APN's daily news review from Israel
Wednesday March 23, 2016
Note: News Nosh will be off for the Purim holiday tomorrow, March 24th. HAPPY PURIM!
Note: News Nosh will be off for the Purim holiday tomorrow, March 24th. HAPPY PURIM!
Quote of the day:
"Trump delivered a speech that could easily have been written in the Prime Minister’s Office in
Jerusalem or AIPAC headquarters in Washington, and for all we know, possibly was... He said that Obama
was the worst-ever President for Israel and the crowd burst out in loud applause, as if the assertion was
some kind of “open sesame” that removes any roadblocks standing in Trump’s way.
--Haaretz's US Affairs commentator, Chemi Shalev, in a biting analysis of Donald Trump's speech at AIPAC and the reactions of Jewish Americans.
You Must Be Kidding:
"Frozen like an ice cube.”
--The description of the body of 15-year-old by the family of Palestinian assailant Hassan Manasra when Israel handed it over to them for immediate burial. The family rejected the body.
--Haaretz's US Affairs commentator, Chemi Shalev, in a biting analysis of Donald Trump's speech at AIPAC and the reactions of Jewish Americans.
You Must Be Kidding:
"Frozen like an ice cube.”
--The description of the body of 15-year-old by the family of Palestinian assailant Hassan Manasra when Israel handed it over to them for immediate burial. The family rejected the body.
Front Page:
Haaretz
- 31 killed and 250 wounded in Daesh attacks in Brussels
- World tourism expected to be affected, and also Belgium's faltering economy
- Global local jihad // Zvi Bar’el
- Freedom of movement in danger // Anshel Pfeffer
- Europe is helpless // Sefi Hendler
- Police establishing unit of armed settlers to battle against Bedouin construction
- Trump’s achievement is AIPAC’s shame // Chemi Shalev
- Police determined standard for maximum punishments
- Abuse in jail // Haaretz Editorial
- Ahead of corruption indictment of three senior doctors at Ichilov Hospital
- It turns out the directors aren’t only interested in the occupation
- Europanic – 34 killed in terror attack in Belgium capital
- Head in the sand // Alex Fishman
- This is how we will win // Ronen Bergman
- They don’t learn // Ben-Dror Yemini
- The terror continent // Noah Klieger
- Attack in Brussels
- Jihad era // Ben Caspit
- The politics of security // Yaron Blum
- Europe’s problem // Dr. Amira Halperin
- School for security // Yossi Melman
- Happy Purim – Children of Israel celebrated in costumes escorted by heavy security
- A day after being drafted: Soldier collapsed in stamina training and died
- Europe at war
- Not ‘occupation’ and not despair, the reason for terror – jihad // Boaz Bismuth
- Hard to coordinate, hard to stop: Wave of terror us far from over // Yoav Limor
- My city, Brussels, is an injured city // Claude Kandiyoti
- Europe must wake up – and go out to a defensive war // Dan Margalit
- Shock in the Jewish community of Brussels: “The days of Purim holiday will be sad, without celebrations”
- Children of Israel began the Purim celebrations
News Summary:
The Brussels bombing attacks that killed 34 took over the Hebrew newspapers, which reported on every aspect and commented extensively - mainly about how Europe needs to learn some lessons about preventing terror. [See Commentary/Analysis below.] Some of the papers also had space to report on the AIPAC speeches.
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu rewrote his AIPAC speech, using the Brussels attacks to slam the Palestinians. He equated the Brussels attacks with Palestinian attacks on Israelis: "Terrorism is terrorism is terrorism, whether it takes place in Brussels, Paris, Istanbul or Jerusalem.” And he accused Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas “of helping to raise a generation of Palestinians with murderous hatred for Jews.” He also accused the UN of being anti-Israel, due to the high number of resolutions against Israel. “This effort will give the Palestinians a message that they can stab their way to a state. Not a state alongside Israel, but a state instead of a state.” However, he also suggested that it was impossible to give them the land to make a state. “…the terrorists have no resolvable grievances,” he said. “It's not as if we could offer them Brussels, or Istanbul, or California, or even the West Bank.” Netanyahu also said he hoped the US would continue to reject UN Security Council attempts to back Palestinian statehood. But, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Maliki urged the European Union to draw a line between terror and his people's resistance to Israel, JPost reported. Israel’s Science Minster Ofir Akunis (Likud) linked the Brussels attacks to Europe's 'foolish' rebukes of Israel. The papers also reported that the Brussels Jewish community will not be holding Purim celebrations tomorrow and that in Israel they are taking place under higher than usual security.
Maariv reported that the Arab countries and Iran strongly condemned the Brussels attacks, as did Hezbollah, the Palestinian Authority and the Islamic Academy in Cairo.
The US presidential candidates’ speeches at AIPAC did not get much coverage in the newspapers due to the Brussels attacks, but it was clear the candidates were falling over themselves to show how how pro-Israel they would be. Ted Cruz, John Kasich and Hillary Clinton all said they would “not be neutral” regarding Israel, after Donald Trump said earlier he would be. [Before that he said he would pretend to be..] However, on the podium, Trump slammed US President Barack Obama, saying he was "the worst thing to ever happen to Israel" - for which he got a massive applause from the AIPAC audience. That was too much for AIPAC, which took the exceptional step of slamming a speaker. The one candidate to skip the AIPAC meet, Bernie Sanders, gave a major Middle East policy address in Utah. Interestingly, Sanders won the Democratic primary in Israel.
Quick Hits:
- Settler Volunteers to Combat Bedouin Construction in West Bank - Group known as the Jerusalem Periphery Forum planning to patrol road in Gush Adumim, between Kfar Adumim and Jericho, over Passover. (Haaretz+)
- Ahmad Dawabsha visits Duma for first time since deadly arson attack - Ahmad is still receiving medical treatment for the burns he received on his body and face during the attack by Jewish extremists, which killed his parents, Saad and Riham, and his 18-month-old brother, Ali, on July 30, 2015. (Maan)
- In unusual step, Israeli military to impose closure on West Bank during Purim - Palestinians to be barred from entering Israeli territory as security measure; 77,000 legal Palestinian workers to be affected. (Haaretz+)
- Israel restricts Palestinian access to Al-Aqsa Mosque for Purim - Israel had banned all Palestinian men under the age of 50 from entering the compound. Extremist right-wing Israeli groups have called for visits to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during Purim wearing masks traditionally associated with the holiday. (Maan)
- Jerusalem family rejects son’s body after Israeli handover, another buried - Outrage erupted when the family of 15-year-old Hassan Manasra found their son’s body frozen, in violation of an agreement between the Israeli authorities and family members. “We accepted the preconditions set by the [Israeli] occupation so we can bury him in dignity, and our only demand was that the body shouldn’t be frozen," said the uncle. (Maan)
- 4 Palestinian detainees report assault in Israeli custody - Qasem Zakarna, a 22-year-old detainee who said he was blindfolded and beaten for more than 10 hours, after being violently assaulted and hit in the face when Israeli forces detained him and the other three in Qabatiya. (Maan)
- Rights group: Israel demolishes Palestinian home in West Bank - According to B’Tselem, Israeli authorities demolished a home and an adjacent shed and animal enclosure in Yatta area of the southern Hebron Hills and confiscated donated solar panels. (Maan)
- UN: Int'l community failing to hold Israel to account for rights violations - The UN's human rights monitor in the occupied Palestinian territories Makarim Wibisono, who ended his two-year term Monday. also slammed Israel for preventing him from fulfilling his duties, by preventing him from visiting the Gaza Strip. (Maan)
- Palestinian Authority to ban food products of five Israeli companies - Israeli source, who asked not to be identified, said he doubted that the ban would be honored. (Haaretz+ and Maan)
- Israeli forces storm, ransack Palestinian Authority-run charity in Tulkarem - Several Israeli military vehicles and an “excavator” removed charity's main doors, smashed windows and tables. Israeli soldiers “ravaged” the headquarters and confiscated all files and computers they found, said a Minister. (Maan)
- Palestinians shun joint Israeli-Palestinian business center - Traklin center, next to Tulkarem, was founded as a way of allowing Israeli and Palestinian businesspeople to meet and foster bilateral business and trade. Palestinian Authority forbids PA residents from using it. Israel: Center failed because of PA. (Israel Hayom)
- 3 structures torn down as East Jerusalem demolitions continue - Jamal Idris said said his son had been planning to move into the 100-meter home in Beit Hanina in coming days. Khader Obeidat, of Jabal al-Mukabbir, demolished his own store on Tuesday morning [to save money - OH] after Israeli forces surrounded it. (Maan)
- Hamas Denies Links With Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and Elsewhere - 'We will continue along the path of resistance in all its aspects, including the armed struggle,' says leader Ismail Haniyeh. (Haaretz+)
- Poll: Two-thirds of Palestinians want Abbas to resign - Poll finds that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is unpopular among his people, yet he does not appear to be under palpable domestic or international pressure to step down. "Abbas is weak, but his contenders are weak, too," pollster says. (Israel Hayom)
- Fire breaks out in Russian Compound detention center in Jerusalem - Prisoners were evacuated from the detention center by the administration. [Mostly Palestinians are detained there - OH.] (Maan)
- UN forces return to the Syrian border - A year and a half after UN peacekeepers left Syrian territory, they are set to return; Israel hopes a UN presence can help protect it from hostile activities. (Ynet)
- The making of a memorial: Gay pride tragedy inspires Jerusalem landmark redesign - Zion Square has a colorful and complicated history. Now a diverse group of citizens is working with city officials to turn it into a ‘space of tolerance and inclusion of the other.’ (Haaretz+)
- Government Has Yet to Allocate Israeli Church Schools Promised Funds - 'We will bring the matter to our mother churches in Europe, including the Holy See in Rome,' warns director of Nazareth school. (Haaretz+)
- Israeli military seizes Hamas propaganda during West Bank university raid - The raid, which took place at the Arab American university in Jenin, is part of a crackdown to curb violence that Israel says is fueled by Palestinian incitement. (Agencies, Haaretz and Maan)
- PM’s Adviser Admits Israeli Biometric Data Could Leak, but Dismisses Worries - The database’s trial period was supposed to finish at the end of the month, but the interior minister wishes to extend it by another nine months. (Haaretz+)
- Arab Town Retracts Firing of Teacher Who Screened Controversial Film - Showing of Oscar-nominated film drew protests from religious quarters that claimed some scenes offend the values of Muslim society. (Haaretz+)
- More than one-third of elderly immigrants in Israel living in poverty, Knesset report find - Among the reasons for their poverty is the absence of pension rights in Israel and their inability to obtain support from their countries of origin, the report says. (Haaretz+)
- Russia says might use force on cease-fire violators in Syria - Russia accuses U.S. of not responding to its proposals for rules on joint monitoring of Syria cease-fire • Russian General Staff official says Russia is prepared to employ unilateral force • U.S. "expects Russia to refrain from unilateral actions." (Agencies, Israel Hayom)
- 13 Latin American, Caribbean legislators sign motion condemning BDS movement - Passed in an attempt to improve relations with Israel, signatories say Israel boycott movement contributes to 'attitude inspired by anti-Semitism.' (JTA, Haaretz)
- WATCH: Trump, like Netanyahu in 1996, is poised to capitalize on terrorism, says Friedman - 'After a series of suicide bombs, Peres goes from 80 percent in the polls to losing to Bibi Netanyahu. This is going to be part of this election and Trump has positioned himself perfectly,'says NYT's Thomas Friedman. (Haaretz)
- Report: Trump Foreign Policy Adviser Linked to Militia Blamed for Lebanon Massacre - Mother Jones reports that the candidate has revealed five new advisers, among them an academic once linked to a Christian militia accused of perpetrating mass killings of Palestinians in Beirut. (Haaretz)
-
Reform leader Rick Jacobs: Trump is a person who spread 'hate' and 'bigotry -
Hours before planned walkout on Trump’s speech at AIPAC, URJ president says movement is trying to arrange direct meeting with him. (Haaretz+) - Study: Israel Is the Only Country Where Men Pray More Than Women - The Pew study, which draws on data from more than 2,500 censuses and surveys taken over the last few years in 192 countries, found that women generally are more religious than men. (JTA, Haaretz)
- Leon Charney, property tycoon who helped foster Israel-Egypt negotiations, dies - Charney, who was known for his cable TV show later in life, spent several years of his life on Forbes magazine's ranking of the 4000 wealthiest Americans. (JTA, Haaretz)
Polish museum honoring Poles who saved Jews arouses controversy - Officials say the museum rights a historic injustice, but critics say it distorts reality. (Haaretz+)
Features:
PURIM IN PHOTOS: Children of foreign workers, asylum seekers and Israelis celebrate Purim
(Haaretz, Ynet and Maariv)
Uncovering the hidden underworld of Jerusalem's forgotten crimes
The entire city is filled with mystery, hiding in doorways and hidden layers. (Moshe Gilad, Haaretz+)
Five Years in Syria: History's Most Documented War
From the first stone thrown to Putin’s indiscriminate bombings, 25 videos and photos by citizen photo-journalists which highlight the horror of the Syrian civil war. (Haaretz)
Commentary/Analysis:
The problem of Europe: liberalism is what allows it to be a haven for terrorists (Dr. Amira Halperin, Maariv) The sick evil of radical Islam exists in Europe for nearly 20 years, but governments still do not know how to deal with it without losing the inclusive character of the western continent.
Brussels Attacks Prove the West Lacks a Universal Strategy to Fight Global Jihad (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) Ascribing all European terror to ISIS blurs the identities of the local terrorist cells and makes them more difficult to counter.
The terrorist attack in Brussels – the result of the ongoing Belgian failure (Yossi Melman, Maariv) In order to infiltrate the terrorist network, you need the desire to go into the Muslim immigrant neighborhoods, mosques and community centers, such as district Molenbeek, recruit agents and plant eavesdropping systems.
After Brussels, Will Europe Finally Crack Down on Terror Israel-style? (Allison Kaplan Sommer, Haaretz+) Israelis have long understood that living with the threat of terror means relinquishing a bit of privacy and convenience in favor of security. They wonder when Europe will learn that lesson.
When Mogherini cried: Europeans will have to learn the hard way and they barely at the beginning of the path (Ben Caspit, Maariv) Daesh got the victory photo it wanted: the Foreign Minister of the EU crying. But eventually also in Brussels will realize that they are fighting for their lives and they will change their ways. The day this happens, their quest for victory will begin.
An Anti-democratic Revolution Is on Its Way in Israel (Sefi Rachlevsky, Haaretz+) It’s not by chance that Netanyahu is personally promoting two bills over which a black flag flies.
Trapped in its dream: Nostalgia for the beautiful days of divided Jerusalem of the ‘60’s (Ephraim Ganor, Maariv) Without the Western Wall and the Jewish Quarter, but also without the fear of terror and the wave of attacks. In the wake of the declaration of Education Minister Naftali Bennett that it is the year of "Unity of Jerusalem, Ephraim Ganor remembers the past. In divided Jerusalem, there was an atmosphere of mutual support and concern such has never been seen in Israel. And despite the fact that most of the local (Jewish) population saw every day the Jordanian Legionnaires with red keffiyehs manning positions along the city line, and despite the fact that next to the windows of the homes of many passed the border and there were buffer walls - Jerusalem was calm and peaceful. I've often thought that the solidarity was a direct continuation of the atmosphere that was in the city during the siege during the War of Independence, in times of shortage of water, bread and flour. "Why do we need this Vatican?" Moshe Dayan said before the reunification of Jerusalem. Prime Minister Levi Eshkol said at the first cabinet meeting after the union, "How will we live with so many Arabs?" Anyone who breathed into his lungs the wonderful atmosphere of a Jerusalem that was divided between walls, the serenity and solidarity, is certainly nostalgic for those days. Although without the Western Wall and the Jewish Quarter, but also without animosity and fear of terror.
On Human Rights, Egypt Taking a Page From Israel's Book (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) The way al-Sissi’s regime is dealing with human rights groups should seem familiar to Israelis.
To Protect Prisoners, Israel Must Be Cautious in Its Use of Isolation Cells (Haaretz Editorial) Isolating a prisoner is an extremely harsh step, which the courts have ruled must be used sparingly.
Country in doubt: This government must tell the nation what are its plans and vision (Yitzhak Ben-Ner, Maariv) The coalition government has screwed up priorities: instead of giving answers to existential questions, it battles ‘Breaking the Silence,’ the Left-wing, Israeli Arabs and those protesting the high cost of housing, the gas agreement and life.
Gazans Hope ISIS Terror Will Bring About the Easing of the Blockade (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) The current, absurd hope in Gaza is that the killing of Jews in Istanbul will hasten reconciliation between Turkey and Israel, leading to Israeli concessions in Gaza to placate Erdogan.
Think of the Gaza Strip the Next Time You Drink Tap Water (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) The easiest, fastest and most logical way to prevent a humanitarian and environmental disaster would be to pipe a lot more cheap water from Israel into the Strip.
US Elections and Israel:
Trump’s Hypnotic Gig at AIPAC Will Go Down in History - or Infamy (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) Like a Pied Piper, the GOP front-runner's pro-Israel magic tricks swept his Jewish audience from initial suspicion to outright enthusiasm.
AIPAC’s show of power: Israel is back to being the most important issue in the world (Michal Aharoni, Maariv) US candidates in the presidential race who addressed the conference, competed over who loves Israel more. The winner of course was Trump, who pulled his trump card: "I have a granddaughter going to be born a Jew."
The candidates at AIPAC: Pandering by numbers (Asher Schechter, Haaretz+) Clinton or Trump? What does it matter? The AIPAC conference was Benjamin Netanyahu’s victory lap.
Listening to Trump (Annika Hernroth-Rothstein, Israel Hayom) AIPAC conference attendees were right to stay and hear what Donald Trump had to say.
Listen to the rabbis: Donald Trump's speech at the AIPAC conference is meaningless (Shlomo Shamir, Maariv) The discussion of the speech and his pronouncements is a compliment to the man. The speech will be remembered as another exception, surreal and absurd in a long line of embarrassing mistakes and shameful incidents that have characterized the current presidential race.
AIPAC Missing Rubio: The End of the 'Good for Israel' Neocons (Alexander Griffing, Haaretz+) Rubio was the last neoconservative in the race ideologically tethered to using the U.S. military to promote democracy and freedom abroad – whose vigorous support of Israel invoked a generational struggle against Islamist terror.
Uncovering the hidden underworld of Jerusalem's forgotten crimes
The entire city is filled with mystery, hiding in doorways and hidden layers. (Moshe Gilad, Haaretz+)
Five Years in Syria: History's Most Documented War
From the first stone thrown to Putin’s indiscriminate bombings, 25 videos and photos by citizen photo-journalists which highlight the horror of the Syrian civil war. (Haaretz)
Commentary/Analysis:
The problem of Europe: liberalism is what allows it to be a haven for terrorists (Dr. Amira Halperin, Maariv) The sick evil of radical Islam exists in Europe for nearly 20 years, but governments still do not know how to deal with it without losing the inclusive character of the western continent.
Brussels Attacks Prove the West Lacks a Universal Strategy to Fight Global Jihad (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) Ascribing all European terror to ISIS blurs the identities of the local terrorist cells and makes them more difficult to counter.
The terrorist attack in Brussels – the result of the ongoing Belgian failure (Yossi Melman, Maariv) In order to infiltrate the terrorist network, you need the desire to go into the Muslim immigrant neighborhoods, mosques and community centers, such as district Molenbeek, recruit agents and plant eavesdropping systems.
After Brussels, Will Europe Finally Crack Down on Terror Israel-style? (Allison Kaplan Sommer, Haaretz+) Israelis have long understood that living with the threat of terror means relinquishing a bit of privacy and convenience in favor of security. They wonder when Europe will learn that lesson.
When Mogherini cried: Europeans will have to learn the hard way and they barely at the beginning of the path (Ben Caspit, Maariv) Daesh got the victory photo it wanted: the Foreign Minister of the EU crying. But eventually also in Brussels will realize that they are fighting for their lives and they will change their ways. The day this happens, their quest for victory will begin.
An Anti-democratic Revolution Is on Its Way in Israel (Sefi Rachlevsky, Haaretz+) It’s not by chance that Netanyahu is personally promoting two bills over which a black flag flies.
Trapped in its dream: Nostalgia for the beautiful days of divided Jerusalem of the ‘60’s (Ephraim Ganor, Maariv) Without the Western Wall and the Jewish Quarter, but also without the fear of terror and the wave of attacks. In the wake of the declaration of Education Minister Naftali Bennett that it is the year of "Unity of Jerusalem, Ephraim Ganor remembers the past. In divided Jerusalem, there was an atmosphere of mutual support and concern such has never been seen in Israel. And despite the fact that most of the local (Jewish) population saw every day the Jordanian Legionnaires with red keffiyehs manning positions along the city line, and despite the fact that next to the windows of the homes of many passed the border and there were buffer walls - Jerusalem was calm and peaceful. I've often thought that the solidarity was a direct continuation of the atmosphere that was in the city during the siege during the War of Independence, in times of shortage of water, bread and flour. "Why do we need this Vatican?" Moshe Dayan said before the reunification of Jerusalem. Prime Minister Levi Eshkol said at the first cabinet meeting after the union, "How will we live with so many Arabs?" Anyone who breathed into his lungs the wonderful atmosphere of a Jerusalem that was divided between walls, the serenity and solidarity, is certainly nostalgic for those days. Although without the Western Wall and the Jewish Quarter, but also without animosity and fear of terror.
On Human Rights, Egypt Taking a Page From Israel's Book (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) The way al-Sissi’s regime is dealing with human rights groups should seem familiar to Israelis.
To Protect Prisoners, Israel Must Be Cautious in Its Use of Isolation Cells (Haaretz Editorial) Isolating a prisoner is an extremely harsh step, which the courts have ruled must be used sparingly.
Country in doubt: This government must tell the nation what are its plans and vision (Yitzhak Ben-Ner, Maariv) The coalition government has screwed up priorities: instead of giving answers to existential questions, it battles ‘Breaking the Silence,’ the Left-wing, Israeli Arabs and those protesting the high cost of housing, the gas agreement and life.
Gazans Hope ISIS Terror Will Bring About the Easing of the Blockade (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) The current, absurd hope in Gaza is that the killing of Jews in Istanbul will hasten reconciliation between Turkey and Israel, leading to Israeli concessions in Gaza to placate Erdogan.
Think of the Gaza Strip the Next Time You Drink Tap Water (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) The easiest, fastest and most logical way to prevent a humanitarian and environmental disaster would be to pipe a lot more cheap water from Israel into the Strip.
US Elections and Israel:
Trump’s Hypnotic Gig at AIPAC Will Go Down in History - or Infamy (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) Like a Pied Piper, the GOP front-runner's pro-Israel magic tricks swept his Jewish audience from initial suspicion to outright enthusiasm.
AIPAC’s show of power: Israel is back to being the most important issue in the world (Michal Aharoni, Maariv) US candidates in the presidential race who addressed the conference, competed over who loves Israel more. The winner of course was Trump, who pulled his trump card: "I have a granddaughter going to be born a Jew."
The candidates at AIPAC: Pandering by numbers (Asher Schechter, Haaretz+) Clinton or Trump? What does it matter? The AIPAC conference was Benjamin Netanyahu’s victory lap.
Listening to Trump (Annika Hernroth-Rothstein, Israel Hayom) AIPAC conference attendees were right to stay and hear what Donald Trump had to say.
Listen to the rabbis: Donald Trump's speech at the AIPAC conference is meaningless (Shlomo Shamir, Maariv) The discussion of the speech and his pronouncements is a compliment to the man. The speech will be remembered as another exception, surreal and absurd in a long line of embarrassing mistakes and shameful incidents that have characterized the current presidential race.
AIPAC Missing Rubio: The End of the 'Good for Israel' Neocons (Alexander Griffing, Haaretz+) Rubio was the last neoconservative in the race ideologically tethered to using the U.S. military to promote democracy and freedom abroad – whose vigorous support of Israel invoked a generational struggle against Islamist terror.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.