APN's daily news review from Israel

Wednesday November 29, 2017
 

Quote of the day:

Haaretz

Yedioth Ahronoth

Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)

Israel Hayom

News Summary:
A controversial Likud proposed bill and a couple of embassies made today’s top stories in the Hebrew newspapers. The Israeli political and intellectual circles were in a storm over the government’s move to bring final approval to the highly criticized “Recommendations Bill” - and do so through a lightning quick procedure. The State Prosecutor (and numerous commentators, see Commentary below) called it “silencing” of the law enforcement agencies, Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon, who heads the Kulanu party, tried to defend his approval of it, while some opposition Knesset members blamed others for not showing up for the vote. As the storm grew, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu flew to Kenya, where he met with African leaders and announced he would open an embassy in Rwanda, (where Israel plans to deport 10,000 asylum seekers), while US Vice President Mike Pence said US President Donald Trump is working to move the US embassy to Jerusalem.

The Recommendations Bill received approval by (Likud) Speaker of Knesset Yuli Edelstein to be passed in three readings within one week, despite the opposition’s claim that that “will not allow a worthy and dignified process to be carried out,” so the opposition threatened a filibuster, Maariv reported. The law enforcement agencies are being more vocal now about their opposition to the bill, which would prohibit the Police from publishing its recommendations over an investigation of a public official. Speaking at the Eilat Conference for Journalism, State Attorney Shai Nitzan called the bill the “silencing,” saying that the “Police investigators have a stance, and they need to be heard. The State Attorney’s office does not always accept their stance, and that’s okay. But to silence them? What is this silencing?” He added that “Netanyahu was questioned six times because there are things that need to be asked.” He also said he would be questioned again in Cases 1000 (gifts) and 2000 (deal with Yedioth publisher) and that there isn’t enough evidence to question him in Case 3000 (submarines), Yedioth reported. Senior Police officials told Haaretz+ that the bill, if passed, will hinder and slow down the investigations into Netanyahu. Finance Minister Kahlon, leader of Kulanu party, reportedly said he was given an ultimatum on Tuesday by the ruling Likud party: either vote with the coalition in favor of the recommendations bill or face elections.

Israel held a big event marking the 70th anniversary of the UN Partition Plan vote, which established the State of Israel. it was there that Pence said that Trump was considering when and how to move the US embassy from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem.
 

Quick Hits:

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Features:
Memories from a momentous day in Israel's history
As UN commemorates landmark vote creating Jewish state, telegrams congratulating Jewish Agency delegate on vote revealed; 'Godspeed, with love,' wrote Ben Gurion; 'Dawn is rising, new light will now shine on Zion,' wrote Chief Rabbi Herzog; children of 1947 recount their experiences on day of vote; 'Joy went for days,' remembered one. (Itamar Eichner and Hadar Gil-Ad, Yedioth/Ynet+PHOTOS)
The historic approval of the Partition Plan did not amount only to festive rejoicing
Starting from the profound shock of Neturei Karta (anti-Zionist ultra-Orthodox) to the "terrible decree" and to the revisionist statements. Seventy years after the dramatic decision on November 29, our reporter returned to the numerous reactions of the Jewish community. (Carmit Sapir Weitz, Maariv)
 
Commentary/Analysis:
Investigations Die in Darkness (Haaretz Editorial) It’s not enough to let prosecutors see police recommendations, the public needs to see them too.
‘Recommendations bill’ a possible obstruction of legal proceedings (Nadav Eyal, Yedioth/Ynet) We are witnessing a criminal act and a complete loss of shame. Had Ehud Olmert initiated such a law, the road to the Knesset would have been blocked by thousands of right-wing protestors in an effort to stop the vote. This is where the Israeli public must draw a bright red line.
The ultimate threat Netanyahu’s people used to pass the bill silencing the police (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) The bill would prevent the police from publishing a summary of their investigations into public figures like the prime minister.
Shattering Israel’s Democratic Tablets of the Covenant (Uzi Baram, Haaretz+) Now any Ben-Gurionesque, statesmanlike value is considered contemptible, like the way Netanyahu’s lackeys criticize the president for not pardoning a soldier convicted of manslaughter.
*Israel's One Leader, One Party, One People (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) That is what the government is aiming for. If anyone is reminded of a party in a different country that adopted a similar slogan in the 1930s, that’s his problem.
November 29: American Jews support Israel, which turns its back on them (Nurit Canetti, Maariv) Some of our leaders, who will wave off excitedly to mark the anniversary of the dramatic UN decision, are also those who turn their back on Diaspora Jewry. But what happened then and what is happening today has a direct connection.
Netanyahu Needs a War. He Needs It to Be With Iran. And He Needs It Soon (Bradley Burston, Haaretz+) Netanyahu needs a war because he’s desperate, and because a war might answer two of his more immediate needs.
November 29th: The State of Israel was not established thanks to the famous decision (Nadav Hatzeni, Maariv) Exactly 70 years since the dramatic decision at the UN - it is time to remind ourselves that the state was created because of the strength of the Jewish community and the facts on the ground. It was not presented to us on a silver platter.
The window of time to prevent the establishment of an Iranian outpost against Israel is very short (Dr. Ofer Yisraeli, Maariv) Israel must take a strategic turn: no more indirect damage to Tehran, but direct damage to the head of the Iranian snake while creating a tripartite coalition - Israeli-American-Saudi.
We will keep believing (Emily Amrousi, Israel Hayom) Contrary to the constant refrain, no Israeli government has ever been more connected or invested in the Diaspora than the current leadership.
The lowering of requirements from female combat fighters is something that cannot be ignored (Prof. Arieh Eldad, Maariv) If, at the end of the sniper course, it is revealed that only a few of the fighters manage to hit the targets, would we not have ridiculed an army that would have preferred to increase the targets in order to make it easier for the shooters?
Egypt's peace interest (Prof. Eyal Zisser, Israel Hayom) President Abdel-Fatah el-Sissi knows he must drastically improve the economy to save his country and restore it as leader of the Arab world. For this he needs an atmosphere of peace, which can ensure long-term stability.
Israel Will Always Be the Home of World Jewry, but U.S. Jews Cannot Dictate Israel's Behavior (Nave Dromi, Haaretz+) In this complex family relationship Israel also has the right to criticize or to follow its own piper when it comes to domestic policy.
We can do it ourselves (Eldad Beck, Israel Hayom) The success of the campaign by a Cologne woman, who convinced a German TV station to cancel its sponsorship of a Roger Waters concert, proves that BDS can be defeated by grassroots activism.
Extremists on Left and Right Empowering BDS on U.S. College Campuses (JTA and Seffi Kogen, Haaretz) From Michigan to Maryland, student governments debate joining the BDS movement against Israel, with mixed results.

Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.