite Obama's warning, Russia sent soldiers and then took over Crimean peninsula
- Putin's quiet annexation // Anshel Pfeffer
- Obama's empty warning // Chemi Shalev
- IDF killed woman who got close to border in Gaza; Clashes in E. Jerusalem
- Ultra-Orthodox masses demonstrating this evening in Jerusalem against draft law
- Pessimism in US about achieving framework agreement by end of month
- Omer Abu-Jaribian was abandoned again - In a ruling full of mistakes, shortening of police punishment who abandoned XXX to die
- From drinking problem to phenomenon worrying Western states
Yedioth Ahronoth
- The Russian invasion
- Putin's dilemma // Sever Plocker
- From Russia, without love // Tzvi Magen
- Today: The ultra-Orthodox's show of strength
- War over authority between Defense Ministry and Home Front Ministry reaches a new level
- Progress on the way to a debt settlement
- Not in our school - Cellular phones remain outside class and the pupils are actually happy
Maariv
- Russia bringing in thousands of troops to Crimea; Ukraine: Invasion will lead to war
- The return of the Soviets // Nadav Eyal (Hebrew)
- Mystery within the enigma // Matan Drori
- Disputes in the White House: Should the Kerry document be revealed at the end of the month? (Hebrew)
- Jerusalem: Hundreds of thousands of ultra-Orthodox expected to participate today in enormous demonstration against draft of yeshiva students (Hebrew)
- Chairman of the committee on the subject of civics demands ending the entry of Amnesty NGO into schools (Hebrew)
- Why is kibbutz society no longer a leading force in Israeli politics?
Israel Hayom
- The battle over the Crimean peninsula: Highest alert
- Putin plays solo on the field // Boaz Bismuth
- Jerusalem: Police prepare for the "Million-man march"
- Poll: Only 3.3% of the public believe: Draft law will solve the problem
- The evil empire of Noni Moses: War in the Ukraine? Zaken a state witness? Yedioth attacks the Prime Minister as usual // Gonen Ginat
- Netanyahu leaves for visit to US; "There will be no freeze of construction in Judea and Samaria"
- There is no public possibility that a deal will take place with Zaken (to be a state witness against Olmert) // Dan Margalit
Peace Talk Highlights:
Today's top stories were about the Russians in Ukraine and the mass demonstration today of ultra-Orthodox Jews against the military draft. Also in the news were the peace talks as Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu set out to Washington today to attend an AIPAC conference and meet US President Barack Obama. The papers write that in Israel it is believed that Obama is too busy now with Crimea to get deeply involved in the problems of the peace process. Moreover, Haaretz's Barak Ravid and Yedioth's Itamar Eichner report that following US Secretary of State John Kerry's meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Paris over a week ago, the US is pessimistic that a framework peace deal can be reached by March 29th, the date Israel is supposed to release the last group of pre-Oslo Palestinian prisoners, which includes also Arab citizens of Israel. Both papers write that if the understandings over the agreement are not agreed upon by before the release date, Israel probably won't release the prisoners, which would result in a breakdown of the entire process. Maariv's Eli Bardenstein writes that there is a fierce debate is the Obama administration over whether to even present the framework agreement document if there is no agreement between the Palestinians and Israelis. Kerry is determined to present the agreement by the 28th. But others says it is better to wait. The problem, according to two US sources, is that the Obama administration does not have a 'Plan B' for a scenario in which the two sides reject the draft and the talks blow up. Bardenstein explains that the US effort is focused on finding out from Netanyahu and Abbas what things they will not compromise on in any way, shape or form and what things they can live with by just expressing their general opposition. Kerry made clear to the two sides that if they accept the document, they cannot give details about the issues that they oppose, only to state that they exist. Kerry also emphasized that there must be new things in the document, and not just the old positions. But, all the papers explain that, at this point, the gaps between the two sides are enormous on almost every core issue. Yesterday, head of the opposition, Labor chief Isaac Herzog met with Kerry and with US national security advisor Susan Rice, Maariv reported.
Before Netanyahu left, he told several ministers with whom he met over the last few days that the issue of freezing settlement construction in Judea and Samaria will not be discussed during the trip. The comment followed several reports in the US media, suggesting that Washington planned to demand a construction freeze in settlements outside the main blocs to facilitate its parallel demand of Abbas to extend the peace talks by one year. Netanyahu also refuted rumors that he would leave Likud to form a new party or join forces with Yisrael Beytenu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman. He also relayed a message to Likud MKs who said Likud has "no room" for anyone pursuing a peace deal with the Palestinians, saying that "any further expressions of this kind will meet a harsh response."
Netanyahu's US schedule:
Monday: Meeting with President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry in Washington
Tuesday: Morning - speech before AIPAC; Evening - attend screening in L.A. of film promoting tourism in Israel.
Wednesday: Meetings in Silicon Valley with directors of WhatsApp and Apple
Thursday: Meeting with Jewish community of LA
Friday: Land in Israel
Peace Talk schedules:
Monday: Chief Israeli negotiator Minister Tzipi Livni and Netanyahu’s special envoy Isaac Molho will meet Kerry’s advisers.
Tuesday: Palestinian negotiating team, headed by Saeb Erekat, and Palestinian intelligence chief Majid Faraj, will arrive in Washington for similar talks.
Ten days later on March 17: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will meet US President Obama at the White House.
Today's top stories were about the Russians in Ukraine and the mass demonstration today of ultra-Orthodox Jews against the military draft. Also in the news were the peace talks as Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu set out to Washington today to attend an AIPAC conference and meet US President Barack Obama. The papers write that in Israel it is believed that Obama is too busy now with Crimea to get deeply involved in the problems of the peace process. Moreover, Haaretz's Barak Ravid and Yedioth's Itamar Eichner report that following US Secretary of State John Kerry's meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Paris over a week ago, the US is pessimistic that a framework peace deal can be reached by March 29th, the date Israel is supposed to release the last group of pre-Oslo Palestinian prisoners, which includes also Arab citizens of Israel. Both papers write that if the understandings over the agreement are not agreed upon by before the release date, Israel probably won't release the prisoners, which would result in a breakdown of the entire process. Maariv's Eli Bardenstein writes that there is a fierce debate is the Obama administration over whether to even present the framework agreement document if there is no agreement between the Palestinians and Israelis. Kerry is determined to present the agreement by the 28th. But others says it is better to wait. The problem, according to two US sources, is that the Obama administration does not have a 'Plan B' for a scenario in which the two sides reject the draft and the talks blow up. Bardenstein explains that the US effort is focused on finding out from Netanyahu and Abbas what things they will not compromise on in any way, shape or form and what things they can live with by just expressing their general opposition. Kerry made clear to the two sides that if they accept the document, they cannot give details about the issues that they oppose, only to state that they exist. Kerry also emphasized that there must be new things in the document, and not just the old positions. But, all the papers explain that, at this point, the gaps between the two sides are enormous on almost every core issue. Yesterday, head of the opposition, Labor chief Isaac Herzog met with Kerry and with US national security advisor Susan Rice, Maariv reported.
Before Netanyahu left, he told several ministers with whom he met over the last few days that the issue of freezing settlement construction in Judea and Samaria will not be discussed during the trip. The comment followed several reports in the US media, suggesting that Washington planned to demand a construction freeze in settlements outside the main blocs to facilitate its parallel demand of Abbas to extend the peace talks by one year. Netanyahu also refuted rumors that he would leave Likud to form a new party or join forces with Yisrael Beytenu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman. He also relayed a message to Likud MKs who said Likud has "no room" for anyone pursuing a peace deal with the Palestinians, saying that "any further expressions of this kind will meet a harsh response."
Netanyahu's US schedule:
Monday: Meeting with President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry in Washington
Tuesday: Morning - speech before AIPAC; Evening - attend screening in L.A. of film promoting tourism in Israel.
Wednesday: Meetings in Silicon Valley with directors of WhatsApp and Apple
Thursday: Meeting with Jewish community of LA
Friday: Land in Israel
Peace Talk schedules:
Monday: Chief Israeli negotiator Minister Tzipi Livni and Netanyahu’s special envoy Isaac Molho will meet Kerry’s advisers.
Tuesday: Palestinian negotiating team, headed by Saeb Erekat, and Palestinian intelligence chief Majid Faraj, will arrive in Washington for similar talks.
Ten days later on March 17: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will meet US President Obama at the White House.
Quick Hits:
- Family of man killed by IDF: We weren’t allowed to convince him to surrender - Muataz Washaha’s family said he was assassinated in an IDF raid on his home when he was shot from close range and that commanders on the scene didn’t allow them to try and convince him to give himself up. Both his brother and his mother pleaded with commanders to allow them to enter the building and convince Muataz to come out, but were refused. (Haaretz+)
- Thousands join funeral procession for man killed in Birzeit - Mourners shouted slogans calling for an end to negotiations with Israel and revenge for crimes committed against Palestinians. Muataz Washaha's mother said she would avenge her son's killing and called for a response to Israeli crimes. (Maan)
- Five Palestinians wounded in clashes with IDF at suspected terrorist's funeral - IDF used crowd dispersal mens against 200 stone-throwing Palestinians, including shooting at legs of main instigators; 3 soldiers lightly hurt in West Bank clashes. (Ynet)
- Settlers attack Palestinian shepherds east of Bethlehem - Israeli settlers on Saturday assaulted two Palestinian shepherds while they were grazing their sheep in the village of Tuqu east of Bethlehem (near Teqoa settlement). Arif Ayish Ubayyat, 23, sustained bruises and lost 17 of his sheep during the attack. (Maan)
- Israeli forces bar Palestinians from farming on their Hebron lands - Palestinian farmers were sent home Saturday at gunpoint by Israeli soldiers when they attempted to reach their lands in the Umm al-Arayis east of Yatta. International solidarity activists, including Israelis, were also sent away from the land. (Maan)
- Israel to limit (Muslim) access to al-Aqsa mosque - Following riots, Knesset debate to place the holy site under full Israeli jurisdiction, police limit access to Muslim men. (Ynet)
- Thousands of Palestinian pray at police checkpoints after being restricted from entering Al-Aqsa compound (Temple Mount) - Worshipers who had been unable to enter the area due to Israeli checkpoints put up Friday held prayer services in neighborhoods near al-Aqsa. Israeli authorities said the restrictions were put in place to prevent "plans for unrest," amid a debate on extending Israeli sovereignty over the compound. (Maan)
- Israeli military kills Palestinian woman near Gaza border - Not clear why 50-year-old who suffered from mental illness was near border fence, Gaza residents say. (Haaretz and Ynet)
- Israeli trailers removed from Palestinian property near Bethlehem - Trailers (caravans) installed by Hananel Shaar Yeshuv of Sde Boaz settlement outpost on a Palestinian farmer's private land in the village of al-Khadr were finally removed Saturday after two Israeli court rulings. (Maan)
- Settlers burn entrance of house in Ramallah village - Settlers set the entrance of the house of Mohammad Hussein Hammad on fire and wrote racist, anti-Arab graffiti on its walls near the eastern entrance of Silwad village Friday. (Maan)
- Settler files lawsuit against Palestinian to remove traditional oven - Settler of Karmel settlement sued to remove a Palestinian Bedouin family's traditional oven, which provides bread for 40 family members. The settler says the smoke bothers him. The Palestinian said the settlers harass them daily in order to force them off of their land. (Maan)
- Bilin protest marks 9 years of resistance - Protesters in Bilin marked the ninth anniversary of the popular struggle against Israel's separation wall with a march through the central West Bank village on Friday that was violently dispersed by Israeli forces. (Maan)
- Professor Asher Cohen: Remove Amnesty International from schools' - Chairman of the civics committee in the Education Ministry opposes the human rights organization that often presents Israel as a racist and murderous state and gives lessons and tours to students with the approval of the Ministry of Education. "Revoke the permission for the institution that reviles the IDF," said Cohen. (Maariv, p. 14/NRG Hebrew)
- Record number of lone soldiers finish IDF Hebrew course - Almost 300 lone soldiers complete three-month Hebrew course. Sharon Rosen from Baltimore surprises her son Josh at graduation. "I wanted to make aliyah and serve in the army, but my mother forbade me. Now Josh has made that dream come true," she says. (Israel Hayom)
- 20% of Israeli soldiers have to receive economic and financial assistance - Tens of thousands regularly receive food stamps and financial support totaling 300 million shekels a year. "The extent of the poverty is at its most severe." (Maariv, p. 16/NRG Hebrew)
- Japan pledges $200 million in aid for Palestinians - Representatives of 22 nations participate in conference to promote Palestinian development; delegates repeat their support of PA's demand for Palestinian state. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Report: Jordanian activists launch new Israel boycott campaign - A new Jordanian campaign to boycott Israeli products was started by Muhammad al-Ramini, who bought a bag of seeds from a peddler only to discover that it was an Israeli product. Activists produced stickers with the slogan "Don't pay for the bullet that kills our people," and distributed them to grocery stores across Jordanian cities. (Maan)
- Palestinian Center for Human Rights denounces attack on Gaza church - The statement said that a blast was heard at around 12:30 a.m. on Thursday in the courtyard of the Latin Patriarch church in Gaza City. Police also found "inappropriate" graffiti on a wall inside the courtyard, according to the statement. (Maan)
- Israel warns Lebanon to curb Hezbollah threats - Lebanese government responsible for preventing any terrorist attack against Israel, Minister Steinitz says. (Haaretz)
- Fear of retaliation? Israel raised alert missions - According to reports in the Arab networks, Israel fears Hezbollah's response Bg'nta attack, raising the readiness of all embassies around the world. (Maariv/NRG Hebrew)
- Hezbollah: New government should include 'resistance' in agenda - Hezbollah demands 'the right of Lebanon and the Lebanese people to self-defense and to the resistance against the Israeli enemy' be enshrined in new Lebanese cabinet's official agenda. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Two exploded rockets found on Mount Hermon - Syrian spillover or deliberate Hezbollah attack? IDF remains uncertain after exploded rockets found. (Ynet)
- Following alleged strike, IDF on alert on Syrian border as well - Fearing response to alleged Israeli strike on Syria-Lebanon border, army gives patrolling forces armored vehicles. (Ynet)
- IAF attacks terror target in northern Gaza Strip - IDF spokesman said 'strike was meant to eliminate an imminent threat of rocket fire towards Israel.' Hamas reports no injuries or damage. (Ynet and Haaretz+)
- Algerian revolutionary Djamila Bouhired to visit Gaza - Former Algerian revolutionary Djamila Bouhired plans to visit the Gaza Strip on March 8 along with a delegation of 80 women from around the world to celebrate International Women's Day in the besieged coastal enclave. (Maan)
- Saudi prince al-Waleed bin Talal to visit Palestine - Saudi Arabian billionaire prince al-Walid Ibn Talal is scheduled to visit Ramallah on Tuesday and meet Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas and business leaders. (Maan)
- Egypt's interim president swears in new Cabinet - Following resignation of Egyptian military-backed government, new Cabinet sworn in. Earlier Saturday, son of Egypt's ousted president Morsi arrested in possession of hashish. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Report: U.S. pressures Israel to halt assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists - Israel has never acknowledged assassination campaign 'aimed at Iran's top nuclear scientists,' which article says has lasted for several years. (Haaretz)
- Rouhani tells Iran generals to cut hostile rhetoric - In effort to improve shaky relations with West, end nuclear dispute, Iran's President tells country's top military men to be cautious when discussing foreign policy. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Israel urges IAEA to issue full report on Iran nuclear research - UN nuclear watchdog denies holding off on major report after Iran's rapprochement with West. (Agencies, Haaretz)
Features:
Clearing the fog on Israeli drone use in Gaza
Foreign media outlets say Israel uses UAVs for attacks in the Strip. Palestinian researcher, Dr. Atef Abu Saif, refutes claims that such strikes are 'surgical.’ (Haaretz+)
20 years after the Hebron massacre, life stands still
In the two decades that have passed since the murder of 29 people in The Cave of the Patriarchs, shops have closed, streets were deserted and the few remaining Palestinian residents lament apathy: 'The world carried on, but here nothing has changed.' (By Elior Levy, Ynet)
Breaking the hero-villain dichotomy: Humanizing Palestinians through art
The world primarily typecasts Palestinians as heroes or villains. That could change with an Oscar nod to 'Omar.' (Haaretz+)
The French revolution
Help finding work, making military service easier, and acceptance in advance to educational institutions are only some of the benefits offered in Israel to the hundreds of thousands of Jews of France who want to leave their homeland in the wake of the wave of anti-Semitism and the economic crisis hitting the country to get them to come to Israel and give up on the good life of immigration to Australia. A journey to the crumbling Jewish communities, the emptying schools and the universities where the students need to hide their identities out of fear of harassment: "The situation is unbearable. If it does not change, the Jewish community (here) will disappear." (By Zvika Klein, Maariv Friday Sofshavua magazine)
How Esalen's explorers can bring peace to the Middle East
For decades, Esalen has been known for its New Age-y workshops, offered in a spectacularly gorgeous spot. What happens when it reaches out to people from the most contested land on Earth? (Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
Foreign media outlets say Israel uses UAVs for attacks in the Strip. Palestinian researcher, Dr. Atef Abu Saif, refutes claims that such strikes are 'surgical.’ (Haaretz+)
20 years after the Hebron massacre, life stands still
In the two decades that have passed since the murder of 29 people in The Cave of the Patriarchs, shops have closed, streets were deserted and the few remaining Palestinian residents lament apathy: 'The world carried on, but here nothing has changed.' (By Elior Levy, Ynet)
Breaking the hero-villain dichotomy: Humanizing Palestinians through art
The world primarily typecasts Palestinians as heroes or villains. That could change with an Oscar nod to 'Omar.' (Haaretz+)
The French revolution
Help finding work, making military service easier, and acceptance in advance to educational institutions are only some of the benefits offered in Israel to the hundreds of thousands of Jews of France who want to leave their homeland in the wake of the wave of anti-Semitism and the economic crisis hitting the country to get them to come to Israel and give up on the good life of immigration to Australia. A journey to the crumbling Jewish communities, the emptying schools and the universities where the students need to hide their identities out of fear of harassment: "The situation is unbearable. If it does not change, the Jewish community (here) will disappear." (By Zvika Klein, Maariv Friday Sofshavua magazine)
How Esalen's explorers can bring peace to the Middle East
For decades, Esalen has been known for its New Age-y workshops, offered in a spectacularly gorgeous spot. What happens when it reaches out to people from the most contested land on Earth? (Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
A light unto the nations? (Haaretz Editorial) Country that purports to be a “light unto the nations” cannot prefer its
own interests over all other just causes.
Bibi, be like Eshkol (Amir Oren, Haaretz+) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may share a birth month with David Ben-Gurion and Levi Eshkol, but he has a long way to go before he can claim the mantle of his predecessors.
Bibi, be like Eshkol (Amir Oren, Haaretz+) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may share a birth month with David Ben-Gurion and Levi Eshkol, but he has a long way to go before he can claim the mantle of his predecessors.
No immunity for the ambassador (Mati Tuchfeld, Israel Hayom) U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro had no idea what he was
getting himself into when he met with the Knesset's Land of Israel caucus. The criticism directed at
Shapiro by MKs was indicative of America's weakened status in the world.
Lunatic queries (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) I'm dying of curiosity to read U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro's report to his government about his meeting with the right-wing MKs.
The most moral army in the world (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) The Israel Defense Forces believes brute strength is the only way to act, yet Israelis refuse to see what Amnesty International and others tell them.
Arabs, don't give Lieberman ammunition (Ali Zahalka, Ynet) Israel's Arabs must decide who they are. Those who see themselves as citizens of the State of Israel should start acting like citizens.
Netanyahu is not convincing (Amos Schocken, Haaretz+) If a Palestinian state signs a peace treaty with Israel without recognizing Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people, will it be licensed to do bad things?
Kerry and his admirers (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) Channel 2's interview of John Kerry was part of a State Department effort to convince us we should accept his plan for national suicide.
Professional army won't work in Israel (Giora Eiland, Yedioth/Ynet) The 'people's army' was and will continue to be vital in maintaining the IDF's force and quality.
You’re an Arab? Strip (Friday Haaretz Editorial) The unnecessary, humiliating treatment that multitudes of Arab Israelis suffer routinely in Israel's airports must be done away with for good.
When the time is right (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount will start again, after a 2,000-year hiatus, if a deal is signed with the Palestinians.
**We do not rule the world (Yoel Marcus, Haaretz+) The good news from Merkel’s visit is that there is no deep crisis between her and Bibi. The bad news, in the eyes of Israeli leaders, is that she and Obama believe the time for decision is here.
Can Israel defy a second-term president? (Yoram Ettinger, Israel Hayom) U.S. President Barack Obama cannot afford to be preoccupied with effectively pressuring Israel.
From the Protocols of the Tycoons of Zion (Yossi Sarid, Haaretz+) We have never heard Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu bark when the convoy of capital overtakes the government. To him, the issue isn’t equalizing the burden; equality is itself the burden.
Ukraine crisis changes the script for Netanyahu visit and AIPAC conference (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) The U.S. president’s mind and the media focus will be on the unfolding events in Crimea; painting Hassan Rohani as the ultimate bad guy may be a tough sell with Vladimir Putin in the spotlight.
Frameworks for disaster (Ruthie Blum, Israel Hayom) Whenever Netanyahu impresses upon Obama the urgency of stopping Iran, Obama responds by pressuring him into promises of appeasement, if not concrete concessions, to the Palestinians.
Israel faces military dilemma as Hezbollah amasses weapons (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) This week's alleged attack on a Syrian missile convoy intended for Hezbollah was different from earlier ones, and could further exacerbate tensions between Israel and the organization.
Lunatic queries (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) I'm dying of curiosity to read U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro's report to his government about his meeting with the right-wing MKs.
The most moral army in the world (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) The Israel Defense Forces believes brute strength is the only way to act, yet Israelis refuse to see what Amnesty International and others tell them.
Arabs, don't give Lieberman ammunition (Ali Zahalka, Ynet) Israel's Arabs must decide who they are. Those who see themselves as citizens of the State of Israel should start acting like citizens.
Netanyahu is not convincing (Amos Schocken, Haaretz+) If a Palestinian state signs a peace treaty with Israel without recognizing Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people, will it be licensed to do bad things?
Kerry and his admirers (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) Channel 2's interview of John Kerry was part of a State Department effort to convince us we should accept his plan for national suicide.
Professional army won't work in Israel (Giora Eiland, Yedioth/Ynet) The 'people's army' was and will continue to be vital in maintaining the IDF's force and quality.
You’re an Arab? Strip (Friday Haaretz Editorial) The unnecessary, humiliating treatment that multitudes of Arab Israelis suffer routinely in Israel's airports must be done away with for good.
When the time is right (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount will start again, after a 2,000-year hiatus, if a deal is signed with the Palestinians.
**We do not rule the world (Yoel Marcus, Haaretz+) The good news from Merkel’s visit is that there is no deep crisis between her and Bibi. The bad news, in the eyes of Israeli leaders, is that she and Obama believe the time for decision is here.
Can Israel defy a second-term president? (Yoram Ettinger, Israel Hayom) U.S. President Barack Obama cannot afford to be preoccupied with effectively pressuring Israel.
From the Protocols of the Tycoons of Zion (Yossi Sarid, Haaretz+) We have never heard Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu bark when the convoy of capital overtakes the government. To him, the issue isn’t equalizing the burden; equality is itself the burden.
Ukraine crisis changes the script for Netanyahu visit and AIPAC conference (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) The U.S. president’s mind and the media focus will be on the unfolding events in Crimea; painting Hassan Rohani as the ultimate bad guy may be a tough sell with Vladimir Putin in the spotlight.
Frameworks for disaster (Ruthie Blum, Israel Hayom) Whenever Netanyahu impresses upon Obama the urgency of stopping Iran, Obama responds by pressuring him into promises of appeasement, if not concrete concessions, to the Palestinians.
Israel faces military dilemma as Hezbollah amasses weapons (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) This week's alleged attack on a Syrian missile convoy intended for Hezbollah was different from earlier ones, and could further exacerbate tensions between Israel and the organization.
Interviews:
Ben Zygier - the real story
The man was the youth group leader of Prisoner X wrote a book about him. In an interview, Rafi Epstein says the government must internalize: it is impossible to suppress information. (Interviewed by Amnon Lord in Maariv/NRG Hebrew)
'Where is there room for a Palestinian state?'
Agriculture Minister Yair Shamir has the outward appearance and right-wing views of his late father, former PM Yitzhak Shamir. Shamir: I oppose two-state idea, Jerusalem must not be divided. (Interviewed by Shlomo Cesana in Israel Hayom)
The man was the youth group leader of Prisoner X wrote a book about him. In an interview, Rafi Epstein says the government must internalize: it is impossible to suppress information. (Interviewed by Amnon Lord in Maariv/NRG Hebrew)
'Where is there room for a Palestinian state?'
Agriculture Minister Yair Shamir has the outward appearance and right-wing views of his late father, former PM Yitzhak Shamir. Shamir: I oppose two-state idea, Jerusalem must not be divided. (Interviewed by Shlomo Cesana in Israel Hayom)
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.