News Nosh 04.29.15

by APN 04/29/15
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APN's daily news review from Israel

Wednesday April 29, 2015 
 

Quote of the day:

“I was scared. It was my first time in Ramallah, and before I entered her home, I was really afraid of what I would say, how I would speak with her mother. I had a lot of fears. And then, when I went in, I saw an elderly, tired woman, and the first thing she did when she saw me was hug me. I saw behind her a huge poster of her dead daughter, and during this hug I suddenly felt her daughter, the one she didn’t have. It was all mixed in my head. I was suddenly her daughter, who wanted to kill me, and this confusion — the understanding that all is one, and suffering is suffering, and that a woman who loses her daughter is a woman who loses her daughter no matter where, and that I can be anyone’s daughter — is basically one of the things that brought me to writing the script.” 
--Israeli filmmaker Shira Geffen tells about her visit to the home of a Palestinian suicide bomber in a fascinating interview in Haaretz+.**


Breaking News:


Front Page:

Haaretz

Yedioth Ahronoth

Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)

Israel Hayom

  • Nepal: Survival and rescue
  • A disaster that puts everything in proportion // Boaz Bismuth
  • Agreements with Kahlon and Yehadut Hatorah
  • Iran flexes muscles: Caught a cargo ship (allegedly trespassing) in the Persian Gulf, US sent aircraft; US: “Provocative behavior”
  • Suspicion of gang rape on Israel Air Force base: 4 soldiers arrested

 

News Summary:
Stories of Israelis rescuing and being rescued in Nepal, Israeli confirmation that Mohammed Deif, the military commander Israel tried to assassinate, is back on the job, and the Iranian seizure of a Marshall Islands cargo ship in Iranian waters were top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers. Also in the news, three teen settlers were indicted for attacks on Palestinians and the WZO’s ‘Settlement Division’ may soon be supervised by the government. However, the death of a Palestinian teen near the separation fence by an Israeli soldier’s bullet made the news only in Haaretz+ and Ynet. 
 
Hamas is rehabilitating its long-range rocket program and Mohammed Deif is back at the helm. Israel tried to assassinate him at his home and instead killed his wife and toddler in last summer’s Gaza war. Ynet’s Arab excellent affairs reporter, Elior Levy, writes in his analysis of the Hamas military wing’s goals and its problems with the political bureau, headed by Khaled Mashaal. He reports that tensions between the two branches are also fueled by Deif’s desire for Hamas to bury the hatchet with Iran in return for arms and funds, while Mashaal has been pushing for closer ties with the Gulf states, namely Saudi Arabia – Iran's arch-nemesis. “Today more than ever, Hamas sees itself committed to maintaining the calm with Israel and has no desire to lead an escalation as long it is still working on rebuilding itself to pre-operation levels,” writes Levy.
 
Three teens, two of them minors, from Bat Ayin settlement in Gush Etzion were indicted for a series of racially motivated assaults and for property damage: They beat an Israeli Arab delivery man, who came to deliver what they ordered, and an IDF soldier who tried to help him, They threw stones at a Palestinian vehicle and they cut down 35 Palestinian-owned olive trees. Maariv reported that the three admitted that they acted “from a racist motive and hatred for Arabs.” [Note: stone-throwing is not called a terrorist offense here, as it is when Palestinians throw stones, and these offenses are defined as ‘racially motivated’ and not ‘nationalist,’ the latter being a more severe crime, which can be considered terror, as it is often the case for Palestinians - OH.] 
 
Yedioth’s legal affairs reporter, Tovah Tzimuki, writes that Jewish Agency money for settlements is likely soon to end. Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein wrote in an official opinion that he opposes the non-transparent conduct of the Jewish Agency’s ‘settlement division’ and wrote that government must either make it a transparent and supervised part of a budgeted government ministry or keep it as part of the Jewish Agency, but with full government supervision. "Presently, the supervision is vague and faulty," writes Tzimuki. For the right-wing, the Settlement Division is the wing that transfers enormous budgets to settlements, Tzimuki explained. It was established in 1971 as an operational wing of the Jewish Agency, but in actuality it became the main body to finance settlements and it transfers enormous sums in the hundreds of millions of shekels – without supervision. However, the agreement between the World Zionist Organization and the government was that 1/3 of the monies would go to the Galilee, 1/3 to the Negev and 1/3 to the settlements. But since the area of the settlements is far smaller than either of the other two, it enjoys large budgets. [Note, the reporter refers to the Jewish Agency and the World Zionist Organization interchangeably here. But there is a complicated division of powers to keep the Jewish Agency’s hands ‘clean’ from the settlement money. – OH]
 
Mohammad Saleh, 18,  from Jenin died of his wounds after being shot Monday by an Israeli soldier. The IDF said he was attempting to cross the West Bank barrier fence near Jenin. One of Saleh's relatives said the teenager was walking in fields near the barrier after a wedding celebration and had not attempted to cross it. 
 

Quick Hits:

  • 14-year-old shot by Israeli forces in Gaza Strip in critical condition - Fadi Abu Mandil was hit with a stray Israeli bullet while studying at his home when Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian farmers Tuesday. Israeli forces have repeatedly opened fire on Gazans since the ceasefire agreement signed Aug. 26, 2014 that ended a devastating 50-day war between Israel and Hamas. (Maan)
  • At Tel-Aviv rally, thousands of Arabs protest house demolitions - Some 2,000-3,000 Arab Israelis gathered to protest ongoing housing demolitions in unrecognized Arab villages in Israel. Protesters held Palestinian flags and called out, ‘Stop demolishing Arab homes.’ Organizers say that holding the rally in Tel Aviv signals that the Arab population is not giving up on its citizenship. (Haaretz+, Ynet and Maariv)
  • Israeli forces demolish Nebi Saleh village home - Israeli forces raided the Ramallah area village early Tuesday and demolished a house belonging to Muhammad Mahmoud al-Tamimi located at the village entrance and shot live rounds and tear-gas canisters at neighboring houses during the demolition. (Maan)
  • Israeli army officers punished for attacking photographers in Nebi Saleh - IDF officers were caught on video pushing and throwing stones at cameramen at demonstration in Palestinian village of Nabi Saleh. (Haaretz+)
  • Netanyahu planning media crackdown in coalition agreement - All new legislation concerning the media will require the approval of the communications minister. (Haaretz+ and Maariv)
  • Transfer of funds from Gaza Strip to West Bank via Jordan thwarted - Security forces managed to discover a smuggling route, which came directly from a senior Hamas official. One of the people who was supposed to receive the money – was freed in the Shalit deal. Three people arrested, two of them lawyers from Hebron. (Maariv)
  • Two mortars hit northern Israel from Syria - IDF confirm mortars that landed near Ein Zivan kibbutz in Golan Heights were 'spillover' from conflict in Syria, where heavy battles have been reported in recent hours; no injuries reported. (Haaretz and Ynet)
  • Driver indicted in deadly Jerusalem car-ramming terrorist attack - On April 15 Khaled Koutineh, 37, hit and killed 26-year-old Shalom Sherki with his car. According to the indictment, Koutineh decided to carry out a terrorist attack after he was delayed with his parents for inspection at an Israeli checkpoint. (Israel Hayom)
  • The Shadow, the gazelle and the latest Facebook scandal - [Controversial right-wing rapper – OH] Yoav Eliassi took umbrage over Jerusalem’s Biblical Zoo referring to one of its exhibits as the Palestine Gazelle. (Haaretz+)
  • Golani marathon travels through Israel - 28th annual Golani Brigade Marathon starts in Hermon and will end in Eilat on Thursday; one group of combat soldiers wears shirt to commemorate Major Tzafrir Bar-Or who was killed during Operation Protective Edge. (Ynet)
  • Disabled IDF soldier becomes world champion after London Marathon run - Eitan Hermon vowed to keep running after losing right leg in Lebanon War; 'I gave my all,' says new champion. (Ynet)
  • UN commends Israel on fight against corruption - A UN report singles out for praise for aspects of Israel's law enforcement efforts, including the putting of public figures on trial in recent years and the legislative measures taken to deal with bribery. (Globes English)
  • Hezbollah 'mouthpiece': Golan incident will only fan flames - Hezbollah's newspaper in Lebanon responds to IDF hit on terror cell that infiltrated Israel, attempted to place explosive on border with Syria. [In essence, Hezbollah took responsibility for the Sunday night attack on the Golan Heights border. - OH] (Ynet)
  • Iran seizes cargo ship in Strait of Hormuz - Contradicting Al Arabiya report, Pentagon says boat in Iranian waters and which was boarded by Iranians had no US citizens aboard. (Ynet and Times of Israel)
  • World 'closer than ever' to Iran nuclear deal, Kerry says - If Iran tries to violate the agreement, every option will be on the table, says U.S. Under Secretary and chief negotiator in the Iran talks Wendy Sherman at Reform Judaism conference. Iranian FM calls Israel a nuclear threat to the Middle East. (Israel Hayom)
  • Paul Rand: "Because of the removal of Saddam from power, Iraq is subservient to Iran" - At a gathering of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish sector, US presidential candidate attacked the way the US handled the dictator and praised Israel’s conduct in the Middle East. (Maariv) 
  • Saudis claim to have foiled suicide bombing against U.S. embassy - Authorities say 93 people with suspected ties to ISIS arrested in recent months, foiling their plans to attack multiple targets. (Agencies, Haaretz)
  • Auschwitz survivor forgives former Nazi guard - Eva Kor, 81, angers other Holocaust survivors when she approaches and embraces 93-year-old Oskar Groening during his trial in Germany. 'I will never understand why anger is preferable to a goodwill gesture,' she explains. (Ynet)


Features: 

**Israeli artist Shira Geffen takes the heat for criticizing the war in Gaza
The writer and prize-winning filmmaker, who hails from a scion of Israeli artists, is under fire for her outspoken views, but is not easily burned. (Nirit Anderman, Haaretz+)
Worth a thousand words: Photo highlights victims' view of Gaza war
This week's Solidarity Festival in Jaffa will feature an exhibition of unusual photos by the anti-establishment Activestills collective of the 2014 operation. (Shany Littman, Haaretz+)

Commentary/Analysis:

Moshe Kahlon promises us an unobtainable Sweden (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) The great Kahlon deception is the assumption that Israel can be a normal nation by simply ignoring the occupation. 
Netanyahu's far-right dream gov't? It's the one he has right now (Bradley Burston, Haaretz+) For a man whose guiding policy is cosmeticized inertia, with fear-mongering and Obama-baiting screening off a violent occupation, the non-government he's got now is nothing less than perfect. 
If there were no elections - state funerals would not have been held (Ron Kaufman, Maariv) In the past, Israeli terror victims did not receive a state funeral, probably because they were not killed during an election period. Prime Minister Netanyahu made a cynical political use of the terror attack in Paris.
Israel's next war won't wait for a new IDF budget (Ephraim Sneh, Yedioth/Ynet) If it were not for government foot-dragging, Israel would have already had an operational David's Sling system to counter Hezbollah's arsenal of heavy, accurate, long-range missiles.
Nepal, the IDF and gay public relations (Avshalom Halutz, Haaretz+) The victory of people who are different does not lie in the attempt to be like the majority, but in the emphasis on queerness. 
Syria: A quagmire of interests (Dr. Yehuda Balanga, Israel Hayom) Syrian rebels, knowing that only the IDF can defeat Hezbollah, are liable to try dragging Israel into a war.
Israel needn't worry: Spillover from Syria is not a real escalation (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) It is tempting to see the security-related events in the last few days as connected, but it seems, this time, it does not conform to reality. 
Why Israel must enact a law prohibiting the raising of the Palestinian flag in Israel (Yossi Ahimeir, Maariv) The raising of the PLO flag by the Arabs of Israel is not an innocent act. It expresses solidarity with brothers across the border seeking to destroy Israel. This phenomenon must be stopped.
Does anyone care about Israel's institutionalized racism? (Dani Adino Abeba, Yedioth/Ynet) The attack on an Israeli Ethiopian by a police officer left everyone shocked because demeaning the IDF uniform was more painful than demeaning a young man.
Israel’s fire 
this time (Niva Lanir, Haaretz+) On the eve of Independence Day, I had a sign that this homeland is in need of a repair. Nothing dramatic, just an end to the occupation and two states with normal borders. 
President Reuven Rivlin’s mistake in refusing to meet with Jimmy Carter (Ran Adelist, Maariv) One can understand why Netanyahu has refused to meet with the former US President, because he himself is part of the hatred campaign if the Republican party against Obama and against the Democratic party in general. But it is difficult to understand why the President refused. This time he missed out big time. The reason given for rejecting the meeting, by the way, was Carter’s anti-Israeli views. However, his underlying positions are the positions of the Israeli left, including Meretz and Labor. Carter occasionally added to his views statements such as, “Israel is an Apartheid state” and “End the siege on Gaza,” not to mention "Two states for two peoples.” It is a description that many Israelis use to explain to themselves what country they live in and what should be done to fix it...
Nepal and the Palestinians (Ruthie Blum, Israel Hayom) Because of the disaster that befell Nepal, the violence and lies currently being perpetrated by Palestinians are being largely ignored at the moment.
In Brooklyn, Rand Paul hints at how he'll handle the skeptics (Seth Lipsky, Haaretz+) Via direct outreach, the senator plans to answer the tough questions his libertarian views present to Jewish voters. 
Let the Settlement Division build (Yoaz Hendel, Yedioth/Ynet) Without the World Zionist Organization's subdivision, dozens of communities in the Galilee and the Negev would not have been established. As one of the government's most efficient tools, it must not be shut down.
Dear rabbi, I'm losing faith in the sanctity of the kippa (Rabbi Dan Dorsch, Haaretz+) Wearing a skullcap doesn't make someone a good Jew. But what does?
 
 

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

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