News Nosh 02.12.16

APN's daily news review from Israel
Friday February 12, 2016
 
Quote of the day:
“I didn’t compare for a moment between IDF soldiers that were killed and between Palestinians. I think that between the feeling of a bereaved Israeli and a bereaved Palestinian mother – there is no difference. If the words hurt, it was an unsuccessful remark.”
--Army Radio journalist Razi Barkai was quoted saying on air after bereaved parents of fallen Israeli soldiers expressed outrage at his comparison this week. Yesterday, Army Radio director Yaron London apologized to the Israeli parents, Israel Hayom reported today. The parents have demanded Barkai's removal and Army Radio has announced it has shortened his show and added a show by far right-wing journalist, Aral Segal.


Front Page:
Haaretz
  • Number of students in humanities in high schools crashed, and jumped in Torah studies
  • A new window into the universe – history in space research: Einstein was proven right
  • Nadav Argamon will be the next Shin Bet chiefHalf a million people killed in war in Syria
    Police redefining the limits to the right to demonstrate
  • Moshe Ivgi took time out from acting following accusations of sexual harassment
  • In community clinics, midwives offer pregnant women holistic and feminist accompaniment without doctors
  • Old timers of the underground movements called to the front after decades – and in the end were sent to pick oranges
Yedioth Ahronoth
  • New head – Next Shin Bet chief: Nadav Argemon
  • Operations man // Yossi Yehoshua 
  • (Actor Moshe Ivgi) Getting off stage
  • Test for the Attorney General // Nahum Barnea
  • Nightmare (at PM’s residence) on Balfour Street // Sima Kadmon
­­­Maariv Weekend (Hebrew links) Israel Hayom
  • Next Shin Bet chief: Nadav Argemon – Netanyahu declared: “Argemon has a rich and proven operational and command experience”
  • Einstein was right 
  • Sara Netanyahu to appeal the ruling in Meni Naftali’s lawsuit
  • Moshe Ivgi: “Taking time off of acting”
  • Humiliation rerun (of US sailors by Iran)
  • Report: Half a million people killed in war in Syria
  • Last of the prisoners: The reality awaiting Olmert, who will begin serving his sentence on Monday
  • Border Policewomen talk about their parents’ fears


News Summary:
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu names a new Shin Bet chief, his wife says she’ll appeal a court decision that declared she abused her employees at the official residence, and a famous actor accused of sexual harassment takes a break making top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers. In diplomatic affairs, Ukraine says it may prosecute a Shas MK who visited Crimea, Netanyahu's office says there is progress on reconciliation talks with Turkey, while Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon makes a new condition, and Channel 2 reports that efforts are being made to arrange a meeting next month between Netanyahu and US President Barack Obama in order to consolidate the principles for a military aid package. 

In Palestinian-Israeli violence-related stories, a court rejected a police request to extend a restraining order barring left-wing activists Ezra Nawi and Guy Butavia from the West Bank an Israeli soldier from the Kfir Brigade who filmed himself attacking a Palestinian detainee, who was also electrocuted, was sentenced to seven months in jail and two 14-year-old Arab Israeli girls from Ramle were charged with attempted murder for a stabbing attack on an Israeli private security guard after failing to find Israeli soldiers to stab. In an interview with Israel’s State Channel 1 Arabic, suspended Balad MK Basel Ghattas that the killing of Israelis by Palestinians is “neither criminal or delinquent, but are rather acts done "in the heat of the struggle against the oppressive occupation.” Ghattas added later: “I do not justify murder by each side, and what was said in the interview was that people were killed in the framework of the conflict and the occupation.” (Maariv) Meanwhile, Likud MK Tzachi Hanegbi told 103FM that there was no connection between Palestinian violence and the lack of a diplomatic initiative and negotiations with the Palestinians. The UN human rights investigator for Gaza and the West Bank accused Israeli security forces of using excessive force against Palestinians and called on Israel to investigate cases and to prosecute Palestinians being held in jail or release them all, including children. One Palestinian journalist is on the 80th day of a hunger strike, demanding to be charged and tried or freed from prison. Israeli forces reportedly raided a section of a jail and assaulted minors and forces also shot and injured three Palestinian teens northwest of Jerusalem. Maan reported that a far-right Israeli extremist was reportedly detained after threatening the life of Joint List Chairman, MK Ayman Odeh and Israel denied a European Parliament delegation access to Gaza.


Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.