APN's daily news review from Israel
Thursday May 01, 2014
Number of the day:
399.
--The number of 'price-tag' attacks by right-wing Jewish Israeli extremists on Palestinians and Arab Israelis and their property in 2013, according to US State Department report.
--The number of 'price-tag' attacks by right-wing Jewish Israeli extremists on Palestinians and Arab Israelis and their property in 2013, according to US State Department report.
Front Page News:
Haaretz
- Hate crimes spreading in north, but no incident was solved
- How they fight the idea // Chaim Levinson
- If they really want, they can // Jack Khoury[Photo from internet of four IDF soldiers holding up sign 'We support the Nahal soldier" (who was recorded threatening to shoot youth a Palestinian in Hebron)]
- Digital mutiny in IDF
- Lod resident detained and interrogated hours by police because of Facebook post against recruitment of (Israeli) Christian Arabs to the army
- World Health Organization: We are getting closer to a world where antibiotics won't help
- Ukrainian President acknowledges: "We lost control of the east of the country, the residents were convinced by the Russian propaganda"
- (Attorney General) Weinstein delaying closure of (Minister) Silvan Shalom's file (on allegations of sexual harassment)
- Sewage in the pipes: More than 100,000 in Jerusalem are without drinking water1/4 1/4 page ad in Hebrew and Arabic: Israel-Palestinian Memorial Day Ceremony - Remembering the victims. Fighting for peace. We, Israelis and Palestinians, are meeting on Memorial Day to remember together the victims of violence on both sides and remember that it is in our hands to put an end to the war and to prevent more victims....Memorial Day Eve, Sunday, May 4th, Ganei Ha'Ta'aruchah, Tel-Aviv, 21:00. For details and donations: www.cfpeace.org
Yedioth Ahronoth
- The soldiers' protest - Enormous wave of solidarity with soldier who threatened a Palestinian with his gun
- The digital mutiny // Yossi Yehoshua
- US on 'price-tag': Terror without punishment
- They are provoking us // (Arab-Israeli sports presenter) Zuheir Bahaloul
- (Author David) Grossman: Netanyahu is a genius of manipulations - Admired author furious over PM's Holocaust Day speech: "Why mix Iran with the Jewish people's traumas?"
- After 45 years: Yoram Taharlev wrote another stanza to "Simply a tankist"
Maariv
- not published today
Makor Rishon
- Thousands of soldiers in protest on Facebook: Don't dismiss the Nahal unit combat soldier David Admov
- Intel to invest 20 billion shekels in Israel
- The Anti-Trust Authority approved sale of Maariv and Makor Rishon
Israel Hayom
- IDF: Facebook is not a replacement for the chain of command
- Facebook demonstration: Listen, but also deal with this // Yoav Limor
- Intel to invest billions in Israel
- House of pain and memory - Cornerstone laid for 'Hall of Remembrance' for fallen IDF soldiers
- A slap in the face to democracy // Prof. Aviad Hacohen writes that the "bill meant to harm Israel Hayom and give back the monopoly to Yedioth Ahronoth" (was wrong)
Peace Talk Highights:
The 'digital protest' of Israeli soldiers in support of a fellow soldier who threatened a Palestinian teen with his gun was the top story in most of the Israeli Hebrew newspapers this morning, with the exception of Haaretz, which put at the top the increasing number of 'price-tag' attacks on Israeli Arabs, something a new US report called 'terror without punishment.' Meanwhile, on the last official day of the period of peace talks, the Palestinians began moving forward with implementing their unity government and Hamas officials gave very interesting interviews to Ynet and Reuters, detailing what that would mean vis-a-vis Israel.
The IDF is very worried about the first 'online mutiny' after thousands of Israeli soldiers used Facebook and other social networks to express solidarity with David Admov, who was caught on camera cocking his weapon at a Palestinian teenager in Hebron. (See photos and videos here.) The IDF spokesman said Wednesday that the soldier’s conduct toward the Palestinians “is irregular and not in keeping with what is expected of him.” But other Israeli soldiers did not agree. Hundreds posted pictures of themselves with posters saying “I too am with David Hanahlawi [Hebrew slang for a Nahal soldier].” A Facebook page dedicated to supporting the soldier got tens of thousands of likes in 24 hours. Haaretz wrote that " The soldier’s conduct, as shown on the clip, is not irregular among soldiers in the territories. Perhaps cocking the gun could be justified, if he genuinely felt threatened. What embarrassed the army more was the rude language and threats that were recorded." For the IDF it is very problematic that there is nothing to stop the soldier in the field from expressing her opinions online. Yedioth's military analyst Alex Fishman called the 'mutiny' the first case in history where the combat soldiers are no longer afraid of their commanders. They photograph themselves (protesting) when it's clear they can be identified." Haaretz's Amos Harel writes the opposite: that they can't be identified and therefore they are fearless about expressing their views. Either way, the views expressed are very embarrassing to the IDF. The papers noted that the soldiers are 'put in an impossible situation' in the West Bank, and Israel Hayom also reported that the number of attacks on IDF soldiers in the West Bank has increased.
**'The US' price-tag' was the title Yedioth used, in an article that spread over two pages (4-5), to describe the 'severe criticism by the US administration for the Israeli treatment of price-tag operations.' The US has 'had enough' of the attacks by right-wing Jewish Israeli extremists against Palestinians in the West Bank and in Israel, wrote Yedioth, noting the report that was published early morning Wednesday Israel time. The report comes on the heels of a price-tag attack on the village of Fureidis, whose mosque was vandalized and the wheels of 20 cars in the town were punctured late Monday night Hours after the damning US report was released, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu visited Fureidis and responded for the first time to the attack, calling it 'infuriating' and saying the Shin Bet was involved in finding the perpetrators. (The day before the report came out, opposition leader and Labor party chief MK Isaac Herzog visited the village and Environment Minister Amir Peretz expressed his outrage.) Finance Minister Yair Lapid also spent Wednesday visiting Fureidis and said the perpetrators "aren't patriots or Zionists, they are only criminals." Fureidis went on strike yesterday to protest the attack. The attacks have increased in the north of Israel, noted Haaretz and Yedioth, adding, as did the US report, that not a single case has been solved. Meanwhile, another Israeli Arab man's car was vandalized in nearby Yokneam.
On the stalled peace talks front, the US has said "We've reached a point...where a pause is necessary...a holding period, where parties will figure out what they want to do next." Nevertheless, US Secretary of State John Kerry's aides said he hasn't given up on peace talks, and that the two sides will be soon forced back to the negotiating table by 'long-term need for a two-state solution.' Hard right-wing Israeli Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon wrote in Politico that Kerry's apartheid comment calls into question the U.S. role as an honest broker.
The Palestinians made the first step towards a unity government yesterday, holding a simultaneous meeting between officials in Gaza and Ramallah to discuss civil liberties in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip under the Palestinian unity government that is due to be implemented within four weeks, Maan reported. Islamic Jihad leaders traveled to Egypt to convene with other faction leaders to discuss their party's role in the unity government. It is the first time the leaders have been allowed into Egypt since the military ouster of Mohamed Morsi in July, Maan reported.
At the same time, Hamas "challenged" the reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas when it held a massive rally, green flags and all, in the heart of Ramallah yesterday. Hamas has not been able to show itself en masse in the West Bank in a long time, noted Yedioth. The rally followed the funeral of two Hamas fighters, whose bodies were transferred by Israel to the West Bank yesterday.
Noteworthy, one West Bank Hamas official told Yedioth/Ynet that coexistence with Israel was possible. "If Israel gives the Palestinian people their rights, then a type of coexistence can take place," former Palestinian minister for prisoner affairs, Safi Kabaah told reporter Elior Levy.
Also interesting, was the interview senior Hamas official in Gaza, Mahmoud al-Zahar gave to Reuters in which he said that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' claim that unity government will recognize Israel is a 'hollow gesture,' explaining that the ministers would be academics with no political authority. He also said that Abbas was taking his time to form the government in an effort to overcome US and Israeli opposition, so that US financial support will continue." Reuters noted that "Hamas leaders have said in the past that the movement could live peacefully alongside Israel if it wins a state on all Palestinian land occupied by Israel in 1967, although the Islamist group's 1988 founding charter calls for the destruction of Israel and for recovering all mandate Palestine. But it continues to say it will not recognize Israel officially." Zahar also said that Hamas would remain in charge of its own troops regardless of the latest deal and irrespective of who won national elections.
And in what may be a reconciliation gesture, the Palestinian Authority shipped medical supplies and equipment to the Gaza Strip.
The 'digital protest' of Israeli soldiers in support of a fellow soldier who threatened a Palestinian teen with his gun was the top story in most of the Israeli Hebrew newspapers this morning, with the exception of Haaretz, which put at the top the increasing number of 'price-tag' attacks on Israeli Arabs, something a new US report called 'terror without punishment.' Meanwhile, on the last official day of the period of peace talks, the Palestinians began moving forward with implementing their unity government and Hamas officials gave very interesting interviews to Ynet and Reuters, detailing what that would mean vis-a-vis Israel.
The IDF is very worried about the first 'online mutiny' after thousands of Israeli soldiers used Facebook and other social networks to express solidarity with David Admov, who was caught on camera cocking his weapon at a Palestinian teenager in Hebron. (See photos and videos here.) The IDF spokesman said Wednesday that the soldier’s conduct toward the Palestinians “is irregular and not in keeping with what is expected of him.” But other Israeli soldiers did not agree. Hundreds posted pictures of themselves with posters saying “I too am with David Hanahlawi [Hebrew slang for a Nahal soldier].” A Facebook page dedicated to supporting the soldier got tens of thousands of likes in 24 hours. Haaretz wrote that " The soldier’s conduct, as shown on the clip, is not irregular among soldiers in the territories. Perhaps cocking the gun could be justified, if he genuinely felt threatened. What embarrassed the army more was the rude language and threats that were recorded." For the IDF it is very problematic that there is nothing to stop the soldier in the field from expressing her opinions online. Yedioth's military analyst Alex Fishman called the 'mutiny' the first case in history where the combat soldiers are no longer afraid of their commanders. They photograph themselves (protesting) when it's clear they can be identified." Haaretz's Amos Harel writes the opposite: that they can't be identified and therefore they are fearless about expressing their views. Either way, the views expressed are very embarrassing to the IDF. The papers noted that the soldiers are 'put in an impossible situation' in the West Bank, and Israel Hayom also reported that the number of attacks on IDF soldiers in the West Bank has increased.
**'The US' price-tag' was the title Yedioth used, in an article that spread over two pages (4-5), to describe the 'severe criticism by the US administration for the Israeli treatment of price-tag operations.' The US has 'had enough' of the attacks by right-wing Jewish Israeli extremists against Palestinians in the West Bank and in Israel, wrote Yedioth, noting the report that was published early morning Wednesday Israel time. The report comes on the heels of a price-tag attack on the village of Fureidis, whose mosque was vandalized and the wheels of 20 cars in the town were punctured late Monday night Hours after the damning US report was released, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu visited Fureidis and responded for the first time to the attack, calling it 'infuriating' and saying the Shin Bet was involved in finding the perpetrators. (The day before the report came out, opposition leader and Labor party chief MK Isaac Herzog visited the village and Environment Minister Amir Peretz expressed his outrage.) Finance Minister Yair Lapid also spent Wednesday visiting Fureidis and said the perpetrators "aren't patriots or Zionists, they are only criminals." Fureidis went on strike yesterday to protest the attack. The attacks have increased in the north of Israel, noted Haaretz and Yedioth, adding, as did the US report, that not a single case has been solved. Meanwhile, another Israeli Arab man's car was vandalized in nearby Yokneam.
On the stalled peace talks front, the US has said "We've reached a point...where a pause is necessary...a holding period, where parties will figure out what they want to do next." Nevertheless, US Secretary of State John Kerry's aides said he hasn't given up on peace talks, and that the two sides will be soon forced back to the negotiating table by 'long-term need for a two-state solution.' Hard right-wing Israeli Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon wrote in Politico that Kerry's apartheid comment calls into question the U.S. role as an honest broker.
The Palestinians made the first step towards a unity government yesterday, holding a simultaneous meeting between officials in Gaza and Ramallah to discuss civil liberties in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip under the Palestinian unity government that is due to be implemented within four weeks, Maan reported. Islamic Jihad leaders traveled to Egypt to convene with other faction leaders to discuss their party's role in the unity government. It is the first time the leaders have been allowed into Egypt since the military ouster of Mohamed Morsi in July, Maan reported.
At the same time, Hamas "challenged" the reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas when it held a massive rally, green flags and all, in the heart of Ramallah yesterday. Hamas has not been able to show itself en masse in the West Bank in a long time, noted Yedioth. The rally followed the funeral of two Hamas fighters, whose bodies were transferred by Israel to the West Bank yesterday.
Noteworthy, one West Bank Hamas official told Yedioth/Ynet that coexistence with Israel was possible. "If Israel gives the Palestinian people their rights, then a type of coexistence can take place," former Palestinian minister for prisoner affairs, Safi Kabaah told reporter Elior Levy.
Also interesting, was the interview senior Hamas official in Gaza, Mahmoud al-Zahar gave to Reuters in which he said that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' claim that unity government will recognize Israel is a 'hollow gesture,' explaining that the ministers would be academics with no political authority. He also said that Abbas was taking his time to form the government in an effort to overcome US and Israeli opposition, so that US financial support will continue." Reuters noted that "Hamas leaders have said in the past that the movement could live peacefully alongside Israel if it wins a state on all Palestinian land occupied by Israel in 1967, although the Islamist group's 1988 founding charter calls for the destruction of Israel and for recovering all mandate Palestine. But it continues to say it will not recognize Israel officially." Zahar also said that Hamas would remain in charge of its own troops regardless of the latest deal and irrespective of who won national elections.
And in what may be a reconciliation gesture, the Palestinian Authority shipped medical supplies and equipment to the Gaza Strip.
Quick Hits:
- Locals: Israeli forces occupy Palestinian home near Nablus - Israeli troops raided the village of Awarta Tuesday night and occupied the home of Muhammad Said Sharab, locking the residents in one room and forbidding them from using their cellphones or leaving. The house is located near the illegal Israeli settlement of Itamar. (Maan)
- Italian lawmakers visit Hebron, meet mayor - During a visit to the municipality of Hebron Tuesday, chairman of Italy’s Left Ecology Freedom party Nichi Vendola said he was angered upon seeing the “Palestinian people living in a big jail inside their homeland.” (Maan)
- Israeli bulldozers demolish homes in Hebron-area refugee camp - Bulldozers under Israeli army protection entered al-Arrub refugee camp and demolished two houses sparking clashes between Israeli troops and local youths at the scene. (Maan)
- Israel bars Palestinian’s return to Israel for burial - Medical student Rafa Zarzur was apparently shot during robbery in Ukraine after Israel refused to let him return. (Haaretz+)
- Israel returns remains of Hamas fighters killed in 1998 - More than 1,000 people gathered for funerals of Imad Awadallah, 48, and his 46-year-old brother Adel, two Hamas fighters Israel killed in 1998, whose remains were returned by Israel overnight Wednesday. They also handed over the bodies of two others, including a suicide bomber who blew himself up at a Jerusalem restaurant (Sbarro) in 2001 during the Second Intifada. (Agencies, Maan)
- Palestinian at Auschwitz: 'Whoever compares it to the Nakba is wrong' - "Traitor, you sold yourself to the Jews," were the reactions to the visit of a lecturer and 27 Palestinian students to the extermination camp. Everyone was silent, except for one student who wrote about her experience in The Atlantic. (Ynet Hebrew and The Atlantic)
- Violence at a demonstration against military recruitment of Arabs - At one of two demonstrations held at Hebrew University by Arab students opposing Arab recruitment to IDF scrimmage broke out between the students and university security. Police detained 3 Arab students. (Yedioth, p. 18)
- Senior political source confirms: Reconciliation deal with Turkey imminent - Israel and Turkey are expected to announce reconciliation agreement and return to normalization within two weeks, political source in Jerusalem confirmed. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- Watchdog approves sale of Makor Rishon daily to Sheldon Adelson - David Gilo does not impose restrictions despite Adelson ownership of Israel Hayom. (Haaretz)
- Pope's visit will disrupt prayers, say Western Wall officials - With Pope Francis planning to go to the Western Wall on a Monday morning, officials say his visit would interfere with morning prayers and scheduled bar mitzvah ceremonies. Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz: Western Wall plaza cannot be closed for even a moment. (Israel Hayom)
- Israel, U.S., and Canada to hold joint aerial drill this summer - Israel to partner with its two North American allies in order to improve cooperation against terror attacks on civilian planes. (Haaretz)
- Palestinian shot, injured in northern Gaza - Israeli guards in a watchtower at the Erez checkpoint opened fire at a Palestinian laborer in his 20s. (Maan)
- Israel smashes Palestinian terror cell linked to Hamas - Shin Bet statement says that seven members of cell, including Israeli national, were making explosives, planning bombing and shooting attacks on Israeli targets. (Ynet)
- Gaza's take on Pharrell's hit song 'Happy' shows brighter side of the Strip - Upbeat Oscar-nominated song has spawned tribute videos worldwide, including from Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Istanbul and the Gaza Strip. (Haaretz, VIDEO)
Features:
Palestinians demand control over planning in West Bank
With demolition orders issued against 100 of 170 homes in Diraat Al-Rifaiyya, local authorities plead to be given power to grant building permits. Unlike most of the Jewish communities here, Diraat Al-Rifaiyya and other Palestinian villages have no master plans. Without a master plan, it is impossible for the village to build. This week Diraat, backed by several Israeli non-governmental organizations (NGOs) appealed to the Israeli Supreme Court, asking for planning authority in Area C. (Ynet)
Commentary/Analysis:
With demolition orders issued against 100 of 170 homes in Diraat Al-Rifaiyya, local authorities plead to be given power to grant building permits. Unlike most of the Jewish communities here, Diraat Al-Rifaiyya and other Palestinian villages have no master plans. Without a master plan, it is impossible for the village to build. This week Diraat, backed by several Israeli non-governmental organizations (NGOs) appealed to the Israeli Supreme Court, asking for planning authority in Area C. (Ynet)
Commentary/Analysis:
Israel isn't trying to find 'price tag' perps, Israeli Arabs accuse (Jack
Khoury, Haaretz+) With hate crime on the rise and cracked cases non-existent, ask every Israeli
Arab and he'll tell you: Israel can find the culprits. It just doesn't want to.
Israeli society will pay the price for 'price tag' (Former minister Ophir Pines-Paz, Yedioth/Ynet) When Jewish extremists torch mosques and spray graffiti like 'Arabs out,' we must remember the lessons of the Holocaust.
Shooting us all in the foot (Nadav Shragai, Israel Hayom) An open religious war is the last thing any sane person should be interested in, but that is exactly where the perpetrators of these "price-tag" hate crimes are dangerously close to dragging us.
'Price tag' crime crosses the Green Line into Israel (Chaim Levinson, Haaretz+) Hate crimes have crossed over due to more efficient policing, but also because perpetrators know it is in Israel that they must battle for the public's mind and heart.
IDF must put an end to virtual protest (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) If from now on every military or political issue provokes an online protest from soldiers, Israeli army's power of deterrence will pay a heavy price.
The IDF's first digital rebellion (Gili Cohen and Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Comrades-in-arms rally around soldier who was filmed threatening a Palestinian man, teaching their commanders a lesson or two about the new reality of social media.
Kerry was wrong: In Israel, there may never be apartheid. In the West Bank, it’s already here (Peter Beinart, Haaretz+) Defending Kerry’s statement by citing similar statements made by pro-Israel Jews perpetuates the myth that no one else is allowed to criticize.
Apartheid? Not in our neck of the woods (Boaz Bismuth, Israel Hayom) Perhaps the time has come for us to understand just how different the reality in South Africa was in 1948-1994 from the reality in Israel.
Is this not apartheid? (Gideon Levy, Haaretz) With friends like John Kerry, who retracted his true and well-meaning warning under pressure from the U.S. Jewish lobby, Israel doesn’t need enemies.
US must prove it is irreplaceable as peace (Shimon Shiffer, Yedioth/Ynet) Agreement between Israel and Palestinians will only be reached with deep American involvement, as long as US starts acting like a world power again.
The truth, off the record (Haaretz Editorial) Unlike an audio recording, the tragedy that is gradually taking shape here won’t be possible to rewind or erase.
Kerry is right, Apartheid in Israel is closer than ever (Cielo Rosenberg, NRG Hebrew) Israel should impose autonomy on the Palestinians and end control over them, otherwise we will arrive at a state of apartheid. Netanyahu has also said things in a similar vein.
Kerry will escape (Richard Baehr, Israel Hayom) As we have seen over the last 10 years, the most vicious charges against Israel tend to become mainstream.
With status quo on its side, Israel happily rejects peace (Saeb Erekat, Maan) Last week, after we announced our national reconciliation agreement, Israel contradicted its own argument: suddenly peace was impossible due to Palestinian unity. Today, Netanyahu and those representing him, including Lapid, Yaalon, Lieberman, Bennett and Ariel, are creating a new excuse to avoid the necessary decisions for peace.
UN irrelevance (Zalman Shoval, Israel Hayom) The U.N. and its "soldiers" could never serve as a substitute for the ironclad principle that only Israel can defend itself.
Israel has an opportunity to destroy Hamas (Efraim Halevy, Yedioth/Ynet) We should take advantage of Palestinian organization's current weakness to remove threat from its root.
Despite everything, Zionism won (Dr. Gabi Avital, Israel Hayom) What would the doomsday prophets say to the fact that today, for the first time since World War II, the number of Jews in the world is higher than it was before the war?
Abu Mazen has forgotten that the Holocaust was carried out with Palestinian aid (Dr. Mordechai Keidar, NRG Hebrew) Founder of the Palestinian movement, Mufti Haj Amin al-Husseini, provided assistance to the Nazi extermination machine and that is what the Palestinian Authority Chairman is trying to forget.
Back to square one (Ari Shavit, Haaretz+) We need a realistic idea that will let us leave the territories carefully, without being liable to the Palestinian leadership’s deceptions.
Kerry fails to learn history (Prof. Avraham Ben-Zvi, Israel Hayom) Since John Kerry was sworn in as secretary of state, American diplomacy has shown symptoms of schizophrenia.
In the event of a real alarm (Yossi Klein, Haaretz+) During Memorial Day ceremonies they talk of who fell in the past, and those yet to fall in the future. They don’t talk about the day the wars are over for good, because no one believes that such a day will come
Guess who came to the Israeli ambassador's secret seder (Barak Ravid, Haaretz) Ron Dermer refuses to divulge who he hosted at his Washington home over Passover, other than guest of honor Secretary of State John Kerry. What has he got to hide?
Israeli society will pay the price for 'price tag' (Former minister Ophir Pines-Paz, Yedioth/Ynet) When Jewish extremists torch mosques and spray graffiti like 'Arabs out,' we must remember the lessons of the Holocaust.
Shooting us all in the foot (Nadav Shragai, Israel Hayom) An open religious war is the last thing any sane person should be interested in, but that is exactly where the perpetrators of these "price-tag" hate crimes are dangerously close to dragging us.
'Price tag' crime crosses the Green Line into Israel (Chaim Levinson, Haaretz+) Hate crimes have crossed over due to more efficient policing, but also because perpetrators know it is in Israel that they must battle for the public's mind and heart.
IDF must put an end to virtual protest (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) If from now on every military or political issue provokes an online protest from soldiers, Israeli army's power of deterrence will pay a heavy price.
The IDF's first digital rebellion (Gili Cohen and Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Comrades-in-arms rally around soldier who was filmed threatening a Palestinian man, teaching their commanders a lesson or two about the new reality of social media.
Kerry was wrong: In Israel, there may never be apartheid. In the West Bank, it’s already here (Peter Beinart, Haaretz+) Defending Kerry’s statement by citing similar statements made by pro-Israel Jews perpetuates the myth that no one else is allowed to criticize.
Apartheid? Not in our neck of the woods (Boaz Bismuth, Israel Hayom) Perhaps the time has come for us to understand just how different the reality in South Africa was in 1948-1994 from the reality in Israel.
Is this not apartheid? (Gideon Levy, Haaretz) With friends like John Kerry, who retracted his true and well-meaning warning under pressure from the U.S. Jewish lobby, Israel doesn’t need enemies.
US must prove it is irreplaceable as peace (Shimon Shiffer, Yedioth/Ynet) Agreement between Israel and Palestinians will only be reached with deep American involvement, as long as US starts acting like a world power again.
The truth, off the record (Haaretz Editorial) Unlike an audio recording, the tragedy that is gradually taking shape here won’t be possible to rewind or erase.
Kerry is right, Apartheid in Israel is closer than ever (Cielo Rosenberg, NRG Hebrew) Israel should impose autonomy on the Palestinians and end control over them, otherwise we will arrive at a state of apartheid. Netanyahu has also said things in a similar vein.
Kerry will escape (Richard Baehr, Israel Hayom) As we have seen over the last 10 years, the most vicious charges against Israel tend to become mainstream.
With status quo on its side, Israel happily rejects peace (Saeb Erekat, Maan) Last week, after we announced our national reconciliation agreement, Israel contradicted its own argument: suddenly peace was impossible due to Palestinian unity. Today, Netanyahu and those representing him, including Lapid, Yaalon, Lieberman, Bennett and Ariel, are creating a new excuse to avoid the necessary decisions for peace.
UN irrelevance (Zalman Shoval, Israel Hayom) The U.N. and its "soldiers" could never serve as a substitute for the ironclad principle that only Israel can defend itself.
Israel has an opportunity to destroy Hamas (Efraim Halevy, Yedioth/Ynet) We should take advantage of Palestinian organization's current weakness to remove threat from its root.
Despite everything, Zionism won (Dr. Gabi Avital, Israel Hayom) What would the doomsday prophets say to the fact that today, for the first time since World War II, the number of Jews in the world is higher than it was before the war?
Abu Mazen has forgotten that the Holocaust was carried out with Palestinian aid (Dr. Mordechai Keidar, NRG Hebrew) Founder of the Palestinian movement, Mufti Haj Amin al-Husseini, provided assistance to the Nazi extermination machine and that is what the Palestinian Authority Chairman is trying to forget.
Back to square one (Ari Shavit, Haaretz+) We need a realistic idea that will let us leave the territories carefully, without being liable to the Palestinian leadership’s deceptions.
Kerry fails to learn history (Prof. Avraham Ben-Zvi, Israel Hayom) Since John Kerry was sworn in as secretary of state, American diplomacy has shown symptoms of schizophrenia.
In the event of a real alarm (Yossi Klein, Haaretz+) During Memorial Day ceremonies they talk of who fell in the past, and those yet to fall in the future. They don’t talk about the day the wars are over for good, because no one believes that such a day will come
Guess who came to the Israeli ambassador's secret seder (Barak Ravid, Haaretz) Ron Dermer refuses to divulge who he hosted at his Washington home over Passover, other than guest of honor Secretary of State John Kerry. What has he got to hide?
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.