APN's daily news review from Israel
Sunday October 12, 2014
Quote of the day:
"But here’s the surprising development of October 2014: There’s no need to feel ashamed any longer. If the
response in both the mainstream media and social networks is anything to go by, most Israelis seem to accept
the choice of an estimated 10,000 Israelis to live in Berlin."
--Haaretz's Anshel Pfeffer writes that the 'Milky pudding protest' has shown that emigrating from
Israel - even to Germany - is no longer looked down upon by society.**
Front Page News:
Haaretz
- ISIS tightening siege on Turkish border and advancing toward Baghdad
- Israeli youth who joined ISIS was killed in Iraq
- At request of Egypt, Netanyahu gave up participation in the Gaza rehabilitation conference
- Palestinians: 5,000 Gazans permitted to work in Israel
- More than 4,000 dead from Ebola outbreak
- Nobel Peace Prize to girl who fought for women's education in Pakistan and to activist for children's rights in India
- How do the Germans succeed to lowering prices more than prices in Israel?
Yedioth Ahronoth
- The family was destroyed - Tragedy during holiday: Father and daughter killed in car accident near Arad
- "Defense Ministry is delaying (transfer of) tens of millions of shekels for the welfare of the combat soldiers"
- Last souvenir from Peru [Photo of friends who traveled in Peru including young woman killed in rafting accident)
- The girl who won // Shimon Peres on awarding of Nobel Prize for Peace to Malala Yousafazai
- Richard Gere will star in film by (Israeli) director Yosef Cedar
- From Berlin, with protest - The Israeli who began the 'Milky' pudding storm responds from Germany: "I am a patriot, I will return one day to Israel"
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Israeli in the service of ISIS
- The world is indifferent // Yossi Melman
- Only a few (Israeli Arabs join) // Yaron Blum
- US: Fear of wave of terror attacks in Europe
- Body of second youth who went missing (in rafting accident) in Peru was found
- The holiday that ended in tragedy - Deadly accident in south
Israel Hayom
- Disaster on the way home - Family trip to Dead Sea ended in tragedy
- The West is bombing - and ISIS is conquering; Report: Ahmed Habashi, Israeli from the Galilee, joined ISIS and was killed in Iraq
- Dispute in the north: "An airport will make our lives bitter"
- Rafting disaster in Peru: The corpse of the Israeli traveler was found
- Recognition of the symbol of determination, courage and the desire to live: Nobel Peace Prize to Malala Yousafazai
News Summary:
An Israeli family destroyed in a terrible car accident in the south, an Israeli-Arab reportedly killed fighting in the ranks of ISIS in Iraq, the finding of the body of the second young Israeli killed in a rafting accident in Peru made the top stories in Hebrew papers today.
Meanwhile, the international Gaza rehabilitation conference opened today in Cairo with a record financial plea by the UN for donors to pledge $1.6 billion to rebuild Gaza after the devastation from Operation Protective Edge. Half would go towards building homes. The Palestinians have asked for $4 billion, but donors are concerned their money will go to naught if another round of war opens between Israel and Hamas. Attending the conference is US Secretary of State John Kerry, who is expected to call for renewed talks between the Israelis and Palestinians. Israel decided not to insist on attending the conference after Egypt requested Israel to stay away in order not to cause many Arab states, including the big donors like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, to cancel, Haaretz+ reported.
An Israeli family destroyed in a terrible car accident in the south, an Israeli-Arab reportedly killed fighting in the ranks of ISIS in Iraq, the finding of the body of the second young Israeli killed in a rafting accident in Peru made the top stories in Hebrew papers today.
Meanwhile, the international Gaza rehabilitation conference opened today in Cairo with a record financial plea by the UN for donors to pledge $1.6 billion to rebuild Gaza after the devastation from Operation Protective Edge. Half would go towards building homes. The Palestinians have asked for $4 billion, but donors are concerned their money will go to naught if another round of war opens between Israel and Hamas. Attending the conference is US Secretary of State John Kerry, who is expected to call for renewed talks between the Israelis and Palestinians. Israel decided not to insist on attending the conference after Egypt requested Israel to stay away in order not to cause many Arab states, including the big donors like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, to cancel, Haaretz+ reported.
Quick Hits:
- Israel, Palestinians to cooperate on preventing local Ebola outbreak - Netanyahu says 'Israel prepared to stop people infected with Ebola from entering'; after Israeli, Palestinians official meet, decide Israel will train Palestinian, Jordanian medical teams to fight virus. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- Report: attack on Har Dov - on Iran's orders - The explosions adjacent to the border last week were in response to an Israeli attack on the Islamic Republic's nuclear facility, according to Kuwaiti daily, 'Al-Rai.' (Maariv and Haaretz)
- Officials in Israeli and British Labor parties trying to thwart vote on recognition of Palestine - Letter written by MK Hilik Bar and disseminated by Labor's Friends of Israel implores British MPs to oppose or abstain on Monday's vote, saying that 'unilateral moves play into the hands of Israel's hard right.' (Haaretz+)
- Britain's Labour party facing rebellion over vote on Palestine - Senior members irate over decision by party leader Ed Miliband to impose whip on Monday vote; Israeli Labor party urges MPs to boycott vote. (Ynet)
- Palestinian church leaders call on British MPs to recognize Palestine - Letter sent by over 100 Palestinian notables on eve of vote in the House of Commons on non-binding motion that the U.K. recognize Palestinian state. (Haaretz)
- East Jerusalem resident murdered, following sale of home to settlers - Tensions in Silwan rose markedly since a group of young settlers moved into a home in the neighborhood earlier this week. (Haaretz+)
- Settlers suspected of attacking Palestinians in West Bank - Family from Yasuf village says that while they were harvesting olives, seven settlers from Tapuach assaulted them; mother lightly wounded in her leg. Two settlers arrested. (Ynet and Maariv and Maan)
- French city suspends twinship with Safed (Tsfat) over Gaza war to pressure Israel- Lille had plans to join partnership with Safed and Palestinian city of Nablus . Head of French Jewish umbrella organization tells Lille mayor the decision "expresses hatred of Israeli people." Safed mayor: Lille has caved to the forces of extremism. (Israel Hayom and Haaretz)
- Ex-IDF colonel to hold indirect talks with Hamas to return soldiers' bodies - Col. (res.) Lior Lotan, newly appointed by Netanyahu to coordinate efforts on captives, will negotiate for retrieval of bodies of Hadar Goldin, Oron Shaul from Gaza. (Haaretz)
- Hamas: "Only we will discuss the (Palestinian) prisoners and (Israeli) bodies (exchange)" - Hamas told the Egyptian mediators that the united Palestinian delegation may negotiate only over the airport and seaport. Senior Hamas official: Group is prepared to begin talks with Israel to hand over bodies of Sgt. Oron Shaul and Lt. Hadar Goldin. Hamas' military wing called on young people to join its ranks. (Maariv and Israel Hayom)
- "The Palestinians are establishing illegal settlements in the region under the auspices of the government and the State Prosecutor" - "This poses a demographic danger to settlement," said Bekaat Yarden Council Chairman David Elhyani. "It's time to apply sovereignty over the Jordan Valley." (Maariv)
- International banking giant refuses to cut off Israel, despite boycott calls - SWIFT rejects pressures to disconnect Israeli banks from its networks. (Haaretz+)
- Iran 'tells US that toppling Assad would endanger Israel' - Iranian deputy foreign minister confirms that Washington and Tehran have exchanged messages over fighting Islamic State militants. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Report: UN had Qatar pay off Al-Qaida fighters for release of Fiji peacekeepers - Israeli Channel 2 airs footage purportedly showing transaction taking place near Syria-Israel border, claims $25 million were paid to Nusra Front despite UN denials. (Haaretz)
- 2 Israelis listed among 25 most powerful women in television - Influential Hollywood Reporter lists veteran news reporter Ilana Dayan for breaking the glass ceiling for women as a journalist at Israel's Army Radio, and Tamira Yardeni for her numerous successes as a television producer. (Israel Hayom)
- Israel's satellite television provider to drop BBC World - Venerable British news outlet widely considered antagonistic by Israelis, but YES satellite television company cites only low ratings, not politics, in decision. (Haaretz+)
- Richard Gere to star in Joseph Cedar's new film - One of Hollywood's biggest stars to play lead role in award-winning Israeli director's new production, which will be shot in Israel and in New York. (Yedioth/Ynet)
Features:
Disappearing wills
Many in Israel and abroad choose to bequeath their fortune to soldiers in need of help, some even say exactly to which military unit they want to donate. But Justice Minister Tzipi Livni accuses the Defense Ministry in a sharp letter of violating the last wills - and transferring the millions of shekels that were bequeathed to other places. Defense Minister's bureau: When we receive (Livni's) letter, we'll deal with it. (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth, p. 8)
Israel’s 100 most influential: A force for no change at all
Tycoons, politicians and much of the media work together to make sure they are on TheMarker’s list for next year as well. (Haaretz+)
Profile of an elite IDF soldier: Lessons I learned can't be learned anywhere else
Two reservist fighters from the Duvedevan unit have written a book about their experiences; here they discuss some memorable moments, including the 2002 arrest of Fatah strongman Marwan Barghouti and the hunt for the missing teens this summer. (Yedioth/Ynet)
Armed with guitars, flutes and love
Researcher Anat Roth came to Kfar Maimon in 2005 to document the disengagement from Gaza. When she arrived, she thought settlers were a violent, extremist, dangerous bunch. By the time she left, she found a huge gap between perception and reality. (Nadav Shragai, Israel Hayom)
Tehran 90210: Rich kids of Iran live out of the reach of the Revolutionary Guard
The sports cars, swimming pools and booze-soaked parties of Iran's young and wealthy is a world away from what we have come to expect from the Islamic Republic. (Yedioth/Ynet)
Commentary/Analysis:
Many in Israel and abroad choose to bequeath their fortune to soldiers in need of help, some even say exactly to which military unit they want to donate. But Justice Minister Tzipi Livni accuses the Defense Ministry in a sharp letter of violating the last wills - and transferring the millions of shekels that were bequeathed to other places. Defense Minister's bureau: When we receive (Livni's) letter, we'll deal with it. (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth, p. 8)
Israel’s 100 most influential: A force for no change at all
Tycoons, politicians and much of the media work together to make sure they are on TheMarker’s list for next year as well. (Haaretz+)
Profile of an elite IDF soldier: Lessons I learned can't be learned anywhere else
Two reservist fighters from the Duvedevan unit have written a book about their experiences; here they discuss some memorable moments, including the 2002 arrest of Fatah strongman Marwan Barghouti and the hunt for the missing teens this summer. (Yedioth/Ynet)
Armed with guitars, flutes and love
Researcher Anat Roth came to Kfar Maimon in 2005 to document the disengagement from Gaza. When she arrived, she thought settlers were a violent, extremist, dangerous bunch. By the time she left, she found a huge gap between perception and reality. (Nadav Shragai, Israel Hayom)
Tehran 90210: Rich kids of Iran live out of the reach of the Revolutionary Guard
The sports cars, swimming pools and booze-soaked parties of Iran's young and wealthy is a world away from what we have come to expect from the Islamic Republic. (Yedioth/Ynet)
Commentary/Analysis:
Fatah, Hamas must rebuild relationship, too (Jack Khoury, Haaretz+) Thursday’s meeting between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas in Gaza was
momentous, but it’s uncertain whether either side can bury past differences.
Hitting a nerve (Shlomo Cesana, Israel Hayom) When the prime minister criticized the White House for acting against American values, his language was easy for the Americans to understand, it permeated public opinion and shook the administration to its feet.
One-state Israel, 2035: A morning in the land of boiling frogs (Asher Schechter, Haaretz+) Miriam ponders life in Israel 2035, as she sips her rosemary tea in the shelter of her isolated home.
Easing Gaza restrictions is the new two-state solution (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) Israel now admits that the almost-airtight blockade of Gaza has done more harm than good; on eve of Cairo truce talks, Israel shifts its focus to easing the lives of Palestinians in return for greater oversight over Hamas. This is how Israel hopes to restore calm to its south.
Now is the chance for Israel and Palestinians to renew the peace talks (Haaretz Editorial) The Palestinian Authority's return to Gaza and its commitment to the two-state solution should be seen by Israel as an opportunity.
Weapons of mass distraction (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) Can you believe it? Groups hiding arms in places of worship, schools, even kindergartens. Welcome to pre-state Israel, where comparisons with Gaza are not welcome.
Netanyahu does not understand the New America: We must have an intimate relationship with the US administration (Udi Segal, Maariv) Just before the elections to the Senate, the Prime Minister decided to reveal to Obama who the US is and what values guide it and he sparked a new crisis with the government. However, with the Iranian threat and Obama's limited authority on foreign affairs, it's actually the time to strengthen ties between the two countries.
Why the attorney general must go (Raviv Drucker, Haaretz+) There is no place at the pinnacle of the Israeli justice system for Yehuda Weinstein, who dislikes investigations or public trials of senior figures.
Hillel, intimidation and ‘free speech’ for Jewish students on Israel (Martin R. Federman, Haaretz+) A former Hillel director asks Hillel International’s CEO why his organization’s Israel guidelines seek to limit free speech and critical views of Israel by Jewish students on campus.
Hillel's pluralism on Israel doesn't mean a platform for anti-Israel, BDS activists (Eric Fingerhut, Haaretz) Hillel's inclusivity means listening to the 'Open Hillel' campaign's small group of activists, even though they don't represent the values of the overwhelming number of Jewish students. But our Israel debate guidelines remain clear.
Netanyahu and Lapid are charlatans of the lowest order (Yossi Sarid, Haaretz+) I'd love to be able to apologize to the prime minister and finance minister for writing ill of them. Unfortunately, every word has been true.
Israelis must let go of self-flagellation (Elisheva Mazya, Ynet) If those who write about how expensive it is here and why we shouldn't continue living here would get their nose out of Facebook, they would realize things are not so bad here.
Israel’s leaders are to blame for the emigration to Berlin (Nadav Eyal, Haaretz+) The politicians must stop telling lies about housing and supermarket prices if we don’t want the country to turn into a poor, ignorant plantation economy.
Laughing their way to the bank (Ruthie Blum, Israel Hayom) o raise the billions necessary for rebuilding Gaza and renewing the business of kidnapping and killing Israelis, Fatah and Hamas are playing the unity game.
**Forget pudding prices: Israelis have shattered a great taboo (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) Yitzhak Rabin once called Israelis who left the country ‘a cascade of wimps.’ He’s probably turning in his grave.
Hitting a nerve (Shlomo Cesana, Israel Hayom) When the prime minister criticized the White House for acting against American values, his language was easy for the Americans to understand, it permeated public opinion and shook the administration to its feet.
One-state Israel, 2035: A morning in the land of boiling frogs (Asher Schechter, Haaretz+) Miriam ponders life in Israel 2035, as she sips her rosemary tea in the shelter of her isolated home.
Easing Gaza restrictions is the new two-state solution (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) Israel now admits that the almost-airtight blockade of Gaza has done more harm than good; on eve of Cairo truce talks, Israel shifts its focus to easing the lives of Palestinians in return for greater oversight over Hamas. This is how Israel hopes to restore calm to its south.
Now is the chance for Israel and Palestinians to renew the peace talks (Haaretz Editorial) The Palestinian Authority's return to Gaza and its commitment to the two-state solution should be seen by Israel as an opportunity.
Weapons of mass distraction (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) Can you believe it? Groups hiding arms in places of worship, schools, even kindergartens. Welcome to pre-state Israel, where comparisons with Gaza are not welcome.
Netanyahu does not understand the New America: We must have an intimate relationship with the US administration (Udi Segal, Maariv) Just before the elections to the Senate, the Prime Minister decided to reveal to Obama who the US is and what values guide it and he sparked a new crisis with the government. However, with the Iranian threat and Obama's limited authority on foreign affairs, it's actually the time to strengthen ties between the two countries.
Why the attorney general must go (Raviv Drucker, Haaretz+) There is no place at the pinnacle of the Israeli justice system for Yehuda Weinstein, who dislikes investigations or public trials of senior figures.
Hillel, intimidation and ‘free speech’ for Jewish students on Israel (Martin R. Federman, Haaretz+) A former Hillel director asks Hillel International’s CEO why his organization’s Israel guidelines seek to limit free speech and critical views of Israel by Jewish students on campus.
Hillel's pluralism on Israel doesn't mean a platform for anti-Israel, BDS activists (Eric Fingerhut, Haaretz) Hillel's inclusivity means listening to the 'Open Hillel' campaign's small group of activists, even though they don't represent the values of the overwhelming number of Jewish students. But our Israel debate guidelines remain clear.
Netanyahu and Lapid are charlatans of the lowest order (Yossi Sarid, Haaretz+) I'd love to be able to apologize to the prime minister and finance minister for writing ill of them. Unfortunately, every word has been true.
Israelis must let go of self-flagellation (Elisheva Mazya, Ynet) If those who write about how expensive it is here and why we shouldn't continue living here would get their nose out of Facebook, they would realize things are not so bad here.
Israel’s leaders are to blame for the emigration to Berlin (Nadav Eyal, Haaretz+) The politicians must stop telling lies about housing and supermarket prices if we don’t want the country to turn into a poor, ignorant plantation economy.
Laughing their way to the bank (Ruthie Blum, Israel Hayom) o raise the billions necessary for rebuilding Gaza and renewing the business of kidnapping and killing Israelis, Fatah and Hamas are playing the unity game.
**Forget pudding prices: Israelis have shattered a great taboo (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) Yitzhak Rabin once called Israelis who left the country ‘a cascade of wimps.’ He’s probably turning in his grave.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.