APN's daily news review from Israel
Thursday, August 3, 2017
You Must Be Kidding:
According to a new poll, 66% of Israelis said they favored the death penalty for those convicted of murdering Israeli soldiers. **
Front Page:
According to a new poll, 66% of Israelis said they favored the death penalty for those convicted of murdering Israeli soldiers. **
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Shaked: Prime Minister can continue serving even if he indicted
- Terrorist stabbed employee at supermarket in Yavneh and critically injured him
- Attorney General to Lieberman: Freeze the work of the Committee for Conflict of interests due to fear of harming submarines affair investigation
- Three Israelis, resident of Wadi Ara, were imprisoned without trial for six months
- Palestinian suspected of murdering his girlfriend from the settlement of Geva Binyamin
- State acted to expel Ghanaian citizen who has lived 29 years in Israel - and was thwarted by the court
- The Sheftel fascism // Gideon Levy
- Not completely here // Itai Stern
- Haifa Chemicals announced sale of its factories and the dismissal of hundreds of employees
Yedioth Ahronoth
- Battling over their home (Haifa Chemicals Co)
- Stab in the back between the supermarket shelves
- What Yair (Netanyahu) is allowed to do // Sima Kadmon
- The sail to part from the outgoing commander of the Shayetet (navy seals), Major Gur Shreibeman, whose name was only now revealed.
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Thousands of employees on the way home (from Haifa Chemicals)
- Instruments on a chessboard // Yehuda Sharoni
- Suspect in the murder of Michal: Her boyfriend from Shchem/Nablus
- Terror in the supermarket
- With pride and fear - High alert ahead of Gay Pride Parade in Jerusalem today
- The boys’ battles - Ariel Olmert responded to Yair Netanyahu: “Racism and homophobia”
Israel Hayom
- Heroism between the shelves - Attack at a supermarket in Yavneh: Deputy manager was critically injured
- Likely: “Ari Harrow will provide information also about the submarines affair”
- New identity in a foreign country: Soon, battered women will be put in witness protection program
- Haifa Chemicals: “Factories in north and south will be closed; 800 will be closed”
News Summary:
A Palestinian man stabbed and critically wounded an Israeli supermarket employee in central Israel, another Palestinian man admitted he murdered his pregnant Israeli settler girlfriend and Haifa Chemicals company announced it will close down two of its plants and fire hundreds, possibly thousands, of employees making top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers. Meanwhile, Israeli police have warned right-wing activists not to show up today to the Jerusalem Gay Pride Parade, (Maariv) where they have deployed hundreds of officers and security guards against possible religious Jewish attackers.
Quick Hits:
- Netanyahu will not need to step down if he's indicted, Israeli justice minister says - Current law does not say prime ministers must resign, though minister do; 'we should wait and see,' Justice Minister Shaked says. (Haaretz)
- AG Mandelblit asks to 'let us work' as former Netanyahu advisor considers state witness deal - 'Give us time and we'll uncover the truth,' says AG Mandelblit regarding multiple corruption cases linked to PM Netanyahu, as his former Chief of Staff considers state witness deal. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- Netanyahu forces controversial Israeli lawmaker to cancel duel on border with Jordanian MP - Though the provocation between Jordanian lawmaker Yehiya al-Saoud and Israeli provocateur Oren Hazan was called off, the proposed fistfight fortifies strains in current relations between Jordan and Israel. (Haaretz and Ynetand Israel Hayom)
- Three Israeli Arabs Sent to Six Months in Jail Without Trial - The men were arrested in their homes four days after the Temple Mount attack that killed two policemen. Families: They are not activists or members of political, religious group. (Haaretz+)
- Chances of Israeli lung transplant for Erekat are slim - Despite report of Palestinian chief negotiator's addition to transplant waiting list, the Ministry of Health clarifies only Israeli citizens may register to national waiting list. Erekat is not an Israeli citizen and will therefore enter at bottom of list. (Ynet)
- Palestinians claim Israel pressuring them to renew security ties - Abbas reduced PA's security coordination with Israel during the Temple Mount crisis. Now they claim Israel is making them pay a price. (Haaretz)
- Policeman suspected of receiving bribes for entry permits to infiltrators - Intelligence coordinator arrested on suspicion of helping criminals transport Palestinians into Israel for money and benefits for over a year; discovery made during interrogation of a driver from Umm al-Fahm; judge criticizes police over its handling of the case. (Ynet)
- Israel Police grill Sara Netanyahu for fourth time over alleged misuse of funds- Benjamin Netanyahu's wife is expected to be indicted for fraudulent misuse of government funds. (Haaretz)
- Netanyahu's Neighbors Accuse PM's Residence of Annexing Jerusalem Street- Residents are angry over a large tent-like structure which extends across the street, covering both sidewalks, and was built illegally without a permit. (Haaretz+)
- Knesset advances 'Kaya Netanyahu Law' to spare biting dogs from kennel quarantine - The bill, which passed first reading, would enable such dogs to be confined at home. (Haaretz+)
- Israel’s First Arab Supreme Court Justice, Salim Joubran, Retiring - The Haifa native often dissented from the majority, particularly in cases involving Israeli Arabs such as small communities' admissions committees. (Haaretz)
- Rivlin laments low Arab turnout at co-op security meeting - As president convenes meeting with Arab sector leaders in bid to increase cooperative efforts to police crime, police chief and Rivlin express disappointment after just 20 out of 46 Arab leaders bother to show up; 'It is a shame, because we are destined to live together.' (Yedioth/Ynet)
- New Navy commando chief: May we always return victorious - Israeli Navy's elite commando unit Shayetet 13 names ex-resident of Gush Katif settlement and winner of the International Bible Contest as newest commander • "I expect to uphold and lead you in accordance with the values you hold dear," he tells troops. (Israel Hayom)
- Israeli Deputy Mayor Suspected of Playing Role in 1999 Mob Murder - Arthur Rosen was found dead by the side of the road in 1999 after being hit by a car in what police suspected was not an accident. (Haaretz and Ynet)
- 2 innovative Israeli-made satellites launched into space - Environmental research satellite Venus, an Israeli-French collaboration, to help combat desertification • Second satellite OPTSAT-3000 to be used by Italian Defense Ministry for reconnaissance • PM: Israel is at the cutting edge of technology and space. (Israel Hayom)
- We suffer from agricultural terrorism' - Residents of the northern colony of Yesud HaMa'ala wake up to flames threatening to destroy communal cooling house for its produce; arson is suspected, relating to arrest of crime organization head who extorted money from farmers. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- Turkey to deport Iranian journalist who wrote for Israeli news site - Iranian women's rights activist Neda Amin has been writing for The Times of Israel's Persian website for two years • Amin fled Iran in 2014 and was granted refugee status by the U.N. • If sent back to Iran, she may face prison, torture or even execution. (Israel Hayom)
- AIPAC throws support behind Taylor Force Act, urges Senate committee to pass it - The legislation has been amended to distinguish between humanitarian aid and money that directly benefits the Palestinian Authority. (Haaretz+)
- Syrian-Palestinian online activist Bassel Khartabil confirmed dead years after arrest in Syria - Khartabil, who spearheaded web activism in the Arab world, was executed five years after being arrested by the Assad regime, his wife says. (Haaretz)
- Russia deploys troops in southern Syria - The 'Al Mayadeen' network reports on goings-on not far from the Israeli border; Russian MPs are stationed in Syrian army outposts; Moscow erects base in northern suburb of Daraa. (Ynet)
- **70 Percent of Israeli Jews Support Death Penalty for Terrorists, Survey Shows- Most Israelis don’t think Netanyahu handled Temple Mount crisis well. (Haaretz)
Commentary/Analysis:
American Jews shouldn't fear the Palestinian flag (Jennifer Wright, Haaretz+) Behind the outcry over a flag at a Jewish summer camp lies a choice: We American Jews can fear Palestinians. Or we can listen to them.
Decades-long Jerusalem activity going down the drain (Alex Fishman, Yedioth/Ynet) In the not-so-distant past, the Muslim religious leadership in Jerusalem held a regular pragmatic discourse with the Israeli establishment. Many fires were put out in those meetings. After the Temple Mount crisis, it turned out the contacts on the Israeli side had either been erased, debilitated or become dysfunctional, and that the Waqf is no longer interested in a dialogue.
Netanyahu Jr. Is a Danger to Democracy (Rogel Alpher, Haaretz+) To call the New Israel Fund 'The Israel Destruction Fund' is McCarthyism of the worst and most benighted kind.
It's Not About Flags: The Real Problem With Jewish-Palestinian Dialogue (Jonathan S. Tobin, Haaretz+) The American Jewish left is deeply invested in a form of asymmetric dialogue that too often requires co-opting Jewish kids to denounce the sins of Zionism.
Netanyahu government presents: Excuses, excuses and more excuses (Yoav Hendel, Yedioth/Ynet) We don’t need the IDF Intelligence Directorate or the Shin Bet to tell us that decisions related to the Temple Mount have an explosive potential. A person who doesn’t know that shouldn’t be a decision maker. The defense establishment’s job is to present scenarios, and the decision makers’ job is to decide, knowing every decision carries a price.
Israel Police Chief Must Tell the Truth (Haaretz Editorial) Concealing of information, forgetfulness and changing of testimony is not fitting for the man who heads the Israel Police.
Beware the threat from within (Dr. Shaul Shai, Israel Hayom) The moderate Sunni states would be wise to join forces with Israel in the battle against radical Islam, and avoid unnecessary friction over the Temple Mount.
Shame on You, Yoram Sheftel (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) Sheftel, the lawyer and radio broadcaster Israelis love to hate, shows us our dark side without masks and political correctness.
Israel Police Versus Shin Bet (Israel Harel, Haaretz+) In contrast to the Israel Police, the Shin Bet security service believes Israeli presence at the Temple Mount is dangerous - wrongfully so.
Murder and a 3rd intifada (Richard Baehr, Israel Hayom) While U.S. presidents tested by Palestinian violence frequently cave to pressure, Trump's unpredictability could work in Israel's favor.
The Iran Nuclear Deal Remains the Best of a Few Bad Options (Chuck Freilich, Haaretz+) Netanyahu repeatedly sets goals that may be desirable but are unattainable. It is to be hoped that at least in regard to Iran, he will adopt a different approach.
The Young Palestinian Men of East Jerusalem Have Nothing to Lose (Warren Spielberg, Haaretz) 'We have no life and no future': The underlying conditions for Palestinians that fuelled the protests in Jerusalem are still just as combustible. The next explosion over Al Aqsa will be far worse.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.