APN's daily news review from Israel

Sunday January 15, 2017  
 

Quote of the day:

---

Front Page:

Haaretz

Yedioth Ahronoth

Maariv This Week (Hebrew links)

Israel Hayom

News Summary:
The latest shocking quotes from the recordings of the negotiations for a mutually beneficial deal between Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Yedioth Ahronoth publisher Arnon Mozes and the tension in Jerusalem ahead of the Paris peace conference that opens today, which Israel is boycotting, were today’s top stories in the Hebrew newspapers.
 
Friday night, Channel 2 news revealed highly problematic quotes between the prime minister and the publisher about the possibility of legislating a law against Israel Hayom in exchange for positive coverage of Netanyahu and on Saturday night it revealed the names of journalists the two had discussed. Mozes assured Netanyahu he would do what was necessary to keep him prime minister. Netanyahu told Mozes that he would mediate between people who might invest in Yedioth. In response, hundreds marched in Tel-Aviv against ‘corruption, detachment from the people, racism and incitement’ Saturday night and called on Netanyahu to resign, joined by Meretz and Zionist Camp MKs. MK Zehava Gal-On, said Netanyahu was acting like Al Capone. Both Yedioth and Israel Hayom, published the quotes in full. Yedioth ran a letter by the Chief Editor on the front page saying the publisher did not interfere with his work and that employees would have left had he tried. But Haaretz+ spoke with former Yedioth staffers, who claimed the daily and its sister website have long danced to the tune of their owner. Israel Hayom emphasized Mozes’ role and played down Netanyahu’s. Nevertheless, Netanyahu will be interrogated again later this week and Mozes today. Maariv reported that sources in the opposition said that Likud MKs “also feels it's the end of Netanyahu.” Coalition chairman, MK David Bitan (Likud) said: "(Netanyahu) will have to relinquish the Ministry of Communications portfolio." 
 
Israeli officials blasted the Paris conference once more before it began today, condemning the initiative and calling for direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Meanwhile, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's advisers told senior French officials that they object to the very holding of the conference, especially so close before Trump's inauguration, Haaretz+ reported. Israel’s UN ambassador Danny Danon warned that the UN Security Council will likely “promote a last-minute initiative” before Donald Trump takes the reins from Barack Obama.

Trump’s calls to move the US embassy in Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem worry the Palestinians. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas threatened to end Palestinian recognition of Israel if the US moves the embassy. The Palestinians also asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to prevent the relocation. Jerusalem's Grand Mufti Muhammed Hussein said such a move would be an “assault” on Muslims. The Trump team disavowed the US-Jewish businessman who discussed the move with Abbas and said it would happen. Trump people said “Arbess doesn't represent Trump, Kushner, or anyone else in upcoming administration,” Haaretz+ reported.
 

Quick Hits:

---

Features:

'How would Israelis feel if another country decided not to let them in because they advocate for settlements?'
As Israeli lawmakers propose to bar settlement-boycott supporters from entering the country, rights groups and others move between outrage and dismay. (Haaretz)
How the term 'Israeli Arab' was created
Between the end of Israeli military administration over its Arab citizens in 1966 and plans for educational integration in 1968, a new definition was born. (Gal Levy, Haaretz+)
  
Commentary/Analysis:
A LION AND A LEGEND: REMEMBERING JPOST'S ARI RATH (Hanan Sher, JPost) Ari Rath, former editor-in-chief of The Jerusalem Post, treated members of the Post staff as family.
Israeli Army Suffering Heavy Losses on the Front of Quality (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) An ongoing erosion of the combat ethos among recruits from higher socioeconomic backgrounds is having worrying effects on the army's quality of command.
Netanyahu-Mozes affair: Everyone is a suspect (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth/Ynet) The reports about meetings between the prime minister and the Yedioth publisher are hard to process for the newspaper’s editors and writers, who are doing an excellent job fearlessly free of bias. A prime minister can complain to a publisher about articles published in his paper, but he can't dictate a line. A publisher can't promise to emasculate his writers: That won’t happen, not in real life. 
Israel's Attorney General Risks Casting a Heavy Shadow Over Israeli Democracy (Haaretz Editorial) If the conversations between Benjamin Netanyahu and media mogul Arnon Mozes do not constitute bribery, what is the value of the legal code and what is the meaning of the term 'rule of law'?
If Netanyahu had the slightest sense of national responsibility he would announce his resignation (Ben Caspit, Maariv) When he goes, President Rivlin supposed is supposed to place the forming of the next government on an alternative candidate for the Likud. But since Netanyahu knew in advance of this possibility, he worked for the creation of the current situation where there is no alternative within the Likud. Netanyahu's obsessive insistence not to appoint an acting prime minister was intended for exactly these days.
**What Israeli Soldiers Never Tell Their Mothers (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) There is virtually no combat service in the IDF that doesn’t entail soldiers carrying out despicable missions like the one described below. 
This Battle Will End With Netanyahu Winning the Jackpot (Iris Leal, Haaretz+) The latest affair could result in the destruction of media mogul Arnon Mozes as well as the last vestige of public trust in the media.
Israelis From Across the Political Spectrum, Take to the Streets! (Emilie Moatti, Haaretz+) Prove to the corrupt ones making deals at our expense that the grand era of collusion between tycoons and politicians does not reflect our country.
Crises and croissants (Boaz Bismuth, Israel Hayom) The latest trend for outgoing foreign ministers, such as John Kerry or France's Jean-Marc Ayrault, is to make headlines at Israel's expense, thus feeding Palestinian delusions. 
Paris Peace Conference A Deceptive Status Quo: The Middle East Peace Process Cannot Wait (Jean-Marc Ayrault, Haaretz+) Thinking the Middle East could restore its stability without settling its oldest conflict, between Israelis and Palestinians, is unrealistic. The absence of a peace process affects all of our collective security. 
Why Noni Met Bibi: Desperation, Not Greed (David Rosenberg, Haaretz) The meeting of the PM and the media baron was not one of equals: Netanyahu would have achieved real gains, Mozes would have just survived.
Obama, the effective pragmatist (Nadav Eyal, Yedioth/Ynet) Within America, the outgoing US president was a successful – almost remarkable – manager. He was, however, a mediocre international statesman. The price of this gap will be paid by America, the world – and Israel too. 
We Need to Talk About Palestinian Art in Israel (Sayed Kashua, Haaretz+) I was ready to defend the film about three Palestinian women living in Tel Aviv. Then I watched it. 
Israeli Military Sent a General to Do a Lawyer’s Job in Hebron Shooter Sentencing Proposal (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) If Elor Azaria's chances of winning an appeal are low in light of the lower court's findings, then the defense team's tricks will achieve the opposite of what it wanted.
One Week Before the American Republic Inaugurates Its Destroyer (Sasha Abramsky, Haaretz+) Trumpism doesn't represent an ideological shift in U.S. policy and government. It's a vast tilt toward irrationality, a hyper-power in the grip of a political nervous breakdown. 
What Allowed Them to Loot Everything That Came to Hand (Carolina Landsmann, Haaretz+) Those seeking to understand what the problem is with a Jewish state should ask themselves what the problem is with an Islamic state. 
The party is over (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) Mr. President-elect, you've already demonstrated that you're willing to blaspheme against the holy political correctness the Western secular elite tries to enforce. Don't let them bully you into old thinking about the Middle East.  
Will Trump Cause a Crisis for AIPAC? (Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie, Haaretz+) Right-wing American Jews have become a bit deranged, expecting messianic outcomes for Israel from an entirely unpredictable Trump administration. And they want AIPAC to play along. 
The Occupation Is Still the Elephant in the Room (Nehemia Shtrasler, Haaretz+) The ministers didn't show up to the funerals of the four officers killed in Jerusalem because they were afraid of criticism.
Jerusalem is indivisible (Yifat Erlich, Yedioth/Ynet) Instead of dividing Israel’s capital, we must expand it and strengthen its Jewish majority. How? Annexing Ma’ale Adumim to Jerusalem will dramatically affect the demography in the city. This is the proper response to terrorism. 
*The Difference Between Two Apartheid States (Rogel Alpher, Haaretz+) The leaders of Israel and South Africa both wanted a newspaper that would glorify their policies. But only one of the countries forced its leader to resign over the matter.
Despite the similarity to ISIS: The judgment in handling the attacks in Jerusalem should not be like the judgment in Berlin (MK Ksenia Svetlova, Maariv) Unlike Europe, Israel is fighting terrorism originating from a population that is not part of its citizens. Europeans can not part from the migrants among whom emerge attackers, however, Israel still can. 
Brutality in Kalansua (Friday Haaretz Editorial) Applying the law 'blindly' means erasing entire neighborhoods and leaving half a million people without a roof over their heads. 
Out with the old, in with the new (Maj. Gen. (ret.) Yaakov Amidror, Israel Hayom) President Barack Obama eroded the U.S.'s superpower status and is leaving behind a far more dangerous world than the one he inherited • A Trump administration gives Israel reason to be optimistic, although we must remember he is a very shrewd businessman. 
How Will Jews Fare in the Trump Era? (Carolina Landsmann, Haaretz+) Get ready to stand out, as Trump peels away the layer of political correctness that blurred distinctions within humanity; now everyone will be reminded that we're Jews, and that's not necessarily in our favor.
The new sheriff in town (Boaz Bismuth, Israel Hayom) Next Friday, a battle-hardened Donald Trump will enter the White House after being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States, bringing with him a brash new style and a clear message to the world that this is not Obama's America anymore. 
After Defeat in Aleppo, Syrian Intellectuals Pin Hopes on Diplomatic Arena (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) Country has seemingly reached the limits of its endurance and readiness to mobilize against the Assad regime, but that doesn’t mean rebels will stop fighting. 
The destabilizing effect of Netanyahu's obsession with the media (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) Netanyahu and media mogul Arnon Mozes, bitter enemies, are dragging each other into the abyss. While Finance Minister Kahlon is disgusted by the premier's hedonism, he won't push him over the edge. Why Israeli Arabs fear for their future. 
No one should underestimate the warnings by Syria that it will respond to an attack attributed to Israel (Yossi Melman, Maariv) The Syrians claim that IDF jets launched missiles that hit the airfield near Damascus. It’s clear that Assad does not want to open another front, but we must not forget that the recent accomplishments raise his morale. 
Israeli lawmakers condemn Netanyahu over media mogul tape scandal (Jonathan Lis, Haaretz+) MKs, former cabinet members call on police to release entire recordings of Netanyahu, 'Israel's first mafia prime minister' and Arnon Mozes in what one termed 'one of the most serious affairs in Israel's history.'
 

 

Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.