APN's daily news review from Israel
Friday, August 18, 2017
NOTE: Orly Halpern, editor of News Nosh, is on holiday from August 15th until August 24th, during which News Nosh will be produced as a truncated version and sent later in the day. There will be no News Nosh this Sunday - it will resume on Monday, August 21.
NOTE: Orly Halpern, editor of News Nosh, is on holiday from August 15th until August 24th, during which News Nosh will be produced as a truncated version and sent later in the day. There will be no News Nosh this Sunday - it will resume on Monday, August 21.
Quote of the Day
"We need them to tell us where the hell they are going. . . It’s now or never. . . This is the time and
this is the opportunity. . . we are hanging on this opportunity. . . we want it to succeed.”
-- PLO representative in Washington, Husam Zomlot, speaking in a press briefing on Thursday about
Greenblatt, Kushner, and Powell's upcoming trip to the Middle East
Front Page:
Haaretz
- US generals' unprecedented revolt against Trump, their commander in chief
- Ex-PM Barak: Neo-Nazi rally reminiscent of events in Israel
- Netanyhau seeks huge budget hike for relocation of illegal West Bank outpost
- Palestinians see Kushner's upcoming Middle East visit as 'crucial,' DC envoy says
Ynet News
- Jerusalem must not abandon Jews in America with silence
- Three Israelis in Barcelona still uncontactable
- Haredi MKs urge PM to stop Shabbat train work
- Israeli company takes on Hezbollah in online wars
Times of Israel
- Following attack, Barcelona's chief rabbi says his community is doomed
- Police refused to protect Charlottesville synagogue during far-right march
- Hezbollah says Barcelona attacker 'tarnishing jihad'
- AIPAC in rare non-Israel statement rebukes Trump over Charlottesville
Israel Hayom
- Spain says Barcelona attack part of larger terrorist plot
- World leaders express solidarity after 'barbaric' Barcelona attack
- Israel's Sam Spiegel named one of world's best film schools
- In IDF first, chief medical officer hails from Druze community
i24 News
- Lieberman says Barcelona attack is radical Islam's attempt to destroy the West
- Fourth Barcelona suspect arrested; were 'planning bigger attack'
- US revokes citizenship of Palestinian convicted of terrorism in Israel
- PLO envoy expresses cynicism ahead of US delegation to the Middle East
News Summary:
Israeli news is focused on yesterday's terrorist attack in Barcelona, which killed 13 people and injured around 100 others, leaving a number in critical condition. Spanish authorities have arrested four suspects and believe the attack was part of a larger plan. Notably, Barcelona's chief rabbi, Rabbi Meir Bar-Hen, said his community is "doomed" and that "Europe is lost." He said "Jews are not here permanently. . . I tell my congregants: Don’t think we’re here for good. And I encourage them to buy property in Israel."
As Jason Greenblatt, Jared Kushner, and Dina Powell prepare for their trip to the Middle East at the end of August, the Palestinians express mixed feelings about what may come of it. The PLO's Washington representative, Husam Zomlot expressed cynicism that "the Trump administration will make good on its promise to secure a peace deal in the Middle East between Palestinians and Israel." In a press briefing yesterday, Zomlot said that the upcoming visit, "as part of U.S. President Donald Trump’s effort to restart the peace process, would be crucial. If it fails. . . the Palestinians could renew efforts to gain recognition through the international arena."
Israeli news is focused on yesterday's terrorist attack in Barcelona, which killed 13 people and injured around 100 others, leaving a number in critical condition. Spanish authorities have arrested four suspects and believe the attack was part of a larger plan. Notably, Barcelona's chief rabbi, Rabbi Meir Bar-Hen, said his community is "doomed" and that "Europe is lost." He said "Jews are not here permanently. . . I tell my congregants: Don’t think we’re here for good. And I encourage them to buy property in Israel."
As Jason Greenblatt, Jared Kushner, and Dina Powell prepare for their trip to the Middle East at the end of August, the Palestinians express mixed feelings about what may come of it. The PLO's Washington representative, Husam Zomlot expressed cynicism that "the Trump administration will make good on its promise to secure a peace deal in the Middle East between Palestinians and Israel." In a press briefing yesterday, Zomlot said that the upcoming visit, "as part of U.S. President Donald Trump’s effort to restart the peace process, would be crucial. If it fails. . . the Palestinians could renew efforts to gain recognition through the international arena."
Quick Hits:
- "Who better than a black female rabbi to talk race, bigotry and healing today?" The Times of Israel features Rabbi Tiferet Berenbaum - the newly installed Rabbi of Temple Har Zion in Mount Holly, New Jersey - and her take on the idea of ‘comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable.’ Read more here.
- Archaeologists have uncovered mikvahs at the site of the Nazi-razed Great Synagogue in Vilnius, Lithuania. The ritual baths are further evidence of the rich Jewish community in Vilnius, which was considered the "beating heart" of Lithuanian Jewry. Read more here.
- Israeli professors have petitioned the High Court against gender-separated university classes. This petition follows the Council of Higher Education’s plan to integrate ultra-Orthodox students into academia by opening more gender-segregated programs. Read more here.
- The Telegraph features a strange new tourist attraction in Israel: Caliber3, an anti-terror training camp. "Visitors can sign up for a variety of courses, including a two-hour 'Shooting Adventure' where they learn to fire assault rifles and sniper rifles – or a 'Survival and Navigation' programme where they spend up to two days 'training within harsh conditions. . . to sharpen your skills.'" Read more here.
*Bonus* Israel
in the US Media:
- The Daily Beast features an analysis of "Netanyahu's cynical delay denouncing Trump’s Nazi equivocation." Neri Zilber argues that "Netanyahu’s shameful delay and minimalism surrounding the events at Charlottesville may not be the lowest moment of his premiership, but it will likely prove fatal to the Israeli prime minister’s claim for moral leadership in the Jewish world. If condemning Nazis is beholden to politics, then nothing is sacred." Read more here.
- In a similar vein, Isabel Kershner (New York Times that) takes on Netanyahu's dilemma, caught between "his vow to represent all the Jews of the world and his friendship with the testy president of the United States." Read more here.
- In an op-ed in the Forward, Naomi Dann takes a controversial second look at Richard Spencer's comparison of white supremacy to supremacy to Zionism. She says, "This is what’s so chilling about Spencer’s comparison of white supremacy to Israel – not its anti-Semitism but the kernel of truth at its core. Richard Spencer, whose racist views are rightfully abhorred by the majority of the Jewish community, is holding a mirror up to Zionism and the reflection isn’t pretty." Read more here.
- In LobeLog Foreign Policy, Lara Friedman analyzes why "The Israel Anti-Boycott Act Is an Act of Political Persecution." Read more here.