News Nosh 12.17.15

by APN 12/17/15
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APN's daily news review from Israel
Thursday December 17, 2015  
 
Quote of the day:
“No, I don’t have a knife, but I have something else for you.”
--Powerful first person piece written by a young Arab university student, who was asked by a Jewish boy on the bus in Haifa whether she were carrying a knife.
You Must Be Kidding: 
“I want you to arrest her. This is not okay.”
--A young foreign woman tells soldiers standing by after a Hebron settler woman slapped her in the face - after which the settler woman slapped her again and walked away, as seen on video. [Note: 'Breaking the Silence' organization was founded by soldiers who served in Hebron and wanted Israelis to know what violations soldiers and settlers were committing against Palestinians as part of their service in the West Bank. - OH]

Breaking News:
Palestinian teen shot dead at entrance to Nablus 
According to Maariv, the Israeli forces implemented the 'arrest procedure' by opening fire on Abdullah Hussein, 15, from Beit Furik, when the boy came near them and they suspected he planned to attack them. A knife was found on him. Attempts were made to resuscitate him, but failed. There were no Israeli casualties. Haaretz+ wrote that he approached the soldiers with a knife before they shot him. Ynet wrote that he ran at them with a knife. (Maariv, Ynet and Haaretz)

Front Page:
Haaretz
Yedioth Ahronoth
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
  • In the heart of the storm: Netanyahu expected to approve the gas agreement today
  • The national labor union (Histadrut) threatens: “We will shut down the country” (if don’t get new salary agreement)
  • Kahlon, don’t give in // Yehuda Sharoni
  • The conspiracy was thwarted: Daesh-style attack at Israeli embassy in Berlin
  • Incitement against Rivlin: Herzog and Netanyahu clashed on the podium of the Knesset
  • Silvan Shalom affair: (AG) Weinstein will probe claims of sexual harassment
  • Interrogation of the top model continued into the night
Israel Hayom
  • “Decision of the Israel Medical Association is shameful”
  • The star who got into trouble – Top model interrogated for hours at Tax Authority
  • The minister who got into trouble? “Only if someone files a complaint will an investigation be opened (against Silvan Shalom)”
  • Takes off: Prime Minister to sign gas agreement today
  • The debate: Who is most suited to be the ‘Chief Commander’ of the US
  • Netanyahu to Herzog in Knesset: “Why don’t you condemn ‘Breaking the Silence’?”
  • Historic decision: Interest rate in the US rose by .25% - gains in Wall Street
 
News Summary:
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Opposition leader Isaac Herzog bash heads over incitement against President Reuven Rivlin, ‘Breaking the Silence’ organization responds to the incitement video by ‘Im Tirtzu’ with its own video as the former Shin Bet chief and the ADL say ‘Im Tirtzu’ crossed red lines and another woman claims she was sexually harassed by Interior Minister Silvan Shalom. Meanwhile, envoys of the Mideast Quartet arrive in Jerusalem to try and promote trust-building steps between Israelis and Palestinians, Haaretz+ reported. 
 
In the Knesset plenum Wednesday, Herzog demanded that Netanyahu call on the police to arrest the inciters against President Rivlin. “I demand that you, the prime minister, protect our president." Numerous Israelis and the Israeli Heritage Channel 20 lashed out at Rivlin because he participated in the HaaretzQ Conference, where representatives of ‘Breaking the Silence,’ also took part. Herzog compared the attacks to incitement against former prime minister Yitzhak Rabin before he was assassinated, adding that "this time you won't be able to claim that you didn't know anything about it." Netanyahu avoided calling the Rivlin-bashers inciters, saying only that he opposed incitement to violence, but supported freedom to express one’s opinion. When Herzog called him on it, Netanyahu challenged him to condemn ‘Breaking the Silence,’ which has gotten a bad rap mainly for ‘washing the IDF’s dirty laundry’ abroad, so to speak. [NOTE: The organization shares in Hebrew and English all of the testimonies it receives from soldiers about violations in the Palestinian territories. – OH] Afterward, Yesh Atid chairman, Yair Lapid, said, “Herzog should express support for IDF soldiers,” Maariv reported. Herzog slammed him for taking Netanyahu’s side and accused him of trying to promote himself, “but together we will win.” (Maariv)

While Netanyahu looked for condemnations of Breaking the Silence, the former Shin Bet chief Yuval Diskin expressed support in a Facebook post for the “important work” of BtS and for the other three Israeli human rights organizations, whose leaders were labeled as European ‘moles’ and protectors of terrorists in the contentious video by ‘Im Tirtzu,’ the far-right-wing organization, with fascist strains, whose leader ran in Habayit Hayehudi primaries. ADL called the Im Tirtzu video 'outrageous' and 'potentially libelous’ and called on Im Tirtzu to apologize for the 'unwarranted attack.' Ynet interviewed Prof. Yuval Karni of the Inter-Disciplinary Center in Herzliya, who said the video was incitement and the people who created it must be put on trial. Meanwhile, Breaking the Silence has responded with a video of its own, which reveals that Im Tirtzu received a million shekels from pastor John Hagee, who said that Hitler fulfilled the will of G-d. The BtS video also shows a clip of Netanyahu praising Im Tirtzu.  (Breaking the Silence Facebook video and Im Tirtzu video with English subtitles)
 
Quick Hits:
  • Palestinian young woman dies weeks after being hit by Israeli crossfire in Nablus - Samah Abd al-Mumen,18, was shot in the head while sitting in her car at the Huwwara checkpoint on Oct. 23 when Israeli forces opened fire on and killed Alaa Khalil Sabah Hashah, 16, after he attempted to stab a soldier. (Maan) 
  • Israeli forces shoot, injure 15 students at Tulkarem university - Following student-organized marches that started in October to protest Israeli raids onto campus, Israeli forces set up a temporary base on the campus, after which non-students began to enter campus and throw stones at the Israeli base, prompting violent clashes that have severely interrupted normal campus life and left several students seriously injured. (Maan)
  • Israeli forces shoot, detain Bethlehem teen, block medics - Israeli forces seized the identity cards of the Red Crescent staff who tried to treat Ayman Ameen Hassan al-Khatib, 19, after Israeli forces shot him. Then they took him away to an unknown location. (Maan)
  • Jerusalem approves plan to build 891 housing units in neighborhood beyond Green Line - Plan to build homes in Gilo was pulled three weeks due to fears over sharp American reaction during Netanyahu's U.S. visit. (Haaretz)
  • UN-sponsored conference accuses Israel of 'ethnic cleansing' in Jerusalem - UN secretary general says wave of terror 'is bred from nearly five decades of Israeli occupation,' while a press release about the conference says Israel is working to push Palestinians out of Jerusalem. (Ynet)
  • Netanyahu’s ex-chief of staff questioned for fraud - American-Israeli Ari Harow questioned over claims of conflict of interest, breach of trust and fraud while employed by the PM. Another official at the office is being questioned for allegedly helping to promote the interests of her husband, who represents Sheldon Adelson's newspaper. (Haaretz+ and Times of Israel)
  • Report: Jordanian air force pilots came to Israel on 'cooperation visit' - One pilot who refused has been fired with no severance pay, Jordanian media report. Israeli website Mako reported Wednesday that protests were appearing on Jordanian social media over the issue. (Haaretz+ and Times of Israel) 
  • Netanyahu Set to Advance Gas Plan, Ignoring Advice of Knesset Panel - Prime minister plans to bypass the Antitrust Authority to promote a deal hashed out together with Israel’s natural gas monopoly. (Haaretz+)
  • WATCH: Settler repeatedly slaps foreign human rights activist in Hebron - Settler Anat Cohen caught on camera assaulting activist who was trying to film IDF operations (sic – Hebrew article says simply ‘filming soldiers and settlers’ at the ‘Hatikvah Steps’ in the city, near Beit Hadassah settlement enclave; 'She attacked me first, the video doesn't show that,' says settler. (Ynet/Video)
  • Israeli right-wing activist acquitted of threatening state prosecutor in 2009 - Judge criticizes prosecution of Elhanan Gruner, convicts him of lesser charge in incident at home of Shai Nitzan. (Haaretz+) 
  • Loving to hate: Social media incitement on the rise - From hatred of Arabs to cursing LGBTs and despising leftists, a new investigation shows a worrying increase in incitement and racism on social media – and in calls for severe physical violence. (Ynet)
  • PA cuts salaries of 60 former prisoners of Israel - A spokesperson with the society said the reasoning for the cuts are unclear, but confirmed that some of the former prisoners are no longer receiving payment due to their political affiliations. (Maan) 
  • Nahariya stabbing of Border Policeman: Not nationalistically motivated - 16-year-old Israeli Arab charged with attempted murder, but indictment points to bad mental state over death of friend as reason behind the stabbing. (Haaretz+ and Ynet) 
  • US issues travel warning for Israel - Tourists should know where the nearest bomb shelter is, and the security situation 'can change day to day', US State Department tells potential visitors to Israel. (Ynet and Maariv) 
  • Notice to Israelis: Remain vigilant while traveling abroad - Despite having no concrete threats of terror attacks, Counter-Terrorism Bureau urges Israelis to be careful when traveling abroad during Christmas season, particularly in crowded places. (Yedioth/Ynet)
  • Two Palestinians on trial in Germany for targeting Israeli embassy - The two ISIS supporters were arrested in June while trying to build a bomb from firecrackers, but claim they were not planning an attack against Israel, and were merely trying 'something cool.' (Ynet)
  • Explosive device detonated against Israeli army patrol along Gaza-Israel border - In response, the IDF fired mortar shells into the coastal enclave, which the Palestinians claim wounded three Palestinians. (Haaretz+)
  • Road around terrorism blocked by bureaucracy - Four Israelis have been killed and dozens hurt in terrorist attacks at major Judea and Samaria intersection since early October. IDF decides to implement local residents' plan for detour, but road remains closed, awaiting official stamp of approval. (Israel Hayom) 
  • Netanyahu Promises Millions to Improve Security on West Bank Roads - The new funds will go towards providing lighting on the roads, improving cellphone coverage, and reinforcing security at locations where terror attacks commonly occur. (Haaretz) 
  • Lieberman launches campaign to remove Zoabi from Knesset' - Together, we will kick out terror supporters from the Knesset,' says Yisrael Beytenu leader who is promoting a bill to prevent Supreme Court from overturning decisions to ban candidates from running for parliament. (Ynet) 
  • Palestinian minister offended by 'rude' questions from Australian delegation - Palestinian minister accuses Australians of being 'not well educated' and having 'false information' during 'explosive' and 'challenging' meeting. (Haaretz) 
  • Minister Shaked Holds Secret Talks With AG Search Panelists - Justice minister met with all committee members, except former Supreme Court president Grunis, without them being aware of the others’ meetings. (Haaretz+) 
  • Right-wing NGO loses bid to build bigger visitors' center in East Jerusalem - A court ruled against a motion by the group Elad, which is putting up a facility covering around two acres near the largely Arab neighborhood of Silwan. (Haaretz+) 
  • Israel ranked 18th in the world on UN Human Development Index - U.N. quality-of-life ratings put Israel ahead of some European nations such as France and Belgium. Many countries ranked below Israel have higher per capita GDPs. Most Middle East nations ranked low, with Egypt at 108 and Palestinians at 113. (Ynet and Israel Hayom)
  • Israeli police stop workers from repairing Al-Aqsa Mosque water leak  - Israeli police forces on Wednesday prevented workers from repairing a water leak in the Al-Aqsa Mosque and threatened to detain workers, head of the Ministry of Endowment's Jerusalem department said. (Maan) 
  • Record number of French Jews immigrated to Israel in 2015 - Some 8,000 French Jews moved to Israel in 2015, about 1,000 more than in 2014, but way below earlier forecasts of 15,000 immigrants. (Haaretz+)
  • Israel's Top Court Broadens Definition of Illegal Hacking - Justices rule that even entering unlocked computer without password could be illegal, say proof of criminal intent unnecessary. (Haaretz+) 
  • Israel Could Face General Strike Next Week - Histadrut union threatens to launch strike unless government signs accord with public sector workers. (Haaretz+) 
  • 300 protest closing of Haifa halfway house for former prisoners - As of Monday, no funding sources that would keep Beit Hahesed open had been found. (Haaretz+) 
  • Only one building inspector per 700 sites in Israel, Knesset report says - Half of the sites never get checked, according to Knesset findings, and half the deaths at sites are caused by falls. (Haaretz+) 
  • Inscription on slab points to ancient Jewish community on Israel's Lake Kinneret - The Hebrew letters apparently commemorate a leader of the community. (Haaretz+)
  • Director Ziv Medical Center: Until now we treated 600 wounded Syrians - Dr. Salman Zarka reported on the treatment of victims of the civil war in Syria over the past two and a half years, during a speaking tour in the United States. The visitors were surprised by the Israeli aid granted to an enemy state. (Maariv) 
  • Flower farming in Gaza withers under blockade - Before the blockade took effect, Hijazi said flower farms accounted for up to 400 dunams (100 acres) of farmland. That number gradually decreased to 55 dunams (14 acres) and now flower farms only account for around 6 dunams (1.5 acres) of farmland. (Maan)
  • Kuwait Airways drops New York-London route after U.S. orders it allows Israelis to fly - The U.S. Department of Transportation found the airline was illegally discriminating against Israelis and refusing to let them fly on its flights, and demanded it stop. (Haaretz)
  • In Syrian refugees, 'we should see Jewish refugees of WWII' - U.S. President Barack Obama, speaking to immigrants being sworn in as U.S. citizens, hails immigration as America's "oldest tradition" • "We have not always lived up to our own ideal," he says, adding that the mistakes of the past should not be repeated. (Israel Hayom) 
  • BDS supporter refuses to have his book translated into Hebrew - American journalist Doug Henwood refuses to sell translation rights to book about Hillary Clinton to local publishing house, cites support for boycott efforts against Israel. "Boycotts go against the very nature of the publishing world," publisher says. (Israel Hayom)
  • WATCH: 'Thank you for your service,' Graham says to 3,500 Muslims in the U.S. military - 'Donald Trump has done the one single thing you cannot do: Declare war on Islam itself. ISIL would be dancing in the streets, they just don’t believe in dancing.' (Haaretz) 
  • Rohani: Nuclear Deal to Be Implemented Within Weeks - Iranian president welcomes IAEA closure of investigation as political victory, says implementation of deal to begin in '2-3 weeks.' (Agencies, Haaretz)
  • ISIS Looking to Gain Control of Oil Fields in Sinai and Libya - The U.S. is examining who controlled oil fields, pipelines, trucking routes and other infrastructure in places that could be vulnerable to attack, official says. (Agencies, Haaretz)
 
Commentary/Analysis:
What Really Scares Me (And It’s Not Im Tirtzu) (B’tselem Director, Hagai El-Ad, Haaretz+) The campaign against human rights activists? That is nowhere as frightening as the occupation, of indifference to injustice, sanctimoniousness and passing shock. 
Breaking the Silence: Our courageous gatekeepers (Merav Betito, Yedioth/Ynet) The Israeli public should be grateful for soldiers who insist on their Jewish right to maintain ethical standards during or after their military service.  
Why I Broke My Silence (Ari Shavit, Haaretz+) Although I was a naïve young man, I had some firm principles that governed both instances in which I broke my silence. 
‘Im Tirtzu’ has become the blatant propaganda of the right-wing, instead of letting the numbers speak for themselves (Lilach Sigal, Maariv) ‘Im Tirtzu’ did the very thing they accuse the leftist NGOs of. Instead of letting the numbers speak for themselves, they turned everything into blatant right-wing propaganda. 
No, I don’t carry a knife on Israeli buses (Saja Abu Fanni, Haaretz+) I'll never forget a conversation I had with a little boy on a Haifa bus. 
Freedom of expression is not a sacred cow (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) Israel may be in need of explicit legislation that will prevent some of the expressions of hatred - from the right and from the left - which contribute nothing to the public discourse.
Hooray for the Snitches of Breaking the Silence (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) The Israeli soldiers who expose the crimes of the occupation are much braver than the cowards who shoot to death Palestinian girls wielding scissors. 
Why 2015 was a bad year for Israel (Sever Plocker, Yedioth/Ynet) This past year, Israel reached a high in technological strength and a low in global sympathy. The conflict with the Palestinians worsened, and the boycott movement spread to the heart of the US higher education system. Even the economy, our bright side, took a step back.
Persecuting Human Rights Groups Won't Hide Israel's Injustices (Haaretz Editorial) In contrast to Israel’s leaders, who are sullying Israel’s reputation, human rights NGOs are a small but significant source of light that preserves the flame of democracy. 
Saudi Arabia's war of independence (Ron Ben-Yishai, Yedioth/Ynet) Their disappointment with Obama has led the Saudis to adopt a sophisticated and aggressive strategy. No longer the world's oil barrel, Riyadh is now using oil prices to remove American companies from the market, punish the Russians for their support of Assad and shatter Iran's hopes of exporting large amounts of oil. 
Im Tirtzu and the Proto-fascist Plot to Destroy Israeli Democracy (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) The group's video portraying human rights activists as terrorist-supporting traitors is a symptom of a rapidly spreading, potentially terminal disease. 
Why Trump and Cruz Are Closer to Israeli Hawks Than Marco Rubio (Peter Beinart, Haaretz+) They share Netanyahu’s cultural pessimism about the Islamic World. 
Fiddling With Flags While Israel Burns (Asher Schechter, Haaretz) Saeb Erekat balked at talking under an Israeli flag, a triviality seized on by opportunist politicians to score Zionism points.
All carrots, no sticks (Prof. Eyal Zisser, Israel Hayom) The IAEA's decision to close its investigation into Iran's nuclear weapons program rewards rogue states and endangers world peace. 
We Israelis are all Habait Hayehudi MK Bezalel Smotrich (Kobi Niv, Haaretz+) Is extremist MK, who said West Bank arson murders are not terrorism, merely a deviant weed or do we all think as he does, only he is courageous or foolish enough to publicly proclaim it? 
There are no remains (‘Sarid’): More than anything, the former Meretz party leader is missing from the Israeli left-wing (Nir Kipnis, Maariv) Maybe this is the place to mention that Yossi Sarid was also a rare persona even among his friends from the left, who fought for his life. 
How Israeli settlements stifle Palestine’s economy (Al-Shabaka Policy Fellow Nur Arafeh and Policy Advisors Samia al-Botmeh and Leila Farsakh, Maan) Addressing Israel’s arguments against the European Union’s decision to label settlement products the writers demonstrate the devastating impact Israel’s settlement enterprise has had on the Palestinian economy, dispossessing Palestinians of their land, water, and other resources and creating mass unemployment. 
Turkey's Jews are coming out of the shadows (Karel Valansi, Haaretz+) Our courage to hold a public Hanukkah ceremony for the first time in history this week stemmed not from a transformation in Turkish society, but from a shift within our community. 
 
 
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.

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