APN's daily news review from Israel
Tuesday January 20, 2015
Quote of the day:
"This is violence for its own sake. I am not in Jabalya and not in Gaza - I will demand an
investigation commission."
--Mayor of Rahat Talal al-Krenawi, who himself was injured by the police at the funeral for a Bedouin youth mistakenly killed by police. One man died of tear gas at the funeral.**
--Mayor of Rahat Talal al-Krenawi, who himself was injured by the police at the funeral for a Bedouin youth mistakenly killed by police. One man died of tear gas at the funeral.**
Front Page:
Haaretz
- UN force documented Israeli drones in Syria; Hezbollah: The operation will have dramatic consequences
- A decision in the midst of differences of opinion // Amos Harel
- Israel challenges Iran // Zvi Bar’el
- Nasrallah has become Levi Eshkol // Amir Oren
- Elections 2015: Primaries in Meretz: Serving MKs kept their spots; Levi-Abeksis in second place in Yisrael Beiteinu;
- Yadlin joined ‘Zionist Camp’ party; Hotovely in 20th spot in Likud, Dichter dropped to 26
- Plan for settling Bedouins to be based on Prawer guidelines, which were cancelled due to opposition of residents
- IDF white phosphorous bomb leaked in center of Jerusalem and caused environmental damage
- Prosecutor who accused Argentinean President of covering up terror attack against Jewish community found shot in his home
- State renewing plans that were suspended to turn populate Jerusalem hills
Yedioth Ahronoth
- Heroes – Saluting those who received medals of honor of Operation Protective Edge – the 57 soldiers and fallen
- After the assassination: alert in the north; Israel believes Iran and Hezbollah will avenge the deaths of the Iranian general and the son of Mughniyeh
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Chief of Staff: Prepared for any scenario – Iran admits: senior general of Revolutionary Guards assassinated in attack attributed to Israeli Air Force in Syrian Golan;
- Hezbollah warns: “Prepare your bomb shelters, the response will be painful and unexpected”
- Decorated – Dozens of officers, NCOs and soldiers in regular and reserve, who participated in Operation Protective Edge will receive medals and certificates of appreciation
- Heroes Against Their Will // Mordechai Chaimovitch
- Elections 2015: Hotovely’s revolution; Lieberman’s acquisition, Livin’s security-minded choice
- Mystery of the death of the investigator of the terror attack (in Argentina)
Israel Hayom
- “We will protect ourselves – everywhere” – said PM; Nasrallah threatens retaliation, Gantz: We are ready for any development; Iran also in picture: 6 Iranians killed including senior general
- Operation Protective Edge: The heroes
- 56 days to elections
- The prosecutor stood to reveal the President of Argentina’s relations with Iran – and was found shot in home.
- The hope for justice was eliminated // Ariel Shimdberg
- (Holon mayor) Moti Sasson interrogated on suspicion of sexual harassment
News Summary:
Israel is on alert for retaliation from Hezbollah and possibly Iran over the Sunday attack in the Syrian Golan that killed Hezbollah fighters and Iranian military men, including a Revolutionary Guards general, making the top story in the Hebrew papers alongside the naming of IDF soldiers to receive Operation Protective Edge medals of honor and the death of the prosecutor who accused the Argentinean government of covering up the bomb attack of a Jewish center.
Israelis are afraid to visit the north of the country (Maariv), the IDF has deployed an Iron Dome anti-battery in the north, and Israel has shut down airspace over the Golan Heights, following the strike that killed six Iranian military officials and six Hezbollah fighters. There was no question among the Israeli newspapers whether Israel was behind the attack. That was assumed. And if anyone had any questions, UN observers said they saw two drones cross from Israel into Syrian and back. And that it wasn’t the first time, they said. A Lebanese newspaper also wrote that Israel had already attacked the area on June 17, firing at a vehicle and killing its occupants.
Israeli reporters searched for information in the Lebanese media about Hezbollah’s response. One Lebanese journalist said that ‘Lebanese officials believed Hezbollah would respond, but that at this stage the response would be a measured one since the organization is aware of its limitations due to the ongoing war in Syria,’ Haaretz+ reported. The attack “will be answered with a painful and unexpected response, but we can assume it will be handled so as not to drag us into all-out war," sources close to Hezbollah told As-Safir newspaper, itself affiliated with Hezbollah. A Lebanese newspaper unofficially affiliated with Hezbollah published new details of the strike.
Interestingly, Hezbollah published a statement that put in question the Israeli papers’ statement yesterday that the target of the attack was Jihad, the son of Imad Mughniyeh, who was killed by Israel in 2008. The Israeli papers also all quoted ‘Western intelligence sources,’ who said Jihad was the 'commander' of the Golan cell of Hezbollah. However, Ynet wrote that a Hezbollah statement on Sunday named the six killed in the attack as Jihad Mughniyeh, 25; Mohammed Issa, 43 (the only one ranked as commander); Abbas Ibrahim Hijazi, 36; Mohammed Ali Hassan Abu Al-Hassan, 30; Razi Ali Dawi, 27; and Ali Hassan Ibrahim, 22. Tom Perry of Reuters reported that thousands attended Jihad's funeral, and that “his death represented a symbolic blow to the Shi'ite Islamist group that his father helped to found with Iranian backing in the early 1980s.” Lebanese TV ran a video of the aftermath of the drone strike on the convoy.
Meanwhile, the commentators continued to discuss whether the move was wise or not with many seeing it as risking opening up a new front. [See Commentary/Analysis below.]
Major General (res.) Yoav Galant tried to retract the statement he said yesterday – that the operation was motivated by the elections because Jihad could have been assassinated long ago. Maariv wrote that Galant, who is #2 on the Kulanu party list, was “learning to do politics.” Galant said yesterday that he was misunderstood and what he meant was “sometimes someone could make a connection between the things.” (Maariv)
Israel is on alert for retaliation from Hezbollah and possibly Iran over the Sunday attack in the Syrian Golan that killed Hezbollah fighters and Iranian military men, including a Revolutionary Guards general, making the top story in the Hebrew papers alongside the naming of IDF soldiers to receive Operation Protective Edge medals of honor and the death of the prosecutor who accused the Argentinean government of covering up the bomb attack of a Jewish center.
Israelis are afraid to visit the north of the country (Maariv), the IDF has deployed an Iron Dome anti-battery in the north, and Israel has shut down airspace over the Golan Heights, following the strike that killed six Iranian military officials and six Hezbollah fighters. There was no question among the Israeli newspapers whether Israel was behind the attack. That was assumed. And if anyone had any questions, UN observers said they saw two drones cross from Israel into Syrian and back. And that it wasn’t the first time, they said. A Lebanese newspaper also wrote that Israel had already attacked the area on June 17, firing at a vehicle and killing its occupants.
Israeli reporters searched for information in the Lebanese media about Hezbollah’s response. One Lebanese journalist said that ‘Lebanese officials believed Hezbollah would respond, but that at this stage the response would be a measured one since the organization is aware of its limitations due to the ongoing war in Syria,’ Haaretz+ reported. The attack “will be answered with a painful and unexpected response, but we can assume it will be handled so as not to drag us into all-out war," sources close to Hezbollah told As-Safir newspaper, itself affiliated with Hezbollah. A Lebanese newspaper unofficially affiliated with Hezbollah published new details of the strike.
Interestingly, Hezbollah published a statement that put in question the Israeli papers’ statement yesterday that the target of the attack was Jihad, the son of Imad Mughniyeh, who was killed by Israel in 2008. The Israeli papers also all quoted ‘Western intelligence sources,’ who said Jihad was the 'commander' of the Golan cell of Hezbollah. However, Ynet wrote that a Hezbollah statement on Sunday named the six killed in the attack as Jihad Mughniyeh, 25; Mohammed Issa, 43 (the only one ranked as commander); Abbas Ibrahim Hijazi, 36; Mohammed Ali Hassan Abu Al-Hassan, 30; Razi Ali Dawi, 27; and Ali Hassan Ibrahim, 22. Tom Perry of Reuters reported that thousands attended Jihad's funeral, and that “his death represented a symbolic blow to the Shi'ite Islamist group that his father helped to found with Iranian backing in the early 1980s.” Lebanese TV ran a video of the aftermath of the drone strike on the convoy.
Meanwhile, the commentators continued to discuss whether the move was wise or not with many seeing it as risking opening up a new front. [See Commentary/Analysis below.]
Major General (res.) Yoav Galant tried to retract the statement he said yesterday – that the operation was motivated by the elections because Jihad could have been assassinated long ago. Maariv wrote that Galant, who is #2 on the Kulanu party list, was “learning to do politics.” Galant said yesterday that he was misunderstood and what he meant was “sometimes someone could make a connection between the things.” (Maariv)
Quick Hits:
- Erekat: Palestinian-Israeli relations at point of no return - Chief PLO negotiator Saeb Erekat also said that joining the International Criminal Court would help change the status quo. He made the comments in recent meetings with the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Japan's representative office and the US Consul General. (Maan)
- **Thousands at funeral of Sami Ziadna: "The police acts brutally" - Ziadna, 45, died from inhaling tear gas in riots that broke out at the funeral of a Bedouin youth who was killed by police fire days earlier. Mayor of Rahat, who was also hurt: "This is violence for its own sake. I am not in Jabalya and not in Gaza - I will demand an investigation committee." (Maariv, p. 18)
- **Hundreds of protesters block road, hurl stones after two killed in Bedouin town - Four arrested; one killed and 22 hurt during clashes at Sunday's funeral of young man killed in police raid, which was attended by thousands. (Haaretz and Maan)
- **President Rivlin: "We have a duty to treat the painful wounds of the Bedouins" - In view of the serious incidents in Rahat [two people killed by police in less than a week, dozens wounded. See News Summary of yesterday’s News Nosh – OH], the President spoke with the mayor of Rahat, Talal Alkarnawi and gave his condolences. He also asked the police commissioner to lead an intense investigation into the issue. (Maariv)
- **Arab sector strikes over deaths of Rahat residents (Ynet update)
- EU to appeal ruling that Hamas should be removed from terror list - EU also calls for anti-terror alliance with Arab countries to boost cooperation and information-sharing in the wake of deadly attacks. (Haaretz)
- Denied visa by Israel, UN rights expert cancels visit to Palestine - The UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes, and consequences, Rashida Manjoo, had been invited on a fact-finding mission by the Palestinian Authority to "obtain first-hand understanding of issues related to violence against women" in the Palestinian Territories. (Maan)
- Evacuated Amona settlers must compensate Palestinian landowners, says state - After the High Court ordered evacuation of Amona, built partly on private Palestinian land, the state is asking the court to demand that residents foot the bill of 300,000 shekels. (Haaretz+)
- Israeli forces expel Hebron women from home, seal property - Israeli forces raided the home of Zuheira Oweida Dandis, 80, and Amal Dandis, 52, on Hebron’s Shuhada Street, and forced them to leave their home before sealing the property, claiming it was for security reasons, without providing further details. (Maan)
- Canadian FM: Palestinians made a 'huge mistake' with ICC bid - Canada would not stay silent with Israel under fire, John Baird said. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Palestinian Minister: PA to pay only 60% of salaries due to Israel tax freeze - Palestinian Minister of Finance Shuki Bishara: "We find ourselves forced to take a loan from banks to pay, even if a part, of our employees' salaries due to the illegal step by Israel to freeze our tax funds…Israel should not mess with people's money." (Maan)
- Rivlin and Abe discuss peace process, trade ties in Jerusalem - Japanese leader arrived in Israel on Sunday as part of a six-day Mideast tour; says Japan offering support to contribute to regional peace and stability. (Also: Japanese PM’s wife visited the Jewish-Arab Yad B’Yad school in Jerusalem. – OH] (Ynet)
- IDF decorates 53 soldiers, officers for Gaza war bravery - Highest award goes to officer who led a unit into a tunnel to search for 1st Lt. Hadar Goldin, who had been snatched by Palestinian fighters. (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
- Israeli forces assault, detain Palestinian teen in Jerusalem - Israeli forces used the butts of their rifles to hit Muhammad Jamal Ghaith, 16, in the head, and then proceeded to search him in front of his home in the Silwan neighborhood of East Jerusalem. They also pepper sprayed him his mother, and his uncle. Police then took him to an Israeli police station and later to the Hadassa hospital. (Maan)
- Israeli forces detain Palestinian professor in Nablus -
- The Palestinian Prisoner's Society said that Dr. Walid Muhammad Mahmoud Abu Zeina was arrested by Israeli forces at his home around dawn. (Maan)
- 10th spot on Israel Beiteinu list: (Ms.) “An Arab was run-over! What a fantastic night!” - Shira Mistriel, 24, the head of Ariel University (in settlement) student union, wrote five years ago a Facebook status expressing her joy after an accident in which Arabs were run-over. (Maariv)
- Israel elections updates /Lieberman presents Knesset list: Four women in top 10 - 56 days to go: Meretz presents list; former MI chief Yadlin joining Zionist Camp after Mofaz says no; Livni announces addition of media personality Ksenia Svetlova to the Zionist Camp. (Haaretz)
- Prosecutor in AMIA Jewish center bombing found dead in Buenos Aires - Alberto Nisman had accused Argentine President of trying to hide Iran's role in 1994 attack; was due to testify in congressional hearing on day his body was discovered. (Agencies, Ynet)
- 'Senior officials colluded to hide Iranian role in AMIA attack', Nisman told Yedioth in 2008 - Argentine prosecutor probing deadly terror attack at Buenos Aires Jewish community center was determined to uncover the truth. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- Israel to Argentina: Continue work of late AMIA prosecutor - Alberto Nisman was found dead in his apartment shortly before he was due to testify over claims that Iran role in Jewish center bombing was covered up. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Middle East Updates / Turkish police carry out wiretapping raids targeting Erdogan foes - Purported video from ISIS released online Tuesday, no confirmation yet of its authenticity; Turkish corruption probe nears final chapter with parliament preparing vote. (Haaretz)
- Gaza jihadist supporters rally against France, praise ISIS - Hamas security forces allowed a rare rally on Monday by rival jihadist Salafi activists in the Gaza Strip in support of Islamic State and the deadly attacks by three Islamist gunmen in France. (Agencies, Haaretz)
Commentary/Analysis:
Israel's pre-election aerial bombing (Haaretz Editorial) Evidence indicating that the strike on Syria stemmed from electoral
considerations is weighty.
Playing with fire on Israel's northern front (Alex Fishman, Yedioth/Ynet) A helicopter and two missiles killed a group of Lebanese and Iranian terror activists in Syrian Golan Heights – and now IDF and northern residents are in suspense: Will Hezbollah respond or hold back? Israel is giving Nasrallah the finger and hoping that the other side would rather swallow the bitter pill. This trick worked well with the Syrians, after the bombings of weapon shipments to Hezbollah, but it's not as effective with Nasrallah's organization.
After attack on Syria: Trying Hezbollah's patience (Zvi Bar’el, Haaretz+) After killings on Sunday of members of the organization, Israel's hope is that its leader Nasrallah is too busy with politics to retaliate by launching a war.
Hezbollah gets hit between the eyes (Yoav Limor, Israel Hayom) Once the dust settles, Hezbollah will have to decide how far to take its revenge.
The Israeli general who spoke the truth about the Syria strike's timing (Tal Niv, Haaretz+) Thank you, Yoav Galant, for laying bare the cynical, political dimension of Sunday's assassination of six Hezbollah militants in Syria.
Security trumps all (Mati Tuchfeld, Israel Hayom) The next PM will have to seriously tackle socio-economic issues, but we must keep everything in proportion -- security is still the top priority.
Netanyahu is Israel's inciter-in-chief (Uzi Baram, Haaretz+) Netanyahu realized that he is a contentious candidate, a default candidate for many voters rather than a preferred leader - so he turned to non-truths and scare-mongering.
Questions about the 'Zionist camp' (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) Many of the top candidates of the nominally Zionist Labor Party outright reject much of Zionism, questioning immigration to Israel, the role of the army, and their own Israeli identity.
Nasrallah's moment of truth (Prof. Eyal Zisser, Israel Hayom) We don't need to wait for Hezbollah's official response to know that it will not let this latest provocation go unanswered.
After attack on Syria: Trying Hezbollah's patience (Zvi Bar’el, Haaretz+) After killings on Sunday of members of the organization, Israel's hope is that its leader Nasrallah is too busy with politics to retaliate by launching a war.
Pre-emptive action (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) If Hezbollah opts for a symbolic retaliation, we must make sure it is contained.
Would the world rather dodge news of Alberto Nisman's death? (Seth Lipsky, Haaretz+) The AMIA bombing is a marker for the West’s failure in the war on Islamist terror over an entire generation. Its resistance to tackling Islamic terror mirrors its myopia over communism.
Medicine in the service of anti-Zionism (Yitzhak Santis, Ynet) If he is really serious about making amends, Lancet editor Richard Horton should stop demonizing Israel and make a real effort to support peace.
Death of Iranian general brings Tehran back into the heart of Israel's conflict with Hezbollah (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) The announcement that a Revolutionary Guard commander was killed in the unconfirmed Israeli strike in Syria puts Israel and Iran - and not just Hezbollah - in the heart of the tension.
Playing with fire on Israel's northern front (Alex Fishman, Yedioth/Ynet) A helicopter and two missiles killed a group of Lebanese and Iranian terror activists in Syrian Golan Heights – and now IDF and northern residents are in suspense: Will Hezbollah respond or hold back? Israel is giving Nasrallah the finger and hoping that the other side would rather swallow the bitter pill. This trick worked well with the Syrians, after the bombings of weapon shipments to Hezbollah, but it's not as effective with Nasrallah's organization.
After attack on Syria: Trying Hezbollah's patience (Zvi Bar’el, Haaretz+) After killings on Sunday of members of the organization, Israel's hope is that its leader Nasrallah is too busy with politics to retaliate by launching a war.
Hezbollah gets hit between the eyes (Yoav Limor, Israel Hayom) Once the dust settles, Hezbollah will have to decide how far to take its revenge.
The Israeli general who spoke the truth about the Syria strike's timing (Tal Niv, Haaretz+) Thank you, Yoav Galant, for laying bare the cynical, political dimension of Sunday's assassination of six Hezbollah militants in Syria.
Security trumps all (Mati Tuchfeld, Israel Hayom) The next PM will have to seriously tackle socio-economic issues, but we must keep everything in proportion -- security is still the top priority.
Netanyahu is Israel's inciter-in-chief (Uzi Baram, Haaretz+) Netanyahu realized that he is a contentious candidate, a default candidate for many voters rather than a preferred leader - so he turned to non-truths and scare-mongering.
Questions about the 'Zionist camp' (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) Many of the top candidates of the nominally Zionist Labor Party outright reject much of Zionism, questioning immigration to Israel, the role of the army, and their own Israeli identity.
Nasrallah's moment of truth (Prof. Eyal Zisser, Israel Hayom) We don't need to wait for Hezbollah's official response to know that it will not let this latest provocation go unanswered.
After attack on Syria: Trying Hezbollah's patience (Zvi Bar’el, Haaretz+) After killings on Sunday of members of the organization, Israel's hope is that its leader Nasrallah is too busy with politics to retaliate by launching a war.
Pre-emptive action (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) If Hezbollah opts for a symbolic retaliation, we must make sure it is contained.
Would the world rather dodge news of Alberto Nisman's death? (Seth Lipsky, Haaretz+) The AMIA bombing is a marker for the West’s failure in the war on Islamist terror over an entire generation. Its resistance to tackling Islamic terror mirrors its myopia over communism.
Medicine in the service of anti-Zionism (Yitzhak Santis, Ynet) If he is really serious about making amends, Lancet editor Richard Horton should stop demonizing Israel and make a real effort to support peace.
Death of Iranian general brings Tehran back into the heart of Israel's conflict with Hezbollah (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) The announcement that a Revolutionary Guard commander was killed in the unconfirmed Israeli strike in Syria puts Israel and Iran - and not just Hezbollah - in the heart of the tension.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.