APN's daily news review from Israel
Monday February 6, 2017
You Must Be
Kidding:
The Knesset is likely to give final approval to a bill that would forbid granting entry visas or residency rights to foreign nationals who call for economic, cultural or academic boycotts of either Israel or the settlements.
The Knesset is likely to give final approval to a bill that would forbid granting entry visas or residency rights to foreign nationals who call for economic, cultural or academic boycotts of either Israel or the settlements.
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Bennett: Vote today on the expropriation bill; Netanyahu: That is a fake ultimatum
- The coalition is advancing a bill that will require marking businesses that don’t offer services to settlements
- Lapid’s view: In the face of Hamas and Hezbollah, no attacking for defeating
- The rebels in Colombia will disarm in the coming days
- (Hollywood producer) Milchan’s aide gave central testimony about the presents to Netanyahu
- The Iranian experiment: A signal, but not necessarily to Trump // Zvi Bar’el
- The judicial stop to Trump may be temporary // Chemi Shalev
- Lieberman reneges after discussing with Mendelblit, and Army Radio will remain under army’s responsibility
- Those who oppose the radical right-wing in the US are not deterred by violence // The Guardian
- Giving a hand to robbery // Raviv Drucker
- No one anymore writes Israeliness // Rami Livni
- “Please refer to the patient as Gila” – Gila Goldstein, one of the symbols of the LGBT struggle, died
- Intelligence is above the law // Moshe Arens
Yedioth Ahronoth
- Violence, humiliation, neglect – Yedioth reporter volunteered for two months in 14 nursing homes
- The storm before the Regulation (bill vote)
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Netanyahu vs. Bennett: “Fake ultimatums”
- Double murder in Kfar Qassem: Father and son shot to death at car lot in industrial zone
- The legislation revolution – Ministers Shaked and Levine acting to limit number of private bills of MKs and to strengthen the supervision of the Knesset over the government
Israel Hayom
- The Regulation Bill on the way to a vote; Netanyahu: I’m not moved by fake ultimatums
- El-Al crisis: More flights cancelled – and passengers are furious
- Iran – at the heart of talks today in London
- Double murder in Kfar Qassem: Father and son shot to death and security guard seriously injured; Hunt for suspects
News Summary:
A battle between coalition partners over the outpost Regulation bill, the Justice Minister’s controversial bill to limit legislation and ‘silence the opposition’ and Labor party MK Shelly Yachimovich’s attempt to run for the head of the Israel’s largest labor union (Histadrut) were today’s top stories in the Hebrew newspapers.
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu asked to delay the vote over the controversial bill to legalize expropriating privately-owned Palestinian land until after he consults with US President Donald Trump next week, but Habayit Hayehudi party members warned that they would leave the coalition if the outpost regulation bill were rejected. Netanyahu insisted he was unfazed by such ‘fake ultimatums.’ Some 5000 people reportedly demonstrated in Ofra settlement in support of the bill. Netanyahu is in London today to meet with British Prime Minister Theresa May, to whom he plans to stress the importance of a joint stance against Tehran.
Meanwhile, Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked is proposing a bill that would limit the number of bills each MK can propose for legislation – thereby limiting the affect of opposition members on legislating. She has the support of opposition member and head of the Yesh Atid party, MK Yair Lapid, who said it would strengthen the Knesset.
A battle between coalition partners over the outpost Regulation bill, the Justice Minister’s controversial bill to limit legislation and ‘silence the opposition’ and Labor party MK Shelly Yachimovich’s attempt to run for the head of the Israel’s largest labor union (Histadrut) were today’s top stories in the Hebrew newspapers.
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu asked to delay the vote over the controversial bill to legalize expropriating privately-owned Palestinian land until after he consults with US President Donald Trump next week, but Habayit Hayehudi party members warned that they would leave the coalition if the outpost regulation bill were rejected. Netanyahu insisted he was unfazed by such ‘fake ultimatums.’ Some 5000 people reportedly demonstrated in Ofra settlement in support of the bill. Netanyahu is in London today to meet with British Prime Minister Theresa May, to whom he plans to stress the importance of a joint stance against Tehran.
Meanwhile, Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked is proposing a bill that would limit the number of bills each MK can propose for legislation – thereby limiting the affect of opposition members on legislating. She has the support of opposition member and head of the Yesh Atid party, MK Yair Lapid, who said it would strengthen the Knesset.
Quick Hits:
- Bill: Israeli firms would be required to notify customers if they don't provide services to settlements - Businesses that don't ship goods or provide after-sales service to settlements could face 10,000-shekel fine; regulations would make it easier to form blacklist of such companies. (Haaretz+)
- **Israeli panel postpones hearing on punishing universities with pro-boycott lecturers - Certain ministries oppose the bill, so the governing coalition needs time to craft a common stance. (Haaretz+)
- Demolition orders issued for homes in Wadi Ara - Several residents of the Wadi Ara area receive demolition orders for illegally constructed homes; residents vow to fight the demolitions by all means necessary: 'We'll sacrifice our lives for our homes.' (Ynet)
- High Court postpones Ofra evacuation (and house demolition) by a month - Court rejects settlers' request to postpone demolition of 9 houses in the settlement by three months, and instead allows for a one month's delay to give security forces time to prepare to carry out the verdict. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- Umm al-Hiran driver's widow: 'They said "terrorist" without investigating' - Criticizing officials' immediate leap to paint her deceased husband as a terrorist, Dr. Amal Abu Saad tells Ynet that her husband was clearly intending to visit his mother, not carry out an attack and calls for governmental inquiry. (Ynet)
- Border Police chief blasts 'abnormal' protesters after violent scenes at Amona - Maj. Gen. Yaakov Shabtai criticizes group who threw acid and chemicals at officers during evacuation of synagogue at the illegal West Bank outpost. (Haaretz+)
- Discharged soldier charged with abusing Palestinian detainee during service - Six months ago, a soldier allegedly struck a handcuffed and blindfolded detained Palestinian on base; now discharged, he is being indicted for abuse and conduct unbecoming an IDF soldier. (Ynet)
- Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan's aide gives 'dramatic' testimony on gifts to Netanyahus - Milchan's personal assistant was responsible for passing on the Netanyahus' requests for presents to her boss, Channel 2 reports. (Haaretz+ and Maariv)
- Army Radio to remain in the army - A mere 11 days after announcing that the station would be transferred from the IDF to the Ministry of Defense, Avigdor Lieberman says that things are not to change after learning of the complications involved in carrying out a transfer. (Ynet)
- Controversial proposal to limit legislation sparks heated debate - The speaker of the Knesset, together with two MKs, are leading a reform that would limit the number of private bills that could be filed by MKs; the proposal has been both hailed as an important step to improve the Knesset's ability to function and lambasted as an indirect way to limit its authority. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- Complaints of Gender, Ethnic Bias at Israeli Workplaces Increase Sharply - Yet fewer complaints charted for discrimination based on age, pregnancy, parenthood or reserve duty. (Haaretz+)
- Israel Spends 70% More on At-risk Jewish Girls Than Their Arab Counterparts - Over half of the money is spent on boarding schools, which is seen as an inappropriate solution for most Arabs. (Haaretz+)
- 3 Palestinians indicted for arson over devastating forest fire - Three residents of Dir Abu Mashal, near Ramallah, face multiple arson charges for setting fire after drinking beer that nearly destroyed the West Bank settlment of Halamish, causing $6.7 million in damages • Indictment makes no mention of a nationalistic motive. Great majority of those arrested were released. (Israel Hayom and Haaretz+)
- Israeli suspected of being middleman for $20m bribe to Peruvian ex-president - Peruvian police say businessman Yossi Maiman acted as intermediary when Alejandro Toledo allegedly received money from major Peruvian construction firm. (Haaretz+)
- Hamas reportedly rejects Israeli offer for partial prisoner swap - Hamas turned down a proposal to free one of two Israelis believed held in Gaza in exchange for Israel's release of a prisoner a court has deemed as mentally unfit to stand trial, Israel Radio reports. (Haaretz)
- Hamas denies receiving offer for prisoner exchange with Israel - The Gazan terrorist organization denies that it received an offer to exchange prisoners on a humanitarian basis and stresses that there are no new initiatives on the subject. A spokesman for the organization: Israel should sign a comprehensive deal. (Maariv)
- Chuck Norris arrives in Israel, peace seems imminent - Action star and meme-generator extraordinaire Chuck Norris lands in Israel, keeping things on the down-low; a conservative and avid Trump fan, Norris visits a swanky restaurant and the Western Wall, before pumping gas directly out of the Leviathan gas field with his bare hands. (Ynet)
- Boston 'situation room' aims to tackle anti-Israel activity online - Israeli American Council launches Boston Media Room to train high school, college students to enlist support for Israel • Project modeled on IDC's "situation room," which launched #israelunderfire hashtag during Operation Protective Edge. (Israel Hayom)
- S&P reaffirms Israel's A+ credit rating, lauds thriving economy - Standard & Poor's reaffirms Israel's international credit ratings, gives it a "stable" economic outlook • Economy could grow by 3.1% between 2017 and 2020, agency says • Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon: Rating further attests to Israel's economic strength. (Israel Hayom)
- New York Resident Documents Passengers' Reaction to Nazi Symbols on Subway - 'I've never seen so many people simultaneously reach into their bags and pockets looking for tissues and Purel.' (Haaretz)
- Egyptian Court Gives Christian Copt Civil Servants a Month's Paid Leave to Visit Jerusalem - The court said the Egyptian constitution guarantees the group the same rights as Muslim civil servants who get a month off once in a lifetime to undertake the pilgrimage to Mecca. (Haaretz)
- Iran Says Shipment Will Boost Uranium Supply to 60% More Than Before Nuclear Deal - Iran's nuclear chief says Iran will receive a final batch of 149 tons of natural uranium by Tuesday, in addition to 210 tons already delivered since early 2016. (Agencies, Haaretz)
Features:
Thousands of left-wingers join Netanyahu's Likud in search of political influence
Taking a page from the settlers' handbook Israeli doves are joining Israel's ruling party in growing numbers, in hopes of bringing about the change that eludes them in national polls. (Noa Shpigel, Haaretz)
972 CIA document analyzes Ashkenazi-Sephardic tensions in Israel
One of tens of thousands of records published on the American intelligence agency’s website recently describes the social difficulties faced by the State of Israel a year before the Yom Kippur War: ‘The overwhelming majority of Oriental Jews are drawers of water and hewers of wood; the Ashkenazim are concerned that Western-oriented Israel might ultimately become another Levantine state.’ (Ynet)
This is how the settler leadership has become irrelevant for the younger generation in the West Bank
Hundreds of youths barricaded themselves during the struggle against the eviction from Amona outpost, which highlighted the emerging rift between the generations that live over the Green Line. "They led something that did not work, so why do we need them?" (Galit Adut, Maariv Magazine supplement, cover)
Commentary/Analysis:
The High Cost of Housing in Israel Is Part of a [right-wing] Political Master Plan (Nehemia Shtrasler, Haaretz+) Israel’s high home prices and poor transportation system are part of a plan to increase the population in the settlements so as to obviate the two-state solution.
Only the Right can evacuate settlements (Sima Kadmon, Yedioth/Ynet) Where else in the world would young people who attack police with iron rods be treated with so much forgiveness? In Israel, the settlers are the masters of the land, their evacuation from robbed land costs the state more than NIS 150 million, and in return for their violence they get a new community.
When Israeli 'Journalists' Channel Settlers (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) The mayor of Silwad, a Palestinian village whose land was stolen for Amona, said that the settlers expelled from the outpost should go back to Europe. Israel Radio reported the comments – but failed to explain the context.
2.6 million tweets of hate (Carol Nuriel, Yedioth/Ynet) Different political changes in 2016 served as a catalyst for the rise of new and renewed anti-Semitism. Particularly concerning is the case of the United States, where the anti-Semitic discourse has become acceptable and ‘normal,' says the director of the ADL in Israel.
Trump’s Goal: U.S. Anarchy (Dafna Maor, Haaretz+) What looks like chaos is actually part of a careful plan to destroy the existing order.
ֿIran in Trump’s crosshairs (Prof. Eyal Zisser, Israel Hayom) The American president has realized that feeble protests are an inadequate response to Tehran's belligerence. New red lines must be drawn and, should Iran try to cross them, the U.S. will respond firmly.
Israel’s Shining Stars of Conscience: Its Conscientious Objectors (Odeh Bisharat, Haaretz+) Three young women prefer to be behind bars than be part of an occupation that embitters Palestinian lives.
Clash of the Titans: (Protest) demonstrations by Liberals are bringing the US closer to chaos (Avihu Sofer, Maariv) Since Trump was elected, violent protests began, which incite the minorities throughout the United States. In a democracy one does not have to agree with the other side, but shouldn’t it allow him to voice his opinion?
Redesigning America (Prof. Abraham Ben-Zvi, Israel Hayom) Confirming Neil Gorsuch as a Supreme Court justice is the first big hurdle that the Trump administration must clear, and will have major implications on the nature of American society.
Voting Yes to Theft (Haaretz Editorial) If the vote takes place, the majority of our lawmakers will raise their hands to approve a bill that will steal land from Palestinians.
Room for cautious optimism (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) President Trump could play a critical role in the Jews' return to Zion, but it ultimately depends on our own determination to keep hold of the land.
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.
Settlement statement proves Trump is no Obama (Boaz Bismuth, Israel Hayom) The media was quick to pick up on the critical element of the White House's statement on the settlement enterprise, ignoring the historic wording which underscores that the U.S. does not see the settlements' existence as an obstacle to peace.
How Iran and Israel Are Testing Trump (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) The missile test and the American response come at a very bad time for Iranian President Hassan Rohani.
Limiting legislation: The government’s dangerous initiative which attacks all those around it (MK Dov Hanin, Maariv) The new initiative of the Minister of Justice puts the Knesset in the crosshairs in an effort to hit everything that could challenge the current government. We must fight it.
Trump Needs a Holy War (Bradley Burston, Haaretz) It's an inconceivably scary thought that the Trump administration is simply winging it, breakneck, disrupting and detonating and taking America apart - and all of it without a plan. But here's the even scarier possibility - that there is, in fact, a plan.
The secular forces must save the army's melting pot (Eran Baruch, Maariv) The vision of the people's army, in which the protection of the state's borders is carried out in an equitable manner, is a thing of the past. The bourgeois sector needs to take up the challenge and build an educational system that will put the clock back.
Israel and America: Like Brothers (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) The United States and Israel share the same values. These days that's no source of pride for either country.
Taking a page from the settlers' handbook Israeli doves are joining Israel's ruling party in growing numbers, in hopes of bringing about the change that eludes them in national polls. (Noa Shpigel, Haaretz)
972 CIA document analyzes Ashkenazi-Sephardic tensions in Israel
One of tens of thousands of records published on the American intelligence agency’s website recently describes the social difficulties faced by the State of Israel a year before the Yom Kippur War: ‘The overwhelming majority of Oriental Jews are drawers of water and hewers of wood; the Ashkenazim are concerned that Western-oriented Israel might ultimately become another Levantine state.’ (Ynet)
This is how the settler leadership has become irrelevant for the younger generation in the West Bank
Hundreds of youths barricaded themselves during the struggle against the eviction from Amona outpost, which highlighted the emerging rift between the generations that live over the Green Line. "They led something that did not work, so why do we need them?" (Galit Adut, Maariv Magazine supplement, cover)
Commentary/Analysis:
The High Cost of Housing in Israel Is Part of a [right-wing] Political Master Plan (Nehemia Shtrasler, Haaretz+) Israel’s high home prices and poor transportation system are part of a plan to increase the population in the settlements so as to obviate the two-state solution.
Only the Right can evacuate settlements (Sima Kadmon, Yedioth/Ynet) Where else in the world would young people who attack police with iron rods be treated with so much forgiveness? In Israel, the settlers are the masters of the land, their evacuation from robbed land costs the state more than NIS 150 million, and in return for their violence they get a new community.
When Israeli 'Journalists' Channel Settlers (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) The mayor of Silwad, a Palestinian village whose land was stolen for Amona, said that the settlers expelled from the outpost should go back to Europe. Israel Radio reported the comments – but failed to explain the context.
2.6 million tweets of hate (Carol Nuriel, Yedioth/Ynet) Different political changes in 2016 served as a catalyst for the rise of new and renewed anti-Semitism. Particularly concerning is the case of the United States, where the anti-Semitic discourse has become acceptable and ‘normal,' says the director of the ADL in Israel.
Trump’s Goal: U.S. Anarchy (Dafna Maor, Haaretz+) What looks like chaos is actually part of a careful plan to destroy the existing order.
ֿIran in Trump’s crosshairs (Prof. Eyal Zisser, Israel Hayom) The American president has realized that feeble protests are an inadequate response to Tehran's belligerence. New red lines must be drawn and, should Iran try to cross them, the U.S. will respond firmly.
Israel’s Shining Stars of Conscience: Its Conscientious Objectors (Odeh Bisharat, Haaretz+) Three young women prefer to be behind bars than be part of an occupation that embitters Palestinian lives.
Clash of the Titans: (Protest) demonstrations by Liberals are bringing the US closer to chaos (Avihu Sofer, Maariv) Since Trump was elected, violent protests began, which incite the minorities throughout the United States. In a democracy one does not have to agree with the other side, but shouldn’t it allow him to voice his opinion?
Redesigning America (Prof. Abraham Ben-Zvi, Israel Hayom) Confirming Neil Gorsuch as a Supreme Court justice is the first big hurdle that the Trump administration must clear, and will have major implications on the nature of American society.
Voting Yes to Theft (Haaretz Editorial) If the vote takes place, the majority of our lawmakers will raise their hands to approve a bill that will steal land from Palestinians.
Room for cautious optimism (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) President Trump could play a critical role in the Jews' return to Zion, but it ultimately depends on our own determination to keep hold of the land.
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.
Settlement statement proves Trump is no Obama (Boaz Bismuth, Israel Hayom) The media was quick to pick up on the critical element of the White House's statement on the settlement enterprise, ignoring the historic wording which underscores that the U.S. does not see the settlements' existence as an obstacle to peace.
How Iran and Israel Are Testing Trump (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) The missile test and the American response come at a very bad time for Iranian President Hassan Rohani.
Limiting legislation: The government’s dangerous initiative which attacks all those around it (MK Dov Hanin, Maariv) The new initiative of the Minister of Justice puts the Knesset in the crosshairs in an effort to hit everything that could challenge the current government. We must fight it.
Trump Needs a Holy War (Bradley Burston, Haaretz) It's an inconceivably scary thought that the Trump administration is simply winging it, breakneck, disrupting and detonating and taking America apart - and all of it without a plan. But here's the even scarier possibility - that there is, in fact, a plan.
The secular forces must save the army's melting pot (Eran Baruch, Maariv) The vision of the people's army, in which the protection of the state's borders is carried out in an equitable manner, is a thing of the past. The bourgeois sector needs to take up the challenge and build an educational system that will put the clock back.
Israel and America: Like Brothers (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) The United States and Israel share the same values. These days that's no source of pride for either country.
Interviews:
Top secret: Commander of the IDF's special operations in his first interview
From the kidnapping of Mustafa Dirani, to the attempt to rescue Nachshon Waxman, and the trauma of the Ze'elim military base disaster (in which the Sayeret Matkal soldiers accidentally shot a missile on other soldiers during a simulation to assassinate Saddam Hussein in 1992 - OH): Brig. Gen. E. is retiring from the army and tells about the formative events in his career. (Interviewed by Ben Caspit in Maariv)
U.S. Congressman to Haaretz: 'White House in the Camp of Holocaust Denial'
New York Representative Jerrold Nadler talks about his fight against Trump's Muslim ban at J.F.K. airport, and warns: 'It's Steve Bannon's White House, there are anti-Semitic themes.' (Interviewed by Amir Tibon in Haaretz+)
Top secret: Commander of the IDF's special operations in his first interview
From the kidnapping of Mustafa Dirani, to the attempt to rescue Nachshon Waxman, and the trauma of the Ze'elim military base disaster (in which the Sayeret Matkal soldiers accidentally shot a missile on other soldiers during a simulation to assassinate Saddam Hussein in 1992 - OH): Brig. Gen. E. is retiring from the army and tells about the formative events in his career. (Interviewed by Ben Caspit in Maariv)
U.S. Congressman to Haaretz: 'White House in the Camp of Holocaust Denial'
New York Representative Jerrold Nadler talks about his fight against Trump's Muslim ban at J.F.K. airport, and warns: 'It's Steve Bannon's White House, there are anti-Semitic themes.' (Interviewed by Amir Tibon in Haaretz+)
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.