APN's daily news review from Israel
Sunday February 5, 2017
Quote of the day:
"We are citizens of Israel and we want to be treated with respect. I want to be like everyone else. I
want the same respect they gave to residents of Amona. We demand to know the truth behind the
incident.”
--Amal Abu Saad, the wife of Yaqoub al-Qiyan, the Bedouin math teacher whom police shot while he drove his car, after which he hit a group of police officers, killing one. Police say he intended to kill the policeman. Al-Qiyan's family and evidence show otherwise.*
You Must Be Kidding:
“This is not an accidental development but an intentional policy, meant to create a simplistic and one-sided worldview for the students. In this view there is only one player – the Jewish people – while the Palestinians remain behind the curtain and emerge only when they interfere with the efforts for Jewish settlement."
--Prof. Avner Ben-Amos of Tel Aviv University, whose research shows that the graduating examinations in civics from 2000 to 2015 didn’t include a single question touching on the political-ideological divide in which teachers are supposed to relate to the occupation.*
--Amal Abu Saad, the wife of Yaqoub al-Qiyan, the Bedouin math teacher whom police shot while he drove his car, after which he hit a group of police officers, killing one. Police say he intended to kill the policeman. Al-Qiyan's family and evidence show otherwise.*
You Must Be Kidding:
“This is not an accidental development but an intentional policy, meant to create a simplistic and one-sided worldview for the students. In this view there is only one player – the Jewish people – while the Palestinians remain behind the curtain and emerge only when they interfere with the efforts for Jewish settlement."
--Prof. Avner Ben-Amos of Tel Aviv University, whose research shows that the graduating examinations in civics from 2000 to 2015 didn’t include a single question touching on the political-ideological divide in which teachers are supposed to relate to the occupation.*
Breaking News:
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Step by step, Assad takes back control in south Syria // Amos Harel
- Senior Israeli officials discussing with Trump advisors the Palestinian issue
- European leaders decided to act to stop refugees from Africa
- The White House message about settlement construction: From now on, also Israel is under warning // Barak Ravid
- US imposed sanctions on Iran, which in response tested missile systems
- Yachimovitch decided to run for head of Histadrut (national labor union): Nissenkorn asks to thwart elections
- Herzog had minor stroke and was hospitalized
- At the alternative Likudiada, those who register are asked to bring the ruling party closer to the center
- Sister states // Gideon Levy
Yedioth Ahronoth
- After Amona: The fateful week of Ofra residents – 9 homes that High Court ordered to be demolished
- War tweets: Battle of threats between US and Iran - Trump: “I am not nice like Obama”
- The American turnabout // Sever Plocker
- 20 years to the Helicopters Disaster – (73 killed)
- In the name of the parents // Sami Michael
- Another time // Haim Gouri
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Trump against the rest of the world
- Vote tomorrow in Knesset: Government to hire private lawyer to defend Regulation bill in High Court
- The red city – Subway that connect between bottom of city and Carmel caught on fire
- Those close to Rada family: “Probe the statements of a connection between the murder in Migdal and the murder of Tair (Rada)”
Israel Hayom
- “Iran is playing with fire” – Trump-Iran conflict
- Judge stopped the Migrant Order: Muslims refused a visa are returning; Trump attacks: “Ridiculous judge”
- Trump is not Obama // Boaz Bismuth
- “The settlements – not an impediment to peace, but expanding them may not be helpful to the process”
- The Carmelit subway is in flames
- Today: Shelly Yachimovich to announce whether she will run for head of Histadrut
- Suspicion of light stroke: Chairman of Zionist Camp, Herzog, hospitalized for a day and released
News Summary:
US President Donald Trump and Iran exchanged threats through Tweet messages, sanctions and military exercises as Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu prepared to meet his British counterpart in London today to discuss Iran and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and Israeli right-wingers awaited a High Court ruling on the demolition of nine more settler homes and the future of the outpost legalization bill in the shadow of the US statement that gave a tepid shower to settlement expansion. Also in the news, thousands demonstrated in Tel-Aviv for peace Saturday night and Zionist Camp chief, MK Isaac Herzog, had a minor stroke.
Trump tweeted to Iran that he was “not nice like Obama” after the US announced new sanctions on Iran over its ballistic missile test, which Iran poo-pooed in response, by holding a large military exercise on Saturday and threatening to use the missiles on its enemies. The papers also noted that a federal judge rejected Trump’s edict banning people from seven countries and that Trump was none too pleased about it.
Netanyahu is in London today to meet with British Prime Minister Theresa May in what Yedioth’s Yaniv Halili wrote was the first step of his plan to build a strong coalition of European leaders against forces in the European Union that are ‘anti-Israel.’ The coalition would be made up of the UK, Italy, France and Germany. “Netanyahu will take advantage of the tension between Britain and the EU states – in the wake of Britain’s exit from the EU – to bring Britain closer to Israel and to distance it from the anti-Israel front within the EU,” wrote Halili. Netanyahu will also ask May not to support decisions against Israel in UN institutions and not to support the French initiative for an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. Maariv reported that European leaders are trying to torpedo the appointment of Ted Malloch as the US ambassador to the EU because he was a big supporter of Brexit. And Yedioth reported that the appointment of David Friedman as US ambassador to Israel was being delayed because of his opposition to the “two states for two peoples” solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. And Haaretz+ reported that Israel’s Mossad chief and national security adviser met with Trump aides in Washington to discuss the Palestinian issue.
Tomorrow the outpost legalization bill is supposed to go for a vote, but Haaretz+ said the vote might be postponed and a minister close to Netanyahu, Tzachi Hanegbi, said it would never pass the High Court and accused other ministers of using it as an alibi for being unable to prevent the recent eviction of settlers from Amona outpost. The government has said it will hire a private lawyer to defend it in the High Court. The bill seeks to legalize the expropriation of privately-owned Palestinian land for the sake of Jewish settlements. In the past, Netanyahu said the bill would cause Israel damage internationally. The commentators also examined the recent White House statement that settlements “were not an impediment to peace,” but settlement construction “may not be helpful” in reaching peace.
In Tel-Aviv Saturday night, thousands of Jews and Arabs marched together against demolitions of Arab homes and what they said were racist government policies against Arabs, as they waved both Israeli and Palestinian flags. "The thousands who demonstrated this evening in Tel Aviv are sounding a voice of hope and sanity, facing a government that chooses incitement and hatred,” said MK Dov Khenin (Joint List). “We know that incitement is the last refuge of those who have failed.” The night before, hundreds demonstrated against corruption and called on Netanyahu to resign, Maariv reported.
Quick Hits:
Mossad and Shin Bet set up recruiting booths at Cyber Tel Aviv exhibition - From the virtual to
the real world: search experience indicates the shortage of manpower in the country's spy organizations, which rely on
technology, but find it difficult to compete with high-tech companies. (Maariv) Prison Service closes Hamas wing in Ktziot after 2 warders attacked - In protest against an Israel Prison Service operation in a different jail, Hamas inmates in Ktziot assault guards • IPS shuts wing down, transfers the 60 prisoners to other jails • Move shows that prisoners "don't dictate terms in prison," official says. (Israel Hayom)
Committee: Israel agrees to stop 'escalations' against Palestinian prisoners amid protests - Leadership of the Hamas movement and the Israeli Prison Service on Friday reportedly reached an agreement to “stop escalations” against Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons. (Maan)
Knesset speaker urges embassy move in meeting with US House speaker - Edelstein tells Ryan it is important to achieve wide support in Congress for moving the American embassy to Jerusalem, as it could encourage global and regional support. (Ynet)
DFLP condemns US statements on settlements, urges PA to withdraw recognition of Israel - The statement said that Palestinian leadership should “stop hesitating” and begin conducting actions in response to Netanyahu's settlement policies which are supported by the US. (Maan)
Court blocks eviction of Arab squatters from Jewish property - After Jerusalem District Court dismisses claim of Arabs living in Jewish-owned east Jerusalem home and orders their eviction, Supreme Court overturns ruling and stays eviction • Judge says eviction would cause "irreparable, tremendous harm" to residents. (Israel Hayom)
Israel continues construction on separation wall in Hebron - Israeli forces have reportedly finished a 10-kilometer section of the Israeli separation wall in the south of the occupied West Bank district of Hebron, Hebrew-language media reported on Saturday. (Maan)
Israeli forces assault elderly Palestinian woman in Old City of Hebron - Israeli soldiers had broken into the home of Fatima Natsheh, 70, in the Old City, and proceeded to assault her and her son Hasan, 35, and grandson Falah, 23. The soldiers reportedly used the butt of their guns to hit them, causing injuries that necessitated treatment at the hospital. (Maan)
Palestinian woman who carried out the attempted attack at Adam settlement: "I wanted to end my life" - The terrorist said that she hoped that the security forces would shoot and kill her. The circumstances of the incident, during which three people were lightly injured, are still being investigated. (Maariv)
The price tag for Amona: Likud to introduce bill to restrict High Court - The bill to be put forth by Likud seeks to restrict the ability of the High Court to hold hearings on controversial issues by forcing petitioners to demonstrate a personal stake in the issue being debated. (Yedioth/Ynet)
Amona residents return to gather belongings - Shocked and dejected residents returned to finish packing their belongings before bidding a final farewell to the outpost; 'We feel a great sense of injustice. They throw the families to the dogs. I can hardly speak.' (Ynet)
Amona officer: 'We didn't think they would spray us with chemicals or hit us with metal bars' - More than 60 police officers were injured during the evacuation of Amona, with some protestors striking officers with bars and planks and others throwing bleach; '"They compared me to a Nazi, I had to show restraint, but it was incredibly unpleasant.' (Yedioth/Ynet)
Arab sector ‘on verge of explosion,’ Qalansawe mayor warns - A week before bulldozers arrived in the Bedouin village of Umm al-Hiran, illegal homes were demolished in the Israeli Arab city of Qalansawe. While the local protests ended peacefully, the city’s mayor says the lack of lands has already driven Qalansawe’s residents to desperation. (Yedioth/Ynet)
Israeli Bill Would Cut Funds to Universities With Lecturers Backing Boycott - The legislation, however, has not yet been run by the governing coalition; a key committee meets on the matter Sunday. (Haaretz+)
'Muezzin Bill' now only to apply to ungodly hours - Seeking to have the bill limit the noise from houses of prayer's loudspeakers during the nighttime alone, MKs are rephrasing the legislation to get around the ultra-Orthodox block. (Ynet)
Israelis Are Doing Thriving but Discreet Business With the Arab World - When an Israeli with Saudi business ties was disinvited as a speaker to a London conference because a Saudi was to be present, the Israeli pointed out that the two are friends, Bloomberg business news reported. (Haaretz)
Olmert was denied visitations after lashing out at prison guard - The former prime minister, who is currently serving out a prison sentence for a 2014 corruption charge, reportedly came to the defense of another prisoner who was arguing with a guard; after speaking in what was deemed an inappropriate manner, Olmert was denied family visitation for one month. (Ynet)
Islamic Jihad master hacker sentenced to 9 years - Maagad Oydeh—a young engineer, producer, and member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad since reaching adulthood—sentenced for crimes against national security after hacking IDF and police video cameras and drones to gather intel for the terror group. (Ynet)
I24 News Plans $50m Launch in the U.S. - Backed by French entrepreneur Patrick Drahi, the Israel-based news channel to set up shop in U.S. with 50 new staffers. (Haaretz)
Home Front Command becomes most popular female combat unit - In a survey of all female combat personnel, 30% chose the Home Front Command, which for the first time ever, overtook the Border Police as the most popular destination for female combat service in the IDF. (Ynet)
Israeli forces open fire at farmers, fishermen in Gaza - Israeli forces deployed behind the barrier fence between Israel and the besieged enclave opened fire at Palestinian farmers working on their lands near Israel’s unilaterally declared “buffer zone,” Saturday. (Maan)
Only 41% of combat troops expect support in the case of errors - A "worrying" number of soldiers do not believe they will have official backup in event of making a mistake, Knesset subcommittee hears • Questionnaire conducted two months after Hebron shooting • MK Eyal Ben-Reuven: "People's army" must be protected. (Israel Hayom)
Israeli forces shoot Palestinian teen as clashes erupt on Gaza-Israel border - The 16-year-old was shot and injured in the stomach when clashes erupted between Israeli forces and Palestinian youth near the security border between the small Palestinian territory and Israel. (Maan)
Haifa shooter was a rabid Jew-hater - Details of the investigation against Mohammad Shinawi, who murdered one and wounded another in Haifa last month, reveal his attack was motivated by an obsessive loathing of Jews: 'Everything was against Jews. Targeting them was legitimate my whole life.' (Ynet)
Haredi soldiers attacked in Mea Shearim - Ultra-orthodox mobs hound Haredi soldiers in opposition to their conscription into the IDF: incident occurs shortly after first swearing-in ceremony of Haredi soldiers in the Paratroopers Brigade: police called to the scene. (Ynet)
IDF trains for Hamas commando infiltration - The massive, five-day drill was held in southern communities to train for the possibility of Hamas commando infiltration attempts from land, air and sea during the next round of fighting. (Ynet)
PLC: 'reconciliation cannot be achieved amid security coordination with Israel' - The first deputy speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) said during Friday's Khutbah (Islamic sermon) in a mosque in Gaza City that Palestinian national reconciliation could not be achieved amid the continued security coordination between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA). (Maan)
Bank of Israel releases two new notes - The new NIS 20 and 100 banknotes feature two famous female literary giants, Leah Goldberg and Rachel Bluwstein; new design images were distributed early to prevent forgery and counterfeit. (Ynet)
When Towering Rivals Rabin and Nasser Met for Lunch - in Rabin’s Own Words - The details emerge in a 1994 interview with Rabin that is the centerpiece of Amos Gitai’s new film 'Shalom Rabin.' (Haaretz)
Belarus president says Israeli blogger will be extradited to Azerbaijan - President Lukashenko suggests however that Israel could reach a deal with Azerbaijan for the release of Alexander Lupshin, who was arrested nearly two months ago. (Haaretz)
Palestinian Caught Attempting to Smuggle 40 Birds Into Israel in His Pants - Judging by recent reports in Israel, this could be the third attempt to smuggle goldfinches into Israel and the West Bank from Jordon. (Haaretz)
Egyptian officials to request deliberation with Hamas over Israelis held in Gaza - A Hamas security delegation arrived in Cairo on Saturday and is expected to meet with Egyptian officials on the issue of the Israelis being held in Gaza in addition to other matters. (Ynet)
U.S. announces new sanctions on Iran over ballistic missile test - Fresh sanctions on 13 individuals and 12 entities are 'just initial steps in response to Iranian provocative behavior.' (Agencies, Haaretz)
Steve Bannon Described U.S. Jews as 'Enablers' of Jihad - The statement made by Trump's now top adviser appeared in a 2007 proposal for a documentary that was never made called 'The Islamic States of America,' the Washington Post reported. (JTA, Haaretz)
Report: White House Blocked Holocaust Statement That Explicitly Mentioned Jews - State Department drafted statement specifically naming Jewish victims to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day, but Trump's White House replaced it with the now controversial statement omitting Jews entirely. (Haaretz)
UK experiences 36% increase in anti-Semitic incidents in 2016 - The number of such incidents rose from 960 in 2015 to 1,309 in 2016, with the number of violent anti-Semitic incidents up by 29%, community protection group finds • British Home Secretary Amber Rudd: Government must fight "these deplorable incidents." (Israel Hayom)
Israel falls to 16th place in US popularity survey - The survey, which asked respondents to rank which countries they viewed as the US's best friends and allies, saw Israel drop from 6th place to 16th in the span of three years. (Ynet)
Features:
An anti-Semitism Junkie's Warning to Jews and Israel
Sociologist Shmuel Trigano warns of an anti-Semitic tsunami and thinks that the confused world believes the Holocaust's real victims are the Palestinians. (Carolina Landsmann, Haaretz+)
Paid the price: the submarine deal that led to the dismissal of the Lebanese defense minister (Yossi Melman, Maariv) Samir Mukbal was dismissed from office on the grounds that he is linked to Israeli intelligence. And also: a French warship is looking for Israeli submarines, and the head of the British spy agency interested is interested in cyber in Beersheva.
Commentary/Analysis:
On Holocaust Denial in the White House, and Netanyahu's Deafening Silence (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz and VIDEO) Haaretz's senior columnist Chemi Shalev takes Trump’s immigration ban and the Holocaust Day statement that omitted Jews very personally.
Moral partnership needed between Israel’s ideological camps (Yedidya Stern, Yedioth/Ynet) The Right, alongside its obvious pain over the Amona evacuation, should be glad and proud of the nation state for succeeding in implementing the rule of law; the Left, alongside its obvious satisfaction, should internalize the human and simple demand—‘don’t rejoice when your brother falls.’
The Israel Police: One method for settlers, one for all the rest (Yaniv Kubovich, Haaretz+) ‘Embrace and accept’ was the watchword at the Amoma eviction, but not at protests by Israeli Arabs, Ethiopians and social-justice protesters.
The Amona eviction: It’s hard not to think that our country has lost its head (Alon Ben-David, Maariv) "The necessary Zionist action": When looking at the thousands of people who participated in the operation and taking into account the millions invested to evict 40 families – one can understand that only in this country could a show like this take place.
Two Marine Corps Generals Are the Last Guard Against Trump's Dangerous Shenanigans (Amir Oren, Haaretz+) When Steve Bannon has more influence than the heads of the army and intelligence, Trump's defense chiefs could be the only voice of moral opposition.
Netanyahu is doing everything to appease the settlers, but even this won't be enough (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) If Amona were an Arab village, the prime minister would have incited against the protesters. But as the illegal West Bank outpost was evacuated, he kept silent.
The criminalization of politics (Rudolph W. Giuliani, Israel Hayom) Investigating Netanyahu for allegedly receiving gifts from personal friends is petty and harms the principle of keeping the criminal justice system separate from politics.
Fighting for the Spoils: The Real Lesson of the Netanyahu Newspaper Scandal (Asher Schechter, Haaretz+) It's not about right or left. It's about money and power.
“The good Jews": At Amona, it’s permissible to curse police and throw stones at them (Ron Kaufman, Haaretz+) They aren’t Arab or Bedouin, we’re talking about the "kids of all of us." Some 13 rioters were arrested during the eviction of the settlement and were released immediately. The rest were probably taken to the spa, to calm down a bit.
A time for political wisdom (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) After eight bad years in which the false Palestinian narrative grew stronger under the former U.S. president, it is a propitious time for Israel to change the historic process, and it seems the administration of President Donald Trump is ready for it.
How Trump Finally Made This Israeli Arab Feel at Home in America (Sayed Kashua, Haaretz+) I was afraid of losing the feeling of being persecuted, and feared that the disappearance of my political paranoia would play havoc with my writing. But, praise the Lord, Trump is here.
US Jews’ identity crisis increasing in Trump era (Yossi Shain, Yedioth/Ynet) The passionate embrace that the new American president is receiving from the Israeli government and the great hatred towards him among liberal elements and many in the American political center could lead to an even bigger split among the American Jewry.
5 Reasons Why Israeli Lawmakers Must Vote Against the Outpost Legalization Bill (Dan Meridor, Haaretz+) The State of Israel has never applied its sovereignty to the West Bank - and for very good reason. Passing a law regulating Arab property ownership would be a disastrous move and spell the end of the settlement enterprise.
Netanyahu Is a Danger to All Jews (Carolina Landsmann, Haaretz+) While other world leaders exercised caution, the pyromaniac from Jerusalem doesn’t give a damn about Israel, the Jews and the world’s future, and instead sucks up to Trump like a lowly collaborator.
Even Trump can’t stay silent as Israel runs amok in settlements (Barak Ravid, Haaretz+) The White House statement makes one thing clear: Even if there's a shift from Obama's policy on Israel, it isn't dramatic.
The One-state Solution: Putting Jet Engines on the Titanic (Dan Ben-David, Haaretz+) The demographic and national-defense paradigms that still frame much of the Israeli debate are archaic: They ignore that even without the millions of poorly skilled and educated Palestinians, Israel is on an unsustainable socioeconomic trajectory.
Leaving Settlers and Investigations Behind, Netanyahu Heads to U.S., U.K. and Australia (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) When Netanyahu gets back, the settlers will serve him a pile of checks to sign. Those who think that an indictment of the prime minister is around the corner should look at the probe into opposition leader Isaac Herzog.
Israel Has a Choice: Be Part of the 'Trumpworld' or the Liberal Democratic World (Shimon Stein, Haaretz+) Aligning itself with Trump will not only further tarnish Israel's image but also, betray the very foundation on which Israel was established.
This Is What Protest Looks Like (Friday Haaretz Editorial) The energy of the opposition movement and civic involvement in the United States stand in stark contrast to the situation in Israel.
As Far as Israelis Are Concerned, the Jews Had Two Holocausts (Avshalom Halutz, Haaretz+) Even the Holocaust is able to generate indifference and estrangement once it is removed from our narrative framework of victimhood, heroism and revival.
Thousands of new settlers homes: credit of Israel's peace camp (Israel Harel, Haaretz+) The passion of the people evicted from the outpost proves that the derision of Zionism’s core terms has failed despite decades of efforts.The Real Threat to America Is America Itself (Ofri Ilany, Haaretz+) For years we’ve been told that Islamist terror is the No. 1 enemy of liberal Western democracy. But now the real scourge appears to be white supremacy.
How can settlers take my land and say it was God's will? (Maryam Hamad, Haaretz+) I haven’t been on my land for 20 years. But I still remember well the days we had before the settlers came. How we’d stay on the land and work on it from morning to evening.
Sociologist Shmuel Trigano warns of an anti-Semitic tsunami and thinks that the confused world believes the Holocaust's real victims are the Palestinians. (Carolina Landsmann, Haaretz+)
Paid the price: the submarine deal that led to the dismissal of the Lebanese defense minister (Yossi Melman, Maariv) Samir Mukbal was dismissed from office on the grounds that he is linked to Israeli intelligence. And also: a French warship is looking for Israeli submarines, and the head of the British spy agency interested is interested in cyber in Beersheva.
Commentary/Analysis:
On Holocaust Denial in the White House, and Netanyahu's Deafening Silence (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz and VIDEO) Haaretz's senior columnist Chemi Shalev takes Trump’s immigration ban and the Holocaust Day statement that omitted Jews very personally.
Moral partnership needed between Israel’s ideological camps (Yedidya Stern, Yedioth/Ynet) The Right, alongside its obvious pain over the Amona evacuation, should be glad and proud of the nation state for succeeding in implementing the rule of law; the Left, alongside its obvious satisfaction, should internalize the human and simple demand—‘don’t rejoice when your brother falls.’
The Israel Police: One method for settlers, one for all the rest (Yaniv Kubovich, Haaretz+) ‘Embrace and accept’ was the watchword at the Amoma eviction, but not at protests by Israeli Arabs, Ethiopians and social-justice protesters.
The Amona eviction: It’s hard not to think that our country has lost its head (Alon Ben-David, Maariv) "The necessary Zionist action": When looking at the thousands of people who participated in the operation and taking into account the millions invested to evict 40 families – one can understand that only in this country could a show like this take place.
Two Marine Corps Generals Are the Last Guard Against Trump's Dangerous Shenanigans (Amir Oren, Haaretz+) When Steve Bannon has more influence than the heads of the army and intelligence, Trump's defense chiefs could be the only voice of moral opposition.
Netanyahu is doing everything to appease the settlers, but even this won't be enough (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) If Amona were an Arab village, the prime minister would have incited against the protesters. But as the illegal West Bank outpost was evacuated, he kept silent.
The criminalization of politics (Rudolph W. Giuliani, Israel Hayom) Investigating Netanyahu for allegedly receiving gifts from personal friends is petty and harms the principle of keeping the criminal justice system separate from politics.
Fighting for the Spoils: The Real Lesson of the Netanyahu Newspaper Scandal (Asher Schechter, Haaretz+) It's not about right or left. It's about money and power.
“The good Jews": At Amona, it’s permissible to curse police and throw stones at them (Ron Kaufman, Haaretz+) They aren’t Arab or Bedouin, we’re talking about the "kids of all of us." Some 13 rioters were arrested during the eviction of the settlement and were released immediately. The rest were probably taken to the spa, to calm down a bit.
A time for political wisdom (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) After eight bad years in which the false Palestinian narrative grew stronger under the former U.S. president, it is a propitious time for Israel to change the historic process, and it seems the administration of President Donald Trump is ready for it.
How Trump Finally Made This Israeli Arab Feel at Home in America (Sayed Kashua, Haaretz+) I was afraid of losing the feeling of being persecuted, and feared that the disappearance of my political paranoia would play havoc with my writing. But, praise the Lord, Trump is here.
US Jews’ identity crisis increasing in Trump era (Yossi Shain, Yedioth/Ynet) The passionate embrace that the new American president is receiving from the Israeli government and the great hatred towards him among liberal elements and many in the American political center could lead to an even bigger split among the American Jewry.
5 Reasons Why Israeli Lawmakers Must Vote Against the Outpost Legalization Bill (Dan Meridor, Haaretz+) The State of Israel has never applied its sovereignty to the West Bank - and for very good reason. Passing a law regulating Arab property ownership would be a disastrous move and spell the end of the settlement enterprise.
Netanyahu Is a Danger to All Jews (Carolina Landsmann, Haaretz+) While other world leaders exercised caution, the pyromaniac from Jerusalem doesn’t give a damn about Israel, the Jews and the world’s future, and instead sucks up to Trump like a lowly collaborator.
Even Trump can’t stay silent as Israel runs amok in settlements (Barak Ravid, Haaretz+) The White House statement makes one thing clear: Even if there's a shift from Obama's policy on Israel, it isn't dramatic.
The One-state Solution: Putting Jet Engines on the Titanic (Dan Ben-David, Haaretz+) The demographic and national-defense paradigms that still frame much of the Israeli debate are archaic: They ignore that even without the millions of poorly skilled and educated Palestinians, Israel is on an unsustainable socioeconomic trajectory.
Leaving Settlers and Investigations Behind, Netanyahu Heads to U.S., U.K. and Australia (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) When Netanyahu gets back, the settlers will serve him a pile of checks to sign. Those who think that an indictment of the prime minister is around the corner should look at the probe into opposition leader Isaac Herzog.
Israel Has a Choice: Be Part of the 'Trumpworld' or the Liberal Democratic World (Shimon Stein, Haaretz+) Aligning itself with Trump will not only further tarnish Israel's image but also, betray the very foundation on which Israel was established.
This Is What Protest Looks Like (Friday Haaretz Editorial) The energy of the opposition movement and civic involvement in the United States stand in stark contrast to the situation in Israel.
As Far as Israelis Are Concerned, the Jews Had Two Holocausts (Avshalom Halutz, Haaretz+) Even the Holocaust is able to generate indifference and estrangement once it is removed from our narrative framework of victimhood, heroism and revival.
Thousands of new settlers homes: credit of Israel's peace camp (Israel Harel, Haaretz+) The passion of the people evicted from the outpost proves that the derision of Zionism’s core terms has failed despite decades of efforts.The Real Threat to America Is America Itself (Ofri Ilany, Haaretz+) For years we’ve been told that Islamist terror is the No. 1 enemy of liberal Western democracy. But now the real scourge appears to be white supremacy.
How can settlers take my land and say it was God's will? (Maryam Hamad, Haaretz+) I haven’t been on my land for 20 years. But I still remember well the days we had before the settlers came. How we’d stay on the land and work on it from morning to evening.
Interviews:
Netanyahu's Lawyer, on the Spot: Can Public Servants Accept Gifts?
On the line with attorney Yossi Cohen. (Interviewed by Nir Gontarz in Haaretz+)
The children of Amona and their neighbors
Children of all ages were a significant part of the puzzle during the Amona evacuation; the question regarding the appropriateness of their presence remains somewhat unanswered. Interviews with settlers. (Interviewed by Etti Abramov in Yedioth/Ynet)
From Bill Clinton to Trump: The Never-ending Story of the Jerusalem Embassy Move
Former ambassadors Martin Indyk and Dan Kurtzer tell Haaretz how a move of the embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv is a lot easier to broach on the campaign trail. (Interviewed by Amir Tibon in Haaretz+)
Netanyahu's Lawyer, on the Spot: Can Public Servants Accept Gifts?
On the line with attorney Yossi Cohen. (Interviewed by Nir Gontarz in Haaretz+)
The children of Amona and their neighbors
Children of all ages were a significant part of the puzzle during the Amona evacuation; the question regarding the appropriateness of their presence remains somewhat unanswered. Interviews with settlers. (Interviewed by Etti Abramov in Yedioth/Ynet)
From Bill Clinton to Trump: The Never-ending Story of the Jerusalem Embassy Move
Former ambassadors Martin Indyk and Dan Kurtzer tell Haaretz how a move of the embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv is a lot easier to broach on the campaign trail. (Interviewed by Amir Tibon in Haaretz+)
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.