APN's daily news review from Israel
Thursday November 26, 2015
Quote of the day:
"Our rules of engagement are more permissive than restrictive, but when you have a trembling girl with
scissors in her hands, you don't need to riddle her with ten bullets. You could kick her or shoot her in the
leg."
--Senior IDF commander says, "We learned a lesson from both intifadas – Palestinian deaths cause outbursts of violence.”
--Senior IDF commander says, "We learned a lesson from both intifadas – Palestinian deaths cause outbursts of violence.”
You Must Be Kidding:
A Palestinian shop owner in E. Jerusalem village of Issawiya was reportedly fined by the Jerusalem municipality on the grounds that the sign above his storefront did not accurately describe the store’s contents. He is one of a number of shop owners in the village who have recently been heavily and repeatedly fined for arbitrary reasons.
Breaking News:
21-year-old Palestinian Shot Dead by Israeli Soldiers during night raid
Yehya Taha, the 100th Palestinian to be killed in the current ongoing wave of violence, died from bullet wounds to the head when soldiers stormed the village of Qattana near Ramallah last night. Locals said Israeli soldiers denied Palestinian ambulances access to the young man who bled on the floor for one hour. (Haaretz, Ynet and Maan)
Palestinian shot after alleged attempt to stab IDF soldiers at Tapuach junction
Samer Seresi, 51, arrived at the West Bank junction, exited his car and allegedly ran at the troops brandishing a knife. The soldiers opened fire and killed him. No injuries reported among soldiers. (Ynet)
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Police major general suspected of sex crimes against female officer who served under him
- (MK) Yinon Magal demoted as party whip of Habayit Hayehudi in Knesset
- IDF recommended releasing prisoners and strengthening Palestinian forces in West Bank
- Gaping chasm between IDF officers and ministers // Amos Harel
- In Africa, Pope met the real conservative Catholicism
- Downing of Russian jet will make it more difficult to form coalition to replace Assad // NYT
- Sweden and Norway will narrow absorption of refugees
- 13-year-old who committed suicide wrote her friends: “Life isn’t worth living”
- Court in criticism of Amidar (public housing authority): Missing and untrustworthy reports
- Another postponement // Haaretz Editorial
- A different gesture // Israel Harel
- The deal that wasn’t // Avi Bar-Eli
Yedioth Ahronoth
- Another police major general suspected of sexual harassment
- (MK Yinon) Magal will be interrogated (on sexual harassment accusations)
- Their ‘brother’ // Chen Artzi-Sror on the fact that Habayit Hayehudi did not kick out its key MK, Yinon Magal
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Police major general questioned on suspicions of sexual harassment
- (MK Yinon) Magal affair: Police began investigating
- Despite continuation of wave of terror - IDF recommends: weapons for Palestinian Authority and releasing Palestinian prisoners
- Chasms in the leadership
Israel Hayom
- Suspicions of sex crimes: Embarassment in Knesset, embarrassment in police
- In morning – investigating (MK Yinon) Magal
- In evening – interrogating police major general
- “We won’t give them weapons” – Prime Minister’s Office emphasized after senior IDF officer revealed recommendation to ease things for Palestinians
- When the terror continues, don’t protest // Dan Margalit
- Real Indiana Jones: Itai, 8, found a figure from the First Temple era
- Son of retired general (Eliezar Cheney) Merom dismissed from military: passed confidential information
- State Comptroller report: The municipalities hire consultants for grass, the kitchen and ping pong
- Days before she committed suicide, 13-year-old wrote: “I feel like air, there is no one to protect me”
News Summary:
Possible sex crimes by a top cop and a leading MK and the IDF recommendation to make life better for the Palestinians and to give guns to the Palestinian Authority were top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers.
The IDF is considering taking numerous steps that will improve the lives of Palestinians in order to reduce the violence towards Israelis, according to a high-ranking IDF Central Command officer who spoke with Israeli military affairs correspondents. Offering more permits to work in Israel and making it easier to attain that work, making the transfer of Palestinian products for sale in Israel easier were among the measures being recommended. The security establishment no longer considers this a ‘wave of terror,’ but rather a “limited uprising in which the Palestinians are aiming to change the existing situation." He said there are on average “15 points of rioting every weekday and 40 on weekends, each of them involving from dozens to hundreds of demonstrators. But this could become 20,000 or 200,000 demonstrators." As the Shin Bet and IDF have said before, the Palestinians making attacks are “desperate, frustrated young people,” who are acting alone. The IDF also wants to release Palestinians under administrative detention (jail without charges) in Israeli prisons and give the Palestinian Authority forces more weapons. However, the Prime Minister’s Office said no weapons would be given to the PA. Yedioth’s Yossi Yehoshua wrote that “the likelihood that the military’s recommendations will be accepted by the political ranks are minuscule, and the army said that they would only be possible anyway on condition that there was quiet on the Palestinian side. The IDF also said that it has also thwarted Jewish terror attacks targeting Palestinians, Yehoshua wrote. Ynet’s Noam Amir quoted the officer saying the IDF's policy is to minimize Palestinian deaths as much as possible. "We learned a lesson from both intifadas – Palestinian deaths cause outbursts of violence," he said. "Our rules of engagement are more permissive than restrictive, but when you have a trembling girl with scissors in her hands, you don't need to riddle her with ten bullets. You could kick her or shoot her in the leg." The IDF had recommended easing restrictions on the Palestinians prior to the wave of violence, Haaretz+ reported. Yesh Atid party Chairman Yair Lapid blasted Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, saying he was failing to deal with the wave of violence: "Mr. Security does not know how to deal with 14-year-old girls with scissors." US Secretary of State John Kerry said he feared the may “spin out of control.” Yesterday, an Israeli soldier was seriously wounded in a West Bank stabbing attack. The Palestinian attacker was shot dead by security forces in the South Hebron Hills. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin said that Israel’s homefront has become Israel’s front line. He was visiting the Gush Etzion settlement bloc in the West Bank when he said it.
Possible sex crimes by a top cop and a leading MK and the IDF recommendation to make life better for the Palestinians and to give guns to the Palestinian Authority were top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers.
The IDF is considering taking numerous steps that will improve the lives of Palestinians in order to reduce the violence towards Israelis, according to a high-ranking IDF Central Command officer who spoke with Israeli military affairs correspondents. Offering more permits to work in Israel and making it easier to attain that work, making the transfer of Palestinian products for sale in Israel easier were among the measures being recommended. The security establishment no longer considers this a ‘wave of terror,’ but rather a “limited uprising in which the Palestinians are aiming to change the existing situation." He said there are on average “15 points of rioting every weekday and 40 on weekends, each of them involving from dozens to hundreds of demonstrators. But this could become 20,000 or 200,000 demonstrators." As the Shin Bet and IDF have said before, the Palestinians making attacks are “desperate, frustrated young people,” who are acting alone. The IDF also wants to release Palestinians under administrative detention (jail without charges) in Israeli prisons and give the Palestinian Authority forces more weapons. However, the Prime Minister’s Office said no weapons would be given to the PA. Yedioth’s Yossi Yehoshua wrote that “the likelihood that the military’s recommendations will be accepted by the political ranks are minuscule, and the army said that they would only be possible anyway on condition that there was quiet on the Palestinian side. The IDF also said that it has also thwarted Jewish terror attacks targeting Palestinians, Yehoshua wrote. Ynet’s Noam Amir quoted the officer saying the IDF's policy is to minimize Palestinian deaths as much as possible. "We learned a lesson from both intifadas – Palestinian deaths cause outbursts of violence," he said. "Our rules of engagement are more permissive than restrictive, but when you have a trembling girl with scissors in her hands, you don't need to riddle her with ten bullets. You could kick her or shoot her in the leg." The IDF had recommended easing restrictions on the Palestinians prior to the wave of violence, Haaretz+ reported. Yesh Atid party Chairman Yair Lapid blasted Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, saying he was failing to deal with the wave of violence: "Mr. Security does not know how to deal with 14-year-old girls with scissors." US Secretary of State John Kerry said he feared the may “spin out of control.” Yesterday, an Israeli soldier was seriously wounded in a West Bank stabbing attack. The Palestinian attacker was shot dead by security forces in the South Hebron Hills. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin said that Israel’s homefront has become Israel’s front line. He was visiting the Gush Etzion settlement bloc in the West Bank when he said it.
Quick Hits:
- 'Gaza front quieter than it has been for 15 years' - Former GOC Southern Command head Maj. Gen. Sami Turgeman says the defense establishment "recognizes the threats and is preparing for many different scenarios" • Operation Protective Edge "created deterrence," he says. (Israel Hayom)
- IDF hasn't decided whether to launch further probe into Gaza war incidents - Palestinians claim that the incidents in 2014 war, including damage to UNRWA schools, constitute war crimes; Palestinian human rights groups demand ICC probe. (Haaretz+)
- Car fired upon near Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron, no wounded - There were no wounded. Israeli security forces are searching the area. (Ynet)
- Two Israeli Foreign Ministry officials charged with theft, bribery - Former housekeeping head and ex-deputy accountant allegedly stole goods and services from the ministry worth tens of thousands of dollars in a variety of ways. (Haaretz+)
- Former Israel Navy chief's son dismissed from military - A polygraph test revealed that Lt. Col. Elad Marom had disclosed information to an unauthorized person. (Haaretz+ and Maariv)
- Arab undercover agent helps catch Jaffa rioters - A resident of northern Israel, with a past as a fighter in the Border Police, infiltrated the ranks of drug dealers and motorcycle thieves, leading to their arrest. After protests regarding the Al-Aqsa mosque became violent, the agent supplied authorities with intelligence that led to the arrest of Molotov cocktail throwers. (Ynet)
- Al-Issawiya (E. Jerusalem neighborhood) falling into 'economic recession' as shops face fines - Some shop owners have been heavily and repeatedly fined by the Israeli municipality for arbitrary reasons and are now shutting their stores to avoid it. On one occasion, an owner was fined for leaving empty boxes in front of the store. (Maan)
- Netanyahu congratulates Argentine president-elect Macri - Prime minister says he hopes ties between two countries to strengthen, invites Mauricio Macri to visit Israel. (Haaretz)
- Khamenei: Iran to Back Palestinian Intifada 'In Any Way We Can' - Iran's supreme leader rejects U.S. accusations that recent wave of Palestinian stabbing and car-ramming attacks amount to 'terrorism. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Israeli navy boats open fire at Palestinian fishermen - The fishermen said Israeli navy boats deployed across the shores of the Gaza Strip opened fire directly at their boats, forcing fishermen to dock before the end of their working day out of fear they would be hit by incoming fire. (Maan)
- Israel Signs Preliminary Natural Gas Deal With Egypt - Under the deal, Leviathan gas field will supply natural gas to Egypt through Sinai underwater pipeline. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- 'Israel' removed from Jordan's census forms - Jordanian officials cede to pressure and remove 'Israel' as possible place of birth on forms of upcoming census, after inclusion led to major outcry in the Hashemite Kingdom. (Ynet)
- Tourists leave Israeli hotels behind - Israel Hotel Association’s statistics for October 2015 show a sharp 21% decline in tourist stays compared to same month in 2013. Decline in tourist entries into country is much milder, however. Where, then, are tourists staying? (Ynet)
- Israel reportedly warned Germany of attack on Hannover soccer stadium - According to report in Germany's Stern magazine, unnamed Israeli agency warned German intel of planned attack the day before the game, which was to be held four days after the Paris attacks. (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
- 'Ban Hebrew in Italian Synagogues, Arabic in Mosques,' Says Berlusconi Ally - Ally of former Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi and possible right-wing candidate for Milan mayor says only Italian should be used for sermons in mosques, synagogues. (Agencies, Haaretz+)
- Aleppo's last Jewish women now live in Ashkelon - A mother and daughter escaped to Israel from Syria a year ago in a complex operation. The second daughter, who has converted to Islam, was forced to return to Syria with her husband and his children. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- Downed Russian pilot rescued by Syrian military - Syrian commandos rescue one of two pilots of Russian plane shot down by Turkey. Other pilot killed on the ground by Syrian rebels. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says his country does not wish to escalate tensions with Russia. (Agencies, Israel Hayom)
- Russia Sends Advanced Air-defense Missiles to Syria Amid Row With Turkey - Moscow threatens it will shoot down any target that would threaten its fighter jets following downing of plane. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- ISIS Claims Responsibility for Tunisia Attack That Killed 13 People - Tunisia's Interior Ministry says 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of military explosives were used in the attack. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Human Error Led to U.S. Strike on Afghan MSF Hospital, Report Says - The deadly air strike that killed 30 on October 3 was a tragic and avoidable accident caused primarily by human error, U.S. Army General John Campbell says. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Russian Muslims Flocking to ISIS Amid Security Crackdown - Many in Dagestan, a predominantly Muslim area, see the intimidating security presence as not only fueling the exodus but also serving to rid the region of potential militants by encouraging them to flee. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- United Arab Emirates Secretly Sends Colombian Mercenaries to Fight in Yemen - Colombian troops are reportedly part of a 1,800 man brigade that has trained in secret at an Emirati military base for five years. (Haaretz)
Features:
IN PHOTOS: A Beauty Pageant for Holocaust Survivors
Thirteen women compete in the third annual beauty contest for survivors of the Nazi effort to exterminate European Jews. (Haaretz)
The Arab-Muslim IDF soldier with a 'long live Israel' tattoo
When Samal Ziyad came home for a holiday in his village in northern Israel, he wasn't ashamed of his IDF uniform, nor of the tattoo on his arm that reads: 'Long live the State of Israel' tattoo. 'Since I was little my father has encouraged me to serve,' Ziyad says. His commander calls him a 'remarkable soldier and a fantastic fighter.' (Yoav Zitun, Ynet)
How Did an Appeal in Saudi Court Become a Death Sentence for This Palestinian Poet?
When Ashraf Fayadh was tried last year on blasphemy-related charges, he was sentenced to 800 lashes and four years in prison. After filing an appeal, his sentence turned into execution for apostasy. (Aya Batrawy, Agencies, Haaretz)
Ancient Jewish community endures on Tunisian isle
The Jewish community on the Tunisian resort island of Djerba traces its roots back to the Babylonian exile of 586 B.C.E., and is one of the few communities of its kind to have survived the turmoil around the creation of Israel. (Agencies, Israel Hayom)
Paradise Lost: How Sinai Became a Hub for Drugs, Money and Terror
The bombing of the Russian airliner reflects the long conflict between Islamic extremists and Egypt that has spread south to the coastal fantasy land. (Tsur Shezaf, Haaretz+)
ISIS in Jordan: King Abdullah's Battle for the Soul of Islam
The jihadists are also eyeing the kingdom, a longtime fighter against terror groups that evolved into ISIS. (Daniella Peled, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
Thirteen women compete in the third annual beauty contest for survivors of the Nazi effort to exterminate European Jews. (Haaretz)
The Arab-Muslim IDF soldier with a 'long live Israel' tattoo
When Samal Ziyad came home for a holiday in his village in northern Israel, he wasn't ashamed of his IDF uniform, nor of the tattoo on his arm that reads: 'Long live the State of Israel' tattoo. 'Since I was little my father has encouraged me to serve,' Ziyad says. His commander calls him a 'remarkable soldier and a fantastic fighter.' (Yoav Zitun, Ynet)
How Did an Appeal in Saudi Court Become a Death Sentence for This Palestinian Poet?
When Ashraf Fayadh was tried last year on blasphemy-related charges, he was sentenced to 800 lashes and four years in prison. After filing an appeal, his sentence turned into execution for apostasy. (Aya Batrawy, Agencies, Haaretz)
Ancient Jewish community endures on Tunisian isle
The Jewish community on the Tunisian resort island of Djerba traces its roots back to the Babylonian exile of 586 B.C.E., and is one of the few communities of its kind to have survived the turmoil around the creation of Israel. (Agencies, Israel Hayom)
Paradise Lost: How Sinai Became a Hub for Drugs, Money and Terror
The bombing of the Russian airliner reflects the long conflict between Islamic extremists and Egypt that has spread south to the coastal fantasy land. (Tsur Shezaf, Haaretz+)
ISIS in Jordan: King Abdullah's Battle for the Soul of Islam
The jihadists are also eyeing the kingdom, a longtime fighter against terror groups that evolved into ISIS. (Daniella Peled, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
The GOP and Israel’s Right-wing Present: The Golden Age of Bigotry (Asher Schechter, Haaretz+) It used to be that politicians would try to conceal or otherwise play down their
racism. Not anymore. 2015, so far, looks like a hate-monger’s wet dream.
Why aren't Israelis talking about extrajudicial killings? (Rhona Burns, +972mag) Two Palestinian teenage girls were shot at point-blank range after attempting to stab passersby with scissors. Who said there is no death penalty in Israel?
On Palestinians, a Wide Gulf Between the Army and the Cabinet (Amos Harel, Haaretz) Before the current wave of violence began, the IDF called to significantly ease restrictions on the West Bank, but the government sees things differently.
It's time to move from words to action (Former Likud minister Gideon Sa'ar, Yedioth/Ynet) Looking at the recent events as a series of acts committed by 'lone-wolf terrorists' is wrong; it's a national struggle. In order to win this battle, Israel must seriously consider reusing the deterring and effective tool of expulsion.
For Palestinian Parents, Jail Is Better Than Having Their Kids on the Streets (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) Did any of the judges consider that perhaps demolishing a house does not deter but rather has the opposite effect?
Part 2: Palestinian youth revolt - Any role for political parties? (Shabaka, Maan) The majority of the Palestinian people are disillusioned and frustrated by bickering of Fatah and Hamas while more land is colonized and homes destroyed, Palestinians arbitrarily arrested, Jerusalem Israel-ized, Gazans subjected to a slow genocide, the 1948 Palestinians suffering discrimination and segregation, and refugees condemned to exile. Now unarmed youth are being assassinated in cold blood by the Israeli army and settlers while security co-ordination is shamelessly maintained. The answer may be for each Palestinian community to establish its alternative democratic leadership and to think collectively regarding how to construct a new national movement.
The Right’s 'It’ll-be-fine' Mantra Is Dooming Israel (Ari Shavit, Haaretz+) In the current situation, the risk in preserving the status quo is far greater than the risk in trying to change it.
A nightmare scenario (Aharon Lapidot, Israel Hayom) The goal of Israel's coordination with Russia is to prevent any incident similar to the one on the Turkey-Syria border on Tuesday.
In the Service of the Prime Minister (Haaretz Editorial) The probe into overseas travel by Netanyahu and his family, known as 'Bibi Tours,' has dragged on for 4.5 years. This stalling raises the suspicion that Netanyahu has something to hide.
Loyal to their people and to their state (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) Outlawing the Islamic Movement is an opportunity, as it requires a clear policy towards the loyal majority of Israeli Arabs who oppose terror.
An Israeli Answer to Palestinian Terror: Annexation (Israel Harel, Haaretz+) And let it begin in Judea and Samaria with Gush Etzion.
Why Is AIPAC Silent on Syrian Refugees? (Peter Beinart, Haaretz+) Many American Jewish groups balance the Holocaust’s tribal and universal lessons. The most powerful one doesn’t even try.
Dangerous lunacy: When the elites (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) Swedish foreign minister is suggesting that jihadi terrorists are acting out of desperation in the hopes of an Israeli-Palestinian agreement; in fact, they want an Islamic empire that will rule the whole world.
Bill Maher: Islamophobe or One of the Last True Liberals? (Alexander Griffing, Haaretz+) 'How did we get to this place where just describing something is demonizing?' Bill Maher’s one-man crusade to 'wake liberals up' to the social injustice he sees in Islam.
The Arab delusion of 'return' (Yehiel Shavi, Israel Hayom) Some Israeli Arabs are agitating to return to the lands their ancestors left, regardless of the fact that Jews live there now.
Sweden’s no longer a model state – if it ever was (Mose Apelblat, Haaretz+) On Israel, refugees and foreign policy, Gideon Levy seems to have swallowed the Swedish self-assessment of being a 'humanitarian' super-power.
Why aren't Israelis talking about extrajudicial killings? (Rhona Burns, +972mag) Two Palestinian teenage girls were shot at point-blank range after attempting to stab passersby with scissors. Who said there is no death penalty in Israel?
On Palestinians, a Wide Gulf Between the Army and the Cabinet (Amos Harel, Haaretz) Before the current wave of violence began, the IDF called to significantly ease restrictions on the West Bank, but the government sees things differently.
It's time to move from words to action (Former Likud minister Gideon Sa'ar, Yedioth/Ynet) Looking at the recent events as a series of acts committed by 'lone-wolf terrorists' is wrong; it's a national struggle. In order to win this battle, Israel must seriously consider reusing the deterring and effective tool of expulsion.
For Palestinian Parents, Jail Is Better Than Having Their Kids on the Streets (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) Did any of the judges consider that perhaps demolishing a house does not deter but rather has the opposite effect?
Part 2: Palestinian youth revolt - Any role for political parties? (Shabaka, Maan) The majority of the Palestinian people are disillusioned and frustrated by bickering of Fatah and Hamas while more land is colonized and homes destroyed, Palestinians arbitrarily arrested, Jerusalem Israel-ized, Gazans subjected to a slow genocide, the 1948 Palestinians suffering discrimination and segregation, and refugees condemned to exile. Now unarmed youth are being assassinated in cold blood by the Israeli army and settlers while security co-ordination is shamelessly maintained. The answer may be for each Palestinian community to establish its alternative democratic leadership and to think collectively regarding how to construct a new national movement.
The Right’s 'It’ll-be-fine' Mantra Is Dooming Israel (Ari Shavit, Haaretz+) In the current situation, the risk in preserving the status quo is far greater than the risk in trying to change it.
A nightmare scenario (Aharon Lapidot, Israel Hayom) The goal of Israel's coordination with Russia is to prevent any incident similar to the one on the Turkey-Syria border on Tuesday.
In the Service of the Prime Minister (Haaretz Editorial) The probe into overseas travel by Netanyahu and his family, known as 'Bibi Tours,' has dragged on for 4.5 years. This stalling raises the suspicion that Netanyahu has something to hide.
Loyal to their people and to their state (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) Outlawing the Islamic Movement is an opportunity, as it requires a clear policy towards the loyal majority of Israeli Arabs who oppose terror.
An Israeli Answer to Palestinian Terror: Annexation (Israel Harel, Haaretz+) And let it begin in Judea and Samaria with Gush Etzion.
Why Is AIPAC Silent on Syrian Refugees? (Peter Beinart, Haaretz+) Many American Jewish groups balance the Holocaust’s tribal and universal lessons. The most powerful one doesn’t even try.
Dangerous lunacy: When the elites (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) Swedish foreign minister is suggesting that jihadi terrorists are acting out of desperation in the hopes of an Israeli-Palestinian agreement; in fact, they want an Islamic empire that will rule the whole world.
Bill Maher: Islamophobe or One of the Last True Liberals? (Alexander Griffing, Haaretz+) 'How did we get to this place where just describing something is demonizing?' Bill Maher’s one-man crusade to 'wake liberals up' to the social injustice he sees in Islam.
The Arab delusion of 'return' (Yehiel Shavi, Israel Hayom) Some Israeli Arabs are agitating to return to the lands their ancestors left, regardless of the fact that Jews live there now.
Sweden’s no longer a model state – if it ever was (Mose Apelblat, Haaretz+) On Israel, refugees and foreign policy, Gideon Levy seems to have swallowed the Swedish self-assessment of being a 'humanitarian' super-power.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.