APN's daily news review from Israel
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
You Must Be Kidding:
“Jews, somebody’s making sure to maintain the Jewish character of Jerusalem.”
—Right-wing settler activist and Jerusalem Municipality Councilman, Arieh King, wrote proudly on Facebook with a photo of a Palestinian peddler, whose wares, mainly bread, were on the ground, after King got municipal inspectors to confiscate his stand. Even some right-wingers berated him saying there was nothing 'Jewish' about it.**
Front Page:
“Jews, somebody’s making sure to maintain the Jewish character of Jerusalem.”
—Right-wing settler activist and Jerusalem Municipality Councilman, Arieh King, wrote proudly on Facebook with a photo of a Palestinian peddler, whose wares, mainly bread, were on the ground, after King got municipal inspectors to confiscate his stand. Even some right-wingers berated him saying there was nothing 'Jewish' about it.**
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Israel Air Force downed Syrian combat jet that infiltrated 2km into Israel
- Costly navigational mistake // Amos Harel
- At least 74 people killed in enormous fires near Athens
- Israel recently stopped the “Voluntary Departure” of asylum seekers to Rwanda
- The young man who severely injured his mother in Ramleh served seven months in prison in 2013 for attacking her
- (Finance Minister) Kahlon’s elections gimmick: Breaking agreements and (giving) tens of billions to security
- The Israeli camp - The Zionist Camp will continue to exist and it’s a pity // Chemi Shalev
- Lacking democracy // Gadi Taub
Yedioth Ahronoth
- Exclusive #1: Closing accounts - The female revolution: For the first time, the number of girls taking the 5-unit math matriculation exam - is almost equal to the number of boys
- The Syrian jet was downed
- Exclusive #2: The healthy stadium in Netanya - Serving salad and whole-wheat buns
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Another escalation in the north: Russia protested against the downing of a Syrian jet
- No war on the horizon // Yossi Melman
- (Justice Minister) Shaked: “We will return the infiltrators to Eritrea”
- Build them a home // Meir Uziel
Israel Hayom
- The message in the downing of the Syrian plane: Zero tolerance - Drama in the skies of the Golan Heights: Patriot missile battery intercepted ’Sukhoi Su-22’
- Israel made clear: “There are no ‘small violations’ (of the border)” // Yoav Limor
- The red lines will be maintained vigorously // Oded Granot
- Erdogan, we won’t surrender again to sultan
- Exclusive - IDF presents: Experiment in assigning hundreds of soldiers (to units) - without their knowledge (and in contradiction to their original assignments)
- Greece is burning
- Leaving the National Fraud Investigation Unit: Koresh Barnor is expected to end his job early
- You thought it was hot yesterday? Today it reaches its climax
News Summary:
Israel shot down a Syrian combat jet that entered Israeli airspace in the Golan Heights, sparking a protest from Russia (Maariv) and a threat of revenge from Syria (Maariv), but Israeli military analysts said it was a navigational error of the Syrian pilot and not a sign of Syrian intentions for war (See Commentary/Analysis below), (Maariv has video of the plane parts that crashed inside Syria.) Also, Turkish President Tayip Erdogan said that ‘Hitler's spirit has reemerged’ in Israel's nation-state law, saying that it legitimizes oppression and shows that Israel is a fascist and racist country, for which Netanyahu responded, accusing Erdogan of 'massacring Syrians and Kurds’ making the top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers.
Meanwhile, regarding the Gaza Strip, Israel partially reopened Gaza's only commercial crossing after a reduction in the number of incendiary balloons being flown into Israel. Nevertheless, later in the day, the Israeli military hit Gazans launching incendiary balloons, wounding three.
Quick Hits:
- Palestinian youth succumbs to wounds sustained in Gaza marches - Majd Abu al-Eish from the northern village of Jabaliya in Gaza was injured two months ago during "The Great March of Return" protests along the eastern borders of the besieged Gaza Strip. (Maan)
- Israeli forces detain married couple in East Jerusalem - Israeli forces broke into the home of Wasim Nayif Obeid after midnight, detained him and his wife, Ibtisam, 35 and transferred them to a police station, where Wasim was interrogated about his wife's illegal presence in East Jerusalem as she is a holder of a Palestinian ID card. (Maan)
- UN Human Rights chief criticizes Israel over Gaza killings - Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein criticizes Israel, calling recent killings by the IDF in Palestinian demonstrations along the Gaza border 'shocking,' questioning the "independence, impartiality, and effectiveness" of Israeli investigations into accountability and calling living conditions inflicted by Israel's 11-year blockade of Gaza 'grossly inadequate.' He also criticized the passing of the nationality bill, the support for settlements, and detention of Palestinian children. (Ynet)
- UN Mideast envoy urges Trump to unfreeze aid for Palestinian refugees - U.S. envoy to the United Nations Nikki Haley slams Egypt, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates for talking about supporting the Palestinians but not giving more money to help. (Haaretz)
- Palestinian support for violence vs. Israel declines – poll - According to the survey, 58 percent of Gaza residents believe in armed struggle, compared to 37 percent in the West Bank. (Maariv/JPost)
- Israel takes measures of Palestinian land in Bethlehem - Nasri Sbeih said his family was surprised by the arrival of a group of surveyors and engineers under armed protection by Israeli forces to his land in Harmala village. He wasn't notified of reasons for survey. (Maan)
- Settlers mark 13 years to evacuation with return to Sa-Nur - Some 200 settlers, joined by Bayit Yehudi MKs Smotrich and Mualem-Rafaeli, arrive in the settlement evacuated during the 2005 Disengagement Plan, to remind government they intend to return there for good one day; 'This is an educational act,' says mother who came with her 7 kids. (Ynet)
- Top court agrees Israel’s escrow plan for asylum seekers is ‘stealing’ - State admits employers sometimes deduct 20 percent from salaries but don’t deposit it in the escrow account – meaning they’re essentially taking it from asylum seekers. (Haaretz+)
- Israeli program in which asylum seekers willingly leave for Rwanda is frozen - Thousands of Africans from Eritrea and Sudan had been sent to the country, but many soon fled for neighboring Uganda – which is now the only state accepting asylum seekers from Israel. (Haaretz+)
- (Justice Minister) Shaked: "If Eritrea cancels the forced military recruitment, we will return the infiltrators immediately" - The Minister of Justice spoke at the campaign conference of the Chairman of Habayit Hayehudi in Tel Aviv, and clarified that the government is closely following the implementation of the peace agreement between Eritrea and Ethiopia. (Maariv)
- Chief submarine affair (Case 3000) investigator to receive Netanyahu's graft cases - Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh appoints Yoav Telem as new chief investigator and makes several other staff changes; The current Head of the National Fraud Investigations Unit, Brigadier General Koresh Barnor, who is the chief investigator in cases 1000 and 2000 against Netanyahu, will become the commander of the IDF's Military Colleges and National Defence College, which will give him a far wider remit, but it’s not a promotion. Police source: '"If these appointments really do take place, then a statement was made here, and not necessarily a positive one.' (Ynet and Maariv)
- Rivlin tells Croatia president: 'There were dark moments in our past' - As two leaders meets in Zagreb to discuss bilateral agreements, President Grabar-Kitarović says ‘we are committed to fighting anti-Semitism,' welcomes long-term strategic partnership.’ (Ynet
- Syrian attacks abroad likely in lieu of direct clash with Israel - The Syrian president depends on Russia's graces and strives to be more than an Iranian puppet, so he is unlikely to risk targeting Israel directly. Experts believe that the IAF will be able to preserve its operational leeway in the foreseeable future. (Israel Hayom)
- Following Iran's intentions, the Shin Bet security service will again secure (former prime ministers) Barak and Olmert - A special ministerial committee decided to restore security in Israel and abroad to former prime ministers, who initially objected to the move because of an argument over the funding sources. (Maariv)
- Rabbi Detained for Performing non-Orthodox Weddings Is Suddenly in High Demand - Responding to growing solidarity after Dov Haiyun's interrogation by police, Conservative movements launch fundraising campaign. (Haaretz+)
- AG supports registration of two fathers on child's birth certificate - High Court of Justice hears two petitions by same-sex couples wishing to register both parents on their child's birth certificate; while AG Mandelblit supports request, Interior Minister Deri comes out against it. (Yedioth/Ynet and Israel Hayom)
- **Jerusalem city councilman boasts of 'Judaization' after pushing police to shut down Palestinian pretzel seller - 'We made sure to somewhat protect the Jewish character and the feeling that you are living in/visiting a Jewish city,' says Arieh King. (Haaretz+)
- Netanyahu backs Likud colleague Zeev Elkin for Jerusalem mayor - Elkin, who is both environment and Jerusalem affairs minister, does not have the full backing of his party. (Haaretz+)
- The Likud continues to weaken, but still leads with 30 seats - A poll by the News Company reveals that despite the precarious security situation in the south and the protest of the LGBTs, Netanyahu is still leading safely, but less so than previous polls: Lapid with 19, Gabbay with 15. (Maariv)
- Disabled protesters block Tel Aviv-Haifa train line for over an hour - Some 20 members of 'Disabled Panthers' group stage protest on train tracks near Rishpon, demanding their disability stipends to be made equal to minimum wage; 'This is the opening shot,' says one protester, promising more demonstrations to come. (Ynet)
- Russian Embassy slams White Helmets rescued by Israel as 'pseudo-humanitarians' - The embassy in Israel called members of the rescue service, which operated in rebel-held areas of Syria, 'creators of fake news'; Israel evacuated hundreds of White Helmets from Syrian border into Jordan at the weekend. (Haaretz)
- For trapped Syrian rescuers, an elaborately planned escape - Details on Israeli rescue mission of 421 people from Syria, consisting of 98 White Helmet activists and their families, begin to emerge, uncovering a fascinating tale of the 'nail-biting trip'; additional 400 people also meant to be pulled out were stopped by advancing Syrian forces; 'It was a Hail Mary operation,' says person familiar with the evacuation. (Agencies, Ynet)
- WATCH: Simultaneous explosion of 350 land mines in the Golan Heights - The mines are detonated by the Defense Ministry as part of an effort to clear some of the more than a million landmines in the Golan Heights and along the Jordanian border. (Haaretz)
- Haley tells UNSC Arab leaders 'afraid' to tell Palestinians the truth - As the Security Council convened to discuss escalating tensions in Gaza, US UN ambassador lashes countries, especially Arab states, for failing to offer more than 'cheap' talk and speeches to contribute to peace between Israel and Palestinians; ‘All they do is get the international community riled up.' (Ynet
Features:
Why the Expected Wave of French Immigration to Israel Never Materialized
It seemed as if the Jews of France would come to Israel in droves after the 2015 attacks in Paris. It turns out that these expectations were exaggerated - here's why. (Noa Shpigel, Haaretz+)
“Not apologizing”: Meet the students who are fighting for Israel in the United States
Ofir Dayan, vice president of the Student Supporters of Israel at Columbia University and the daughter of the consul in New York, deals with hasbara (advocacy) on campus: "We are trying to convince 80 percent of those who do not yet have a clear opinion.” (Ilana Stutland, Maariv)
Saving one of the last Arab fishing villages in Israel
It’s one of Israel’s poorest towns, but a new plan to make Jisr al-Zarqa’s picturesque, old fishing village the centerpiece of a tourism industry aims to change that. (Moshe Gilad, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
Opinion To Counter Netanyahu’s Jewish Chauvinism, Zionist Union Should Change Its Name to Israeli Union (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) The party must fight for Israeliness, not because it is hostile to the Jewish State but in an emergency effort to save it.
The eclipse of the Zionist Left (Uri Heitner, Israel Hayom) There never used to be any dispute between Right and Left about Israel's status as the national homeland of the Jewish people. In the past decade, the Left has adopted a post-Zionist narrative.
The card in the hands of Netanyahu and Eisenkot (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) The meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Prime Minister Netanyahu in Israel on Monday indicates that President Putin understands that Israel will continue to actively oppose the Iranian defence establishment and subsequently Assad’s full recapture of the Golan Heights and southern provinces.
Fortunately in my ear, children who used primitive means of attack were not shot at (Natan Zehavi, Maariv) I saw the children of Gaza exchanging the balloons with condoms, and it reminded me of the naughty act we did as children to a mean neighbor. If they used against us the means used in the south (against Gazans) my friends and I would been erased from life at an early age.
Arab, Speak Arabic (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) How can liberal Jews complain about the nation-state law when Israeli Arabs themselves treat their mother tongue so disdainfully?
Learn your lesson now (Yoav Limor, Israel Hayom) The military must conduct a thorough investigation into what went wrong with the operational debut of the David's Sling air defense system, which has proven it is not ready to be deployed.
Israel Defends Itself by Downing Syrian Fighter Jet – but Won’t Interrupt Assad’s Return to the Border (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) With Syrian forces facing zero resistance in the southern Golan Heights, Israel is already eyeing the bigger problem: keeping Iranian and Shi’ite forces out of the region.
Syrian fighter jet: A navigational error with no hidden agenda (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) Even in its best days in the 1990s, the Syrian air force was not the sharpest pencil in the Arab military box. All signs indicate that the Syrian plane was to attack an ISIS enclave, but a navigational mistake brought him into Israeli territory.
Despite the chain of incidents on the Syrian border, there is no war on the horizon (Yossi Melman, Maariv) The two events do not indicate hostile intentions or operational plans of the Assad regime against Israel. They are just a coincidence that comes from the civil war in Syria.
History will hold the naysayers accountable (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) The opponents of the nation-state law are the same people who played a major part in the problem the legislation was designed to correct – a constant attack on the country's Jewish character.
If you're happy with this Israel, clap your hands (Bradley Burston, Haaretz+) Way back in October, Netanyahu paved the way for the nation-state law by making clear the underlying, unifying ideology of the pro-Israel hard right: The Zionism of Nasty.
US peace plans: A long history of failure (Yoram Ettinger, Israel Hayom) U.S. peace plans always tried to force Israel to make far-reaching concessions that undermine its very existence while rewarding systematic violence. This is why they only further encouraged terrorism.
Reinstate the UN Deal (Haaretz Editorial) Instead of searching for bad solutions for asylum seekers that cannot be implemented in any case, the government should adopt the UN plan for the sake of all of us.
The show must go on: the Security Council has become a diplomatic joke(Shlomo Shamir, Maariv) Most journalists no longer enter the periodic discussion on the Middle East, nor do they follow it on television. The discussion is not interesting, not new, and does not interest anyone. That's what the Palestinians do not understand.
It seemed as if the Jews of France would come to Israel in droves after the 2015 attacks in Paris. It turns out that these expectations were exaggerated - here's why. (Noa Shpigel, Haaretz+)
“Not apologizing”: Meet the students who are fighting for Israel in the United States
Ofir Dayan, vice president of the Student Supporters of Israel at Columbia University and the daughter of the consul in New York, deals with hasbara (advocacy) on campus: "We are trying to convince 80 percent of those who do not yet have a clear opinion.” (Ilana Stutland, Maariv)
Saving one of the last Arab fishing villages in Israel
It’s one of Israel’s poorest towns, but a new plan to make Jisr al-Zarqa’s picturesque, old fishing village the centerpiece of a tourism industry aims to change that. (Moshe Gilad, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
Opinion To Counter Netanyahu’s Jewish Chauvinism, Zionist Union Should Change Its Name to Israeli Union (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) The party must fight for Israeliness, not because it is hostile to the Jewish State but in an emergency effort to save it.
The eclipse of the Zionist Left (Uri Heitner, Israel Hayom) There never used to be any dispute between Right and Left about Israel's status as the national homeland of the Jewish people. In the past decade, the Left has adopted a post-Zionist narrative.
The card in the hands of Netanyahu and Eisenkot (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) The meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Prime Minister Netanyahu in Israel on Monday indicates that President Putin understands that Israel will continue to actively oppose the Iranian defence establishment and subsequently Assad’s full recapture of the Golan Heights and southern provinces.
Fortunately in my ear, children who used primitive means of attack were not shot at (Natan Zehavi, Maariv) I saw the children of Gaza exchanging the balloons with condoms, and it reminded me of the naughty act we did as children to a mean neighbor. If they used against us the means used in the south (against Gazans) my friends and I would been erased from life at an early age.
Arab, Speak Arabic (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) How can liberal Jews complain about the nation-state law when Israeli Arabs themselves treat their mother tongue so disdainfully?
Learn your lesson now (Yoav Limor, Israel Hayom) The military must conduct a thorough investigation into what went wrong with the operational debut of the David's Sling air defense system, which has proven it is not ready to be deployed.
Israel Defends Itself by Downing Syrian Fighter Jet – but Won’t Interrupt Assad’s Return to the Border (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) With Syrian forces facing zero resistance in the southern Golan Heights, Israel is already eyeing the bigger problem: keeping Iranian and Shi’ite forces out of the region.
Syrian fighter jet: A navigational error with no hidden agenda (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) Even in its best days in the 1990s, the Syrian air force was not the sharpest pencil in the Arab military box. All signs indicate that the Syrian plane was to attack an ISIS enclave, but a navigational mistake brought him into Israeli territory.
Despite the chain of incidents on the Syrian border, there is no war on the horizon (Yossi Melman, Maariv) The two events do not indicate hostile intentions or operational plans of the Assad regime against Israel. They are just a coincidence that comes from the civil war in Syria.
History will hold the naysayers accountable (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) The opponents of the nation-state law are the same people who played a major part in the problem the legislation was designed to correct – a constant attack on the country's Jewish character.
If you're happy with this Israel, clap your hands (Bradley Burston, Haaretz+) Way back in October, Netanyahu paved the way for the nation-state law by making clear the underlying, unifying ideology of the pro-Israel hard right: The Zionism of Nasty.
US peace plans: A long history of failure (Yoram Ettinger, Israel Hayom) U.S. peace plans always tried to force Israel to make far-reaching concessions that undermine its very existence while rewarding systematic violence. This is why they only further encouraged terrorism.
Reinstate the UN Deal (Haaretz Editorial) Instead of searching for bad solutions for asylum seekers that cannot be implemented in any case, the government should adopt the UN plan for the sake of all of us.
The show must go on: the Security Council has become a diplomatic joke(Shlomo Shamir, Maariv) Most journalists no longer enter the periodic discussion on the Middle East, nor do they follow it on television. The discussion is not interesting, not new, and does not interest anyone. That's what the Palestinians do not understand.
Interviews:
Michal Grayevsky is conquering America
You may not know the name Michal Grayevsky, but there are very few Israelis who are more dominant than her in the New York media industry. The senior adviser to the president of the World Jewish Congress, Ron Lauder, is a success story. (Kerry Rubinstein, Ynet)
Michal Grayevsky is conquering America
You may not know the name Michal Grayevsky, but there are very few Israelis who are more dominant than her in the New York media industry. The senior adviser to the president of the World Jewish Congress, Ron Lauder, is a success story. (Kerry Rubinstein, Ynet)
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.