APN's daily news review from Israel
Sunday November 20, 2016
Quote of the day:
"Indeed, you have so much in common. The undisguised racism that you share with pride is not surprising at
all. A little more surprising is the longing for the visit of a serial stalker, a pathological liar and a proud
tax-evader."
--Gal Zohar, the wine expert of the Dan hotel chain, slammed a settler winery owner for inviting President-elect Trump to visit her winery - and he got showered with criticism.**
--Gal Zohar, the wine expert of the Dan hotel chain, slammed a settler winery owner for inviting President-elect Trump to visit her winery - and he got showered with criticism.**
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Trump appointed a security advisor who spread anti-Semitic message and a Secretary of Justice accused of racism
- Prepare the shelters // Chemi Shalev
- Head of National Security Council: It’s possible that Yaalon was not aware of all the details of the submarines deal
- The cat and the cream // Ido Baum
- (Minister) Leitzman will support the ban on muezzin loudspeakers if it won’t apply to Sabbath sirens
- Testimonies: Real estate entrepreneur Alon Kastiel sexually assaulted women
- Due to disagreements, the experts committee did not recommend to allow lesbians and homosexuals to adopt
- When there is no police, Arab in Israel fight crime themselves
- Tourism Ministry rejected compromise offer for limited construction at Timna Nature Reserve
- Netanyahu must be investigated // Haaretz Editorial
- Good anti-Semites // Gideon Levy
- Sami Shalom Shitreet is convinced: The Mizrachi revolution will be achieved
- The nighttime Jewish underground that holds meetings between secular and ultra-Orthodox Jews
Yedioth Ahronoth
- “Establish an investigation commission” – At Knesset, demands for a deep probe (of submarines deal)
- New revelations: The document that proves that Netanyahu wanted 9 submarines
- The spin and the shipyard // Ben-Dror Yemini
- Who is the Captain // Shimon Shiffer
- Shooting and selling // Eitan Haber
- New (sexual assaults) testimonies against the nightlife guy, Alon Kastiel: “I cried, I was in a fog, but he didn’t stop”
- Trump is calling you (photo of Trump and Mitt Romney) – …President-elect announced a row of controversial appointments to top positions
Maariv This Week
- Submarines affair: The Attorney General is examining the documents of the deal
- Following Maariv expose on the State Comptroller’s report (on Operation Protective Edge): Bereaved father: “Prime Minister is avoiding responsibility for the deaths of our children”
- Trump’s inner circle is becoming clearer: right-wing and racist
- The selective law: Muezzin is banned, Sabbath siren is allowed
- Likely: Severe drought year for Israel
Israel Hayom
- Galant: “The submarines are our insurance policy; Israel needs and will need them in the future”
- Another attempt to bring down the Prime Minister // Mati Tuchfeld
- Trump’s appointments: Against Iran, against Islamic terror
- Crisis at El-Al worsens: Head of Histadrut (Labor Union) getting involved
- November military draft project: Golani Brigade Commander in line with the draftees
- Soon: The IDF’s advanced (underground headquarters) ‘The Hole’ at the Kirya base – will become operational
News Summary:
The controversial submarine deal that Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu pushed for and the latest appointments made by President-elect Donald Trump were top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers - but represented in vastly different ways. Only Israel Hayom presented the submarine deal as important for Israel’s security and Trump’s appointments as positive, while the other papers said the people Trump appointed were racist and anti-Semitic and that there were calls for a ‘deep investigation’ of the sub deal, Yedioth revealed a document that showed the new submarines were not meant to replace the older as the National Security Council’s claimed and Haaretz+ reported that a top security official admitted that then-defense chief Moshe Ya'alon may not have known everything about the deal.
Meanwhile, the controversial Muezzin bill is up for discussion in the Knesset again after ultra-Orthodox Health Minister said he would sign onto it if the bill were amended to permit the Shabbat siren. Meretz MK Issawi Frej said the law wasn't about noise, “it's about religious persecution.” Thousands of Arab Israelis protested the 'Muezzin Bill' after Friday prayers by taking to the streets. “We were born with ‘Allahu akbar’ and we'll continue saying, ‘Allahu akbar,’” they said. Haaretz+ noted that creative solutions have already been found for the problem of amplified calls to prayer early in the morning through dialogue between mosques and their Jewish neighbors.
**Maariv’s settler correspondent, Karni Eldad, reported earlier that an Israeli critic slammed the owner of a West Bank winery, who invited Trump to visit. When Vered Ben-Saadoun, owner of ‘Toura’ boutique winery in Rechalim settlement, uploaded a photo of her winery with the words ‘Waiting for Trump’s visit,”
Gal Zohar, the wine expert of the Dan hotel chain commented on it and caused another storm. "Indeed, you have so much in common,” wrote Zohar. “The undisguised racism that you share with pride is not surprising at all. A little more surprising is the longing for the visit of a serial stalker, a pathological liar and a proud tax-evader. And maybe as an afterthought, the great amount in common outweighs the differences. And, there is no doubt that as the visitor arrives, pinching your bottom, hugging and kisses because he can. A little less pleasant, perhaps, is the moment when he grabs your p****. But what won’t be done for the homeland. And if I may, just a small tip, you can forget about the barrel cellar tour, he has always preferred them young.” Ben-Saadoun answered him with a comment of her own, writing, “You won’t harm me and my honor as a woman. I’m a mother of five children, who works hard from morning to night. I try to produce the best wine and you come and belittle me with a mortal blow, a blow, which by the way is not personal, but harms all women.” After Ben-Saadoun filed a police complaint and many people slammed Zohar and “he was forced to apologize,” wrote Maariv’s settler correspondent Karni Eldad. Zohar wrote: "My intention was obviously to express astonishment for the support of Trump, a man who I see is perceived as a hater of women, harassment of women and dangerous for women. Ironically, or perhaps just stupidly, my choice of words was so miserable that the result was exactly the opposite, and frankly embarrassing."
The controversial submarine deal that Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu pushed for and the latest appointments made by President-elect Donald Trump were top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers - but represented in vastly different ways. Only Israel Hayom presented the submarine deal as important for Israel’s security and Trump’s appointments as positive, while the other papers said the people Trump appointed were racist and anti-Semitic and that there were calls for a ‘deep investigation’ of the sub deal, Yedioth revealed a document that showed the new submarines were not meant to replace the older as the National Security Council’s claimed and Haaretz+ reported that a top security official admitted that then-defense chief Moshe Ya'alon may not have known everything about the deal.
Meanwhile, the controversial Muezzin bill is up for discussion in the Knesset again after ultra-Orthodox Health Minister said he would sign onto it if the bill were amended to permit the Shabbat siren. Meretz MK Issawi Frej said the law wasn't about noise, “it's about religious persecution.” Thousands of Arab Israelis protested the 'Muezzin Bill' after Friday prayers by taking to the streets. “We were born with ‘Allahu akbar’ and we'll continue saying, ‘Allahu akbar,’” they said. Haaretz+ noted that creative solutions have already been found for the problem of amplified calls to prayer early in the morning through dialogue between mosques and their Jewish neighbors.
**Maariv’s settler correspondent, Karni Eldad, reported earlier that an Israeli critic slammed the owner of a West Bank winery, who invited Trump to visit. When Vered Ben-Saadoun, owner of ‘Toura’ boutique winery in Rechalim settlement, uploaded a photo of her winery with the words ‘Waiting for Trump’s visit,”
Gal Zohar, the wine expert of the Dan hotel chain commented on it and caused another storm. "Indeed, you have so much in common,” wrote Zohar. “The undisguised racism that you share with pride is not surprising at all. A little more surprising is the longing for the visit of a serial stalker, a pathological liar and a proud tax-evader. And maybe as an afterthought, the great amount in common outweighs the differences. And, there is no doubt that as the visitor arrives, pinching your bottom, hugging and kisses because he can. A little less pleasant, perhaps, is the moment when he grabs your p****. But what won’t be done for the homeland. And if I may, just a small tip, you can forget about the barrel cellar tour, he has always preferred them young.” Ben-Saadoun answered him with a comment of her own, writing, “You won’t harm me and my honor as a woman. I’m a mother of five children, who works hard from morning to night. I try to produce the best wine and you come and belittle me with a mortal blow, a blow, which by the way is not personal, but harms all women.” After Ben-Saadoun filed a police complaint and many people slammed Zohar and “he was forced to apologize,” wrote Maariv’s settler correspondent Karni Eldad. Zohar wrote: "My intention was obviously to express astonishment for the support of Trump, a man who I see is perceived as a hater of women, harassment of women and dangerous for women. Ironically, or perhaps just stupidly, my choice of words was so miserable that the result was exactly the opposite, and frankly embarrassing."
Quick Hits:
- Palestinian youth reported killed by IDF gunfire near Gaza border - The Palestinian health ministry says the youth died during clashes on the border; the Israeli military says it is investigating the report. (Haaretz and Ynet+graphic VIDEO)
- Price of protest: Rubber bullet lands Palestinian boy in vegetative state - Fares Bayed's father doesn’t know what happened to his son at the entrance to the Jalazun refugee camp, near Ramallah, but he’s positive that Israeli soldiers should not have shot him in the head. (Haaretz+)
- Settlers urge Israel to release body of Palestinian boy killed by troops - Residents of the Gush Etzion settlement bloc say Israel's refusal to return the body of Khaled al-Baher, 15, of Beit Ummar is an irritant in relations with the Palestinians. (Haaretz+)
- Israeli Supreme Court rejects Palestinian village's appeal over confiscated land - The Israeli Supreme Court rejected an appeal filed by residents of the occupied West Bank village of al-Nabi Elyas over Israel’s confiscation of 100 dunams of Palestinian land. According to the court, the villagers could not prove ownership of land that had been seized to build a road. (Maan)
- Palestinian workers in Israel rarely get the sick pay they deserve - Sick pay from Palestinian laborers accumulated by the treasury – and not paid out – is estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars. (Haaretz+)
- High school principal refuses to play Israel's anthem at ceremony - "Anthem excludes high school's Arab teachers," says Tichonet High School principal Ram Cohen • Yisrael Beytenu MK Oded Forer urges Education Ministry to investigate, saying school's decision is "outrageous, disturbing." (Israel Hayom)
- Israeli legislator calls for suspension of colleagues who seek settlement boycott - Likud’s Yoav Kish is responding to a call by Meretz’s Tamar Zandberg, who says she won't buy products from the settlements. (Haaretz+)
- Ignoring Arab citizens, Knesset launches new app, but only in Hebrew - Arabic, an official language in Israel spoken by 20 percent of its citizens, isn't supported. Knesset says other languages will be considered in the future. (Haaretz+)
- Yisrael Beytenu seeks to bar polls in month prior to elections - "In the last leg of the election campaign, voters should be allowed to form their decision without the influence of tendentious tracking polls," Yisrael Beytenu MK Robert Ilatov tells public commission formulating a reform of Israel's Election Law. (Israel Hayom)
- WATCH 'Prayers of the Mothers' Honors the Thousands of Jewish and Arab Women Marching for Peace - Song by singer-songwriter Yael Deckelbaum, which mixes in a message from Liberian peace activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Leymah Gbowee, celebrates the “Women Wage Peace” movement. (Haaretz)
- (Arab) Police officer's nephew shot to death in the north - Anan Hakrush, who was found in his car in Kafr Kana with gunshot wounds and died later, was the nephew of the country's first Muslim police major general, Jamal Kahrush. (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
- Israeli watchdog altered campaign financing report critical of Netanyahu confidant - Joseph Shapira ordered removal of criticism of Netanyahu's personal lawyer, who happened to recommend Shapira for the post of state comptroller. (Haaretz+)
- PM's son hosted by Australian billionaire who is asking for permanent residency in Israel - Yair Netanyahu has spent several weekends in the Tel Aviv apartment of James Packer, a family friend; PMO says that it's his right to be hosted by friends. (Calcalist/Ynet)
- 'Channel 10 is a propaganda tool against PM' - PM Netanyahu slams Channel 10 after it decides not to air his response to a report that his son was promoting certain legislation. PM says omission proves its bias • Netanyahu: Report is part of the outlet's "daily drip of poison against the PM." (Israel Hayom)
- Netanyahu to break Ben-Gurion's record for longest consecutive term as prime minister - With 2,788 days consecutive days in office, Netanyahu will break one of the records set by Israel's first prime minister, but in order to break Ben-Gurion's record of overall time in office, he would need 972 more days. (Ynet)
- Ministers to debate bill to overhaul Security Cabinet following Protective Edge lessons - MK Ofer Shelah's bill would anchor membership in the Cabinet to a position, avoiding political appointments; the NSC would be more actively involved in providing information and training advisors; any member could convene the Cabinet, not just the PM; despite scattered support, uncertain if ministers will vote for the bill. (Ynet)
- Jerusalem shopkeeper uncovers 12th century trove, wants IAA out - The Palestinian resident of the Old City uncovers a chamber from the Ayyubid Dynasty beneath his shop, but he tells Ma'an that the Israel Antiquities Authority's attempt to claim possession of the site is part of Israel's effort to falsely 'Judaize Jerusalem.' (Ynet+VIDEO)
- Byzantine-era arch discovered in Old City - The arch is discovered during construction near the Hurva Synagogue and Cardo Street in the Old City's Jewish Quarter; MK Galant: 'To me, there is nothing more important or more exciting that connects the Jewish people to this place and I am excited to be a part of it.' (Ynet)
- Panic sends dozens for cover in TLV port, as altercation confused for terror attack - A café fight was mistaken for a terrorist attack, sending visitors of the Tel Aviv port into a frenzy; police eventually arrive and arrest those involved in the actual brawl. (Ynet)
- New Israel poverty index ranks Jerusalem near bottom - The report, which was conducted by the Central Bureau of Statistics, calculates the socio-economic ranking of 255 communities in Israel and creates a rank from 1-10; Jerusalem ranked lowest of all major cities in Israel. (Ynet)
- Hamas takes aim at Israeli SIM cards in Gaza, citing access to 'immoral' content - SIM cards from Israeli providers are sold for cheap and offer more service than Palestinian counterparts, but Hamas feels their presence serves as a risk to morality and security. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Senior Israeli defense official stepping down after 13 years of driving policy - Amos Gilad has been involved in securing the release of captured soldier Gilad Shalit and efforts to come to a long-term truce with Hamas in Gaza. (Haaretz+)
- Israeli ambassador's wife excluded from event held at Palestinian venue - Diplomatic Spouses Club in Chile tells Michal Hayat, wife of Israeli ambassador Eldad Hayat, that she can't attend annual charity event; in response, representatives from the US, Europe cancel participation in event. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- Huckabee denies report Trump appointed him as ambassador to Israel - The former Arkansas governor said he was offered a position in Trump's cabinet but 'it wasn't the right fit.' (Haaretz)
- U.S. Demands Immediate End to Bombing of Aleppo Hospitals - 'There is no excuse for these heinous actions,' national security adviser Rice says, calling on Russia to deescalate violence. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- With All Hospitals Out of Action, Syrians in East Aleppo Are 'Left to Die' - Days of heavy airstrikes have put all medical facilities the besieged area of the Syrian city out of commission, health officials say. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- 'Iran arrests 12 officials involved in nuclear talks over espionage'- Tehran detains dual-national officials involved in negotiating 2015 nuclear agreement with the West, opposition MP reveals • Suspects have "infiltrated into government and procured senior managerial and decision-making posts," he says. (Agencies, Israel Hayom)
Features:
A terror-stricken Israeli settlement's vision for peace with the Palestinians
The settlers of Otniel, which has suffered numerous deadly terror attacks since its founding two decades ago, insist upon conciliatory messages of coexistence with their neighbors. What sets them apart from other settlers? (Shany Littman, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
The settlers of Otniel, which has suffered numerous deadly terror attacks since its founding two decades ago, insist upon conciliatory messages of coexistence with their neighbors. What sets them apart from other settlers? (Shany Littman, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
Suddenly It’s Okay to Be pro-Israel and anti-Semitic (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) When friendship for Israel is judged solely on the basis of support for the
occupation, Israel has no friends other than racists and nationalists.
Jerusalem mayor uses Arab residents as club to beat Supreme Court (Nir Hasson, Haaretz+) Nir Barkat’s threat to step up demolition of homes in East Jerusalem if Amona outpost is demolished in December is questionable both legally and morally.
Whitewashing Apartheid (Haaretz Editorial) The attorney general and justice minister's efforts to retroactively legalize illegal settlements are intended to legitimize not only the outposts, but the apartheid rule in the territories.
Netanyahu Must Be Investigated (Haaretz Editorial) Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit, who promised to investigate public figures promptly, must accelerate his inquiry into the submarine affair and all the other affairs involving Netanyahu.
The Week Netanyahu Would Like to Forget (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) The settlement bill debacle showed Lieberman has become the Israeli government's only voice of reason and that Bennett is ringmaster.
Trump’s Recruits: Solid Picks Alongside Extremists With a Touch of Weirdo (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) Emerging national security team abhors the Iran deal and supports right-wing Israel, but policy will depend on depth of collaboration with Moscow.
Start-Up Nation’s Worst Enemy: Donald Trump (David Rosenberg, Haaretz+) Israel’s main interest isn’t thriving settlements but a thriving global economy, which the U.S. president-elect seems determined to take apart.
Alt-left delete (Ruthie Blum, Israel Hayom) Trump's victory cannot be attributed to a fringe far-right group, and his positions on reinvigorating the economy, restoring American power and vetting immigrants have nothing to do with white supremacism.
Forget Trump, Steve Bannon Is the Real Danger (Rogel Alpher, Haaretz+) President-elect Donald Trump declared in the final presidential debate that he wasn’t a puppet. But the signs are that right-wing ideologue Bannon will be pulling the strings in the White House.
Why regulation must be limited to settlement blocs (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) International and Israeli precedents can be used to justify a restricted version of the Regulation Bill, but there is no justification for legitimizing outposts like Amona.
When the Shackles of PC Come Loose (Carolina Landsmann, Haaretz+) Perhaps the bonds of political correctness are just what blocked the political energy necessary to thaw the freeze that Netanyahu brought upon Israel - and that Trump's election has loosened them.
Outpost bill can stand up to scrutiny (Avi Bell, Israel Hayom) Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit's attempt to prevent the Knesset from passing the outpost regulation bill is based on flawed legal logic.
Israel's High Court Goes One Verdict Too Far (Israel Harel, Haaretz+) Uprooting the settlement outpost Amona will root out of the hearts of many good people their remaining confidence in the justice system.
It’s not about the submarines, it’s about Netanyahu’s lawyer (Shimon Shiffer, Yedioth/Ynet) A state commission of inquiry must look into the intolerable conflict of interests of attorney David Shimron, Netanyahu’s relative and representative on every issue—both personal and national.
Trump's Jewish Supporters Are Celebrating. But for How Long? (Josh Glancy, Haaretz+) A quarter of American Jews, and some of their French peers, have bet on parties whose worldview offers shared antipathies toward Muslim, liberals and Palestinians - but are tainted with anti-Semitism. It’s a risky gamble.
Submarines are a strategic military need (Maj. Gen. (ret.) Yaakov Amidror, Israel Hayom) Strategic matters with political, economic and military aspects take a long time to materialize, so it is imprudent to wait until the very last moment.
Bannon's Not an Anti-Semite. But He Is an Anti-Muslim, Anti-women Bigot (Alan M. Dershowitz, Haaretz+) There is no compelling evidence to suggest Bannon is anti-Semitic. But because bigotry against any group should be disqualifying for high office, I cannot support his appointment.
Middle Eastern States Fight Each Other Like There's No ISIS (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) What started as a civil war is now creating new confrontations for regional power players.
Jerusalem mayor uses Arab residents as club to beat Supreme Court (Nir Hasson, Haaretz+) Nir Barkat’s threat to step up demolition of homes in East Jerusalem if Amona outpost is demolished in December is questionable both legally and morally.
Whitewashing Apartheid (Haaretz Editorial) The attorney general and justice minister's efforts to retroactively legalize illegal settlements are intended to legitimize not only the outposts, but the apartheid rule in the territories.
Netanyahu Must Be Investigated (Haaretz Editorial) Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit, who promised to investigate public figures promptly, must accelerate his inquiry into the submarine affair and all the other affairs involving Netanyahu.
The Week Netanyahu Would Like to Forget (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) The settlement bill debacle showed Lieberman has become the Israeli government's only voice of reason and that Bennett is ringmaster.
Trump’s Recruits: Solid Picks Alongside Extremists With a Touch of Weirdo (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) Emerging national security team abhors the Iran deal and supports right-wing Israel, but policy will depend on depth of collaboration with Moscow.
Start-Up Nation’s Worst Enemy: Donald Trump (David Rosenberg, Haaretz+) Israel’s main interest isn’t thriving settlements but a thriving global economy, which the U.S. president-elect seems determined to take apart.
Alt-left delete (Ruthie Blum, Israel Hayom) Trump's victory cannot be attributed to a fringe far-right group, and his positions on reinvigorating the economy, restoring American power and vetting immigrants have nothing to do with white supremacism.
Forget Trump, Steve Bannon Is the Real Danger (Rogel Alpher, Haaretz+) President-elect Donald Trump declared in the final presidential debate that he wasn’t a puppet. But the signs are that right-wing ideologue Bannon will be pulling the strings in the White House.
Why regulation must be limited to settlement blocs (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) International and Israeli precedents can be used to justify a restricted version of the Regulation Bill, but there is no justification for legitimizing outposts like Amona.
When the Shackles of PC Come Loose (Carolina Landsmann, Haaretz+) Perhaps the bonds of political correctness are just what blocked the political energy necessary to thaw the freeze that Netanyahu brought upon Israel - and that Trump's election has loosened them.
Outpost bill can stand up to scrutiny (Avi Bell, Israel Hayom) Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit's attempt to prevent the Knesset from passing the outpost regulation bill is based on flawed legal logic.
Israel's High Court Goes One Verdict Too Far (Israel Harel, Haaretz+) Uprooting the settlement outpost Amona will root out of the hearts of many good people their remaining confidence in the justice system.
It’s not about the submarines, it’s about Netanyahu’s lawyer (Shimon Shiffer, Yedioth/Ynet) A state commission of inquiry must look into the intolerable conflict of interests of attorney David Shimron, Netanyahu’s relative and representative on every issue—both personal and national.
Trump's Jewish Supporters Are Celebrating. But for How Long? (Josh Glancy, Haaretz+) A quarter of American Jews, and some of their French peers, have bet on parties whose worldview offers shared antipathies toward Muslim, liberals and Palestinians - but are tainted with anti-Semitism. It’s a risky gamble.
Submarines are a strategic military need (Maj. Gen. (ret.) Yaakov Amidror, Israel Hayom) Strategic matters with political, economic and military aspects take a long time to materialize, so it is imprudent to wait until the very last moment.
Bannon's Not an Anti-Semite. But He Is an Anti-Muslim, Anti-women Bigot (Alan M. Dershowitz, Haaretz+) There is no compelling evidence to suggest Bannon is anti-Semitic. But because bigotry against any group should be disqualifying for high office, I cannot support his appointment.
Middle Eastern States Fight Each Other Like There's No ISIS (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) What started as a civil war is now creating new confrontations for regional power players.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.