APN's daily news review from Israel
Monday April 13, 2015
Quote of the day:
"In a certain way it is very simple. He does not need to convince them. To convince the convinced? He
tells them (the word) ‘Arabs' and they come out of their holes."
--Actress Anat Waxman slams racists who voted for Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and equates them with the 'Ugly Israeli.'**
--Actress Anat Waxman slams racists who voted for Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and equates them with the 'Ugly Israeli.'**
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Habayit Hayehudi demands from Netanyahu veto rights on issues of religion and state
- Herzog presented his position regarding Iran agreement – and avoided criticizing Netanyahu // Barak Ravid
- Hillary Clinton officially declared she is running for US President
- What do we really know about Hilary Clinton // The Marker
- Spring arrived, snow came
- (Tycoon) Nochi Dankner testified in court: “I did not plan to manipulate stocks in IDB”
- Factory in Sderot in danger of closing; 80 workers face dismissal
- Rabbi Pinto expected to appear tomorrow in opening of his trial in Israel
- The goal: The White House – Hillary Clinton declared officially: “I am running for President”
- Dolls from hell – Chilling exhibition at Yad V’Shem of dolls and teddy bears of children of the Holocaust
- ‘Protective’ Hug – The ‘baby boom’ of Operation Protective Edge: Babies created during short trips home during reserve duty or between sirens in the protected shelter are now being born
- (Actress Anat) Waxman storm: “Netanyahu voters – like the ‘chocolate flight’” (Hebrew)
- Europe by bike – Young Israeli rode for six months from Barcelona to Turkey
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Clinton is running (for US President)
- Grandma is running a marathon // Ron Miburg, Maine
- Now the race has begun // Shlomo Shamir, NY
- April storm – Storm of last two days “happens only once in 10 to 15 years”; 20cm of snow on Mt. Hermon
- Coalition forming - Netanyahu and Kahlon met: There is progress
- Actress Anat Waxman: “Bibi only says ‘Arabs’ and the ‘Chocolates’ come out of their holes”
- Nochi Dankner testified in stock manipulation affair: I did not initiate a plan to influence IDB stocks
Israel Hayom
- “Removing the sanctions – only if terror stops” – Netanyahu on Iran
- Hillary Clinton runs for President; Rubio to announce today
- “Progress in talks with Kahlon and Deri”
- “Until the fire, Shani had a beautiful trip”
- Crazy (weather) April
- Dankner found who to blame: “The cellular phone reforms caused IDB to crash”
- Blow to Sderot: ‘Extra Plastic’ factory in danger of closing
- The Kardashian sisters land today in Israel
News Summary:
Hillary Clinton’s official declaration, the latest on the Iran deal, unusually stormy weather and a storm over remarks about Netanyahu voters by a famous actress were top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers.
The front pages of the newspapers were filled with information about Hillary Clinton. Maariv ran a timeline of Clinton’s political work and a list of quotes she made over the years about Israel (“a lighthouse for what democracy can and should be”), about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (“When I visited Jericho [in 1981], I got a first glimpse into the lives of Palestinians under occupation, how their honor and self-fulfillment were taken from them, things Americans take for granted”) and about her working relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu (“I learned…that if you connect with him as a friend, there is a chance that it is possible to achieve something together”). Yedioth interviewed her good friend American-Israeli media tycoon Haim Saban: “People don’t even understand how strong a woman she is….She could continue to travel around the world, give three lectures a day, get a quarter of a million dollars per lecture. But she is serving the public, always has and always will. And I won’t deny that the opportunity to make history by being the first female President (of the US) appeals to her.” How much is Obama behind her? “Just 110%.” Will she win this time? “Oy vavoy, if not. I am already 70 years old and my heart won’t survive (if she doesn’t).”
Israeli opposition party leaders of Zionist Union laid out their Iranian policy on Sunday, calling for a US green light in advance for an Israeli attack on Iran if Iran breaches the agreement as for certain amendments to the current deal. They also called for a "comprehensive, intimate and in-depth strategic discussion with the US" on the nuclear talks in this interim period until the final deal is signed. Ynet has the draft of the Zionist Union’s Iran document.) (Also: Maariv) Haaretz’s Barak Ravid wrote that the Zionist Union went out of its way not to directly criticize Netanyahu, putting Herzog in a position to be appointed Foreign Minister. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State John Kerry warned Congress not to put in place conditions that would impede Iran an deal and said he stood by his words that sanctions on Iran would be suspended in phases. JTA reported in Haaretz that Kerry and his undersecretary, Wendy Sherman, who is leading the US side in the nuclear talks, met US Jewish leaders for two hours on April 8th to discuss Israel and the Iran deal. Representatives from AIPAC, the American Jewish Committee, the Anti-Defamation League, the Jewish Federations of North America and the Orthodox, Reform and Conservative streams were present. Yesterday, the Washington Post published an Op-Ed by Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon who wrote that war is not the only alternative to a bad Iran deal and that the alternative is 'a better deal that significantly rolls back Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.' Netanyahu said the same yesterday. However, Maariv, Haaretz and Ynet noted that at a press conference Saturday, US President Barack Obama said again that he asked Netanyahu for a viable alternative to the deal, but has yet to receive one. (He said that also 10 days ago.)
And, in an interview with Maariv’s Yossi Melman, Dr. Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization, said he believes that Israel will sign the treaty banning nuclear tests. Zerbo, who is visiting Israel ahead of an international conference, promises: "We will solve the issues that Israel views as obstacles. "
**Famous Israeli actress, Anat Waxman, was the latest Israeli left-wing artist to make controversial remarks about the people who voted for Netanyahu. In an interview on Channel 2 yesterday, she said Netanyahu was the king of “the Chocolates,” in reference to the people who became the symbol of the ‘ugly Israelis’ after they were filmed verbally attacking a flight steward who wouldn’t sell them chocolate without VAT. The interviewer asked Waxman whether those who vote for the right-wing aren’t making a rational choice. Waxman answered: “I don’t think so. I wouldn’t coronate for myself such a leader. And excuse me, but the ‘Chocolates,’ this is the king that...the Ashkenazi. Enlightened, my ass. With his American accent, with those speeches that...I think that's what he does all day, sit and write speeches and video clips. Now he began to making video clips." How is that related to the chocolate video? I did not understand, said the Channel 2 interviewer. Waxman replied: "It’s those who shout 'Only Bibi, only Bibi!' And a curse. ‘Only Bibi, Only give me Bibi'. In a certain way it is very simple. He does not need to convince them. To convince the convinced? He tells them (the word) ‘Arabs' and they come out of their holes. It’s a kind of mantras, slogans. We have no one to talk to (among them).” Waxman continued: “Again, we are the ones in the ‘Bubble’, the Tel-Avivis. I am willing to accept you, let's talk. But this is too hard for us. They speak a different language, they need other things. They are impoverished people. They are different nations, unfortunately." (Haaretz Hebrew, Ynet Hebrew). Yedioth’s sub-title equated her with Yair Garboz, who in a speech against the right-wing referred to the ‘amulet kissers’ (meaning the Mizrachi Jews), and with composer Alona Kimchi, who wrote on Facebook after the elections that Likud voters “should drink poison.” Yedioth and Israel Hayom both quoted two right-wingers for reactions. Former Yesha settler council chief Danny Dayan said that “people like Waxman aren’t aware that they are the most herd-like,” and Likud MK Danny Danon said that it was “a shame that there are left-wing people who continue to slander and not to accept the decision of the people that was made democratically.”
Hillary Clinton’s official declaration, the latest on the Iran deal, unusually stormy weather and a storm over remarks about Netanyahu voters by a famous actress were top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers.
The front pages of the newspapers were filled with information about Hillary Clinton. Maariv ran a timeline of Clinton’s political work and a list of quotes she made over the years about Israel (“a lighthouse for what democracy can and should be”), about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (“When I visited Jericho [in 1981], I got a first glimpse into the lives of Palestinians under occupation, how their honor and self-fulfillment were taken from them, things Americans take for granted”) and about her working relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu (“I learned…that if you connect with him as a friend, there is a chance that it is possible to achieve something together”). Yedioth interviewed her good friend American-Israeli media tycoon Haim Saban: “People don’t even understand how strong a woman she is….She could continue to travel around the world, give three lectures a day, get a quarter of a million dollars per lecture. But she is serving the public, always has and always will. And I won’t deny that the opportunity to make history by being the first female President (of the US) appeals to her.” How much is Obama behind her? “Just 110%.” Will she win this time? “Oy vavoy, if not. I am already 70 years old and my heart won’t survive (if she doesn’t).”
Israeli opposition party leaders of Zionist Union laid out their Iranian policy on Sunday, calling for a US green light in advance for an Israeli attack on Iran if Iran breaches the agreement as for certain amendments to the current deal. They also called for a "comprehensive, intimate and in-depth strategic discussion with the US" on the nuclear talks in this interim period until the final deal is signed. Ynet has the draft of the Zionist Union’s Iran document.) (Also: Maariv) Haaretz’s Barak Ravid wrote that the Zionist Union went out of its way not to directly criticize Netanyahu, putting Herzog in a position to be appointed Foreign Minister. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State John Kerry warned Congress not to put in place conditions that would impede Iran an deal and said he stood by his words that sanctions on Iran would be suspended in phases. JTA reported in Haaretz that Kerry and his undersecretary, Wendy Sherman, who is leading the US side in the nuclear talks, met US Jewish leaders for two hours on April 8th to discuss Israel and the Iran deal. Representatives from AIPAC, the American Jewish Committee, the Anti-Defamation League, the Jewish Federations of North America and the Orthodox, Reform and Conservative streams were present. Yesterday, the Washington Post published an Op-Ed by Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon who wrote that war is not the only alternative to a bad Iran deal and that the alternative is 'a better deal that significantly rolls back Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.' Netanyahu said the same yesterday. However, Maariv, Haaretz and Ynet noted that at a press conference Saturday, US President Barack Obama said again that he asked Netanyahu for a viable alternative to the deal, but has yet to receive one. (He said that also 10 days ago.)
And, in an interview with Maariv’s Yossi Melman, Dr. Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization, said he believes that Israel will sign the treaty banning nuclear tests. Zerbo, who is visiting Israel ahead of an international conference, promises: "We will solve the issues that Israel views as obstacles. "
**Famous Israeli actress, Anat Waxman, was the latest Israeli left-wing artist to make controversial remarks about the people who voted for Netanyahu. In an interview on Channel 2 yesterday, she said Netanyahu was the king of “the Chocolates,” in reference to the people who became the symbol of the ‘ugly Israelis’ after they were filmed verbally attacking a flight steward who wouldn’t sell them chocolate without VAT. The interviewer asked Waxman whether those who vote for the right-wing aren’t making a rational choice. Waxman answered: “I don’t think so. I wouldn’t coronate for myself such a leader. And excuse me, but the ‘Chocolates,’ this is the king that...the Ashkenazi. Enlightened, my ass. With his American accent, with those speeches that...I think that's what he does all day, sit and write speeches and video clips. Now he began to making video clips." How is that related to the chocolate video? I did not understand, said the Channel 2 interviewer. Waxman replied: "It’s those who shout 'Only Bibi, only Bibi!' And a curse. ‘Only Bibi, Only give me Bibi'. In a certain way it is very simple. He does not need to convince them. To convince the convinced? He tells them (the word) ‘Arabs' and they come out of their holes. It’s a kind of mantras, slogans. We have no one to talk to (among them).” Waxman continued: “Again, we are the ones in the ‘Bubble’, the Tel-Avivis. I am willing to accept you, let's talk. But this is too hard for us. They speak a different language, they need other things. They are impoverished people. They are different nations, unfortunately." (Haaretz Hebrew, Ynet Hebrew). Yedioth’s sub-title equated her with Yair Garboz, who in a speech against the right-wing referred to the ‘amulet kissers’ (meaning the Mizrachi Jews), and with composer Alona Kimchi, who wrote on Facebook after the elections that Likud voters “should drink poison.” Yedioth and Israel Hayom both quoted two right-wingers for reactions. Former Yesha settler council chief Danny Dayan said that “people like Waxman aren’t aware that they are the most herd-like,” and Likud MK Danny Danon said that it was “a shame that there are left-wing people who continue to slander and not to accept the decision of the people that was made democratically.”
Quick Hits:
- Police question 4 radical settlers over receiving classified info from soldier - Settler soldier Yaakov Sela from Bat Ayin expected to be indicted on Monday for informing his friends, three of them his neighbors, of police ops against the settlement. (Haaretz+)
- Land threatened by settler outpost near Bethlehem - Israeli forces razed lands near al-Khader south of Bethlehem earlier this week in order to build a new bypass road to an illegal outpost, threatening 400 dunams of Palestinian land with confiscation. (Maan)
- High Court to hear Palestinian demand for village planning autonomy - Petitioners, including the Israeli group Rabbis for Human Rights, hope to end demolitions in Areas C of the West Bank, which are under Israeli control, by reinstating local zoning boards. Amnesty International expressed support of the petitioners. (Haaretz)
- Bennett demands to have veto on religion-state bills in next cabinet - The Habayit Hayehudi leader hopes to trump Yisrael Beiteinu on the issue (regarding civil marriage). (Haaretz+)
- Habayit Hayehudi MK says 'extreme Israeli left' is like bacteria - Yinon Magal warns columns by Haaretz's Gideon Levy are translated daily into English and read in capitals around the world. (Haaretz+)
- Israel to release body of Palestinian who stabbed 2 Israeli soldiers - Muhammad Jasser Karakra, 27, was shot dead after he stabbed two Israeli soldiers at the Sinjil junction near the Shilo settlement. Israeli forces detained seven Palestinian youths to identify the suspect's body, but none were able to. Some of the youths said the suspect was injured with a bullet in the head. (Maan)
- Israeli army to probe death of Palestinian killed in clashes with soldiers - Ziad Awad was killed during confrontation with IDF following a funeral on Friday, possibly by live fire. (Haaretz+)
- Six years later, Abu Rahmeh family still fighting for justice - In response to the attorneys' argument that basic investigative acts have never been carried out in the six years since the killing of Bilin resident Bassem Abu Rahmeh in April 2009, Justice Menny Mazuz determined April 1 that the State must submit its response to the petition by May 25. (Maan and B’tselem)
- 15 Israelis nabbed for selling drugs, explosives to undercover cop - One suspect, a recently discharged soldier, sold police officer explosive bricks taken from IDF bases. (Times of Israel and Maariv)
- [Christian] Israeli soldier stole grenades from his base, sold some and used others for fun - Soldier was charged with illegal use of firearms after a Military Police undercover agent contacted him and was able to purchase a stun grenade for NIS 600. When the combat soldier celebrated Christmas with his family Christmas, he got drunk and threw stun grenades onto the street outside his house. After a municipal inspector arrived he threw two grenades at him. (Maariv)
- Rightist NGO operating tunnel it dug illegally near Western Wall, say petitioners - The petition asking court to bar Elad from Old City tunnel was submitted by Emek Shaveh, an organization of archaeologists and community activists who protest the political use of archaeology. (Haaretz+)
- Israelis feel memory of Holocaust fading away - More than 80% of Jews in Israel believe that in a few years from now, the Nazi genocide of Jews during World War II will become a vague historical event, survey finds ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- Israeli authorities reopen Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza - Raed Fattouh, a Palestinian official responsible for the entry of goods into Gaza, said that Israeli authorities had reopened the crossing on Sunday, after a three-day closure due to religious holidays in Israel. (Maan)
- Flooding hits Gaza Strip following heavy rain - A number of caravans housing displaced Gazans in the low-lying area of Khazaa, east of Khan Younis, and in Beit Hanoun, have been swamped. Palestinian Civil Defense crews evacuated a school when water levels rose sharply in the surrounding area. (Maan)
- Egypt imposes life jail penalty for cross-border tunnel use - In additional step against Hamas, Egypt to jail those digging tunnels from Gaza into Sinai. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Six killed in car bomb explosion outside police station in Egypt's Sinai - Explosion comes hours after a roadside bomb killed six soldiers traveling south of el-Arish in an armored vehicle. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- WATCH: ISIS destroying the ancient ruins of Nimrud - The video shows militants using sledgehammers, jackhammers, a bulldozer and ultimately explosives to level the site. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Middle East updates / ISIS destroys key bridge in Iraq Sunni heartland - Hundreds of Iranians defy ban to protest Saudi Arabia in Tehran; U.S. expands intelligence sharing with Saudi Arabia in Yemen operation; Saudi Arabia detains man suspected of killing two policemen. (Haaretz)
- Ecuador president tweets 'Heil Hitler!' in response to critic - Rafael Correa, who accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza last year, has long used social media to insult rivals. (Haaretz)
Features:
Palestinian boy is free from jail, but not from nightmares
Hamzeh Abu Hashem, who was wounded by dogs from the IDF canine unit, is finally free from prison. We met a broken and shaken boy. (Gideon Levy and Alex Levac, Haaretz+)
David and Goliath in the Caucasus
The Armenian-Azerbaijan 'soft war' over the Nagorno-Karabakh region is still claiming lives. A recent visit there provoked questions concerning Azerbaijan's close ties with Israel. (Yair Auron, Haaretz+)
Doctor's orders led this journalist to discover his Palestinian neighbors
After heart surgery, doctors told journalist Eliezer Yaari he needed to walk. His feet led him to a nearby Palestinian village – a microcosm of political developments in Jerusalem – and a new book with some frank observations. (Nir Hasson, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
Hamzeh Abu Hashem, who was wounded by dogs from the IDF canine unit, is finally free from prison. We met a broken and shaken boy. (Gideon Levy and Alex Levac, Haaretz+)
David and Goliath in the Caucasus
The Armenian-Azerbaijan 'soft war' over the Nagorno-Karabakh region is still claiming lives. A recent visit there provoked questions concerning Azerbaijan's close ties with Israel. (Yair Auron, Haaretz+)
Doctor's orders led this journalist to discover his Palestinian neighbors
After heart surgery, doctors told journalist Eliezer Yaari he needed to walk. His feet led him to a nearby Palestinian village – a microcosm of political developments in Jerusalem – and a new book with some frank observations. (Nir Hasson, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
By aping Bibi on Iran, Herzog positions himself as Netanyahu's next FM (Barak
Ravid, Haaretz+) Going out of its way not to directly criticize the prime minister, Zionist Union
says in position paper that on issue of Iran's nuclear program, there's no 'coalition or opposition.'
Obama finds a partner in Cuba, and hopes to find one in Iran as well (Haaretz Editorial) Just like Reagan and Thatcher found a partner in Gorbachev, Obama found one in Castro.
Israel's important week (Eli Hazan, Israel Hayom) The week in which Israel wildly shifts from mourning to joy defines what we are.
Why doesn't Israel help Palestinians in Yarmouk? (Oudeh Basharat, Haaretz+) Given the horrific tragedy of the Yarmouk refugee camp, it is time for Israel to think differently about the Palestinian people, some of which is part and parcel of this country and its future.
Settlements, Iran and Hamas: Hillary Clinton's Israel policy (Yitzhak Benhorin, Ynet) After finally announcing her bid for the US presidency, Ynet takes a look back at Clinton's positions on Israel, starting from her time as a first lady, then as a senator, until leading US foreign policy as secretary of state.
Let Netanyahu reap the whirlwind of a right-wing government (Uzi Baram, Haaretz+) Israel needs a coalition of rightist and ultra-Orthodox parties that will act according to their beliefs.
Why Khamenei prefers sanctions over an agreement (Smadar Perry, Yedioth/Ynet) If the economic race into Iran gets out of control, a new generation will suddenly have jobs and cash and will seek to settle the score with the ayatollah regime.
By canceling anti-Israel conference, U.K. Jews scored an own goal (Daniella Peled, Haaretz+) Britain's Jewish community managed to turn an otherwise marginal event at a regional university into a freedom of speech issue that is going all the way up to the High Court.
Grandmother is running a marathon (Ron Miburg, Maariv) The arrogance and condescension that characterized Hillary Clinton’s 2008 campaign has disappeared and been replaced with a woman, who is a mother, a grandmother and an iron lady without rust. Upon firing the opening shot, Clinton is a long way from the finish line.
Is the Iran deal more a Munich or a Versailles? (Amir Oren, Haaretz+) It can be said the nuclear agreement is like the treaty that helped cause World War II or the one that failed after World War I. Either way, Israel needs U.S. military commitments.
Both Israeli and Palestinian leaders favor a binational state (Sever Plocker, Yedioth/Ynet) Had an independent state been the Palestinians' top priority, it would have been an established fact by now. Meanwhile, Israel's revealed preference is to remain in the territories forever.
It still may be possible to stop Iran’s bomb, despite Obama’s mistakes (Moshe Arens, Haaretz+) It’s time for the winners and losers of Israel's election to give unqualified support to Benjamin Netanyahu in trying to keep Tehran from reaching its goal.
If asked to, Herzog must join coalition (Eitan Haber, Yedioth/Ynet) As almost the entire world prepares to lash out at Israel's next government, the left should remember that the state comes before the party.
To avoid a regional crisis, give Gaza more clean water (Gidon Bromberg and Earl Blumenauer, Haaretz+) The lack of drinking water beneath the coastal enclave poses a threat to regional stability. What happens if thousands of Gazans rush the Israeli and Egyptian fences, pleading for water to survive?
Erdogan has chosen a bride (Alon Liel, i24/Ynet) Following a slew of mistakes that increasingly isolated Turkey, president has turned to Iran for stability.
British Jews not rushing to vote for first Jewish PM (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) Jewish voters feel Ed Miliband isn’t one of them, and may not stand up for the community.
For many Jews, Israel may be around the corner - but Europe is still home (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) The Cossacks aren’t coming: A special series on the Jewish future in Europe - a postscript.
Obama finds a partner in Cuba, and hopes to find one in Iran as well (Haaretz Editorial) Just like Reagan and Thatcher found a partner in Gorbachev, Obama found one in Castro.
Israel's important week (Eli Hazan, Israel Hayom) The week in which Israel wildly shifts from mourning to joy defines what we are.
Why doesn't Israel help Palestinians in Yarmouk? (Oudeh Basharat, Haaretz+) Given the horrific tragedy of the Yarmouk refugee camp, it is time for Israel to think differently about the Palestinian people, some of which is part and parcel of this country and its future.
Settlements, Iran and Hamas: Hillary Clinton's Israel policy (Yitzhak Benhorin, Ynet) After finally announcing her bid for the US presidency, Ynet takes a look back at Clinton's positions on Israel, starting from her time as a first lady, then as a senator, until leading US foreign policy as secretary of state.
Let Netanyahu reap the whirlwind of a right-wing government (Uzi Baram, Haaretz+) Israel needs a coalition of rightist and ultra-Orthodox parties that will act according to their beliefs.
Why Khamenei prefers sanctions over an agreement (Smadar Perry, Yedioth/Ynet) If the economic race into Iran gets out of control, a new generation will suddenly have jobs and cash and will seek to settle the score with the ayatollah regime.
By canceling anti-Israel conference, U.K. Jews scored an own goal (Daniella Peled, Haaretz+) Britain's Jewish community managed to turn an otherwise marginal event at a regional university into a freedom of speech issue that is going all the way up to the High Court.
Grandmother is running a marathon (Ron Miburg, Maariv) The arrogance and condescension that characterized Hillary Clinton’s 2008 campaign has disappeared and been replaced with a woman, who is a mother, a grandmother and an iron lady without rust. Upon firing the opening shot, Clinton is a long way from the finish line.
Is the Iran deal more a Munich or a Versailles? (Amir Oren, Haaretz+) It can be said the nuclear agreement is like the treaty that helped cause World War II or the one that failed after World War I. Either way, Israel needs U.S. military commitments.
Both Israeli and Palestinian leaders favor a binational state (Sever Plocker, Yedioth/Ynet) Had an independent state been the Palestinians' top priority, it would have been an established fact by now. Meanwhile, Israel's revealed preference is to remain in the territories forever.
It still may be possible to stop Iran’s bomb, despite Obama’s mistakes (Moshe Arens, Haaretz+) It’s time for the winners and losers of Israel's election to give unqualified support to Benjamin Netanyahu in trying to keep Tehran from reaching its goal.
If asked to, Herzog must join coalition (Eitan Haber, Yedioth/Ynet) As almost the entire world prepares to lash out at Israel's next government, the left should remember that the state comes before the party.
To avoid a regional crisis, give Gaza more clean water (Gidon Bromberg and Earl Blumenauer, Haaretz+) The lack of drinking water beneath the coastal enclave poses a threat to regional stability. What happens if thousands of Gazans rush the Israeli and Egyptian fences, pleading for water to survive?
Erdogan has chosen a bride (Alon Liel, i24/Ynet) Following a slew of mistakes that increasingly isolated Turkey, president has turned to Iran for stability.
British Jews not rushing to vote for first Jewish PM (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) Jewish voters feel Ed Miliband isn’t one of them, and may not stand up for the community.
For many Jews, Israel may be around the corner - but Europe is still home (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) The Cossacks aren’t coming: A special series on the Jewish future in Europe - a postscript.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.