APN's daily news review from Israel
Monday July 27, 2015
Quote of the day:
"At first it was strange and scary to write and be in contact with our enemy, but with time, I
discovered that the people in the group are really nice. You, the Iraqi Jews, are actually like our brothers
because you are part of the history of my country and like me you love the country that it was."
-A., an Iraqi woman, who is a member of a special Facebook group where Iraqi-Israelis and Iraqis in Iraq communicate.**
Breaking News:
Palestinian falls from roof to his death after being shot by Israeli forces during West Bank raid - third fatality in past week
18-year-old Mohammed Abu Latifa falls off a roof after being shot in the lower body during an attempt to arrest him in Qalandiya refugee camp. Ynet wrote he fled on foot, leaping from roof to roof, eventually falling to his death." Haaretz wrote that he tried to jump from one roof to another after being shot, but did not say who was the source for that information. [Note: The reporters did not question why someone would jump from one roof to another after being shot in the leg. - OH] (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
Front Page:
Haaretz
- In one year, the number of Palestinians jailed without trial doubled
- US Attorney General: Pollard sat enough time, we won’t prevent his release
- The gas monopoly forced clients to include clause that prohibits them from advancing price supervision
- A peek into a frightening future // Avi Bar-Eli
- After months of quiet, violent clashes at Temple Mount
- Most of the cabinet members support advancing debate over the recommendations of the Locker Commission
- Haaretz probe: The salaries at Dimona and Soreq (nuclear reactors) are double than those of civil service and the IDF
- In the eyes of the Kurds, ISIS is only an excuse for Turkish oppression
- Shovel: Light rail work in the heart of Tel-Aviv has begun
- Destructive solution (for Meretz party) // Haaretz Editorial
- A nucleus of hope // Oudeh Basharat
Yedioth Ahronot
- Shin Bet workers: Senior employee sexually harassed me
- Temple Mount: Riots on Tisha B’Av
- Friends from Iraq – Muslims from Baghdad photograph for Israelis who came from Iraq the homes that they abandoned
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Mount of Fights – Tisha B’Av prayer at the Temple Mount turned into a source of intense clashes between security forces and Muslim rioters…the video clip of (religious right-wing Jew) Aviah Morris shouting ‘Mohammed is a pig’ to Muslim worshippers was one of reasons for the sparking of the clashes
- They are no longer just some a few weeds // Ben Caspit
- A barrel of gun powder // Yossi Melman
- US: “Nuclear agreement won’t affect release of Jonathan Pollard”
- Suspicion: Computer technician faked the wiretapping of singer Eyal Golan
- The youth who refuses chemotherapy: Come rally so I can die with dignity
Israel Hayom
- After the riots: Tension at Temple Mount
- Israel must oppose the agreement // Boaz Bismuth
- Threatening to cut off electricity - and the bill? Still on the way
- Golan affair: No wiretapping
- The pretzel riddle: How much does a 400 gram bag of pretzels weigh? Only 266 grams
- Horrifying tragedy in the north: 3 killed and three wounded in a car accident near Tamra
- Treasury suggestion: Instead of child allowances – savings plans that will be available at age 18
News Summary:
Palestinians clash with Israeli security forces at Temple Mount on Tisha B’Av as 1200 religious Jews visit making the top story in today’s Hebrew newspapers. Also in the news, the US says it won’t block the release of Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard from jail, the chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat was appointed Secretary General of the PLO Executive Committee, just as reports that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas intended to resign in two months. Erekat also met secretly with Israeli Minister Silvan Shalom and an Israeli Zionist Camp MK planned to present today to Knesset his draft for resolving the conflict.
Israeli police believe that the reason that dozens of Palestinian youth clashed with Israel Police at Temple Mount Sunday, was partly due to a video that went viral of a right-wing religious Jewish woman who yelled at Muslim women on the Temple Mount that “Mohammed is a pig.” Another reason was because of the meaning of the Jewish holy day of Tisha B’Av, which commemorates the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem. Religious Jews say they hope that a Third Temple will be built on the Temple Mount, known as Harram Al-Sharif to Muslims, one of the holiest sites in Islam. Jewish prayer at the site is prohibited, but Maariv posted a video of a Jewish worshiper saying the "Shema" and then being arrested.
Sources in Jerusalem believe that the US won’t allow Jonathan Pollard to fly to Israel so that he isn’t received as a hero here, Yedioth reported. The US Attorney General said she would not prevent his November release and that there is no connection to whether the Iran deal passes in Congress.
The Palestinian Authority dismissed the report that Palestinian President Abbas was planning to resign within two months due to fatigue. (Maariv) Meanwhile, chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat was appointed Secretary General of the PLO Executive Committee, a position that is seen as paving the way for him to succeed Abbas, Maariv’s Yasser Ukabi reported. Erekat met with Silvan Shalom in Amman, Jordan, with the approval of the Israeli and Palestinian leaders in order to discuss reigniting peace talks, Yedioth’s Itamar Eichner reported.
Knesset MK Hilik Bar (Zionist Camp), who serves as Secretary-General of the Labor party, will present today to the Knesset a draft for the solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Maariv's Arik Bender reported. The draft recommends keeping Jerusalem united, solving the refugee problem outside Israel and leaving the majority of the settlers in their homes in the settlement blocs. MK Bar said the draft is the result of two years of work as the head of the Knesset lobby for a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the ‘Two-State lobby,’ during which he met with numerous Israelis, Palestinians and foreigners as well as people in the Arab world.
Palestinians clash with Israeli security forces at Temple Mount on Tisha B’Av as 1200 religious Jews visit making the top story in today’s Hebrew newspapers. Also in the news, the US says it won’t block the release of Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard from jail, the chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat was appointed Secretary General of the PLO Executive Committee, just as reports that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas intended to resign in two months. Erekat also met secretly with Israeli Minister Silvan Shalom and an Israeli Zionist Camp MK planned to present today to Knesset his draft for resolving the conflict.
Israeli police believe that the reason that dozens of Palestinian youth clashed with Israel Police at Temple Mount Sunday, was partly due to a video that went viral of a right-wing religious Jewish woman who yelled at Muslim women on the Temple Mount that “Mohammed is a pig.” Another reason was because of the meaning of the Jewish holy day of Tisha B’Av, which commemorates the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem. Religious Jews say they hope that a Third Temple will be built on the Temple Mount, known as Harram Al-Sharif to Muslims, one of the holiest sites in Islam. Jewish prayer at the site is prohibited, but Maariv posted a video of a Jewish worshiper saying the "Shema" and then being arrested.
Sources in Jerusalem believe that the US won’t allow Jonathan Pollard to fly to Israel so that he isn’t received as a hero here, Yedioth reported. The US Attorney General said she would not prevent his November release and that there is no connection to whether the Iran deal passes in Congress.
The Palestinian Authority dismissed the report that Palestinian President Abbas was planning to resign within two months due to fatigue. (Maariv) Meanwhile, chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat was appointed Secretary General of the PLO Executive Committee, a position that is seen as paving the way for him to succeed Abbas, Maariv’s Yasser Ukabi reported. Erekat met with Silvan Shalom in Amman, Jordan, with the approval of the Israeli and Palestinian leaders in order to discuss reigniting peace talks, Yedioth’s Itamar Eichner reported.
Knesset MK Hilik Bar (Zionist Camp), who serves as Secretary-General of the Labor party, will present today to the Knesset a draft for the solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Maariv's Arik Bender reported. The draft recommends keeping Jerusalem united, solving the refugee problem outside Israel and leaving the majority of the settlers in their homes in the settlement blocs. MK Bar said the draft is the result of two years of work as the head of the Knesset lobby for a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the ‘Two-State lobby,’ during which he met with numerous Israelis, Palestinians and foreigners as well as people in the Arab world.
Quick Hits:
- Number of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention doubled in year - Rules for evidence required to continue holding suspects were loosened following last summer’s triple kidnapping and murder of teens. (Haaretz+)
- Two suspects to be indicted for Church of Loaves and Fishes arson attack - All five suspects detained deny any involvement in the attack on the church, located in Tabgha on the shore of Lake Kinneret. (Haaretz+)
- Police raids store selling fireworks to Palestinian rioters - Rioters throw fireworks at Israeli security forces during clashes, use gunpower for makeshift pipe bomb; store had NIS 150,000 worth of products. (Ynet)
- Border Police were shocked: 23 illegal workers (Palestinians without entry permits) in one van - Officer Ophir Dahari stopped the commercia vehicle for inspection. In addition to the large number of illegal aliens, it turned out that the driver, in his 20s, was never issued a driver's license. (Maariv)
- Attempt to smuggle cell phones to (Palestinian) security prisoners was thwarted - Ramon prison warder received an offer from one of the prisoners to transfer the phone in exchange for 20,000 shekels. After reporting it to his superiors, he was sent to meet with the resident of Segev Shalom (Bedouin town), who gave him the items. Both the civilian and the prisoner will be brought for a remand hearing. (Maariv)
- Petition to the Knesset Speaker: the appointment of MK Iliatov discriminates against those who don’t sing the national anthem - Jurist Dr. Haim Stanger and media personality Ben-Zion Tzitrin argue that judicial candidates are not required by law to sing the "Hatikva,” but MK Iliatov, who was appointed to committee to appoint judges said that he would not support the appointment of a judge that did not sing it. (Maariv)
- In wake of suicide, IDF opens army prep course for Hebrew-speaking immigrants - Recruits who move to Israel not long before joining the army don’t understand the country, explains officer. (Haaretz+)
- Israelis are happy, but long for community, study shows - Still, in a report by the European Social Survey, Israelis are feeling better than the average European. (Haaretz+)
- Sheldon Adelson flies NBA players to Israel on private jet - Visit by all-star delegation headed by Omri Casspi meant to combat BDS, Jewish Journal reports. (Haaretz)
- Only 21 non-IDF employees receiving controversial pensions - Bridging pensions give retiring IDF officers monthly pension paid from government budget until they reach legal retirement age, when their accumulated pensions kick in. (Haaretz+)
- 'Security' prevents Guinness Book of Records from weighing in on hummus war - An Israeli filmmaker who planned to prepare the world's biggest bowl of hummus says the organization's UK offices told him it would be 'too dangerous' to send over a judge. (Ynet)
- A concert you can't refuse - Live orchestra of 60 musicians plays under the baton of conductor Justin Freer in Jerusalem during a special screening of Francis Ford Coppola’s classic 'The Godfather,' replacing film's recorded soundtrack. (Ynet)
- Large fire prompts evacuation of homes in West Bank settlement - Six fire-fighting planes scrambled to contain the fire near the Elon Moreh settlement in the West Bank; on Friday, 370 acres of forest were destroyed in fire near Jerusalem. (Haaretz)
- Border policeman tricked his girlfriend and her mother - and will compensate them - A married man who is a father of 3, posed as a bachelor who works as an undercover agent and had a relationship with a young woman, from whom he borrowed money and from her mother. The court obliged him to repay the loan, as compensation for mental anguish. The judge: "He’s a clever smoothtalker." (Maariv)
- Adam Sandler: I always had a great connection with Israel - In his new movie 'Pixels,' funnyman and long-time Israel supporter is fighting to save the world from Pacman and Donkey Kong; his co-star Kevin James, who plays the US president, has some ideas on how to solve conflicts in the Middle East: 'I would start with a siesta every day for three hours'. (Ynet)
- Google removes Hamas app from Android store - The app included historical information about the group, an overview of its terrorist activities and updates about terrorists being held in Israeli prisons. Google says in a statement that it removes illegal apps and those that incite hatred. (Israel Hayom)
- Meet the new Suez Canal - 145 years after the original Suez Canal opened, Egypt has tested a new $8 billion waterway which runs parallel to the existing canal, and is set to net Egypt some $15 billion annually by 2023. (Agencies, Ynet)
- 5-day humanitarian cease-fire starts in Yemen - Pause starts 11:59 P.M. Sunday; in surprise announcement day before, Saudi-led coalition said will respond if rebels conduct any military action or movement. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- 'Unprecedented destruction' as battle near Syria-Lebanon border intensifies - Widespread death reported as Assad regime and Hezbollah bombard city of Zabadani, including reported use of many barrel bombs; Assad forces claim to destroy 70-meter smuggling tunnel. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Sinai's ISIS offshoot is most effective in Mideast, senior IDF official says - And yet, no one seems to know who's running it. (Haaretz+)
- Israel rejects Kerry's warning: We won't stop voicing concerns over Iran deal - Officials respond to U.S. Secretary of State's admonition that if Congress doesn't approve Iran deal, Israel might end up 'being more isolated... and more blamed.' (Haaretz+)
- Assad: Iran deal is proof that we must not compromise - Syrian president gives speech praising Iran's nuclear agreement, attacking Western hypocrisy, and signaling that the four-year civil war is not about to end in a compromise. (Ynet)
- Iran launches charm offensive among wary Gulf Arabs - In three-country tour, Zarif calls on allies in Kuwait, Iraq and Qatar to join forces with Tehran to fight militancy; 'Iran stands behind the people in the region to fight against the threat of extremism, terrorism and sectarianism,' he says. (Agencies, Ynet)
Features:
A new innovation for Startup Nation: employing Israeli Arabs
Smadar Nehab is the founder of Tsofen, a nonprofit that aims to make Nazareth as crucial to the local high-tech scene as the more trumpeted parts of Silicon Wadi. (Inbal Orpaz and Rotem Starkman, Haaretz+)
Hezbollah 3.0: How Israel's No. 1 enemy is preparing for the next Lebanon war
While Israeli intelligence officials believe the Shiite organization is experiencing the most difficult phase in its history after losing some 1,300 fighters in the Syrian battlefields, its leader Nasrallah is only intensifying preparations for the next conflict with Israel. At the same time, Hezbollah has made extraordinary efforts to show moderation at home and align itself with the international anti-ISIS coalition. (Ronen Bergman, Yedioth/Ynet)
One for All? Members of the ‘99 Lobby’ are seeking the ideal Lobbyist
After raising 136,000 shekels online, they are looking for the one who will work for the public against the representatives of the wealthy. The goal: to succeed where, in their view, the MKs have failed. In the Knesset, there are those who already have serious reservations and also among the social welfare NGOs there are those who have raised an eyebrow. (Arik Bender, Maariv)
The Israeli emigre who opened Sweden's eyes to anti-Semitism
Shirley Tsubarah left her life in Malmo, a Swedish city that has 75,000 Muslims and is known as one of the most anti-Semitic cities in Europe, to move to Israel; life is easier there in some ways, she says, but she'll never go back. (Gili Melnitcki, Haaretz+)
Letters to the Editor: Meretz + Joint Arab List = a real left (Haaretz)
Commentary/Analysis:
Smadar Nehab is the founder of Tsofen, a nonprofit that aims to make Nazareth as crucial to the local high-tech scene as the more trumpeted parts of Silicon Wadi. (Inbal Orpaz and Rotem Starkman, Haaretz+)
Hezbollah 3.0: How Israel's No. 1 enemy is preparing for the next Lebanon war
While Israeli intelligence officials believe the Shiite organization is experiencing the most difficult phase in its history after losing some 1,300 fighters in the Syrian battlefields, its leader Nasrallah is only intensifying preparations for the next conflict with Israel. At the same time, Hezbollah has made extraordinary efforts to show moderation at home and align itself with the international anti-ISIS coalition. (Ronen Bergman, Yedioth/Ynet)
One for All? Members of the ‘99 Lobby’ are seeking the ideal Lobbyist
After raising 136,000 shekels online, they are looking for the one who will work for the public against the representatives of the wealthy. The goal: to succeed where, in their view, the MKs have failed. In the Knesset, there are those who already have serious reservations and also among the social welfare NGOs there are those who have raised an eyebrow. (Arik Bender, Maariv)
The Israeli emigre who opened Sweden's eyes to anti-Semitism
Shirley Tsubarah left her life in Malmo, a Swedish city that has 75,000 Muslims and is known as one of the most anti-Semitic cities in Europe, to move to Israel; life is easier there in some ways, she says, but she'll never go back. (Gili Melnitcki, Haaretz+)
Letters to the Editor: Meretz + Joint Arab List = a real left (Haaretz)
Commentary/Analysis:
Iraqi is my brother
This special story is happening in a unique Facebook group, 'Preserving the Iraqi language': Israelis originally from Iraq, who exchange correspondence with Muslims from terror-stricken Baghdad. Beyond the personal relations that were created and the nostalgia for bygone days that won't return, the Muslim friends got together for a moving mission. At the request of the Israelis, they take photographs of the childhood scenes and the homes that their families lived in. (Anat Lev-Adler, Yedioth, '24 Hours' supplement, cover)
For Israel, it seems Goliath was the victim (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) An Israeli MK says the Philistine giant had the right to defend himself against David, explaining why stricter punishment is needed for stone throwers. At least he recognizes who the underdog is these days.
Blow it up, in the name of God: The volatile reality at the Temple Mount (Ben Caspit, Maariv) The words of the young woman, who was caught on film by Channel 10 shouting "Muhammad is a pig," and her husband, prove the situation at the holy site. Something is being cooked before our eyes and later we won’t be able to say we did not know.
The US-Israeli 'plot' to destroy Iran (Smadar Perry, Yedioth/Ynet) The ayatollahs and Revolutionary Guards believe Obama and the Mossad have concocted a scheme to expose the dark Islamic Republic to the economic wonders of the big world, in order to encourage young Iranians to lead a revolution.
Meretz's going-out-of-business sale (Haaretz Editorial) Instead of giving up her seat to a more determined leader who will raise the left’s banners high once more, Galon is compromising the party’s ideology.
World powers' moral failure (Sever Plocker, Yedioth/Ynet) The Western states which signed the nuclear agreement with Iran signed it on Israel's behalf as well, although they were not authorized to do so. World powers often decide what is good for small nations, but they usually make the wrong decision.
The elusive objectives and risky results of Netanyahu’s war on Obama (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) Did Israeli ministers and American Jewish leaders carry out due diligence before deploying their armies against the Iran agreement?
Obama's detrimental legacy (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) President Barack Obama will not only leave the White House as the one responsible for Iran's nuclear abilities, but also for diminishing his country's power.
Given the facts, Israelis would also support the Iran deal (Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie, Haaretz+) The agreement with Tehran is going to be approved, and Jewish groups have much to lose by lobbying against it.
The false tale of 'apartheid' (Dr. Reuven Berko, Israel Hayom) Israeli Arab and Palestinian officials denounce Israel as a "racist apartheid state" but are against any land swap that would see Arab towns become part of a future Palestine.
It's not too late for Israel to right its wrong and resettle Gaza, northern Samaria (Moshe Arens, Haaretz+) Ten years after the disengagement, after thousands of rockets falling on good part of Israel, it's clear that Ariel Sharon was wrong. But some of that wrong can be fixed.
Netanyahu wants to control the Iranian spigot the way he controls the Palestinian one (Oudeh Basharat, Haaretz+) This is Iranian money that the West has frozen exactly the way Israel freezes the tax funds it collects for the Palestinian Authority.
The Iranian deal's chain reaction (Dr. Ofer Israeli, Israel Hayom) Iran will be able to produce many nuclear bombs within a decade or two, but deal's bad effects will be felt even sooner.
Israeli left must forge honest alliance with Arabs (Dedi Zucker, Haaretz+) Meretz will waste its remaining credit and humiliate itself if it becomes an unimportant faction within the Labor Party.
Netanyahu's ironclad principles lead to fuzzy solutions (Amir Oren, Haaretz+) The prime minister fouls up every problem, from the gas in the Mediterranean to the defense budget. And of course he has isolated Israel in his handling of the Iran deal.
Turkey's dangerous game (Boaz Bismuth, Israel Hayom) No longer sitting on the fence, Turkey has opened up a dual front against Islamic State and the Kurdish PKK, which leaves it even more vulnerable.
The telling little label inside Netanyahu's suit jacket (Shachar Atwan, Haaretz+) Does the PM's Italian luxury suit symbolize a change in Netanyahu’s awareness of fashion and image?
This special story is happening in a unique Facebook group, 'Preserving the Iraqi language': Israelis originally from Iraq, who exchange correspondence with Muslims from terror-stricken Baghdad. Beyond the personal relations that were created and the nostalgia for bygone days that won't return, the Muslim friends got together for a moving mission. At the request of the Israelis, they take photographs of the childhood scenes and the homes that their families lived in. (Anat Lev-Adler, Yedioth, '24 Hours' supplement, cover)
For Israel, it seems Goliath was the victim (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) An Israeli MK says the Philistine giant had the right to defend himself against David, explaining why stricter punishment is needed for stone throwers. At least he recognizes who the underdog is these days.
Blow it up, in the name of God: The volatile reality at the Temple Mount (Ben Caspit, Maariv) The words of the young woman, who was caught on film by Channel 10 shouting "Muhammad is a pig," and her husband, prove the situation at the holy site. Something is being cooked before our eyes and later we won’t be able to say we did not know.
The US-Israeli 'plot' to destroy Iran (Smadar Perry, Yedioth/Ynet) The ayatollahs and Revolutionary Guards believe Obama and the Mossad have concocted a scheme to expose the dark Islamic Republic to the economic wonders of the big world, in order to encourage young Iranians to lead a revolution.
Meretz's going-out-of-business sale (Haaretz Editorial) Instead of giving up her seat to a more determined leader who will raise the left’s banners high once more, Galon is compromising the party’s ideology.
World powers' moral failure (Sever Plocker, Yedioth/Ynet) The Western states which signed the nuclear agreement with Iran signed it on Israel's behalf as well, although they were not authorized to do so. World powers often decide what is good for small nations, but they usually make the wrong decision.
The elusive objectives and risky results of Netanyahu’s war on Obama (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) Did Israeli ministers and American Jewish leaders carry out due diligence before deploying their armies against the Iran agreement?
Obama's detrimental legacy (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) President Barack Obama will not only leave the White House as the one responsible for Iran's nuclear abilities, but also for diminishing his country's power.
Given the facts, Israelis would also support the Iran deal (Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie, Haaretz+) The agreement with Tehran is going to be approved, and Jewish groups have much to lose by lobbying against it.
The false tale of 'apartheid' (Dr. Reuven Berko, Israel Hayom) Israeli Arab and Palestinian officials denounce Israel as a "racist apartheid state" but are against any land swap that would see Arab towns become part of a future Palestine.
It's not too late for Israel to right its wrong and resettle Gaza, northern Samaria (Moshe Arens, Haaretz+) Ten years after the disengagement, after thousands of rockets falling on good part of Israel, it's clear that Ariel Sharon was wrong. But some of that wrong can be fixed.
Netanyahu wants to control the Iranian spigot the way he controls the Palestinian one (Oudeh Basharat, Haaretz+) This is Iranian money that the West has frozen exactly the way Israel freezes the tax funds it collects for the Palestinian Authority.
The Iranian deal's chain reaction (Dr. Ofer Israeli, Israel Hayom) Iran will be able to produce many nuclear bombs within a decade or two, but deal's bad effects will be felt even sooner.
Israeli left must forge honest alliance with Arabs (Dedi Zucker, Haaretz+) Meretz will waste its remaining credit and humiliate itself if it becomes an unimportant faction within the Labor Party.
Netanyahu's ironclad principles lead to fuzzy solutions (Amir Oren, Haaretz+) The prime minister fouls up every problem, from the gas in the Mediterranean to the defense budget. And of course he has isolated Israel in his handling of the Iran deal.
Turkey's dangerous game (Boaz Bismuth, Israel Hayom) No longer sitting on the fence, Turkey has opened up a dual front against Islamic State and the Kurdish PKK, which leaves it even more vulnerable.
The telling little label inside Netanyahu's suit jacket (Shachar Atwan, Haaretz+) Does the PM's Italian luxury suit symbolize a change in Netanyahu’s awareness of fashion and image?
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.