News Nosh 07.19.15

by APN 07/19/15
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APN's daily news review from Israel

Sunday July 19, 2015
 

Quote of the day:

"It's possible he'll tell you 'Hello' and even make small talk with you. No need to be taken aback by the the niceness attack..."
--Yedioth writes about a new initiative in Israel: saying 'hello' to strangers.


Front Page:

Haaretz

Yedioth Ahronoth

Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)

Israel Hayom

 

News Summary:
On the Iran nuclear deal front, Iran’s supreme leader bashes the US, US Secretary of State John Kerry and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu face-off on the deal, and AIPAC wages a multi-million dollar campaign against it, and then there are the discussions over Israel’s ‘compensation’ just as reports come out that US-Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard may be released in November, making top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers along with the latest reactions to the rioting of the racist soccer fans of Beitar Jerusalem. Also in the news, Netanyahu calls Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and wishes him a happy Eid Al-Fitr.
 
Yedioth called it a ‘slap in Obama’s face’ after Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei gave a militant speech, punctuated by chants of "Death to America" and "Death to Israel," in which he called on Iranian politicians to examine the agreement to ensure national interests were preserved. Meanwhile, the Obama administration has begun its media offensive in support of the agreement, part of which is Kerry giving interviews to the public. In one he revealed that in a long and difficult phone conversation he had with Netanyahu last Thursday, Kerry said it was better to have an Iran deal than a 'fantasy.' The conservative lobby for Israel in Congress, AIPAC, is investing millions of dollars in a counter campaign, against the deal, Maariv and Israel Hayom reported. Some Congress members are taking measures to prevent a UN Security Council vote, scheduled for Monday, to approve the agreement, which will approve the lifting of most of the sanctions currently imposed on Iran by the end of the year. But even as Israel and its conservative supporters fight against the agreement in Congress, the US Secretary of Defense is in Israel today to discuss Israel’s security needs andIsrael has signaled it may ask for more US military aid as compensation for the deal. A top Israeli Defense Ministry official reportedly visited Washington to discuss the issue. 
 
Meanwhile, the papers were abuzz with the US reports that jailed Israeli spy Pollard is on track to be released November 21 – exactly 30 years after he went to jail for spying for Israel. Sources deny there is any link to the Iran deal.
 
At the Ben-Gurion Airport, Israeli police ambushed fans of Beitar Jerusalem soccer team suspected of being responsible for rioting in Belgium and injuring the Belgian goalie. Maariv reported that the chairman of the national sports lobby, Yesh Atid MK Yoel Razvozov, sent a letter to the State Attorney, demanding Beitar's fan club, ‘La Familia,’ be outlawed. “They act out of motivations of hatred, racism and nationalism,” he said. Interestingly, Israel Hayom did not translate to English any of its articles or Op-Eds about Beitar's rioting.
 
On the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr, Netanyahu phoned Abbas to wish him a happy eid, marking the first time they spoke in a year. Israel Hayom emphasized that Netanyahu told Abbas that Israelis want peace. Abbas reportedly called for an agreement within a year.
 
Yedioth noted that Muslims across the world celebrated the end of Ramadan with their families sharing the Eid and Ynet shared photos of Muslims in the Palestinian Territories celebrating. But, only Maan shared the stories of loss from residents of Gaza who at this year’s Eid were reminded of the relatives they lost from the Israeli bombings on the Gaza Strip, such as the bombing of Shujaiyeh and a single attack on the home of Um Bilal al-Ghoul in Rafah's densely populated Yibna refugee camp that left 10 of her family members dead and 20 more injured. Abbas visited Yasser Arafat's grave on Eid al-Fitr
 

Quick Hits:

  • Palestinian woman given 14 months for smuggling SIM card to detained brother - Amal Ahmad al-Sada from Halhoul in West Bank was originally given a 12,000 shekel ($3,142) fine and sentenced by Israeli court to house arrest in Israel for six months, but afterward she was sentenced to 14-months in prison and banned from ever visiting her brother, who was given an additional 18 months in jail for receiving the SIM card. (Maan)
  • U.S. urges Israel: Don't demolish West Bank village - Resident of Sussia, near Hebron, were ordered by the Civil Administration to destroy 40 structures; State Dept. spokesman: Such actions will have impact beyond these individuals. (Haaretz+) 
  • Hamas demands prisoner release for info on missing Israelis - Hamas leader in Gaza Ismail Haniyeh: We will not give Israeli any information before our prisoners are released. Hamas still holding the remains of two IDF soldiers killed in Operation Protective Edge as bargaining chips. (Israel Hayom)
  • Israeli forces shoot, injure Palestinian teen near Gaza borde - Mansour Abu Taima, 14, was reportedly hit with a live bullet in his left foot near the border line. Last week, there were at least 11 incidents of Israeli forces opening live fire on Palestinians in "access restricted areas" inside the Gaza Strip, according to the UN. (Maan)
  • Lapid: Knesset must investigate Netanyahu's failure to thwart Iran deal - Yesh Atid chairman accuses Netanyahu of the greatest foreign policy failure in Israeli history; MK Zehava Galon also calls for investigation into poor U.S.-Israel ties, says 'nuclear deal should be given a chance.' (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
  • Israel, Hamas were near prisoner-swap deal, says activist - The bodies of two IDF soldiers are still in Gaza, as well as possibly two civilians thought to have crossed into the Strip on their own accord. A few weeks ago, a deal was close, but no longer seems imminent, said activist, who works mainly with Hamas prisoners in Israeli jails. (Haaretz+)
  • IDF planning larger Gaza fence, but says illicit border crossing inevitable - Officer says soldiers behaved correctly when Avera Mengistu crossed border. (Haaretz+)
  • Was IDF college plan in East Jerusalem scrapped due to US pressure? While Jerusalem Municipality officials say original location was simply 'unsuitable' for army, some claim plan to erect military colleges on Mount Scopus was cancelled as it was too close to Seam Zone. Meanwhile, city's residents launch battle against project's new location in Jerusalem Forest. (Ynet)
  • Israeli army investigating Gaza incidents reported on by Breaking the Silence - Military does not say which ones it is looking into, but soldiers' testimonies in report include shooting at civilians, destroying property and looting cars. (Haaretz+)
  • New initiative: Today everyone is nice - When you see someone you don't know on the bus, train or any other place, it's possible he'll tell you 'Hello' and even make small talk with you. No need to be taken aback by the the niceness attack, you only need to respond with a friendly 'Hello' and smile. It's a new initiative called "Say 'hello,'" which is gathering speed on Facebook. Initiator says it's response to cellular phone culture. Plan is to start one day a month and then it will turn into routine. (Yedioth, p. 23)
  • 10 wounded in brawl in Bedouin town in southern Israel - Boy critically wounded by gunfire in fight between two families, resident throw stones at firefighters after fire breaks out. (Haaretz+)
  • Two young men shot in Arab-Israeil village of Jisr Al-Zarqa in less than 24 hours - Two young men were shot, both by people in passing cars, over the weekend. (Maariv, p. 15)
  • Israeli forces detain Palestinian, injure brother - Qassam’s brother Muhammad, 17, was injured in the foot when Israeli forces shot him with a rubber-coated steel bullet during the raid. (Maan)
  • Public Security Minister pushing law to force-feed hunger-striking prisoners - Joint Arab List MKs say Palestinian security detainees should not be punished for legitimate, nonviolent protest. (Haaretz+)
  • Israelis living in Scotland enlist in the effort and serve in Israeli hasbara - Ziv Dotan and friends distributed informational materials at a stand in the center of Glasgow and wrote on Facebook: "Many people stopped, were interested and asked questions. It was a personal challenge. They also asked questions unrelated like what’s happening to Vanunu. (Maariv)
  • Jerusalem residents: Police did not protect us from stones, firebombs - VIDEO: Palestinians attacked Jewish homes for 20 minutes in East Jerusalem neighborhood, and residents say police were tardy and then refrained from intervening; part of attack caught on video. (Ynet) 
  • MADA paramedic attacked by a soldier - The soldier at his home in Ashdod was bleeding badly from his hand and smelled of alcohol. He was evacuated by a MADA team for treatment. On the way to the ambulance, he began to beat the medic with his fists. The medic was hospitalized. MADA Director: "I call on the police to bring him to justice." (Maariv and Israel Hayom Hebrew)
  • IDF monitoring Israeli social media posts for keywords, says +972 - Online magazine gathers testimony from employees at several Israeli high tech companies who say their firms are collaborating with the army. (Haaretz+) 
  • PM finally gets his senior yearbook from Philly high school - Classmates from Netanyahu's 1967 class ship him a yearbook he missed when he went to Israel to fight in Six-Day War. (Agencies, Ynet)
  • Exit of Anti-Defamation League head marks shift for US Jews - In nearly 30 years as ADL director, Abe Foxman has faced criticism that the group puts too many resources into non-Jewish issues. Foxman warns that the Internet gives bigots a way to spread their beliefs "not only anonymously but at the speed of light." (Agencies, Israel Hayom) 
  • Palestinian youths stuck at Cairo airport for a month - Egypt has prevented the three young men and two young women from the Gaza Strip, who were heading to Saudi Arabia and European countries, from traveling due to expired residency permits for their destination countries and can't go back to Gaza because Egypt closed border. (Maan)
  • Hamas chief, Saudi king hold first meeting between sides in years - Meeting brings together top members of Hamas' political wing with the Saudi king, crown prince, and defense minister in a possible rapprochement between the conservative United States-allied kingdom and the traditionally Iran-allied organization. (Agencies, Ynet and Israel Hayom)
  • Dutch scanner comes to Gaza border crossings - Security device expected to speed up scanning process on the border, increasing daily shipments of supplies from 600 to 1,000. (Agencies, Ynet)
  • Iran is hiding 51 million oil barrels at sea, Israeli startup says - Islamic republic is storing millions of barrels of Brent crude on supertankers in the Persian Gulf, maritime tracking firm claims. (Haaretz+)
  • Former Obama adviser: Send B-52 bombers to Israel - In wake of Iran nuclear deal, Israel's security should be bolstered with means of delivering bunker-busting munitions, says Dennis Ross. (Agencies, Haaretz)
  • Former US ambassadors: "The risk is greater without an agreement with Iran" - Over 100 former US diplomats sent a letter of support for President Obama and praised him for the determination he showed in negotiations with Tehran and called on Congress to support it. (Maariv) 
  • Court nixes Paris suburb's honoring of Marwan Barghouti - Municipality of Aubervilliers had conferred honorary citizenship on jailed Fatah leader who masterminded numerous terrorist attacks targeting Israelis. (JTA, Haaretz)
  • Merkel's Palestinian refugee to stay in Germany - Germany's chancellor faced a strong backlash when her televised comments on immigration triggered an emotional response with one of the shows young participants. (Ynet) 
  • Tennessee shooting suspect's trip to Jordan was 'eye-opening,' friends say - Abdulazeez's family sends letter of condolence and sympathy to shooting victims' families. (Agencies, Haaretz)
  • New laws let European police forces expand the war on ISIS - Governments are striving to eliminate safe havens, ensuring that every country has similar standards. (Haaretz+)
  • ISIS says behind killing of five Egyptian soldiers in north Sinai - The deaths occurred when several mortar rounds hit two checkpoints, security sources said earlier. (Agencies, Haaretz)


Features:

Ben-Gurion, with no questions asked
In contrast to Shabtai Teveth's monumental biography of the Israeli leader, in Anita Shapira's 'Ben-Gurion,' everything seems self-evident, and her critique ends precisely at the boundary of official Zionism. (Yitzhak Laor, Haaretz+)
Will a red cow ignite the Mideast?
Jewish activists will try to birth red heifer, which they see as key to building third Temple in Jerusalem where mosques now stand. (Nir Hasson, Haaretz+ - and Ynet)
'We need to settle people's hearts'
A decade after the disengagement from Gaza, the pain is still fresh for MK Moti Yogev, a prominent activist in the battle to prevent what he calls the "expulsion." Religious Zionism cannot defeat the people of Israel -- it has to win with them, he says. (Yehuda Shlezinger, Israel Hayom)

Commentary/Analysis:

Did Beitar’s fans embarrass you, you nice, tut-tutting lefties? (Itay Meirson, Haaretz+) The soccer club appears to have been studying the tactics of that tricky right-winger Benjamin Netanyahu: If you want to be noticed, take to the global stage. 
Netanyahu is betting against Obama in Congress battle against Iran deal (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth/Ynet) The prime minister is not worried that further confrontation will cause the US president to be less generous in his compensation package to Israel. He is willing to bet the battle in Congress against the Iranian deal is worth the risk. Meanwhile, he is waiting for January 2017, when a new president enters the White House.
ICC decision on the Gaza flotilla raid is just the start of Israel’s troubles (Aeyal Gross, Haaretz+) The judges sent a clear message that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a hot potato that does not deter the court.
What underlies Beitar Jerusalem fans' hooliganism (Haaretz Editorial) With their racist remarks, their conduct and their antidemocratic legislation, Israeli politicians legitimize the phenomenon called Beitar Jerusalem.
Settlement construction freeze as a missed opportunity (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) Why wasn't the declaration of construction freeze outside the main settlement blocs not made during peace talks with Kerry? Why wasn't it made in order to prevent the unnecessary conflict with Europe and the American administration?
New chief Gadi Eisenkot will prove the Israeli army’s Mr. Fix-it (Amir Oren, Haaretz+) The general will streamline the military and even close Army Radio if he has to. The next war always beckons, whether from the north, south — or east.
The unity of Jewish fate (Dr. Haim Shine, Israel Hayom) Even U.S. Jews who have never visited Israel are joining the fight to convince public officials of the danger posed by the Iran deal.
Netanyahu, not Herzog, is the real hurdle to a unity government (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) So far, the overtures between the two have got nowhere, like Herzog's demand for rotation as prime minister. Netanyahu won’t hear of it, he’d rather go to an election – which he will win, because there’s no one else around.
The real Iranian threat (Israel Ziv, Yedioth/Ynet) While world's eyes were focused on nuclear talks, Iran expanded its penetration and influence in Middle East. An Iran with a considerable ability to threaten Israel from Lebanon and Syria is the significant strategic issue Israel and moderate Arab states must tackle together with US.
Society owes career officers nothing (Rogel Alpher, Haaretz+) A person who devotes his life to defending his country is making a career choice no different from someone who chooses to be a doctor, a lawyer or a contestant on 'MasterChef.' 
Getting lost (Ran Adelist, Maariv) And again we’ve reached the point where it seems that the government stands helpless in the face of Hamas, which holds two Israeli civilians and two corpses of fallen soldiers. But this is a mistake: It’s not the government that is helpless, but the families who are involved. Instead of a dialogue, which requires several people to speak between themselves at the Kerem Shalom terminal (between Gaza and Israel), the IDF appoints a "special officer" to deal with the Mengistu family (pity the girl (officer) who is supposed to ramble meaningless phrases), the Ministry of Defense bribes and renovates its offices, and the government operates "cranes all over the world" as Lior Lotan explained to the Mengistu family (it’s fun to go around on a secret mission, don’t forget to buy Toblerone chocolate at the Duty Free). And all that jazz in order for the government to continue to play for time and to perpetuate its policies - policies according to which - we do not talk with Hamas. 
The Israel/AIPAC war on Iran accord is unwinnable and its aims are unachievable (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) The only way to get a 'better deal' now is to send Arnold Schwarzenegger back in time to terminate the one that has already been signed.
History's sense of humor (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) Just like with the Munich Agreement, opponents of both the Oslo Accords and the recent Iran nuclear deal were silenced and made to look like eternal warmongers. The Iranians became wise to the pattern in time, and rode it all the way to victory.
Why Netanyahu deserves credit for Iran nuclear deal (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Whatever politicians tell you, the accord has both good and bad points, and will reduce the chances of Iran becoming a nuclear power. 
Queen Elizabeth's Nazi salute is a reminder how close Britain sailed to the fascist wind (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) The Sun paints Nazi sympathizer and then-Prince of Wales Edward as the villain responsible for the embarrassing reel, but the truth is more complicated. 
Why does AIPAC need to confront Obama? (Shlomo Rosner, Maariv) Why does it have to risk damaging its prestige, its relations with the White House and with the Democratic Party? Because there are battles that it cannot go without fighting. And yes, profit and loss considerations are involved here. 
Israel can live with the Iranian nuclear deal, can Netanyahu? (Avner Cohen, Haaretz+) The removal of the 'Iranian threat' can provide a huge positive impact on Israeli politics and on the quality of life in the country.
Shifting gears (Shlomo Cesana, Israel Hayom) Western powers may have inked a nuclear deal with Iran, but Israel will continue to relentlessly count its deficiencies. 
An opposition in Netanyahu's service (Haaretz Friday Editorial) Instead if representing those who elected him, Herzog is using their votes to pave the way for the continuation of Netanyahu's rule.

 

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