APN's daily news review from Israel
Thursday November 17, 2016
Quote of the day:
"Before Trump, American Jews were definitely concerned about what appeared to be growing anti-Semitism in
Europe, but much of this, we reasoned was a reaction to Israel’s mistreatment of the Palestinians, together with
the influx of Muslim Middle Eastern immigrants into these same countries...but the U.S., fortunately, never had any
such experience. Most of us believed anti-Semitism in America to be so marginal it was not really worth worrying
about. Today many Jews are not so sure."
--Journalist Eric Alterman writes in Haaretz+ that Jews in America face 'uncharted waters' following the appointment of Steve Bannon, "Trump’s Rasputin in the White House."**
--Journalist Eric Alterman writes in Haaretz+ that Jews in America face 'uncharted waters' following the appointment of Steve Bannon, "Trump’s Rasputin in the White House."**
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Shaked and Mendelblit examining: settlers will be declared protected population in order to allow expropriation of (Palestinian) lands
- They have no G-d // Yossi Verter
- State Comptroller to distribute today last draft of report on Operation Protective Edge (3rd Gaza war); Final report expected in December
- Investigation in Germany: Company that sold Israel submarines bribed senior officials across the world
- Technological Institute in Holon fences off area to separate ultra-Orthodox from women
- US demanded from Israel clarifications regarding drone that Minister Ariel gave to Russian Prime Minister
- 14 Israel-born children of foreign workers will be deported
Yedioth Ahronoth
- Yaalon virulently opposed the submarine deal; Prime Minister Netanyahu pushed for it; Senior former national security council official Bar Yosef got in trouble over it and Netanyahu associate, Adv. David Shomron, represented (the state) in it
- Drafting statistics reveal: 1 out of every 3.5 males who must serve don’t
- “We are the faces of the victims of the highway (accidents)”
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Lieberman: “Build only in the (settlement) blocs”
- Beginning of the counter-revolution // Nadav Haetzni
- Kahlon’s logic // Yehuda Sharoni
- Netanyahu’s lawyer was involved in the previous submarine deal
- French President Hollande to Maariv: “Because of Trump, likelihood of making a peace conference in France is low”
- Rishon L’Tzion: (Mobster) murder in public park
Israel Hayom
- Rabbi Amar storm: Proud? Cult of abomination
- Lieberman: “Build only in blocs”; Anger in right-wing: “Terrible remark”
- National Security Council: “Acquisition from Germany – from professional, professional and operational reasons”
- Dispute in El-Al worsens
- End to chocolate milk and bread roll: Health Minister Leitzman removing it from summer camps
News Summary:
More information revealed about a potential conflict of interest surrounding Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, his associates and the purchase of German submarines, which the IDF said it never needed, following the request from a team of President-elect Donald Trump, Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Israel should limit settlement construction to the settlement blocs, to which settler leaders said that a construction freeze will cause the government to fall, and the settlement legalization bill, which would allow Israel to expropriate privately-owned Palestinian land for Jewish settlers to live on, passed its first reading in the Knesset, infuriating Palestinians. It will be sent to a specially established committee in order to avoid a renegade Likud lawmaker, making top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers. Meanwhile, Haaretz (Hebrew) reported that the Justice Minister and Attorney General are looking at the option of declaring the settlers 'protected population' in order to confiscate the land. Yedioth’s Washington correspondent reported that the outgoing US President Barack Obama was mulling support of a UN resolution against Israeli settlements.
More information revealed about a potential conflict of interest surrounding Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, his associates and the purchase of German submarines, which the IDF said it never needed, following the request from a team of President-elect Donald Trump, Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Israel should limit settlement construction to the settlement blocs, to which settler leaders said that a construction freeze will cause the government to fall, and the settlement legalization bill, which would allow Israel to expropriate privately-owned Palestinian land for Jewish settlers to live on, passed its first reading in the Knesset, infuriating Palestinians. It will be sent to a specially established committee in order to avoid a renegade Likud lawmaker, making top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers. Meanwhile, Haaretz (Hebrew) reported that the Justice Minister and Attorney General are looking at the option of declaring the settlers 'protected population' in order to confiscate the land. Yedioth’s Washington correspondent reported that the outgoing US President Barack Obama was mulling support of a UN resolution against Israeli settlements.
Quick Hits:
- After Amona ruling, Jerusalem asks court to approve demolition of Palestinian homes - After Israel’s High Court upheld decision to demolish Jewish homes built on privately-owned Palestinian land, Jerusalem municipality requested Court approval for demolition of 14 homes in the Beit Hanina neighborhood built on Jewish-owned land managed by the State’s Public Trustee and which house some 40 Palestinians. (Maariv and Maan)
- Israeli forces shoot, injure 3 Palestinian youths during clashes in Ramallah - Israeli special forces raided a building in central Ramallah, smashing the doors and searching offices that belonged to the Palestinian National Initiative, a Palestinian political party headed by Mustafa Barghouti. Clashes erupted in the area, leaving three youths wounded. (Maan)
- Israeli forces detain 10 Palestinians, including 12 year old, in overnight raids - Israeli forces conduct night raids across the occupied Palestinian territory on a near-daily basis. According to UN documentation, the Israeli army carried out 169 military detention raids over the past two weeks. (Maan)
- Diplomatic Snafu: U.S. Asks Israel for Clarifications on Drone Gifted to Russia - The UAV was equipped with an advanced American-made camera, which Israel may not have been at liberty to give to the Russians who are subject to U.S. sanctions. (Haaretz+)
- Israel won't ask Russia to return drone, says it contains no American tech - Problems created by gift of unmanned aircraft to the Russians by minister mainly solved, Agriculture Ministry says. (Haaretz+)
- After five years, Erdogan names new Turkish ambassador to Israel - Erdogan names Kemal Okem to the post, one day after Israel named Eitan Na'eh to the parallel position in Ankara. (Haaretz)
- NGO invites soldiers to report religious infringements - In a new video released to thousands of soldiers via WhatsApp, right-wing NGO 'Tzav 1' encourages soldiers to call their hotline and report violations of their religious freedoms; IDF: 'commanders are dedicated to allowing all those who serve to serve according to the law without harming their way of life.' (Ynet)
- IDF evaluating inclusion of women in tank corps - Inspired by the American and Canadian armies, which have opened all positions to women, the IDF is also considering female participation in the engineering corps and rescue unit. (Haaretz)
- Number of males drafting into the IDF on the decline - A recently released IDF report records a decrease in the number of males enlisting in the army and serving in combat roles; IDF proposes a number of solutions including more integrated combat units, shortened length of service and lowering combat profiles. (Ynet)
- In the wake of the (‘Shooting Soldier from Hebron) Elor Azariya affair: IDF fears a decrease in number of army recruits and combat soldiers - In the November draft, there was a 2% decrease and a drop is also expected in the upcoming drafts. The IDF does not know whether or not to relate the drop to the public mood following the trial of the soldier. (Maariv)
- Terrorist who stabbed soldier sentenced to 17.5 years in prison - Tariq Abd el-Fattah Yahya, 21, a resident of the Palestinian village of Araka, stabbed a soldier in the northern city of Afula last year. Yahya's sentence is part of a plea bargain that includes 28 months probation, monetary restitution to his victim. (Israel Hayom)
- Victim's family cancels reconciliation ceremony with Tel Aviv terrorist's family - After initially agreeing to a traditional Arab reconciliation ceremony, the family of one of the victims of the Tel Aviv terrorist attack in January 2016 backed out of the ceremony, saying there was no reason for it, since the terrorist was killed himself. (Ynet)
- France supports Palestinian Authority with 8 million euros - French Consul-General Pierre Cochard signed a funding agreement on Wednesday with Palestinian Finance Minister Shukri Bishara, to support the Palestinian Authority (PA) with 8 million euros ($8.55 million). (Maan)
- Israel confiscates truck allegedly transporting rocket-building materials to Gaza - “Today, a truck with home electronics and spare parts arrived to the Kerem Shalom crossing. Hamas, however, had other plans,” a statement on the official Facebook page for Israel’s COGAT said. (Maan)
- Russia deploys aircraft carrier in new crackdown on Syrian rebels - Moscow's sole aircraft carrier the Admiral Kuznetsov engages insurgents for the first time. Russian defense minister says Islamic State sites targeted as well. PM Netanyahu: Middle East dynamics are changing rapidly and not necessarily to our detriment. (Israel Hayom)
- Israel asks Russia not to sell jets and weapons to Iran - The $10-billion transaction reportedly includes fighter jets, advanced T-90 tanks, helicopters and artillery. (Haaretz+)
- UN Committee Slams Iran on Human Rights Abuses, Resolution Goes to General Assembly - A U.N. committee urged Iran to cease enforced disappearances and the widespread use of arbitrary detention. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- ISIS Seized by Paranoia as Mosul Is Infiltrated by Iraqi Military - Text messages sent from inside Mosul to Iraqi military intelligence reveals that although ISIS might remain lethal, it is mired in internal disarray. (Agencies, Haaretz)
Features:
The Beast: On board IDF's most advanced and expensive war machine
Haaretz’s military correspondent joined the crew of INS Rahav, the Israel Navy’s newest submarine, on a brief training cruise. He learned about the unique physical and mental demands of service on the IDF's most expensive war machine, its technological capabilities and why Israeli subs are still off-limits to women. (Amos Harel, Haaretz)
Commentary/Analysis:
The political crisis over illegal outpost of Amona is far from over (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) The outpost's fate has been sealed by the courts, but Netanyahu's party still promises that 'Amona will not be evacuated.
Netanyahu and Trump: Birds of a feather? (Sima Kadmon, Yedioth/Ynet) US election results prove there is no room for gray candidates in today’s world. The more blatant, rude and arrogant a person is, the higher are his chances of reaching the top. Netanyahu, Trump’s local version, knows that despite the joy in the Right, the new president may not be that good for Israel.
America’s Most Influential Jewish Groups Have Prioritized Netanyahu Over U.S. Jews’ Safety (Peter Beinart, Haaretz+) Outrage? AIPAC and the Conference of Presidents can summon it on behalf of Israel’s government, on BDS, on the Iran Deal - but not for the American minorities targeted by Trump. Not even its Jews.
The Arab leadership's hypocritical game (Dr. Reuven Berko, Israel Hayom) As "citizens," Arab MKs demand equality; but as "Palestinians," they try to destroy the Israeli hand that feeds them.
Time for Opposition to Call It Quits (Uri Misgav, Haaretz+) Every time such a bill reaches the Knesset, the opposition should walk out during the vote. Sometimes such a boycott projects power.
Regularization Law: For the first time elected officials are fulfilling their worldview (Nadav Haetzni, Maariv) This week is expected to go down as the date in which the counter-revolution of the Land of Israel camp began. There are many commitments of right-wing governments to implement from their campaign platform and now the first glimmer has come.
Isaac Herzog. For How Much Longer? (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) What more has to happen to prove that we can’t go any further with this worn-out joke, wholly at the expense of the possibility of an alternative?
Syria’s future lies in Trump and Putin’s hands (Dr. Yaron Friedman, Yedioth/Ynet) Starting January, the new American administration will have to deal with the most serious problem in the Middle East, which could even spur a third world war. Only full US-Russian coordination will save the region and the entire world from a disaster.
Kahlon, at Least Without Sanctimony (Haaretz Editorial) It seems that Kahlon is so worried about going to the polls that he is employing all his geometric skills to square a circle.
Historic chance in Judea and Samaria (Nadav Shragai, Israel Hayom) Retroactively approving contested outposts may invite pressure from Washington. Let's wait for the new administration and ask it to change U.S. policy on settlements.
Dear Benny Morris, Read Your Own Work on Israel and Ethnic Cleansing (Ehud Ein-Gil, Haaretz+) The historian is admitting that the number of Arabs who remained in Israel in 1948 was not 160,000, as he first claimed, but less than 143,000.
Israel has yet to recognize the Palestinian people (Elie Friedman, +972mag) The Netanyahu government insists that Palestinians recognize Israel as the Jewish state, as opposed to just recognizing that it exists. But the Israeli prime minister refuses to recognize the Palestinian people and their rights to exist as a nation, as opposed to just acknowledging the fact that they live here.
**Steve Bannon, Trump’s Rasputin in the White House (Eric Alterman, Haaretz+) Most American Jews, until now, thought anti-Semitism was just a vestige of pre-Holocaust America. Now, we’re swimming in uncharted, but decidedly unfriendly, waters.
Will a Trump Presidency Give Israel a Long-sought Excuse to Ditch non-Orthodox Jews? (Judy Maltz, Haaretz+) U.S. Jewish community leaders warn Israelis against distancing themselves Reform and Conservative Jews.
Haaretz’s military correspondent joined the crew of INS Rahav, the Israel Navy’s newest submarine, on a brief training cruise. He learned about the unique physical and mental demands of service on the IDF's most expensive war machine, its technological capabilities and why Israeli subs are still off-limits to women. (Amos Harel, Haaretz)
Commentary/Analysis:
The political crisis over illegal outpost of Amona is far from over (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) The outpost's fate has been sealed by the courts, but Netanyahu's party still promises that 'Amona will not be evacuated.
Netanyahu and Trump: Birds of a feather? (Sima Kadmon, Yedioth/Ynet) US election results prove there is no room for gray candidates in today’s world. The more blatant, rude and arrogant a person is, the higher are his chances of reaching the top. Netanyahu, Trump’s local version, knows that despite the joy in the Right, the new president may not be that good for Israel.
America’s Most Influential Jewish Groups Have Prioritized Netanyahu Over U.S. Jews’ Safety (Peter Beinart, Haaretz+) Outrage? AIPAC and the Conference of Presidents can summon it on behalf of Israel’s government, on BDS, on the Iran Deal - but not for the American minorities targeted by Trump. Not even its Jews.
The Arab leadership's hypocritical game (Dr. Reuven Berko, Israel Hayom) As "citizens," Arab MKs demand equality; but as "Palestinians," they try to destroy the Israeli hand that feeds them.
Time for Opposition to Call It Quits (Uri Misgav, Haaretz+) Every time such a bill reaches the Knesset, the opposition should walk out during the vote. Sometimes such a boycott projects power.
Regularization Law: For the first time elected officials are fulfilling their worldview (Nadav Haetzni, Maariv) This week is expected to go down as the date in which the counter-revolution of the Land of Israel camp began. There are many commitments of right-wing governments to implement from their campaign platform and now the first glimmer has come.
Isaac Herzog. For How Much Longer? (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) What more has to happen to prove that we can’t go any further with this worn-out joke, wholly at the expense of the possibility of an alternative?
Syria’s future lies in Trump and Putin’s hands (Dr. Yaron Friedman, Yedioth/Ynet) Starting January, the new American administration will have to deal with the most serious problem in the Middle East, which could even spur a third world war. Only full US-Russian coordination will save the region and the entire world from a disaster.
Kahlon, at Least Without Sanctimony (Haaretz Editorial) It seems that Kahlon is so worried about going to the polls that he is employing all his geometric skills to square a circle.
Historic chance in Judea and Samaria (Nadav Shragai, Israel Hayom) Retroactively approving contested outposts may invite pressure from Washington. Let's wait for the new administration and ask it to change U.S. policy on settlements.
Dear Benny Morris, Read Your Own Work on Israel and Ethnic Cleansing (Ehud Ein-Gil, Haaretz+) The historian is admitting that the number of Arabs who remained in Israel in 1948 was not 160,000, as he first claimed, but less than 143,000.
Israel has yet to recognize the Palestinian people (Elie Friedman, +972mag) The Netanyahu government insists that Palestinians recognize Israel as the Jewish state, as opposed to just recognizing that it exists. But the Israeli prime minister refuses to recognize the Palestinian people and their rights to exist as a nation, as opposed to just acknowledging the fact that they live here.
**Steve Bannon, Trump’s Rasputin in the White House (Eric Alterman, Haaretz+) Most American Jews, until now, thought anti-Semitism was just a vestige of pre-Holocaust America. Now, we’re swimming in uncharted, but decidedly unfriendly, waters.
Will a Trump Presidency Give Israel a Long-sought Excuse to Ditch non-Orthodox Jews? (Judy Maltz, Haaretz+) U.S. Jewish community leaders warn Israelis against distancing themselves Reform and Conservative Jews.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.