APN's daily news review from Israel
Tuesday June 27, 2017
You Must Be Kidding:
"...you need to think about how to do things wisely, in a way that doesn't land you in investigations or
arrest, but does work in practice. What it comes down to is creating a revolution in the country. What worked
before, against the British, is not relevant today. We need something else."
--Rabbi Yitzhak Ginsburg, an extremist religious leader of Hilltop Youth from Yitzhar settlement, explained to them how they should act by interpreting the proverb 'For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war.'**
--Rabbi Yitzhak Ginsburg, an extremist religious leader of Hilltop Youth from Yitzhar settlement, explained to them how they should act by interpreting the proverb 'For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war.'**
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Sharp responses in US over cancellation of Wailing Wall plan
- Ultra-Orthodox parties demanded cancellation of permits for ambulances on Shabbat
- US Supreme Court made travel ban from six Muslim countries valid
- A week to primaries in Labor party, close race and contradicting finds in polls
- Singer Mariah Carey, former partner of Packer, landed in Israel, but won’t be summoned to testify (in Netanyahu corruption case)
- Exceptional indictment submitted against managers of one of the biggest brothels in Israel
- Hadassah Women’s organization tried to dismiss Rothstein, the CEO of the hospital
- After years of renovation, part of Ramon Crater was declared a national park
- Palestine failed // Moshe Arens
- The gifts affair // Avi Bar-Eli
Yedioth Ahronoth
- Dear Judges, I want to cry, but don’t know to whom. Help me! Let me live! Judgement date for Hadassah Hospital (cancer) children: Crisis reaches High Court
- Expose - The plan to destroy the beaches
- Jews of America: “You betrayed us”
- The flying class – They studied together in school and now they are finishing IAF pilot’s course together
- Harsher punishments for drinking and driving
- Between (Australian tycoon) Parker and Netanyahu: Mariah Carey landed in Israel
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Anger of Jews of America: “The government’s moves are dangerous and harmful”
- (Murderer of 7 Arabs, Ami) Popper requested an early release from prison
- Trump’s black list returns
Israel Hayom
- The smuggling highway – Palestinians paved road connecting between Tel-Arad and south Hebron hills
- It’s final: Stipends for handicapped will be raised to 4,000 shekels monthly
- Hadassah crisis: Today – Fateful discussion in High Court
- President of Shas’ Council of Torah Sages: “Let the Reform Jews build their own Wailing Wall”
- Complaint letter: 72.55 of complaints against Israel Post are justified
- Victory for Trump: Supreme Court allowed limiting entry of Muslims
News Summary:
Jewish Americans were angry at government decision to cancel mixed-gender Wailing Wall section, the crisis at Hadassah Hospital goes to the High Court today and US President Donald Trump hailed his ‘clear victory’ as the US Supreme Court allowed a partial enforcement of his Muslim travel ban (disappointing Jewish group’s) – making top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers. Also the latest security incidents on Israel’s borders.
Aware of the uproar over the cancellation of plans for an egalitarian prayer space at the Western Wall, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu invited the head of the Jewish Federations of North America and the directors in major US cities to a meeting to discuss the decision, but didn’t even representatives of the Reform or Conservative movements or of the Jewish Agency, which had earlier cancelled a dinner with him.
But even as he tried to bring calm, both Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Education Minister Naftali Bennett criticized the decision. The papers reported that some of the ministers did not even know there was to be a vote Sunday to freeze the Wailing Wall’s egalitarian area plans and left before the vote took place. One Israeli lawmaker called it “Underhanded and sneaky.” And a few hours before the government's vote to cancel the development on the egalitarian section at the Western Wall, members of the Finance Ministry approved a transfer of more than NIS 19 million to the Israel Antiquities Authority to construct the egalitarian section, not knowing that a vote to cancel it will shortly take place. The Jewish Agency wrote a statement about the resolution that the decision has the “deep potential to divide the Jewish people and to undermine the Zionist vision.”
The Israeli army closed off a part of the Golan Heights border area amid three days of flare-ups with Syria, including bullets hitting a UN outpost on the border. And a rocket fired from Gaza hit somewhere near the southern border with Gaza, without damages or casualties. In what was likely a message to Israel’s neighbors, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Israel would not initiate any military action in Gaza or Syria, but wouldn’t allow turning Syria into a base for Hezbollah or Iran.
Jewish Americans were angry at government decision to cancel mixed-gender Wailing Wall section, the crisis at Hadassah Hospital goes to the High Court today and US President Donald Trump hailed his ‘clear victory’ as the US Supreme Court allowed a partial enforcement of his Muslim travel ban (disappointing Jewish group’s) – making top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers. Also the latest security incidents on Israel’s borders.
Aware of the uproar over the cancellation of plans for an egalitarian prayer space at the Western Wall, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu invited the head of the Jewish Federations of North America and the directors in major US cities to a meeting to discuss the decision, but didn’t even representatives of the Reform or Conservative movements or of the Jewish Agency, which had earlier cancelled a dinner with him.
But even as he tried to bring calm, both Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Education Minister Naftali Bennett criticized the decision. The papers reported that some of the ministers did not even know there was to be a vote Sunday to freeze the Wailing Wall’s egalitarian area plans and left before the vote took place. One Israeli lawmaker called it “Underhanded and sneaky.” And a few hours before the government's vote to cancel the development on the egalitarian section at the Western Wall, members of the Finance Ministry approved a transfer of more than NIS 19 million to the Israel Antiquities Authority to construct the egalitarian section, not knowing that a vote to cancel it will shortly take place. The Jewish Agency wrote a statement about the resolution that the decision has the “deep potential to divide the Jewish people and to undermine the Zionist vision.”
The Israeli army closed off a part of the Golan Heights border area amid three days of flare-ups with Syria, including bullets hitting a UN outpost on the border. And a rocket fired from Gaza hit somewhere near the southern border with Gaza, without damages or casualties. In what was likely a message to Israel’s neighbors, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Israel would not initiate any military action in Gaza or Syria, but wouldn’t allow turning Syria into a base for Hezbollah or Iran.
Quick Hits:
- Israel's Supreme Court slams government for curbing freedom of expression - Ruling against a town's removal of political billboards, Justice Yoram Danziger wrote that criticism of the state is integral to democracy. (Haaretz)
- Sean Spicer 'Unaware' of Tensions Between Jared Kushner, Mahmoud Abbas During Ramallah Meeting - Trump's press secretary joins other U.S. officials in pushing back against reports that Trump's son-in-law, Palestinian president clashed on key issues. (Haaretz)
- **Hilltop Youth's rabbi: Cause a revolution, but don't get caught - In light of spike in hate crimes and subsequent clashes between radical settler youth and Shin Bet, Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh tells extremist Jews ' it's a shame to waste time in prison,' advising his students 'by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war.' (Yedioth/Ynet)
- Claims of Israeli settlement freeze an 'attempt to fool the public' - Hagit Ofran, spokesperson for settlement watch team of Peace Now, told Ma’an that “The alleged promise by Netanyahu, if it truly happened, is another spin of the Netanyahu government trying to fool the public.” Ofran highlighted that the Israeli government had already issued tenders for the construction of 2,858 settlement units in the West Bank this year. (Maan)
- Israel scrambles to quash UNESCO vote on holy sites - Jerusalem attempts to form a seven-nation strong bloc among UNESCO members to thwart a vote by the international body that would list the Cave of the Patriarchs as a world heritage site; Palestinians insert last-minute clause denying Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- Knesset to hold discussion on Yedioth Books raid - Knesset committee to discuss police search of Yedioth Books pertaining to former PM Ehud Olmert's alleged illegal publishing of classified info. MK Livni, who asked for discussion: 'We do not know the considerations that justified these dramatic steps.' (Yedioth/Ynet)
- Israel Prison Service assessment: Release request of Ami Popper, who killed seven Palestinians, will be honored - The person who committed the massacre of workers near Rishon Letzion in 1990 and was sentenced to 40 years in prison will seek to be released. In view of the positive opinion regarding his rehabilitation, he is expected to be released. (Maariv)
- After Scuttling Western Wall Deal, ultra-Orthodox Parties Move to Close Stores, Public Transport on Shabbat - Haredi lawmakers want to revisit permits allowing some stores to operate in Tel Aviv and stop the shared minibuses running to the city's suburbs. (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
- Foreign Arab artists back out of regional show in Israeli Arab city - Artists, hailing from France and Lebanon, say they weren't notified that their works would be exhibited; Curator in response: Collective withdrawal due to BDS influence. (Haaretz+)
- Ahead of Israeli show, pro-BDS British protesters disrupt Radiohead concert - The band's lead vocalist, Thom Yorke, had called a letter signed by high-profile artists urging the band to boycott Israel 'offensive.’ (JTA, Haaretz)
- British Minister Threatens to Ax Major Palestinian Event Over Support for Hamas - London's Palestine Expo is one of the biggest Palestinian events in Europe; Organizer Friends of Al-Aqsa calls minister's accusation 'hearsay from a pro-Israeli lobby group.' (Haaretz)
- US to work with Israel, seek other ties to combat cyber attacks - Speaking at Israel's Cyber Week conference in Tel Aviv, US Homeland Security Advisor Thomas Bossert announces a new cybersecurity partnership with Israel; Bossert states partnership is aimed at 'stopping adversaries in networks and identifying ways to hold bad actors responsible.' (Agencies, Ynet)
- Israel Defense Prize given to Arrow 3 anti-ballistic missile developers - Arrow 3 is considered one of the best anti-missile defense systems in the world, due to long-range capabilities and high precision level; the award is also given to a secret PMO project. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- Sheldon and Miriam Adelson to Israel Police: We were angry to hear of Netanyahu-Mozes talks - Adelsons deny any knowledge of negotiations between Netanyahu and media tycoon Mozes over their Israel Hayom daily. Police won't question Mariah Carey, former partner of Netanyahu billionaire buddy James Packer. (Haaretz+ and Israel Hayom)
- Journalist Ronen Bergman wins Sokolow Prize - Dr. Ronen Bergman honored for ‘a series of important and brave journalistic scoops published in Yedioth Ahronoth,’ judge panel writes; Three other recipients this year are journalists Yoel Marcus, Nadav Eyal and Itai Anghel. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- One Week Before Israeli Labor Primary: No Clear Front-runner, but Many Are Waiting for Ehud Barak - Eight-candidate race seen as up for grabs, unless Amir Peretz surprises by winning first round with 40% of vote. (Haaretz+)
- Chicago Dyke March Defends Ban on Jewish Pride Flags: It's 'anti-Zionist but Not anti-Semitic' - A Wider Bridge, a pro-Israel LGBT group whose Midwest director was expelled from march, called on the organizers to 'issue a full public apology.’ (Haaretz+)
- ISIS on Retreat in Raqqa as U.S.-backed Forces Advance - The U.S.-backed coalition of Kurdish and Arab groups composing the Syrian Democratic Forces took the ISIS capital's al-Qadisia district Sunday after three days of intense fighting. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- US: Syria will pay a heavy price for another chemical attack - White House says U.S. has reason to believe Syrian regime is planning a chemical weapons attack, warns President Bashar Assad he will pay a heavy toll for the mass murder of civilians • U.S. intelligence: Assad has been hiding new chemical weapons. (Agencies, Israel Hayom)
- Top Republican Senator Says He Will Block U.S. Arms Sales to Several Mideast Allies Over Qatar Crisis - Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, tells Rex Tillerson that 'recent disputes' among members of the Gulf Cooperation Council undermine efforts to combat ISIS and counter Iran. (Agencies, Haaretz)
Features:
Dutch Lawyer Determined to Pursue Justice for Gazans
Liesbeth Zegveld believes a Netherlands court can hear a case against Israeli army brass for killing six Palestinians. (Amira Hass, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
The Art of the Netanyahu Deal: Why Trump Should Pay Attention to Israel's Broken Western Wall Promise (Amir Tibon, Haaretz+) Netanyahu has proven once again that his coalition partners are more important to him than promises he makes to Israel's friends in America.
A lesson in hasbara (Reuven Weiss, Yedioth/Ynet)
What started as small initiatives during Operations Pillar of Defense and Protective Edge has turned into a well-oiled civilian PR machine; thousands of students in Israel—most of them volunteers—wage a daily, unending battle over Israel's image online; their new app has thousands of users worldwide who defend Israel online; and you too can lend a hand.
Israel Launches Preemptive Strike in Psychological War With Hezbollah (Amos Harel, Haaretz) Israel reveals Hezbollah has developed a vast military network at border villages in an open violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
Don't interfere in Israel's decisions (Dr. Haim Shine, Israel Hayom) While the link to the Western Wall belongs to all Jews, at the end of the day this holy site is in Israel, and Israel will decide how to manage it.
How the occupation helped the Palestinians (Avi Shilon, Haaretz+) After the Six-Day War, Israel became an ally of the U.S. and part of the West, from which immigrants began to arrive – and the Palestinians began to develop political independence.
Want to end the occupation? Start talking to settlers and Mizrahim (Avi Dabush, +972mag) The very people the Left categorically rejects — Mizrahim and settlers — are exactly whom they need to make peace.
WATCH: Women of the Wall director slams Israeli government for reneging on Western Wall prayer space deal (Lesley Sachs, Haaretz) 'We do not feel at home in a place where we are silenced. ... Women in the 21st century have a voice,' Women of the Wall Executive Director Lesley Sachs says.
A systematic blunder (Yoram Ettinger, Israel Hayom) U.S. pressure has been a leadership test for Israeli PMs, whose challenge has been to stand up to demands while adhering to core ideology and strategic goals.
My generation sees an American Jewry in decline. But younger Jews don't (Samuel Heilman, Haaretz+) Are we baby-boomers, demographers and sociologists included, eulogizing the U.S. Jewish future because younger Jews aren't 'doing Jewish' exactly like we did?
A mock silence that hides a volcano: conclusions from a double trip to the City of the Patriarchs (Dr. Revital Amiran, Maariv) It appears the city of Hebron was captured by the crazy dream of a small and extremist public, which drags a whole country behind it, a dream according to which thousands of Palestinians who support Hamas will join the IDF or agree to live without the right to vote, under a policy of separation and obedient peace.
Rogel Alpher is wrong. The Maccabiah Games aren't racist (Ron Kaplan, Haaretz+) Or: How Rogel Alpher turned a celebration of Jewish heritage and culture, with participants from over 75 countries, into his own personal hatefest.
When the 50 year anniversary of the Six Day War is mentioned, we must also speak about the Jews of Egypt (Zvi Gabai, Maariv) The issue of Arab Jews is heavy and difficult, and until recently it has not received public attention. Few have heard of the Jewish communities that lived for thousands of years in the Middle East and North Africa and the physical suffering they experienced under Arab rule.
Return Doctors to Hadassah (Haaretz Editorial) When the department's work has been undermined and the children who were being treated there are forced to travel to other hospitals, it's time to stop trading blame. It's time to find a solution.
Power of deterrence (Moshe Elad, Israel Hayom) Israel has deterred Hezbollah by clarifying that the Lebanese government is responsible for Hezbollah aggression.
Defend Israel's Anti-occupation Group Breaking the Silence (Iris Leal, Haaretz+) Justice Minister Shaked is investigating the spokesman for the army veterans' group for breaking the silence on what he did in Hebron – nobody else among the countless veterans who've told similar stories and worse, just him.
Liesbeth Zegveld believes a Netherlands court can hear a case against Israeli army brass for killing six Palestinians. (Amira Hass, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
The Art of the Netanyahu Deal: Why Trump Should Pay Attention to Israel's Broken Western Wall Promise (Amir Tibon, Haaretz+) Netanyahu has proven once again that his coalition partners are more important to him than promises he makes to Israel's friends in America.
A lesson in hasbara (Reuven Weiss, Yedioth/Ynet)
What started as small initiatives during Operations Pillar of Defense and Protective Edge has turned into a well-oiled civilian PR machine; thousands of students in Israel—most of them volunteers—wage a daily, unending battle over Israel's image online; their new app has thousands of users worldwide who defend Israel online; and you too can lend a hand.
Israel Launches Preemptive Strike in Psychological War With Hezbollah (Amos Harel, Haaretz) Israel reveals Hezbollah has developed a vast military network at border villages in an open violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
Don't interfere in Israel's decisions (Dr. Haim Shine, Israel Hayom) While the link to the Western Wall belongs to all Jews, at the end of the day this holy site is in Israel, and Israel will decide how to manage it.
How the occupation helped the Palestinians (Avi Shilon, Haaretz+) After the Six-Day War, Israel became an ally of the U.S. and part of the West, from which immigrants began to arrive – and the Palestinians began to develop political independence.
Want to end the occupation? Start talking to settlers and Mizrahim (Avi Dabush, +972mag) The very people the Left categorically rejects — Mizrahim and settlers — are exactly whom they need to make peace.
WATCH: Women of the Wall director slams Israeli government for reneging on Western Wall prayer space deal (Lesley Sachs, Haaretz) 'We do not feel at home in a place where we are silenced. ... Women in the 21st century have a voice,' Women of the Wall Executive Director Lesley Sachs says.
A systematic blunder (Yoram Ettinger, Israel Hayom) U.S. pressure has been a leadership test for Israeli PMs, whose challenge has been to stand up to demands while adhering to core ideology and strategic goals.
My generation sees an American Jewry in decline. But younger Jews don't (Samuel Heilman, Haaretz+) Are we baby-boomers, demographers and sociologists included, eulogizing the U.S. Jewish future because younger Jews aren't 'doing Jewish' exactly like we did?
A mock silence that hides a volcano: conclusions from a double trip to the City of the Patriarchs (Dr. Revital Amiran, Maariv) It appears the city of Hebron was captured by the crazy dream of a small and extremist public, which drags a whole country behind it, a dream according to which thousands of Palestinians who support Hamas will join the IDF or agree to live without the right to vote, under a policy of separation and obedient peace.
Rogel Alpher is wrong. The Maccabiah Games aren't racist (Ron Kaplan, Haaretz+) Or: How Rogel Alpher turned a celebration of Jewish heritage and culture, with participants from over 75 countries, into his own personal hatefest.
When the 50 year anniversary of the Six Day War is mentioned, we must also speak about the Jews of Egypt (Zvi Gabai, Maariv) The issue of Arab Jews is heavy and difficult, and until recently it has not received public attention. Few have heard of the Jewish communities that lived for thousands of years in the Middle East and North Africa and the physical suffering they experienced under Arab rule.
Return Doctors to Hadassah (Haaretz Editorial) When the department's work has been undermined and the children who were being treated there are forced to travel to other hospitals, it's time to stop trading blame. It's time to find a solution.
Power of deterrence (Moshe Elad, Israel Hayom) Israel has deterred Hezbollah by clarifying that the Lebanese government is responsible for Hezbollah aggression.
Defend Israel's Anti-occupation Group Breaking the Silence (Iris Leal, Haaretz+) Justice Minister Shaked is investigating the spokesman for the army veterans' group for breaking the silence on what he did in Hebron – nobody else among the countless veterans who've told similar stories and worse, just him.
Interviews:
No Confession Is Too Personal for Norwegian Winner of 2017 Jerusalem Prize for Literature
Karl Ove Knausgaard, who succeeds in his massive autobiography to make the ordinary extraordinary, talks to Haaretz about the Bible, being in Israel's capital and the fallibility of human nature. (David B. Green, Haaretz+)
No Confession Is Too Personal for Norwegian Winner of 2017 Jerusalem Prize for Literature
Karl Ove Knausgaard, who succeeds in his massive autobiography to make the ordinary extraordinary, talks to Haaretz about the Bible, being in Israel's capital and the fallibility of human nature. (David B. Green, Haaretz+)
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.