News Nosh 01.11.17

APN's daily news review from Israel
Wednesday January 11, 2017  
 
You Must Be Kidding: 
"(It shows a) lack of integrity in issuing a bill under the circumstances."
--The State of Israel said regarding about the Kiryat Arba settlement local council after the council threatened to take the land belonging to two Palestinian brothers, Abdul Karim and Zaidan Jabari, if they didn't pay municipal taxes to the settlement council, despite the fact that settlement councils have no authority over Palestinians. Settlers also had the gall to build a synagogue on the Palestinian brothers' land – 48 times. Each time it was demolished by Israel for being built on private property not belonging to them. 


Front Page:
Haaretz
  • Mozes promised: I will do everything I can for you to be prime minister as long as you want; Netanyahu promised: I will advance bill to prevent the distribution of Israel Hayom
  • The government as a protection racket // Aluf Benn
  • Historical opportunity // Gidi Weitz
  • Netanyahu acting to stop bill to legalize Israeli expropriation of private Palestinian lands and legalization of outposts
  • State demolished 11 illegal structures in (Arab town of) Qalanswah; Netanyahu and Erdan: Equal enforcement
  • Explosion in car of singer Margolit Tzanani without causing injuries
  • High Court signaled it will be forced to intervene to allow surrogacy for homosexuals
  • After the HMOs, now the hospitals will stop employing people doing their specializations in psychology
  • Back to Rabin Square // Uzi Baram
  • Hi-tech is soaring
  • Abandoned to their fate – the High Court refused to order the state to fund treatment for the monkeys of Mazor Farm
Yedioth Ahronoth
  • The conversation and the offer – Netanyahu-Mozes investigation
  • Everyone is suspect // Nahum Barnea
  • (Singer) Margol is in the crosshairs – Explosives blew up her car, police say it was a message from the criminal world
  • Tragedy during the ‘Queen of the Desert’ trip: Hadas Ayash, 60, drowned to death in Guatemala
  • The plastic bag revolution
  • The faces of heroism – The modeling photos of Lt. Maya Peled
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
Israel Hayom

News Summary:
The latest details in the deal between Yedioth’s publisher and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, a bomb in the car of a famous singer, and the death of a woman on a trip in Guatemala were today’s top stories. 
 
Netanyahu, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot visited a military base in the West Bank where they saw numerous illegal weapons seized over the last year. Netanyahu attacked the Palestinian Authority and said they aren’t preventing terror and Lieberman accused Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of being behind the terror. "The real worry here is the fact that the orders come from the top -- a direct order from Abu Mazen [Abbas] to the imams in the mosques to incite [violence]," said Lieberman. Ynet’s Elior Levy wrote that the war on illicit weapons production is yielding results. But Netanyahu’s visit could not replace the headlines that Yedioth publisher Noni Mozes allegedly promised to help Netanyahu keep his job "as long as you wish" through positive press if Netanyahu prevented Mozes’ rival daily, Israel Hayom, from continuing to be a freebie. Yedioth’s top political commentator, Nahum Barnea, insisted that while all this may be true, Mozes could not tell him what to write. 
 
Meanwhile, Israel gave Palestinians with partial landownership of lands adjacent to the illegal Amona outpost notice that it intends to dismember the ownership partnership of their lands, likely ahead of preparing to give the land to the Amona settlers, Haaretz+ reported. Yet, Netanyahu seeks to bury the controversial ‘outpost legalization’ bill that would legalize an Israeli land grab of private Palestinian lands, in order to avoid international repercussions. Visiting Hebron Tuesday, Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked said, “This place belongs to us historically and legally.”
 
And US President Barack Obama gave an exclusive interview to Israeli investigative journalist Ilana Dayan of the famous ‘Uvda’ (Fact) investigative TV show. Obama warned that unfettered support for Netanyahu's policies, such as Israeli settlements, will worsen the situation between Israelis and Palestinians. Meanwhile, US President-elect Donald Trump was reportedly pushing to move the US embassy from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem – or possibly just the ambassador.  And the Zionist Organization of America [very right-wing organization – OH] has accused US Secretary of State John Kerry of inciting the Arab world to anti-Jewish and anti-Israel violence by warning against the possible ramifications of moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. In France, Francois Fillon, the leading French candidate in the race for the presidency, said, “Nothing serious will come out of the Paris peace conference,” taking place on Sunday, Maariv reported.
 
Quick Hits:
  • Israel Demolishes Buildings in Arab Town, Citing Lack of Permits - Israeli Arabs say increased enforcement of construction laws stems from political pressure tied to pending evacuation of West Bank settlement. (Haaretz+) 
  • Strike announced over demolitions in Qalansawe - After 9 illegal homes are demolished in Arab town, mayor announces his resignation, strike launched, angry residents assemble in protest; ‘Qalansawe is not Amona. These were built on private land.' (Ynet)
  • Israeli Police Prevented Medics From Treating Palestinian Assailant Shot at Checkpoint, Witnesses Say - Footage received by Haaretz supports claims that Jihan Muhammad Hashimeh was left on the ground with three bullet wounds for an hour and a half after trying to attack Israeli police with a knife. (Haaretz+VIDEO)
  • *Israel: Settlement Illegally Sought to Tax Palestinians for Synagogue Built on Their Land - State lawyers say Kiryat Arba may not demand municipal tax, which is based on the military’s orders for managing local and regional councils in the West Bank. (Haaretz+) 
  • Report: Qatar mediating prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas - Hamas source claims the terror group made the commencement of talks conditional upon the release of 60 prisoners who were released in the Shalit deal and subsequently arrested once again; Israel agreed while insisting they be expelled to Gaza or Qatar—a demand Hamas reportedly rejected. (Ynet and Maariv)
  • Israel seeking to strip residency of 12 relatives of Jerusalem truck attack assailant - Interior Minister Dery announces he'll have residency status revoked for Fadi al-Qanbar's mother and other family members, in move that sets precedent for future cases. (Haaretz+)
  • Palestinian youth arrested for graffiti praising Jerusalem terrorist - A police investigation of the graffiti led authorities to three residents of the Old City of Jerusalem –aged 13, 16 and 20 - who were detained for allegedly spray-painting messages praising Fadi Al-Qunbar, Hamas and other terrorists. (Ynet+PHOTOS and Maariv+ PHOTOS
  • Bereaved father: Returning terrorists' corpses 'senseless' - Yossi Tzur tells Ynet that the government is failing to stand by its decisions, having returned 20 terrorists' remains to their families last month; he says that it removes a valuable deterrent. (Ynet)
  • Azaria was an outstanding soldier until the shooting, says prosecutor - The military prosecutor in the Hebron shooting case notes that the soldier convicted of manslaughter was portrayed in the testimonies presented to the Military Court as ‘a positive young man and an outstanding combat soldier.’ (Ynet
  • Defense in Azaria trial says army obstructing justice by meeting family: report - Family was reportedly told by army that dropping appeal would be looked at favorably when considering a pardon. (i24 and Maariv)
  • Lieberman: We are protecting IDF values and Elor Azaria - Defense minister urges people to 'sit and stay silent' about the verdict against Sgt. Elor Azaria, warning that it merely causes further damage to his cause; reminds people Azaria was an 'excellent soldier' and that the terrorist 'came to murder Jews.' (Ynet)
  • PMO: Netanyahu will not attend Trump inauguration - Prime Minister's Office says PM Netanyahu's canceled attendance at the World Economic Forum is unrelated to plans to attend inauguration. Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions appears before Senate Judiciary Committee in first confirmation hearing. (Israel Hayom
  • Israeli officials receive reminder: Accepting gifts and other benefits may be a criminal offense - Civil Service Commission's Assaf Rosenberg sends memo against backdrop of police investigation against Netanyahu on suspicion of receiving illicit gifts. (Haaretz+) 
  • Coldplay May Play the Holy Land Before Mixed Israeli, Palestinian Crowd - Efforts to bring Coldplay to Israel have been going on for many years, and such plans have been announced more than once in the past. (Haaretz+) 
  • Pope to host Abbas on January 14 - This will be the third visit between the pontiff and the man that he dubbed an 'angel of peace' at their last meeting in 2015; a Palestinian embassy to the Holy See is expected at some point this year. (Agencies, Ynet
  • Israel Broke Immigration Rules in Refusing Venezuelan Jews Citizenship - Interior Ministry says nine Venezuelan converts haven't been active in Jewish community long enough to be allowed in Israel, but documents obtained by Haaretz show this is not the case. (Haaretz+) 
  • The bulldozers descend on Tel Aviv's iconic landmark at dawn - At 6 A.M. on Tuesday morning, the final stages of the destruction of Dizengoff Square, one of Tel Aviv's landmarks, took off. The square was built in 1925, and since 1968 has hosted its famous multi-colored fountain. Workers will be working around the clock for some 10 days to complete the move. (Haaretz)
  • President's travel security cost state $360,000 in 2015 - President's Residence releases expense report as part of "consistent pursuit of transparency" • Movement for Freedom of Information says data was provided "in an accessible and clear manner that allows the public to examine the use of public funds." (Israel Hayom)
  • French doctors visit Israel to learn emergency protocols - French doctors, journalists tour emergency underground hospital at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center. "Only a quick, carefully coordinated response allows as many lives as possible to be saved," Emergency Medicine Director Dr. Pinchas Halpern says. (Israel Hayom
  • Israeli Firms Are Clamping Down on Bribery Abroad to Comply With OECD Rules - Attorney Asher Miller, of Cycurity Vision, says that the West is trying to expand norms of proper business behavior, which are finally reaching Israel’s shores. (Haaretz+) 
  • FBI reopens investigation into 1973 murder of Israeli diplomat: Does ‘Carlos the Jackal’ have a clue in the murder of Joe Alon? - Information gather from imprisoned terrorist Carlos the Jackal sheds new light on the assassination of Israeli attache Joe Alon, New York Times reports. FBI looking into claim that killing masterminded by Palestinian, perpetrated by three Americans. (Israel Hayom and Maariv
  • Hundreds of Thousands in Donations Tie Kushners and Trump to Chabad Movement - The Kushners have contributed close to $350,000 to institutions affiliated with the ultra-Orthodox outreach movement over the years, while Donald Trump has made a few donations of his own. (Haaretz+) 
  • Israeli advocacy group sues Twitter over ISIS propaganda - Shurat Hadin law center wants social media giant held accountable for allowing Islamic State to use its platform to disseminate its radical doctrine, recruit operatives • Twitter should understand supporting terrorism is not worthwhile, attorney says. (Israel Hayom
  • Thousands Mourn Iran's Late Ex-president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani - Rafsanjani's pragmatic policies of economic liberalization and better relations with the West attracted fierce supporters and equally fierce critics during his life. (Agencies, Haaretz


Features:
How Cairo’s Cafés Made Egypt’s 1919 Revolution
The coffee houses, many of them opened by European immigrants, helped shape a new class structure and bring the country into modernity. (Alon Tam, Haaretz+) 
Serving faithfully: US religious girls in the Israeli army
Some 1,700 religious girls have immigrated to Israel and joined the army since 2009. Every year, hundreds of young Jewish American women choose to leave the Orthodox homes they grew up in and make aliyah in order to defend the State of Israel. ‘It’s a great mitzvah and an honor to serve in the IDF as a religious soldier,’ one explains; ‘I wanted to be part of the huge power defending Israel,’ says another. (Itamar Eichner, Yedioth/Ynet)
 
Commentary/Analysis:
No Choice but to Indict Netanyahu (Haaretz Editorial) Given recent reports about Netanyahu's alleged negotiations with Yedioth Ahronoth publisher for favorable coverage, it is clear he cannot, at the least, remain communication minister. 
Israel must not lose Eisenkot (Yossi Yehoshua, Yedioth/Ynet) A major battle over the calls to pardon Elor Azaria is taking place behind the scenes between the chief of staff and Prime Minister Netanyahu, and it may also determine Eisenkot’s future in the IDF. 
If Israel were a normal country, Netanyahu would have already resigned (Ido Baum, Haaretz+) The situation when an elected official's lifestyle is paid for by wealthy people for years out of the public eye is breach of trust. But the question remains: Does the attorney general have enough guts to indict a presiding prime minister? 
Anti-Semitism only on our terms (Asaf Romirowsky, Yedioth/Ynet) If universities are indicators of social trends, then anti-Semitism is becoming more acceptable in the guise of anti-Zionism. Only Jews are seen as unworthy of having a sovereign state, thanks to various sins past and present.  
'Those Primitive Arabs' (Kobi Niv, Haaretz+) It is the right of every person to believe in whatever foolishness, but no one has the right to impose his nonsense on others.
Smug politicians are intent on one thing: Who will replace Netanyahu (Gabi Gazit, Maariv/103FM) An MK from Shas suggests burying the terrorist from the ramming attack with a pig's head, his colleagues were absent from the funeral of the murdered without any proper explanation. 
Israel's Syndicate of Politicians, Regulators and Media Barons (Gidi Weitz, Haaretz+) Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit has been given a historic opportunity to change a corrupt reality. 
Netanyahu’s Tape Scandal: Israel's Government as Protection Racket (Aluf Benn, Haaretz+) Recent revelations on secret talks with media baron Arnon Mozes show the last election was the peak of a personal battle between two powerful men. Netanyahu prevailed, but the police investigation could reset the whole game. 
Not the same law ([or Jews and Arabs] (Dr. Thabet Abu Ras and Amnon Be'eri Solitzeanu, Maariv) If only the state would show a tenth of the good will and resources that it gives to Amona (settlement outpost) also towards the residents of the Bedouin village of Um Al-Hiran in the Negev, which also stands to be evacuated before demolition. While residents of Amona took over privately-owned land, the residents of the village of Um Al-Hiran were forced to settle in the place they are now by an order of the Israel Military Governor in the year 1956. If only, like the Prime Minister promised, the State would act with one law towards all without differentiation and would give the Arab citizens of Israel equal treatment.
Preventing a vehicular attack is nearly impossible (Roi Yanovsky, Ynet) While the security forces are closely monitoring social media activities, arresting terrorists’ relatives and seizing weapons, even the strictest measures cannot stop a lone-wolf terrorist from carrying out a deadly attack like the one that took place in Jerusalem on Sunday. 
Netanyahu Investigation: From Resignation to Elections, What Are Netanyahu's Options? (Jonathan Lis, Haaretz+) Netanyahu can continue to serve until he is convicted of a crime of moral turpitude, but his partners might turn on him before.
It’s not just about Bibi’s cigars (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth/Ynet) Netanyahu and his family are addicted to gifts. Everyone knows that, and most people accept it. The total sum of the gifts should concern us. Nevertheless, these are not the things a prime minister is removed for. But as the details of the investigations are exposed, it’s becoming harder to address them as a trivial matter. 
Attention All Gaza Gardeners and Saleswomen (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) The ordeal of an honest contractor to a UN agency shows the power Israel has over everyone in Gaza. Just blame Hamas. 
No more playing by UN rules (Ariel Bolstein, Israel Hayom) It is up to Israel to notify its friends, old and new, that hostile votes at the U.N. will no longer be met with understanding. 
The gate of change (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) Lighting up Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate with an Israeli flag following Sunday’s terror attack in Jerusalem is a small step in a consciousness changing process and an important show of solidarity. 
Obama's Tragic Mideast Legacy (Moshe Arens, Haaretz+) The president's refusal to veto the latest anti-Israel resolution in the UN will only further obstruct the direct talks that can advance the peace process. 
A necessary, natural move (Prof. Eyal Zisser, Israel Hayom) Trump should not worry about moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, but he should learn from his predecessor that hesitation is perceived as weakness and invite pressure and belligerence. 
How Trump’s Primitive Masculinity Tempted and Confused American Conservatives (Elad Nehorai, Haaretz+) You, the traditional, the conservatives, the religious, you voted for Trump because he promised to make America manly again. But you voted for a primitivism that betrays your own beliefs. 
IDF Reservists' Letter: Too Little, Too Late (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) Those who appoint themselves to bear the colors of the most moral army in the world cannot do so as if they are some rare species loftily perched above those who populate the jungle.
 
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.