News Nosh 12.21.17

by APN 12/21/17
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APN's daily news review from Israel
Thursday December 21, 2017

You Must Be Kidding: 
--Verbal violence against the President of Israel, Reuven Rivlin, has grown 220% within two years.
A new report found that in the last year, over 5 million racist expressions, curses, calls for violence and offensive words were written in social media in Israel - a rate of one every 6 seconds.**

Front Page:
Haaretz
Yedioth Ahronoth
  • (Coalition leader MK David Bitan) resigns over (corruption) investigation
  • David started, Dudi (Amsalem) will continue // Sima Kadmon
  • What is right for Bitan isn’t right for Netanyahu? // Yuval Karni
  • The case of Natan Eshel (Netanyahu’s dismissed chief of staff) was revealed
  • The serial troubles of Deputy Director of the Prime Minister’s Office
  • 15-year-old in serious condition due to regular flu
  • Exclusive - Likely: First Muslim judge in High Court
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
  • “(Former) chief of staff (Natan Eshel) in Netanyahu’s Office conducted himself in a sick and abused manner”
  • Because of the pressure of the (corruption) investigations: MK Amsalem will replace MK Bitan as chairman of the coalition
  • Because of a billion shekel debt: Banks demand to dismantle (tycoon) Shaul Elovich’s Eurocom company
Israel Hayom
  • Trump: “We won’t aid anyone who opposes the recognition of Jerusalem”
  • Bitan resigned - Amsalem enters
  • Under the waves - across from Netanya - British commercial ship sunk by German submarine in 1943 was found 19km from Netanya’s shores
  • The media incitement club // Amnon Lord
  • Half a billion shekel debt: Palestinians who owe money to Israel won’t enter the country
  • In tomorrow’s magazine: Amit Steinhardt, who eliminated the terrorist at Har Adar (checkpoint), is trying to return to normal; the Navy family: Three siblings who serve in submarines

News Summary:
Coalition whip and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s close ally, MK David Bitan, resigned from his position due to the corruption investigations against him, Maariv and Yedioth revealed the testimonies against Netanyahu’s former bureau chief, Natan Eshel, who sexually harassed an employee at the Prime Minister’s Office and was forced to resign, and US President Donald Trump threatened to revoke aid from countries that voted in favor of the UN resolution today that rejected his declaration recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital making top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers. And, Maariv had a worrisome report about increased levels of incitement in Israeli society towards state institutions.

Ironically, coalition whip MK David Bitan, who was famous for slamming anyone who suggested Netanyahu should step down due to the corruption investigations against him, and pushing hard to legislate bills to protect Netanyahu from those investigations, said he was stepping down from his role as coalition leader because "the current situation is hindering my performance and I do not wish to compromise the coalition's work.”  Bitan is suspected of money laundering, fraud and breach of trust. Netanyahu named MK David Amsalem, another close ally, to replace Bitan. Both are the key figures behind the bill to prevent the police from making recommendations to indict suspects in investigations. Bitan resigned a day after Netanyahu’s speech in which he said, “so what if the police recommend indicting me.” Amsalem’s first task is to push the contentious legislation seeking to enshrine as a Basic Law the concept that Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish people.

In a few hours time, the UN General Assembly will vote on a resolution rejecting Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem and Trump threatened to cut aid to UN members who voted in affirmation of that rejection. Trump said he 'likes' the warning by US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, to UN members that he is ‘watching their votes,’ because he is, indeed, “watching their votes.” Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said today, ”Mr. Trump, you cannot buy Turkey's democratic will with your dollars.” Haaretz prepared a list of the top 10 countries receiving US aid and after Afghanistan, Israel takes second place, with twice as much aid as Egypt, which is in third place. (It will be interesting to see how Egypt votes!) Israel’s Foreign Ministry has made a  'very vast' lobbying campaign to convince Israel-friendly nations not to vote in favor the resolution.

Despite Trump’s vocal support recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Yedioth revealed that the US told Israel to hold back on huge Jerusalem construction - the meaning being in East Jerusalem. Trump's special Mideast envoy Jason Greenblatt and US ambassador to Israel David Friedman told Netanyahu Wednesday that Israel should refrain from inflaming matters amid Israeli reports of wide scale (East) Jerusalem construction plans, and Palestinian snubbing of White House will be temporarily overlooked, Yedioth’s diplomatic affairs correspondent, Itamar Eichner, wrote. Haaretz+’s Arab affairs correspondent, Jacky Khoury, wrote that the Palestinian Authority leadership is turning to Russia after having lost faith in US peace efforts. Hamas called for diplomatic moves, saying that Arab states should expel their Israeli and US ambassadors. Hamas official Ismail Radwan said Palestinians urge "all kinds of resistance" to defeat U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Leaders of France and Jordan said Tuesday they await the US Middle East peace plan. On the ground, another Palestinian ‘Day of Rage’ swept the West Bank ahead of the UN Jerusalem vote with clashes between hundreds of Palestinians clashing with Israeli forces.

*Following the conviction of Elor Azaria (‘The Shooting Soldier from Hebron’) there has been a rise in violent discourse towards judges, Maariv reported. The Katznelson Foundation's “Hatred Report” revealed that 73% of the incitement against the judicial system - in social media status updates, comments, and Tweets - is from right-wing voters. The main victims: the former High Court chief justice Miriam Naor (60% of violent posts were written by profiles identified as right-wing and 5% by profiles identified as left-wing) and Maya Heller, the judge in the military trial of Elor Azaria (who shot dead an already injured and incapacitated Palestinian assailant). The report also revealed that 73% of the incitement against the judicial system is from the right-wing. The most violent discourse was on the Facebook page of Yoav Eliasi (far right-wing rapper, known as ”The Shadow"), on the Facebook page of Channel 20 [religious right-wing TV station- OH] and on the Facebook page of Walla website [Walla’s owner is an associate of Netanyahu - OH]. According to Anat Rosilio, director of the public arena at the Berl Katznelson Foundation, the new phenomenon comes in the form of judges who are the recipients of violent discourse - a phenomenon that not known in Israel before. "It should be remembered that these are state figures, not political ones, who have become political voodoo dolls," said Rosilio. "It comes only from the head, from the political system, from the delegitimization of the High Court of Justice. Every year there has been an increase in the violent discourse, but the watershed in the attacks on the courts was around the (Elor) Azaria case." (Maariv)

The Berl Katznelson Foundation’s website wrote that “In the last year (21.11.2016-20.11.2017), over 5 million racist expressions, curses, calls for violence and offensive words were written in social media in Israel - a rate of one every 6 seconds. A significant portion of the violence is concentrated against government institutions that, until recently, were under consensus and are now subject to many public attacks. Among other things, the report shows an alarming increase of 500% within two years in the extent of verbal violence against the media and a 230% rise in verbal violence against the judicial system, as well as the growing violence against three people: the President of Israel (220% within two years), the Chief of Staff (an increase of 500% within two years, mainly surrounding the Azaria trial) and against the Police Commissioner (a 60% increase within two years).
 
Quick Hits:
  • Right-wing ministers unveil bill to let Knesset override Supreme Court - Ayelet Shaked and Naftali Bennett have long been sparring with the court, but key parties in the governing coalition are expected to keep the legislation from passing, which would allow the High Court to strike down a law only with a nine-judge panel and a two-thirds majority; it won't be able to strike down laws deviating from Basic Laws, and a 61 MK majority could reinstate laws disqualified. (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
  • Police: No evidence to charge father in Qusra shooting - Israeli settler who shot dead one of the Palestinian rioters who hurled stones at a group of teens on a hike near the village was acting in self defense, police determine; case passed on to State Attorney's Office. [NOTE: Palestinians and Israeli press reported that the killed man was an uninvolved Palestinian farmer. - OH] (Yedioth/Ynet and Israel Hayom)
  • Palestinians praise girl who slapped IDF soldier as hero - Ahed Tamimi, 16, arrested for accosting troops trying to control a riot, is hailed on Palestinian social media as a "Joan of Arc." IDF: Company commander who refrained from reacting to her provocation acted in a "professional and restrained" manner. (Israel Hayom)
  • Father of Palestinian Girl Slapping Israeli Soldier in Viral Video: She Was Upset Because Her Relative Was Shot in the Head - Conversations with people of the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh show why Ahed Tamimi, 16, was wary about the Israeli army's entry into her home's courtyard. (Haaretz+)
  • Israeli army arrests second young Palestinian filmed hitting soldiers in viral video, extend detention of Ahed and her mother - Nur Tamimi, 20, was arrested the day after her cousin, Ahed Tamimi, a 16-year-old girl. A military juvenile court judge ordered Ahed's continued detention until Monday over concern that she would interfere with the investigation. (Haaretz and Maan)
  • PPS: 490 Palestinians detained by Israeli forces since Trump decision on Jerusalem - The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society reported that as of Tuesday, the total number of Palestinians detained by Israeli forces since the beginning of the protests that followed US President Donald Trump's’ recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital was 490, including 148 minors and 11 women. (Maan)
  • Israeli forces injure Palestinians as settlers visit holy site in Nablus - Sources said that 12 buses carrying Israeli settlers and an escort of 40 Israeli military vehicles arrived to Joseph’s Tomb early Wednesday, provoking clashes with local Palestinians from the nearby Balata refugee camp. (Maan)
  • Israel planning three new settlements in Jordan Valley - Housing Ministry and JNF announce new plan, which also includes expanding existing settlements with 14 new neighborhoods. (Haaretz)
  • Israel begins construction of separation wall in Bethlehem-area village; Tuqu villagers: it will take what's left of agricultural lands - Israeli authorities have reportedly began construction on a portion of Israel’s illegal separation wall on lands of the Tuqu town in eastern Bethlehem on Thursday, by placing cement blocks in northern Tuqu. Locals said the wall would swallow up what's left of agricultural lands belonging to the residents after Israel confiscated large portions of land for the construction nearby illegal Jewish settlement of Tekoa. (Maan)
  • Israeli minister files objection against deal with EU that excludes settlements - Netanyahu's approval of the agreement would have been final automatically if no cabinet ministers had filed objections to it by the beginning of January. But Culture Minister Miri Regev did. (Haaretz+)
  • Knesset votes down bill requiring PM to resign if indicted - Coalition closes ranks against bill despite author MK Yoel Hasson's willingness to apply bill only from next government, effectively allowing PM Benjamin Netanyahu to remain in power if indicted. Hasson to lawmakers: You will be ashamed of your vote. (Israel Hayom)
  • (Public Security Minister Gilad) Erdan 'not alright' with Netanyahu's remarks on police recommendations - Public security minister says Netanyahu's verbal assault on the police for investigating him was partially justified, but 'I don’t like how they can be interpreted;' former police chief accuses Netanyahu of 'undermining public confidence in police.' (Yedioth/Ynet)
  • (Finance Minister Moshe) Kahlon to the Police Commissioner: "Continue in your path, we back you up with the important work you are doing" - The finance minister, who received quite a bit of fire following the coalition's wave of legislation, sent yesterday a clear message in light of Netanyahu's attacks on the rule of law: "Keep up the important work,” he told Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh. (Maariv and Times of Israel)
  • (Likud MK) Yariv Levin threatened (Likud MK Oren) Hazan: If you go to the (anti-corruption) demonstration on Shabbat, we will not advance your legislation - Likud MK Hazan announced that he would participate in a demonstration against corruption in Jerusalem initiated by Yoaz Hendel. In response to Levin’s threats to halt Hazan’s legislation, Hazan said: “Cheap and old politics. I call on everyone to go (to the demo)." (Maariv)
  • Saudi king backs Palestinians' 'legitimate claim' to east Jerusalem - Saudi King Salman tells PA President Mahmoud Abbas that Riyadh is committed to "legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state with east Jerusalem as its capital," two weeks after U.S. recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's capital. (Agencies, Israel Hayom)
  • South Africa to downsize embassy in Israel in protest of Trump's declaration - The African National Congress (ANC), the ruling party in South Africa, decided on Wednesday to downsize its embassy in Israel to a liaison office, in response to the American government’s controversial policy changes in the country. (Maan)
  • Bangladesh rejects Israeli aid offers for Rohingya refugees - With no diplomatic ties to Jerusalem, Bangladesh politely declines Israeli offer due to possible political ramifications, despite being swamped by some 665,000 refugees fleeing brutal persecution in Myanmar. (Yedioth/Ynet)
  • Trump's Jerusalem declaration stars in caricatures - Next week's comics and cartoons festival in Migdal HaEmek will feature an art exhibit focusing on Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. (Ynet)
  • Israeli activists demand Israel quit selling weapons to Honduras - Group cites accusations of human rights violations by Honduran security forces amid violent protests since Nov. 26 election there. While Israel typically keeps arms sales classified, Honduras disclosed details of $209 million deal with Israel last year. (Israel Hayom)
  • Ministers seek to ban entry of Palestinians who owe Israelis money - Under proposed mechanism, Palestinians will be denied entry if they fail to settle debt. New approach will streamline lengthy process that has been largely dependent on cooperation of Palestinian officials. Minister: Scope of debt unacceptable. (Israel Hayom)
  • Hamas warns residents of Gaza Strip: “Don't visit Israeli Foreign Ministry webpage” - Hamas internal security agency warns Foreign Ministry Arabic Facebook contains intelligence surveillance that could harm Palestinian surfers and it is used as a means to recruit agents. (Maariv)
  • Hamas terror cell planned to kidnap MK Glick, IDF Arabic spokesman - Shin Bet indicts 3 Hamas members for planning to kidnap an MK and an IDF spokesman; Terror cell later changed plans to kidnap an IDF soldier or an Israeli settler instead. (Ynet)
  • Israel's attorney general backs officer’s libel suit against (Arab-Israeli) director of ‘Jenin, Jenin’ film - Avichai Mendelblit cites ‘public interest’ to explain his decision to support a second civil lawsuit against Mohammed Bakri for his 2002 documentary. (Haaretz+, Times of Israel and Maariv)
  • Affirmative action for Arab, Haredi IDF vets passes early vote - The legislation would boost the chances of anyone who served the country in military, civilian or national service to be hired for civil service. (JPost)
  • Rabbi accused of racism against Ethiopians up for chief rabbi post - Elections for Hadera's chief rabbi postponed to allow probe into claims that candidate Rabbi Eliyahu Assulin told students to practice circumcision on "cannon fodder" Ethiopian babies. Assulin: Comments were in jest; my political rivals are behind this. (Israel Hayom)
  • Austria's Kurz says will fight anti-Semitism after Israel voices concern - Attempting to appease Israel over its refusal to work directly with any ministers from the far-right party now back in government, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz says his new coalition would focus on fighting anti-Semitism. (Agencies, Ynet)
  • US urges UN to punish Iran, but Russia says no sanctions - U.S. Ambassador to U.N. Nikki Haley urges world to take action against Iran, says U.S. will explore options to pressure Iranians "to adjust their behavior." Russian envoy: Abandon threats, use dialogue. Iranian president: Trump cannot undo nuclear deal. (Israel Hayom)
  • Israeli Defense Firm Elbit Signs Major Contract to Support U.S. Army Aircraft Fleet - The contract supporting U.S. Army's C-26 and UC-35 aircraft is worth up to $25 million in the first year and five single-year options that could boost its value to $176 million. (Haaretz)
  • Hanukkah campaign aims to raise $50,000 for IDF soldiers - As part of Light for Peace campaign, Australian businessmen pledge to donate $1 for every candle-lighting selfie shared by Jews around the world on social media. Chabad project aims to raise money for the purchase of equipment, clothing for IDF soldiers. (Israel Hayom)
  • Family killed in Brooklyn house fire laid to rest in Israel - Thousands pay final respects in Holon cemetery to mother and three children of the Azan family who were killed in Brooklyn when a house caught fire caused by a Hanukkah menorah; The mother was born in Holon. Minister Aryeh Deri among those in attendance; ‘There are no words that can console the family. We don’t understand the ways of the almighty,’ Deri says. (Ynet)
  • Exclusive Immigration to Israel bounces back in 2017 - 28,400 immigrants are expected to arrive in Israel by year's end; among them are hundreds of Brazilian Jews fleeing their country's economy and security issues. (Haaretz+)
  • In a First for an Israeli University, Technion Opens a China Campus - Site includes 13 buildings, 29 classrooms, and over 60 laboratories; 3,000 students expected to attend over the next decade. (Haaretz and Times of Israel)
  • Indonesia to allow tarrif-free import of some Palestinian goods - Palestinian goods currently reach Indonesia through Jordan, a procedure that will change on January 1 when some Palestinian goods are shipped directly to the country. (Agencies, Ynet)
  • Israeli lawmakers approve new unhealthy food warning labels - Regulations warning consumers about unhealthy products are expected to deal a severe blow to Israel's food industry, but will only go into effect in 2020. (Haaretz)
  • Israel has twice as many 'bubble children' compared to Western countries - The rare genetic condition, in which children are born with no immune defense, is almost always found only in children born to parents who are relatives. (Haaretz+)
  • Natalie Portman to donate 'Jewish Nobel' money to women's groups - Israeli philanthropist Morris Kahn doubles the prestigious Genesis Prize, dubbed the "Jewish Nobel," to $2 million. (Israel Hayom)
  • Major early Christian church found in Israeli town of Beit Shemesh - Unique mosaics and imported marble indicate that the church, which apparently evolved into a full-blown monastery, had been supported by Imperial Rome. (Haaretz)
  • Two Kosovo men plead guilty to planning attacks on Israeli World Cup team - The men, who are suspected of having links to Islamic State, were accused of making explosives and plotting an attack against the Israeli national team visiting Albania. (Agencies, Haaretz)

Features:

The German Priest Who Celebrates Christmas in Jerusalem – but With Jews
When Father Nikodemus opens the doors of Dormition Abbey on Christmas Eve, a long line will be waiting to get in for midnight mass. But you won’t find many Christians there. (Christine Kensche, Haaretz+)
A Cross to Bare: Tattoos Meet Ancient Tradition in Jerusalem
Blending modern technology with tradition, the Razzouk family, a Coptic Palestinian living in the Old City, uses the Internet to draw clients to their business in a place that is sacred to Christians, Jews and Muslims. (Miriam Berger, Reuters, Haaretz)

 
Commentary/Analysis:
A Girl’s Chutzpah (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) Ahed Tamimi, 16, is a heroine, a Palestinian heroine.Maybe the intifada of slappings will succeed where all other methods of resistance have failed.
Resist the psychological warfare (Amnon Lord, Israel Hayom) The purpose behind intentionally provoking IDF soldiers while filming them is to foment negative feelings and divisions among us.
Restraint is wise, not humiliating (Yossi Beilin, Israel Hayom) It is not easy to watch girls attacking passive Israeli troops, but in such incidents, the world will always focus on Israel's response and ignore the context. We must be smart enough to make sure we do not provide fodder that can be used against us.
When you’re Benjamin Netanyahu, lying is okay (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth/Ynet) Tuesday evening’s speech was a milestone in Netanyahu’s delegitimization campaign against police recommendations; after failing to thwart the recommendations through a bill initiated by MKs Bitan and Amsalem, he is trying to thwart them through speeches and lies.
It depends on the viewpoint: We all want Netanyahu to be acquitted if he is innocent, don’t we? (Meir Uziel, Maariv) There are people who want justice and punishment for Bibi, and if it is proven that he is not guilty, they will be sorry. Try to think what would happen if the leader of the state was a leftist, on the verge of signing a peace agreement.
Minister of Defense Netanyahu (Haaretz Editorial) Without hesitation – and to hell with the state, the president, the government, the Likud – Netanyahu incited the public against the police in his speech to his party's convention.
There is something new beginning: the (upcoming anti-corruption) demonstration (of right-wingers) in Jerusalem represents the beginning of another stream (Lilach Sigan, Maariv) The demonstration at Zion Square is so important. Like many in the public, it’s neither here nor there and may seep through the cracks in the dam and sometime break it.
Shame on the hate parade (Tzahi Edri, Israel Hayom) The Israeli Right must wake up before it finds itself being governed by a left-wing government that will undo the progress we have made in the last 50 years. Right-wing voters must understand that this protest is not about salvaging democracy, but about removing a prime minister through the devious methods employed by opinion leaders on the Left.
Everything Wrong With Israel's Government, Reflected in Netanyahu's New Right-hand Man (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) The divisive, unpopular lawmaker David Amsalem is exactly what Netanyahu doesn't need with the police breathing down his neck.
Corruption probes near conclusion – and there is no red line Netanyahu won't cross (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) Knowing his old line of defense is about crumble, so the prime minister's laying out his new one: Attacking the expected police recommendations in his corruption cases.
Why Trump's 'America First' Doctrine Is Good for the Jews (Jonathan S. Tobin, Haaretz) After a year of Trump, and the launch of his national security platform, it’s clear: He’s not pushing isolationism, he's pushing common sense. That's good news for Israel, even though most U.S. Jews won't give him credit - and don't even care.
Blinded by Their Dislike of Trump, the Reform Movement Miscalculated Badly on Jerusalem (Dan Feferman, Haaretz+) U.S. Reform Jews had an easy chance to score points with the broader Israeli public on equal Western Wall access by welcoming the U.S. recognition of Jerusalem. Instead, they chose to insult us.
A Campaign of Transfer and Expulsion (Joint List Chairman, Ayman Odeh, Haaretz+) The smell of approaching elections is driving everyone crazy, especially Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
The freedom to hate (Noah Klieger , Yedioth/Ynet) The open, blatant anti-Semitism in Austria may have gone underground, but many Austrians today don’t feel compelled to pretend they don’t hate Jews; it’s no wonder a party with Nazi roots has entered the government.
What might push Iran into a military move against Israel? (Dr. Eli Carmon, Maariv) More significant American moves in Syria and Iraq, and the deflation of Iran's influence in Yemen as part of the new Trump strategy, could push Iran into military action against Israel.
Film That Goes Behind the Scenes of the Israel Museum Is Actually Zionist Propaganda (Shaul Setter, Haaretz+) ‘The Museum’ is an ideological work, a paean to the Israel Museum and the state, ignoring gloomy reality.

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

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