APN's daily news review from Israel
Monday May 22, 2017
Quote of the day:
"Hello President Trump, you are about to spend two days with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. I know you
appreciate alternative facts. Well, you came to the right place. So here are a few basic truths that any first time
visitor should know. #1 There’s almost nothing that gets everyone laughing around here like when PM Netanyahu says
he supports a two state solution. For Bibi, when it comes to occupation, the best deal is no deal."
--Leader of the mostly Arab Joint List faction, MK Ayman Odeh, made an informative - and amusing - video (in English!) of tips for the visiting US President.*
--Leader of the mostly Arab Joint List faction, MK Ayman Odeh, made an informative - and amusing - video (in English!) of tips for the visiting US President.*
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Trump arrives in Israel today; The US President called on Arab countries to renounce Muslim radicalism
- In an almost messianic speech, Trump relieved Arab states from the burden of human rights // Chemi Shalev
- Saudi Arabia succeeded in its main issue – isolating Trump from Iran // Zvi Bar’el
- Netanyahu’s challenge: To kowtow to the President even more than the Saudis // Barak Ravid
- The fight against terror has a high price, and Arab states can’t pay it // Jack Khoury
- Members of the Council for Higher Education: religious nationalists can also learn in academia in classes without women
- On the way to bankruptcy: by 2065, 32% of the population will be ultra-Orthodox
- Government approved subsidizing after school childcare; parents will save up to 350 shekels a month
- At an arms exhibition in Tel-Aviv, countries, which it is illegal to sell arms to, will participate
- Steinitz’s answer to the State Comptroller: a campaign of millions for the gas deal
- Fear has won // Yair Vardi
- What groveling? // Tzipi Livni
- That’s a crematorium // Yuval Albashan
Yedioth Ahronoth
- Welcome Mr. President // Eitan Haber
- The President’s visit
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Welcome Mr. President – He comes for peace
- Bennett to Lieberman: Take a polygraph test // Ben Caspit
- A petition to Trump // Meir Uziel
- The deal and the silence // Yossi Melman
- A chance for a re-start (of Israel-Diaspora relations) // Shlomo Shamir
- There is no partner for peace // Uri Savir
- The world acts like its leader // Tal Schneider
- The death of a legend (Israeli female spy)
- The Temple Mount is in our hands – At beginning of event marking 50 years since the liberation of Jerusalem, Netanyahu said: “There is no dispute about who this city really belongs to…”
Israel Hayom
- Welcome Mr. President // Boaz Bismuth
- Today: US President Donald Trump will land in Israel for an historic visit
- Trump to Abu Mazen: “If you put up pre-conditions, we won’t take care of you”
- 150-250 shekels (savings) per child per month: Government approved subsidizing after school daycare
News Summary:
The day of US President Donald Trump’s arrival to Israel, the Hebrew newspapers welcomed the #1 US citizen, compared what awaited him in Israel with the lavish reception he received in Saudi Arabia, discussed what he expected from Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in order to advance his ‘ultimate’ Israeli-Palestinian peace plan and how that stressed out Netanyahu in light of the opposition from many in his own party and his coalition partner, Habayit Hayehudi, reported on Netanyahu’s declaration that no part of Jerusalem is occupied, despite Trump administration officials’ statements otherwise, and described the IDF’s concern over Trump’s multi-billion arms deal with the Saudis - making the main stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers. Not making headlines in the Hebrew newspapers were the attempts by the Arab-Israelis and the Palestinians to get Trump’s attention, nor the perilous health situation of some of the Palestinian prisoners hunger-striking in Israeli jails.
Netanyahu lost it when he discovered that most of his ministers planned to be no-shows for the welcoming ceremony for Trump at Ben-Gurion airport and dispersed a party leaders' meeting midway, announcing that all ministers were 'required to attend.’ The day before, the security cabinet approved allowing economic measures as a trust-building measure for the Palestinians, as Trump requested, with only the two Habayit Hayehudi ministers voting against it. Trump also warned Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that he better not put up any preconditions to negotiations, Israel Hayom reported.
In Saudi Arabia at an Arab-Islamic-American Summit, Trump spoke before Arab and Muslim leaders, including Abbas, and urged them to fight against Islamist terror. He also grouped Hezbollah and Hamas with ISIS and Al-Qaida, which was upsetting to Hamas. Hamas rejected being classified with the others as a terrorist group and said it showed his "complete bias" towards Israel. But leading Jewish organizations believed he ‘delivered,’ particularly with the line about the 'persecution of Jews,' Haaretz reported. In his speech, Trump said his trip will show that peace is possible, including between Israelis and Palestinians. But at the World Economic Forum, ex-Arab League chief Amr Mousa said there can be no movement toward normalization without real progress on a two-state solution. Trump also met with Egyptian President al-Sisi, who described Trump as "a unique personality that is capable of doing the impossible." As the participants laughed, Trump responded: "I agree."
Israel transferred dozens of hunger striking security prisoners and detainees to the hospital and many dozens more were expected to be taken in the coming hours after being on hunger strike for more than four weeks. The prisoners' demands document includes the installation of public telephones, similar to telephones installed for criminal prisoners. Maan reported that 220 more Palestinian prisoners joined the mass hunger strike on its 35th day. And the Arab-Israeli Monitoring Committee was trying to leverage US President Trump's visit to put pressure on Israel and announced a strike to “send a message to President Trump to intervene in the prisoners' struggle,” Ynet reported.
There were other messages for the visiting US President. An influential Christian Zionist and fierce opponent of the two-state solution spent $100,000 to remind the US President to make good on his promises, among them, the transfer of the US embassy to Jerusalem, Haaretz+ reported.
Netanyahu also had a message about Jerusalem for the President and his administration, which he shared at the opening of the jubilee festivities marking 50 years since the reunification of Jerusalem. Netanyahu said that Jerusalem, and he was referring to the ‘liberated’ Palestinian side, was not occupied and that it belonged to Israel. Interestingly, if not remarkably, the new US ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, attended the ceremony essentially celebrating the conquering of the east side of the city. Prior to being appointed ambassador, Friedman expressed staunch opposition to a Palestinian state. Former US presidential candidate Mike Huckabee was also hosted at the event, Maariv reported.
The day of US President Donald Trump’s arrival to Israel, the Hebrew newspapers welcomed the #1 US citizen, compared what awaited him in Israel with the lavish reception he received in Saudi Arabia, discussed what he expected from Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in order to advance his ‘ultimate’ Israeli-Palestinian peace plan and how that stressed out Netanyahu in light of the opposition from many in his own party and his coalition partner, Habayit Hayehudi, reported on Netanyahu’s declaration that no part of Jerusalem is occupied, despite Trump administration officials’ statements otherwise, and described the IDF’s concern over Trump’s multi-billion arms deal with the Saudis - making the main stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers. Not making headlines in the Hebrew newspapers were the attempts by the Arab-Israelis and the Palestinians to get Trump’s attention, nor the perilous health situation of some of the Palestinian prisoners hunger-striking in Israeli jails.
Netanyahu lost it when he discovered that most of his ministers planned to be no-shows for the welcoming ceremony for Trump at Ben-Gurion airport and dispersed a party leaders' meeting midway, announcing that all ministers were 'required to attend.’ The day before, the security cabinet approved allowing economic measures as a trust-building measure for the Palestinians, as Trump requested, with only the two Habayit Hayehudi ministers voting against it. Trump also warned Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that he better not put up any preconditions to negotiations, Israel Hayom reported.
In Saudi Arabia at an Arab-Islamic-American Summit, Trump spoke before Arab and Muslim leaders, including Abbas, and urged them to fight against Islamist terror. He also grouped Hezbollah and Hamas with ISIS and Al-Qaida, which was upsetting to Hamas. Hamas rejected being classified with the others as a terrorist group and said it showed his "complete bias" towards Israel. But leading Jewish organizations believed he ‘delivered,’ particularly with the line about the 'persecution of Jews,' Haaretz reported. In his speech, Trump said his trip will show that peace is possible, including between Israelis and Palestinians. But at the World Economic Forum, ex-Arab League chief Amr Mousa said there can be no movement toward normalization without real progress on a two-state solution. Trump also met with Egyptian President al-Sisi, who described Trump as "a unique personality that is capable of doing the impossible." As the participants laughed, Trump responded: "I agree."
Israel transferred dozens of hunger striking security prisoners and detainees to the hospital and many dozens more were expected to be taken in the coming hours after being on hunger strike for more than four weeks. The prisoners' demands document includes the installation of public telephones, similar to telephones installed for criminal prisoners. Maan reported that 220 more Palestinian prisoners joined the mass hunger strike on its 35th day. And the Arab-Israeli Monitoring Committee was trying to leverage US President Trump's visit to put pressure on Israel and announced a strike to “send a message to President Trump to intervene in the prisoners' struggle,” Ynet reported.
There were other messages for the visiting US President. An influential Christian Zionist and fierce opponent of the two-state solution spent $100,000 to remind the US President to make good on his promises, among them, the transfer of the US embassy to Jerusalem, Haaretz+ reported.
Netanyahu also had a message about Jerusalem for the President and his administration, which he shared at the opening of the jubilee festivities marking 50 years since the reunification of Jerusalem. Netanyahu said that Jerusalem, and he was referring to the ‘liberated’ Palestinian side, was not occupied and that it belonged to Israel. Interestingly, if not remarkably, the new US ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, attended the ceremony essentially celebrating the conquering of the east side of the city. Prior to being appointed ambassador, Friedman expressed staunch opposition to a Palestinian state. Former US presidential candidate Mike Huckabee was also hosted at the event, Maariv reported.
Quick Hits:
- Palestinian child hospitalized after Israeli forces fire tear gas canister at his head - A seven-year-old Palestinian boy sustained a serious head injury midday Sunday, after being hit in the head with a high-velocity tear gas canister fired by Israeli soldiers in the town of al-Khader near Bethlehem. (Maan)
- Israeli national hero and undercover spy laid to rest - Shulamit Cohen-Kishik was an Israeli Mossad spy code named 'The Pearl' who operated undercover in Lebanon for 14 years. She passed away Sunday at the age of 100 and laid to rest in Givat Shaul, survived by dozens of grandchildren. (Ynet)
- Report: Israeli intelligence officials furious over Trump disclosure to Russia - Israel's intelligence agencies reportedly shouted at their American counterparts after Trump endangered 'one of their most sensitive of accesses' by revealing ISIS plot to Russian FM. (Ynet)
- Government authorizes establishment of police unit to defend hospital staff (from violent family members) - In a joint initiative by the ministries of Public Security and Health, a new police unit will be established to protect the hospitals' medical staff against the rising phenomenon of violence; Erdan: 'It is a moral duty towards those who save the lives of citizens.' (Ynet)
- Israel Relaxes Open-fire Regulations Allowing Soldiers to Shoot at Suspected Weapon Thieves - The expansion of the regulations is aimed mainly at army training bases due to many cases of theft that occur there. (Haaretz and Ynet)
- Activists graffiti Ofer prison's walls in support of Palestinian hunger strikers - Palestinian activists broke into the grounds of Israel's military court at the Ofer detention center Sunday and spray painted its outer walls with slogans in support of hunger striking Palestinian prisoners, stenciled images of strike leader Marwan Barghouthi, and raised Palestinian flags. (Maan)
- Israel returns body of Palestinian girl who succumbed to injuries inflicted 2 months ago - Israeli authorities returned the body of Fatima Jibrin Taqatqa on Sunday who succumbed to her wounds the previous night, more than two months after the 15-year-old was shot and critically injured by Israeli forces in an alleged car ramming attack. (Maan)
- Mike Huckabee visits Joseph's Tomb, bemoans difficulty of access to Jews - The former Arkansas governor and close associate of Trump decries fact Jews have to visit the tomb, under PA control, 'in the dead of night, under armed guard, with the smell of tear gas in the air, burning tires along the route.' (Ynet)
- Israeli, American air forces conclude joint exercise - The two-week annual Juniper Falcon exercise saw Israeli and American F-15 fighter jets practice evading and destroying enemy anti-aircraft missiles and planes; 'we incorporated the most advanced threats we see in the region in this exercise,' says IAF official. (Ynet)
- IPS denies Olmert meeting with his lawyers - In a further development stemming from the seizure of classified materials from the prison cell of Ehud Olmert and from his lawyer, the former prime minister is now being prevented from meeting with his legal representatives. (Ynet)
- Israeli forces raid protest camp aimed at restoring Palestinian village in Hebron - Israeli forces raided a protest camp near the village of Yatta in the Southern Hebron Hills of the occupied West Bank on Saturday night, confiscating tents used by locals and activists attempting to restore the depopulated Palestinian community of Sarura, whose residents were expelled by Israeli forces between 1980 and 1998. (Maan)
- Minister Regev body shames MK Bitan - The meeting of the Likud ministers with the participation of Benjamin Netanyahu became a dramatic exchange of accusations between Coalition Chairman David Bitan and Culture Minister Miri Regev. (Ynet)
- Cops to boot some (Arab) Old City residents for Trump visit - Stores to close and police to commandeer homes for short time when US president walks through area Monday afternoon. (Times of Israel)
- Palestinian merchants protest Israeli policies at Jenin-area checkpoint - Palestinian merchant Muhammad Kamil from the village of Qabatiya in Jenin said that Israeli forces have conducted “arbitrary” searches on the merchants, sometimes questioning them for long hours, which have caused delays and damaged their goods, particularly food that spoiled due to the extended travel times. (Maan)
- Israel announces 'special procedures' for Palestinian Muslims over Ramadan - The 200,000 Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip who have families in Israel will be granted special permits to visit their relatives during Ramadan, which will begin either on May 27 or on May 28. In addition, 700 Palestinians will be granted permits to visit their families in Israel during Eid al-Fitr, which comes immediately after Ramadan. (Maan)
- Hamas to execute three Palestinians over commander's killing - Terror group delivers death sentences to three Palestinians that it says confessed to collaborating with Israel in the killing of Mazen Fuqaha, a Hamas military wing commander, near his Gaza home in March. (Ynet)
- Hezbollah calls US administration 'mentally impeded' during Trump Saudi visit - A senior Hezbollah official recently blacklisted by Washington and Riyadh calls the US administration 'mentally impeded and crazy' as President Donald Trump visits Saudi Arabia. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Iran's Zarif Urges Trump to Discuss Avoiding Another 9/11 With Saudis - During his campaign, Trump himself suggested to supporters that the kingdom may be behind the attacks. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Israel signs $630 million missile deal with India - After signing a $2 billion deal last month, the Israel Aerospace Industries strikes another deal to supply the Indian army with the naval version of the aerial defense system Barak 8 for four Indian Navy ships, expanding on the defense cooperation between the two nations. (Ynet)
Features:
The Explosive History of the Jerusalem Hotel Hosting Trump
Back when the British ruled, the Jewish underground blew up part of the King David, but this time around security measures are likely to make the place one of the safest venues on earth. (David B. Green, Haaretz+)
The French-Jewish Hacker Who Took His Fight Against anti-Semitism Too Far
Gregory Chelli worked to undermine the online efforts of notorious anti-Jewish activists but his actions seemed to have crossed a line. Now his native country wants him extradited from Israel. (Gili Izikovich, Haaretz+)
How Six-Day War Left Hashemite House’s Dreams of Jerusalem Palace in Ruins
Building work on King Hussein’s summer residence on Tel el-Ful came to an abrupt end in June 1967. The land still belongs to the Jordanian royal family, even if some joke they have forgotten about the structure’s existence. (David B. Green, Haaretz+)
Our woman in Lebanon: The spy agent Shula Kishik-Cohen died at the age of 100
The Argentinian-born (Jewish) woman, who immigrated to Israel as a child and lived in Jerusalem, was sent to Beirut as part of her activities in the intelligence organization and took part in the Haganah's news service, risking her life in transferring information and helping Jews there immigrate to Israel. Her funeral will take place at the funeral home in Givat Shaul in the capital. (Yossi Melman, Maariv)
In Bethlehem, Palestinians Confident Trump's One-hour Visit 'Won't Change Anything'
Getting ready to host the U.S. president, the residents of the West Bank city have many grievances and low expectations. (Noga Tarnopolsky, Haaretz)
Commentary/Analysis:
Back when the British ruled, the Jewish underground blew up part of the King David, but this time around security measures are likely to make the place one of the safest venues on earth. (David B. Green, Haaretz+)
The French-Jewish Hacker Who Took His Fight Against anti-Semitism Too Far
Gregory Chelli worked to undermine the online efforts of notorious anti-Jewish activists but his actions seemed to have crossed a line. Now his native country wants him extradited from Israel. (Gili Izikovich, Haaretz+)
How Six-Day War Left Hashemite House’s Dreams of Jerusalem Palace in Ruins
Building work on King Hussein’s summer residence on Tel el-Ful came to an abrupt end in June 1967. The land still belongs to the Jordanian royal family, even if some joke they have forgotten about the structure’s existence. (David B. Green, Haaretz+)
Our woman in Lebanon: The spy agent Shula Kishik-Cohen died at the age of 100
The Argentinian-born (Jewish) woman, who immigrated to Israel as a child and lived in Jerusalem, was sent to Beirut as part of her activities in the intelligence organization and took part in the Haganah's news service, risking her life in transferring information and helping Jews there immigrate to Israel. Her funeral will take place at the funeral home in Givat Shaul in the capital. (Yossi Melman, Maariv)
In Bethlehem, Palestinians Confident Trump's One-hour Visit 'Won't Change Anything'
Getting ready to host the U.S. president, the residents of the West Bank city have many grievances and low expectations. (Noga Tarnopolsky, Haaretz)
Commentary/Analysis:
A weakened president on an impossible mission (Orly Azoulay, Yedioth/Ynet) Donald Trump’s first foreign trip as US president was supposed to be
historic. Not only did he strive to present an ‘ultimate’ Israeli-Palestinian peace deal, but he had
already achieved far-reaching understandings with the Saudis and planned to recognize Jerusalem as
Israel’s capital. All these grandiose plans will likely go down the drain, however, following a
scandal-filled week back home.
Israel Isn’t a Bling Nation That Can Impress Trump. And That’s a Good Thing (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) Watching reports from Riyadh, poor Netanyahu knows that nothing he can produce will ever come close to the show the Saudi royal family just put on for the U.S. president.
Netanyahu's survival mission in the face of Trump (Ben Caspit, Maariv) It took four months for Trump's reality in the White House to get completely derailed. He will meet in Jerusalem with another lame duck, and with the intelligence leak in the background.
Harness Trump’s Determination to Attain the Ultimate Middle East Deal (Haaretz Editorial) If the Israeli government truly seeks peace as it claims, it must use this opportunity to bravely pave a path to a diplomatic solution with the Palestinians.
After Riyadh Speech, Trump Comes to Israel as a Messianic Opportunist (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) Unlike Obama’s Cairo address, Trump dispensed with preaching freedom and equality and gave the Palestinians only a perfunctory nod.
Trump Sees All Terrorist Groups as the Same, but Convincing Arab Countries Won't Be So Easy (Jack Khoury, Haaretz+) Trump groups ISIS, Al-Qaida, Hezbollah and Hamas together as terror organizations, but they differ drastically in policy and approach.
Every child in Israel knows that the prime minister's goal is to preserve the conflict with the Palestinians (Tal Schneider, Maariv) During his visit, Trump is walking into Netanyahu's comfort zone. Will the prime minister retreat and allow the president to prove to the world that he has the ability to stick to something?
Trump Plans to Shower Israel With Love, but It Might Be a Honey Trap for Netanyahu (Barak Ravid, Haaretz+) Trump believes reaching 'the ultimate deal' with Israel and Palestinians will help eradicate ISIS. It’s pretty certain that that’s not how Netanyahu views things.
While Trump Ingratiates Himself With Saudi Extremists, U.S. Muslims Are Abandoned (Haroon Moghul, Haaretz) The shameful display of Trump and his Islamophobic advisors chumming it up with the world’s most politically regressive Muslim nation shows U.S. Muslims just don't matter to the so-called Muslim world.
The Israeli silence regarding the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia stems from fear of Trump (Yossi Melman, Maariv) There are two reasons for the silence of the government over the large arms deal between the United States and Saudi Arabia: common interests against Iran and lack of interest in provoking the wrath of the unpredictable president.
*Ayman Odeh Has a Few Tips Ahead of Trump's Visit (MK Ayman Odeh, Haaretz VIDEO) 'I know you appreciate alternative facts.'
Trump's New Alliance With Arab States Is Old News (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) In his speech to Arab world, Trump seemed to understand that anti-Islamic rhetoric he cultivated cannot continue, but from Israel to ISIS, more questions than answers remain.
Dress as performance art (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom)
The backlash over Culture Minister Miri Regev's Jerusalem-print dress is an expression of the primeval fears of associating her with qualities once reserved for leftist icons: subversion, irony, and humor.
Israel's Minister of Provocation 'Liberates' Jerusalem, One Dress at a Time (Omer Benjakob, Haaretz+) On the red carpet at Cannes, Israel’s culture minister Miri Regev shoved Israel’s ownership of Jerusalem up the noses of the cultural elites of Europe and Israel.
A Trump visit could change relations between Israel and American Jews (Shlomo Shamir, Maariv) Not only in the diplomatic arena: The president's visit to Israel presents an important opportunity to improve relations with the large Jewish Diaspora. The hosts in Jerusalem should recognize the potential and know how to exploit it.
Trump the Impossible. Trump the Asteroid (Bradley Burston, Haaretz) There's a theory that it would take an event as impossibly unlikely, as humanly uncontrollable, as potentially cataclysmic as an asteroid striking the earth, for Israelis and Palestinians to be able to make peace.
Trump Deserves a Little Credit From the Israeli Left (Tzvia Greenfield, Haaretz+) Maybe he will really succeed in stirring a profound change that his more proper predecessors were reluctant to attempt.
Welcome to Israel, Mr. President (Eitan Haber, Yedioth/Ynet) We have no golden castles and no colorful parade of camels to honor you with. We have nothing to offer you, except what we have here: The values of human rights, basic democratic laws, and a Western observation post in the Middle East.
An Alliance That Will Breed Disasters (Odeh Bisharat, Haaretz+) Saudi Arabia is the source of religious extremism in the Arab world and the main financier of fanatic terrorism.
No, Haaretz, Visiting Settlement Blocs Is Not a Surrender of Our Principles (Tzipi Livni, Haaretz+) Zionist Union members should bring their message with head held high, including in Ma'aleh Adumim, whether or not Haaretz likes it.
Ehud Barak Is Israel’s Only Chance (Zeev Sternhell, Haaretz+) Today’s Barak understands what Prime Minister Barak didn’t want to know: Nurturing the settlements leads to nothing but devastation. He’s capable of beating the ultranationalist right in a way Shimon Peres never could.
Right-wing celebrations for the election of "Messiah" Trump turned out to be a disappointment (Natan Zehavi, Maariv) At the end of the celebrations over the election of the American leader, it was discovered that the size of the expectations are the size of the disappointments. Just before Trump’s visit to the Holy Land, the defense establishment is afraid - and it has good reason.
Miri Regev's Cannes Dress: Tasteless, Aggressive, and Colonialist (Shira Pur, Haaretz+) With a dress featuring the Old City walls, Dome of the Rock and Tower of David, it’s hard to believe it is not a Photoshop spoof.
Why do Palestinians continue to sit in refugee camps with keys (to their homes) in their hands for 70 years? (Meir Uziel, Maariv) 50 executions a day in Syria, three hangings a day in Iran, poverty everywhere in the Middle East, but the suffering of the Palestinians is the subject they talk about. And this is a weapon capable of destroying any deal Trump can think of.
No Solution in Sight (Moshe Arens, Haaretz+) Despite good intentions, Trump is not going to reach 'the ultimate deal' between Israel and the Palestinians — for good reason.
Why President Trump Should Make a Big Scene at the Wall (Scott B. Lasensky, Haaretz+) Three ways for the U.S. president to make a difference during his Israel visit, starting with a push back against both those who deny the Western Wall's Jewish connection, and those who deny non-Orthodox Jews' place there.
Israel Isn’t a Bling Nation That Can Impress Trump. And That’s a Good Thing (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) Watching reports from Riyadh, poor Netanyahu knows that nothing he can produce will ever come close to the show the Saudi royal family just put on for the U.S. president.
Netanyahu's survival mission in the face of Trump (Ben Caspit, Maariv) It took four months for Trump's reality in the White House to get completely derailed. He will meet in Jerusalem with another lame duck, and with the intelligence leak in the background.
Harness Trump’s Determination to Attain the Ultimate Middle East Deal (Haaretz Editorial) If the Israeli government truly seeks peace as it claims, it must use this opportunity to bravely pave a path to a diplomatic solution with the Palestinians.
After Riyadh Speech, Trump Comes to Israel as a Messianic Opportunist (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) Unlike Obama’s Cairo address, Trump dispensed with preaching freedom and equality and gave the Palestinians only a perfunctory nod.
Trump Sees All Terrorist Groups as the Same, but Convincing Arab Countries Won't Be So Easy (Jack Khoury, Haaretz+) Trump groups ISIS, Al-Qaida, Hezbollah and Hamas together as terror organizations, but they differ drastically in policy and approach.
Every child in Israel knows that the prime minister's goal is to preserve the conflict with the Palestinians (Tal Schneider, Maariv) During his visit, Trump is walking into Netanyahu's comfort zone. Will the prime minister retreat and allow the president to prove to the world that he has the ability to stick to something?
Trump Plans to Shower Israel With Love, but It Might Be a Honey Trap for Netanyahu (Barak Ravid, Haaretz+) Trump believes reaching 'the ultimate deal' with Israel and Palestinians will help eradicate ISIS. It’s pretty certain that that’s not how Netanyahu views things.
While Trump Ingratiates Himself With Saudi Extremists, U.S. Muslims Are Abandoned (Haroon Moghul, Haaretz) The shameful display of Trump and his Islamophobic advisors chumming it up with the world’s most politically regressive Muslim nation shows U.S. Muslims just don't matter to the so-called Muslim world.
The Israeli silence regarding the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia stems from fear of Trump (Yossi Melman, Maariv) There are two reasons for the silence of the government over the large arms deal between the United States and Saudi Arabia: common interests against Iran and lack of interest in provoking the wrath of the unpredictable president.
*Ayman Odeh Has a Few Tips Ahead of Trump's Visit (MK Ayman Odeh, Haaretz VIDEO) 'I know you appreciate alternative facts.'
Trump's New Alliance With Arab States Is Old News (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) In his speech to Arab world, Trump seemed to understand that anti-Islamic rhetoric he cultivated cannot continue, but from Israel to ISIS, more questions than answers remain.
Dress as performance art (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom)
The backlash over Culture Minister Miri Regev's Jerusalem-print dress is an expression of the primeval fears of associating her with qualities once reserved for leftist icons: subversion, irony, and humor.
Israel's Minister of Provocation 'Liberates' Jerusalem, One Dress at a Time (Omer Benjakob, Haaretz+) On the red carpet at Cannes, Israel’s culture minister Miri Regev shoved Israel’s ownership of Jerusalem up the noses of the cultural elites of Europe and Israel.
A Trump visit could change relations between Israel and American Jews (Shlomo Shamir, Maariv) Not only in the diplomatic arena: The president's visit to Israel presents an important opportunity to improve relations with the large Jewish Diaspora. The hosts in Jerusalem should recognize the potential and know how to exploit it.
Trump the Impossible. Trump the Asteroid (Bradley Burston, Haaretz) There's a theory that it would take an event as impossibly unlikely, as humanly uncontrollable, as potentially cataclysmic as an asteroid striking the earth, for Israelis and Palestinians to be able to make peace.
Trump Deserves a Little Credit From the Israeli Left (Tzvia Greenfield, Haaretz+) Maybe he will really succeed in stirring a profound change that his more proper predecessors were reluctant to attempt.
Welcome to Israel, Mr. President (Eitan Haber, Yedioth/Ynet) We have no golden castles and no colorful parade of camels to honor you with. We have nothing to offer you, except what we have here: The values of human rights, basic democratic laws, and a Western observation post in the Middle East.
An Alliance That Will Breed Disasters (Odeh Bisharat, Haaretz+) Saudi Arabia is the source of religious extremism in the Arab world and the main financier of fanatic terrorism.
No, Haaretz, Visiting Settlement Blocs Is Not a Surrender of Our Principles (Tzipi Livni, Haaretz+) Zionist Union members should bring their message with head held high, including in Ma'aleh Adumim, whether or not Haaretz likes it.
Ehud Barak Is Israel’s Only Chance (Zeev Sternhell, Haaretz+) Today’s Barak understands what Prime Minister Barak didn’t want to know: Nurturing the settlements leads to nothing but devastation. He’s capable of beating the ultranationalist right in a way Shimon Peres never could.
Right-wing celebrations for the election of "Messiah" Trump turned out to be a disappointment (Natan Zehavi, Maariv) At the end of the celebrations over the election of the American leader, it was discovered that the size of the expectations are the size of the disappointments. Just before Trump’s visit to the Holy Land, the defense establishment is afraid - and it has good reason.
Miri Regev's Cannes Dress: Tasteless, Aggressive, and Colonialist (Shira Pur, Haaretz+) With a dress featuring the Old City walls, Dome of the Rock and Tower of David, it’s hard to believe it is not a Photoshop spoof.
Why do Palestinians continue to sit in refugee camps with keys (to their homes) in their hands for 70 years? (Meir Uziel, Maariv) 50 executions a day in Syria, three hangings a day in Iran, poverty everywhere in the Middle East, but the suffering of the Palestinians is the subject they talk about. And this is a weapon capable of destroying any deal Trump can think of.
No Solution in Sight (Moshe Arens, Haaretz+) Despite good intentions, Trump is not going to reach 'the ultimate deal' between Israel and the Palestinians — for good reason.
Why President Trump Should Make a Big Scene at the Wall (Scott B. Lasensky, Haaretz+) Three ways for the U.S. president to make a difference during his Israel visit, starting with a push back against both those who deny the Western Wall's Jewish connection, and those who deny non-Orthodox Jews' place there.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.