APN's daily news review from Israel

Tuesday April 19, 2016

Note: During the Passover Holiday, News Nosh will be off on Friday the 22nd and Friday the 29th and will be published in a truncated version from Sunday through Thursday, April 24-28th.
 

Quote of the day:

Front Page:

Haaretz

• 20 injured in attack in Jerusalem: explosives on bus, suspicion that one of the wounded is the terrorist
• IDF’s discovery brings new questions to surface // Amos Harel
• Notice the differences // Nir Hasson
• Hamas tunnel discovered that infiltrated into Israeli territory
• US State Department in response to Netanyahu’s words: Our stance did not change – the Golan Heights are not part of Israel
• Following the closing of the Balkan channel: at least 300 refugees drowned to death between Libya and Italy
• (Former IDF commander) Gal Hirsh questioned under warning by police 
• Prosecutors’ watchdog resigned
• Ahead of the primaries in New York, US is tiring of politics // Chemi Shalev
• (Netanyahu) Hero in words // Haaretz Editorial

Yedioth Ahronoth

• Erosion of deterrence [Photos of burning bus and of Hamas tunnel]
• Mr. (No) Security // Sima Kadmon
• Iron Dome of the tunnels
• Hamas needs to worry // Alex Fishman
• Exposed to the south // Yossi Yehoshua 
• They are not s-c-a-r-e-d // Ronen Bergman
• Civilians at the front lines // Matan Tzuri
• Judge: “The strength of the evidence is weaker” about the manslaughter charges against the Shooting Soldier, Elior Azaria; Eyal Golan and David D’Or won’t perform at the solidarity rally

Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)

• The bus terror returned
• It’s early to panic // Ben Caspit
• Released for publication: The Shooting Soldier – Elor Azaria
• No interest in a confrontation // Yossi Melman
• The siege (on Gaza) is the whole story // Ran Adelist
• “The tunnel that was exposed in the south had capabilities never seen before”

Israel Hayom

• Between Gaza and Jerusalem – the terror that was thwarted and the terror that struck
• “Underground Iron Dome”
• They don’t want a confrontation, but escalation is possible // Yoav Limor 
• “I found my daughter burned”
• Hamas is in a difficult situation, operating from distress // Reuven Berko
• Drama: Head of commission for prosecutorial oversight, Gerstel, resigned
• Released for publication: Sgt. Elor Azaria is the soldier accused of manslaughter
• They should go for a plea bargain for the sake of the IDF – and the soldier // Haim Shine
• (Jailed Rabbi) Pinto’s trick: Released for his brother’s wedding – and will remain at home for Passover Seder
• Tonight – the battle over New York // Boaz Bismuth

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News Summary:
A bus bombing in Jerusalem and a Hamas tunnel found infiltrating Israel raised questions about Israel’s deterrence and the Shooting Soldier from Hebron was identified and charged with manslaughter and the pop singers who planned to attend his solidarity rally today backed down making top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers. Also in the news, the world condemned Israeli Prime Minister Binaymin Netanyahu’s ‘Golan Speech,’ and said that the Golan Heights are not part of Israel.  

Most Israeli military analysts wrote that the recently discovered Hamas tunnel that reached into Israel was no sign that Hamas intends to attack Israel. [See Commentary/Analysis.] Nevertheless, they noted that it has been less than two years since Israel’s third war against Gaza, Operation Protective Edge, which was “for the destruction of the tunnels” and the IDF believes other such tunnels exist. Indeed, Hamas's military wing dismissed the discovered tunnel as "nothing more than a drop in the bucket of what the resistance has prepared to defend the people and liberate our holy sites, land, and prisoners."
 
Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said Israel does not seek another conflict, but it will strike Hamas hard if it attempts to challenge the IDF or disrupt the lives of Israelis. A senior Hamas official in Gaza told Ynet that he does not expect the discovery of the tunnel to lead to a major military conflict between Hamas and Israel. "Both sides are currently interested in calm and not an escalation that could lead to a new war. Indeed both sides are improving their respective military abilities, but no one can say what the future holds." The Hamas official added, "Another war is expected, but no one can say if it will happen in another year, ten years, or twenty years. I am convinced that (things) are not (headed) in that direction at the moment.”
 
The IDF Engineering Corps forces uncovered the tunnel route ten days ago using unique technology to locate it. The media agreed to keep quiet about it so that the IDF could learn the structure of the tunnel and its layout and the means by which it was dug, Maariv’s Intelligence Affairs analyst Yossi Melman wrote. But the discovery of the tunnel has been an opportunity for politicians from both the coalition and opposition to blast the government's security policy. Netanyahu ordered to stop the delivery of cement into Gaza and vowed to prevent the construction of a desperately need port. Meanwhile, a Gaza military court sentenced five Palestinians to death for spying for Israel. One of them allegedly gave Israel information about tunnel locations.

And in Jerusalem, a blast on a bus wounded 21 people and raised many questions. For the first few hours after the bomb exploded just over the Green Line between the E. Jerusalem village of Beit Safafa and Talpiyot, the police said the fire started inside an empty bus and the back of bus #12 next to it, which had passengers, caught fire from it. Later the police said it was a terror attack caused by a bomb at the back #12, but that it’s still not clear if the bomb was held by one of the passengers, who was severely wounded and still unidentified, or by someone who got off the bus. The police said that the bomb was small and only severely injured the people near it in the back. (Also Maariv) One passenger gave a testimony to Yedioth.
 
Israeli analysts said it was likely committed by a lone wolf attacker and indeed, no Palestinian factions took responsibility, but they applauded it. Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri wrote: "Hamas welcomes the attack and sees it as a natural response to Israeli crimes, especially the executions and the violation of holy places.” Mohammed Khalaf, of the DFLP, said that "the attack is a ringing slap in the face to Netanyahu and a natural response to the crimes of the occupation and the execution of our people, the Palestinians." (Maariv)
  
The Shooting Soldier from Hebron, who shot dead an already shot and injured Palestinian assailant who was lying on the ground, was charged yesterday with manslaughter and his name was finally released: Sgt. Elor Azaria was found to be acting 'in contradiction with the rules of engagement and without operational justification.' Yet the judge criticized both the prosecution and the defense, and said that the evidence in the case was weak, even though Azaria reportedly said Abdel Fattah al-Sharif 'deserves to die' before shooting the prone Palestinian in Hebron, indicating to prosecution that the motive was revenge, not self-defense. Haaretz+ noted that this was “the first time an Israeli soldier has been charged with manslaughter during operational activity in over a decade. According to the organization Yesh Din, a military watchdog, the last similar case was in 2004 when a Bedouin soldier was charged with manslaughter for killing a British left-wing activist during a protest in Rafah.” Two famous pop singers cancelled their participation in the solidarity rally tonight for Azaria. Eyal Golan said he did not want to go against the IDF.

Germany, the US and the UN rejected Netanyahu’s declaration that the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria and annexed in 1981, are part of Israel. The US State Department spokesperson said the 'status of the Golan Heights should be determined through negotiations.’ (Maariv)
 

Quick Hits:

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Features:

How much time does Netanyahu spend at the Knesset?
Working out of Google's Tel Aviv offices, the Public Knowledge Workshop harnesses technology to amass data and give the public information about Israeli politicians in an understandable format. (Zvi Zrahiya, Haaretz+)
How Did an Orthodox Ex-settler Become Donald Trump's Israel Adviser?
Greenblatt, who guarded a West Bank settlement with an M-16 while studying in Israel, has an unusual resume for a prospective presidential adviser on Middle East affairs. (Uriel Heilman, Haaretz+) 
New Documentary Shines a Light on Israel’s Forgotten People
'Roshmia' depicts an elderly Palestinian couple in Haifa who refuse to leave their shacks and become refugees once more. (Vered Lee, Haaretz+) 
Letters to the Editor: UN vs. Israel, Shoah Deniers and the Mistake of Manslaughter (Haaretz)
 
Commentary/Analysis:
Damning Evidence Against Former IDF General Should Suffice to Cancel His 'Legacy' (Nehemia Shtrasler, Haaretz+) What will the youth learn from promoting Rehavam 'Gandhi' Ze'evi? Values such as rape, murdering prisoners, racism, hatred and blowing up journalists. 
No need to panic (Alex Fishman, Yedioth/Ynet) The mounting panic about Hamas and imminent war is misplaced; the terrorist organization is in no state, operationally or mentally, to launch an attack any time soon.
Exposing a tunnel does not change the assessment: Hamas is not interested in a new round of war (Yossi Melman, Maariv) Technological equipment has proven effective despite the difficulty in developing them. However there is still difficulty in locating tunnels, and it is quite possible that other tunnels that enter Israeli territory were dug and have not yet been uncovered. Clearly, as Hamas leaders declare, the use of tunnels is, from the point of view of the organization, a strategic tool in the fight against Israel, which proved itself in the recent war in Gaza. Hamas understands that because of its military inferiority against the IDF, digging tunnels is one of the key measures through which it can achieve tactical showcase achievements in the event of a confrontation. According to all IDF assessments, with the outbreak of the fourth round of war, Hamas will try to operate via the tunnels to take over one of the (adjacent Israeli) communities and hold it - even if for a very short time - and try and take hostages. In any case, it is also clear according to IDF assessments, that Hamas will invest great efforts to bomb the Jewish communities on the border so as to cause the population to abandon their communities, which would be, from its point of view, a great achievement. Despite all the drama, media blackout and secrecy, there still is not enough to change the overall assessment that Hamas is not interested at this stage in a new round of war, as Israel is not interested in that, and in this respect, the deterrence that Israel achieved during the last war and since it continues. 
They’re taking the IDF for a ride – Go burn some other club (Yoaz Hendel, Yedioth) It doesn’t matter what the PR people of today’s rally of solidarity [with the Shooting Soldier from Hebron] try to sell. This isn’t a story about right-wing against the left-wing, but rather a cynical political battle, behind which is scorched state earth. The soldier who is standing on trial is just an excuse.
The similarities between Israel and Turkey should set off alarms for anyone who desires peace and democracy (Uri Savir, Maariv) The story of the soldier who shot a neutralized terrorist in Hebron is the latest symptom of the deterioration, whose root is found in the occupation, which corrupts the standards of a people who suffered and who turned into a people who cause suffering by controlling another people. 
Jerusalem Terror Attack Conjures Up Deja Vu of Second Intifada (Nir Hasson, Haaretz+) Monday's bus blast reignites some of Israel's worst fears, though the scene was notably different than those witnessed during the early 2000s. Despite a recent decrease in attacks, the wave of violence has not ended. 
An underground breakthrough (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) Hamas probably didn't plan on invading an Israeli town, and is more likely digging in a zigzag pattern, looking for another Gilad Shalit. 
Thanks to the women – breaking the silence (Yaron London, Yedioth) The reason for the silence over the (sexual) exploits of Rehavam Zeevi was the support he received from two all-powerful groups: His brothers in arms and the settlers, who organized for him a campaign of the distortion of history.
Another Low on the Golan Heights (Haaretz Editorial) The argument that decades of occupation grant possession of a territory for all eternity is not accepted anywhere in the world.
Early to panic: Hamas is not deterred, but this is likely a lone incident (Ben Caspit, Maariv) The [occupied] Territories don’t today what it takes to flood the cities of Israel with blood, fire and columns of smoke. 
The attack, the tunnel and the loss of deterrence – They are not s-c-a-r-e-d (Ronen Bergman, Yedioth) A straight line connects between the knife intifada, Hamas’ attack tunnel industry, the thwarting of numerous Hamas attacks in the West Bank recently and yesterday’s attack in Jerusalem. Israel is losing its deterrence, layer after layer., and its government does not find any direction to navigate itself and the people it is commanding over.
Note to Netanyahu: There Are No Blockades in High-tech (Akiva Eldar, Haaretz+) It may not bring peace, but at the very least a Gaza university graduate recruited by an Israeli high-tech firm is unlikely to be drawn to Hamas. 
Freedom to shame: Is it justified to conduct an investigation into a minister who was murdered by terrorists? (Avihu Sofer, Maariv) Moreover, are the investigation and its timing tendentious? And could it be "compensation" for another investigation? On the other hand: is it right to commemorate a person who has allegedly violated the law? Freedom of expression is a guiding light for many of us who want to live in a democratic country. In its name, any person may express their views, express criticism, dig out the truth and the hidden motives, in his opinion, that behind different actions and moves. 
Learn from Obama – a touch of empathy (Merav Betito, Yedioth) In contrast to the US, which wipes out past debts of the ill and handicapped, who can’t work, in Israel they give out money to the knights of wealth.
The explosion in Jerusalem proves this is one of our most sensitive periods (Noam Amir, Maariv) There is no organized terrorist network behind the attack in the capital, rather it is likely the decision of a lone terrorist who built the explosives from materials that can be purchased at a hardware store. The security establishment hopes the holidays will pass in peace.
How the Stanford anti-Semitism Debate Pits Jewish Students Against Students of Color (Madeleine Chang, Haaretz+) As a half-Korean, half-Jewish freshman, I stood frozen in front of a black-and-white landscape: my friends from Hillel on the right, students of color on the left. 
How One Israeli Pop Icon Became a Soldier of Fortune (Tal Niv, Haaretz+) Eyal Golan's decision to withdraw from a rally in support of an IDF soldier charged with manslaughter highlights the moral confusion at the heart of all the singer's actions.
Woke up too late: Eyal Golan’s embarrassing U-turn raises questions (Tal Levine, Maariv) Everyone is talking about 'courage'. But if we look at the rush of artists to the town squares of consensus, we won’t see courage here, rather cowardice. Too bad that the artists who want to be 'national singers' get themselves into a moral crisis without checking the facts.
If You Lose Simone Zimmerman, You Lose the Best of Jewish Millennials (Peter Beinart, Haaretz+) Why is American Jewish Zionism punishing its children for challenging its lies? 
Sorry: As Presidential Contender, Sanders Was Right to Dismiss Simone Zimmerman (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) Appointing a Jewish liaison that calls Netanyahu a murderer is the same as employing a spokesperson who writes that Obama is an anti-Semite. 
Why Cruz and Sanders Are Love-bombing 'Their' New York Jews (Lea Rappaport Geller, Haaretz+) Trump and Clinton’s significant Jewish support will fuel their likely wins in Tuesday's caucuses. But Cruz and Sanders also have Jewish voters in their sights – on different ends of the political and religious spectrum. 
How Bernie Sanders Became the Spokesperson for Progressive American Jews (Ron Kampeas, JTA, Haaretz) For most of the campaign, Sanders avoided talking about his Jewishness. Then the lead-up to the N.Y. primaries happened. 
In a Scary World, Hillary Clinton Is the Commander We Need (Stuart E. Eizenstat, Haaretz) America needs a leader who will protect our security interests across the globe, including our most important ally in the Middle East. 
Three Reasons Why Bernie Is Better for America, Israel and the World (Steven M. Cohen, Haaretz) If Hillary is the Democratic nominee, I expect to be voting enthusiastically for Clinton for president. But in the N.Y. Democratic primary, I’ll be voting for Sanders.
 

 

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