APN's daily news review from Israel
Thursday December 29, 2016
Quote of the day:
Front Page:
News Summary:
US Secretary of State John Kerry’s speech for a two-state solution, the declassified files on the missing Yemenite children and the report that the Attorney General approved a police questioning of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu regarding accusations of exploiting his position for financial gain were today’s top stories in the Hebrew newspapers. Also in the news were sharp words from the former defense minister and chief of staff, Moshe Yaalon.
In a 70-minute speech, John Kerry encapsulated the Obama Administration’s vision for peace and blasted the Netanyahu government, said it was driven by extremist elements, used the words ‘ Naqba’ and ‘occupation’ and presented a six-point future peace deal based on the division of Jerusalem as the capital for two states. Yedioth wrote that “whoever wanted proof of the change of perspective in the White House, got it yesterday.” Netanyahu responded accusing Kerry of “attacking the only democracy in the Middle East” and saying how he was looking forward to working with President-elect Donald Trump. Trump made the front pages of the Israeli papers, too, because he Tweeted support for Israel and opposition to the UN Resolution #2334 against Israeli settlements. But Israeli commentators were not convinced that Israel could count on Trump and many considered Kerry’s speech pro-Israel (see Commentary/Analysis below).
Hours before Kerry’s speech and at the request of Netanyahu, Israel delayed the vote on building permits for 500 new homes in East Jerusalem out of fear of reprisals. Yet just ahead of the speech, Jerusalem's city planning commission approved a plan to build a three-story building for Jewish settlers in the heart of East Jerusalem's Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan. After the speech, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told Kerry he was ready to resume talks with Israel the moment settlement construction was frozen.
*Former defense minister Moshe Yaalon had harsh words for the Netanyahu government saying that “more responsible leadership could have prevented the UN vote” against settlements. Speaking at an economic conference, Yaalon accused the government of losing its sense, self-harming and fomenting internal disputes between Arabs and Jews and between Mizrachi and Ashkenazi Jews in the country:
Features:
"The IDF is an army that if it loses its basic values and moral legitimacy, it could wind up
looking like ISIS."
-- Former defense minister and former IDF chief of staff, Moshe Yaalon said publicly that Israeli right-wing politicians acted against the country when they expressed support for the soldier Elor Azariya, of the 'Shooting Soldier in Hebron' affair and that they fomented division among Israelis.*
You Must Be Kidding:
"Does being not Jewish actually affect the type of person someone is? Absolutely not. We need to know how to accept those who are different and to respect their religion, their ethnicity, and their views...See what happened in Nazi Germany. It’s a terrible, but precise example of what happens when people hate other people based on their religion."
--Pop star, 'Static,' responded to his followers who cursed him on Instagram because he posted a photo of a Christmas tree with holiday greetings to his Columbian friends.**
-- Former defense minister and former IDF chief of staff, Moshe Yaalon said publicly that Israeli right-wing politicians acted against the country when they expressed support for the soldier Elor Azariya, of the 'Shooting Soldier in Hebron' affair and that they fomented division among Israelis.*
You Must Be Kidding:
"Does being not Jewish actually affect the type of person someone is? Absolutely not. We need to know how to accept those who are different and to respect their religion, their ethnicity, and their views...See what happened in Nazi Germany. It’s a terrible, but precise example of what happens when people hate other people based on their religion."
--Pop star, 'Static,' responded to his followers who cursed him on Instagram because he posted a photo of a Christmas tree with holiday greetings to his Columbian friends.**
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Kerry’s principles: Jerusalem as capital of two-state solution and a realistic solution for refugees
- The twilight zone // Chemi Shalev
- Zionist in Washington // Barak Ravid
- Opening of archives did not expose a smoking gun in the affair of the Children of Yemen, and the mystery remained
- The change in guidelines of child support that Shaked proposed received expansive support in the Knesset
- Minimize the suffering (of animals – stop the death shipments) // Haaretz Editorial
- A dubious grant // Zvi Zerahiya
Yedioth Ahronoth
- Two Americas – Trump: “Israel, stay strong…”; Kerry: “Netanyahu’s gov’t is driven by an extremist agenda”
- A requiem to a dream // Nahum Barnea
- Netanyahu: “The Middle East is burning, terror is rampant, but Kerry is obsessive about settlements”
- Out in the light – the full testimonies (on the Children of Yemen affair) were exposed
- (Netanyahu is) on the way to being investigated
- The Jewish Agency was shocked: A sado-masochist club in the building
- On the day of the bomb: Former head of the CIA, Michael Hayden, reveals for the first time the full story of the bombing of the Syrian nuclear facility
- (TV journalist) Haim Yavin – worrying testimonies of sexual harassment
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Kerry: “Israel’s future is determined by the settlers”; Netanyahu: “A disappointing, biased and obsessive speech”
- From his heart // Ben Caspit
- The concluding stabs // Nadav Haetzni
- Report: “Netanyahu will be summoned for questioning”
- The Children of Yemen affair: “$5000 for a Yemenite child”
Israel Hayom
- Trump to Israel: Be strong – the 20th of January is getting closer; Netanyahu: “Kerry’s speech – a great disappointment, biased and obsessive”
- Obama leaves behind scorched earth // Haim Shine
- Speech – and leave us in peace! // Boaz Bismuth
- Testimonies reveal: There were children of Yemen who were given away by doctors and middlemen
- Attorney General does not confirm or deny that he gave approval for police to question the Prime Minister
- Today: Cadets of Flight course #173 will receive their silver wings
- Tonight: 6th candle of Hannukah
- A successful year: Israeli economy grew by 3.5% in 2016
News Summary:
US Secretary of State John Kerry’s speech for a two-state solution, the declassified files on the missing Yemenite children and the report that the Attorney General approved a police questioning of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu regarding accusations of exploiting his position for financial gain were today’s top stories in the Hebrew newspapers. Also in the news were sharp words from the former defense minister and chief of staff, Moshe Yaalon.
In a 70-minute speech, John Kerry encapsulated the Obama Administration’s vision for peace and blasted the Netanyahu government, said it was driven by extremist elements, used the words ‘ Naqba’ and ‘occupation’ and presented a six-point future peace deal based on the division of Jerusalem as the capital for two states. Yedioth wrote that “whoever wanted proof of the change of perspective in the White House, got it yesterday.” Netanyahu responded accusing Kerry of “attacking the only democracy in the Middle East” and saying how he was looking forward to working with President-elect Donald Trump. Trump made the front pages of the Israeli papers, too, because he Tweeted support for Israel and opposition to the UN Resolution #2334 against Israeli settlements. But Israeli commentators were not convinced that Israel could count on Trump and many considered Kerry’s speech pro-Israel (see Commentary/Analysis below).
Hours before Kerry’s speech and at the request of Netanyahu, Israel delayed the vote on building permits for 500 new homes in East Jerusalem out of fear of reprisals. Yet just ahead of the speech, Jerusalem's city planning commission approved a plan to build a three-story building for Jewish settlers in the heart of East Jerusalem's Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan. After the speech, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told Kerry he was ready to resume talks with Israel the moment settlement construction was frozen.
*Former defense minister Moshe Yaalon had harsh words for the Netanyahu government saying that “more responsible leadership could have prevented the UN vote” against settlements. Speaking at an economic conference, Yaalon accused the government of losing its sense, self-harming and fomenting internal disputes between Arabs and Jews and between Mizrachi and Ashkenazi Jews in the country:
- “Israel faces no existential threat.”
- “The current social and economic conduct is weakening Zionist activity. The internal threats concern me even more than ISIS.”
- “The government is sparking disputes and quarrels between Jews and Arabs, between Asheknazi and Sephardi Jews. A government like this needs to go in a democratic fashion. The sooner the better.”
And speaking to 1,000 high-school seniors, Yaalon further referred to ISIS in reference to the military
tribunal case against the soldier, Elor Azaria, who shot dead an already wounded and incapacitated Palestinian
assailant. Yaalon said the Israeli army was at risk of “looking
like ISIS” and said some politicians seized upon the incident as a way to make political capital.
They "declared the soldier a hero and began circulating rumors, first against the prime minister, against
me and the chief of staff…Afterwards the prime minister unfortunately switched sides, and decided to
embrace the soldier's family. That's his business, not mine. I decided to support the commanders and I was
left alone in that war.” (Also Maariv)
Today’s Hebrew newspapers had somewhat different takes on the de-classified files on the disappearance of Yemenite children, with Haaretz+ declaring there was no ‘smoking gun,’ Maariv saying that a deeper dig exposed terrible stories that showed how children were taken and given for adoption and families telling Yedioth that the testimonies were rewritten and that they still want the truth.
Today’s Hebrew newspapers had somewhat different takes on the de-classified files on the disappearance of Yemenite children, with Haaretz+ declaring there was no ‘smoking gun,’ Maariv saying that a deeper dig exposed terrible stories that showed how children were taken and given for adoption and families telling Yedioth that the testimonies were rewritten and that they still want the truth.
Quick Hits:
- Israel Confirms School in West Bank Settlement Built Illegally on Palestinian Land - Four years after construction of school complex, Civil Administration says 'enforcement proceedings will be adopted against it.' (Haaretz+)
- Amid Cry of 'Traitors,' Israeli Bill Requiring Flying of the Flag Gains Pace - The Knesset approved the motion in a preliminary vote, while Likud MK Oren Hazan accused his Israeli Arab colleagues of being disloyal. (Haaretz+ and Maariv)
- Police Question East Jerusalem Security Guards After They Shot and Injured Palestinian - Video clips show four Israelis employed to guard settler compound beating youth and firing in direction of Silwan residents; say they feared for their lives after Palestinians threw stones at them. (Haaretz+ and YouTube)
- Meretz head, Likud MK, lock horns over controversial leftist group - Pandemonium erupts during Education Committee meeting on allowing Breaking the Silence to lecture in schools, when MKs Zehava Galon, Oren Hazan trade virulent barbs. Galon calls Hazan "pimp." Hazan: You pimp terrorists; traitors belong in jail. (Israel Hayom, Maariv and Times of Israel)
- Cut scholarships for anti-Israel groups, bereaved families demand - Following Israel Hayom report, Knesset education committee discusses "absurd" scholarships for students who volunteer with anti-Israel organizations. "Families feel as if their loved ones have been murdered for a second time," says bereaved mother. [NOTE: Israel Hayom's reference to 'anti-Israel organizations' actually means organizations supporting human and civil rights and anti-occupation. - OH] (Israel Hayom)
- **Pop singer ‘Static’ was attacked for photo he posted of Christmas tree - and answered his slanderers: "We need to know how to accept the Other" - ‘Stat Boy,’ the other half of the duo "Static and Ben el-Tavori," decided to make a nice gesture to his Colombian acrobats friends, who perform with him at the Festigal festival, and posted an Instagram photo of a Christmas tree with wishes for a Merry Christmas. Hundreds of his followers cursed him for the photo, but the pop star did not remain silent: "All of you who responded saying I am a stinking goy - most of you I will block today. I wrote explicitly that this is a gift to my friends from Colombia." He further wrote: "Does being not Jewish actually affect the type of person someone is? Absolutely not. We need to know how to accept those who are different and to respect their religion, their ethnicity, and their views." Later he wrote: "See what happened in Nazi Germany. It’s a terrible but precise example of what happens when people hate other people based on their religion." (NRG and Walla)
- Tzipi Hotovely objects to Netanyahu canceling delegate visits - Deputy Foreign Minister Hotovely (Likud) comes out against PM Netanyahu's decision to retaliate against UN anti-settlement resolution by temporarily halting diplomatic relations with countries that voted in favor; MK Meir Cohen (Yesh Atid) set to offer bill aiming to have Israel provide legal defense to IDF soldiers sued at the International Court of Justice. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- Israeli opposition accuses Netanyahu of strengthening BDS after UN vote - Zionist Union criticizes UN vote on Israeli settlement, but lambasts PM for his "diplomatic typhoon" in response to the matter. MK Isaac Herzog (Zionist Union): “Whoever doesn’t praise Netanyahu every morning and write a Pravda article in his favor is called a traitor and no less. (Maariv and JPost)
- Jewish leader slams Israeli defense minister for saying that community doesn’t belong in France - 'It’s dangerous and regrettable and it can indirectly be used by all kinds of anti-Semites who already say Jews don’t belong in France or are not as French as other citizens.' (Haaretz+)
- Report shows rise in Arab MKs' visits to Palestinian prisoners - Fatah arch-terrorist Marwan Barghouti, Islamic Movement official Raed Salah each had over a dozen visits by Arab MKs in 2016, Shin Bet security agency says. Lawmakers' visits with prisoners enjoy full privacy, prompting agency to monitor trend closely. (Israel Hayom)
- Tel Aviv opens first day care center for kids of asylum-seekers - The city allocated money to establishing the facility after a number of toddlers died in improvised nurseries. (Haaretz+)
- Tourism to Israel Refuses to Take Off Despite Record Investments - The Tourism Ministry has neither a marketing head nor a functioning operational arm; its 440 million-shekel budget has barely bumped up business. (Haaretz)
- Collaborator in deadly Jerusalem stabbing attack gets 35 years in jail - Abed al-Aziz Ma’ari, a 22-year-old student from Abu Dis, who planned and assisted Mohand Halabi in an attack which killed Rabbi Nehemia Lavi and Aaron Bennett in Jerusalem’s Old City last year, will also be required to pay NIS 258,000 to each member of the victims’ families. (Ynet)
- Israel arrested Hamas tunnels expert infiltrating from Gaza - Bilaal Rozayna was seized while crossing the border late last month, and has since then provided the IDF with sensitive information about Hamas' subterranean network, a military statement says. (Haaretz and Ynet)
- British tabloids aflutter over 'hot' female Israeli soldiers - "Hot Israeli Army Girls" Instagram account features thousands of photos and has around 34,500 followers, The Sun says • Report makes it across pond as New York Post declares, "These Israeli soldiers would turn a drill instructor into a drool sergeant." (Israel Hayom)
- 2016 declared most fatal year on Israel’s roads in 5 years - A total of 371 people have been killed in the past year on Israel’s roads, compared to 356 traffic fatalities in 2015; Road Safety Authority figures point to an alarming increase in the number of deaths among young drivers, as well as a sharp rise in road casualties in the Arab sector. (Ynet)
- Report from France "At Entebbe, two of the hostages died from fire by IDF soldiers" - The newspaper Le Monde revealed documents that shed new light on the rescue of the hostages at Entebbe in 1976: Israel did not act alone and the rescue operation was not a secret as was first thought. (Maariv)
- Pakistan's defense chief taking heat for threating nuclear war with Israel - Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif had threatened Israel in reliance on a false report of a potential Israeli attack on Pakistan. (Haaretz)
- Syria Cease-fire Plan Reportedly Agreed on by Russia, Turkey - Transition toward peace can't involve Assad, Turkish foreign minister says. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Lebanon Approves Unity Government, With Hezbollah as Member - Headed by Saad Hariri, Cabinet includes most of country's political groups, including Hezbollah, which holds two seats. (Agencies, Haaretz)
Features:
"Creating a different reality": At the Jerusalem Bilingual School they insist they aren’t living in a
bubble
Two years have passed since the Yad Be-Yad school was set on fire and it seems that students and teachers came out strengthened. A new program teaches the cultural heritage of three religions in one class with three teachers: "It is something special that does not exist elsewhere." (Ofer Livnat, Maariv)
“I felt significant": Meet the female IDF radar observers who saved lives behind the scenes
They are usually called the "eyes of the nation," even if they were not always enthusiastic about receiving their job. We followed five of those who are always at the height of alertness around the clock. "There is a lot of satisfaction," they say. (Avi Lital, Maariv)
Paradise of hope: Jewish religious hymns next to calls by the muezzin at the Biblical Zoo
The employees, Jews and Palestinians alike, have created a place where coexistence seems more possible than ever before. "If tigers and chimpanzees know how to overcome the crisis, we can, too." (Yaakov Bar-On, Maariv Magazine supplement)
Commentary/Analysis:
Two years have passed since the Yad Be-Yad school was set on fire and it seems that students and teachers came out strengthened. A new program teaches the cultural heritage of three religions in one class with three teachers: "It is something special that does not exist elsewhere." (Ofer Livnat, Maariv)
“I felt significant": Meet the female IDF radar observers who saved lives behind the scenes
They are usually called the "eyes of the nation," even if they were not always enthusiastic about receiving their job. We followed five of those who are always at the height of alertness around the clock. "There is a lot of satisfaction," they say. (Avi Lital, Maariv)
Paradise of hope: Jewish religious hymns next to calls by the muezzin at the Biblical Zoo
The employees, Jews and Palestinians alike, have created a place where coexistence seems more possible than ever before. "If tigers and chimpanzees know how to overcome the crisis, we can, too." (Yaakov Bar-On, Maariv Magazine supplement)
Commentary/Analysis:
Kerry’s Eulogy for Peace Marks Transition From No-drama Obama to Twilight Zone
Trump (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) Kerry's honest and detailed speech
was a fitting end to one of the ugliest chapters in U.S.-Israeli relations. Next time Netanyahu hears
from the U.S., it'll probably be in 140 characters.
From his heart: John Kerry spoke out of love for Israel and they are presenting him as an anti-Semite (Ben Caspit, Maariv) John Kerry supports Israel, but not Israeli policy, with the most right-wing government ever formed here. Now they are painting him as a public enemy.
Security Prisoners Are Human Beings (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) Israel's inhumane treatment of security prisoners is often overlooked. Don't they deserve at least the same treatment as convicted murderers?
You don't abandon friends (Boaz Bismuth, Israel Hayom) Haaretz, which specializes in dark prophecies, sees Israel's use of legitimate diplomatic tools to protest the U.N. Security Council vote as going too far, but it was President Barack Obama who broke the rules, not Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
When Israel's Rising Pop Star Dared Wish His Friends Merry Christmas (Emilie Moatti, Haaretz+) Readers' comments on Israeli websites are full of vitriol. One’s eyes burn in light of the curses and threats against a 26-year-old singer, 'Static,' whose only sin was a Christmas greeting to his friends. Ironically, several hours later US President-elect Donald Trump posted a Happy Hanukkah greeting on Twitter, and was attacked by anti-Semitic organizations. Unfortunately there’s still something to aspire to when it comes to hatred of the other.
The UN resolution on Israel (Elliott Abrams, Israel Hayom) The resolution rewards the PLO for refusing to negotiate and adopts its tactic of replacing serious, face-to-face negotiations with useless dramas in New York. Obama has abandoned Israel to "the jackals" at the U.N.
Netanyahu’s Revolution: Silence Dissenting Views (Aluf Benn, Haaretz+) Will the top brass of the military and the intelligence agencies be replaced with loyal officers? Will the incitement against artists and rivals be translated into indictments, imprisonment and dismissals?
It's time for a changing of the guard (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) The Left closing the ranks of culture, academia, and the military -- until they could no longer be bothered to enlist -- led to cultural atrophy. And they wonder why a new, right-wing elite is blossoming.
You Won’t Believe Why They’re Studying Jacques Derrida in School (Ram Fruman, Haaretz+) In the Israeli school system, the fact that Derrida was born to a Jewish mother (an Algerian, to boot!) is a thousand times more important than his work and its cultural context.
Between Kerry's speech and Trump’s Tweets: In Jerusalem, they are afraid of the Paris Conference (Dana Somberg, Maariv) John Kerry spoke from his heart. He does not understand how in Israel they don’t understand that he holds the key to solve the conflict. but ultimately his speech is meaningless. Even with the president-elect it is impossible to know what will be.
Israel’s missing Yemenite children: A tale of neglect and disdain (Ofer Aderet, Haaretz+) Released documents on a decades-long controversy betray the contempt shown by Jews with European roots. But sometimes even Yemenite parents didn't want anything to do with their children.
For the US, it is easier to bend Israel than Syria, which does not depend on it (Shmuel Rosner, Maariv) Obama shot to wound, but he could no longer try to force his ideas on Israel. Despite hopes for Trump, we must remember that he could pull the rug out from under our feet.
Better a Right-winger for Prime Minister Than a Moroccan (Ron Cahlili, Haaretz+) The Zionist left thinks it's better to hand power over to the right rather than allow a Moroccan like Amir Peretz to win, because if he does, what will become of us?
Obama’s final blitz proves the great hatred towards Israel (Nadav Haetzni, Maariv) John Kerry’s foolishness and lack of understanding was not new to us, but his rehashed vision again showed us why his ideas were so successful across the globe.
It’s Trump Who’s Emulating Netanyahu in the Fight Against Liberal Values (Guy Rolnik, Haaretz+) Bibi started attacking the media two years ago and is playing favorites in the economy. But these crony capitalists haven’t won yet
From his heart: John Kerry spoke out of love for Israel and they are presenting him as an anti-Semite (Ben Caspit, Maariv) John Kerry supports Israel, but not Israeli policy, with the most right-wing government ever formed here. Now they are painting him as a public enemy.
Security Prisoners Are Human Beings (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) Israel's inhumane treatment of security prisoners is often overlooked. Don't they deserve at least the same treatment as convicted murderers?
You don't abandon friends (Boaz Bismuth, Israel Hayom) Haaretz, which specializes in dark prophecies, sees Israel's use of legitimate diplomatic tools to protest the U.N. Security Council vote as going too far, but it was President Barack Obama who broke the rules, not Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
When Israel's Rising Pop Star Dared Wish His Friends Merry Christmas (Emilie Moatti, Haaretz+) Readers' comments on Israeli websites are full of vitriol. One’s eyes burn in light of the curses and threats against a 26-year-old singer, 'Static,' whose only sin was a Christmas greeting to his friends. Ironically, several hours later US President-elect Donald Trump posted a Happy Hanukkah greeting on Twitter, and was attacked by anti-Semitic organizations. Unfortunately there’s still something to aspire to when it comes to hatred of the other.
The UN resolution on Israel (Elliott Abrams, Israel Hayom) The resolution rewards the PLO for refusing to negotiate and adopts its tactic of replacing serious, face-to-face negotiations with useless dramas in New York. Obama has abandoned Israel to "the jackals" at the U.N.
Netanyahu’s Revolution: Silence Dissenting Views (Aluf Benn, Haaretz+) Will the top brass of the military and the intelligence agencies be replaced with loyal officers? Will the incitement against artists and rivals be translated into indictments, imprisonment and dismissals?
It's time for a changing of the guard (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) The Left closing the ranks of culture, academia, and the military -- until they could no longer be bothered to enlist -- led to cultural atrophy. And they wonder why a new, right-wing elite is blossoming.
You Won’t Believe Why They’re Studying Jacques Derrida in School (Ram Fruman, Haaretz+) In the Israeli school system, the fact that Derrida was born to a Jewish mother (an Algerian, to boot!) is a thousand times more important than his work and its cultural context.
Between Kerry's speech and Trump’s Tweets: In Jerusalem, they are afraid of the Paris Conference (Dana Somberg, Maariv) John Kerry spoke from his heart. He does not understand how in Israel they don’t understand that he holds the key to solve the conflict. but ultimately his speech is meaningless. Even with the president-elect it is impossible to know what will be.
Israel’s missing Yemenite children: A tale of neglect and disdain (Ofer Aderet, Haaretz+) Released documents on a decades-long controversy betray the contempt shown by Jews with European roots. But sometimes even Yemenite parents didn't want anything to do with their children.
For the US, it is easier to bend Israel than Syria, which does not depend on it (Shmuel Rosner, Maariv) Obama shot to wound, but he could no longer try to force his ideas on Israel. Despite hopes for Trump, we must remember that he could pull the rug out from under our feet.
Better a Right-winger for Prime Minister Than a Moroccan (Ron Cahlili, Haaretz+) The Zionist left thinks it's better to hand power over to the right rather than allow a Moroccan like Amir Peretz to win, because if he does, what will become of us?
Obama’s final blitz proves the great hatred towards Israel (Nadav Haetzni, Maariv) John Kerry’s foolishness and lack of understanding was not new to us, but his rehashed vision again showed us why his ideas were so successful across the globe.
It’s Trump Who’s Emulating Netanyahu in the Fight Against Liberal Values (Guy Rolnik, Haaretz+) Bibi started attacking the media two years ago and is playing favorites in the economy. But these crony capitalists haven’t won yet
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.