APN's daily news review from Israel
Sunday May 28, 2017
Quote of the day:
“It was an earth-shattering moment for me.”
--Ashley Bohrer, a campaign organizer for the Center for Jewish Nonviolence, said about the moment she understood that being Jewish didn’t contradict opposing the occupation, after meeting like-minded members of her Jewish faith.*
--Ashley Bohrer, a campaign organizer for the Center for Jewish Nonviolence, said about the moment she understood that being Jewish didn’t contradict opposing the occupation, after meeting like-minded members of her Jewish faith.*
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Waqf: Ready to renew visits of Israelis to the mosques of the Temple Mount
- Palestinian prisoners reached agreements with the Israel Prison Service and ended hunger strike
- A temporary sigh of relief // Amos Harel
- A victory in points // Jack Khoury
- 15,000 people demonstrated in Tel-Aviv in support of two-state solution
- 29 Christians killed in shooting attack by ISIS in Egypt
- Kushner in focus of FBI investigation about Russia: Offered Russian ambassador to hold secret channel
- Cameras to be worn by every policeman after pilot reduced number of public complaints
- Criticism of State Prosecution: Blocked lawyers from accessing information
- The friends camp // Amir Oren
- Cheap lives // Haaretz Editorial
- 50 years since the occupation of our tiny land // Shaked Orbach
Yedioth Ahronoth
- Storm in the Labor party – Party’s court to discuss claims against Amir Peretz’s party in the primaries
- The left-wing is fantasizing // Sever Plocker
- The report and the lies: This is how the National Forensic Institute and the State Prosecutor worked together to get convictions
- To read and to blow up // Ronen Bergman
- “The children are still waiting for their mother to come home” – said sister of Michal who died from cancer two days after giving birth
- Deri affair – Interior Minister and his wife Yaffa are being interrogated in parallel
- Hadassah crisis – Doctors will borrowed from Sheba Hospital, the (oncology) department won’t close
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Abu Mazen to Israelis: We will make peace of the courageous
- Hunger-strike of security prisoners ended
- He deviated from the mandate: Judge Rozen canceled the findings of Judge Gerstel about the criminal cases in which pathologists of the National Forensic Institute changed their opinions following discussions with State Prosecutors // Ben Caspit
- (African) infiltrator convicted of sexually assaulting five women in Tel-Aviv; Residents of south Tel-Aviv: “We live in insecurity”
Israel Hayom
- Trump: Netanyahu promised me he was ready for peace
- Hunger-strike of the prisoners ended: “Without any negotiations”
- Sprouts of (Shavuot holiday) celebration
- Careful: Driver, there’s a camera above you
- After the horrific massacre of the Coptic children: Egypt attacked in Libya
- For the first time: Great-grandchildren of Jews can join the IDF – even without citizenship
News Summary:
Palestinian prisoners ended their hunger-strike (following negotiations on Friday that the government insisted did not take place, but with little to show, just ahead of Ramadan, which began Saturday, some 15,000 people rallied in Tel-Aviv in support of a two-state solution in Saturday night and a message from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was read calling on Israelis to recognize Palestine and end the occupation. “The opportunity still exists, and it cannot be missed when our hand is extended in peace that is created between those who are brave,” said Abbas at the event co-organized by Peace Now. Trump believes Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is one of those brave people. In a speech over the weekend, he said Netanyahu was committed to making peace. Yet, today, Netanyahu convenes the weekly cabinet meeting at the Western Wall tunnels in Jerusalem's occupied Old City instead of in his office. This comes as a poll showed that Netanyahu's popularity has surged following US President Donald Trump’s visit to Israel.
Another major story in Yedioth and Maariv was the damning report – but not damning enough (see Ben Caspit in Commentary) by the Commissioner for Prosecutorial Oversight, whose report to be released today reveals that the State Prosecutor's Office concealed information that could have led to acquittals and that pathologists at the National Forensic Institute changed their original written opinions after discussions held with the state prosecutor – always to the detriment of the defendant. (Also Maariv)
Also in the news – and with a twist - was that Israel will further reduce Gaza's electricity supply at the request of the Palestinian Authority, which wants to hurt Hamas, which is in charge of Gaza. However, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Yuval Steinitz opposed the decision of Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories to reduce the supply saying Israel should not get involved in their battles and emphasizing, 'I don't take orders from the Palestinian Authority.' Right now, Gazans have only four hours a day and Hamas warned of "catastrophic" consequences, as did the UN envoy here who said that it endangered lives in Gaza.
Quick Hits:
Palestinian prisoners ended their hunger-strike (following negotiations on Friday that the government insisted did not take place, but with little to show, just ahead of Ramadan, which began Saturday, some 15,000 people rallied in Tel-Aviv in support of a two-state solution in Saturday night and a message from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was read calling on Israelis to recognize Palestine and end the occupation. “The opportunity still exists, and it cannot be missed when our hand is extended in peace that is created between those who are brave,” said Abbas at the event co-organized by Peace Now. Trump believes Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is one of those brave people. In a speech over the weekend, he said Netanyahu was committed to making peace. Yet, today, Netanyahu convenes the weekly cabinet meeting at the Western Wall tunnels in Jerusalem's occupied Old City instead of in his office. This comes as a poll showed that Netanyahu's popularity has surged following US President Donald Trump’s visit to Israel.
Another major story in Yedioth and Maariv was the damning report – but not damning enough (see Ben Caspit in Commentary) by the Commissioner for Prosecutorial Oversight, whose report to be released today reveals that the State Prosecutor's Office concealed information that could have led to acquittals and that pathologists at the National Forensic Institute changed their original written opinions after discussions held with the state prosecutor – always to the detriment of the defendant. (Also Maariv)
Also in the news – and with a twist - was that Israel will further reduce Gaza's electricity supply at the request of the Palestinian Authority, which wants to hurt Hamas, which is in charge of Gaza. However, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Yuval Steinitz opposed the decision of Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories to reduce the supply saying Israel should not get involved in their battles and emphasizing, 'I don't take orders from the Palestinian Authority.' Right now, Gazans have only four hours a day and Hamas warned of "catastrophic" consequences, as did the UN envoy here who said that it endangered lives in Gaza.
Quick Hits:
- Palestinian shepherd suffers head wound in attack by Israelis in West Bank - Israeli troops who arrived on the scene fired in the air, dispersing the assailants; no arrests have been made. (Haaretz+)
- Israel Tears Down Anti-occupation Encampment Set Up by North American Jews and Palestinians in West Bank - Activists erected the tents in the South Hebron Hills a week ago to mark the 50th anniversary of the Israeli occupation; one Canadian has been detained. (Haaretz+)
- Temple Mount Custodian Willing to Open Muslim Holy Sites to Israelis - The head of the Jerusalem Waqf calls on Israel to enter negotiations to restore the Temple Mount's status quo to its pre-2000 situation. (Haaretz+)
- Trump's envoy met with the parents of captive soldier Hadar Goldin - Jason Greenblatt spoke to Simcha and Leah Goldin. In a tweet published on his official Twitter account, he said that he "expressed his deep sympathy for the loss of their son." (Maariv)
- On-duty Israeli cops to wear body cameras by mid-2017 after successful pilot - Police stations where six-month pilot was conducted showed 25 percent drop in number of public complaints. (Haaretz+)
- Netanyahu Appoints Ayoub Kara as Communications Minister - Netanyahu was originally expected to appoint Yariv Levin after Tzachi Hanegbi's three-month temporary appointment expired. Appointment will be presented to the cabinet for approval. (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
- European ambassadors boycott tour of new Israeli rail route because it traverses West Bank - Ministry scraps outing to Jerusalem-Tel Aviv fast train line after EU representatives decline invitations. Official: Segment over Green Line is underground, only a few hundred meters in length. (Haaretz+)
- Rehab Plan Would Sentence Jailed Former PM Ehud Olmert to Community Service - In two weeks, the parole board will hear Olmert’s application to be paroled after serving two-thirds of his sentence. (Haaretz+)
- Norway fuming after aid money used by PA to honor Coastal Road Massacre terrorist - Palestinian Authority uses aid money to build women's center in honor of Dalal Mughrabi, who commanded the terrorist cell that carried out one of the worst terror attacks in Israeli history; Norwegian Foreign Ministry demands logo be removed from building and that PA return aid money. (Ynet)
- Labor leadership race plagued by claims of fraud, threats - Candidates for the leadership of the Labor Party file petitions alleging fraud, threats and other underhanded tactics; large emphasis placed upon voter register; party secretary-general claims candidates are spreading false accusations aimed at postponing the primaries. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- Likud renews efforts to recruit Labor to join coalition - Likud source says move is prompted by U.S. President Trump's visit and potential launch of "serious diplomatic process" • In such a case, PM Netanyahu would like to secure support of as many parties as possible in the coalition, Likud official says. (Israel Hayom)
- Selfie scandal prompts change to state receptions' protocols - PM Netanyahu instructs Foreign Ministry's director general to exclude handshakes from future receiving lines for foreign dignitaries after rogue Likud MK crashes ceremony for President Trump • "Such disgraceful sights won't happen again," official says. (Israel Hayom)
- MK Slomiansky to be questioned over sexual harassment allegations - After collecting testimonies from women who say they have been sexually harassed by the Bayit Yehudi MK, police will question him under caution; when the allegations first came to light, Slomiansky claimed he never sexually harassed anyone and postulated his accusers may have misinterpreted his warm and affectionate behavior. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- Shaked refuses to officially support Supreme Court President candidate - Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked supports the election of Esther Hayut as president, but refuses to endorse it officially; Shaked's condition: determining the identity of the two additional justices who will join the Supreme Court. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- Hamas executes 3 Palestinians convicted of killing top official - Two men are hanged, the third is shot by firing squad • Gaza's rulers say the three men confessed to killing high-profile operative Mazen Faqha on Israel's orders • Israel says hit was part of Hamas infighting. Human rights groups denounce executions. (Haaretz and Israel Hayom)
- PM Netanyahu undergoes medical procedure to remove kidney stone - As the prime minister was lightly sedated during the procedure, Environmental Protection Minister Zeev Elkin was asked to fill in as acting premier. PM's personal physician was by his side for the procedure. Netanyahu is in good health, his office says. (Israel Hayom)
- Christian Docudrama About Six-Day War Becomes U.S. Box Office Hit - 'In Our Hands: The Battle for Jerusalem,' by Christian Broadcasting Network, made over $1.6 million in debut Tuesday. (Haaretz)
- Report in Syria: Assad's army hit an Israeli drone - According to the report, which was not verified, Syrian air defense forces fell an IDF drone that had previously attacked in the area of the Syrian border. In recent months there has been tension with Syria over reports of similar attacks. (Maariv)
- Iraqi Forces Launch Operation to Seize ISIS' Last Mosul Enclave - The Iraqi air force dropped leaflets urging residents in the enclave to flee, raising fears for the safety of desperate civilians. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Risking death, Muslim lawyer stands up for Iraqi Jews' rights - Muslim Iraqi lawyer Ammar al-Hamadani is working to ensure that Iraqi Jews receive the compensation they deserve after being expelled from Iraq following Israel’s 1948 War of Independence. Hamadani seeks to make matter a global issue. (Israel Hayom)
- Tel Aviv municipal building illuminated with Egyptian flag following terror attack - Tel Aviv adorns its municipal building with the flag of Egypt in solidarity with the Egyptian people and Coptic Christians following Friday's deadly terror attack; first time flag of Arab nation featured on building. (Ynet)
- In rare move, Egypt strikes militant bases in Libya after attack on Christians - Airstrikes target group affiliated with al-Qaida in Derna, state news agency reports, after attack that killed 28 Coptic Christians. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Amos Oz Awarded Prestigious German Rabbinical School Prize - At the award ceremony, the Israeli author was praised for his support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Haaretz+)
- The Pope and Reform Judaism Leader Discuss Refugees in Rare Vatican Meeting - 'He blessed me in Italian and I blessed him in Hebrew,' Rabbi Rick Jacobs says of meeting in which inter-religious dialogue and Mideast peace were raised. (Haaretz)
- Russian Ambassador 'Told Kremlin Kushner Wanted Secret Communications Channel' With Moscow - Washington Post reported that intercepted Russian communications revealed Kushner's suggestion. According to Reuters, Trump's son-in-law had more undisclosed contacts with the Russian ambassador. (Haaretz)
- Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner Didn't Disclose Multi-million Dollar Art Collection, Report Says - Federal employees such as Kushner are required to disclose artwork to tax authorities if it's held for investment purposes and is worth more than $1,000. (JTA, Haaretz)
- Zbigniew Brzezinski, 1928-2017: The Foreign Policy Hardliner Who Helped Carter Broker Israel-Egypt Peace - Zbigniew Brzezinski, a national security adviser for Jimmy Carter, backed a harsh response to the Iranian revolution in 1979, died on Friday. (Agencies, Haaretz)
Features:
*The Young Jewish Americans Coming to Israel to Fight the Occupation
Some 130 overseas Jews are part of an initiative to restore Palestinian families to their West Bank village. 'We’re here until the end' says one activist. (Judy Maltz, Haaretz+VIDEO)
The Facebook Arrests: How Israel Detains Palestinians Before Even They Know They're Terrorists
Israel has arrested hundreds of Palestinians since the lone-wolf intifada began in September 2015, partly by analyzing social media posts. Authorities say these arrests are legitimate, but others see it as a grave violation of human rights. (Orr Hirschauge and Hagar Shezaf, Haaretz+)
How Israel Prevents Palestinian Farmers From Working Their Lands
A months-long strike ended this week when the Civil Administration agreed to reexamine procedures concerning access to farmland beyond the West Bank separation barrier. Have the reasons for the strike really disappeared? Time will tell. (Amira Hass, Haaretz+)
50 year anniversary since the liberation of Jerusalem: "The commander said that this was the most frightening moment in his life"
In the details that the IDF Archive and the Ministry of Defense published to mark the 50th anniversary of the unification of the capital, it was stated, inter alia, that "it was clear then that Ammunition Hill was not as easily conquered, as we thought.” (Moshe Cohen, Maariv)
Beaten A young Palestinian's torturous ordeal in Israeli detention
Being hurt in a clash with Israeli troops was just the start of Bara Kana'an's nightmare. (Gideon Levy and Alex Levac, Haaretz+)
The Volunteer from Toronto is Serving in the Battalion of his Friend who Fell
Mikey Dom's family adopted Armored Officer Gilad Stuckelman when he came to visit Canada. Two years later he was killed in the Second Lebanon War. Dom came to join the battalion in which Stuckelman served and was adopted by his family. (Moshe Cohen, Maariv)
When Freud and Einstein Tried to Answer an Age-old Question: Why War?
Einstein and Freud, two genius 'godless Jews,' had a profound exchange that marked a turning point in the history of human thought. (Eran Rolnik, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
Jerusalem: Capital of Jewish Deceit (Avraham Burg, Haaretz+) Alluring and repulsive, spiritual and cynical – Jerusalem is a city of peace without a single corner free of disputes. Never has a city been so reunited, yet so torn apart.
Israel Averts One Crisis With End of Palestinian Prisoners' Hunger Strike. Now Gaza Looms Large (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Strike leader Marwan Barghouti can chalk up achievement of putting prisoners' plight back in Palestinian public consciousness.
Not just with Yair Lapid: (former defense minister from Likud) Moshe (Bogey) Ya'alon recently met with Ehud Barak (Ben Caspit, Maariv) It turns out that the two have recently met at least twice and it is interesting to see if anything can happen between them in the future. And also: Why does the police use violence every Saturday night in the quiet and democratic demonstrations in front of the legal advisor's office?
The 52 words that foretold the future of Israel's occupation in 1967 (Noam Sheizaf, Haaretz+) Two open letters, published the same day in the Israeli press, a mere three months after the Six-Day War, presented a fork in the road regarding the territories.
Holy Jerusalem, mundane Jerusalem (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) Many in the Israeli Left want to believe our people could have returned to the land of Israel after years of exile without returning to our eternal capital, Jerusalem. Fifty years after the city's liberation, it is clear this was never possible.
Israel's first daughter explains why she emerged from anonymity to meet the Trumps (Anat Rivlin, Haaretz+) Anat Rivlin, daughter of Israeli president Rivlin, on finding common ground with Melania and Ivanka Trump.
All Trump left Israelis with is a lot of hot air (Sima Kadmon, Yedioth/Ynet) During his visit, the US president didn’t say anything beyond what he had already told Netanyahu on the prime minister’s visit to Washington, which translates as ‘do whatever you like.’ So is there any wonder that the Right is satisfied? No one has ever established a state with words.
Wrapped in the Language of Love, Trump Delivered a Threat to Netanyahu (Colette Avital, Haaretz+) For Netanyahu, the clock is ticking towards payday for Trump's hasbara-heavy Israel trip. Can he afford the price tag dangling from Trump's promise to be Israel's 'best friend'?
Trump: The seller of dreams (Nadav Eyal, Yedioth/Ynet) The US president used his Mideast visit to sell stuff—and he was very successful. He turned Saudi King Salman into his personal hero, and offered the Israelis sympathy. The Palestinians didn’t even get a right to self-determination, but Trump is such a good salesman that even they are satisfied.
Don't Be the One Who Says No to Trump (Amb. Daniel B. Shapiro, Haaretz+) U.S. president Donald Trump has a fleeting moment of leverage to push Israeli and Palestinian leaders to a deal. He must make the costs of disappointing him high.
Don't Be Scared of Sheikh Jarrah: Six Decades After a Massacre (Jerome Chanes, Haaretz+) Six decades after the infamous 1948 Arab ambush of a medical convoy, which left 73 doctors and nurses dead, I heard an eye-witness account of loss – and hope.
It’s not a competition (Nadav Shragai, Israel Hayom) The opposing camps supporting the Western Wall and the Temple Mount fail to understand that the sites complement each other rather than compete.
ISIS takes aim at Egypt's soft underbelly: Fragile Muslim-Christian relations (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) In the attack on St. Catherine's Monastery in Sinai ISIS revealed a new strategy.
Jerusalem Syndrome: Why should Trump do what Israel's ministers are unwilling to do? (Kalman Libeskind, Maariv) It is important for our ministers that the Americans move the US embassy to Jerusalem, at a time when the ministers have been ignoring the countless government decisions that require that they transfer their offices to the capital.
Time to show goodwill (Friday Haaretz Editorial) A leadership possessed of a long-term strategy would internalize the fact that the prisoners are a significant force in Palestinian society, holding the power to lead the way to compromise and assist in furthering diplomatic moves.
Failing to learn from history (Dr. Reuven Berko, Israel Hayom) Joint Arab List MK Ahmad Tibi's ridiculous Nakba bill only go to prove the true intent of Arab-Israeli leaders in rejecting the Jewish state.
Manchester, Abbas and the evil losers (Ruthie Blum, Israel Hayom) When President Trump spoke out against Islamist terrorism, none of the Muslim leaders in attendance thought he was referring to them.
Netanyahu Returns to the Western Wall Tunnels, the Bedrock of His Political Existence (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz) The Western Wall Tunnels symbolized the chronic chaos of Netanyahu’s first government. Today he’s returning there for a cabinet meeting – more confident than ever.
Despite the difficulties of the government during his tenure, one must remember to say thank you to Obama (Meir Uziel, Maariv) During Trump's visit, commentators in the world said that there was one party that united many in the Middle East and it is called "Just Not Obama." I, as a (right-wing -OH) Israeli, do not think this is justified.
The Whitewasher (Amir Oren, Haaretz+) Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit's directive to prosecute public employees suspected of leaking investigatory material is a gift to the Netanyahus.
Czech recognition of Jerusalem (Ariel Bolstein, Israel Hayom) The Czech Republic's courageous condemnation of UNESCO's anti-Israel bias reflects the growing acceptance of the Israeli stance in the international community.
A Short Story in Four Scenes (Iris Leal, Haaretz+) While Trump, Netanyahu and Rivlin puffed out their chests during the U.S. president's visit to Israel, their spouses told a different story.
For the Israeli right, only 100% obedience will do (Ravit Hecht, Haaretz+) Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked is scapegoating a top civil servant, Deputy Attorney General Dina Zilber, whose politics are right-wing, but evidently not right-wing enough.
The onus is on us (Isi Leibler, Israel Hayom) Trump's visit has provided an extraordinary opportunity to improve relations with our Arab neighbors. We must now show restraint and refrain from projecting an extremist image.
Even After the Huge U.S.-Saudi Arms Deal, Israel Retains Its Military Edge - for Now (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Israel's ability to influence Trump on the matter seems to be extremely limited. If, in an extreme scenario, Saudi Arabia once again becomes an enemy of Israel, the upgrading of its air force could pose a threat.
The report on the relations between the State Prosecutor's Office and the National Forensic Medicine Institute is grim and distorted (Ben Caspit, Maariv) Commissioner Rosen canceled his predecessor, Judge Gerstel's, grave findings regarding the incidents in which doctors changed their original written opinions following discussions with the State Prosecutor's Office. By putting the responsibility for the incidents only on the doctors, Judge Rosen is in essence approving the present situation in which prosecutors can discuss cases with doctors in a bleak and distorted report.
Cheap Lives (Haaretz Editorial) The light sentence handed to a contractor and two laborers is another example of Israel's disregard for worker safety and disrespect for human life.
The sad conclusion of Trump's visit: The government is protecting the IDF for the benefit of the American-Saudi interest (Ran Adelist, Maariv) The visit of the US president has finally perpetuated the status quo on the political issue and is an opening for disaster by holding us tied to the regional axis and to the battles between the Sunnis and the Shiites.
Middle East Visit Shows I Was Right to Back Trump for President (Nehemia Shtrasler, Haaretz+) The U.S. president is capable of putting pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Unfortunately, the Israeli premier is a past master at resisting efforts to talk peace.
Israel's Timid Leadership Devoid of Self-respect (Carolina Landsmann, Haaretz+) The weakness of Netanyahu and his cabinet before Trump naturally arouses empathy. Nevertheless, it’s hard to avoid comparisons to other periods in Israeli history, and especially that period whose 50th anniversary is now being celebrated.
Trump's Orientalist Fantasy Faces One Obstacle: Zionism (Ofri Ilany, Haaretz+) Ever since Napoleon arrived on our shores, the Mideast has been a convenient arena for realization of the megalomania of Western patriarchs unable to fulfill their ambitions under the parliamentary democracies back home.
Some 130 overseas Jews are part of an initiative to restore Palestinian families to their West Bank village. 'We’re here until the end' says one activist. (Judy Maltz, Haaretz+VIDEO)
The Facebook Arrests: How Israel Detains Palestinians Before Even They Know They're Terrorists
Israel has arrested hundreds of Palestinians since the lone-wolf intifada began in September 2015, partly by analyzing social media posts. Authorities say these arrests are legitimate, but others see it as a grave violation of human rights. (Orr Hirschauge and Hagar Shezaf, Haaretz+)
How Israel Prevents Palestinian Farmers From Working Their Lands
A months-long strike ended this week when the Civil Administration agreed to reexamine procedures concerning access to farmland beyond the West Bank separation barrier. Have the reasons for the strike really disappeared? Time will tell. (Amira Hass, Haaretz+)
50 year anniversary since the liberation of Jerusalem: "The commander said that this was the most frightening moment in his life"
In the details that the IDF Archive and the Ministry of Defense published to mark the 50th anniversary of the unification of the capital, it was stated, inter alia, that "it was clear then that Ammunition Hill was not as easily conquered, as we thought.” (Moshe Cohen, Maariv)
Beaten A young Palestinian's torturous ordeal in Israeli detention
Being hurt in a clash with Israeli troops was just the start of Bara Kana'an's nightmare. (Gideon Levy and Alex Levac, Haaretz+)
The Volunteer from Toronto is Serving in the Battalion of his Friend who Fell
Mikey Dom's family adopted Armored Officer Gilad Stuckelman when he came to visit Canada. Two years later he was killed in the Second Lebanon War. Dom came to join the battalion in which Stuckelman served and was adopted by his family. (Moshe Cohen, Maariv)
When Freud and Einstein Tried to Answer an Age-old Question: Why War?
Einstein and Freud, two genius 'godless Jews,' had a profound exchange that marked a turning point in the history of human thought. (Eran Rolnik, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
Jerusalem: Capital of Jewish Deceit (Avraham Burg, Haaretz+) Alluring and repulsive, spiritual and cynical – Jerusalem is a city of peace without a single corner free of disputes. Never has a city been so reunited, yet so torn apart.
Israel Averts One Crisis With End of Palestinian Prisoners' Hunger Strike. Now Gaza Looms Large (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Strike leader Marwan Barghouti can chalk up achievement of putting prisoners' plight back in Palestinian public consciousness.
Not just with Yair Lapid: (former defense minister from Likud) Moshe (Bogey) Ya'alon recently met with Ehud Barak (Ben Caspit, Maariv) It turns out that the two have recently met at least twice and it is interesting to see if anything can happen between them in the future. And also: Why does the police use violence every Saturday night in the quiet and democratic demonstrations in front of the legal advisor's office?
The 52 words that foretold the future of Israel's occupation in 1967 (Noam Sheizaf, Haaretz+) Two open letters, published the same day in the Israeli press, a mere three months after the Six-Day War, presented a fork in the road regarding the territories.
Holy Jerusalem, mundane Jerusalem (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) Many in the Israeli Left want to believe our people could have returned to the land of Israel after years of exile without returning to our eternal capital, Jerusalem. Fifty years after the city's liberation, it is clear this was never possible.
Israel's first daughter explains why she emerged from anonymity to meet the Trumps (Anat Rivlin, Haaretz+) Anat Rivlin, daughter of Israeli president Rivlin, on finding common ground with Melania and Ivanka Trump.
All Trump left Israelis with is a lot of hot air (Sima Kadmon, Yedioth/Ynet) During his visit, the US president didn’t say anything beyond what he had already told Netanyahu on the prime minister’s visit to Washington, which translates as ‘do whatever you like.’ So is there any wonder that the Right is satisfied? No one has ever established a state with words.
Wrapped in the Language of Love, Trump Delivered a Threat to Netanyahu (Colette Avital, Haaretz+) For Netanyahu, the clock is ticking towards payday for Trump's hasbara-heavy Israel trip. Can he afford the price tag dangling from Trump's promise to be Israel's 'best friend'?
Trump: The seller of dreams (Nadav Eyal, Yedioth/Ynet) The US president used his Mideast visit to sell stuff—and he was very successful. He turned Saudi King Salman into his personal hero, and offered the Israelis sympathy. The Palestinians didn’t even get a right to self-determination, but Trump is such a good salesman that even they are satisfied.
Don't Be the One Who Says No to Trump (Amb. Daniel B. Shapiro, Haaretz+) U.S. president Donald Trump has a fleeting moment of leverage to push Israeli and Palestinian leaders to a deal. He must make the costs of disappointing him high.
Don't Be Scared of Sheikh Jarrah: Six Decades After a Massacre (Jerome Chanes, Haaretz+) Six decades after the infamous 1948 Arab ambush of a medical convoy, which left 73 doctors and nurses dead, I heard an eye-witness account of loss – and hope.
It’s not a competition (Nadav Shragai, Israel Hayom) The opposing camps supporting the Western Wall and the Temple Mount fail to understand that the sites complement each other rather than compete.
ISIS takes aim at Egypt's soft underbelly: Fragile Muslim-Christian relations (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) In the attack on St. Catherine's Monastery in Sinai ISIS revealed a new strategy.
Jerusalem Syndrome: Why should Trump do what Israel's ministers are unwilling to do? (Kalman Libeskind, Maariv) It is important for our ministers that the Americans move the US embassy to Jerusalem, at a time when the ministers have been ignoring the countless government decisions that require that they transfer their offices to the capital.
Time to show goodwill (Friday Haaretz Editorial) A leadership possessed of a long-term strategy would internalize the fact that the prisoners are a significant force in Palestinian society, holding the power to lead the way to compromise and assist in furthering diplomatic moves.
Failing to learn from history (Dr. Reuven Berko, Israel Hayom) Joint Arab List MK Ahmad Tibi's ridiculous Nakba bill only go to prove the true intent of Arab-Israeli leaders in rejecting the Jewish state.
Manchester, Abbas and the evil losers (Ruthie Blum, Israel Hayom) When President Trump spoke out against Islamist terrorism, none of the Muslim leaders in attendance thought he was referring to them.
Netanyahu Returns to the Western Wall Tunnels, the Bedrock of His Political Existence (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz) The Western Wall Tunnels symbolized the chronic chaos of Netanyahu’s first government. Today he’s returning there for a cabinet meeting – more confident than ever.
Despite the difficulties of the government during his tenure, one must remember to say thank you to Obama (Meir Uziel, Maariv) During Trump's visit, commentators in the world said that there was one party that united many in the Middle East and it is called "Just Not Obama." I, as a (right-wing -OH) Israeli, do not think this is justified.
The Whitewasher (Amir Oren, Haaretz+) Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit's directive to prosecute public employees suspected of leaking investigatory material is a gift to the Netanyahus.
Czech recognition of Jerusalem (Ariel Bolstein, Israel Hayom) The Czech Republic's courageous condemnation of UNESCO's anti-Israel bias reflects the growing acceptance of the Israeli stance in the international community.
A Short Story in Four Scenes (Iris Leal, Haaretz+) While Trump, Netanyahu and Rivlin puffed out their chests during the U.S. president's visit to Israel, their spouses told a different story.
For the Israeli right, only 100% obedience will do (Ravit Hecht, Haaretz+) Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked is scapegoating a top civil servant, Deputy Attorney General Dina Zilber, whose politics are right-wing, but evidently not right-wing enough.
The onus is on us (Isi Leibler, Israel Hayom) Trump's visit has provided an extraordinary opportunity to improve relations with our Arab neighbors. We must now show restraint and refrain from projecting an extremist image.
Even After the Huge U.S.-Saudi Arms Deal, Israel Retains Its Military Edge - for Now (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Israel's ability to influence Trump on the matter seems to be extremely limited. If, in an extreme scenario, Saudi Arabia once again becomes an enemy of Israel, the upgrading of its air force could pose a threat.
The report on the relations between the State Prosecutor's Office and the National Forensic Medicine Institute is grim and distorted (Ben Caspit, Maariv) Commissioner Rosen canceled his predecessor, Judge Gerstel's, grave findings regarding the incidents in which doctors changed their original written opinions following discussions with the State Prosecutor's Office. By putting the responsibility for the incidents only on the doctors, Judge Rosen is in essence approving the present situation in which prosecutors can discuss cases with doctors in a bleak and distorted report.
Cheap Lives (Haaretz Editorial) The light sentence handed to a contractor and two laborers is another example of Israel's disregard for worker safety and disrespect for human life.
The sad conclusion of Trump's visit: The government is protecting the IDF for the benefit of the American-Saudi interest (Ran Adelist, Maariv) The visit of the US president has finally perpetuated the status quo on the political issue and is an opening for disaster by holding us tied to the regional axis and to the battles between the Sunnis and the Shiites.
Middle East Visit Shows I Was Right to Back Trump for President (Nehemia Shtrasler, Haaretz+) The U.S. president is capable of putting pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Unfortunately, the Israeli premier is a past master at resisting efforts to talk peace.
Israel's Timid Leadership Devoid of Self-respect (Carolina Landsmann, Haaretz+) The weakness of Netanyahu and his cabinet before Trump naturally arouses empathy. Nevertheless, it’s hard to avoid comparisons to other periods in Israeli history, and especially that period whose 50th anniversary is now being celebrated.
Trump's Orientalist Fantasy Faces One Obstacle: Zionism (Ofri Ilany, Haaretz+) Ever since Napoleon arrived on our shores, the Mideast has been a convenient arena for realization of the megalomania of Western patriarchs unable to fulfill their ambitions under the parliamentary democracies back home.
Interviews:
Don't tell me who I am
In the second part of Dror Eydar's conversation with Amos Oz, the author tackles the insults he receives, criticism of the Israeli Left, and questions raised by the biblical story of the binding of Isaac. "Is there only one way to love Israel?" he asks. (Interviewed by Dror Eydar in Israel Hayom)
It's Not Islam That Drives Young Europeans to Jihad, France's Top Terrorism Expert Explains
Olivier Roy, one of France’s top experts on Islamic terrorism, tells Haaretz how assailants like Salman Abedi in Manchester turn into 'new radicals' who crave death. (Interviewed by Davide Lerner in Haaretz+)
Don't tell me who I am
In the second part of Dror Eydar's conversation with Amos Oz, the author tackles the insults he receives, criticism of the Israeli Left, and questions raised by the biblical story of the binding of Isaac. "Is there only one way to love Israel?" he asks. (Interviewed by Dror Eydar in Israel Hayom)
It's Not Islam That Drives Young Europeans to Jihad, France's Top Terrorism Expert Explains
Olivier Roy, one of France’s top experts on Islamic terrorism, tells Haaretz how assailants like Salman Abedi in Manchester turn into 'new radicals' who crave death. (Interviewed by Davide Lerner in Haaretz+)
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.