News Nosh 08.03.14

APN's daily news review from Israel
Sunday August 03, 2014

Quote of the day:
 “If political leaders and military experts determine that the only way to achieve its goal of sustaining quiet is through genocide is it then permissible to achieve those responsible goals?”
--Question Yochanan Gordon asked in an article in the Times of Israel that called for a consideration of Israel committing genocide to create quiet in Gaza. The article was later removed.**



Front Page News:
Haaretz
Yedioth Ahronoth
  • IDF assesses: Hadar was killed
  • On our way out // Nahum Barnea
  • Courageous decision // Sima Kadmon
  • With (fallen soldier) Hadar and Baniya, deep in the Gaza Strip // Yossi Yehoshua
  • Price of the kidnapping // Alex Fishman
  • My twin brother // Zur Goldin
  • The difficult truth // Tami Arad
  • The exit from Gaza - Cabinet decided on unilateral IDF withdrawal within next few days
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links)
  • "Don't leave Gaza without Hadar"
  • Number of (IDF) fallen rose to 63; in hospitals 130 wounded; 13 critically wounded
  • Last night: IDF forces began to leave the Gaza Strip; Netanyahu: "It'll take what it takes, we will achieve the goals of the operation"
  • Cutting losses // Ben Caspit
Israel Hayom

An Israeli officer, previously thought to be captured, is declared dead and Israel decides to pull out of Gaza unilaterally, making the top two stories in most of the Hebrew papers.

Israel accused Hamas Friday of kidnapping one of its soldiers at 9:30AM Friday and thereby violating the ceasefire that went into effect an hour earlier. Israel said the incident took place while forces were searching for tunnels, a right Israel maintained as part of the ceasefire agreement.
 
Israel's security cabinet decided after a five-hour meeting Friday night that Israel will no longer seek a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip via negotiations with Hamas, Israel will not send a delegation to the Cairo truce talks and will withdraw from Gaza - or at least parts of it - unilaterally. Hamas said the clash took place at 7AM, an hour before the ceasefire began and said it had no knowledge about a kidnapped soldier. Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri also stated the Palestinians would not be bound by any unilateral decisions made by Israel. 
 
Commentators agreed that Israel's aim to end the operation unilaterally also stemmed from its fear of the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, and its desire to prevent the collapse of essential infrastructure.
  
The IDF began withdrawing troops Saturday and said that it only had a handful of tunnels left to destroy within the next few hours. Army officials said the IDF destroyed in two weeks tunnels Hamas has been digging for five years.
 
But Israel Hayom, which publishes after midnight, reported Sunday that Goldin was dead. (Indeed, he was buried today.) Nevertheless, before that became known, the West was turning against Hamas. President Barack Obama called for Goldin's immediate release and called his believed-to-be kidnapping 'barbaric."
 
UN Chief Ban Ki-moon also blamed Hamas for violating the ceasefire and called for his unconditional return. Turkey offered to help negotiate his release. Israeli Prime Minister Binaymin Netanyahu reportedly spoke sharply to US Ambassador Dan Shapiro saying, "Don't ever second-guess me again" about Hamas.
 
Before Goldin was declared dead (based on some of his remains that were found - OH), his family called on Israel not to withdraw from Gaza without him. An officer and a soldier were also killed in the clash.
 
In the search for Goldin [and possibly as part of a 'Hannibal Directive' - OH] the IDF made numerous air strikes and shot artillery fire causing massive destruction in Gaza and killing dozens more people. The IDF was not even sure that Goldin was alive, Ynet reported Saturday at around 2PM. Hamas' military wing said it believed Goldin was killed in the clash with Hamas' fighters.  
 
Haaretz has an excellent review of live updates of Day 26 of Operation Protective Edge.

Quick Hits:
  • UN identifies 1,117 Gaza casualties, 83% of them civilians - Palestinians report 1,665 killed since beginning of operation, UNICEF says at least 296 minors killed. (Ynet)
  • Civilian seriously wounded from mortar hits in Eshkol
  • Dozens of rockets fired at southern Israel during the day Saturday; at least 7 intercepted. (Ynet
  • Palestinians report 2 dead in West Bank riots - 22-year-old Tamer Smour and 19-year-old Udai Nafez said killed in clashes with IDF forces in Tulkarem Friday. (Times of Israel
  • 14 arrested during anti-war protest in Tel Aviv - Police say protest lacked a permit, broke up the rally out of concern for the safety of the demonstrators. (Haaretz
  • Anti-IDF demonstrators in Galilee hoist Palestinian flags - More than 10,000 people gather in western Galilee Arab city of Tamra for anti-government, anti-IDF demonstration led by Islamic Movement's northern branch. Sheikh Raed Saleh heads the march, attended by MK Hanin Zoabi. (Israel Hayom)
  • Former midfielder on Palestinian national team killed in Gaza air strike - 49-year-old Ahed Zaqout was not known to belong to any particular political entity and had never expressed clear political views. (Agencies, Haaretz)
  • 'Another month of war and we'll be back in the Dark Ages' - Palestinian official says "hundreds of thousands" homeless, water, power, and sewage infrastructure are badly damaged • Maj. Gen. Yoav Mordechai: Residents of Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun can go home, but terrorists may have booby-trapped buildings. (Israel HayomThe Gaza battlefield is crowded with the displaced and homeless - Many of the displaced, especially children, have developed intestinal, skin or eye diseases due to poor sanitary conditions and spoiled food. (Haaretz+)
  • VIDEO: Finnish reporter sees rockets fired from Gaza hospital - Correspondent from Finnish paper Helsingin Sanomat reports from Gaza hospital, claims to have witnessed rocket fire from location minutes earlier, Gazan admits: 'It is true that rockets are launched from here'; reporter writes on Facebook: Don't use me as propaganda. (Ynet+VIDEO
  • Gaza hospitals struggle to cope with wounded - With wards filled beyond capacity and a never-ending stream of injured people, Palestinian Health Ministry in the Strip warns of danger of uncontrolled infections, post-surgical complications. (Haaretz+) 
  • **Blog post advocating 'Gaza genocide' removed from Times of Israel website - Blogger, whose article was also removed from 5 Towns paper, expresses disappointment in Times of Israel for 'caving to pressure' and deleting his article, called 'When genocide is permissible.' [Jerusalem Post also ran an article calling for genocide and relocation. - OH] (Haaretz)
  • (Actress) Orly Weinerman continues war against those inciting against her for Facebook posts against Israel and IDF - Retired actress hired an international law firm to handle case of people inciting against her and the continuous death threats she is receiving following her FB posts against Israel and the IDF's Operation Protective Edge. [In a recent FB post she hinted that the people really behind the posts are from the government - OH] (Maariv
  • Arab nurse suspended from Sheba for Facebook post to be reinstated - Nurse who called the IDF 'war criminals' on his Facebook page will apologize for writing: "the Israel Defense Forces are war criminals, only killing innocent people, and the state is claiming [it is done] ‘by mistake and we are investigating the incident.’" (Haaretz+)
  • (Israeli singer) Rona Kenan canceled show in Haifa: "I received death threats" - Over the last two weeks, several Facebook pages were created calling to boycott the singer following her remarks calling for peace for the sake of the children of Gaza. Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav: "No one should agree to surrender like that. Every person, and in particular artists, should never give in to violent internet commenters on Facebook pages who threaten democracy in Israel." (Maariv)
  • (Channel 2 reporter) Roni Daniel: (Journalist) Amnon Abramovich is a Zionist. Those hooligans crossed the line - The colleague from Channel 2 verbally attacked right-wing protesters who physically attacked Abramovich and called "a traitor" (over the Gaza operation). (Labor party MK Shelly) Yachimovitch on the (right-wing) protesters: "a bunch who served in the army pencil pushing." (Maariv)
  • Arabs allegedly attack Jewish neighbors in Haifa - Residents say Arab neighbors vandalized property and threatened them over Operation Protective Edge. "I am just as mad as Hamas, I will kill you," one Arab neighbor reportedly says. Police hold three in custody.  Suspects' family: They are innocent. (Israel Hayom
  • Flemish Jews spurn Belgian premier’s criticism of Israel - Outgoing prime minister accuses Israel of using disproportionate force in Gaza; Forum of Jewish Organizations says PM 'ignores local circumstances.'
  •  (JTA, Haaretz
  • Russell Brand: Fox anchor trivialized Israeli-Palestinian conflict - UK comedian slams Fox's Sean Hannity, which he dubs 'ranty Hannity', for saying Israel's response in Gaza showed 'too much restraint'. (Ynet)
  • Why are Israel-supporting Jews in the music industry staying silent? - While anti-Israel sentiment is being voiced loudly and publicly, pro-Israel Jews in the entertainment industry are staying mainly silent. (Haaretz+)
  • Backstreet Boys vow to perform in Israel - American boy band member A.J. McLean says he is disappointed group had to postpone July concerts due to security risk. 'It's a horrible thing going on down there. We’re definitely praying for both sides.' (Ynet)
  • English cricketer ordered not to wear 'Save Gaza' wristbands on the field - International Cricket Council rules that while batsman Moeen Ali is free to express political views off the field, he cannot wear political wristbands while playing. (Haaretz)
  • Qatar invests in the West, and funds Hamas - The Qatari portfolio includes British supermarket giant Sainsbury's, French oil company Total, Porsche, Volkswagen, Paris Saint-Germain and FC Barcelona; it also gives millions to Hamas. (Ynet)
  • US Senate approves $225 million for Israeli 'Iron Dome' system - After earlier version blocked by Republicans over unrelated immigration crisis at US-Mexico border, Senate passes emergency funding. (Agencies, Ynet)
  • Cost of hostilities to Israel estimated at NIS 6 billion so far - Estimate includes civilian sector losses and direct military costs. (Haaretz+)
  • Ex-treasury head warns of cost of Gaza offensive - Doron Cohen is extimating a $4.3 billion loss to the Israeli economy as a result of Operation Protective Edge. (Haaretz+)
  • NY Jewish leaders pledge $200,000 to front-line hospital - Donation to Barzilai Medical Center in city of Ashkelon, which has been hit hard by Hamas rocket fire, announced during UJA-Federation of New York's solidarity visit to Israel. (Ynet)
  • Captured Israeli officer Hadar Goldin placed utmost value on army service - The 23-year-old commander became engaged just a few months ago; he has a twin brother - also a combat soldier serving in Gaza. (Haaretz+)
  • Fallen soldier’s brother urges PM to take firm stand on Gaza - Omer Gottlieb, brother of Matan, who was killed on Wednesday, tells Netanyahu to ‘either leave Gaza or destroy it.' He described himself as a left-wing Meretz voter. (Times of Israel
  • Givati Brigade commander: 'Studying Torah is best protection’ - Makes statement to ultra-Orthodox paper; at start of operation, ordered troops to 'wipe out an enemy ... who curses and defames God.’ (Haaretz)
  • Jewish and Muslim students' call for peace goes viral - Abraham Gutman, originally from Tel Aviv, and Dania Darwish, a Syrian, create #JewsAndArabsRefuseToBeEnemies to "diffuse some of the hate on social media."  "This has been such a positive force in such a negative world," says Darwish. (Israel Hayom
  • Ban lifted, but three airlines still refuse to fly to Israel - Korean Air retracts decision to resume flights between Tel Aviv and Seoul. Royal Jordanian and Air Sinai have till not resumed their service. (Haaretz+)
  • 150 Birthright participants land in Israel despite Gaza war - The group joins 6,000 Taglit-Birthright participants from the U.S. and Argentina who have completed the 10-day trip to Israel since the start of Operation Protective Edge three weeks ago. Birthright/Taglit CEO: We get phone calls every day from Taglit graduates. (Israel Hayom
  • Donations to IDF troops overflowing - but units forbidden from making requests - One infantry unit has asked for contributions on its Facebook page. In any case, there’s plenty of donated candy and other stuff to go around. (Haaretz+)
  • France could ban radical Jewish group - At least 4,500 people attend pro-Israel rally in Paris; Jewish Defence League (LDJ) could be banned after clashing with pro-Palestinian protesters. (Agencies, Ynet
  • Israeli tourists evacuated from Maldives amid Gaza fighting - After evacuation, pro-Palestinian protesters burn Israeli flag at rally in Maldives capital of Male. (JTA, Haaretz
  • Anti-Semitic incidents rise in UK as Gaza conflict rages - Jewish advisory body says 130 incidents have been recorded since start of Israeli operation in early July – the second highest month on record. (Agencies, Ynet
  • IDF puts together team to deflect war-crime allegations - Legal work is being done ahead of possible international investigations like those that followed the 2009 Gaza offensive and the Mavi Marmara incident. (Haaretz+)
  • High Court challenges state on settlement construction - State Prosecutor closed the case pertaining to Ulpana Hill outpost near the Beit El settlement some three months ago due to 'lack of public interest.' (Haaretz+)
  • Hate crime case resurrects racial wounds in NYC - Yitzhak Shuchat, of a Jewish civilian patrol group, fled to Israel after being accused of attacking local black man. (Times of Israel
  • Israel Police officer opens fire on 'Jewish Taliban' woman at the Western Wall - The woman reportedly arrived at Western Wall entrance compound wrapped in multiple layers of dresses and blankets, acting suspiciously. (Haaretz+) 

Commentary/Analysis:
Sending our sons into battle: the failure of another Israeli generation (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) We can blame the Palestinians, the Arabs and the international community all we like, but it was our responsibility to make sure our children wouldn’t have to go off and kill or be killed.
Israel should end the offensive (Haaretz Editorial) Barring surprises like the discovery of new tunnels, the cabinet’s decision to stop the fighting is based on sound logic.
Goldin in captivity: Third act of Gaza op begins (Amir Oren, Haaretz+) Four weeks into the Israeli offensive in Gaza: Iron Dome still intercepting rockets, the ground invasion continues; but efforts to bring the captive IDF officer home will prove to be the hardest act yet.
For Israel, the rules in Gaza have now changed (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) Given that Hamas deliberately violated the ceasefire in order to kidnap a soldier, Israel cannot unilaterally end the fighting now without delivering Hamas a victory.
The Shin Bet’s failure in Gaza (Amir Oren, Haaretz+) The security service’s basic purpose has become blurred over the years; it has become a kind of Military Intelligence for the occupation.
What, it took Washington 25 days to call the Gaza war barbaric? (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) The Palestinians’ famed barbarity has finally reached Washington in another Israeli public-relations feat.
Conclude operation and come home (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth/Ynet) IDF forces must leave Gaza now because they have no missions justifying their presence there.
Loudmouthed Right should ask Israeli people for forgiveness (Uri Misgav, Haaretz+) War doesn’t discriminate, but some right-wingers do by implying that some Israelis are good enough to die for their country, but not to live in it.
Pillay's dastardly 'doublethink' (Ruthie Blum, Israel Hayom) The person charged with promoting and policing global human rights has been actively abetting global jihad. Go figure. 
There are only two sides in this conflict: moderates and extremists (Achinoam Nini (Noa), Haaretz+) It’s too easy to point fingers and become extremely defensive, to stick to your own and blame the other.
Netanyahu's brave decision (Sima Kadmon, Yedioth/Ynet) Prime minister knows that ending the war in Gaza in a unilateral withdrawal marks the beginning of a new war at home, against his own political camp.
U.S. in race to divert Israel from all-out war on Hamas (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) The administration’s public outrage at suspected capture of Hadar Goldin gives Israel new leeway but is also meant to avert a go-it-alone mentality.
Global media smells blood (Boaz Bismuth, Israel Hayom) All the cameras today are pointed at Gaza, and the images are growing increasingly difficult to stomach 
Capturing of soldier should not shape the face of the war (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Despite the pain and sadness following Friday morning's attack - as well the expected public pressure - the cabinet must remain calm and make rational decisions. 
Why, for the first time ever, is Hamas claiming not to have seized a soldier? (Avi Issacharoff, Times of Israel) Gaza’s Islamist rulers invariably play up such ‘achievements.’ Are they lying when they say they know nothing of the fate of Hadar Goldin?
Spilling and defending blood (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) The only way to respond to Hamas' Nazi-like ideology is to return war with equal force.
Hamas claims its prize and deepens its isolation (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) By snatching an Israeli officer, the Islamist group has alienated powerful players on the Mideast stage and blown the cease-fire to smithereens.
Let diplomacy win, because an army can't (Ariana Melamed, Yedioth/Ynet) IDF can destroy every house in Gaza and kill any terrorist emerging from a tunnel, but in the 21st century war is won in the negotiating room.
Switching gears (Shlomo Cesana, Israel Hayom) While grateful for the operational leeway the U.S. has given Israel during Operation Protective Edge, Jerusalem is perplexed by President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry's negligent diplomatic stance, which has juxtaposed Hamas with Israel.
On Gaza, Israel is losing the Obama coalition (Peter Beinart, Haaretz+) As America grows less nationalistic, less hawkish, and less religious it will grow less sympathetic to an Israel defined by exactly those characteristics. 
Crush the monster while it's still small (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) Israel will be committing a crime against itself and against the free world if it fails to forcibly demilitarize Gaza before it's too late.
The Qatari code of silence (Boaz Bismuth and Eli Leon, Israel Hayom) WikiLeaks documents prove that the U.S. has known for years that Qatar has been bankrolling Hamas. Tiny Persian Gulf state's involvement in recent Israel-Hamas conflict has managed to turn it into major player in international politics. 
For Hamas, kidnapping isn't a win, only a bargaining chip (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) Hamas is in no rush to take responsibility and legitimate an Israeli attack.
The decision to begin withdrawing from the Gaza Strip - the most logical and out of lack of choice (Ben Caspit, Maariv) Netanyahu, Ya'alon and Gantz admit that they have no solution. With all its power, Israel cannot defeat Hamas, not even extract a ceasefire. After more than 60 soldiers killed, with an international credit problem and an approaching humanitarian catastrophe, the smartest thing to do right now is lower (Israel's) profile. 
Netanyahu finally realizes: Abbas is not Hamas (Barak Ravid, Haaretz+) Justice Minister Tzipi Livni is behind Israel’s decision to embark on a different diplomatic approach to Gaza, one that will strengthen more moderate forces and leave Hamas in the cold.
Sayed Kashua can write what he wants from New York. And it's scary. (Sayed Kashua, Haaretz+) It's different to hear about the ground invasion of Gaza when sitting in the Big Daddy diner on Broadway, with pictures of Elvis and Marilyn Monroe on the walls.
March of folly (Abraham Ben-Zvi, Israel Hayom) The more time U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry spends in the Middle East, the less he understands the intricacies of the forces at play. The out-of-control Kerry is behaving like a man without a cogent strategic plan and with no clear objectives.
IDF’s worrisome shortcomings revealed in Gaza operation (Haaretz Friday Editorial) The Israeli army relies too much on air force, neglects ground forces, a failure most prominent in handling of Hamas' tunnels.
Tunnel vision: Digging for tunnels, attacking commanders (Yossi Yehoshua, Yedioth/Ynet) IDF intelligence forces say Hamas efforts to dig Gaza terror tunnels are professional and wide reaching; meanwhile, IDF targets homes of commanders, begging question: What is the operation's true target - tunnels or Hamas' leadership? 
After the unilateral withdrawal, what’s next? (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) With the IDF exiting Gaza without a cease-fire, the next stage of the war will depend on Hamas.
From Israel's point of view, Operation Protective Edge is over (Yossi Melman, Maariv) Hamas' violation of the recent was the straw that broke the camel's back. Israel understood that there is no point in dialogue, not even indirectly. IDF hopes its deterrence was returned, and that the Lebanon effect will also come to Gaza. 
Kerry’s no alien or schlemiel. Israel is the side that must adjust (Yoel Marcus, Haaretz+) Our army knows what it’s doing; let’s hope our leaders do too and relaunch peace talks when the Gaza fighting ends. 
Can Obama pressure Israel effectively? (Yoram Ettinger, Israel Hayom) On a rainy day, the U.S. is better off with a defiant, rather than a feeble, Israel. 
America’s 'allies’: Qatar and Turkey are accessories to Hamas’ war crimes (Alan M. Dershowitz, Haaretz+) Qatar and Turkey are among the worst villains in the Gaza tragedy and should be treated as pariahs unless and until they stop becoming state sponsors, supporters and facilitators of terrorism. 
Don't hurt the good neighbors (Boaz Bismuth, Israel Hayom) We have enough enemies, so let's make friends with those who live here with us, who hold the same passports that we do. 
Netanyahu devises an exit strategy, with a touch of risk management (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) If rocket fire continues after IDF forces pull out of Gaza, the prime minister is likely to be held responsible for national humiliation.


Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.