APN's daily news review from Israel
Tuesday October 28, 2014
Quote of the day:
“Three stops separate between the place where baby Chaya Zissel Braun was run over and killed and the
house of Mohammed Abu Khdeir, and between them is a tense space of violence and fear.”
--Maariv features reporter Eyal Levy rides the Jerusalem light-rail.**
--Maariv features reporter Eyal Levy rides the Jerusalem light-rail.**
Front Page News:
Haaretz
- (Attorney General) Weinstein examining legality of separation (of Palestinian and Israelis) on buses in Samaria
- US: Netanyahu’s decision to advance construction in (East) Jerusalem is incompatible with the pursuit of peace
- No longer afraid // Yossi Verter
- Rerun // Barak Ravid
- Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdullah visited the Temple Mount yesterday [Main photo]
- Following rise in terror in Sinai: Cairo considering plan to dig water canal between Gaza and the (bordering) Egyptian city of Rafah
- Health establishment critical of Ebola tests at Nes Tziona biological institute
- State prosecutor fears: Moti Hasin escape from the country
- Thousands of refugee children disappeared this year in Italy
- Victory for the seculars and upheaval in elections in Tunisia
- Rivlin’s glory // Haaretz Editorial
Yedioth Ahronoth
- “Another person killed will ignite an intifada here” – Yedioth reporter Elior Levy met with the leaders of the Jerusalem riots
- Shameful: Not a single minister wanted to attend the funeral of the (Ecuadorian tourist converting to Judaism) who died in the terror attack
- Lieberman: Make the northern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel illegal
- Veganism harms men’s fertility
- Beitar Jerusalem soccer team’s coach, Menachem Kortzki, was drawn into a battle of vulgar sexual curses with a fan from Sderot who sent him threatening text messages…Afterward, apologized and explained: “He harassed and threatened”
- Doves at odds – Dozens of peace organizations in Israel are not succeeding in making peace between each other. Why is this happening?
- The sultan’s palace – A thousand rooms for $350 million: The ostentatious new residence of Erdogan
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links)
- Netanyahu: “Construction in Jerusalem – the response to our enemies”
- In opposition to the Prime Minister’s position – the conversion law passed the second and third Knesset readings
- The campaign is here already // Ben Caspit
- IDF considering lowering the retirement age of career soldiers
- Palestinian Prime Minister visited Temple Mount in the wake of the tension
Israel Hayom
- The battle over construction – PM opens Knesset winter session: It is our right to build in Jerusalem
- Conversion law passed in committee – likely will return to government (for approval)
- This is how (Labor) MK Eitan Cabel is trying to rob Israel Hayom readers – He is considering proposing a law against us [against free newspapers – OH]
- Illegitimate attempt to undermining competition through legislation // Adv. Dror Strum
- Less, but it still hurts: Entrance fee to Mt. Hermon will decrease by only 5 shekels
- Dangerous breach – Leeds resident succeeded – according to him, by accident – in running up to the British Prime Minister and bumping into him
- Security establishment threatens: Without budget additions – we will suspend activity
- History: Surrogacy law passed in first reading in Knesset
- Honor: Tel-Aviv was chosen as one of the cities with the best food in the world
News Summary:
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu rejects US and European condemnations following the announcement of Israeli plans to build more housing for Jews over the Green Line in Jerusalem as clashes renew between Palestinians and Israeli police in the city and Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdullah pays a rare visit to the Temple Mount.
Violence continued in E. Jerusalem the morning after the funeral of hit-and-run killer at the Jerusalem light rail station. Yedioth prominently featured interviews by reporter Elior Levy with leaders of clashes, who said that Judaization of the Silwan neighborhood along with the undercover Israeli police who dress as Arabs and throw stones instigating Palestinian children to throw all contribute to the violence. “The Jews come to us and settle among us and not visa-versa. So what do you want me to do, sit and shut up?...The youth feel that throwing stones is the only way they have to express their anger, which collects inside.” In the shadow of the E. Jerusalem violence and the tension at the Temple Mount, Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdullah visited the Temple Mount along with the head of Palestinian intelligence and high-ranking officials from the Palestinian Authority [a move that Israel had to approve – OH] and declared there won't be 'a Palestinian state without East Jerusalem as its capital’ and slammed Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barekat for being the first mayor to allow police to storm the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
His visit came on the day that Netanyahu ordered plans to be advanced for 1,060 new East Jerusalem housing units in Har Homa and Ramat Shlomo, due to pressure from the settler movement and pro-settler tright-wing Habayit Hayehudi party. The US questioned Netanyahu's commitment to peace and the EU asked for clarifications and said such a decision, if confirmed, would be "ill-judged and ill-timed" and would call into "serious question Israel's commitment to a negotiated solution with the Palestinians."
But at the opening of the Knesset winter session, Netanyahu declared that Israel has every right to build in Jerusalem and fashioned the homes over the Green Line into an Israeli defense method, saying that no external or internal pressure would force him into making concessions that would put Israel's security at risk. However, Finance Minister Yair Lapid said Israel must stop the settlement construction because the US sees it as a provocation ad it harms Israel's relationship with its key ally.
Interestingly, one of Israel’s business powerhouses, ‘Africa-Israel’ decide it would no longer build over the Green Line, because such investment is not economically viable. The company has faced years of boycotts due to operations in E. Jerusalem and the West Bank.
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu rejects US and European condemnations following the announcement of Israeli plans to build more housing for Jews over the Green Line in Jerusalem as clashes renew between Palestinians and Israeli police in the city and Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdullah pays a rare visit to the Temple Mount.
Violence continued in E. Jerusalem the morning after the funeral of hit-and-run killer at the Jerusalem light rail station. Yedioth prominently featured interviews by reporter Elior Levy with leaders of clashes, who said that Judaization of the Silwan neighborhood along with the undercover Israeli police who dress as Arabs and throw stones instigating Palestinian children to throw all contribute to the violence. “The Jews come to us and settle among us and not visa-versa. So what do you want me to do, sit and shut up?...The youth feel that throwing stones is the only way they have to express their anger, which collects inside.” In the shadow of the E. Jerusalem violence and the tension at the Temple Mount, Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdullah visited the Temple Mount along with the head of Palestinian intelligence and high-ranking officials from the Palestinian Authority [a move that Israel had to approve – OH] and declared there won't be 'a Palestinian state without East Jerusalem as its capital’ and slammed Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barekat for being the first mayor to allow police to storm the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
His visit came on the day that Netanyahu ordered plans to be advanced for 1,060 new East Jerusalem housing units in Har Homa and Ramat Shlomo, due to pressure from the settler movement and pro-settler tright-wing Habayit Hayehudi party. The US questioned Netanyahu's commitment to peace and the EU asked for clarifications and said such a decision, if confirmed, would be "ill-judged and ill-timed" and would call into "serious question Israel's commitment to a negotiated solution with the Palestinians."
But at the opening of the Knesset winter session, Netanyahu declared that Israel has every right to build in Jerusalem and fashioned the homes over the Green Line into an Israeli defense method, saying that no external or internal pressure would force him into making concessions that would put Israel's security at risk. However, Finance Minister Yair Lapid said Israel must stop the settlement construction because the US sees it as a provocation ad it harms Israel's relationship with its key ally.
Interestingly, one of Israel’s business powerhouses, ‘Africa-Israel’ decide it would no longer build over the Green Line, because such investment is not economically viable. The company has faced years of boycotts due to operations in E. Jerusalem and the West Bank.
Quick Hits:
- Jerusalem Arabs: Police using riot control means for collective punishment - E. Jerusalemites cite shooting at windows and use of 'skunk trucks'. Jamjum family says home was set alight by three gas canisters fired at it, when a pregnant woman, two girls and a bedridden elderly man were home. (Haaretz+)
- AG orders Ya'alon: Explain why Palestinians banned from Israeli-run buses in West Bank - As reported in Haaretz, defense minister gave in to settler pressure and and decided to prohibit Palestinian workers from re-entering West Bank on buses used by Israelis. (Haaretz+)
- Brothers in arms: Three brothers make aliyah to join IDF - American brothers Yarden, Eitan and Daniel Yaniv all join the Israel Defense Forces to become combat soldiers. "It's been clear to me since I was a child that after high school I would go to Israel and join the IDF," says Yarden, 18. (Israel Hayom)
- Two photographers shot by Israeli rubber bullets in West Bank - Associated Press: “Shooting shows 'outrageous disregard for the safety of journalists.” AP photographer: "The policeman aimed straight at us ... even though we were clearly a group of media people and there were no protesters at all around us." Lazar Simeonov, a Swiss freelance photographer, who was also hit, also said the photographers were to the side of the protest when they were hit. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Hunger-striking Palestinian prisoner moved to hospital - Raed Moussa was imprisoned by administrative detention last November and started a hunger strike 37 days ago in protest. Moussa stopped taking supplements and lost the ability to move freely. (Maan)
- Israeli courts extend detention for 44 Palestinians - Courts in Petah Tikva, Ashkelon, Salem, Ofer military base, Hilma and Jerusalem extended the detentions of 44 Palestinians for interrogation and legal procedures, the Palestinian Prisoner’s society said Monday. (Maan)
- 'Budget crunch would force IDF to suspend training' - Defence official says Finance Ministry "routinely reneges on agreements," warns that given the threats Israel faces in the Middle East, NIS 57 billion earmarked for the military in 2015 would be unable to support its training and acquisition needs. (Israel Hayom)
- Two new bills aim to oust Israeli Arab MK Zoabi from Knesset - Bills, penned by Deputy Interior Minister MK Faina Kirshenbaum, seek to strip MK Hanin Zoabi of her Israeli citizenship on the grounds of alleged support for armed struggle against Israel. "MK Zoabi uses her immunity all too well," Kirshenbaum says. (Israel Hayom)
- 'We won't be good Arabs,' says Zoabi - At Balad press conference, Israeli flags are moved to corner of room amid claims of incitement against Arab MKs. Zoabi was suspended from the Knesset beginning Thursday. “When you distance me from the Knesset you are basically saying you do not want Arabs, and only want good Arabs to represent,” she said. (Ynet)
- Bill proposal to outlaw northern branch of Islamic Movement' - The northern branch of the Islamic Movement is openly undermining the sovereignty of the State of Israel, while making a cynical use of the institutions and basic values of a Jewish and democratic country,' Yisrael Beiteinu proposal reads. (Ynet)
- Ten Abu Ghanem women murdered in last seven years, but few indictments - Clan fears more violence against female relatives, should they cooperate with police, after 10th woman killed over the weekend. (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
- Kerry's wife funded anti-Israel propaganda, report reveals - A restaurant that is spreading anti-Israel propaganda received a $50,000 grant from an endowment chaired by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's wife, the Washington Free Beacon reports. Conflict Kitchen wraps food in anti-Israel leaflets.(Israel Hayom)
- Israeli envoy to U.S.: View of Abbas as peacemaker is 'an embarrassment' - Warning against possible nuclear deal, Dermer tells Evangelicals Iran is 'a monster' and its leader Khamenei 'an evil wild-eyed fanatic looking to rule the world.' (Haaretz+)
- Former Spanish PM slams European recognition of 'Palestine' - "Regardless of good intentions, recognizing a Palestinian state is not appropriate, not helpful, and wrong. It will not promote peace and will only cause the Palestinians to back away from an agreed upon solution," former Spanish PM Jose Maria Aznar says. (Israel Hayom)
- Rivlin in Poland to inaugurate Museum of History of Polish Jews - On first state visit abroad, President Reuven Rivlin will also meet government leaders and discuss pressing regional issues and increasing economic cooperation between the two countries. Museum to display the entire 1,000-year history of Polish Jewry. (Israel Hayom)
- Remains of Palestinian man found under rubble in Gaza - The body of Zuhdi Abd al-Hamid Abu al-Rus, 22, was found under the rubble of a destroyed mosque in al-Nuserat, that was targeted August 9th. (Maan)
- Anti-Israel activities on U.S. campuses spiked this fall, ADL says - Anti-Semitic tendencies appear to be moving more to the forefront of many protests critical of Israel in the wake of the Gaza war, report says. (JTA, Haaretz)
- Aussie commandos may work with Iranian forces to battle ISIS - Australian defense minister says threat is so great that previous divisions must be brushed aside for now. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Ministers approve bill imposing 5-year jail terms on Israelis joining ISIS - Bill proposed by Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and approved by Ministerial Committee for Legislation cracks down on Israelis joining foreign militias. Livni: Like any country, Israel has right to defend itself against radical Islamic terrorism. (Israel Hayom)
- U.S. unveils new cyber coalition aimed at combating ISIS - U.S. officials told delegates from European and Arab countries at a meeting in Kuwait that this should complement parallel campaigns against the armed group on the battlefield and in the world of finance. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Egypt stepping up efforts against Gaza-Sinai tunnels - Move follows jihadist killings of 33 Egyptian soldiers; locals say houses being demolished. Egyptian security officials announced plans for a security buffer zone in the area. (Haaretz+)
- Report: Wanted Ukrainian ex-minister living in Israel - Police search of Edward Stawicki's Ukraine home turned up 42 kilograms of gold, $4.8 million in cash and diamonds. (Haaretz)
Features:
‘War and Peace’
Article about the inner divisions between the many peace organizations in Israel and how they can't agree how to commemorate Yitzhak Rabin. Rabin’s son, Yuval, is holding a memorial November 1st that is more ideologically left-wing and includes Peace Now, Yesh Din, Gush Shalom, Yesh Gvul, Geneva Initiative, Women Make Peace, Blue and White Future, Ir Amim, Bat Shalom, Forum of Peace Organizations, and Coalition of Peace Organizations. Peace Now director Yariv Oppenheimer said the peace organizations that survive in the long run are those that have an ideologically spine. “Others just rise and fall and no one remembers they existed.”(Moshe Ronen, Yedioth's ’24 Hours’ supplement)
**Red Line
Feature that made the connection between recent violent events, which is hardly being mentioned in the Hebrew media: the murder of E. Jerusalem teen Mohammed Abu Khdeir on July 1st leading to the hit and run attack at the light rail station that killed a baby and a tourist. “Three stops separate between the place where baby Chaya Zissel Braun was run over and the house of Mohammed Abu Khdeir, and between them is a tense space of violence and fear.” Eyal Levy rides the not-light rail of Jerusalem and writes about alert security guards and scared Arab and Jewish passengers. (Maariv magazine supplement)
The new pioneers of Nahal Oz
Aiming to strengthen one of the areas hit hardest during Operation Protective Edge, group of teenagers settle in Nahal Oz as part of pre-army program: 'We will cultivate the kibbutz'. (Ynet)
Commentary/Analysis:
Article about the inner divisions between the many peace organizations in Israel and how they can't agree how to commemorate Yitzhak Rabin. Rabin’s son, Yuval, is holding a memorial November 1st that is more ideologically left-wing and includes Peace Now, Yesh Din, Gush Shalom, Yesh Gvul, Geneva Initiative, Women Make Peace, Blue and White Future, Ir Amim, Bat Shalom, Forum of Peace Organizations, and Coalition of Peace Organizations. Peace Now director Yariv Oppenheimer said the peace organizations that survive in the long run are those that have an ideologically spine. “Others just rise and fall and no one remembers they existed.”(Moshe Ronen, Yedioth's ’24 Hours’ supplement)
**Red Line
Feature that made the connection between recent violent events, which is hardly being mentioned in the Hebrew media: the murder of E. Jerusalem teen Mohammed Abu Khdeir on July 1st leading to the hit and run attack at the light rail station that killed a baby and a tourist. “Three stops separate between the place where baby Chaya Zissel Braun was run over and the house of Mohammed Abu Khdeir, and between them is a tense space of violence and fear.” Eyal Levy rides the not-light rail of Jerusalem and writes about alert security guards and scared Arab and Jewish passengers. (Maariv magazine supplement)
The new pioneers of Nahal Oz
Aiming to strengthen one of the areas hit hardest during Operation Protective Edge, group of teenagers settle in Nahal Oz as part of pre-army program: 'We will cultivate the kibbutz'. (Ynet)
Commentary/Analysis:
President Rivlin’s courageous statements are worthy of praise (Haaretz Editorial) Rivlin's unprecedented visit to the annual memorial ceremony at
Kafr Qasem on Sunday was a worthy contribution toward healing the rift between Arab society and the State of
Israel.
Israel cannot lose this battle (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) There is no point in teaching the other side a lesson of morality. Morality will not take root in the barren desert of Hamas.
Like Iran and Hamas leaders, Netanyahu has no strategy except slogans (Barak Ravid, Haaretz+) Netanyahu is afraid to build new settlements because he fears international sanctions, but won't admit he isn't building because he fears the settlers' wrath and wants to hold his coalition together.
Anti-Semitism on the Temple Mount (Zalman Shoval, Israel Hayom)
Obama clash with Republican Senate over Iran would be epic (Seth Lipsky, Haaretz+) The action between the White House and a Republican Senate could make Moshe Ya’alon’s feud with the Obama administration look like Tiddly-Winks.
Congress vs. the White House on Iran and Israel (Richard Baehr, Israel Hayom) Obama's anti-Israel agenda may be much clearer over the next two years. If so, it would be good if Congress were in friendlier hands.
Haneen Zoabi equating IDF soldiers with ISIS fighters is not a criminal offense (Emanuel Gross, Haaretz+)
In a true democracy, mere expressions of opinion cannot be restricted, no matter how repulsive they may be.
ISIS has nothing to do with Israel (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) Islamic State has done what al-Qaeda failed to do. It has made it clear that the Muslim world is engaged in a self-massacre, with absolutely no connection to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Was Israel victorious in this summer's Gaza war? It depends on whom you ask (Moshe Arens, Haaretz+)
In two rounds of fighting with Hamas, Israel’s leaders mistakenly thought they had discouraged the group from resuming attacks against Israel, and each time they turned out to be wrong.
No surrender to terrorism (Eli Hazan, Israel Hayom) The mentalities and world views of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem residents are worlds apart, yet they can also be seen as the two pillars of modern Israel.
Forgetting to remember Yitzhak Rabin (Matthew Kalman, Haaretz+) The shattering lessons of Yitzhak Rabin’s assassination 19 years ago next week should be shared by all Israelis, whether or not they agreed with his politics.
Israel cannot lose this battle (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) There is no point in teaching the other side a lesson of morality. Morality will not take root in the barren desert of Hamas.
Like Iran and Hamas leaders, Netanyahu has no strategy except slogans (Barak Ravid, Haaretz+) Netanyahu is afraid to build new settlements because he fears international sanctions, but won't admit he isn't building because he fears the settlers' wrath and wants to hold his coalition together.
Anti-Semitism on the Temple Mount (Zalman Shoval, Israel Hayom)
Obama clash with Republican Senate over Iran would be epic (Seth Lipsky, Haaretz+) The action between the White House and a Republican Senate could make Moshe Ya’alon’s feud with the Obama administration look like Tiddly-Winks.
Congress vs. the White House on Iran and Israel (Richard Baehr, Israel Hayom) Obama's anti-Israel agenda may be much clearer over the next two years. If so, it would be good if Congress were in friendlier hands.
Haneen Zoabi equating IDF soldiers with ISIS fighters is not a criminal offense (Emanuel Gross, Haaretz+)
In a true democracy, mere expressions of opinion cannot be restricted, no matter how repulsive they may be.
ISIS has nothing to do with Israel (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) Islamic State has done what al-Qaeda failed to do. It has made it clear that the Muslim world is engaged in a self-massacre, with absolutely no connection to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Was Israel victorious in this summer's Gaza war? It depends on whom you ask (Moshe Arens, Haaretz+)
In two rounds of fighting with Hamas, Israel’s leaders mistakenly thought they had discouraged the group from resuming attacks against Israel, and each time they turned out to be wrong.
No surrender to terrorism (Eli Hazan, Israel Hayom) The mentalities and world views of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem residents are worlds apart, yet they can also be seen as the two pillars of modern Israel.
Forgetting to remember Yitzhak Rabin (Matthew Kalman, Haaretz+) The shattering lessons of Yitzhak Rabin’s assassination 19 years ago next week should be shared by all Israelis, whether or not they agreed with his politics.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.