APN's daily news review from Israel
January 11, 2016
You Must Be Kidding:
“You have caring, warm sons who love the people and the land of Israel, for which holy fire and honor
for the people of Israel burns in their heart."
--A group of 'hilltop youth' parents wrote in a letter to parents of the suspects in the Duma arson murders.**
--A group of 'hilltop youth' parents wrote in a letter to parents of the suspects in the Duma arson murders.**
Front Page:
Haaretz
- B’tselem offices in Jerusalem burned; Fire Dept. investigating suspicion of arson
- Deri returns to the Interior Ministry, and to the diving board // Yossi Verter
- Mendelblitt: Force Palestinians, whose land settlers built on, to accept alternative piece of land – The incoming attorney general advanced the whitewashing of a settler outpost at the request of Netanyahu
- Chairman of Disciplinary Committee believed that the police major-general who got into trouble needed to be dismissed, but Police Commissioner Alsheikh again chose the light approach
- Two of the arrested in Arara saw the terrorist from Tel-Aviv and reported to the police after a day and a half
- What are they hiding? // Haaretz Editorial
- Surprise target – Even without diplomatic relations, Israeli exports to Indonesia are expanding
Yedioth Ahronoth
- Fire in the offices of ‘B’tselem’
- Sharp rise in alcohol consumption
- Ohad’s victory – Ohad Ben-Yishai has recovered after being one of most seriously injured soldiers in Operation Protective Edge
- The “feeling” bill is on its way – Law would allow anyone to be body searched without any suspicion against him/her
- (Singer) Ninette to MK Zohar: “You are cheeky” – Debate after MK claimed singer supported his Shabbat law (for closed shops)
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- The government is formulating plan to enforce law in Arab sector
- Fire at B’tselem offices in Jerusalem: Suspicion of arson
- Deri returns to Interior Ministry – dispute in government
- Two years since the death of Ariel Sharon // Dov Weissglass
- On the ambush that Yoaz Hendel and Sefi Ovadia did to MK Miki Zohar on the issue of Shabbat
Israel Hayom
- Hunt for the accomplices (of Nashat Melhem)
- Fire in B’tselem offices
- Memory from between the waves – New submarine, long-time legacy
- Flu – record levels: “Clinics are full”
- Under heavy guard from fear of copying: Winter matriculation exams began
News Summary:
Suspicion of arson over a fire at the B’tselem human rights organization offices, a police raid on the Arab neighborhood of the Tel-Aviv shooter and the complaints by the locals there and Arieh Deri returns to the Interior Ministry, 22 years after he was forced to resign for corruption making top stories in today Hebrew newspapers. Also in the news, the police have opened a file against left-wing activist Ezra Nawi for ‘snitching’ on Palestinians selling land to settlers in the West Bank, possibly causing the death of one.
A fire broke out at the Jerusalem building that houses the offices of B’tselem and ‘Yad B’Yad’ organization, one of whose Jewish-Arab schools was the target of arson a year ago, thus causing many to suspect this was an arson attack against human rights and left-wing organizations. However, today the fire department said it was likely an electrical failure. And Maariv reported on a letter of support for the suspects in the Duma murders and an letter condemning the 'hilltop youth' phenomenon.
Tensions flared in Arara, when police raided the town, two days after they found and killed Tel-Aviv murderer Nashat Melhem there. Nashat’s father and brother were released from custody and one man was arrested in the raid. Residents expressed frustration that the police were disrupting their lives after Melhem had already been found and killed. One family claimed police vandalized its car. (photos) They were also frustrated that Melhem wasn’t found alive because now it won’t ever be known what his motives were. Moreover, they said, the whole village will pay for what he did, “if not immediately, then in the future. It’s an event that will always be remembered by the people ruling the country.” (Maariv) The family now waits for Nashat's body and is expected to hold a small funeral, but the police are continuing to hold the corpse.
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced that there would be a crackdown on crime in Arab communities – something that the Arab citizens have been asking for. But he said, the state budget of 15 billion shekels allocated to close the gaps between Arab and Jewish society would be given on condition that law enforcement is bolstered, which angered the Arab community.
The police are opening an investigation into left-wing activist Ezra Nawi, who was recorded saying that he gave the names of Palestinian landbrokers who tried to sell privately-owned Palestinian land to settlers, which he said resulted in the torture of some and the death of one. The video clip came from far right-wing settlers and was broadcast on Ilana Dayan’s ‘Uvda’ investigative program, for which Dayan got a lot of criticism for connecting with "dark forces who are trying to delegitimize the left-wing and human rights organizations.” She was also criticized for not putting the whole issue in the context of the occupation. Dayan responded with a post on the Channel 2 website, (where she again made inappropriate comparisons): "Dear friends, left, right and center, we have news for you: We don’t work for you. Not for the people of LEHAVA, and not for Ta'ayush. Not for the 'hilltop youth,' and not for B'Tselem, not with [Habayit Hayehudi chief] Bennett and not for [Meretz party chief] Gal-On, not for Netanyahu or for Kahlon, or Yair Lapid. We have a clear job: Get the story, make sure it is real, new and important. And we have an obligation to do that without fear and without bias (the immortal motto of Uri Avnery, who holds it up)." [Take note of the comparisons: between hilltop youth, who are infamous for violating the law, attacking Palestinians, and some for killing them, and between B’tselem, an organization that documents such violations of human rights and exposes them. Or the comparison between the left-wing Zionist Meretz party, which advocates a two-state solution (not one) and the far right-wing Habayit Hayehudi, which advocates annexing the West Bank. – OH]
Some 150 parents of a group called, ‘Hilltop youth,’ past and present, published a support letter for the families of the detainees in the Duma (murders) affair. “You have caring, warm sons who love the people and the land of Israel, for which holy fire and honor for the people of Israel burns in their heart…Maybe we don’t agree over every remark or act of our sons, but we must remember that for years they have worked tirelessly for the people of Israel…” But in ‘Sheva’ newspaper, Rabbi Eliezear Melamed of Har Bracha settlement wrote a sharp letter condemning the phenomenon of ‘Hilltop Youth,’ nothing that there are various ‘grades’ of hilltop youth, but ‘some 100-200 of them can behave wildly and with evil. They could get to the point of murdering Arabs or even a Jewish neighbor…” (Maariv, p. 4)
Suspicion of arson over a fire at the B’tselem human rights organization offices, a police raid on the Arab neighborhood of the Tel-Aviv shooter and the complaints by the locals there and Arieh Deri returns to the Interior Ministry, 22 years after he was forced to resign for corruption making top stories in today Hebrew newspapers. Also in the news, the police have opened a file against left-wing activist Ezra Nawi for ‘snitching’ on Palestinians selling land to settlers in the West Bank, possibly causing the death of one.
A fire broke out at the Jerusalem building that houses the offices of B’tselem and ‘Yad B’Yad’ organization, one of whose Jewish-Arab schools was the target of arson a year ago, thus causing many to suspect this was an arson attack against human rights and left-wing organizations. However, today the fire department said it was likely an electrical failure. And Maariv reported on a letter of support for the suspects in the Duma murders and an letter condemning the 'hilltop youth' phenomenon.
Tensions flared in Arara, when police raided the town, two days after they found and killed Tel-Aviv murderer Nashat Melhem there. Nashat’s father and brother were released from custody and one man was arrested in the raid. Residents expressed frustration that the police were disrupting their lives after Melhem had already been found and killed. One family claimed police vandalized its car. (photos) They were also frustrated that Melhem wasn’t found alive because now it won’t ever be known what his motives were. Moreover, they said, the whole village will pay for what he did, “if not immediately, then in the future. It’s an event that will always be remembered by the people ruling the country.” (Maariv) The family now waits for Nashat's body and is expected to hold a small funeral, but the police are continuing to hold the corpse.
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced that there would be a crackdown on crime in Arab communities – something that the Arab citizens have been asking for. But he said, the state budget of 15 billion shekels allocated to close the gaps between Arab and Jewish society would be given on condition that law enforcement is bolstered, which angered the Arab community.
The police are opening an investigation into left-wing activist Ezra Nawi, who was recorded saying that he gave the names of Palestinian landbrokers who tried to sell privately-owned Palestinian land to settlers, which he said resulted in the torture of some and the death of one. The video clip came from far right-wing settlers and was broadcast on Ilana Dayan’s ‘Uvda’ investigative program, for which Dayan got a lot of criticism for connecting with "dark forces who are trying to delegitimize the left-wing and human rights organizations.” She was also criticized for not putting the whole issue in the context of the occupation. Dayan responded with a post on the Channel 2 website, (where she again made inappropriate comparisons): "Dear friends, left, right and center, we have news for you: We don’t work for you. Not for the people of LEHAVA, and not for Ta'ayush. Not for the 'hilltop youth,' and not for B'Tselem, not with [Habayit Hayehudi chief] Bennett and not for [Meretz party chief] Gal-On, not for Netanyahu or for Kahlon, or Yair Lapid. We have a clear job: Get the story, make sure it is real, new and important. And we have an obligation to do that without fear and without bias (the immortal motto of Uri Avnery, who holds it up)." [Take note of the comparisons: between hilltop youth, who are infamous for violating the law, attacking Palestinians, and some for killing them, and between B’tselem, an organization that documents such violations of human rights and exposes them. Or the comparison between the left-wing Zionist Meretz party, which advocates a two-state solution (not one) and the far right-wing Habayit Hayehudi, which advocates annexing the West Bank. – OH]
Some 150 parents of a group called, ‘Hilltop youth,’ past and present, published a support letter for the families of the detainees in the Duma (murders) affair. “You have caring, warm sons who love the people and the land of Israel, for which holy fire and honor for the people of Israel burns in their heart…Maybe we don’t agree over every remark or act of our sons, but we must remember that for years they have worked tirelessly for the people of Israel…” But in ‘Sheva’ newspaper, Rabbi Eliezear Melamed of Har Bracha settlement wrote a sharp letter condemning the phenomenon of ‘Hilltop Youth,’ nothing that there are various ‘grades’ of hilltop youth, but ‘some 100-200 of them can behave wildly and with evil. They could get to the point of murdering Arabs or even a Jewish neighbor…” (Maariv, p. 4)
Quick Hits:
- Israeli AG strikes down successor’s plan to legalize buildings at West Bank outpost - Avichai Mendelblit recommended a land swap with Palestinians in West Bank settlement, but Yehuda Weinstein deems move legally untenable. (Haaretz+)
- Israeli Jew sentenced to 21 months for stabbing Arab in politically motivated crime - Oz Segal took a kitchen knife, approached an Arab street cleaner and stabbed him in the back while yelling 'Death to Arabs!' (Haaretz+)
- Jerusalem must plan playgrounds for Palestinian neighborhoods, court orders - Ruling is response to suit filed by residents of Shoafat and Beit Hanina. (Haaretz+)
- Minister Uri Ariel criticized Netanyahu: "It is time to annex Areas C" - During a tour organized by the Land of Israel Lobby, which visited (controversial) E1 area and city of Ma'aleh Adumim, Mayor of Maaleh Adumim called on lobby to cancel the settlement construction freeze: “If there is no building - there won’t be votes." (Maariv)
- Shin Bet arrests suspected Hebron terror cell - Four Palestinians were arrested in November, suspected of planning a shooting terror attack on highway 35. (Ynet)
- Jordan to form judicial committee to 'inspect Israel's violations' at Temple Mount - Jordanian daily 'Al-Rai' reports that committee will seek to start criminal procedures against Israel in the International Criminal Court at The Hague. (JPost/Maariv)
- Man gets suspended term for pouring drink on MK Hanin Zouabi - Right-wing activist poured drink on head of controversial lawmaker Hanin Zouabi during a political rally in March. (Times of Israel and Maariv)
- Israeli author to Le Monde: 'We live under an apartheid regime' - In an interview with the French newspaper, Ronit Matalon wonders why the current wave of attacks 'did not happen sooner.' (Haaretz+)
- Petition to indict (Joint List chief) MK Odeh for his support of a draft refuser - Tair Kaminer, 19, finished a year of national service in Sderot but refused to be drafted to the army for conscientious reasons. Right-wing activists are furious with MK Odeh, who held a solidarity meeting with Kaminer before she was jailed for refusal. (Maariv, p. 12)
- Ministerial Legislative Committee removed a bill to label products from countries that boycott settlements – The bill by the right-wing was meant to be a ‘retaliation’ against the countries that label products from settlements. It was removed because it violates the international trade treaties and agreements Israel signed. (Maariv, p. 12)
- Joint List: “If the (state budget) aid is cancelled, we will turn to the OECD” - The party protested Netanyahu’s remarks yesterday, according to which the plan to invest 15 billion shekels in the Arab sector will only be implemented if there will be law enforcement in the sector. (Maariv, p. 4)
- Deri back in Interior Ministry after 22 years - The Shas chairperson was forced to resign as interior minister in the 1990s, when he was embroiled in a corruption scandal; he is replacing Silvan Shalom, who resigned amid accusations of sexual harassment. (Ynet)
- Not part of the state? MK Mickey Zohar (Likud) caught in a non-kosher restaurant in Tel Aviv - The MK, who claimed that the first Hebrew city was not part of Israel, was photographed dining at Cafe Dubnov," which is open on Saturdays. (Maariv)
- Ministers Kahlon, Bennett oppose Likud bid to add minister to cabinet - Netanyahu wants to bring in veteran Hanegbi to replace Shalom, who resigned over sexual harassment claims, but Kahlon and Bennett say it would upset coalition balance. (Haaretz)
- New Knesset bill to greatly limit the calling of early elections - The Knesset instead would have the right to oust the prime minister, and another lawmaker would form a new government. (Haaretz+)
- Netanyahu vs. Netanyahu: Will the Likud primaries be canceled because Netanyahu is running alone? The prime minister remains the only candidate on the ballot as registration for race to head the party closes, leading senior Likud officials to call for the cancelation of the vote. (Ynet and Israel Hayom)
- Knesset Transparency C'tee: Gov't unknowingly funding 'price tag' activities - Funds transferred by different ministries to Samaria and Binyamin local councils used to fund NGOs encouraging Jewish terror activities against IDF soldiers, Israeli citizens, Palestinians, says c'tee chairwoman Shaffir. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- 10,000 Requests for Asylum Awaiting Review in Israel - With No One There to Review Them - More evidence of state's determination not to grant asylum to foreign applicants. (Haaretz+)
- End to separate burial for fallen soldiers whose Jewishness is in doubt - Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon has signed off on an amendment according to which fallen soldiers whose Jewishness is in question will no longer be buried separately from their peers. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- Israeli traveling on Russian train taken for ISIS recruit - A fellow passenger saw the man reading in Hebrew and reported him to the authorities. (Haaretz)
- French new immigrants despair over work barriers in Israel - Prime Minister Netanyahu promised to welcome them with open arms, but French doctors and dentists are hard-pressed to have their diplomas recognized and so have soured on making aliyah. (Ynet)
- AJC condemns desecration of Catholic cemetery near Jerusalem - American Jewish Committee calls on Israel to ' prevent such odious acts and to punish the perpetrators.' (Haaretz)
- WATCH: Muslim woman and Jewish man kicked out of Trump rally after silent protest - Muslim advocacy group calls on Trump to apologize after a Muslim woman engaged in a silent protest was removed by security personnel and booed by the crowd. (Haaretz)
- Lebanon Arrests Suspect Over Twin Suicide Bombings in Capital - The November bombings, claimed by the Islamic State, killed 50 people in a Shi'ite neighborhood of Beirut. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Iranian Official Sacked Over Storming of Saudi Embassy - Safar-Ali Baratlou was removed from his position because 'he did not fulfill his duty in a timely manner,' according to Iranian media. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- New Project in Iran Helps Homeless Face Harsh Winter - The low temperatures that hit the Islamic country motivated a creative and helpful way to donate warm clothes through 'Walls of Kindness.' (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Egypt's Convenes Parliament for First Time After 3 Years - New parliament replaces Islamist dominated one, will take place after political road map process announced in 2013. (Agencies, Haaretz)
Features:
Wadi Ara, Not What You Thought
The Jewish and Arab women who meet in order to cook together. The Jewish and Arab families that host each other. The Jewish and Arab youth who get together to study texts from Judaism and Islam. Despite the fear and animosity: We went this week for a trip to Wadi Ara and the 'Triangle' (areas of Israel with high Arab population) in the footsteps of the Jews and Arabs who are trying to prove that now more than ever it is possible to live together. (Feigie Stern, Yedioth's '24 Hours' supplement.)
In Israel, Even the Wine Is Political
The latest edition of a celebrated wine guide won’t include wines from the settlements. The right wing has taken notice. (Itay Gleitman, Haaretz)
Portrait of a killer: Tel Aviv shooter's relatives speak
Although the search for Nashat Melhem is now over, ending with his death in Arara following a brief gunfight, questions remain over his motives, his background and who helped him evade capture for a week. Interviews with Melhem's family members conducted a few days before his discovery shed some light on Melhem's troubled past. (Yedioth/Ynet)
Commentary/Analysis:
The Jewish and Arab women who meet in order to cook together. The Jewish and Arab families that host each other. The Jewish and Arab youth who get together to study texts from Judaism and Islam. Despite the fear and animosity: We went this week for a trip to Wadi Ara and the 'Triangle' (areas of Israel with high Arab population) in the footsteps of the Jews and Arabs who are trying to prove that now more than ever it is possible to live together. (Feigie Stern, Yedioth's '24 Hours' supplement.)
In Israel, Even the Wine Is Political
The latest edition of a celebrated wine guide won’t include wines from the settlements. The right wing has taken notice. (Itay Gleitman, Haaretz)
Portrait of a killer: Tel Aviv shooter's relatives speak
Although the search for Nashat Melhem is now over, ending with his death in Arara following a brief gunfight, questions remain over his motives, his background and who helped him evade capture for a week. Interviews with Melhem's family members conducted a few days before his discovery shed some light on Melhem's troubled past. (Yedioth/Ynet)
Commentary/Analysis:
Compared to Netanyahu, Ya'alon Represents Sane Right-wing Leadership (Raviv Drucker, Haaretz+) Despite all of the defense minister's attributes and accomplishments, his name
never comes up in the political analyses of 'the day after Netanyahu,' if such a day ever comes.
Between Sodom and Gomorrah: When it comes to Israel's Arab citizens anything goes (Michal Aharoni, Maariv) According to the logic from Minister Levin’s remarks about the Arab sector that "there is no point in investing in it because of the lack of law enforcement," state budgets should have been denied to many parts of the state, such as Bat Yam, whose mayor was corrupt, such as Ashkelon, whose mayor is suspected of rape and admitted to having affairs with numerous women, and to settlements, where settlers are potential violators of law.
Netanyahu vs. 1.5 million Israeli Arabs (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth/Ynet) The terror attack in Tel Aviv brought back up an issue Israelis would rather forget: the country's Arab citizens; but the prime minister would much rather use fear of Arabs to bolster his own standing than give the five-year plan to invest in the Arab sector a real chance.
History is already here: Democracy is receding under the Netanyahu government (Uri Savir, Maariv) There is no longer any need to warn against the danger of Israel becoming a binational state. It has already happened. The Israel of Netanyahu, Bennett and Shaked is deteriorating by the day.
Israeli Construction Workers Must Break Their Silence and Work for Safer Conditions (Nedal Antar, Haaretz+) In order to handle the phenomenon that causes the deaths of dozens of men each year and injures thousands, workers must unite and form a strong, well-run organization that will serve them as a platform and an address for their problems.
Fruit of the poisonous tree (Daniel Siryoti, Israel Hayom) The Tel Aviv gunman's actions were the direct result of the anti-Israel incitement prevalent in the Arab sector.
They left America: Closing the Israeli consulates in the US will harm security (former Israeli ambassador to US, Danny Ayalon, Maariv) If there is no choice, it is better to close embassies in hostile European countries. The Palestinian campaign against Israel's legitimacy does not rest for a moment - what they managed to do in Europe in 30 years may take less time in the United States.
A letter to a friend in Ar'ara (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) There will be other Nashat Melhems. After all, dozens in the Arab sector have expressed solidarity with ISIS and thousands support terror. While they are far from being the majority, both you and I know that it doesn’t take more than a few to turn our lives into a nightmare.
Partnership With Its Arab Citizens Will Determine Israel's Future (Odeh Bisharat, Haaretz+) The standing of the Arabs is the visa with which Israelis will be able to enter the world's nations.
Are Israel's security organizations clueless about Arab sector? (Alex Fishman, Yedioth/Ynet) Capturing the Tel Aviv shooter within seven days is a reasonable - even fast - period of time; but with so many difficult questions that have emerged over this past week, the professional achievement seems very small.
Israel on screen and off (Boaz Bismuth, Israel Hayom) The Israel we live in is very different from the catastrophe portrayed by the local press or the "apartheid state" invented by the foreign media.
Israeli Investigative TV Program Unsure of Its Facts (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) The Ta'ayush group is a persistent thorn in the side of the settlement enterprise. The fact it has been targeted by a leading TV investigative news show is itself worthy of investigation.
Between Sodom and Gomorrah: When it comes to Israel's Arab citizens anything goes (Michal Aharoni, Maariv) According to the logic from Minister Levin’s remarks about the Arab sector that "there is no point in investing in it because of the lack of law enforcement," state budgets should have been denied to many parts of the state, such as Bat Yam, whose mayor was corrupt, such as Ashkelon, whose mayor is suspected of rape and admitted to having affairs with numerous women, and to settlements, where settlers are potential violators of law.
Netanyahu vs. 1.5 million Israeli Arabs (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth/Ynet) The terror attack in Tel Aviv brought back up an issue Israelis would rather forget: the country's Arab citizens; but the prime minister would much rather use fear of Arabs to bolster his own standing than give the five-year plan to invest in the Arab sector a real chance.
History is already here: Democracy is receding under the Netanyahu government (Uri Savir, Maariv) There is no longer any need to warn against the danger of Israel becoming a binational state. It has already happened. The Israel of Netanyahu, Bennett and Shaked is deteriorating by the day.
Israeli Construction Workers Must Break Their Silence and Work for Safer Conditions (Nedal Antar, Haaretz+) In order to handle the phenomenon that causes the deaths of dozens of men each year and injures thousands, workers must unite and form a strong, well-run organization that will serve them as a platform and an address for their problems.
Fruit of the poisonous tree (Daniel Siryoti, Israel Hayom) The Tel Aviv gunman's actions were the direct result of the anti-Israel incitement prevalent in the Arab sector.
They left America: Closing the Israeli consulates in the US will harm security (former Israeli ambassador to US, Danny Ayalon, Maariv) If there is no choice, it is better to close embassies in hostile European countries. The Palestinian campaign against Israel's legitimacy does not rest for a moment - what they managed to do in Europe in 30 years may take less time in the United States.
A letter to a friend in Ar'ara (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) There will be other Nashat Melhems. After all, dozens in the Arab sector have expressed solidarity with ISIS and thousands support terror. While they are far from being the majority, both you and I know that it doesn’t take more than a few to turn our lives into a nightmare.
Partnership With Its Arab Citizens Will Determine Israel's Future (Odeh Bisharat, Haaretz+) The standing of the Arabs is the visa with which Israelis will be able to enter the world's nations.
Are Israel's security organizations clueless about Arab sector? (Alex Fishman, Yedioth/Ynet) Capturing the Tel Aviv shooter within seven days is a reasonable - even fast - period of time; but with so many difficult questions that have emerged over this past week, the professional achievement seems very small.
Israel on screen and off (Boaz Bismuth, Israel Hayom) The Israel we live in is very different from the catastrophe portrayed by the local press or the "apartheid state" invented by the foreign media.
Israeli Investigative TV Program Unsure of Its Facts (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) The Ta'ayush group is a persistent thorn in the side of the settlement enterprise. The fact it has been targeted by a leading TV investigative news show is itself worthy of investigation.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.