APN's daily news review from Israel
Thursday June 02, 2016
Quote of the day:
“You as Mizrahi Jews have had the experience of living with Arabs, that is why we want you to build
bridges for peace. We welcome everybody because we want to live with you."
--Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said to a delegation of Israeli municipality mayors visiting him at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah.*
You Must Be Kidding:
--Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said to a delegation of Israeli municipality mayors visiting him at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah.*
You Must Be Kidding:
Breaking News:
Israeli forces shot Palestinian woman after alleged stab attempt at a military checkpoint near Tulkarem in northern West Bank. (Maan)
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Attorney General did not examine testimony on transfer of millions to Netanyahu
- Enormous construction plan for Jerusalem area stalled
- The young woman retracted and the two suspects of rape from a nationalist motive were released
- Police response to crisis in institution: Adding 70 jobs to the spokesman’s office
- Government’s proposal for housing rental law: no limits to raising rent
- NGO bill will apply to 27 organizations, 25 of which deal with human rights
- Health Ministry plans to stop tying up psychiatric patients by the end of 2018
- Fine instead of criminal record: Shaked considering relief for cannabis smokers
- Swiss citizens to vote on proposal for all citizens to receive a basic salary
- Not above the law // Haaretz Editorial
- The healthy revolution
- Musician Ram Orion thinks that ‘Beautiful Israel’ was not really beautiful
Yedioth Ahronoth
- “Stop the attack on the judge” – Chief Justice and Justice Minister against Sara Netanyahu’s attorney
- Blow to parents: Summer camp at schools won’t be expanded (to include 3rd and 4th grade)
- The suspect under investigation flew the Police Commissioner abroad
- The Torah, now also in emoji symbols
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Kahlon to Herzog: There is no political [peace] process from the opposition
- The top attorney and the failed move to help Sara Netanyahu
- Terror at California universityBanks appealed to the High Court against the law to limit the salaries of senior employees: “Irregular and unprecedented legislation”
- “Prime Minister against Paris Conference: “Peace is not made by force”
- Increasing hints of a regional initiative; Kahlon to Herzog: “Take advantage of this historic moment”
- Police withdrew restraining orders ahead of (Tel-Aviv) Gay Pride Parade
- Why was the knife moved in the incident in Hebron – and what does that mean?
- Court system filed complaint against Att. Yossi Cohen – Storm over criticism by Sara Netanyahu’s lawyer against the judge
- Trip after the army: “Zero in Human Relations” will be turned into a TV series in the US
- The ‘nationalist’ rape: No evidence; the suspects were released
News Summary:
A ‘nationalistically-motivated’ rape that wasn’t, a knife that someone was filmed moving closer to the body of the Palestinian assailant, allegations against Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu that were not yet investigated, and criticism of a judge by Sara Netanyahu’s lawyer were among the top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers. (See Quick Hits for details.) Also making headlines, Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon declared that there was a real chance for regional peace and that Opposition leader Isaac Herzog should join the coalition to help make that happen. What barely made the Hebrew papers was the meeting in Ramallah between the Palestinian President and Israeli mayors.
Despite Kahlon's statements, Netanyahu blasted the French peace initiative ahead of the Paris Conference for peace taking place Friday, saying that the “path to peace does not pass through international conferences.” The gathering will be attended by the foreign ministers of 29 countries from around the world, including U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. Meanwhile, diplomatic sources have tried to calm Israeli fears ahead of the, conference, Maariv reported. The sources said that the French peace initiative would only give general principles and not specific deadlines for making peace, as was earlier reported.
*Also of interest, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stated his willingness to dialogue with Israel’s newly-appointed Minister of Defense Avigdor Lieberman should the latter come out in support of a two-state solution. Abbas was speaking at a meeting with a delegation of Israeli municipality mayors in the presidential headquarters in Ramallah, with whom he discussed coexistence between Jewish Israelis and Palestinians and the two-state solution, Maan reported. (Also JPost)
Quick Hits:
- New Footage in Hebron Shooting Shows Knife Kicked Closer to Slain Palestinian Assailant - Prosecution says Ofer Ohana, a well-known Jewish resident of Hebron, was on the scene and captured on video moving the weapon next to the body after the Palestinian was killed. (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
- First publication: Police to investigate the ambulance driver who kicked the terrorist’s knife - Ofer Ohana will be questioned under caution on suspicion of obstruction of justice after he appeared in the video clip [kicking the knife closer to the assailant – OH] from the incident of the shooting of the neutralized terrorist. The defense argued that the terrorist was wearing a coat despite “35 degree heat.” Director of the Climate Dept: "It was about 19 degrees Celsius during the incident." (Maariv)
- Israeli Woman Says She Lied About Being Raped by Palestinians - The woman, who is mentally challenged, tells the police that she was in a consensual relationship with one of accused Palestinians, and that her family fabricated the allegations to put an end to it. Palestinian rape suspects released after 15 day investigation. Arab MK demands police investigate girl's family. (Haaretz and Ynet)
- Suspect of corruption flew the police abroad - A delegation of 250 Police flew to Poland last month led by the Police Commissioner Ronnie Alsheikh. With them was Pini Ginsburg, owner of 'Hillel Tours,' which won the tender to fly the delegation and made sure to stay near them on their trip. At the same time, the police was investigating Ginsburg and his company for operating a cartel in organizing trips to Poland. (Yedioth, p. 1)
- Israeli AG Yet to Investigate French Tycoon’s Alleged 1 Million Euro Donation to Netanyahu - Judges in accused fraudster Arnaud Mimran's trial say there is other evidence proving that Netanyahu was given money, yet Israeli officials have failed to follow up on the tycoon's testimony. (Haaretz+)
- Courts, bar association slam Netanyahus’ lawyer for maligning judge - Judicial Authority ‘repulsed’ by Attorney Yossi Cohen’s comments about Judge Dita Proginin, who ruled PM’s wife had abused employees. (Times of Israel and Haaretz+)
- Israel Police 'Error' Keeps Accused Stabber in Prison Six Months - The plaintiff in the case named his attackers during a reenactment,but did not mention the accused. (Haaretz+)
- Top Jewish terror suspect Meir Ettinger freed from Israeli detention - Ettinger was detained following the murder of the Dawabsheh family in the West Bank village of Duma last July. (Haaretz and Ynet)
- Israeli Arab sentenced to 25 years for car-ramming, stabbing attack - Ala Raed Zyud also ordered to pay more than $88,000 in reparations to four victims who suffer from major scars and additional trauma, both emotional and physical. (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
- Family: Israeli forces to release Palestinian MP Khalida Jarrar on Friday - Jarrar, an executive committee member of the PLO and leading PFLP member, was detained April 2 and initially sentenced to six months of administrative detention -- jail without trial or charge. International pressure later forced Israel to charge her, charges focused on her political activism. (Maan)
- Bill would let Israeli lawmakers oust colleagues, not just suspend - Lead opposition party Zionist Union says the move is inspired ‘by hatred of Arabs’ and seeks ‘liquidations on a political basis.’ (Haaretz+)
- Israeli NGO Law Would Apply Almost Solely to Human Rights Organizations - Knesset check finds 25 of 27 affected NGOs are human rights groups. (Haaretz+)
- Law would see comptroller losing ground to PM ally - Days after the state comptroller released a critical report of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s actions, Knesset House Committee Chairperson David Bitan—also from Netanyahu’s party—submitted a bill seeking to curtail the state comptroller’s authority. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- Law Restricting Palestinian Family Reunification Extended at Shin Bet's Request - More than 10 percent of last year’s terror attacks were perpetrated by members of Palestinian families who obtained Israeli citizenship or residence due to family reunification, security service says. (Haaretz)
- Basic Training soldier abused by his comrades was recognized as a disabled veteran, "This is warning sign to the whole army" - The young man, who did boot camp in Havat Hashomer, dealt with a series of severe humiliations from those in his IDF unit - and has been diagnosed with PTSD. His attorney: "This is a case which every commander needs to know about.” (Maariv)
- Jerusalem halts Temple Mount construction work, denies East Jerusalem building permits - Sources say Netanyahu put pressure on Jerusalem mayor to block a proposed building for Jews in Silwan in exchange for halting the work on the Temple Mount. (Haaretz+)
- Jerusalem Day march may start early to avoid clash on Ramadan - The Muslim holy month might start on the day of the event, which could lead to confrontations with extremist marchers. (Haaretz+)
- Mothers of murdered teen participate in Jerusalem Unity Day - Rachel Frenkel, mother of Naftali Frenkel, who was present at the president's residence during award ceremony, says that she is determined not to raise her children on hate; 'it’s simply about the ability to open up and feel close to others despite the differences.' (Ynet)
- Jewish presence in Jerusalem in 2014 on the increase, study shows - Overall growth rate of Jewish population in Jerusalem shows stark increases, while Arab rate on the decline; Statistics serve to undermine political claims that the capital is heading toward a 50-50 Arab-Jewish demographic (Ynet)
- The Shin Bet is recruiting - A sleek video produced by the Shin Bet is being circulated with the purpose of recruiting people to become elite bodyguards for the Israeli leadership. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- A stroll near Netanyahu's residence in Jerusalem? It’s not so easy anymore - A ban has widened from cars to pedestrians; the latter for many hours a day. (Haaretz+)
- OECD Lowers Israel's Growth Outlook; Economists Say Gov't Action Needed to Revive Export - Downgrade to growth of just 2.4% is latest in surfeit of bearish news for the economy. (Haaretz)
- Obama Again Delays U.S. Embassy Move to Jerusalem - The Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 states the embassy must be relocated to Israel's capital no later than 1999. However, all U.S. presidents have issued waivers at six-month intervals ever since. (Haaretz)
- Iran's Zarif Discredits Trump Vow to Renegotiate Nuclear Deal - Presumptive Republican nominee promises to rework agreement, but Iran's foreign minister says deal has been 'annexed to a Security Council resolution.' (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Iran Sponsors International Cartoon Competition on the 'Zionist Caliphate' - The contest follows an Iranian Holocaust cartoon contest last month. (Haaretz)
Features:
The full story behind the Saudi [peace] Initiative
It was buried again and again and still manages every time to return, this time in the hands of Netanyahu. So what's really behind, and inside, the Arab initiative? All you need to know about the peace plan that everyone loves to bring up, just before the new political moves. The Arab Peace Initiative, also known as the Saudi Initiative, was conceived and promoted by ‘New York Times' journalist, Thomas Friedman, in a column he wrote in February 2002. Friedman published an imaginary proposal by US President George W. Bush to the leaders of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria, according to which the 22 Arab states of the Arab League will offer Israel a clear and simple proposal: in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal to the '67 borders, a Palestinian state will be established and Israel and the 22 Arab countries will establish full diplomatic relations, trade relations and security guarantees. Two weeks later, Friedman interviewed in Riyadh Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, Crown Prince and later King of Saudi Arabia. The prince asked the American journalist whether he broke into his work desk, and said Friedman's looked like a plan he himself prepared. "I was going to speak at the summit of the Arab League in Beirut in about a month and present my plan," said the Saudi prince and detailed the plan: a full Israeli withdrawal to the '67 borders, including in Jerusalem, and the establishment of a Palestinian state in return for full normalization of relations. "The speech is ready and locked in my desk drawer," he said," but when Ariel Sharon increased the violence to an unprecedented level, I changed my mind." In those days, it will be recalled, it was already one year since the beginning of the Second Intifada, which erupted after Sharon went up to the Temple Mount. Nevertheless, the Saudi Crown Prince kept an opening for hope in the interview. "I want to make it clear to Israelis that Arabs do not despise them," he said then to Friedman. "Arabs only oppose everything the Israeli leaders are doing to the Palestinians." (Sara Leibovich-Dar, Maariv)
In New Peace Initiative, Palestinians and Settlers Find Common Ground
Out with separation, in with confederation – declare the proponents of the 'Two States One Homeland' initiative that will have its official launch on Thursday at a special full-day conference in Tel Aviv. (Judy Maltz, Haaretz+)
Lone soldiers on the home front, part 3
A Moroccan lone soldier serving in Golani suprises his family as he returns to Casablanca to celebrate the Passover feast; Embraced by his Muslim and Jewish friends back home, he tells his community IDF stories. 'Now it is time for me to be a soldier.' (Yedioth/Ynet)
Commentary/Analysis:
Yet Again the Jewish People Face Great Danger and the World Is Silent (B. Michael, Haaretz+) If the indifferent world persists in its silence, it will prove that it really is anti-Semitic, exactly as we've always been told.
Talking to the wall: the difference between Netanyahu and Rabin (Avraham Tirosh, Maariv) Netanyahu and Likud spokesmen and associates are all saying that Netanyahu is clean of any responsibility in the suspicions against his wife in regards to the running of affairs at the Prime Minister’s Residences. But, for comparison, in 1977, the Attorney General recommended prosecuting the wife of then-prime minister Yitzhak Rabin for secretly holding a foreign dollar account. The account was also in the name of Rabin the husband, but it was his wife, Leah, who was running it. Rabin suspended himself immediately and announced he would not stand at the head of the party in the upcoming elections, saying: “The responsibility is jointly ours, morally and politically. There is not place for separating between Leah and myself and I carry the responsibility as she does.”
A Palestinian-hating Thug: The Arab Media on Israel’s Extremist New Defense Minister (Khaled Diab, Haaretz+) In Egypt, almost every article about Avigdor Lieberman’s new post mentions his past genocidal threats to bomb the Aswan Dam. And that’s not the only reason Arab commentators are worried.
The truth - we have failed: The social media networks display a bleak picture for us (Nir Kipnis, Maariv) Social networking expose democracy in its nakedness, and the picture that emerges when it comes to Israeli society is sad and very troubling.
With Friends Like President Trump (David Rosenberg, Haaretz+) The candidacy clinched, Trump is falling over himself with praise for the Jewish state. But love is no substitute for competence and in foreign policy he hasn’t exhibited any.
A sweet vision for the future (Sever Plocker, Yedioth/Ynet) Daniel Lubetzky’s health food company may have already made it big in the US, but his real dream is to help promote economic cooperation within the Middle East.
Those Who Believe They Are Above the Law (Haaretz Editorial) Sara Netanyahu and her spokesmen have translated their disappointment with the court's rulings into wild and dangerous outbursts against the court and the judge.
Ramadan Kareem: Between the provocation in the Jewish Quarter and the farce of the nationalist rape (Ran Adelist, Maariv) Between the unnecessary provocation by rabbis in the Jewish Quarter calling on the police to block Muslims from entering the Jewish Quarter of the Old City and the farce of the police in extending the remand of suspects in the nationalist rape, which turned out to be a false accusation, there is a feeling that no one here has brakes.
The Israeli Body Politic Is Being Poisoned by Intimidation and Incitement (Ari Shavit, Haaretz+) The constantly rising temperature around us isn't one of a threatening strategic environment, but of an environment of contaminated values.
All That’s Needed Is a Match to Set Alight the Anger and Frustration in Israel (Yossi Klein, Haaretz+) In what sort of democracy does the army need to guard the citizenry from the minister that oversees it?
Trump and Netanyahu, Purveyors of Hate (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz) Both stoke fear of external threats and nurture resentment of internal others to gain power and deflect criticism.
Who Needs Israel's Futile, Unnecessary NGO Bill? (Israel Harel, Haaretz+) There is already a law that requires registered nonprofit associations to report their sources of income and the state has the tools to collect the information it needs.
Israel’s 'Germany in the 1930s' General Doesn’t Know His History (Moshe Arens, Haaretz+) There are no traces of similarity between Germany in those years and Israel today. And it’s not for generals like Deputy Chief of Staff Yair Golan to lecture the public.
Spoiler Alert: Netanyahu, Lieberman Aren't About to Make Peace (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) Israel might make a show of attending an international conference or starting a peace process, but only to buy time.
It was buried again and again and still manages every time to return, this time in the hands of Netanyahu. So what's really behind, and inside, the Arab initiative? All you need to know about the peace plan that everyone loves to bring up, just before the new political moves. The Arab Peace Initiative, also known as the Saudi Initiative, was conceived and promoted by ‘New York Times' journalist, Thomas Friedman, in a column he wrote in February 2002. Friedman published an imaginary proposal by US President George W. Bush to the leaders of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria, according to which the 22 Arab states of the Arab League will offer Israel a clear and simple proposal: in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal to the '67 borders, a Palestinian state will be established and Israel and the 22 Arab countries will establish full diplomatic relations, trade relations and security guarantees. Two weeks later, Friedman interviewed in Riyadh Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, Crown Prince and later King of Saudi Arabia. The prince asked the American journalist whether he broke into his work desk, and said Friedman's looked like a plan he himself prepared. "I was going to speak at the summit of the Arab League in Beirut in about a month and present my plan," said the Saudi prince and detailed the plan: a full Israeli withdrawal to the '67 borders, including in Jerusalem, and the establishment of a Palestinian state in return for full normalization of relations. "The speech is ready and locked in my desk drawer," he said," but when Ariel Sharon increased the violence to an unprecedented level, I changed my mind." In those days, it will be recalled, it was already one year since the beginning of the Second Intifada, which erupted after Sharon went up to the Temple Mount. Nevertheless, the Saudi Crown Prince kept an opening for hope in the interview. "I want to make it clear to Israelis that Arabs do not despise them," he said then to Friedman. "Arabs only oppose everything the Israeli leaders are doing to the Palestinians." (Sara Leibovich-Dar, Maariv)
In New Peace Initiative, Palestinians and Settlers Find Common Ground
Out with separation, in with confederation – declare the proponents of the 'Two States One Homeland' initiative that will have its official launch on Thursday at a special full-day conference in Tel Aviv. (Judy Maltz, Haaretz+)
Lone soldiers on the home front, part 3
A Moroccan lone soldier serving in Golani suprises his family as he returns to Casablanca to celebrate the Passover feast; Embraced by his Muslim and Jewish friends back home, he tells his community IDF stories. 'Now it is time for me to be a soldier.' (Yedioth/Ynet)
Commentary/Analysis:
Yet Again the Jewish People Face Great Danger and the World Is Silent (B. Michael, Haaretz+) If the indifferent world persists in its silence, it will prove that it really is anti-Semitic, exactly as we've always been told.
Talking to the wall: the difference between Netanyahu and Rabin (Avraham Tirosh, Maariv) Netanyahu and Likud spokesmen and associates are all saying that Netanyahu is clean of any responsibility in the suspicions against his wife in regards to the running of affairs at the Prime Minister’s Residences. But, for comparison, in 1977, the Attorney General recommended prosecuting the wife of then-prime minister Yitzhak Rabin for secretly holding a foreign dollar account. The account was also in the name of Rabin the husband, but it was his wife, Leah, who was running it. Rabin suspended himself immediately and announced he would not stand at the head of the party in the upcoming elections, saying: “The responsibility is jointly ours, morally and politically. There is not place for separating between Leah and myself and I carry the responsibility as she does.”
A Palestinian-hating Thug: The Arab Media on Israel’s Extremist New Defense Minister (Khaled Diab, Haaretz+) In Egypt, almost every article about Avigdor Lieberman’s new post mentions his past genocidal threats to bomb the Aswan Dam. And that’s not the only reason Arab commentators are worried.
The truth - we have failed: The social media networks display a bleak picture for us (Nir Kipnis, Maariv) Social networking expose democracy in its nakedness, and the picture that emerges when it comes to Israeli society is sad and very troubling.
With Friends Like President Trump (David Rosenberg, Haaretz+) The candidacy clinched, Trump is falling over himself with praise for the Jewish state. But love is no substitute for competence and in foreign policy he hasn’t exhibited any.
A sweet vision for the future (Sever Plocker, Yedioth/Ynet) Daniel Lubetzky’s health food company may have already made it big in the US, but his real dream is to help promote economic cooperation within the Middle East.
Those Who Believe They Are Above the Law (Haaretz Editorial) Sara Netanyahu and her spokesmen have translated their disappointment with the court's rulings into wild and dangerous outbursts against the court and the judge.
Ramadan Kareem: Between the provocation in the Jewish Quarter and the farce of the nationalist rape (Ran Adelist, Maariv) Between the unnecessary provocation by rabbis in the Jewish Quarter calling on the police to block Muslims from entering the Jewish Quarter of the Old City and the farce of the police in extending the remand of suspects in the nationalist rape, which turned out to be a false accusation, there is a feeling that no one here has brakes.
The Israeli Body Politic Is Being Poisoned by Intimidation and Incitement (Ari Shavit, Haaretz+) The constantly rising temperature around us isn't one of a threatening strategic environment, but of an environment of contaminated values.
All That’s Needed Is a Match to Set Alight the Anger and Frustration in Israel (Yossi Klein, Haaretz+) In what sort of democracy does the army need to guard the citizenry from the minister that oversees it?
Trump and Netanyahu, Purveyors of Hate (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz) Both stoke fear of external threats and nurture resentment of internal others to gain power and deflect criticism.
Who Needs Israel's Futile, Unnecessary NGO Bill? (Israel Harel, Haaretz+) There is already a law that requires registered nonprofit associations to report their sources of income and the state has the tools to collect the information it needs.
Israel’s 'Germany in the 1930s' General Doesn’t Know His History (Moshe Arens, Haaretz+) There are no traces of similarity between Germany in those years and Israel today. And it’s not for generals like Deputy Chief of Staff Yair Golan to lecture the public.
Spoiler Alert: Netanyahu, Lieberman Aren't About to Make Peace (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) Israel might make a show of attending an international conference or starting a peace process, but only to buy time.
Interviews:
A Syrian Aleppan in Jerusalem, living within the “Zionist enemy”
After graduating Aleppo University, Elias worked at a plastic factory, but changed career paths, pursuing a life of contemplation as a monk after he attended a Franciscan march in Syria; today he lives in Jerusalem among Israelis and says he should not be the judge of the people he was told are his enemies. (Noga Tarnopolsky, Media Line/Ynet)
A Syrian Aleppan in Jerusalem, living within the “Zionist enemy”
After graduating Aleppo University, Elias worked at a plastic factory, but changed career paths, pursuing a life of contemplation as a monk after he attended a Franciscan march in Syria; today he lives in Jerusalem among Israelis and says he should not be the judge of the people he was told are his enemies. (Noga Tarnopolsky, Media Line/Ynet)
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.