APN's daily news review from Israel
Sunday July 17, 2016
You Must Be Kidding:
"Shapira should die in battle… A negligent commander who wipes the blood of his soldier for a promotion."
--One of many of the invectives posted on Facebook against Brigade Commander Lt. Col. David Shapira, who testified against Elor Azariya, the soldier who executed a wounded and incapacitated Palestinian assailant.*
You Must Be Kidding:
"Shapira should die in battle… A negligent commander who wipes the blood of his soldier for a promotion."
--One of many of the invectives posted on Facebook against Brigade Commander Lt. Col. David Shapira, who testified against Elor Azariya, the soldier who executed a wounded and incapacitated Palestinian assailant.*
Breaking News:
Palestinian carrying pipe bombs arrested trying to board Jerusalem light rail (Haaretz and Ynet)
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Coup attempt in Turkey failed: Erodgan cleanses the government leadership
- 84 killed in ramming attack at Bastille Day celebrations in Nice, France
- Giving a budget to naked hatred // Haaretz Editorial
- Drawing of Minister Shaked naked was censored
Yedioth Ahronoth – special edition
- France’s tears
- Erdogan’s victory
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Turkey: The coup failed
- Turkish army: from bulldog to poodle // Eyal Zisser
- France: A country in mourning
Israel Hayom
- (Turkey:) The coup and the failure
- France cries
News Summary:
Today’s Hebrew papers examined the failed military coup in Turkey and shared the grieving of French people after the attack in Nice that killed 84 people. Also in the papers was the Channel 2 News report that Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and one of his family members will likely be questioned as criminal suspects under warning in the affair that there are few details about. (Also Maariv. And Jewish-American blogger Richard Silverstein collected interesting, but yet unverified information about the case.
Like the US and Europe, Israel took quite a bit of time to express its support for the democratically elected Turkish government and its opposition to the military coup, the papers noted. The Israeli analysts noted that were it not for the social media networks that Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan hates so much and has tried to limit, he would not have been able to get his supporters into the streets to stop the military coup meant to oust him. [See Commentary/Analysis below.] Yedioth shared a report from Turkish reporter, Tulin Daloglu, Yedioth also noted that the tanks in the streets of Istanbul were upgraded by Israel. The papers also discussed who was Fetullah Gulen, the religious Turkish leader in exile in the US, whom Erdogan accused of being behind the coup attempt. Gulen denied any connection.
The papers shared tragic stories of the victims of the truck-ramming attack in Nice and noted that although ISIS took ‘credit’ for the horrific attack that killed 84 people on Bastille Day, the attacker was ‘a wife beater, who drank alcohol and never went to the mosque to pray.’ Israeli leaders were quick to condemn the attack and express their condolences. Maan reported that Palestinian leaders and organizations condemned the attack and declared their support and solidarity with the French people and the families of the victims. Hamas expressed solidarity with families of the dead and injured, saying it rejects all forms of extremism and terrorism.
Separately, Netanyahu released a YouTube video in which he sends a message to Abbas accusing him of refusing to meet with him and negotiate peace and declaring that he, Netanyahu, wants to make peace.
Today’s Hebrew papers examined the failed military coup in Turkey and shared the grieving of French people after the attack in Nice that killed 84 people. Also in the papers was the Channel 2 News report that Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and one of his family members will likely be questioned as criminal suspects under warning in the affair that there are few details about. (Also Maariv. And Jewish-American blogger Richard Silverstein collected interesting, but yet unverified information about the case.
Like the US and Europe, Israel took quite a bit of time to express its support for the democratically elected Turkish government and its opposition to the military coup, the papers noted. The Israeli analysts noted that were it not for the social media networks that Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan hates so much and has tried to limit, he would not have been able to get his supporters into the streets to stop the military coup meant to oust him. [See Commentary/Analysis below.] Yedioth shared a report from Turkish reporter, Tulin Daloglu, Yedioth also noted that the tanks in the streets of Istanbul were upgraded by Israel. The papers also discussed who was Fetullah Gulen, the religious Turkish leader in exile in the US, whom Erdogan accused of being behind the coup attempt. Gulen denied any connection.
The papers shared tragic stories of the victims of the truck-ramming attack in Nice and noted that although ISIS took ‘credit’ for the horrific attack that killed 84 people on Bastille Day, the attacker was ‘a wife beater, who drank alcohol and never went to the mosque to pray.’ Israeli leaders were quick to condemn the attack and express their condolences. Maan reported that Palestinian leaders and organizations condemned the attack and declared their support and solidarity with the French people and the families of the victims. Hamas expressed solidarity with families of the dead and injured, saying it rejects all forms of extremism and terrorism.
Separately, Netanyahu released a YouTube video in which he sends a message to Abbas accusing him of refusing to meet with him and negotiate peace and declaring that he, Netanyahu, wants to make peace.
Quick Hits:
- Israel to carry out autopsy on Palestinian slain during army raid - Anwar Falah al-Salaymeh, 22, was in a car with two friends in his town of al-Ram (in E. Jerusalem) in the early hours last Wednesday, seemingly unaware that Israeli soldiers were deployed in the town doing a raid, when they encountered the troops, who fired shots at their vehicle, killing him with three bullets to the back. (Maan)
- Israeli settlers throw rocks at Palestinian vehicles in northern West Bank - Israeli settlers threw rocks at a group of Palestinian cars that was returning from a wedding, causing damage to a bus and breaking the windshield of a car as they drove on the road between Qalqilya and Salfit. (Maan)
- Israeli, Jewish-American and Palestinian activists try to build a cinema in Hebron – Israeli forces detain them - Dozens of foreign Jews and some Jewish Israelis joined Palestinians in the segregated city of Hebron to clean inside an abandoned Palestinian factory to make a cinema, when several Israeli settlers began verbally harassing the activists and throwing stones and tomatoes. Police arrived and detained six Israeli activists. (+972mag and Maan)
- Palestinians injured across West Bank and Gaza during Friday clashes with Israeli forces - Five Palestinians were reportedly injured with live fire on Friday during clashes with Israeli forces across the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip. (Maan)
- 11 Palestinians injured with live fire after clashes erupt near Birzeit University in Ramallah - Israeli undercover forces and soldiers opened live fire injuring 11 Palestinian youth during a raid that detained a former member of the Hamas-affiliated Islamic bloc student group. (Maan)
- Right Wing Lawmakers Seek to Legalize Largest West Bank Outpost - Habayit Hayehudi to push a bill that would allow the expropriation of private Palestinian land on which outposts have been illegally built. (Haaretz)
- Israel freezes postal service to Gaza over alleged weapons smuggling - Gaza residents say the decision is a continuation of Israel’s policy of collective punishment and further proof that Israel controls all of the Strip. (Haaretz)
- Israeli hero under online fire for testimony - Lt. Col. David Shapira is the hero who stopped the terrorist in the 2008 Mercaz Harav Yeshiva attack; he also commanded Sgt. Elor Azaria when he shot dead an immobilized terrorist in Hebron; after giving his testimony in Azaria's case, Shapira has been subject to online abuse. (Ynet)
- Israeli Jews and Arabs plant 'Garden of the Righteous' to honor forgotten Holocaust heroes - Alternative memorial in mixed Israeli village to commemorate rescuers in all genocides, including some Holocaust saviors never acknowledged by Yad Vashem. (Haaretz+)
- EU UNESCO draft also disregards Jewish connection to Temple Mount - In response to the Palestinian-Jordanian draft decision this week that ignores the Jewish connection to its adherents' holiest site, the EU has circulated a different version that removes the scare quotes from 'Western Wall' but still only mentions the Muslim connection to the site. (Yedioth/Ynet and Israel Hayom)
- Siblings of terrorist who murdered 13-year-old girl indicted for incitement to violence - Tamer and Lara Tra’ayra detained until end of proceedings for posting messages in favor of 'martyrs' on social media. (Haaretz+)
- Two Israeli Arabs charged with plotting to join ISIS in Syria - The men, aged 24 and 35, were also charged with a list of offenses ranging from illegal possession of a weapon to contact with a foreign agent. (Haaretz+)
- Druze minority draws Israeli tourism - Israel's Druze, with support from the Ministry of Tourism, are enticing Israeli weekend tourists, largely with their cuisine, in an industry that traditional women are able to participate in. (Ynet)
- Israel urges EU to rethink setting up diplomatic office in Iran - Israel warns Brussels move, declared on first anniversary of Iran's nuclear deal with world powers, is "a grave mistake" • EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini: EU committed to improved regional stability, ensure Iran meets its nuclear obligations. (Israel Hayom)
- White House Press Secretary Likens U.K.'s Boris Johnson to Israel's U.S. Ambassador - U.S. foreign relationships transcend 'any single personality,' Josh Earnest says. (Haaretz)
- Adelson was asked for $6 million to cover Republican convention shortfall - Dissatisfaction with Donald Trump has led two dozen corporate and individual donors to renege on commitments to subsidize the national convention in Cleveland. (Haaretz)
Features:
A Palestinian Village Under Siege: No One Can Leave, Not Even a Child With Cerebral Palsy
After shots were fired at Israelis driving near Sa'ir last weekend, the Israeli military placed the West Bank village's 20,000 residents under an indefinite lockdown. (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+)
A long night's journey into day
A naval raid in Tyre proved to be one of the most dramatic missions launched as part of the Second Lebanon War • Israel Hayom offers an exclusive glimpse into one of the most daring operations the Israeli Navy has mounted in recent decades. (Yoav Limor, Israel Hayom)
Icelandic artist examines the banality of West Bank life - sans Palestinians
It used to be a tool for cultural subversion, but irony is now the weapon of the satiated. That’s the main problem with ‘Architecture and Morality,’ the new exhibition by Icelandic artist Ragnar Kjartansson. (Galia Yahav, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
An Anatomy of a Failed Turkish Coup (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) It was grimly ironic that at the moment when President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was cut off from his base of power, he resorted to the technology and social networks that he sought for years to demonize and shut down.
The coup did not succeed: this is how the rebels failed in their attempt to seize power in Turkey (Yossi Melman, Maariv) After Erdogan tried for years to narrow the freedom of use of social media, it was Twitter and the social media networks that he hates so much that served him to pass messages to his supporters and tip the scales.
Turkey Coup Attempt: Is It Legitimate to Promote Democracy Through Undemocratic Means? (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) The stormy events in Turkey raise the question of whether anything is permissible in the name of democracy.
Haneen Zoabi Helps Forge Israel’s National Renewal (Dmitry Shumsky, Haaretz+) Without the mirror that the Arab legislator puts in front of us, there’s no chance for the national rehabilitation that every occupying and dispossessing power needs.
A great fighter, a dangerous rabbi: Rabbi Eyal Karim does not suit the way of the Chief of Staff (Alon Ben-David, Maariv) From my acquaintance with Chief of Staff Eisenkot, Rabbi Eyal Karim does not represent his way. Those who were supposed to do the minimum inquiries about the rabbi before recommending appointing him to be the IDF’s next chief rabbi, failed the chief of staff. Karim was not dismissed simply out of fear of causing a storm if he were.
A Misogynist, Homophobic, Racist Chief Military Rabbi Is Probably Best Israel Can Do (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) There is a small handful of rabbis with the required expertise and experience for the job. Eyal Karim is probably the most senior of them. Which is why he was chosen.
The V15 Report: A Hot-air Balloon to Deflect Attention From Netanyahu’s Recent Scandals (Asher Schechter, Haaretz+) Outrage over the Senate report that showed the U.S. indirectly funded an anti-Netanyahu peace organization seems overblown and suspicious amid allegations swirling around the PM.
I spent months in the Israeli army doing absolutely nothing (Shir Reuven, Haaretz+) Shir Reuven was drafted into the Intelligence Corps as part of an effort to bolster the force in the aftermath of the Second Lebanon War. The army told her to accept the fact that she is an organ in a larger body. She decided to be an appendix.
No sense of pride over Israel's feeble justices (Mordechai Kremnitzer, Haaretz+) When the High Court failed to sanction a Gay Pride Parade's right to go through central Be'er Sheva, it awarded an ugly victory to the aggressors. Sadly, we shouln't be surprised by the ruling.
It’s about the values (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) The image of the West that’s been cultivated in some academic circles – as a racist, colonialist monster – ignores a simple truth: Some Western values are better than those of the traditionalist East. Women’s liberation is chief among them.
Israel's State-funded Homophobia (Haaretz Editorial) A senior figure in Israel's network of premilitary academies has called members of the LGBT community 'perverts.' As long as taxpayers fund part of his salary, he cannot remain in his post.
While Israel's ultra-Orthodox push Diaspora Jews away, Israeli Arabs bring them back (Joel Braunold, Haaretz+) The Jews abroad who are being alienated by the Israeli government are the same Jews who seek equality for all of Israel's citizens in matters of public funding, legal treatment and place in society.
Erdogan's primary suspect (Tulin Daloglu, Yedioth/Ynet) Once former allies, President Erdogan and is blaming US based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen for orchestrating a failed coup against him. While some of those involved in the coup do have ties to Gulen, will Erdogan use this coup as a pretense for further curbing freedoms in Turkey?
Deep Rifts in Turkey Military Brass Boil Over Into Coup Attempt (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz) Erdogan's clampdown hasn't deterred revolutionary elements in the military from attempting to bring down the regime. The Turkish public's response will determine if Turkey will descend into violent chaos.
The Ataturk Fans Revolt: the officers who tried to fight the Islamization Turkey (Prof. Amatzia Baram, Maariv) Erdogan was able to replace the top layer of his loyal officers, but failed to purge the army of its secular base, the fans of Ataturk, the founder of the modern Turkish Republic.
Attempted Coup in Turkey: From Israel's Perspective, It's Business as Usual (Barak Ravid, Haaretz+) In light of the sensitivity in Israeli-Turkish relations and the fear to the freshly minted reconciliation pact, Jerusalem did not rush to comment until it was clear the coup had failed. Israel believes Ankara will also want to continue as planned.
How Erdogan won (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has managed to hold onto power following an attempted coup Friday night. Ron ben Yishai and other experts shed some light on how the Turkish president was able to maintain his grip on power.
Egyptian Peace Initiative for Israelis, Palestinians Still Far From Finish Line (Barak Ravid, Haaretz+) Israeli prime minister sees Cairo’s peace initiative as preferable to the French alternative, with U.S. Secretary of State Kerry encouraged by initial efforts. But will Netanyahu follow through this time?
Minister Naftali Bennett, You Are Killing Zionism (Rogel Alpher, Haaretz+) An answer to the minister who has come this close to accusing me of treason.
After shots were fired at Israelis driving near Sa'ir last weekend, the Israeli military placed the West Bank village's 20,000 residents under an indefinite lockdown. (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+)
A long night's journey into day
A naval raid in Tyre proved to be one of the most dramatic missions launched as part of the Second Lebanon War • Israel Hayom offers an exclusive glimpse into one of the most daring operations the Israeli Navy has mounted in recent decades. (Yoav Limor, Israel Hayom)
Icelandic artist examines the banality of West Bank life - sans Palestinians
It used to be a tool for cultural subversion, but irony is now the weapon of the satiated. That’s the main problem with ‘Architecture and Morality,’ the new exhibition by Icelandic artist Ragnar Kjartansson. (Galia Yahav, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
An Anatomy of a Failed Turkish Coup (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) It was grimly ironic that at the moment when President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was cut off from his base of power, he resorted to the technology and social networks that he sought for years to demonize and shut down.
The coup did not succeed: this is how the rebels failed in their attempt to seize power in Turkey (Yossi Melman, Maariv) After Erdogan tried for years to narrow the freedom of use of social media, it was Twitter and the social media networks that he hates so much that served him to pass messages to his supporters and tip the scales.
Turkey Coup Attempt: Is It Legitimate to Promote Democracy Through Undemocratic Means? (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) The stormy events in Turkey raise the question of whether anything is permissible in the name of democracy.
Haneen Zoabi Helps Forge Israel’s National Renewal (Dmitry Shumsky, Haaretz+) Without the mirror that the Arab legislator puts in front of us, there’s no chance for the national rehabilitation that every occupying and dispossessing power needs.
A great fighter, a dangerous rabbi: Rabbi Eyal Karim does not suit the way of the Chief of Staff (Alon Ben-David, Maariv) From my acquaintance with Chief of Staff Eisenkot, Rabbi Eyal Karim does not represent his way. Those who were supposed to do the minimum inquiries about the rabbi before recommending appointing him to be the IDF’s next chief rabbi, failed the chief of staff. Karim was not dismissed simply out of fear of causing a storm if he were.
A Misogynist, Homophobic, Racist Chief Military Rabbi Is Probably Best Israel Can Do (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) There is a small handful of rabbis with the required expertise and experience for the job. Eyal Karim is probably the most senior of them. Which is why he was chosen.
The V15 Report: A Hot-air Balloon to Deflect Attention From Netanyahu’s Recent Scandals (Asher Schechter, Haaretz+) Outrage over the Senate report that showed the U.S. indirectly funded an anti-Netanyahu peace organization seems overblown and suspicious amid allegations swirling around the PM.
I spent months in the Israeli army doing absolutely nothing (Shir Reuven, Haaretz+) Shir Reuven was drafted into the Intelligence Corps as part of an effort to bolster the force in the aftermath of the Second Lebanon War. The army told her to accept the fact that she is an organ in a larger body. She decided to be an appendix.
No sense of pride over Israel's feeble justices (Mordechai Kremnitzer, Haaretz+) When the High Court failed to sanction a Gay Pride Parade's right to go through central Be'er Sheva, it awarded an ugly victory to the aggressors. Sadly, we shouln't be surprised by the ruling.
It’s about the values (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) The image of the West that’s been cultivated in some academic circles – as a racist, colonialist monster – ignores a simple truth: Some Western values are better than those of the traditionalist East. Women’s liberation is chief among them.
Israel's State-funded Homophobia (Haaretz Editorial) A senior figure in Israel's network of premilitary academies has called members of the LGBT community 'perverts.' As long as taxpayers fund part of his salary, he cannot remain in his post.
While Israel's ultra-Orthodox push Diaspora Jews away, Israeli Arabs bring them back (Joel Braunold, Haaretz+) The Jews abroad who are being alienated by the Israeli government are the same Jews who seek equality for all of Israel's citizens in matters of public funding, legal treatment and place in society.
Erdogan's primary suspect (Tulin Daloglu, Yedioth/Ynet) Once former allies, President Erdogan and is blaming US based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen for orchestrating a failed coup against him. While some of those involved in the coup do have ties to Gulen, will Erdogan use this coup as a pretense for further curbing freedoms in Turkey?
Deep Rifts in Turkey Military Brass Boil Over Into Coup Attempt (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz) Erdogan's clampdown hasn't deterred revolutionary elements in the military from attempting to bring down the regime. The Turkish public's response will determine if Turkey will descend into violent chaos.
The Ataturk Fans Revolt: the officers who tried to fight the Islamization Turkey (Prof. Amatzia Baram, Maariv) Erdogan was able to replace the top layer of his loyal officers, but failed to purge the army of its secular base, the fans of Ataturk, the founder of the modern Turkish Republic.
Attempted Coup in Turkey: From Israel's Perspective, It's Business as Usual (Barak Ravid, Haaretz+) In light of the sensitivity in Israeli-Turkish relations and the fear to the freshly minted reconciliation pact, Jerusalem did not rush to comment until it was clear the coup had failed. Israel believes Ankara will also want to continue as planned.
How Erdogan won (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has managed to hold onto power following an attempted coup Friday night. Ron ben Yishai and other experts shed some light on how the Turkish president was able to maintain his grip on power.
Egyptian Peace Initiative for Israelis, Palestinians Still Far From Finish Line (Barak Ravid, Haaretz+) Israeli prime minister sees Cairo’s peace initiative as preferable to the French alternative, with U.S. Secretary of State Kerry encouraged by initial efforts. But will Netanyahu follow through this time?
Minister Naftali Bennett, You Are Killing Zionism (Rogel Alpher, Haaretz+) An answer to the minister who has come this close to accusing me of treason.
Interviews:
Exclusive: Interview with Israeli who joined ISIS
At least 40 Arab Israelis have gone to Syria and Iraq to join ISIS; Hassan Shaalan managed to speak to one of them before the battle of Fallujah; 'This is Jihad – it's a pleasure you can't even find in a hotel in Tel Aviv.' (Interviewed by Hasan Shaalan, Ynet)
Female fighters who enlisted despite the odds
They could have received an exemption from military service, each for her own reason, but instead decided to fight for their right to serve their country. And they all had the same ultimate goal: A combat role. This is the amazing story of three female fighters who give new meaning to the word 'motivation.' (Interviewed by Etti Abramov in Yedioth/Ynet)
The outgoing Israeli Ambassador to Egypt summarized a turbulent period: "Al-Sisi is brave, he wants to bring change"
Against the background of tightening of relations between Israel and Egypt, Dr. Haim Koren, our outgoing ambassador to Egypt, end his tenure with good news: "Not everyone in Cairo see us as an enemy. Today many already realize that the situation requires a rethinking." (Interviewed by Jacky Khugy in Maariv)
Exclusive: Interview with Israeli who joined ISIS
At least 40 Arab Israelis have gone to Syria and Iraq to join ISIS; Hassan Shaalan managed to speak to one of them before the battle of Fallujah; 'This is Jihad – it's a pleasure you can't even find in a hotel in Tel Aviv.' (Interviewed by Hasan Shaalan, Ynet)
Female fighters who enlisted despite the odds
They could have received an exemption from military service, each for her own reason, but instead decided to fight for their right to serve their country. And they all had the same ultimate goal: A combat role. This is the amazing story of three female fighters who give new meaning to the word 'motivation.' (Interviewed by Etti Abramov in Yedioth/Ynet)
The outgoing Israeli Ambassador to Egypt summarized a turbulent period: "Al-Sisi is brave, he wants to bring change"
Against the background of tightening of relations between Israel and Egypt, Dr. Haim Koren, our outgoing ambassador to Egypt, end his tenure with good news: "Not everyone in Cairo see us as an enemy. Today many already realize that the situation requires a rethinking." (Interviewed by Jacky Khugy in Maariv)
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.