News Nosh 11.14.13

by APN 11/14/13
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APN's daily news review from Israel

Thursday November 14, 2013

 

Quote of the day:

"I can't remember the last time somebody received huge amounts of taxpayer money because housing units weren't built in that person's residential area."
--MK Stav Shafir (Labor) on the 36 million shekels ($10.2 million) being transferred to settler local councils as compensation for the 2009 construction freeze.**


Front Page News:

Haaretz

Yedioth Ahronoth

Maariv

Israel Hayom

 

Peace Talk Highlights:
Peace talks suspended after Palestinian negotiators quit, chief Israeli negotiator calls Economy Minister a 'radical minority' and a Palestinian teenager stabs to death an Israeli soldier, causing concern in the IDF of the ability to stop attacks by individuals.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told Egyptian TV on Wednesday that his peace negotiators had resigned over the Israeli settlement construction and the lack of progress in the talks. A PLO official told Maan that no date was set for a new round of negotiations. The negotiators, Saeb Erekat and Muhammad Shtayyeh, tendered their resignations last week after Israel announced plans to step up settlement construction. However, Abbas suggested talks would continue without the two men, saying: "Either we can convince it to return, and we're trying with them, or we form a new delegation."

Meanwhile, following the killing of an IDF soldier by a Palestinian youth, senior Israeli officials expressed their frustration over how to deal with what increasingly appears likes a phenomenon of isolated attacks by individuals. "When the attack is carried out from the head to the hand, it is hard for us to thwart it," officers told Maariv/NRG Hebrew.

Hussein Sharif Ghawadra, 16, stabbed Eden Atias, 19, in the neck with a knife while the two traveled on a bus in Afula, northern Israel. Ghawadra reportedly said he wanted to avenge his four cousins who are serving life sentences in Israeli prisons. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said the attack was a result of Palestinian incitement in schools, press and mosques controlled by the Palestinian Authority. But, Ghawadra's parents said were shocked to hear the news.
 
Later that day, Israeli forces arrested and beat Ghawadra's father and brother leading to their hospitalization, Maan reported. The father was detained at his workplace in Israel. The village of Bir al-Bas where the family lives was declared a closed military zone by Israeli forces who raided it. Atias was laid to rest Wednesday night. His convict father received special furlough to attend.

In a harsh Facebook post, Justice Minister and chief Israeli negotiator Tzipi Livni slammed Economy Minister Naftali Bennett and his party Habayit Hayehudi for "attempting to prevent Israel from reaching a deal with the Palestinians." Livni continued saying, "It is true I was opposed to a referendum because I believe we were elected to make hard decisions, but see what has happened: Those who decide for the majority are in fact a radical minority which has taken control of our lives...They call us 'brother' and 'sister', but the truth of the matter is that they don't care about their 'family', they are motivated by narrow interest at the expense of our children's future - with more and more announcements of settlement construction they attempt to prevent us from reaching an agreement which will secure the existence of a strong, Jewish and democratic, Zionist state."
 

Quick Hits:

  • Jerusalem man in coma after settler attack - Kamil Dawood Basila, 48, from E. Jerusalem was seriously wounded after being attacked by Israeli settlers near the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Tuesday. He was walking near the Western Wall on the Moroccan Gate road when two settlers threw a large rock at him from a height. (Maan)
  • Israeli forces shoot, injure man in Gaza - Mahmoud Abd al-Issa, 25, was shot in the chest by Israeli forces east of al-Maghazi refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. (Maan)
  • Teenager shot, injured in Bethlehem - Witnesses said that the teen was shot with a live bullet in the foot and taken to Beit Jala governmental hospital for treatment. A spokeswoman for the Israeli army did not return calls seeking comment. (Maan)
  • Israeli rightists, intelligence officers tour Aqsa compound - Israeli intelligence officers and rightists entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque courtyard Wednesday under protection of Israeli police officers, eyewitnesses said. (Maan)
  • To Korea without shoes or jacket: East Jerusalem athlete loses luggage to Israeli airport security - Mohammed Juda, from East Jerusalem, was told that his personal effects would arrive in Seoul two days later; he's still waiting. (Haaretz)
  • **Knesset panel clears another $10m to compensate settlers for '09 building freezeMK Stav Shafir reveals the transfer and slams Finance Minister Yair Lapid for and his Yesh Atid party for the transfer of funds to settlers outside the state budget so it would not be noticed. (Haaretz)
  • Israeli forces shoot, injure man in southern Gaza - A number of Israeli vehicles, including six bulldozers and a number of tanks, entered a border area in southern Gaza and began leveling Palestinian land. Israeli forces fired shots in the area, injuring one man, locals said. (Maan)
  • Exclusive: Israel agrees to recognize EU ban on funding institutions in settlements - Agreement is part of proposal submitted to enable Israel to participate in joint 'Horizon 2020 initiative'; recognition does not mean prejudging permanent borders, to be determined in negotiations. (Haaretz)
  • EU lawmakers urge Ashton to rethink settlement boycott guidelines  - 27 EU parliament members petition Ashton to rethink guidelines banning funding, business transactions with settlements. News comes amid reports Israel attempted to reach deal with EU over guidelines in bid to save $94B in research funding. (Agencies, Ynet)
  • PM: Settlement construction harms chances with Iran - Day after slamming housing minister for plans to build 23,000 West Bank housing units, Netanyahu says unnecessary construction creates 'unnecessary clashes with international community - at a time when we are making an effort to reach better agreement with Iran.' (Ynet)
  • Ex-IDF spokesperson appointed Territories Coordinator - Poly Mordechai, former IDF spokesperson, appointed by defense minister to position of Coordinator of Government Activities in Territories, in charge of illegal West Bank construction, flow of goods into Gaza. (Ynet)
  • Palestinian Minister: Israel to give back stolen organs - Israel will soon return to the Palestinian Authority organs that were stolen during a forensic examination, a PA official said Wednesday. In a 2000 interview, Dr. Yehuda Hiss admitted to stealing organs from dead bodies, including those of Palestinians, and sending the organs to Israeli hospitals. (Maan)
  • Israeli bulldozers demolish house in Negev village - Police forces accompanied the bulldozers to al-Sayyed village, where they destroyed the home of Nafeth Hassan Salem al-Sayyed, who planned to use the house as the venue for his upcoming wedding. (Maan)
  • Knesset bill: Require studies about the Jewish nation-state - MK Ohayon, who initiated the bill, explains that "with attempts to harm the connection between the people of Israel and their land it must be said clearly." MK Rosen: This is the last thing that education lacks. (NRG Hebrew)
  • As border security tightens, Israel starts getting high on its own supply - Getting stoned no longer means supporting anti-Israel terrorist groups like Hezbollah, marijuana legalization supporters say. (JTA, Haaretz)
  • Iranian band 'wanted to perform in Israel' - Lead singer of Israeli band Electra shocked to hear about murder of two members of Iranian Yellow Dogs group he performed with in New York. 'They were very interested in Israel and really wanted to come here,' he says. (Ynet)
  • Israel Press Council reprimands Haaretz columnist for alleged ethics lapse - Gideon Levy, who plans to appeal, suggested that a gunman who shot dead four people in a Be'er Sheva bank may have been influenced by his service in the Border Police. (Haaretz)
  • Even in the startup nation the army has a hard time finding cyber geeks - But Israel's military is bullish on a special after-school program for smart high school kids - from the country's outskirts as well. (Haaretz)
  • Pillar of Defense: Hamas marks year since Israeli operation in Gaza - Hamas minister calls on Palestinians in Gaza, West Bank and Israel to unite in a holy war to 'uproot the Jews' from Israel. (Agencies, Haaretz)
  • Netanyahu: 98% drop in Gaza rocket fire since Pillar of Defense - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking to troops on anniversary of Operation Pillar of Defense: There is no doubt that significant deterrence has been achieved. Netanyahu: Hamas manufactures and stores rockets in residential buildings. (Israel Hayom)
  • Al-Quds Brigades threatens 'battle of ghosts' with Israel - Following a military parade in Gaza conducted by al-Quds Brigades - the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad movement - a spokesman for the group condemned peace negotiations as an impossible method for liberating Palestine and its people. (Maan)
  • Families powerless in Gaza - Since the beginning of November, Gaza's only power plant has been shut due to shortages of industrial diesel. The result has been a major increase in power outages for Gaza's 1.7 million inhabitants, with electricity now absent for around half of each day. (Maan)
  • Masa to celebrate tenth anniversary - Masa, which brings young Jewish adults from around the world to Israel for five months to a year, will hold a festive event in Jerusalem on Thursday to mark its tenth anniversary. This year, Masa will have an all-time high of around 11,000 participants. (Israel Hayom)
  • Egypt's Morsi: I was kidnapped day before military ouster - In a letter read on TV by his lawyer, deposed Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi indicates for first time that he was held against his will. (Agencies, Haaretz)
  • Nasrallah leaves bunker: Israel pushing region towards war - Speaking in public for first time since August, Nasrallah offers political commentary on Israel, US, nuclear talks with Iran. 'Israel is happy... Arab world in turmoil is its goal... It wants to tear Arab countries, divide them religiously, Israel is always pushing towards war.' (Ynet and Haaretz)
  • Republicans blast Kerry's 'anti-Israeli' Senate briefing against new Iran sanctions - Harsh rhetoric between Jerusalem and Washington continues, with the U.S. blasting Israel's 'unreal' evaluations of Iran accord and Netanyahu warning that the 'bad deal' could lead to war. (Haaretz)
  • NYT: For Israel, Iran strike is 'only acceptable outcome' - New York Times continues to criticize Israeli policies; Thomas Friedman says Israel, Gulf countries want to keep Iran isolated and weak but that US has other interests. (Ynet)
  • IAEA: Enrichment continues || Netanyahu: A bad deal with Iran could lead to war - Minister says sanctions relief package offered to Iran could be worth $40 billion to Tehran. (Haaretz)
  • French ambassador: U.S., world powers fell in line with France on Iran - According to Patrick Maisonnave, Kerry adopted France's stance on Iran's nuclear program during talks in Geneva, which then became the position of the six world powers. (Haaretz)
  • "Kerry and Sherman told us not to believe Israel regarding negotiations with Iran" - Sen. Mark Kirk described the briefing, conducted by the U.S. Secretary of State and the U.S. representative to talks with Iran, at the Senate Banking Committee "as one of the most anti-Israeli briefings I have heard until now." He also said, "The proposed deal would not prevent Iran from going nuclear." (Maariv, p. 1/NRG Hebrew)
  • U.S. dismisses Israeli assessment on Iran as 'exaggerated, not based on reality' - State Department rejects Israeli estimate that sanctions relief offered to Iran in Geneva is worth $40 billion to Tehran. (Haaretz)


Commentary/Analysis:

Vegans for the occupation (Aeyal Gross, Haaretz) In Tel Aviv today, it is far easier to find food whose preparation has not involved the exploitation of animals than to find food whose production has not entailed the oppression and uprooting of other human beings.
IDF commander: 100,000 Palestinians have a score to settle with Israel (Amos Harel, Haaretz) Israel's security services are having trouble quelling the renewed wave of terror, and its spread across the Green Line could make Israelis question their safety.
Settler chiefs on Iran talks: We'll sell your mother - and even Bibi - for new housing (Bradley Burston, Haaretz) The right to settle is our Second Amendment. It's not going anywhere and neither are we, they say.
Where was the judgment? (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) Government ministers cannot contradict moves made by the prime minister.
Drama, not drones: Why Israel should export its culture to the world (Lee Perlman, Haaretz) Israeli culture is a strategic asset that needs to be cultivated, properly budgeted and sent out globally - and not just for the purpose of diplomacy.
Vive la France! (Sarah N. Stern, Israel Hayom) Nature abhors a vacuum and France has swept in to fill the vacuum in moral leadership created by the Obama administration. 
Israel and Saudi Arabia, a suspicious relationship (Tom Phillips, Haaretz) Israel and Saudi Arabia's shared concerns over Iran won't be enough to develop pragmatic ties without Israel defusing the biggest obstacle between them: the Palestinian issue.
US Jewry needs Israel's help (Yoaz Hendel, Yedioth/Ynet) Debate over halachic details as half of US Jews disappear is stupidity under religious guise.
The police vs. human rights (Haaretz Editorial) A law expanding administrative detention to the criminal realm would be an unconstitutional violation of the right to freedom.
Hardened in Syrian war, Hezbollah presents new set of threats (Amos Harel, Haaretz) The Israeli military must adapt to fighting a Hezbollah with urban warfare experience and the ability to launching offensives of its own.
No takebacks (Dr. Ephraim Kam, Israel Hayom) A deal will effectively recognize Iran's right to enrich uranium -- in contrast to the decision made by the U.N. Security Council that Iran has violated. This affirmation will be hard to undo. 
Lost cause in Geneva (Ari Shavit, Haaretz) The big story of 2012 was the Israeli preemptive strike that didn't happen; the big story of 2014 is liable to be Saudi Arabia's preemptive nuclearization.

 

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

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