APN's daily news review from Israel
Wednesday May 18, 2016
You Must Be
Kidding:
This year the Jerusalem municipality tripled the budget for a polarizing annual flag march, where right-wing Jews celebrate the conquering of E. Jerusalem by marching through the city - and through the Muslim Quarter, which the majority of the Jewish public opposes.
This year the Jerusalem municipality tripled the budget for a polarizing annual flag march, where right-wing Jews celebrate the conquering of E. Jerusalem by marching through the city - and through the Muslim Quarter, which the majority of the Jewish public opposes.
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Herzog is determined to join government, and the pressure on the Labor Party Committee increases
- Galloping at a crawl // Yossi Verter
- Riots in Kenya: Policeman photographed beating a demonstrator to death
- Social Welfare Minister Katz interrogated on suspicion of using internal information
- Meir Ettinger, the Shin Bet Jewish (terror) Dept’s #1 most wanted member, was released from administrative detention
- Fateful moment for Breaking the Silence: Court to rule whether state can force organization to reveal names of testifiers
- Ashdod Municipality put sanctions on stores of immigrants who sold unkosher food
- Why did the restaurants in Israel stop serving pork?
- Hebrew University students voted: No male-female partition at annual gala
- Opportunity for Netanyahu // Haaretz Editorial
- Who said there was no political theater here?
Yedioth Ahronoth
- The Divided Camp – Battle in Labor party over unity government rachets up
- Egypt’s President campaigns for unity
- Netanyahu also offers Defense Ministry portfolio
- Social Welfare Minister, the stocks and the investigation
- Working 26 hours straight when you are pregnant? This is how life is for medical interns
- Future spies: Who succeeded in solving the Mossad riddle?
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Unity via Cairo
- Al-Sisi’s transparent and brilliant trick // Ben Caspit
- Herzog’s Egyptian card // Arik Bender
- What does Al-Sisi really want? // Jacky Khougi
- Where did Bennett disappear? // Nadav Haetzni
- Minister Haim Katz’s trouble: Suspected of using inside information
- Shock in the judicial establishment: Magistrate court judge in the heart of an affair of family abuse
Israel Hayom
- Ahead of a decision – Negotiations for a unity government are gaining speed
- Suspicion: Minister Katz took advantage of internal information
- Two complaints and an investigation: Serving judge suspected of crimes
- Another ‘haircut’ for (tycoon) Levayev: Requesting an arrangement for bonds
- Palestinians claim: “The Mossad is collecting information about BDS activists”
- The matriculation exams embarrassment: Days before the test – there aren’t enough observers
News Summary:
Opposition leader Isaac Herzog pushes harder for a unity government and gets a boost from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Social Welfare Minister Haim Katz is investigated on suspicions of corruption making today’s top stories in the Hebrew newspapers.
Herzog and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu are intent to reach an agreement for a unity government by the weekend, write the papers. The agreement will include freezing or ‘restraining’ settlement construction, renewing negotiations with the Palestinians and possibly a summit in Cairo with Herzog and Netanyahu and Egyptian President Al-Sisi (Maariv).
The unity plan got a big boost from Al-Sisi, who gave a speech yesterday calling on Israel to resume negotiations with the Palestinians and join the French peace conference. Al-Sisi promised warmer ties between Egypt and Israel, if the Palestinian-Israeli conflict were resolved. A number of Israeli commentators believed Al-Sisi’s speech was arranged by Herzog to help him get support for joining the government. “And just for that Herzog deserves to be Foreign Minister,” wrote Maariv’s Ben Caspit. Herzog denied he arranged the speech. “These things were not coordinated in advance but they fell on sympathetic ears, as Bibi has been telling the region he wants to move forward but that he has been politically restricted," said Herzog. "For the first time in many years, an Arab president is saying things so clearly."
According to Yedioth, 18 of the 24 MKs of the Zionist Camp faction oppose joining Netanyahu’s government and only MKs Eitan Cabel, Eitan Barushi and Nahman Shai support joining. The faction is a combination of the Labor party and Tzipi Livni’s Hatnua party. Livni and senior Labor party members oppose the unity. Some said a unity government will tear apart the Labor party. According to Haaretz+ eleven Zionist Camp MKs said they won’t join Herzog if he joins the government. If Herzog does decide to bring Zionist Camp into the government, it will make a precedent in Israeli politics whereby some members of a faction will act as part of the coalition and other members will be officially part of the coalition, but will vote with the opposition, wrote Yedioth. According to Yedioth, Netanyahu expressed willingness to take the Defense Minister portfolio from Moshe Yaalon and give it to Herzog. If the unity government is formed, it will make Joint List Chairman, MK Ayman Odeh, the head of the Opposition – the first time an Arab MK holds that position.
And in Ramallah, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told a visiting delegation of the Meretz party that failure to reach peace will bring the Islamic State to the West Bank. (Also Maariv) Abbas also welcomed Sisi’s support for the French peace initiative, which Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected. But a senior Palestinian official said he doubted that an Israeli unity government would make a difference on the diplomatic front. Meanwhile, France postponed its Middle East peace conference, scheduled for May 30, to the summer time in order to accommodate US Secretary of State John Kerry.
Quick Hits:
- Suspected Mastermind of Jewish Terrorism to Be Released From Israeli Jail - Shin Bet won't extend Meir Ettinger's administrative detention when it expires, state prosecutor says; Ettinger is thought to be the leader of terrorist activities against Palestinians, including the arson murders of the Dawabsheh family. (Haaretz+ and Maariv)
- State Investigators Admit Palestinian Teen Killed by Sponge-tipped Bullet, but Won't Charge Israeli Officer - The state acknowledges that 16-year-old Sunuqrut died as a result of being shot, after police had initially maintained that his head hit the ground after a fall. (Haaretz+)
- In Israel's new teaching material on Jerusalem, Arabs are completely absent - Draft of new curriculum marking 50 years of 'united Jerusalem' stresses continuity between King David's Jerusalem and modern-day capital, but ignores political disputes and the fact that a third of its residents are Arabs. (Haaretz+)
- Court to Decide if Israel Can Force Breaking the Silence to Reveal Its Sources - The state attorney wants the NGO, which collects testimonies from Israeli troops about their army service in the Palestinian territories, to reveal the identity of a soldier whose statement raises suspicion of war crimes. (Haaretz+)
- Militant Jerusalem Day March Through Muslim Quarter Set for Ramadan - Jerusalem municipality triples budget for polarizing annual flag march. Survey shows majority of Jewish public opposes march going through Muslim Quarter. (Haaretz+)
- Israel returns bodies of two Palestinian assailants to East Jerusalem families - Both 16-year-old Muataz Awisat and 51-year-old Fadua abu Tir allegedly tried to stab Israeli Border Police officers before being shot and killed. (Haaretz+)
- Israeli forces detain Hamas-affiliated lawmaker from home in Ramallah - Sources said that Israeli soldiers “violently” beat Fuqaha during the raid. Fuqaha had been detained multiple times in the past. He notably participated in a 2014 mass prisoner hunger strike denouncing Israel’s widespread use of administrative detention -- jail without trial or charges. (Maan)
- Israeli navy detain 2 Gaza fishermen as 2 others remain in custody - Nizar Ayyash said that Israeli gunboats obstructed a fishing boat off the coast from the town of Beit Lahiya, and detained Samih Zayid and his brother Ibrahim. (Maan)
- Court Orders Israeli City to Lay Off Pork-selling Shops on Shabbat - Ashdod municipality was imposing selective enforcement on five stores which 'prominently display the fact that they sell food that is not kosher,' judge rules. [City has large Russian population- OH] (Haaretz+)
- Swedish politician: Israel isn't the problem in the Middle East - Swedish politician Lars Adaktusson tells Ynet his country needs to be 'much more supportive of the only democracy in the Middle East.' (Ynet)
- Austria FM to Israel Hayom: Good ties with Israel are a historic duty - Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz visits Israel, meets with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Kurz to Israel Hayom: I hope the security situation calms down and the peace process can be renewed. There is no alternative to direct negotiations. (Israel Hayom)
- The state prosecutors’ battle continues: The National Forensic Institute is behind closed doors - Eleven attorneys from the State Attorney's Office, whose names are kept classified, have asked for an order prohibiting the publication of a report written by commissioner for prosecutorial oversight, Hila Gerstel, (who recently resigned) that could embarrass them. A source knowledgeable of the details, "Eventually, the report will reach the public." (Maariv)
- Plaque at president's sculpture garden details Katsav's rape conviction - The President's Residence recently added plaques with background information behind each former president's bust; former president Katsav's plaque includes information about his conviction for rape and subsequent jail sentence. (Ynet)
- Hebrew University Students Vote Down Male-female Partition at Annual Gala - Members of the law students' union vote against a partition for religious women at the gala 211 to 176. (Haaretz+)
- Construction Worker Dies in Tunnel Collapse Near Kibbutz - Sliman Faid, 46, was operating heavy machinery when he got caught in a tunnel collapse at the power plant construction site. Police opens investigation. (Haaretz)
- WATCH: Israeli navy holds joint exercise with Greece, US - Israeli missile boats, patrol boats, swiftboats, rescue helicopters with para-rescue soldiers from the elite 669 unit, and search and rescue vessels all take part in drill held at NATO facility in the Greek islands. (Ynet)
- New commander, wounded in Gaza, to head elite IDF Egoz unit - Lt. Col. R, wounded in Gaza's Shujaiyya neighborhood in 2014, replaces Lt. Col. I, who was also wounded in Shujaiyya • "The nation and the senior command expect a great deal from us and we are committed to meeting those expectations," says Lt. Col. R. (Israel Hayom)
- Iran's May Oil Exports Expected to Surge 60 Percent Compared to 2015 - Oil exports to Europe are expected to reach about half of pre-sanction levels at 2.1 million barrels per day, regaining market share faster than analysts expected. (Agencies, Haaretz)
Features:
How an Incendiary Rapper Became a Symbol for Israel’s Angry Far Right
The Shadow is tapping into a rightward shift in Israel, and has gained a following among frustrated, anti-Arab citizens with his provocative calls to action. (Danna Harman, Haaretz+)
"We decided to throw a grenade at a Palestinian home"
Ynet received the excerpts from the interrogation of the Jewish terror cell from Nahliel in the West Bank, which shed light on the motives of the seven members and how they planned their attacks. (Elisha Ben Kimon, Ynet)
Commentary/Analysis:
Netanyahu’s Chance: Declare an Israeli Peace Initiative (Haaretz Editorial) His unity talks with Herzog pull the rug from under the prime minister’s claim that he is politically dependent on the extreme right.
Netanyahu and Ya'alon: To be continued (Alex Fishman, Yedioth/Ynet) The Prime Minister and Defense Minister have supposedly put their differences to rest, but the divide between them is deeper than it may seem. You can expect them to clash again, sooner rather than later.
Israel Has No Partner for Peace (Gadi Taub, Haaretz+) Even Yossi Beilin has come to the realization that the Palestinians are also responsible for the lack of a peace agreement.
A transparent and ingenious trick: Al-Sisi’s speech was what Netanyahu and Herzog needed (Ben Caspit, Maariv) The recruitment of the Egyptian President for the mediating between Netanyahu and Herzog is a winning idea. The agreement taking shape: restrain settlement construction, renew negotiations with the Palestinians and a Herzog gets veto power in legislation. The question is what will happen with Habayit Hayehudi.
Some things are incomparable (Yossi Beilin, Israel Hayom) Using Hitler as an analogy is dangerous.
Dividing up the risks: Hezbollah’s military commanding authorities will be divided among several commanders (Yossi Melman, Maariv) It is doubtful whether the young Mustafa Mughniyeh was really appointed to such a senior position in the Shia-Lebanese organization. It is more likely that he was attached to the leadership, which has a number of members. If he was appointed, that turns Hezbollah, or at least its military wing, into a family organization.
68 Years of Fearing the Nakba (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) With every annual commemoration of the Palestinian Nakba, which took place this week, another opportunity is missed to begin the process of reconciliation of the Zionist memory with itself.
The Zionist Camp is bleeding in leadership and ideological chaos (MK Revital Amiran, Maariv) MK Erel Margalit can provide the Zionist Camp with what its missing him and what works well in our parts: sharp and straightforward talk. But instead of recognizing that, the party is engaged in ‘confirming the kill.’
A common interest in unity (Mati Tuchfeld, Israel Hayom) A failure of the coalition talks would be a mortal blow to Herzog.
Moral necessity, strategic need – Assad must go (Amos Yadlin, Yedioth) Assad’s repeated use of chemical weapons must remind us that he is a despicable murderer who has brought about a horrific human tragedy. As human beings, and as Jews, we cannot allow this. But in a strategic consideration, his removal is an Israeli interest. The radical axis that is led from Teheran, and which passes through Damascus and Beirut, is the most tangible threat to our security.
The 'Renegade Jews' Running Israel's Military (Bradley Burston, Haaretz+) The more the Israeli right struggles to smear them, the clearer it becomes that the warnings sounded by senior commanders are of enormously profound moral importance. What part of 'Your house is on fire' does Netanyahu not get?
The end of the Sykes-Picot era (Prof. Eyal Zisser, Israel Hayom) As long as the Arabs blame the West for their problems they won't resolve their current crises.
Bill Clinton Vouches for Hillary’s 'Kishkes' on Israel (Allison Kaplan Sommer, Haaretz+) While campaigning for his wife, the former U.S. president explains why no Obama administration peace initiative has made progress in Israel.
The Shadow is tapping into a rightward shift in Israel, and has gained a following among frustrated, anti-Arab citizens with his provocative calls to action. (Danna Harman, Haaretz+)
"We decided to throw a grenade at a Palestinian home"
Ynet received the excerpts from the interrogation of the Jewish terror cell from Nahliel in the West Bank, which shed light on the motives of the seven members and how they planned their attacks. (Elisha Ben Kimon, Ynet)
Commentary/Analysis:
Netanyahu’s Chance: Declare an Israeli Peace Initiative (Haaretz Editorial) His unity talks with Herzog pull the rug from under the prime minister’s claim that he is politically dependent on the extreme right.
Netanyahu and Ya'alon: To be continued (Alex Fishman, Yedioth/Ynet) The Prime Minister and Defense Minister have supposedly put their differences to rest, but the divide between them is deeper than it may seem. You can expect them to clash again, sooner rather than later.
Israel Has No Partner for Peace (Gadi Taub, Haaretz+) Even Yossi Beilin has come to the realization that the Palestinians are also responsible for the lack of a peace agreement.
A transparent and ingenious trick: Al-Sisi’s speech was what Netanyahu and Herzog needed (Ben Caspit, Maariv) The recruitment of the Egyptian President for the mediating between Netanyahu and Herzog is a winning idea. The agreement taking shape: restrain settlement construction, renew negotiations with the Palestinians and a Herzog gets veto power in legislation. The question is what will happen with Habayit Hayehudi.
Some things are incomparable (Yossi Beilin, Israel Hayom) Using Hitler as an analogy is dangerous.
Dividing up the risks: Hezbollah’s military commanding authorities will be divided among several commanders (Yossi Melman, Maariv) It is doubtful whether the young Mustafa Mughniyeh was really appointed to such a senior position in the Shia-Lebanese organization. It is more likely that he was attached to the leadership, which has a number of members. If he was appointed, that turns Hezbollah, or at least its military wing, into a family organization.
68 Years of Fearing the Nakba (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) With every annual commemoration of the Palestinian Nakba, which took place this week, another opportunity is missed to begin the process of reconciliation of the Zionist memory with itself.
The Zionist Camp is bleeding in leadership and ideological chaos (MK Revital Amiran, Maariv) MK Erel Margalit can provide the Zionist Camp with what its missing him and what works well in our parts: sharp and straightforward talk. But instead of recognizing that, the party is engaged in ‘confirming the kill.’
A common interest in unity (Mati Tuchfeld, Israel Hayom) A failure of the coalition talks would be a mortal blow to Herzog.
Moral necessity, strategic need – Assad must go (Amos Yadlin, Yedioth) Assad’s repeated use of chemical weapons must remind us that he is a despicable murderer who has brought about a horrific human tragedy. As human beings, and as Jews, we cannot allow this. But in a strategic consideration, his removal is an Israeli interest. The radical axis that is led from Teheran, and which passes through Damascus and Beirut, is the most tangible threat to our security.
The 'Renegade Jews' Running Israel's Military (Bradley Burston, Haaretz+) The more the Israeli right struggles to smear them, the clearer it becomes that the warnings sounded by senior commanders are of enormously profound moral importance. What part of 'Your house is on fire' does Netanyahu not get?
The end of the Sykes-Picot era (Prof. Eyal Zisser, Israel Hayom) As long as the Arabs blame the West for their problems they won't resolve their current crises.
Bill Clinton Vouches for Hillary’s 'Kishkes' on Israel (Allison Kaplan Sommer, Haaretz+) While campaigning for his wife, the former U.S. president explains why no Obama administration peace initiative has made progress in Israel.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.