APN's daily news review from Israel
Tuesday September 13, 2016
You Must Be
Kidding:
“Studying Judaism and excelling in it is more important to me than studying math and sciences.”
--Israel's Education Minister Naftali Bennett said at an event marking the 40th anniversary of the Tali Foundation, which funds Jewish enrichment studies in secular schools.**
“Studying Judaism and excelling in it is more important to me than studying math and sciences.”
--Israel's Education Minister Naftali Bennett said at an event marking the 40th anniversary of the Tali Foundation, which funds Jewish enrichment studies in secular schools.**
Breaking News:
Syrian Army Fires Two Missiles at Israeli Aircraft; Israel Denies Successful Hit
Syria reports to have downed Israeli aircraft, allegedly at least one unmanned aerial vehicle; Israeli military spokesperson refutes Syrian claims, saying that the Syrian missiles missed their targets. (Haaretz, Maariv, Ynet) The incident today comes in the wake of an Israeli attack yesterday on artillery belonging to the Assad regime, which was a response to mortar fire from Syria that hit the Israeli Golan Heights in an apparent civil war spillover.
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Bennett: Judaism studies are more important than sciences
- Trump’s get-well wishes should worry Clinton // Chemi Shalev
- Ceasefire in Syria began
- Lieberman: No chance to prevent the evacuation of Amona (outpost)
- Israel and the Palestinian Authority agreed on solution to the Palestinians’ debts to Israel Electricity Corp
- Ahead of end of pilot: Suspicion that thousands tried to deceive biometric database
- Bronze to marksman Doron Shaziri at Paralympics
- The list is revealed: Which cases are judges prohibited from taking?
Yedioth Ahronoth
- Lieberman’s declaration: “We will back the soldier (Elor Azariya), it doesn’t matter what the court rules”
- It’s not easy for the Chief of Staff // Yossi Yehoshua
- Bennett’s remark: “Judaism studies are more important than math and sciences”
- She concealed (her illness) and got in trouble [photo of Hillary Clinton]
- The female soldiers mistakenly entered a Palestinian village – and were almost lynched
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- The illness and the concealment
- Still the leading candidate // Shmuel Rosner
- Defense Minister Lieberman: We will stand beside (‘Shooting Soldier’) Azariya
- Hit the mark – Israeli marksman Doron Shaziri won the bronze at the Paralympics
Israel Hayom
- Clinton and the problems: Health – and credibility
- Almost a lynch against two female soldiers: they entered a Palestinian village, were attacked – and rescued
- Lieberman gives support: “We will stand alongside Azariya, even if he made a mistake”
- He hit the mark (Israeli marksman Doron Shaziri won the bronze at the Paralympics)
- The biggest in history: Israel and the US are close to signing a security aid agreement
- Another day of death on the roads: 3 killed in two accidents in the south; 13 injured
News Summary:
Two Israeli ministers made surprising statements, two Israeli soldiers got lost in a West Bank village and were ‘almost lynched,’ and the illness of Hillary Clinton made top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers.
Speaking to students at Ariel University, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman declared support for the ‘Shooting Soldier from Hebron,’ Elor Azariya, “even if he made a mistake and no matter what the court rules.” And yet the pro-settlement minister also declared that there was no way to prevent the evacuation of the Amona settlement outpost “because of the High Court of Justice's ruling, because most of the houses are built on private Palestinian lands… We will respect the court's decision as a country of law." Some Likud MKs held an emergency meeting with Amona and Ofra residents in opposition to the scheduled demolitions and slammed Lieberman.
**At an event celebrating the TALI program of Judaism studies in secular schools, Israel's Education Minister Naftali Bennett said studying Judaism was more important than studying math and sciences. Bennett laid out his educational goals for Israel saying, “Even as a high-tech power that exports knowledge and innovations to the world, we must be a spiritual power and export spiritual knowledge to the world. This is the next chapter in our Zionist vision. That’s how we’ll return to being a light unto the nations. From Zion shall come forth Torah and the word of God from Jerusalem.” In cooperation with the Religions Ministry, the Education Ministry also agreed to install matchmakers in Israel's religious high schools, Haaretz+ reported.
The Hebrew papers reported in large headlines that two female IDF soldiers were “almost lynched” when they their GPS application Waze led them into a Palestinian village. In actuality, some locals threw rocks at their vehicle. But what was not emphasized was that with the help and coordination of the Palestinian security forces, they were removed from the village.
Quick Hits:
- Judge slams Israeli police for not 'significantly investigating' cop shooting of Palestinian and for attempting to blame brother-in-law - Judge describes police attempts to pin blame for the death of Mustafa Nimr - who was shot by Jerusalem cops - on his cousin as 'bizarre.' (Haaretz+, Maan and Maariv)
- Witness: 2 Palestinian teens critically injured after 'deliberate' hit and run by Israeli army - Uncle of two teens said he saw Israeli military bus "deliberately" run them over. Naim Ahmad Ziad Abu Daoud, 17, sustained life-threatening injuries, and Iyad Naim Abu Daoud, 19, was critically injured. The military vehicle rushed away from the scene, but an Israeli military jeep responded quickly afterward. (Maan)
- Police Detain Settler Youths Suspected of Vandalizing Palestinian Property - Two yeshiva students at Nahliel settlement held for alleged attack on Palestinian pipeline, while two others arrested for assaulting police at the scene. (Haaretz+)
- Crosses Spray-painted on Jerusalem Synagogue - Police head to the scene to investigate. (Haaretz)
- Israeli forces injure 4 Palestinians, 1 critically, in clashes south of Nablus - Israeli forces stormed the town sparking clashes with locals, Israeli soldiers fired tear gas canisters, stun grenades, and live ammunition at demonstrators. A 35-year-old man sustained critical injuries after being shot with two live bullets, while another was shot in the head with a rubber-coated steel bullet. (Maan)
- Watch: Mother reunited with hunger-striking Muhammad Balboul in intensive care - Sanaa Balboul, the mother of hunger-striking brothers Mahmoud and Muhammad Balboul, was able to visit her sons on Sunday for the first time since they were taken by Israeli soldiers after a raid on their home on July 9. (Maan)
- Soldier pulls knife on officer, military court hands him maintenance work - A military court gave controversial sentence to a soldier, who threatened an officer with a knife and promised to find out where he lives: he will pay a fine and perform maintenance jobs around the base as punishment. (Ynet)
- IDF seizes bomb-making material in overnight raids - In Wadi al-Far'a village near Nablus, IDF seizes more than 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of materials used to manufacture bombs. Four home-made bombs seized near Hebron. Four Palestinians arrested throughout Judea and Samaria. (Israel Hayom)
- Home Front reveals most threatened settlements list, calls for higher defense budget - A discussion in the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Subcommittee details how certain more-high-profile settlements in the West Bank are under higher risk of attack and urges the government to provide them with better security and prevent the next attack. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- Israeli Court Rejects Curbs on Bedouin Voter Rights - Interior Ministry decided to deny residents the right to vote in local elections because their identity cards give their tribal affiliation rather than their place of residency. (Haaretz+)
- ‘Fuad’ Ben-Eliezer cleared of criminal charges posthumously - Tel Aviv District Court declares that while charges against the deceased former minister, Benjamin 'Fuad' Ben-Eliezer, will be dropped, proceedings will continue against the five others indicted in the bribery case. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- Israel eyeing Gaza-bound 'women's flotilla' setting sail from Barcelona - The small fleet of 2 vessels is slated to carry dozens of women from various nations, including Israel, with the aim of breaching Israel's naval blockade of the Strip. (Maariv/JPost)
- Authority Records 1,000 Attempts to Deceive Israeli Biometric Database - Citizens may have been attempting to get forged identity documents, says database authority. (Haaretz+)
- Facebook Complying With 95% of Israeli Requests to Remove Inciting Content, Minister Says - YouTube, however, has been removing 80% of content cited by government, Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked says. (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
- Bill caps Israeli NGOs' spending during election campaigns at $26,500 - So-called 'V15 law' is named after nonprofit that fought major electoral campaign against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2015. (Haaretz+)
- Israel training Colombia to clear land mines left by conflict with rebels - The five decade FARC insurrection has left the South American country as one of the most mine-infested in the world, with some 11,000 people killed by mines in last 25 years. (Haaretz)
- Don't Believe Everything You See: ISIS Sells Antiquites It Claims to Have Destroyed - Israeli expert says Islamic State is struggling to get artifacts out of Syria, thwarting its plans to fund operations. (Haaretz+)
Features:
IN PHOTOS: Muslims in Israel, across globe mark Eid al-Adha - the Feast of Sacrifice (Agencies,
Haaretz)
Sons of an Israeli officer accused of spying and the judge who sentenced him to execution – came full circle
Decades later, an emotional meeting was held between Yaakov, the son of Meir Tuviansky, a Palmach officer accused of spying and who was executed in 1948, and Yehuda Karon, whose father David was one of the judges who sentenced him to death. The two shook hands and spoke briefly at a ceremony in honor of Tuviansky, who was shot dead by a Palmach firing squad after ‘admitting’ to spying. Tuviansky’s name was cleared years later. (Arik Bender, Maariv and Maariv feature)
The Secret's Out: Fabled 'Black List' of Adelson Archnemesis Revealed
The fight between Netanyahu and Yedioth Ahronoth publisher Noni Mozes is about power, influence and money, not ideology; for first time, senior employees describe censorship, silencing of social protest and anti-Netanyahu campaign spearheaded by media giant. (Nati Tucker, Haaretz+)
Autonomous drones may be the future, but Israeli army still stresses human factor
A visit to the Palmahim air force base shows that the human element in operating unmanned aerial vehicles will remain for the foreseeable future. (Oded Yaron, Haaretz+)
Israeli Documentary on Unsung New Orleans Singer Sold to Netflix
Ido Haar's 'Presenting Princess Shaw' tells the story of an Israeli musician helping a nursing-home worker make the big time. (Nirit Anderman, Haaretz+ and popular YouTube song)
Commentary/Analysis:
Israeli Hunger Strike Ruling Is a Political Law Disguised as Concern for Human Life (Haaretz Editorial) If the human rights of Palestinian detainees are indeed important to the state and the justices, they should refrain from ordering and approving administrative detentions. That would be the genuine solution.
Breaking the perceptual circle (Ami Ayalon, Gilead Sher and Orni Petruschka, Yedioth/Ynet) Defining the objective of an Israeli-Palestinian process will allow moderates on both sides to believe it is achievable and overcome the gap between the broad desire to reach a two-state solution and the depressing reality.
Israel Is a Settler Colonial State - and That's OK (Arnon Degani, Haaretz+) Repulsed by UC Berkeley’s 'Palestine: A Settler Colonial Analysis' course? ‘Settler colonialism’ may have been eagerly adopted by the BDS movement – but early Zionist leaders weren't shy about identifying with it either.
Contrary to Baseless Assumptions, Israel's Settlement Activity Is Indeed Legal (Oded Revivi, Haaretz+) Renowned jurists, political scientists and Israeli governments have rejected the 'illegality' argument regarding settlement in Judea and Samaria.
Sorry, Darfurians, It Seems That for Israel, You Are Less Equal (Mutasim Ali, Haaretz+) Israel’s public statements against the genocide in Darfur don't square with its reported encouragement of closer ties with the Sudanese regime.
Serious negotiations vs. reality (Zalman Shoval, Israel Hayom) Is the two-state solution still relevant, and if so, given the continuing chaos in the Middle East, should the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel be contemplated at present?
The Real Message Behind Netanyahu's 'Ethnic Cleansing' Speech (Yitzhak Laor, Haaretz+) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent actions have brought to an end 50 years of Israeli deception about the temporariness of the settlement enterprise.
Who's afraid of the term 'ethnic cleansing'? (Dr. Gabi Avital, Israel Hayom) It's very easy for the enlightened West, and some of the Israeli Left, to talk about how dangerous it is to use the term "ethnic cleansing," while putting exactly that policy into effect against Jews.
Netanyahu's 'Ethnic Cleansing' Video Is Leading Us Down the Road to Masada Redux (Nehemia Shtrasler, Haaretz+) Why stop at charges of ‘ethnic cleansing?’ The prime minister should declare a revolt against the whole world.
Why British Jews Fear Britain's New Left (Colin Shindler, Haaretz) The crisis between the Labour party - now wedded to a far left populism, rejection of Zionism and political messianism – and the British Jewish community is reaching a watershed moment.
Netanyahu Enters Dangerous Stage of His Career (Sami Peretz, Haaretz+) The prime minister, who also serves as foreign, economy and communications minister, is spreading himself too thin while steamrolling over his party colleagues. The strategy is not working.
Sons of an Israeli officer accused of spying and the judge who sentenced him to execution – came full circle
Decades later, an emotional meeting was held between Yaakov, the son of Meir Tuviansky, a Palmach officer accused of spying and who was executed in 1948, and Yehuda Karon, whose father David was one of the judges who sentenced him to death. The two shook hands and spoke briefly at a ceremony in honor of Tuviansky, who was shot dead by a Palmach firing squad after ‘admitting’ to spying. Tuviansky’s name was cleared years later. (Arik Bender, Maariv and Maariv feature)
The Secret's Out: Fabled 'Black List' of Adelson Archnemesis Revealed
The fight between Netanyahu and Yedioth Ahronoth publisher Noni Mozes is about power, influence and money, not ideology; for first time, senior employees describe censorship, silencing of social protest and anti-Netanyahu campaign spearheaded by media giant. (Nati Tucker, Haaretz+)
Autonomous drones may be the future, but Israeli army still stresses human factor
A visit to the Palmahim air force base shows that the human element in operating unmanned aerial vehicles will remain for the foreseeable future. (Oded Yaron, Haaretz+)
Israeli Documentary on Unsung New Orleans Singer Sold to Netflix
Ido Haar's 'Presenting Princess Shaw' tells the story of an Israeli musician helping a nursing-home worker make the big time. (Nirit Anderman, Haaretz+ and popular YouTube song)
Commentary/Analysis:
Israeli Hunger Strike Ruling Is a Political Law Disguised as Concern for Human Life (Haaretz Editorial) If the human rights of Palestinian detainees are indeed important to the state and the justices, they should refrain from ordering and approving administrative detentions. That would be the genuine solution.
Breaking the perceptual circle (Ami Ayalon, Gilead Sher and Orni Petruschka, Yedioth/Ynet) Defining the objective of an Israeli-Palestinian process will allow moderates on both sides to believe it is achievable and overcome the gap between the broad desire to reach a two-state solution and the depressing reality.
Israel Is a Settler Colonial State - and That's OK (Arnon Degani, Haaretz+) Repulsed by UC Berkeley’s 'Palestine: A Settler Colonial Analysis' course? ‘Settler colonialism’ may have been eagerly adopted by the BDS movement – but early Zionist leaders weren't shy about identifying with it either.
Contrary to Baseless Assumptions, Israel's Settlement Activity Is Indeed Legal (Oded Revivi, Haaretz+) Renowned jurists, political scientists and Israeli governments have rejected the 'illegality' argument regarding settlement in Judea and Samaria.
Sorry, Darfurians, It Seems That for Israel, You Are Less Equal (Mutasim Ali, Haaretz+) Israel’s public statements against the genocide in Darfur don't square with its reported encouragement of closer ties with the Sudanese regime.
Serious negotiations vs. reality (Zalman Shoval, Israel Hayom) Is the two-state solution still relevant, and if so, given the continuing chaos in the Middle East, should the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel be contemplated at present?
The Real Message Behind Netanyahu's 'Ethnic Cleansing' Speech (Yitzhak Laor, Haaretz+) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent actions have brought to an end 50 years of Israeli deception about the temporariness of the settlement enterprise.
Who's afraid of the term 'ethnic cleansing'? (Dr. Gabi Avital, Israel Hayom) It's very easy for the enlightened West, and some of the Israeli Left, to talk about how dangerous it is to use the term "ethnic cleansing," while putting exactly that policy into effect against Jews.
Netanyahu's 'Ethnic Cleansing' Video Is Leading Us Down the Road to Masada Redux (Nehemia Shtrasler, Haaretz+) Why stop at charges of ‘ethnic cleansing?’ The prime minister should declare a revolt against the whole world.
Why British Jews Fear Britain's New Left (Colin Shindler, Haaretz) The crisis between the Labour party - now wedded to a far left populism, rejection of Zionism and political messianism – and the British Jewish community is reaching a watershed moment.
Netanyahu Enters Dangerous Stage of His Career (Sami Peretz, Haaretz+) The prime minister, who also serves as foreign, economy and communications minister, is spreading himself too thin while steamrolling over his party colleagues. The strategy is not working.
Interviews:
The Jerusalem man who replaces swords with art exhibits
'We are saying that Islam is not just about killing, but also a culture and a civilization,' says Nadim Sheiban, the director of Jerusalem’s Museum for Islamic Art. (Interviewed by Shany Littman, Haaretz+)
The Jerusalem man who replaces swords with art exhibits
'We are saying that Islam is not just about killing, but also a culture and a civilization,' says Nadim Sheiban, the director of Jerusalem’s Museum for Islamic Art. (Interviewed by Shany Littman, Haaretz+)
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.