News Nosh 1.12.18

APN's daily news review from Israel
Friday January 12, 2018
 
Quote of the Day #1:
"The things he said in that conversation in the car represent exactly who he is: A 26-year-old young man who has no job and lives at the state’s expense. A person who drags an entire security detail wherever he goes 24/7, costing the Israeli public millions. A person who is overwhelmingly involved in the state’s affairs, participates in state events, poses for photographs with world leaders—yet isn’t aware of the price this entails and acts like a spoiled and rotten child."
--Yedioth's senior political commentator, Sima Kadmon, writes about the meaning of what was said in the shameful recordings of the Prime Minister's son, Yair Netanyahu.

Quote of the Day #2:
"The Gaza Strip is a failing territory. Ninety-percent of drinking water there is unfit for drinking, unemployment among young adults is at 60%, and I can give you even more data than that. This is mainly a problem for Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, but the State of Israel is very much affected by this."
--Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, Maj. Gen. Yoav (Poli) Mordechai, addressed the situation in Gaza at the Globes Israel Business Conference.

Number of the Day:
27.
--Number of seats Yair Lapid's Yesh Atid party would receive if elections were held now, following the release of the Yair Netanyahu recordings, beating the ruling Likud party by a record five seats.*

Front Page:
Haaretz
Yedioth Ahronoth
  • “Beware, corrupt people” - State Prosecutor Shai Nitzan said he hopes “the police will present their recommendations in the Netanyahu case in the coming weeks” and sent clear message to public figures involved in corruption: “At the moment of truth, every person who committed a crime with you will prefer to save his skin”
  • Investigation being tested // Nahum Barnea
  • Netanyahu: Red lines were crossed in the recordings of Yair
  • The shamefulness of (Netanyahu’s) son // Sima Kadmon
  • Corrupt princes // Meir Shalev
  • Borders inspection // Sivan Rahav-Meir
  • The father, the son and the spirit of the Internet comments // Yoaz Hendel
  • Bro’, you are the symptom // Raanan Shaked
  • It is we who do not understand // MIka Almog
  • 70 years of the State of Israel - Children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of those who signed the Declaration of Independence will arrive Sunday to Knesset to re-enact the historic event
  • Letter from the [settler] women of Samaria: “Give us back our security”
  • Widow of Rabbi Raziel Shevach: “This [the West Bank] is our home”
  • The US to [controversial right-wing singer-songwriter Amir] Benayoun: No entry to perform at the UN on International Holocaust Memorial Day
  • Deri’s laws - He doesn’t intend to enforce the Supermarkets Law, he wants Avi Gabbay to head the Likud party and he has something to say about the recordings of Yair Netanyahu - exclusive interview
  • Report from the closed [psychiatric] ward - Yedioth reporter was accepted as employee at Abarbanel Mental Institution and returned with a chilling documentation of the backyard of the health system
  • Fire and anger - He humiliated Michal Ansky, others suffered sexual remarks and there was also violence: The testimonies that led to the firing of [famous chef] Yonatan Roshfeld from ‘Master Chef’
Maariv Weekend (Hebrew links only)
  • Poll: Lapid - 27, Likud - 22
  • In the land of the Bibis // Ben Caspit
  • To cry and laugh // Kalman Libeskind
  • Hour of education // Udi Segal
  • Persecution madness // Sarah Beck
  • For the jackpot // Ran Adelist
  • Nerve gas // Yehuda Sharoni
  • Keeper of the secrets: Head of committee that approves security arrangements for senior officials responds to the claims regarding the Prime Minister’s involvement
  • They’ll serve more, they’ll receive more - IDF preparing thousands of extra recruits in the coming generation; Being considered: the extent of one’s service depends on the job, and combat soldiers will receive an increased salary
  • Last night: Government debated approving the 2019 budget
  • Peace Now - Jewish and Arab crime organizations have warm and supportive relationship
  • The jihadists are streaming in: Sinai is flooded with hundreds of ISIS fighters
  • Between Kippur and Lebanon: Part two in investigation about Ariel Sharon
  • The baby is one-year-old: A mournful look at Trump’s America // Ron Miburg
Israel Hayom
  • The great Knesset: The expansive renovations of the building revealed - A sixth floor will be added
  • “I have anger, I have no desire for revenge” - Yael, widow of Rabbi Raziel Shevach, who was murdered on the way to his home in Havat Gilad [settlement]
  • Netanyahu: “Probe making legislation against the recordings [of son, Yair]”
  • High Court: Why weren’t steps taken against Ritman [who was accused of sexual harassment and who is head of police anti-fraud unit investigating Netanyahu]
  • Dressed at the front: IDF considering giving special pin to elite combat soldiers; they can choose its design
  • Saturday night: Prime Minister leaves to India; Report: “Countries on way to a free trade agreement”
  • Ratings of Army Radio revealed: [Right-wing host] Arel Segal leads in downloads and is in second place in listeners
  • To Sweden with love: the moving hasbara (Israeli advocacy) campaign of the youth from all the sectors of society
  • On the way to India - Moishe Holtzberg, who lost his parents in the attack on the Chabad House in India 9 years ago, comes full circle in Mumbai
  • What a Medina (country) - Singer Avihu Medina explains why discrimination against Mizrachi singers still continues
  • The first shock: Sahar Shavit and Erez Mizrachi created a shocking movie about the struggle of people with shell-shock

 
News Summary:
The corruption investigations against Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and the latest on the recordings of son, Yair, at a strip club were top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers.

State Prosecutor Shai Nitzan said the police investigations could be finished in the coming weeks and he warned corrupt officials. Haaretz also reported that police are investigating whether major Israeli corporations engaged in fixing requests for bids issued by the Prime Minister's Office and whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or members of his family are involved in the matter.

Regarding the recordings of Yair Netanyahu at a strip club, Netanyahu slammed the media for paying money for the recordings, called it a ’crossing of red lines’ and instructed Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked to launch an investigation into the legal admissibility of leaks broadcast by Channel 2 News of recordings of his son discussing gas deals and talking about his experiences with two other friends at a strip club.

Barely making news: the Israeli army killed two 16-year-old Palestinian boys yesterday: Ali Kino was killed after a riot broke out over an IDF search of a village west of Burin, as part of the hunt for the Palestinian assailants who murdered Rabbi Raziel Shevah in the nearby Havat Gilad outpost. And a boy from the al-Bureij refugee camp was shot dead while in protests at the Gaza Strip fence. Also, three Palestinian sisters were stopped while carrying concealed knives near the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron.

In a letter to Netanyahu, Yael Shevah, the widow of Rabbi Shevah, urged Netanyahu to legalize the settlement outpost of Havat Gilad where her family lives, saying that the outpost settlers “don’t want to feel like land thieves, because we’re not” and that legalizing the outpost was an appropriate response to the murder. Rabbi Shevah’s brother also addressed the calls for revenge during the funeral on Wednesday and said: “We don’t seek revenge. The revenge is to build more and have more children and bring more light to the world.”

*Ma'ariv Poll: Lapid receives 27 seats, Netanyahu only 22
According to the survey, Yesh Atid leaps following the recent scandals and makes a record achievement with 27 seats, Netanyahu’s party, Likud, receives only 22, the Zionist Camp headed by Avi Gabbay is third with 14 disappointing seats, followed in descending order: Habayit Hayehudi got 13, Joint List 11, Kulanu headed by Kahlon 9, United Torah Judaism 8, Meretz headed by Zahava Gal-On 7, Shas, which proposed the Supermarkets Law that the poll found 64% of the traditional-religious public opposes, only got four seats - barely passing the threshold.
Some 54% of the public said that the exposing of the recordings of Yair Netanyahu weakened the Prime Minister.
 


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