APN's daily news review from Israel

Sunday January 25, 2015

Quote of the day:

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Front Page:

Haaretz

• Battles in Ukraine worsening; Rebels abandoned negotiations
• Senior US officials: Netanyahu played with politics at the expense of relations with US, Kerry was hurt
• King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia died at age 90
• Fifth Israeli police commander resigns: West Bank Commander suspected of improper contacts with a subordinate
• Central witness against senior crime mob leaders was murdered
• Israeli comic book to be used for Chicago Opera

• The witness was silenced forever – His car exploded before he was to give testimony against head of crime organization
• The prohibited courting by Police Commander Cohen
• The forgeries farce in Likud – Recount to be held
• State Attorney General: Netanyahu received special treatment (from us) in ‘Bibtours’ affair
• Shawn Leibovitz, 15, who has cerebral palsy died after the run of his life, in which he got 1st place
• Package from the skies – Amazon drafting Israelis to develop the next generation of delivering your purchases

• “It will be very difficult to trust Netanyahu in the future” – Storm over speech to Congress continues
• Netanyahu is playing with a boomerang // Shlomo Shamir, NY
• Days before the trial: Prosecution’s witness was eliminated
• Following a (sexual harassment) complaint: (West Bank) Police commander Cohen resigned
• The avalanche fall of the police commanders // Amir Zohar
• “Israel wiretapped Iranian general before his assassination” – Lebanese media reported; IDF on highest alert in north since Second Lebanon War
• The horror continues: Japanese captive beheaded

• “It is vital the Prime Minister appear, to prevent a bad agreement” – Sources close to Prime Minister’s Office: Trip to Congress vital, we’re sick of the groveling of the left-wing
• The right speech, the right place // Dror Eydar
• Yemen: Another Obama failure // Boaz Bismuth
• ISIS strikes again – Beheads Japanese captive
• Also Police Commander Kobi Cohen resigns from police
• The witness who was eliminated 
• Tragedy in the south: Shawn, 15, died day after the run of his life
• Steimatzky’s capitulated: ‘Charlie Hebdo’ won’t be sold in stores, but only on internet

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News Summary:
The backlash grows against Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for his ‘sneakily planned’ Congress address just ahead of Israeli elections, a trial witness against a crime boss is assassinated and tension in the north continues as a result of the assassination last week of a Hezbollah figure and an Iranian general, the latter who was reportedly identified by Israel before the bombing because he left his cellular phone on making top stories in the Hebrew press today along with the resignation of another police commander. Maariv got a remark from the Egyptian Prime Minister and the powerful speech by the youngest MK now has English subtitles.

The US and Israeli condemnations of Netanyahu’s planned address to the US Congress on March 3rd, just 14 days before the Israeli elections, were big stories in all the papers except –yes, Israel Hayom. [How did you guess? –OH] The papers remarked how even two Fox News anchors slammed the move, one asking whether Netanyahu “thinks that we, American citizens, are a bunch of idiots.” Maariv gave a link to the video of the other Fox News anchor’s commentary here. The Washington Post and CNN quoted senior US officials who attacked Netanyahu and Israel’s Ambassador to the US, Ron Dermer, saying Netanyahu was 'playing politics' at the expense of Israel-U.S. ties. A very pro-Israel and high-ranking ex-U.S. army general told Haaretz+ that Netanyahu’s could imperil both the United States and Israel. Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, the New York Times editorial, and the former Israeli ambassador to the US Michael Oren also all criticized the planned Congress address. Now some Democratic lawmakers are rethinking their support for the Iran sanctions bill proposed by Democratic Senator Robert Menendez from New Jersey and Republican Senator Mark Kirk from Illinois, Haaretz wrote, quoting journalist Laura Rozen of Al-Monitor. Israeli politicians Tzipi Livni, and Yair Lapid slammed Netanyahu for 'ruining' ties with the US (Maariv). And the Meretz party has called for the speech to be barred from being aired on Israel TV channels. 

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Friday that the alliance with Israel is a 'national security interest' that won’t be affected. Maariv made a headline of the fact that when Earnest was asked whether the White House prefers that Israeli citizens elect a different leader, he said yes. Then when asked to explain he realized what he said and said that he misunderstood the question. Only Israel Hayom quoted Israeli officials who said, “Netanyahu's speech is vital to prevent a bad Iran nuclear deal.”
 
Speaking of Iran, a Lebanese newspaper reported that a Hezbollah investigation into the attack on the convoy found that the Iranian general Mohammed Ali Allahdadi had left his cellular phone on in an area monitored intensively by Israeli intelligence – meaning Israel knew, as Israeli reporters have since written, that the general was in the convoy. (Maariv)
Yedioth’s Nahum Barnea wrote last week that the passengers in the Hezbollah-Iran convoy attacked last week were “not considered a ticking bomb: They were patrolling the area, not preparing for battle.” Maariv reported that the IDF is on the highest alert in the north, which it hasn’t been since the Second Lebanon War. The IDF also held a military exercise in the northern sector, with Air Force planes. And Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon warned that Israel won’t tolerate any provocations.
 
It appears that Gideon Kotz, Maariv’s reporter in Europe, was able to doorstep Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri at the World Economic Conference in Davos. In what was termed as an ‘interview’, Shukri said the following: "International peace conference proposals do not appear useful at the moment. The solution (to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict) must be reached through direct negotiations, and Egypt hopes for change." Shukri said he was aware that the Palestinian Authority's request to join the International Court of Justice complicates the situation. He acknowledged that the Palestinian bid Council security did not contribute to the efforts to resume negotiations, and that the Arab League countries are aware of that and working on a text that will take into account the negotiation needs and the requirements of the sides negotiating, but it won’t be brought before the Security Council anytime soon.
 
Stav Shafir got the Knesset podium for three minutes last week and her powerful speech in which she talked about what Zionism is supposed to be and she attacked the Israeli right-wing parties went viral. Now it has English sub-titles. (press ‘cc’ at the bottom of the YouTube screen.)

Quick Hits:

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Features:

The Saudi King and the American Rabbi
Rabbi Marc Schneier spoke with Ynet about his unique relation with Saudi King Abdullah, who he says was a trailblazer in Jewish-Muslim interfaith dialogue and committed to peace, not just between Israel and Palestinians, but in the entire region. (Omer Benjakob, Ynet)
One family, three dead, three maimed: 'Black Friday' in Gaza
The al-Namlah family fled the intense fighting that followed Hamas' truce violation and abduction of an IDF soldier during the summer war, but they did not get far enough. (Elior Levy, Ynet)
Soldiers traumatized by Gaza war forced to cope on their own
Only after they came home from last summer's operation in Gaza did reservists in an infantry battalion realize they were suffering psychological problems. But the army did little to answer their pleas for help. (Haaretz+) 
Israeli non-profit helps soldiers move forward
Volunteer-based 'Bishvil Hamachar' organization helps heal emotional scars caused by war through nature and group sessions. (Ynet)

Commentary/Analysis:

Arabs, go vote and create an alternative to the government that excludes you (Haaretz Editorial) Israeli Arabs, who suffer from institutionalized exclusion, must understand that the most effective way to combat discrimination is by voting for parties that represent them. 
Netanyahu's move will come back to him like a boomerang (Shlomo Shamir, Maariv) The ‘most American’ Prime Minister Israel has had will be remembered for showing insensitivity and acting dismissively toward what is happening in American politics. If Hillary Clinton is elected, and if Netanyahu will be the next prime minister, he will miss Obama. 
My Tel Aviv neighborhood lost the battle for Israel's sanity, but we defeated terror (Rogel Alpher, Haaretz+) Up to a dozen people were stabbed in a terror attack on my doorstep last Wednesday, but there were no cries for revenge or sympathy.
Lebanese, Iranian and Israeli sitting around one table (Smada Perry, Yedioth/Ynet) Istanbul conference creates interesting dialogue on motives and ramifications of alleged Israeli strike on Syrian side of Golan Heights.
The war that neither Israel or Hezbollah want (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Sunday’s airstrike on a Hezbollah convoy in the Golan Heights has pushed Israel and the Shi’ite organization closer to a new conflagration in the north.
The end justifies the means (Mati Tuchfeld, Israel Hayom) Nitpicking over protocol regarding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address before Congress shifts focus away from preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
Netanyahu gives Obama a public hazing and puts Israel's security at risk (Ben Caspit, Maariv) It used to be the axis of friendship and cooperation. Today it is an unprecedented crisis. Perhaps soon we will need America, and then we should start praying.
What Ariel Sharon would have said to Netanyahu today (Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie, Haaretz+) There is a reason why these leaders didn't get along – Netanyahu is the ultimate status quo politician, while Sharon, fearing the dangers of do-nothing politics, hated to leave things as they are. 
**Netanyahu's dangerous deal with the Republicans (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth/Ynet) The American Republican Party is intervening in our elections, and in return an Israeli party is intervening in their politics. They are helping our prime minister beat his rivals here, and he is helping them humiliate their president there. 
Israel's centrist parties should unite to defeat Netanyahu in the election (Uri Misgav, Haaretz+) A joint slate including the Zionist Camp and Yesh Atid is the best way to get rid of the fear-mongering prime minister.
An attack against coexistence (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) Tel Aviv terrorist targeted bus No. 40 precisely because it represents the normalcy in which Arabs and Jews can live together despite everything.
There is no diplomatic solution (Yoel Meltzer, Yedioth/Ynet) The time has come for Israel to throw off the constraints of adhering to politically correct policies that are clearly detrimental to its continued existence and start fighting for its survival.
This Israeli politician is basically a psychopath. Guess who (Yossi Sarid, Haaretz+) Voters need to keep one eye on the news and one eye on the American Psychiatric Association’s manual of mental disorders.
The myth of Palestinian centrality (Yoram Ettinger, Israel Hayom) The West's preoccupation with the Palestinian issue corrupts policy and ‎undermines Western interests.
Can Israel avoid slow march toward war with Hezbollah? (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) The Israeli intelligence community has every reason to expect revenge attacks.
Ticking bomb: What have we gained by the assassination of (Imad) Mughniyeh and his partners? (Ran Adelist, Maariv) The question is not whether the elimination of Mughniyeh and Co. was politically motivated, and not whether and when Hezbollah will respond. The question is what did Israel’s security gain by it, and the answer is: nothing.
We will not see you in court (Shlomo Cesana, Israel Hayom) The Palestinians have chosen to abuse the idea at the heart of The Hague to mount a diplomatic assault on Israel • PM Netanyahu calls on Israel's allies to block move • Court has to decide whether to snub word leaders or pursue a case that may backfire.
The war that neither Israel or Hezbollah want (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Sunday’s airstrike on a Hezbollah convoy in the Golan Heights has pushed Israel and the Shi’ite organization closer to a new conflagration in the north. 
A one-time opportunity (Yoav Limor, Israel Hayom) If Israel was in fact behind the assassination of Hezbollah "prince" Jihad Mughniyeh, it was likely a one-time opportunity that would likely never present itself again. But too often small shoes are quickly filled by far more dangerous successors. 
The Saudi king is dead, long live the kingdom (Zvi Bar’el, Haaretz+) Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has promised to maintain his brother Abdullah’s vision, but the real power may now lie in the hands of Crown Prince Muqrin. 
An honor for Israel (Haim Shine, Israel Hayom) The leftist Israeli media doesn't know what to do with itself now that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has convinced the West of the threat posed by a nuclear Iran.
The French Muslim ignored by Israel (Kobi Niv, Haaretz+) The African man who saved the lives of at least six Jews in Paris has gone largely unacknowledged by the Jewish state, which judges people not by their acts but by their color and religion. 

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