APN's daily news review from Israel
Sunday September 18, 2016
Quote of the day:
"Israel would be shaken to its roots by such a result. Such a decision could lay the foundations for a
Palestinian state."
--Rogel Alpher writes in Haaretz+ about the possibility that FIFA suspends Israel from international soccer due to its settlement soccer clubs.*
--Rogel Alpher writes in Haaretz+ about the possibility that FIFA suspends Israel from international soccer due to its settlement soccer clubs.*
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Contacts for a meeting between Obama and Netanyahu this week
- Four attack attempts in two days: IDF increasing forces in Hebron
- The violence is likely to increase ahead of the holidays // Amos Harel
- Dozens of Assad’s soldiers killed in coalition attack; ceasefire in danger
- Instead of enjoying Clinton’s weakness, Trump returns to radical deviated ways more than ever
- Finance Ministry demanded that (military) censor stop allowing any more publishing of news about Eilat-Ashkelon Pipeline Company
- Dismissals and job cuts of dozens of contract teachers in educational program for at-risk youth
- Instead of a park for residents, thousands of apartments to be built next to Lod
- The corner for judging him (on Elor Azariya trial) // Emmanuel Gross
- Third medallion for Israel at Rio
- Yair Lapid’s opposition to taxing owners of three homes and more no longer surprises anyone // Eitan Avriel
Yedioth Ahronoth
- And then the doctors told me: Your chance of surviving is 40-50% - (Actor) Amir Frisher Gottman tells about the earthquake of his life
- The terror returned
- The tip of the glacier // Alex Fishman
- Hadar’s medal of courage
- Too soon to celebrate // Yossi Yehoshua
- The (US security) aid storm: Sever Plocker on the financial loss: Why will receive $8 billion less; Amos Yadlin on the missed strategic opportunity: How we could have achieved much more
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- For the first time: Iron Dome thwarted rockets on the northern border
- Is it really just spillover? // Yossi Melman
- Presidential visit (by Rivlin of former president Peres)
- IDF increasing forces in Hebron
- Ahead of evacuation of Amona (outpost): 24 ministers, deputy minister and MKs from Likud demanded in public letter to advance the Regularization Law (for outposts)
Israel Hayom
- Russia furious: US killed dozens of Assad soldiers
- In the north – little chance of escalation, in Judea and Samaria – effort to prevent it // Yoav Limor
- From tonight: bypasses in the train movement
- 50 days to elections: Tie in polls between Trump and Clinton
- Peres in “serious but stable” condition; will do CT test today
- Majority of Likud opposes evacuation of Amona (outpost); 25 MKs in favor of bill to regularize the outposts
- Tragedy in the south: 2-year-old forgotten in car for hours – and died
- Swam to a medallion: Inbal Pizaro got the bronze at the Paralympics
News Summary:
After five attacks in two days on Israeli forces over the Green Line the Israeli security establishment feared a renewed wave of violence just as the US accidentally killed regime soldiers in Syria and Israel thwarted rockets from the other side of the Syrian border. And, meanwhile, Likud MKs pushed for legalizing settlement outposts, while the papers slammed the Prime Minister for his deal with the US - making top news in today’s Hebrew newspapers
The IDF fears the weekend ‘lone wolf’ attacks in the West Bank are the beginning of a surge ahead of the Jewish holidays. In two cases, families of the alleged attackers said their sons were executed. In one of the attacks near Tel Rumeida settlement enclave in Hebron, a video shows the attacker being chased by soldiers after being shot and then leave him unmoving. The family of a Jordanian killed while allegedly trying to stab Border Police outside Jerusalem’s Old City said it 'doubts' the Israeli narrative. A witness told Haaretz he didn't see Sayid Amro attacking anyone before he was killed. Jordan’s Foreign Ministry condemned Israel's killing of Amro. Meanwhile, the IDF has sent reinforcements to the West Bank, Hebron in particular.
The US expressed regret for striking what it was ‘pretty sure’ were ISIS forces, but were actually Syrian Army soldiers, while Israel’s Iron Dome batteries intercepted for the first time on the northern border two projectiles fired from Syria towards Israel. Some commentators, such as Maariv’s Yossi Melman, questioned whether the rockets were spillover or intentional. Hezbollah accused Israel of hitting a Syrian Army position, too, which Israel denied. IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot also responded to accusations by some Druze leaders in Israel and said that Israel was not supporting Islamist factions on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights. However, Israel was helping Syrian villagers across the border in the hope of warding off the Islamist ‘Nusra Front’ rebels, Haaretz+ reported. The ceasefire was violated numerous times over the weekend and no aid has reached Aleppo.
Twenty-five out of 30 Likud MKs signed a petition against the evacuation of the Amona outpost following the High Court ruling that it must be evacuated because it was built on privately owned Palestinian land. Interestingly, the only Likud members in government who did not sign the petition were Benny Begin, Avi Dichter, and Anat Berko, Minister Tzachi Hanegbi, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The ministers called to pass the ‘Regulation Law’ that would legalize all the outposts. Yedioth wrote about the problem in finding a solution to move Amona: a half meter of asphalt.
The papers continued to examine the US security aid package that Israel received and – with the usual exception of Israel Hayom - they all slammed Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, accusing him of getting a bad deal and blaming it on his bad relations with US President Barack Obama. Netanyahu’s office rejected the criticism. Nevertheless, Haaretz+ reported that Netanyahu and Obama may meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly Wednesday. Haaretz also noted that the New York Times editorial asked whether the US really needed to give Israel so much money.
Quick Hits:
- Peres's condition remains unchanged, Rivlin visits family - The current president visited the former president's family in the hospital on Saturday night to offer his support; the fourth day after his stroke, Shimon Peres remains in serious but stable condition. (Ynet)
- Palestinian Detainee Comes Out of Coma on 65th Day of Hunger Strike - Malik al-Qadi, 19, has been protesting his detention without trial; his family says Israel gave him medical treatment without his consent. (Haaretz+)
- Palestinian officials visit sit-in for hunger-striking prisoners as lawyers warn of 'slow death' - Head of the Palestinian Committee of Prisoners’ Affairs Issa Qaraqe on Saturday accused Israel’s government, security services, and judicial authorities of “committing a crime against the three prisoners,” saying their conditions have reached “intolerable” levels. (Maan)
- Pro-Israel senator says Israel made a mistake by signing security deal - Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who has reportedly been very unhappy with the US aid deal with Israel, said that US President Barack Obama is trying to 'neuter' Congress and that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 'left money on the table.' (Agencies, Ynet)
- Former (dismissed) National Forensic Institute head defends Azaria, says autopsy physician ‘imagined seeing bleeding’ - After the Abu Kabir Institute for Forensic Medicine found that neutralized terrorist Abdel Fatah al-Sharif died as a result of being shot by Sgt. Elor Azaria, the institute’s former head testifies in Azaria’s trial, criticizing the autopsy and saying that ‘It was conducted improperly’; A psychiatrist who examined Azaria additionally says ‘He suffers from post trauma.’ (Ynet)
- The case of the (police) shooting in Shuafat: Despite the police's demand, the driver will not be charged with manslaughter - Ali Nimr, whose cousin Mustafa was shot dead by police in the East Jerusalem neighborhood, was charged in a Magistrate's Court with causing death by negligence, drunk driving without a license and possession of dangerous drugs. (Maariv)
- “He thought the man was a Catholic, who he needed to kill” - 33-year-old charged with attempted murder at a synagogue Jerusalem District indicted schizophrenic man, who harshly beat a 65-year-old man in Givat Ze'ev and broke his facial bones and ribs: "The defendant continued his acts even when the complainant was bleeding profusely." (Maariv)
- British Talent Agency Blacklists Israeli Theater Companies - Over Money -Curtis Brown claims Tel Aviv’s Habima and Kiryat Shmona’s Mara theaters owe $12,000 to a playwright represented by the firm. (Haaretz+)
- Abbas meets with Venezuelan president in Caraca - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Saturday met with his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas in order to brief him on continued Israeli escalations of violence, settlement expansions, and “assaults on unarmed civilians and holy places.” (Maan)
- Bedouin youths help uncover 1,500-year-old buildings in Negev - Cooking and baking facilities, as well as numerous pottery vessels, unearthed in ruins of ancient farming community. Artifacts indicate family that lived on the farm had a thriving business. Area was populous during Byzantine, early Islamic periods. (Israel Hayom)
- Jewish woman escapes being sold to ISIS - Baher Gahar-Fur fled her radical Muslim husband and left her four children behind to avoid being sold to ISIS after refusing to conform to her husband's radicalism. After arriving in Israel with the help of Minister of the Interior Aryeh Deri, Baher said, 'I love Israel and hope to be reunited with my family.' (Yedioth/Ynet)
- Chilean MPs call for boycott of visiting Israeli delegation - Sixteen lawmakers issue statement demanding local government cancel a visit by Israeli parliamentarians so "not provide legitimacy" to "country that violates human rights" • Visiting MK: We won't let pro-Palestinian lobby sabotage Israel-Chile ties. (Israel Hayom)
- Algerian mapgate - A map of the Middle East in an Algerian geography textbook that labels Israel by that name rather than with "Palestine" has evoked a public furor. The publishing house has apologized for 'offending the Algerian's sensitivities. This was a lapse and an unintentional mistake.' (Ynet)
- 6,000-year-old Fortresses Found in Jordan Show Surprisingly Advanced Early Society - Settlements with double-fortified walls and irrigated terraces were unexpected deep in the Early Bronze Age desert. (Agencies, Haaretz)
Features:
While breaking boundaries in high-tech, this Israeli Arab dreams of playing pro soccer
Arrivals / Departures: Mohammed al-Marana, in Israel for Id al-Adha, reminisces about the 'amazing' Jewish-Arab cooperation on his kibbutz youth soccer team; Zélie Alfandari, a 14-year-old cellist on her way home to Paris expresses enthusiasm for Israeli nature. (Liat Elkayam, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
The Time Has Come for Israel to Expose Its Most Secret Firm (Haaretz Editorial) The Eilat-Ashkelon Pipeline Company is at the heart of an international legal battle between Iran and Israel - but it cannot be above the law.
The illusion has been shattered: the wave of terror returned, and likely will gain momentum before the holidays (Yossi Melman, Maariv) An analysis of the attacks that took place over the weekend suggest that the belief that the Palestinians accept the occupation is wrong, and the violence is going nowhere, just moving at different times. One should pay attention to the phenomenon of terrorists from Jordan.
Washington Can Act Against Assad, but Really Doesn’t Want To (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) The cease-fire agreement in Syria looks like another expression of American weakness, one that hasn’t escaped the notice of other Mideast governments, a reserve Israeli general says.
Israel on Verge of Being Dismissed From World Soccer Because of Settlement Teams (Rogel Alpher, Haaretz+) Many people won't be aware of Beitar Givat Ze'ev, a small club that plays its games in the Israeli third division. But it could be why Israel is kicked out of the World Cup and all international soccer competitions next month.
Interceptions of rockets in the Golan Heights: Are the mortars really just "spillover"? (Yossi Melman, Maariv) Defense establishment is concerned that the many rockets falling on the Syrian border are intentional and that it is actually a change in Assad's policy. Israel has already passed warnings on this issue to Damascus via Russia.
As Long as U.S. Aid Isn't in Question, Israeli Settlements Are Here to Stay (Ravit Hecht, Haaretz+) Neither the terrifying Donald Trump nor the more reasonable Hillary Clinton will change the trend in any way.
With New Israel Aid Deal, Obama Is Patron of the Occupation (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) U.S. generosity, which costs American taxpayers $300 a year, is detrimental to Israel will only help Israel make more war.
Defense establishment paying for leaders' ego issues (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth/Ynet) Both Netanyahu and Obama are to blame for the complicated negotiations on America's military aid to Israel in the next decade.
The Federalization of Israel Is an Existential Necessity (Carlo Strenger, Haaretz+) Israel must be transformed into a federation of largely autonomous cantons with jurisdiction over education, personal-status law and determination of public norms.
Anti-BDS academics should be honest about their motives (Mira Sucharov, Haaretz+) The latest flap over BDS at Syracuse University showcases how critics of an academic boycott are using the rhetoric of academic freedom to push their real cause: hasbara for Israel.
Losing Consciousness: Why did Netanyahu decide to post the "ethnic cleansing" video? (Prof. Cielo Rosenberg, Maariv) The Israeli government faces three alternatives: continuation of the status quo that doesn’t exit, full occupation of the West Bank and an apartheid state or a transfer of Palestinians (out of the West Bank). What is the creative solution?
Begin and My Father Had the Courage to Be Real Leaders. Netanyahu Hasn't (Yuval Rabin, Haaretz+) It was a Likud government in 1979 that endorsed a return to the 1967 borders in the context of the Camp David Accords. But in today's Israel, the right-wing is rewriting, forgetting and distorting this history.
It takes a Judas to know one (Ruthie Blum, Israel Hayom) Author Amos Oz sat down with BBC journalist Kirsty Wark to promote his new book "Judas," and then turned to his second favorite pastime: slamming the State of Israel, which turned him into a cultural icon.
Us vs. Them: Identity politics in the service of Israeli populism (Na’aman Hirschfeld, Haaretz+) A political pressure group's use of a scapegoat, which channels the violence, is a classic tactic intended to create social cohesion and gather political power.
Netanyahu's secret commitment to Obama (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth/Ynet) Following Sen. Lindsey Graham's objection to the MOU signed between US and Israel, the prime minister was forced to write a letter in which Israel pledges not to request any additional aid from the two Houses of Congress.
Thoughts on a Trump Victory, From an Israeli Arab in America (Sayed Kashua, Haaretz+) What in the world is someone named Richard doing fixing a garbage disposal for a Middle Easterner in shorts? It’s not supposed to be like this. Shame on the ADL (Isi Leibler, Israel Hayom)Despite CEO Jonathan Greenblatt's protestations of love for Israel, the Anti-Defamation League's approach is similar to that of J Street, having no hesitation to tell Israelis that it knows better than they do what is good for them.
Netanyahu's 'Ethnic Cleansing' Comments Rewrite History While Looking to the Future (Carolina Landsmann, Haaretz+) The attempt to deny the conflict's territorial nature serves not just the people who dream of the entire Land of Israel, but also those who dream of a State of Israel free of minorities, whatever its borders.
Arrivals / Departures: Mohammed al-Marana, in Israel for Id al-Adha, reminisces about the 'amazing' Jewish-Arab cooperation on his kibbutz youth soccer team; Zélie Alfandari, a 14-year-old cellist on her way home to Paris expresses enthusiasm for Israeli nature. (Liat Elkayam, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
The Time Has Come for Israel to Expose Its Most Secret Firm (Haaretz Editorial) The Eilat-Ashkelon Pipeline Company is at the heart of an international legal battle between Iran and Israel - but it cannot be above the law.
The illusion has been shattered: the wave of terror returned, and likely will gain momentum before the holidays (Yossi Melman, Maariv) An analysis of the attacks that took place over the weekend suggest that the belief that the Palestinians accept the occupation is wrong, and the violence is going nowhere, just moving at different times. One should pay attention to the phenomenon of terrorists from Jordan.
Washington Can Act Against Assad, but Really Doesn’t Want To (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) The cease-fire agreement in Syria looks like another expression of American weakness, one that hasn’t escaped the notice of other Mideast governments, a reserve Israeli general says.
Israel on Verge of Being Dismissed From World Soccer Because of Settlement Teams (Rogel Alpher, Haaretz+) Many people won't be aware of Beitar Givat Ze'ev, a small club that plays its games in the Israeli third division. But it could be why Israel is kicked out of the World Cup and all international soccer competitions next month.
Interceptions of rockets in the Golan Heights: Are the mortars really just "spillover"? (Yossi Melman, Maariv) Defense establishment is concerned that the many rockets falling on the Syrian border are intentional and that it is actually a change in Assad's policy. Israel has already passed warnings on this issue to Damascus via Russia.
As Long as U.S. Aid Isn't in Question, Israeli Settlements Are Here to Stay (Ravit Hecht, Haaretz+) Neither the terrifying Donald Trump nor the more reasonable Hillary Clinton will change the trend in any way.
With New Israel Aid Deal, Obama Is Patron of the Occupation (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) U.S. generosity, which costs American taxpayers $300 a year, is detrimental to Israel will only help Israel make more war.
Defense establishment paying for leaders' ego issues (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth/Ynet) Both Netanyahu and Obama are to blame for the complicated negotiations on America's military aid to Israel in the next decade.
The Federalization of Israel Is an Existential Necessity (Carlo Strenger, Haaretz+) Israel must be transformed into a federation of largely autonomous cantons with jurisdiction over education, personal-status law and determination of public norms.
Anti-BDS academics should be honest about their motives (Mira Sucharov, Haaretz+) The latest flap over BDS at Syracuse University showcases how critics of an academic boycott are using the rhetoric of academic freedom to push their real cause: hasbara for Israel.
Losing Consciousness: Why did Netanyahu decide to post the "ethnic cleansing" video? (Prof. Cielo Rosenberg, Maariv) The Israeli government faces three alternatives: continuation of the status quo that doesn’t exit, full occupation of the West Bank and an apartheid state or a transfer of Palestinians (out of the West Bank). What is the creative solution?
Begin and My Father Had the Courage to Be Real Leaders. Netanyahu Hasn't (Yuval Rabin, Haaretz+) It was a Likud government in 1979 that endorsed a return to the 1967 borders in the context of the Camp David Accords. But in today's Israel, the right-wing is rewriting, forgetting and distorting this history.
It takes a Judas to know one (Ruthie Blum, Israel Hayom) Author Amos Oz sat down with BBC journalist Kirsty Wark to promote his new book "Judas," and then turned to his second favorite pastime: slamming the State of Israel, which turned him into a cultural icon.
Us vs. Them: Identity politics in the service of Israeli populism (Na’aman Hirschfeld, Haaretz+) A political pressure group's use of a scapegoat, which channels the violence, is a classic tactic intended to create social cohesion and gather political power.
Netanyahu's secret commitment to Obama (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth/Ynet) Following Sen. Lindsey Graham's objection to the MOU signed between US and Israel, the prime minister was forced to write a letter in which Israel pledges not to request any additional aid from the two Houses of Congress.
Thoughts on a Trump Victory, From an Israeli Arab in America (Sayed Kashua, Haaretz+) What in the world is someone named Richard doing fixing a garbage disposal for a Middle Easterner in shorts? It’s not supposed to be like this. Shame on the ADL (Isi Leibler, Israel Hayom)Despite CEO Jonathan Greenblatt's protestations of love for Israel, the Anti-Defamation League's approach is similar to that of J Street, having no hesitation to tell Israelis that it knows better than they do what is good for them.
Netanyahu's 'Ethnic Cleansing' Comments Rewrite History While Looking to the Future (Carolina Landsmann, Haaretz+) The attempt to deny the conflict's territorial nature serves not just the people who dream of the entire Land of Israel, but also those who dream of a State of Israel free of minorities, whatever its borders.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.