News Nosh 10.06.13

by APN 10/07/13
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APN's daily news review from Israel

Sunday October 06, 2013

 

Quote of the day:

"In the next version, we will be happy to give you credit for your research study. We believe scientists are envoys of peace and scientists' way of thinking is different from politicians."
--From email Iranian physicists wrote to Israeli physicists over mistakenly not giving the Israeli scientists credit.**


Front Page News:

Haaretz

Yedioth Ahronoth

Maariv

Israel Hayom

 

News Summary:
Today's top story was about the attack on a nine-year-old girl in Psagot settlement that security forces suspect was perpetrated by a Palestinian. The other main story was the statement by US President Barack Obama that Iran is 'a year or more away' from building a nuclear weapon. The papers noted that this estimation is contrary to Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's. Meanwhile, Iran's spiritual leader said he does not trust Iran, but Yedioth reported on warm relations between Israeli and Iranian scientists.

The papers were not clear at the time of print whether nine-year-old Noam Glick suffered a stab or bullet wound outside her house in the settlement of Psagot, overlooking Ramallah. But the IDF treated it as a terror attack and was searching for the assailant who escaped. Yedioth's Alex Fishman wrote (see commentary/analysis) that if the attack were indeed the act of a Palestinian, it could spark an uncontrollable third Intifada.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Obama acknowledged that American estimates about when Iran could achieve a nuclear weapon are "more conservative" than those of the Israelis, who say it will take Iran only months [note, the Israeli estimation has continuously been proven wrong - OH]. He also if he were Israel's leader, he too would be 'wary' of Iranian diplomacy. Jerusalem officials denied there is any dispute with Obama on Iran's nuclear timeframe. Government officials explained that Netanyahu was referring to the time Iran needs to complete uranium enrichment, while Obama referred to the time needed to possess a nuclear bomb. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said he did not trust the Americans and suggested that the phone call Iranian President Hassan Rouhani held with Obama was 'not proper.' Yet, a senior Iranian religious figure told worshipers at Friday prayers that Tehran must 'join hands' with Washington so as to end sanctions.
 
**While the leaders express mutual distrust, some Iranian and Israeli scientists are maintaining warm relations, Yedioth reported. A study published on carbon nano-tubes by physicists from the Tehran's Technological University caught the eyes of Prof. Moshe Kaveh and Prof. Eugene Kogan of Bar-Ilan University. Kogen sent one of the professors an email, noting that he already published studies in this field and expressed wonder why his study wasn't quoted and hope that it was not for political reasons. The Iranian physicists were quick to answer politely that they just did not see the Israeli study. "In the next version, we will be happy to give you credit for your research study. We believe scientists are envoys of peace and scientists' way of thinking is different from politicians," they wrote. Prof. Kaveh, who served 18 years as president of Bar-Ilan, said his dream now is to invite the Iranian physicists to the university to work together with him. 
 
QIran-related Quickees:

  • Israel doesn't have veto powers over Iran issue' - Western diplomat involved in nuclear talks makes it clear: Israel's concerns taken seriously, but Netanyahu is out-of-step with other nations. (Ynet)
  • Netanyahu says would consider taking call from Rohani - 'If I meet with [the Iranians] I'd stick this question in their face: Are you prepared to dismantle your program completely?' prime minister says in NPR interview. (Haaretz)
  • Former top aide challenges Netanyahu's UN speech in which he claimed that Israel could act against Iran on its own - Prof. Uzi Arad, former National Security Advisor says PM both alienates allies, places heavy security burden on State. (Ynet)
  • White House: Shutdown hinders enforcement of Iran, Syria sanctions - Workers at U.S. Treasury Department office responsible for handling the punitive measures are on furlough; announcement is meant to pressure Republicans to give ground, end fiscal standoff. (Agencies, Haaretz)
  • U.S. invites Iran to play soccer game in third match ever, report says - Iranian Football Federation president says Iran received official approval to attend tournament, the Tehran Time reports. (Agencies, Haaretz)
     

Quick Hits:

  • Israeli forces arrest 12-year-old in Beitunia - The child was forcibly snatched from his mother's arms in front of his house. He was taken to Ofer detention camp, and was beaten on the way. (Maan)
  • 6-year-old loses eye to Israeli rubber bullet - Israeli forces shot 6-year-old Musab al-Sarahneh in the eye in al-Fawwar refugee camp south of Hebron early last week The boy lost his right eye after Israeli forces opened fire on the car he was traveling in with rubber-coated steel bullets. (Maan)
  • Palestinians and Israelis in battle over control of (former settlement) Homesh - On Thursday a group of Palestinians arrived at the settlement [it is no longer a settlement, the IDF gave it back to the private Palestinian owners - OH, see here] waving PLO flags. Hours later settlers declared: Soon we will establish another Jewish settlement. (Maariv, p. 5/NRG Hebrew)
  • In rare legal victory, Palestinians reclaim seized land - In the 1970s, Israel seized several hundred acres from residents of Burqa, in northern West Bank, to build the Israeli community of Homesh, which was razed in 2005 when Israel withdrew from Gaza. On Thursday, farmers return for first time. (Israel Hayom)
  • Security establishment concerned: Rise in number of terror attacks in West Bank - According to Shin et, 68 attacks made in West Bank in August, including shooting from light weapons, throwing Molotov cocktails and placing mines. In September there were 104. That said, security sources believe that "there is no energy for a third Intifada, we are dealing with attacks made by individuals, not organizations." (Yedioth, p. 2 and Israel Hayom)
  • Israeli forces injure 9 in clashes in E. Jerusalem - Nine Palestinians were injured when Israeli forces opened fire on protests in al-Ram with live and rubber bullets on Friday. Dozens of Palestinian passersby also suffered tear-gas inhalation. (Maan)
  • Palestinian farmer: West Bank settlers destroyed 129 olive trees - Incident occurs as 40-day olive harvest begins; Israeli military says forces sent to site. (Agencies, Haaretz and Maan)
  • (Jewish) Vandals smash gravestones of prominent historical figures at Jerusalem (Protestant) cemetery - Four suspects arrested for allegedly smashing 15 tombstones in a Protestant cemetery on Jerusalem's Mount Zion. (Haaretz)
  • Investigation: Arab sector collect weapons unhindered - Police boast of catching weapons caches among Israeli Arabs, but it is a drop in the ocean of weapons in the sector. Meretz MK Issawi Freji accuses: "It's comfortable for the state that these weapons cause anarchy in Arab society and the criminals here kill each other."(Maariv, p. 1/NRG Hebrew)
  • Settlers take their case to the European Parliament - Israeli delegation, including the Samaria Regional Council head and his deputy, two MKs and an Israeli envoy to Europe, travel to Brussels to argue against Catherine Ashton's recent call to boycott settlements products, which she said should be labeled. (Israel Hayom)
  • Kerry: Shutdown to delay Israel security aid - Secretary of state says partial government shutdown will delay payments for security assistance to Israel; most Treasury employees overseeing sanctions against Iran furloughed. (Agencies, Ynet)
  • Palestinian driver breaks through checkpoint, hits 2 border policemen - Border Guard officers suffer light injuries in north West Bank incident; driver flees scene. (Ynet)
  • Grave of the 'first American consul' in Jerusalem uncovered - The tomb of Warder Cresson, one of the most colorful figures of 19th-century Jerusalem, was found as part of a project to map the Mount of Olives Cemetery. (Haaretz)
  • Former Mossad chief warns against China involvement in railway to Eilat - Efraim Halevy criticizes efforts of Netanyahu, Katz pushing for Chinese involvement in establishment of route to Eilat, claiming it could lead to crisis in Israeli-US relations. Transportation Ministry: State will make final decision based on existing options. (Ynet)
  • Palestinian security force raids Jenin refugee camp - Palestinian Authority takes stand against crime, which has increased since Israeli troops moved in last month and killed a resident. (Agencies, Haaretz)
  • IDF takes its cap off to vegan soldiers - Military introduces synthetic berets for vegans. Maj. Dimitri Romnatzov: "A few years ago we began receiving requests from some male and female soldiers saying that due to their vegan beliefs they could not use a beret made with animal by-products." (Israel Hayom)
  • German envoy responds to Lapid: Most Israelis draw inspiration from Berlin, go back home - Reacting to the finance minister's tirade about Israelis leaving their homeland for Berlin, the German ambassador to Israel says the migration isn't permanent. (Haaretz)
  • Israeli artist represents Germany in Tel-Aviv -  Dancer Nir de Volff, a Holocaust survivors' grandson who lives in Berlin, chosen to represent Germany at Berlin cultural festival opening this week in Tel Aviv. 'The Germans don't support me because of feelings of guilt, but because of my hard work,' he says. (Yedioth/Ynet)
  • British MP aims to boost Israel-UK tech links - Following four-day trip to Jewish state, Member of Parliament Julian Huppert talks about his plans to strengthen relations between high-tech companies in Israel and Cambridge. (Ynet)
  • Rare Hebrew manuscripts to go online - Israel's National Library signs agreement with leading Italian collection to digitize about 1,600 documents dating to Middle Ages, including one of oldest existing copies of Mishna. (Agencies, Ynet)
  • Assad: Obama is a liar; the West would rather believe Al-Qaida than me - Syrian president is quoted by German weekly Der Spiegel as saying, 'We all make mistakes.' (Agencies, Haaretz)
  • Five killed in Egypt as Brotherhood protests against army-backed rule - Egyptian army fires live rounds toward protesters in Cairo; supporters, opponents of deposed President Morsi clash across country. (Agencies, Haaretz)
  • Egypt issues tough warning against anti-army protests - Anyone who protests against the Egyptian army Sunday when the country celebrates the anniversary of an attack on Israel during 1973 war will be regarded as agents of foreign powers, authorities say. (Agencies, Haaretz)


Features:

In the line of fire: Life in the southern Hebron Hills
A tour of Firing Zone 918 offers a glimpse of the harassment by settlers and soldiers, and of locals' sense of helplessness. (Chaim Levinson, Haaretz Magazine)
 
Jews believe in the IDF, Arabs believe in the High Court
The 2013 Democracy Index, which will be presented to the President today, shows interesting statistics regarding positions of the public in Israel on issues of the day. (NRG Hebrew)
 
'We are not Arabs. We are Christians who speak Arabic'
Many of Israel's Christians feel that their history, culture and heritage have been hijacked by Muslim Arabs in the region, while they feel a much stronger link to Israel's Jews. The Jewish state is the only place where we are protected, they say. (By Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom)
 
Introducing musician Luna Abu Nassar, a bilingual acrobat
Acoustic and rock 'n' rolling, gentle and rough, Arabic and Hebrew - Luna Abu Nassar, like every superb artist, rises above these binary divisions in her brief but weighty debut album. (Haaretz)

Baptism of fire
Molotov cocktail that was thrown at his car left him mortally wounded with third-degree burns on 75% of his body. Doctors believed that his chances to live were slight, but 26 years later, Dov Klamnovich, the first injured [Jew -OH] of the first Intifada is making his first steps in politics and running for a place on the Jerusalem Municipality city council, leading the list of Habayit Hayehudi. (Maariv, today's Magazine)

A utopian Arab city? Turn left at Israel's Route 65
Plans for a theoretical Arab city show how the right of return could be implemented - in terms of planning, architecture and design, at least. (Haaretz)

In an impoverished Israeli Arab town, women are learning the ABCs of leadership
A leadership project in Jisr al-Zarqa aims to redress an appalling lack of literacy among local women, and to encourage their activism and involvement in local civic affairs. (Haaretz)
 
The story behind a HK billionaire's $130 million donation to the Technion
Li Ka-shing's generous donation to the prestigious Israeli school of engineering is part of broader plan to build a Western-style technology institute in China's Guangdong province along the lines of a similar joint project with Cornell University in New York City. (Haaretz)

Commentary/Analysis:

Netanyahu has carpet bombed Western diplomacy (Yossi Verter, Haaretz) While the prime minister was taking America by storm with interviews on Iran, there were some Israeli surprises at the J Street Conference in Washington and signs of a potentially explosive alliance being forged back home...Likud MK Tzachi Hanegbi surprised when he said, among other things, that "If (the Palestinians) will understand that they have to make a historic compromise like we did, agreeing to the idea that we will not be sovereign in the places where our people were born, in the places where Jewish kings and prophets used to live centuries ago."
Dangerous provocation (Alex Fishman, Yedioth) Yesterday, close to midnight, the army dealt with the (attack on the nine-year-old girl) at Psagot settlement as a terror attack...If it is discovered that it was a stray bullet, stabbing for criminal reasons, or some other criminal attack - then this is the story of a local tragedy. But if it turns out this is a terror attack, it could be a significant step towards the breakout of the third Intifada. Israel does not want that, the Palestinian Authority does not want that  - because it won't survive this intifada - but such an attack could push the two sides down a slippery slope of uncontrollable armed struggle....If this was a terror attack, the ball is first of all in the hands of the Palestinian Authority. Here, condemnation and apologies won't be enough. Here there needs to be a drafting of the Palestinian security forces in order to stop the shooters and the put out the hot coals, including those that the PA is avoiding - for example, the tanzim in the refugee camps.
Gap between Israeli, U.S. timeframes on Iran is down to interpretation, not facts (Amos Harel, Haaretz) Common denominator of estimates on when Tehran will obtain nuclear arms is pessimism: Whether it's six months, nine months or a year, it's clear that the West doesn't have much time left to stop Iran.
Netanyahu made us proud (Isi Leibler, Israel Hayom) Netanyahu must convince the U.S. that the threat Iran poses is real and immediate, and if left unchecked, will allow history to repeat itself in a terrible way. 
'Bethlehem' is yet another Israeli propaganda film (Gideon Levy, Haaretz) Before lavishing praise on co-director Yuval Adler, critics should stop to consider his film's message: the Israelis are the good guys, the Arabs the bad guys.
The end of the Iranian fantasy (Boaz Bismuth, Israel Hayom) For a week, Iranian President Hasan Rouhani peddled a rosy picture around New York, and the world applauded. Until Netanyahu came along and brought everyone back down to earth. The world was reminded that Iran is an extreme nation that seeks mass destruction.
The 'Arab Winter' will be cold but calm in Tunisia - in Egypt it will be violent (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz) Unlike Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, the religious Ennahda movement is following the political map, and heeding the voices on the streets.
The battle against Iran: What happens behind the scenes? (Shlomo Cesana, Israel Hayom) Netanyahu returns from the U.S. after telling the U.N. and Obama that Israel will not allow Iran to become a nuclear threshold state and stressing the sanctions' importance. The ball is no longer just in the Americans' court.
The demographic concept of doom (Yoram Ettinger, Haaretz) The suggestion that Jews are doomed to become a minority between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean is outrageously misleading.
Israel Police may think they're above the law, but they aren't (Haaretz Editorial) The continually shameful handling of complaints against violent police shows that Israel Police cares more about its own image than doing justice.
Mizrahi Jews deserve a memorial day too (MK Shimon Ohayon, Yedioth/Ynet) Excluding story of Jews from Arab states from Zionist ethos creates alienation towards Israeli society.
Mocking Obama (Daniel Siryoti, Israel Hayom) Obama's policy flip-flops, his reluctance to attack Syria and his attitude toward Iran are grist for the satire mill in the Arab media. Derisive cartoons throughout the Middle East present Obama as a hesitant and toothless president.
(Amir Oren, Haaretz) September 2013 was a game changer for world politics. Syria and Iran have seemingly backed down from confrontations with the West, but it's a waste of time second-guessing what they'll do next.
A defeat for Israeliness (Friday Haaretz Editorial) The state and its legislators must relate to all its citizens as Israeli citizens and eliminate the "nationality" line item in the Population Registry. 
These weapons are killing us (MK Ahmed Tibi, Maariv) 43% of Arabs in the State of Israel answered in a special poll that they fear they will be the victim of an attack, shooting or stabbing.  41% of them expressed fear that they would be the victims of property violations [i.e. theft - OH]. These are scary statistics by any index - but they have an explanation: in the Arab sector there are weapons almost everywhere....Moreover, the rate of crimes has risen and the percentage of Arabs involved in murders and attempted murders is double the percentage of the population at whole....There is the impression that the government and its branches treat the Arab sectors as a backyard. It doesn't matter what happens there - except by chance if a Jew or Jews are hurt. This is the story in Taybeh, where out of 25 murders in recent years, only three were solved. According to a query I submitted to the Internal Security Minister, when a Jew was murdered in Taybeh it took a few days to solve the murder and bring the murderers to justice. For the first time in many years, a political, social, and religious leadership of the Arab sector has stood up and called, demanded, begged to collect the weapons, prevent the crimes, solve the murders and to punish those responsible. The feeling is that these calls do not get proper attention because the result in the field continues to be terrible, the bloodletting continues and the violence rises....Imagine that the government and its branches believed the weapons in (the Arab village of) Taybeh were meant for security purposes [i.e. to harm Jews - OH]. They would turn over ever stone to find them and then arrest the owners - and also their cousins at the same opportunity...We are all screaming at the face of the State, but also inside at ourselves - enough of the violence. Weapons are killing us.
In America, Israel is losing the debate on Iran (Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie, Haaretz) With isolationism now firmly mainstream among the U.S. public, Netanyahu must lower his sights: focus on sanctions, and keep up the momentum with the Palestinians.
Intelligence dispute continues (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) US, Israeli intelligence agencies in disagreement over which track Iran is pursuing on way to nuclear bomb,
Court rejection of Israeli nationality highlights flaws of Jewish democracy (Aeyal Gross, Haaretz) The distinction between citizenship and nationality ostensibly justifies and rationalizes discrimination and exclusion.
The obligation to doubt (General Aviv Kochavi, Maariv) The gap between the facts and the commentary before the Yom Kippur War occurred because of excessive confidence. Without having doubts the path to failure is paved.
 

Interviews: 

"You didn't answer all of our expectations"
President of Turkey Abdullah Gol told Yedioth's Smadar Peri that Netanyahu should have apologized for the killing of the nine Turkish citizens in the 'Marmara affair' long ago, and that the Turks are not quick to forget and forgive. "Israel apologized too late," he told her at the end of the Istanbul Forum, which hosts politicians, researchers and journalists for discussions on international issues related to Turkey and the Middle East. "Some of our expectations were still not fulfilled." Turkey presented three demands in exchange for ending the crisis and returning to diplomatic relations to their previous state. The first was an apology for killing the Turkish citizens in 2010, which Israel did in March this year. The second was the payment of compensation to the nine families - which is still in dispute. It is believed Israel will pay an estimated $5-6 million for which the Turks will drop all legal moves against IDF officers. The problem is how the payment is defined: "aid to families" - as Israel wants to call it, or "compensation for death of nine Turkish citizens" - as Turkey demands. Gol told Yedioth that "what is important is that we continue to hold meetings and the two sides continue to meet. The meetings are held discretely, far from the eye. It is possible to say there has been a certain progress and I hope that these talks will bring results." But a senior Turkish political advisor told Yedioth that he did not expect a breakthrough anytime soon.
 
'The Palestinians always run away at the decisive moment'
Brig. Gen. (res.) Udi Dekel, who was party to the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations for over 20 years, has a disillusioned view of the peace process. "Chance of achieving peace are slim. Differences on core issues have only grown," he says. (Interviewed by Shlomo Cesana in Israel Hayom)
 
If Jerusalem forgets thee, O Nir Barkat: Can the mayor hang on?
In an interview with Haaretz, the Bibi-backed incumbent outlines his plan to beat Lieberman's choice Moshe Leon at the municipal ballot box this month. (Interviewed by Nir Hasson and Gidi Weitz in Haaretz)
 
For Friday's News Nosh: Hebrew link to interview with former minister Dan Meridor, who was unimpressed with Netanyahu's speech at the UN here.

 



 

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

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