APN's daily news review from Israel
Sunday September 04, 2016
Quote of the day:
"It is harder to sit among Jews. They bless me when I go to make peace with gentiles, but raise an
eyebrow when I meet with my brothers."
--Rabbi David Menachem, who builds bridges between Jews, Muslims and Christians using the power of music and interfaith prayer, comments on his collaborations with Conservative Jews.**
--Rabbi David Menachem, who builds bridges between Jews, Muslims and Christians using the power of music and interfaith prayer, comments on his collaborations with Conservative Jews.**
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Trains between Tel-Aviv and Haifa won’t run till evening; Netanyahu blames Katz – and considers firing him
- The next phase: Battle over closure of businesses and supermarkets // Zvi Zerahya
- Chain accident // Yossi Verter
- The Shabbat Tweeters // Yair Ettinger
- The status quo is dead // Avi Bar-Eli
- Clinton didn’t remember information when questioned by the FBI
- Argentina beginning to deny past crimes
- Sex slavery // Vered Lee
- The satellite accident
Yedioth Ahronoth
- Train crisis - Frontal crash (between Netanyahu and Katz); Soldiers and passengers furious: Netanyahu ignored our needs
- With a broken heart: Herzl Shaul, father of (missing dead soldier) Oron Shaul, died
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Netanyahu-Katz war – the political battle that is paralyzing the train movement
- In Herzl Shaul’s will: “Please return Oron to his mother”
Israel Hayom
- The crisis and the price (over the train works on Shabbat)
- Katz is pushing it // Mati Tuchfeld
- Personal vengeance against the PM // Haim Shine
- The two got caught in a vortex // Dan Margalit
- And the ultra-Orthodox stand on the side // Yehuda Shlezinger
- Herzl Shaul, father of First Sgt. Oron Shaul, passed away: “He requested that they return Oron to his mother”
- Hilary’s embarrassing interrogation: 39 questions that she answered “I don’t remember” and a computer with sensitive information – that disappeared
News Summary:
The political crisis between Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz over whether to do work on the train infrastructure on Shabbat has raised ire among Israelis after Netanyahu sided with the ultra-Orthodox and thousands of Israelis were stuck without means of transportation making the top story in today's Hebrew newspapers. Yedioth noted that the cancellation of the trains to avoid desecrating the Shabbat caused even more Shabbat desecration as administrators put dozens more to work to try to work out special transportation arrangements.
The papers also wrote about two fathers who died this weekend of a 'broken heart.' Herzl Shaul, father of First Sgt. Oron Shaul, whose corpse is being held by Hamas in Gaza since 2014, died of cancer which he contracted a year after his son fell in battle. Arieh Ben-Natan shot himself at his son Haim's grave. Haim was killed in an IDF operational accident in the '90's and since then, Arieh spent his life trying to perpetuate the memory of his only son. He contracted terminal cancer two years ago.
The political crisis between Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz over whether to do work on the train infrastructure on Shabbat has raised ire among Israelis after Netanyahu sided with the ultra-Orthodox and thousands of Israelis were stuck without means of transportation making the top story in today's Hebrew newspapers. Yedioth noted that the cancellation of the trains to avoid desecrating the Shabbat caused even more Shabbat desecration as administrators put dozens more to work to try to work out special transportation arrangements.
The papers also wrote about two fathers who died this weekend of a 'broken heart.' Herzl Shaul, father of First Sgt. Oron Shaul, whose corpse is being held by Hamas in Gaza since 2014, died of cancer which he contracted a year after his son fell in battle. Arieh Ben-Natan shot himself at his son Haim's grave. Haim was killed in an IDF operational accident in the '90's and since then, Arieh spent his life trying to perpetuate the memory of his only son. He contracted terminal cancer two years ago.
Quick Hits:
- Public Defender slams Israel Police for brutality, rights abuses - In a sharply worded report for 2015, the Public Defender criticized law enforcement authorities. The report revealed that there were too many indictments, that police were brutal and did not deal with complaints filed about it and that they violated suspects' rights including of minors. (Maariv and JPost)
- Outpost residents call on government to bypass Supreme Court - Settlers from the Way of the Patriarchs outpost in the Gush Etzion cluster are speaking out against Thursday’s Supreme Court President Miriam Naor's decision to demolish 17 homes there. Immediately following the decision, officials from the right—including Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked (Bayit Yehudi)—came out against it and vowed to try and stop the demolition. (Ynet)
- Protest at Kfir Brigade swearing-in ceremony - Protestors calling for the release of Elor Azaria disrupted the Kfir Brigade swearing-in ceremony at the Western Wall; 'Do you trust the Kfir commanders to return your children? Do you trust the Kfir commanders not to abandon your children?' (Ynet)
- Arab(-Israeli) ambulance crew asked to leave festival in Jerusalem - Haian ambulance company from Kafr Yassif says racism behind the decision to ask them to leave, but production company says it was a question of money. (Haaretz+)
- Turkey Sends Second Aid Ship to Gaza Since Reconciliation With Israel - Cargo includes regular humanitarian equipment and food products, along with 1,000 bicycles for Palestinian children, Turkish official says. (Haaretz)
- Palestinian Activist Claims Political Persecution After Indictment Over Offenses Dating From 2013 - Military prosecutors charged Issa Amru with eight offenses, including spitting at a settler and insulting soldiers. Most of the indictments related to incidents that took place three years ago. (Haaretz+)
- Husband of terror victim urges people to adopt - In a Facebook post about how Natan Meir's family is coping with the murder of his wife in a terror attack last January, Natan Meir urges people not to be afraid to adopt; 'Children are a blessing, don't be afraid to adopt.' (Ynet)
- In Israel, French Burkini Brouhaha Boosts Bottom Line for Makers of Modest Swimwear - Home to large populations of conservative Jews and Muslims, Israel has cultivated a local industry of modest swimsuits, and the full-body outfits that have caused uproar in France have been a common sight on local beaches for years. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Israeli students host South American bloggers to fight BDS - StandWithUs advocacy organization brings bloggers from South America to tour Israel and learn about day-to-day life here. Bloggers are surprised at Israel's openness, modernity. Hostile messages from followers provided a springboard to dialogue. (Israel Hayom)
- Israeli Archaeologists Dodge the Law to Study Human Remains - Ultra-Orthodox Jews jealously guard the religion’s dictates about handling dead bodies, so scientists do what they can to achieve a compromise. (Haaretz+)
- An Israeli and Palestinian win Student Oscars - Israeli director Maya Sarfaty won the Student Academy Award for her documentary ‘the Most Beautiful Woman’; another winner in the Animation category was Ahmad Saleh, a Saudi filmmaker who identifies as Palestinian, with his film ‘Ayny – My Second Eye.’ (Yedioth/Ynet)
- Report: Moscow Teacher Flees to Israel After Accusations of Sex With Students - Prestigious Metropolitan School 57, which has a large Jewish representation in student body, is shaken by allegations, which have led to the resignation of the director and three other teachers. (JTA, Haaretz)
- Hundreds Evacuated From Damascus Suburb as Three-year Government Siege Ends - Moadamiyeh is the second rebel-held area near Damascus to accept a surrender deal in the last week, with local militants expected to lay down their arms, though others may travel north to continue fighting. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Syrian Tourism Ministry offers relaxing vacation in country ravaged by war - Arab world reacts sarcastically to video by Syrian Tourism Ministry that presents country as a serene waterfront getaway. (Ynet)
Features:
Bad wind: The dark secrets behind the conquest of Safed (Tzfat) in the War of Independence
Abandoning wounded soldiers, commanders left behind, shooting prisoners of war and a conspiracy of silence that lasted almost 70 years. Avinoam Hadash, one of the bravest of commanders of the Palmach, broke the rules of the game. ״Thirty years ago I researched the battle over Safed. We concluded that the accepted version is false, and that members of the Third Battalion of the Palmach were hiding a major failure. I asked to interview Avinoam Hadash, among the bravest commanders in the Palmach. Due to his courage and extraordinary resourcefulness the Jewish forces defeated the Arab forces and took over Safed, on May 10, 1948. Avinoam refused on the grounds that I hate the Palmach and therefore I do not deserve to meet with Palmach veterans…Two months ago Avinoam, now aged 90, called me and asked to meet as soon as possible. He apologized for rudely rejected my request to him 30 years ago, and told me that after 68 years of living a lie he understood what really happened at the fortress of Safed, on the night between 9 and 10 May, and that indeed the accepted version is false. After a recorded and filmed interview that lasted five hours, and six more long phone conversations with Avinoam, and after interviews with others and reviewing many documents from that period, it can be declared that the Third Battalion of the Palmach had dark secrets, which were hidden with the help of the fighters, commanders and even enlisted historians and journalists. (Dr. Uri Milstein, Maariv)
A mentally disabled Palestinian shot dead by Israeli troops for behaving strangely
'Let’s say Iyad was behaving strangely. Why kill him?' his brother ponders. 'When they grow up, Iyad's children are liable to hate Israel, and with good reason. You killed their father.' (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+)
**The bridge of chords
Rabbi David Menachem builds bridges between Jews, Muslims and Christians using the power of music and interfaith prayer. "I am not here to make people religious, rather to open my world to them," says Menachem of engaging secular Jews. (Israel Hayom)
Where do Jewish new immigrants prefer to live in Israel?
To each their own: while French olim insist on an apartment with a balcony, US olim prefer to gut and renovate from scratch, Canadians would rather live in a luxury high-rise while Italians like the hustle and bustle that come with living in the center of town. (Ofer Petersburg, Yedioth/Ynet)
Commentary/Analysis:
Israeli Right-wing Cabinet Ministers Peddling Lies Against the Court (Haaretz Editorial) In a country ruled by law, blatant illegal infringement on property rights cannot be legalized retroactively for the sake of the political interests.
The Azaria trial: Recruiting support for Breaking the Silence (Yoaz Hendel, Yedioth/Ynet) Azaria's defense is based on four main arguments, which obviously contradict each other; the circus that's going on in that courthouse isn't bringing anybody any honor, and the ridiculous claim that 'this is how everybody acts' is, like Breaking the Silence, distorting the public image of the IDF.
Stop Living in Denial, the Binational Israeli State Is Here (Rogel Alpher, Haaretz+) Face facts: there won’t be a Palestinian state, and Israel will no longer be the state of the Jews.
The crisis among us: The former Mossad chief’s fear of schism in society is justified (Dr. Haim Misgav, Maariv) A civil war might not break out here, but rather a decision on the withdrawal from the Territories could ignite a flame which would be difficult to extinguish. It’s not certain he'll be able to find someone who can prevent the scenario.
Train Farce Shows Israeli Public Still Putting Soldiers on Pedestal (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) If you thought IDF worship had disappeared — as it should have — think again. The public is only concerned with its young soldiers getting to their bases, not the elderly or other groups.
More than we bargained for (Yossi Yehoshua, Yedioth) The Prosecution in Sgt. Elor Azaria’s trial is led by an impressive Military Advocate General and a sharp head lawyer, but as the trial continues to devolve into a convoluted side-show, it seems clearer and clearer that someone on that team should have pushed for a satisfactory plea bargain early on.
Ultra-Orthodox Parties a Pawn in the Power Game Between Netanyahu and Minister Katz (Yair Ettinger, Haaretz+) It all started when ultra-Orthodox tweeters pummeled the Haredi parties for quietly agreeing to let train infrastructure works take place on Saturdays, dragging them into creating the crisis.
Weak personality. Malice. Lawlessness (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth) The feeling is that the present political crisis over the ultra-Orthodox opposition to train works on Shabbat is unnecessary: It is a result of weak personality, malice, maybe even idiocy – not of a real problem. This is not a terror attack; This is not a natural disaster; This is not a moral battle and not harm to anyone's ideology. That's why the public is angry in a way it has not been for a long time about the punishment that was given to it. There is no avoiding calling the act by its name: shameful.
Ethiopians permanent suspects (Danny Adeno Abebe, Yedioth/Ynet) In an open letter to Police Commissioner Alsheikh, Danny Adeno Abebe, an Israeli of Ethiopian descent, takes umbrage with being labelled a minority who should expect to be suspected; the commissioner's forebears were immigrants, too, after all.
Religion and Nationality Are Incompatible, Whether in Judaism, Christianity or Islam (Salman Masalha, Haaretz+) Racism and chauvinism, regardless of which side they come from, destroy every bit of gray matter in the human brain.
How the Turks deceived the Americans on Syria (Alex Fishman, Yedioth/Ynet) The US simply joined the Russian-Turkish party in Syria, essentially allowing Assad's rule to continue—at least for now—and Iran and Hezbollah to establish their hold on the war-battered country. This is the worst possible outcome for Israel.
Is ISIS Letting Go of Its Dream of an Islamic State? (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) The success of the Kurds, the Turkish operation and the loss of cities and towns are slowly returning the organization to its starting point.
Abandoning wounded soldiers, commanders left behind, shooting prisoners of war and a conspiracy of silence that lasted almost 70 years. Avinoam Hadash, one of the bravest of commanders of the Palmach, broke the rules of the game. ״Thirty years ago I researched the battle over Safed. We concluded that the accepted version is false, and that members of the Third Battalion of the Palmach were hiding a major failure. I asked to interview Avinoam Hadash, among the bravest commanders in the Palmach. Due to his courage and extraordinary resourcefulness the Jewish forces defeated the Arab forces and took over Safed, on May 10, 1948. Avinoam refused on the grounds that I hate the Palmach and therefore I do not deserve to meet with Palmach veterans…Two months ago Avinoam, now aged 90, called me and asked to meet as soon as possible. He apologized for rudely rejected my request to him 30 years ago, and told me that after 68 years of living a lie he understood what really happened at the fortress of Safed, on the night between 9 and 10 May, and that indeed the accepted version is false. After a recorded and filmed interview that lasted five hours, and six more long phone conversations with Avinoam, and after interviews with others and reviewing many documents from that period, it can be declared that the Third Battalion of the Palmach had dark secrets, which were hidden with the help of the fighters, commanders and even enlisted historians and journalists. (Dr. Uri Milstein, Maariv)
A mentally disabled Palestinian shot dead by Israeli troops for behaving strangely
'Let’s say Iyad was behaving strangely. Why kill him?' his brother ponders. 'When they grow up, Iyad's children are liable to hate Israel, and with good reason. You killed their father.' (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+)
**The bridge of chords
Rabbi David Menachem builds bridges between Jews, Muslims and Christians using the power of music and interfaith prayer. "I am not here to make people religious, rather to open my world to them," says Menachem of engaging secular Jews. (Israel Hayom)
Where do Jewish new immigrants prefer to live in Israel?
To each their own: while French olim insist on an apartment with a balcony, US olim prefer to gut and renovate from scratch, Canadians would rather live in a luxury high-rise while Italians like the hustle and bustle that come with living in the center of town. (Ofer Petersburg, Yedioth/Ynet)
Commentary/Analysis:
Israeli Right-wing Cabinet Ministers Peddling Lies Against the Court (Haaretz Editorial) In a country ruled by law, blatant illegal infringement on property rights cannot be legalized retroactively for the sake of the political interests.
The Azaria trial: Recruiting support for Breaking the Silence (Yoaz Hendel, Yedioth/Ynet) Azaria's defense is based on four main arguments, which obviously contradict each other; the circus that's going on in that courthouse isn't bringing anybody any honor, and the ridiculous claim that 'this is how everybody acts' is, like Breaking the Silence, distorting the public image of the IDF.
Stop Living in Denial, the Binational Israeli State Is Here (Rogel Alpher, Haaretz+) Face facts: there won’t be a Palestinian state, and Israel will no longer be the state of the Jews.
The crisis among us: The former Mossad chief’s fear of schism in society is justified (Dr. Haim Misgav, Maariv) A civil war might not break out here, but rather a decision on the withdrawal from the Territories could ignite a flame which would be difficult to extinguish. It’s not certain he'll be able to find someone who can prevent the scenario.
Train Farce Shows Israeli Public Still Putting Soldiers on Pedestal (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) If you thought IDF worship had disappeared — as it should have — think again. The public is only concerned with its young soldiers getting to their bases, not the elderly or other groups.
More than we bargained for (Yossi Yehoshua, Yedioth) The Prosecution in Sgt. Elor Azaria’s trial is led by an impressive Military Advocate General and a sharp head lawyer, but as the trial continues to devolve into a convoluted side-show, it seems clearer and clearer that someone on that team should have pushed for a satisfactory plea bargain early on.
Ultra-Orthodox Parties a Pawn in the Power Game Between Netanyahu and Minister Katz (Yair Ettinger, Haaretz+) It all started when ultra-Orthodox tweeters pummeled the Haredi parties for quietly agreeing to let train infrastructure works take place on Saturdays, dragging them into creating the crisis.
Weak personality. Malice. Lawlessness (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth) The feeling is that the present political crisis over the ultra-Orthodox opposition to train works on Shabbat is unnecessary: It is a result of weak personality, malice, maybe even idiocy – not of a real problem. This is not a terror attack; This is not a natural disaster; This is not a moral battle and not harm to anyone's ideology. That's why the public is angry in a way it has not been for a long time about the punishment that was given to it. There is no avoiding calling the act by its name: shameful.
Ethiopians permanent suspects (Danny Adeno Abebe, Yedioth/Ynet) In an open letter to Police Commissioner Alsheikh, Danny Adeno Abebe, an Israeli of Ethiopian descent, takes umbrage with being labelled a minority who should expect to be suspected; the commissioner's forebears were immigrants, too, after all.
Religion and Nationality Are Incompatible, Whether in Judaism, Christianity or Islam (Salman Masalha, Haaretz+) Racism and chauvinism, regardless of which side they come from, destroy every bit of gray matter in the human brain.
How the Turks deceived the Americans on Syria (Alex Fishman, Yedioth/Ynet) The US simply joined the Russian-Turkish party in Syria, essentially allowing Assad's rule to continue—at least for now—and Iran and Hezbollah to establish their hold on the war-battered country. This is the worst possible outcome for Israel.
Is ISIS Letting Go of Its Dream of an Islamic State? (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) The success of the Kurds, the Turkish operation and the loss of cities and towns are slowly returning the organization to its starting point.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.