APN's daily news review from Israel
Sunday December 27, 2015
Quote of the day:
"If there’s one thing I regret as a citizen it’s that I and my generation, as well as the one before
us, the War of Independence generation, were party to a conspiracy of silence surrounding the Israel Defense
Forces in this country’s first 20 years."
--Israeli historian and fascism expert, Zeev Sternhell, examines why Israelis don't want to confront the ugly truths the Israeli human rights NGOs
expose.**
You Must Be Kidding:
"It is known that all the acts they seek to attribute to Jews were committed by Arabs."
---Rabbi Daniel Stavsky, who participated in the radical right-wing wedding dance and was considered the 'Hilltop youth rabbi,' said the Shin Bet wrongly believed Jews were behind Duma arson-murders.***
You Must Be Kidding:
"It is known that all the acts they seek to attribute to Jews were committed by Arabs."
---Rabbi Daniel Stavsky, who participated in the radical right-wing wedding dance and was considered the 'Hilltop youth rabbi,' said the Shin Bet wrongly believed Jews were behind Duma arson-murders.***
Breaking News:
- Two soldiers wounded in West Bank attack, two Palestinians shot dead; One soldier who was wounded in Jerusalem attack, overpowered his assailant, who was arrested (Ynet, Haaretz, Israel Hayom)
- 2 Palestinian female teens detained in West Bank for carrying knives (Maan)
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Ministers to rule today whether to advance the bill to label left-wing organizations
- Putin’s special envoy secretly visited Israel for talks on Syria
- Indian Prime Minister received warmly on visit to Pakistan
- The public lesson from Duma has a basic mistake // Chaim Levinson
- Daesh leader threatens: We did not forget Palestine, we are getting closer to you by the day
- Under pressure from rabbis, IDF retracted and is looking to do something other than close the ‘Jewish Consciousness’ branch
- Danny Dayan on crisis over his appointment as ambassador: Netanyahu didn’t do enough to pressure Brazil
- Activist who defacated on the (Israeli) flag was interrogated for the fifth time
- The roof of Cinema City will be dismantled and will return to its use as a public square
- She wasn’t a camel // Gideon Levy
- The billions (from the budget) are flying (elsewhere)
Yedioth Ahronoth
- Jewish terror: “There is no immunity for rabbis who incite”
- Hiding behind // Eitan Haber
- The one who dared // Sever Plocker
- Thousands in lines to receive vaccinations – following swine flu outbreak
- The nut (egoz) that didn’t break – Col. Roee Levy promoted to head elite Egoz unit after recuperating from serious injury in Operation Protective Edge
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links)
- Daesh leader: “Palestine will be a Jewish cemetery”
- Organization under pressure // Yossi Melman
- Thousands vaccinated
- “Soon strategic facilities will be reinforced”
- Assessment: Indictments this week in Duma affair
Israel Hayom
- Yaalon: Those who attack the Shin Bet are giving a hand to the murderers
- The bill and the storm: Left-wing NGO (labeling) bill – to be voted on today in Ministerial Committee
- The highest possible
- Car-ramming, stabbing, stones: Weekend of terror
- Daesh leader in direct threat to Israel: “We haven’t forgotten you”
- Double celebration: Oudeh Tarabin is getting married
News Summary:
Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon told the religious Zionist community to do some soul-searching over the sources of Jewish terror and announced that indictments against the Jewish terror suspects would be made soon, the debate stormed over the bill to label ‘left-wing’ human rights organizations ahead of the bill’s expected approval by a ministerial committee today and the head of Daesh warned Israel that his army is getting closer to Israel making top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers.
The clash over Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked’s bill, which seeks to force members of NGOs that receive more than 50% of their funding from governments abroad to wear a tag at Knesset committee meetings, raged in the Op-Ed pages of the Hebrew papers and in the political arena. Those NGOs are mainly left-wing NGOs. The right-wing NGOs get their money from private donors abroad, but the bill only seeks to 'out' the left-wing ones. Shaked claimed that left-wing NGOs lie, calling those lies ‘weapons,’ while former justice minister, MK Tzipi Livni, blasted Moshe Kahlon's Kulanu party for supporting the bill. Meretz head MK Zahava Gal-On said the bill supported the persecution and gagging of NGOs that challenge government policy. Nevertheless, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was expected not to oppose the bill, (which the committee passed earlier today). (See Commentary/Analysis for interesting debate.)
Speaking on Channel 2’s ‘Meet the Press,’ Minister Yaalon said that indictments would be filed soon against the three Jewish suspects of the Duma arson-murders. In the security establishment, the assessment is that the indictments will lead to calm on the Palestinian side, Maariv reported. Yaalon said the suspects were not hung upside down or stretched on torture beds. The Shin Bet has admitted that it is employing 'ticking bomb' methods on Jewish terror suspects because other radical Jews may carry out more attacks against Palestinians. Yedioth revealed that the suspects are suspected of other 'price-tag' attacks against Arabs. The handwriting of the graffiti sprayed on the walls of churches and another Palestinian home (burned in Sinjil in 2013) is the same as that found on the wall of the Dawabsheh home in Duma.
Maariv's settler reporter, Karni Eldad, who has close connections with hilltop youth, wrote that the parents of the central suspect in the Duma murders sent a letter to all the families in the settlement where they live apologizing for the stain their son will bring on the community, once the indictments are made and they asked not to be visited. Unlike the parents of the other suspects, they have not been involved in the battle against to stop the Shin Bet from allegedly using torture against the suspects. In the letter, they describe how from a young age he went to live on a hilltop outpost and then married, had a daughter and moved to Jerusalem. On their own relations with their son they wrote: ״Parents remain parents even when their children don't follow their path and even when they are suspected of severe crimes, such as this. We believe in his innocence."
Yaalon also that the radical right-wing rabbis whose statements led youth to violence needed to be interrogated. And, without naming names of Habayit Hayehudi ministers and MKs, Yaalon also said that because of politicians who supported illegal acts, such as building homes on privately-owned Palestinian property and opposing their later demolitions, who close their eyes to uprooting Palestinian olive trees, harming Palestinian property and attacking law enforcement authorities – “the youth understand that maybe it’s okay to throw rocks and bags of urine on police and soldiers, to puncture police car tires.” That was a wink to Habayit Hayehudi members. And Yaalon criticized Habayit Hayehudi chief, Education Minister Naftali Bennett, for not condemning harshly enough the participants caught on video at the ‘Hatred Wedding’ of hilltop youth. (Maariv) Bennett slammed Yaalon saying, “Whoever tries to politically exploit the Duma case – will find me facing him, without blinking."
***The police said it was investigating the wedding video on suspicion of incitement. The video shows right-wing youth and activists dancing with weapons, one of them repeatedly stabbing a picture of infant Ali Dawabsheh, who was murdered in the Duma arson attack. Meretz chief Gal-On said the police must investigate the rabbis who backed the youth who danced at the “hatred wedding.” Yesh Atid chief, Yair Lapid, said: "The Duma detainees are not wild weeds. They grew up in manicured flowerbeds." (Maariv) Yet, Rabbi Daniel Stavsky told Yedioth/Ynet that the Shin Bet and Arabs committed the Duma murders. But dozens of moderate religious-Zionist rabbis signed a letter of support for the Shin Bet and denounced anti-Arab violence as being against the Torah.
Violence in the West Bank over the weekend: two Palestinians were killed in what security forces believed were attacks. A Palestinian woman was shot dead after speeding towards Border Police. One Border Policeman was lightly wounded. On Saturday, Musab al-Ghazali, 26, from E. Jerusalemite was shot dead near the Old City by Israeli mounted police who said he pulled a knife on them when they approached him because he appeared ‘suspicious.’ A witness gave a different version. His family said he suffered from severe mental disabilities and denyed that he would have carried out an attack. And on Friday in the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces killed Hani Rafiq Wahdan, 22, shooting him in the head in with live fire. This is the third Friday in a row that a Gazan was shot dead in a protest.
Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon told the religious Zionist community to do some soul-searching over the sources of Jewish terror and announced that indictments against the Jewish terror suspects would be made soon, the debate stormed over the bill to label ‘left-wing’ human rights organizations ahead of the bill’s expected approval by a ministerial committee today and the head of Daesh warned Israel that his army is getting closer to Israel making top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers.
The clash over Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked’s bill, which seeks to force members of NGOs that receive more than 50% of their funding from governments abroad to wear a tag at Knesset committee meetings, raged in the Op-Ed pages of the Hebrew papers and in the political arena. Those NGOs are mainly left-wing NGOs. The right-wing NGOs get their money from private donors abroad, but the bill only seeks to 'out' the left-wing ones. Shaked claimed that left-wing NGOs lie, calling those lies ‘weapons,’ while former justice minister, MK Tzipi Livni, blasted Moshe Kahlon's Kulanu party for supporting the bill. Meretz head MK Zahava Gal-On said the bill supported the persecution and gagging of NGOs that challenge government policy. Nevertheless, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was expected not to oppose the bill, (which the committee passed earlier today). (See Commentary/Analysis for interesting debate.)
Speaking on Channel 2’s ‘Meet the Press,’ Minister Yaalon said that indictments would be filed soon against the three Jewish suspects of the Duma arson-murders. In the security establishment, the assessment is that the indictments will lead to calm on the Palestinian side, Maariv reported. Yaalon said the suspects were not hung upside down or stretched on torture beds. The Shin Bet has admitted that it is employing 'ticking bomb' methods on Jewish terror suspects because other radical Jews may carry out more attacks against Palestinians. Yedioth revealed that the suspects are suspected of other 'price-tag' attacks against Arabs. The handwriting of the graffiti sprayed on the walls of churches and another Palestinian home (burned in Sinjil in 2013) is the same as that found on the wall of the Dawabsheh home in Duma.
Maariv's settler reporter, Karni Eldad, who has close connections with hilltop youth, wrote that the parents of the central suspect in the Duma murders sent a letter to all the families in the settlement where they live apologizing for the stain their son will bring on the community, once the indictments are made and they asked not to be visited. Unlike the parents of the other suspects, they have not been involved in the battle against to stop the Shin Bet from allegedly using torture against the suspects. In the letter, they describe how from a young age he went to live on a hilltop outpost and then married, had a daughter and moved to Jerusalem. On their own relations with their son they wrote: ״Parents remain parents even when their children don't follow their path and even when they are suspected of severe crimes, such as this. We believe in his innocence."
Yaalon also that the radical right-wing rabbis whose statements led youth to violence needed to be interrogated. And, without naming names of Habayit Hayehudi ministers and MKs, Yaalon also said that because of politicians who supported illegal acts, such as building homes on privately-owned Palestinian property and opposing their later demolitions, who close their eyes to uprooting Palestinian olive trees, harming Palestinian property and attacking law enforcement authorities – “the youth understand that maybe it’s okay to throw rocks and bags of urine on police and soldiers, to puncture police car tires.” That was a wink to Habayit Hayehudi members. And Yaalon criticized Habayit Hayehudi chief, Education Minister Naftali Bennett, for not condemning harshly enough the participants caught on video at the ‘Hatred Wedding’ of hilltop youth. (Maariv) Bennett slammed Yaalon saying, “Whoever tries to politically exploit the Duma case – will find me facing him, without blinking."
***The police said it was investigating the wedding video on suspicion of incitement. The video shows right-wing youth and activists dancing with weapons, one of them repeatedly stabbing a picture of infant Ali Dawabsheh, who was murdered in the Duma arson attack. Meretz chief Gal-On said the police must investigate the rabbis who backed the youth who danced at the “hatred wedding.” Yesh Atid chief, Yair Lapid, said: "The Duma detainees are not wild weeds. They grew up in manicured flowerbeds." (Maariv) Yet, Rabbi Daniel Stavsky told Yedioth/Ynet that the Shin Bet and Arabs committed the Duma murders. But dozens of moderate religious-Zionist rabbis signed a letter of support for the Shin Bet and denounced anti-Arab violence as being against the Torah.
Violence in the West Bank over the weekend: two Palestinians were killed in what security forces believed were attacks. A Palestinian woman was shot dead after speeding towards Border Police. One Border Policeman was lightly wounded. On Saturday, Musab al-Ghazali, 26, from E. Jerusalemite was shot dead near the Old City by Israeli mounted police who said he pulled a knife on them when they approached him because he appeared ‘suspicious.’ A witness gave a different version. His family said he suffered from severe mental disabilities and denyed that he would have carried out an attack. And on Friday in the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces killed Hani Rafiq Wahdan, 22, shooting him in the head in with live fire. This is the third Friday in a row that a Gazan was shot dead in a protest.
Quick Hits:
- Turkey conditions normalized ties with Israel on 'unrestricted access' to Gaza - As Jerusalem and Ankara work towards rapprochement deal, senior Turkish officials say they won't accept restrictions on Gaza aid, claim end to Hamas activities not part of agreement. (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
- Turkish Court Orders Israel to Pay Damages to Man Injured in Mavi Marmara Raid - Haaretz revealed last week that Israel and Turkey are negotiating a reconciliation agreement that will include compensation for those killed or injured on the ship. (Haaretz)
- Netanyahu apologizes for altercation between Israeli soldiers, Abbas bodyguards - Israeli and Palestinian forces engaged in minor verbal and physical altercation in the PA-controlled 'Area A.' (i24News and Maariv)
- Behind Enemy Lines: The new Commando Brigade of the IDF is underway - Maglan, Duvdevan, Egoz and Rimon will now unite under one cap and one goal - to operate in the heart of enemy territory. The idea to establish the division resurfaces as part of the lessons learned from Operation Protective Edge. (Maariv)
- Israel disperses Jerusalem protest for return of withheld bodies - The Palestinian demonstrators had formed a human chain surrounding the walls of the Old City from the al-Sahra Gate to the Damascus Gate holding photos and calling for the return of the bodies of Palestinian attackers held by Israel. (Maan)
- Ex-settler leader Dani Dayan: Netanyahu hasn't pressured Brazil enough to accept my appointment as ambassador - Dayan tells Haaretz that if government does not act in his case, it could create a precedent barring settlers from representing Israel abroad. (Haaretz+)
- Report: Diplomats trying to talk Hezbollah out of taking revenge on Israel for Kuntar killing - Kuwaiti daily 'Al Qabas' cites European sources as saying that "Lebanese officials are aware that the threats made by the Netanyahu government are very serious." (JPost)
- Israeli PR fights BDS despite budgetary woes - A recent report indicates public relations budgets are inefficiently divided and used, creating a stark difference between public statements by politicians and action in practice. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- World Sailing to probe Israeli visa refusal in Malaysia - "World Sailing expects the organizing authority of its events to allow sailors from all nations to compete on an equal basis," says WS president after two Israelis and their coach were refused visas to compete at the Youth Sailing World Championships. (Israel Hayom)
- Ministers to decide whether coalition will back expanding use of Jewish law in Israeli courts - Legislation proposed by Habayit Hayehudi MK Nissan Slomiansky would require courts to rely on 'principles of Hebrew law' in cases with no clear legal provision, either in the form of Israeli statute or Israeli court precedent. (Haaretz+)
- Palestinian forces violently disperse protest outside Israeli settlement - Stationing of armed personnel at Beit El checkpoint on a daily basis is seen as indicating that Palestinian Authority has lost patience with continual disruptions. (Haaretz+)
- 3 people on Breaking the Silence bus wounded in rock throwing attack in the West Bank - As a Breaking the Silence tour bus drove through south Mount Hebron, the bus was pelted with rocks. Assailants are said to have been children. (Haaretz, Israel Hayom and Ynet)
- Former Israeli soldier seeks Palestinian citizenship - Andre Pshenichnikov, 23, served in the IDF for four and a half years and then decided to move to the West Bank and renounce his Israeli citizenship. "I hate Zionism ... I want to be part of the Palestinian resistance," he says. Palestinians find Pshenichnikov suspicious. (Israel Hayom)
- 25 Palestinian prisoners in Etzion jail launch open hunger strike - A lawyer for the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society, Jacqueline Fararj, said she had documented ongoing violations against Palestinians held in the jail, including physical assault and poor living conditions. (Maan)
- Egyptian lecturer heckled at University of Haifa, called a Zionist collaborator - Dr. Omer Salem, an Egyptian researcher of religions, came to speak in front of psychology students about coexistence. Two Arab students verbally attacked the lecturer: 'go talk to the Dawabsheh family about coexistence'. (Ynet)
- Paramedic declares he won't treat terrorists before victims - "It doesn't matter if they are more or less seriously injured. My heart, my morality will not allow me to act otherwise," says ZAKA paramedic Chaim Foxman in response to directive telling responders to prioritize patients based solely on injury severity. (Israel Hayom)
- 2 Palestinians arrested for Christmas tree arson in the West Bank - The two, who are being investigated as Islamic extremists, set fire to a tree in Zababdeh, a Christian majority village near Jenin. (Haaretz)
- Pope calls for peace in Israel in Christmas address - Pope Francis focuses on peace and condemn Islamist militant atrocities in his annual Christmas message. (Ynet)
- PA security forces on high alert in Bethlehem over threat of ISIS attack - Palestinians arrest 16 radical Salafists from the birthplace of Jesus, fearing attacks against Christian targets on Christmas. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Netanyahu family spokesman: No-one is mentally healthier than Sara Netanyahu - Nir Hefetz told Channel 2 that the prime minister's wife did nothing criminal and that the authorities were just being pressured to pursue a case against her to get her husband. (Haaretz and Israel Hayom)
- Hundreds Rally in Northern Israel Against Public Housing for Arabs - Speakers at rally in Afula include head of anti-assimilation group and local aide who used to work for construction minister. (Haaretz+)
- Israel reports record immigration of Jews from France in 2015 - French aliyah up 10% in a year that sees multiple terror attacks strike Paris, while overall Jewish immigration is at 15-year high. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Hamas Slams Egypt for Apparent Killing of Mentally-ill Palestinian - Man caught on film walking naked through Mediterranean sea and crossing into Egyptian territory where he is shot by security forces. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Captive's family: Hamas is hypocrisy at its finest - Relatives of Avera Mengistu, an Israeli who crossed the border into Gaza 15 months ago, scorn terrorist group's outrage over Gazan shot by Egyptian police. (Ynet)
- ISIS Loses Key Supply Route to U.S.-backed Rebel Alliance - Dam on the Euphrates captured by Kurdish-Arab groups supported coalition aircraft just 15 miles from Islamic State de-facto capital of Raqqa. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- ISIS to withdraw from Palestinian refugee camp - Once home to 170,000 Palestinians, siege of Yarmouk by Islamists has driven out all but around 5,000; deal allowing safe passage to militants could end the camp's crisis. (Ynet)
- Sidestepping Booby-traps, Iraqi Forces Zero in on Final ISIS Stronghold in Ramadi - With only one district still under Islamic State rule, final onslaught to dislodge militants seems imminent. (Agencies, Haaretz)
Features:
Bedouin Couples Seeking to Build a Home in Their Village Face Kafkaesque Nightmare, Courtesy of
Israel
The state argues the couples should apply for a building permit - technically unfeasible - or relocate to the
Palestinian Authority. (Amira Hass, Haaretz+)
Photos: Keeping the Jewish faith in Iran
Members of Iran's Jewish community hold a ceremony in a different synagogue around the country every week. Latest
was Abrishami Synagogue on Palestine Street in Tehran. News agency Reuters visits them, taking photos below.
(Agencies, Ynet)
The face of collateral damage: Palestinian student killed by Israeli forces
Samah Abdallah, 18, from a little-known Palestinian village in the West Bank, was shot dead, either on purpose or
by accident – but most assuredly without legitimate reason. (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+)
Play About Clash Between Islam and West Carries Poignant Message in Israel
'Disgraced' depicts the struggle between oppressor and oppressed, and has local equivalents in the painful points
of encounter between Mizrahi and Ashkenazi or between Jew and Arab. (Michael Handelzalts, Haaretz)
A Growing Arab Middle Class Makes a Home in Jewish Cities
The community aspires to services better than what’s available in Arab towns, but Jewish residents often put up
resistance. (Shuki Sadeh, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
**Israelis Don’t Want to Confront the Ugly Truth About the Occupation
(Zeev Sternhell, Haaretz+) That’s too bad, because in not one case have reports and testimonies collected
by Breaking the Silence been proved wrong.
Dancing beasts: The "Blood Wedding" video slammed the truth in our face (Ben Caspit, Maariv) For years, we lived with the feeling that we are different from the Arabs, who worship death and murder. And on a separate topic, the makeshift ‘hearing’ over the Prime Minister’s Residence affair that (Sara Netanyahu’s) wily attorney Weinroth managed to get out of Attorney General Weinstein is scandalous.
A Law That Shames the Protectors of Israel's Moral Character (Haaretz Editorial) The sole aim of the bill that would out NGOs funded by foreign political entities is to label human rights groups and restrict their activities.
Anti-incitement law necessary (Dr. Haim Shine, Israel Hayom) It is not unreasonable to demand foreign-funded groups that serve Israel's detractors be made to reveal the true origin of their funding.
The Existential Dilemma Facing Israel's Settlers (Avirama Golan, Haaretz+) Too many rabbis and settler activists are convinced that senior state officials are their emissaries – and if not, they are traitors. This is a spiral from which there is no partial way out.
The tables have been turned: the attack against the Shin Bet is led by high-ranking political officials (Prof. Cielo Rosenberg, Maariv) Defense attorneys are allowed to take any legal policy that will lead to the release of their clients. But the remarks by senior politicians as part of a timed campaign is an abomination that is forbidden to accept in silence.
If Slain Palestinian Teen Had Been a Camel, Israelis Would Be Outraged Over Her Death (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) The body of the camel that soldiers killed for a laugh in November was examined by an Israeli veterinarian; no one took witness statements from Samah Abdallah's family, and no one ordered an autopsy on her body.
The Kuntar dilemma: Hezbollah is looking for the right response for the assassination of the Druze terrorist (Alon Ben-David, Maariv) Nasrallah understands that a war with Israel will lead to destruction of Hezbollah and Lebanon, but he braced himself when he promised to avenge Kuntar’s death. And as long as Erdogan is in power, relations with Turkey won’t be easily repaired.
Inciting rabbis aren’t the reason for current spate of Jewish terror (Chaim Levinson, Haaretz+) Today’s Jewish extremists are protesting against too-moderate rabbis, not acting on their edicts.
Rabbis Force Israeli Military to Rethink Limiting Religious Influence on Troops (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) IDF’s proposal to lessen authority of its Military Rabbinate hits fierce resistance from religious circles both within and outside army.
No need for an incitement law (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) Breaking the Silence should opt for purity of arms in its political battle and avoid slandering Israel, but legislating their activity would do more harm than good.
Don’t be so shocked by the Israeli 'wedding of hate' (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) This is what a climate of tolerance and acceptance of violence, racism and hatred looks like.
The Complex Relationship Between Settlers and Jewish Terror (Israel Harel, Haaretz+) It’s doubtful whether settler leader Dani Dayan’s warning that those youths’ crimes are a much greater danger to the settlements than Arab terror was understood.
The religious Right must condemn Jewish terror (Michael Tuchfeld, Israel Hayom) No one believes the condemnations when good, honest people from the national religious camp defame the Shin Bet.
Heirs of hatred: Jewish extremists are settlement enterprise's new 'pioneers' (Friday Haaretz Editorial) A straight line links the arson-murder in Duma, the 'wedding of hate' video and a new law that passes funds to the settlements – and no one should be surprised.
There's more than one way to be democratic
(Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) The Left is accusing the Education Ministry of "wiping out" Israel's democratic identity with its new civics textbook. Haaretz is leading the onslaught with false information. Israel's leftists think they invented democracy. A lesson in civics.
Bennett at odds with Bayit Yehudi over Duma arson investigation (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth/Ynet) While his colleagues Uri Ariel and Bezalel Smotrich call to close the Shin Bet's Jewish Division, Naftali Bennett stands firm with the agency and the state. Will he pay a political price for coming out against his voters?
Israel's flexible definition of the ticking time bomb threat (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Neutralizing future threats can justify both the severe interrogation tactics used on Jewish terror suspects as well as the airstrike that killed Hezbollah operative Samir Kuntar.
The selfie that prompted Netanyahu's call for early Likud primaries (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) An online photo of Gideon Sa'ar with other ex-Netanyahu loyalists set off alarm bells at the PM's residence. Coincidentally or not, two days later the premier proclaimed: A Likud primary – soon!
The battle over Sinai: ISIS's next strong force (Ronen Bergman, Yedioth/Ynet) As the world's eyes are focused on the Islamic State in Syria and its activity in Europe, the organization's branch in Sinai - Ansar Bait al-Maqdis - is gaining strength, and the Russian plane bombing may be just the beginning of its integration into ISIS's international war. Ronen Bergman outlines the profile of one of the most threatening and intriguing challenges faced by the Israeli and international security community, only a few kilometers south of Eilat.
Religious ultranationalist Zionists have taken over Israel (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) First they built the settlements, then they killed off the two-state solution, now they are free to turn to their next target.
Revenge was served cold (Dr. Reuven Berko, Israel Hayom) Samir Kuntar made the Palestinian Authority's wall of fame when he murdered two policemen and two members of the Haran family in 1979. If Israel is behind his death, as Hezbollah claims, it is a message to Palestinian murderers.
Religious Jewish wedding songs are anthems of hatred and incitement (Michael Melchior, Haaretz) In the background of the horrific video where the Dawabsheh murders were celebrated are songs glorifying murder that are commonplace at Orthodox weddings, and not just at the extreme and negligible margins of Israeli society.
Who taught the Jewish radical settler youth to celebrate murder? (Samuel Heilman, Haaretz+) It's now clear from the shocking video of hilltop youth celebrating the Dawabsheh infant's murder that incitement to hatred is being taught in Israel's religious Jewish education system.
What happens if Israel's extreme right gets its way? (Kobi Niv, Haaretz+) Let’s say we silence Breaking the Silence and outlaw all groups critical of Israel. Then what?
Use all legal means (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) It is time to tap the full potential of Israel's criminal justice system to counter the threat of Jewish extremism.
Religious Zionism doesn’t need terror, it has taken over the state (Carolina Landsmann, Haaretz+) In Naftali Bennett’s criticism of the group that spawned the Duma killers, we could detect another message: Religious Zionism no longer needs this kind of terror.
We need to stop playing defense against Israel's right-wing inciters (Libby Lenkinski, Haaretz+) Im Tirtzu is a warning sign for what desperation, failure and fear look like when they combine with right-wing ultra-nationalism and extremism.
Terrorism is terrorism (Nadav Shragai, Israel Hayom) Jews and Arabs who commit acts of terrorism should be treated exactly the same way under the law.
By Assassinating Prominent Rebel, Russia Seeks to Dictate Who Will Run Syria (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) Moscow's message is twofold: It won't allow Islamist militias to assume key roles in the future Syrian government, and it won't let Saudi Arabia or Turkey influence the peace talks.
Dancing beasts: The "Blood Wedding" video slammed the truth in our face (Ben Caspit, Maariv) For years, we lived with the feeling that we are different from the Arabs, who worship death and murder. And on a separate topic, the makeshift ‘hearing’ over the Prime Minister’s Residence affair that (Sara Netanyahu’s) wily attorney Weinroth managed to get out of Attorney General Weinstein is scandalous.
A Law That Shames the Protectors of Israel's Moral Character (Haaretz Editorial) The sole aim of the bill that would out NGOs funded by foreign political entities is to label human rights groups and restrict their activities.
Anti-incitement law necessary (Dr. Haim Shine, Israel Hayom) It is not unreasonable to demand foreign-funded groups that serve Israel's detractors be made to reveal the true origin of their funding.
The Existential Dilemma Facing Israel's Settlers (Avirama Golan, Haaretz+) Too many rabbis and settler activists are convinced that senior state officials are their emissaries – and if not, they are traitors. This is a spiral from which there is no partial way out.
The tables have been turned: the attack against the Shin Bet is led by high-ranking political officials (Prof. Cielo Rosenberg, Maariv) Defense attorneys are allowed to take any legal policy that will lead to the release of their clients. But the remarks by senior politicians as part of a timed campaign is an abomination that is forbidden to accept in silence.
If Slain Palestinian Teen Had Been a Camel, Israelis Would Be Outraged Over Her Death (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) The body of the camel that soldiers killed for a laugh in November was examined by an Israeli veterinarian; no one took witness statements from Samah Abdallah's family, and no one ordered an autopsy on her body.
The Kuntar dilemma: Hezbollah is looking for the right response for the assassination of the Druze terrorist (Alon Ben-David, Maariv) Nasrallah understands that a war with Israel will lead to destruction of Hezbollah and Lebanon, but he braced himself when he promised to avenge Kuntar’s death. And as long as Erdogan is in power, relations with Turkey won’t be easily repaired.
Inciting rabbis aren’t the reason for current spate of Jewish terror (Chaim Levinson, Haaretz+) Today’s Jewish extremists are protesting against too-moderate rabbis, not acting on their edicts.
Rabbis Force Israeli Military to Rethink Limiting Religious Influence on Troops (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) IDF’s proposal to lessen authority of its Military Rabbinate hits fierce resistance from religious circles both within and outside army.
No need for an incitement law (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) Breaking the Silence should opt for purity of arms in its political battle and avoid slandering Israel, but legislating their activity would do more harm than good.
Don’t be so shocked by the Israeli 'wedding of hate' (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) This is what a climate of tolerance and acceptance of violence, racism and hatred looks like.
The Complex Relationship Between Settlers and Jewish Terror (Israel Harel, Haaretz+) It’s doubtful whether settler leader Dani Dayan’s warning that those youths’ crimes are a much greater danger to the settlements than Arab terror was understood.
The religious Right must condemn Jewish terror (Michael Tuchfeld, Israel Hayom) No one believes the condemnations when good, honest people from the national religious camp defame the Shin Bet.
Heirs of hatred: Jewish extremists are settlement enterprise's new 'pioneers' (Friday Haaretz Editorial) A straight line links the arson-murder in Duma, the 'wedding of hate' video and a new law that passes funds to the settlements – and no one should be surprised.
There's more than one way to be democratic
(Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) The Left is accusing the Education Ministry of "wiping out" Israel's democratic identity with its new civics textbook. Haaretz is leading the onslaught with false information. Israel's leftists think they invented democracy. A lesson in civics.
Bennett at odds with Bayit Yehudi over Duma arson investigation (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth/Ynet) While his colleagues Uri Ariel and Bezalel Smotrich call to close the Shin Bet's Jewish Division, Naftali Bennett stands firm with the agency and the state. Will he pay a political price for coming out against his voters?
Israel's flexible definition of the ticking time bomb threat (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Neutralizing future threats can justify both the severe interrogation tactics used on Jewish terror suspects as well as the airstrike that killed Hezbollah operative Samir Kuntar.
The selfie that prompted Netanyahu's call for early Likud primaries (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) An online photo of Gideon Sa'ar with other ex-Netanyahu loyalists set off alarm bells at the PM's residence. Coincidentally or not, two days later the premier proclaimed: A Likud primary – soon!
The battle over Sinai: ISIS's next strong force (Ronen Bergman, Yedioth/Ynet) As the world's eyes are focused on the Islamic State in Syria and its activity in Europe, the organization's branch in Sinai - Ansar Bait al-Maqdis - is gaining strength, and the Russian plane bombing may be just the beginning of its integration into ISIS's international war. Ronen Bergman outlines the profile of one of the most threatening and intriguing challenges faced by the Israeli and international security community, only a few kilometers south of Eilat.
Religious ultranationalist Zionists have taken over Israel (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) First they built the settlements, then they killed off the two-state solution, now they are free to turn to their next target.
Revenge was served cold (Dr. Reuven Berko, Israel Hayom) Samir Kuntar made the Palestinian Authority's wall of fame when he murdered two policemen and two members of the Haran family in 1979. If Israel is behind his death, as Hezbollah claims, it is a message to Palestinian murderers.
Religious Jewish wedding songs are anthems of hatred and incitement (Michael Melchior, Haaretz) In the background of the horrific video where the Dawabsheh murders were celebrated are songs glorifying murder that are commonplace at Orthodox weddings, and not just at the extreme and negligible margins of Israeli society.
Who taught the Jewish radical settler youth to celebrate murder? (Samuel Heilman, Haaretz+) It's now clear from the shocking video of hilltop youth celebrating the Dawabsheh infant's murder that incitement to hatred is being taught in Israel's religious Jewish education system.
What happens if Israel's extreme right gets its way? (Kobi Niv, Haaretz+) Let’s say we silence Breaking the Silence and outlaw all groups critical of Israel. Then what?
Use all legal means (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) It is time to tap the full potential of Israel's criminal justice system to counter the threat of Jewish extremism.
Religious Zionism doesn’t need terror, it has taken over the state (Carolina Landsmann, Haaretz+) In Naftali Bennett’s criticism of the group that spawned the Duma killers, we could detect another message: Religious Zionism no longer needs this kind of terror.
We need to stop playing defense against Israel's right-wing inciters (Libby Lenkinski, Haaretz+) Im Tirtzu is a warning sign for what desperation, failure and fear look like when they combine with right-wing ultra-nationalism and extremism.
Terrorism is terrorism (Nadav Shragai, Israel Hayom) Jews and Arabs who commit acts of terrorism should be treated exactly the same way under the law.
By Assassinating Prominent Rebel, Russia Seeks to Dictate Who Will Run Syria (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) Moscow's message is twofold: It won't allow Islamist militias to assume key roles in the future Syrian government, and it won't let Saudi Arabia or Turkey influence the peace talks.
Interviews:
Party leaders weigh in on surge in incitement
The personal attacks, hurtful Facebook posts, and explicit calls to murder have reached new levels over the past week; Yedioth Ahronoth decided to ask party leaders to what degree they are targets for incitement, what part their supporters play in fanning the flames, and whether legislation is the solution. (Nechama Duek, Yedioth/Ynet)
Uri Lubrani summarizes an extensive career: "I feel as if, now that I left, I am liberated”
For more than 60 years, Lubrani was at the most sensitive junctions in the country's history. He talks about the contacts made to release Ron Arad and the attempts to resolve the conflict. Now, with his retirement, he reveals what haunts him to this day and says if he knew then what he knows now, he would have done things differently. (Interviewed by Dana Somberg in Maariv’s daily magazine supplement, cover)
'There is no shame in being a strong nation'
Former Defense Minister Moshe Arens, the original "Mr. Security," believes Israel's aerospace industries are at the top of their game. The volatile regional changes are tragic for the Arab world, but they will see Israel emerge stronger, he says. (Interviewed by Shlomo Cesana in Israel Hayom)
The personal attacks, hurtful Facebook posts, and explicit calls to murder have reached new levels over the past week; Yedioth Ahronoth decided to ask party leaders to what degree they are targets for incitement, what part their supporters play in fanning the flames, and whether legislation is the solution. (Nechama Duek, Yedioth/Ynet)
Uri Lubrani summarizes an extensive career: "I feel as if, now that I left, I am liberated”
For more than 60 years, Lubrani was at the most sensitive junctions in the country's history. He talks about the contacts made to release Ron Arad and the attempts to resolve the conflict. Now, with his retirement, he reveals what haunts him to this day and says if he knew then what he knows now, he would have done things differently. (Interviewed by Dana Somberg in Maariv’s daily magazine supplement, cover)
'There is no shame in being a strong nation'
Former Defense Minister Moshe Arens, the original "Mr. Security," believes Israel's aerospace industries are at the top of their game. The volatile regional changes are tragic for the Arab world, but they will see Israel emerge stronger, he says. (Interviewed by Shlomo Cesana in Israel Hayom)
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.