APN's daily news review from Israel
Thursday August 30, 2018
You Must Be
Kidding:
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who compared himself to Hitler, will inaugurate a Holocaust memorial in Israel.**
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who compared himself to Hitler, will inaugurate a Holocaust memorial in Israel.**
Front Page:
Haaretz
- High Court stiffened sentence of (tycoon) Nochi Dankner to three years prison
- US Ambassador Friedman: (Long-term Gaza ceasefire) Arrangement without the Palestinian Authority is an enormous prize for Hamas
- Netanyahu at Dimona reactor: We won’t be deterred by an agreement between Iran and Syria
- State Prosecutor and Police: (Lap dances) at strip joints will be considered prostitution
- Erdogan’s long arm reaches his opponents across the world
- Radical right-wing leader in Holland is holding a (Prophet) Mohammed cartoon contest
- Study found two genes responsible for dream sleep, which could help post-traumatic treatment
- Cheeky (Palestinian) refugees // Gideon Levy
- A lesson for Israel - How Denmark succeeded in attracting 9 million tourists - double the number of its residents
Yedioth Ahronoth
- “3 years in jail” (Photo of tycoon Nochi Dankner)
- Exclusive - Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman speaks: “I already chose the next chief of staff”
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Israel and the US established a team to harshen sanctions on Iran
- The price of fraud rose - High Court stiffened sentence of tycoon Nochi Dankner and extended his prison sentence from two years to three
Israel Hayom
- Three years in jail - Dramatic ruling: High Court stiffened (Nochi) Dankner’s sentence
- Azaria storm - Numerous reactions to publishing of interview of Elor Azaria
- Likely: Draft Law won’t expire after six years
- Netanyahu: “Whoever threatens us with destruction puts himself in a similar danger”; Zarif: “Israel is a warmonger”
- At Mitzpeh Kramim (outpost) they are celebrating the possibility of legalizing the outpost: “Great joy”
News Summary:
The Israeli High Court rejected convicted tycoon Nochi Dankner’s appeal and added another year to his two-year prison sentence, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Israel would not be deterred by the Syria-Iran military agreement and warned Israel’s enemies, for which Iran’s Foreign Minister had a sharp response, and US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman said that the Palestinian Authority should be included in a long-term agreement with Hamas in Gaza - making top stories in the Hebrew newspapers.
At the renaming of Israel’s Dimona nuclear reactor after its founder Shimon Peres, Netanyahu vowed that the Israeli military "will continue to act with full determination and strength" against Iran's military entrenchment in Syria and Netanyahu warned that those who threaten Israel are endangering themselves. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif fired back, accusing Netanyahu of bullying: “Iran, a country without nuclear weapons, is threatened with atomic annihilation by a warmonger standing next to an actual nuclear weapons factory." Meanwhile, Iran is in economic dire straits and Israel is working on making it worse. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to solve Iran's economic problems, following new US sanctions. Israeli Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon and his US counterpart Steve Mnuchin are creating a joint professional team to enforce Iran sanctions in the hi-tech sector. Khamenei questioned Europe’s ability to save the 2015 nuclear deal and said Tehran might abandon the agreement.
In a conversation with the heads of the American Jewish Congress, US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman said that the US made no demands of Israel in exchange for moving the embassy to Jerusalem and that the Palestinian Authority should be included in a long-term agreement between Israel Hamas over Gaza. In Cairo, while the Hamas-Fatah reconciliation talks faltered, the rival Palestinian factions accuse each other of failing the Palestinian people. Fatah said Hamas was betraying the Palestinians by seeking a truce with Israel. And Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called for a 'review' of all past agreements with Israel.
Quick Hits:
- Mitzpe Kramim settlers celebrate ruling that legalizes status - Mitzpe Kramim was built by settlers who had already left an outpost upon learning that the land was Palestinian-owned. Founder Shiri Gur Aryeh: The government put us here, we had the permits. We're happy for ourselves and all the settlements, she says. (Israel Hayom)
- Israel's top court ruling may enable mass legalization of settlement homes in West Bank - Jurists believe courts can interpret the ruling on the Mitzpeh Kramim outpost to enable legalizing hundreds of housing units in the settlements. (Haaretz+)
- Israeli right-wing lawmakers laud court for endorsing legalized outposts - Justice minister welcomes the decision, saying the 'wrong done' with the evacuation of previous settlements 'shall not recur.' Right-wing MK said the court 'saved homes and entire settlements.’ (Haaretz+)
- Military 'rushed to judge' Hebron shooter Elor Azaria, (right-wing) lawmakers say - Responding to Israel Hayom interview in which Elor Azaria says he feels "no remorse" for killing an immobilized terrorist in 2016, right-wing MKs say entire case was "fundamentally distorted." MK Boker: He killed a terrorist, not an innocent bystander. (Israel Hayom)
- Israel to compensate activist beaten by soldiers in West Bank - Amir Bitan was filming a nonviolent Palestinian protest when soldiers beat him with rifle butts, fired rubber bullets at him and pepper-sprayed him. (Haaretz+)
- Two West Bank Palestinians detained overnight despite having Israeli permits - The case involved an early Sunday morning police operation aimed at arresting suspects close to the separation barrier in the southern West Bank. (Haaretz+)
- Israeli children from the Gaza vicinity got a flight in the skies of the country in El Al's Dreamliner - More than 100 children enjoyed the country's views from the heights of the new Boeing 787. The captain of the plane, Udi Netzer, said that among the passengers were his own parents: "This is a special and exciting day for me.” (Maariv)
- Israel's 'Man of Shadows,' Who Tricked U.S. Nuclear Inspectors, Dies at 95 - Benjamin Blumberg, anonymous to most of the public, held some the most sensitive security positions in the country for three decades. (Haaretz+)
- Israeli kamikaze drone-makers to be charged with fraud - Ten Aeronautics employees are expected to be charged with aggravated fraud and violating defense export laws. (Haaretz+ and Israel Hayom)
- IDF sergeant verbally assaults subordinate - A kitchen manager at the Air Force's elite commando unit bullied and threatened a cook under his command, but was only given a reprimand; Soldier claims the IDF subsequently tried to whitewash the incident. (Ynet)
- Netanyahu to attend UNESCO conference against anti-Semitism - As part of the UN General Assembly in New York next month, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, French President Macron, and German Chancellor Merkel are expected to attend; Netanyahu to meet with UNESCO head Azoulay, possibly suspending Israel's withdrawal from the organization. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- **The Philippine's Duterte, who compared himself to Hitler, will inaugurate Holocaust memorial in Israel - Philippines President Duterte once said that 'if Germany had Hitler, the Philippines would have,' and then pointed to himself. (Haaretz+)
- President Rivlin to receive antibiotics due to flu - The president will receive continuous intravenous treatment 'due to his mild flu'; Consequently, Rivlin canceled his appearance at several events; in January 2017 the president underwent a heart pacemaker transplant surgery and was hospitalized for 24 hours. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- "Another deterioration in the health situation of Abu Mazen, he works little and finds it difficult to identify close associates" - Palestinian sources report that the aging chairman of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, is practically not serving in office, and despite the fact that a doctor at the Muqata headquarters comes to his office only for a few hours a day, and even then he is not familiar with his surroundings. (Maariv)
- West Bank, Gaza schools open despite U.S. funding cuts to UNRWA - The beginning of the school year had been in doubt after the UN agency said it lacked funds to pay 22,000 teachers. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- US envoy Haley questions number of Palestinian refugees - U.S. will consider restoring funds to UNRWA only if it conducts true reforms, including changing Palestinian refugee number "to an accurate account," says U.S. envoy to the U.N. Nikki Haley. Haley also questions Palestinian "right of return." (Israel Hayom)
- US to join UN-led talks on potential Syrian constitution - U.S. accepts invitation from U.N. Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura to join talks with U.K., Saudi Arabia, Germany, France, Jordan and Egypt in Geneva on Sept. 14 • Meeting will "discuss the way ahead on the political process" in Syria, says U.N official. (Agencies, Israel Hayom)
- Report: White House intends to impose sanctions on Lebanon - The Kuwaiti newspaper Al Jarida reported that Trump's advisors recommended that the government impose new restrictions in order to put pressure on Hezbollah and to strangle Iran's arms in the Middle East. (Maariv)
- Iran on Israeli spy: 'We controlled a cabinet member of hostile country' - Tehran's intelligence minister says 'we brought under our control a member of a cabinet of a hostile country' without elaborating; some Iranian media say he's referring to Gonen Segev, former Israeli minister charged with serving as an Iranian agent. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Republicans try to tie Virginia Democrat to Charlottesville march over her views on Israel - Fliers distributed in the Charlottesville area attack Democratic candidate Leslie Cockburn over a book critical of Israel that she published in 1991. Local Jewish leaders have come to her defense. (Haaretz+)
Features:
Israel Promises 'Revolution' for East Jerusalem Schools. Palestinians Say It's
'Brainwashing'
After 50 years of neglect, the Israeli government is investing unprecedented sums in East Jerusalem, though many are calling the plan 'Israelization.’ (Nir Hasson, Haaretz+)
'A multi-million-dollar Shin Bet puppet': What went wrong with Israel's cybersecurity agency
More than three years after it was established, former key officials and other sources describe a government body has lost its focus. (Amitai Ziv, Haaretz+)
Erdogan's Long Arm: The Turkish Nationals Kidnapped From Europe
Turkey has snatched over 100 alleged members of the Gülen movement from other countries in recent years. We sat down with the wives of Kosovo-based men currently languishing in Turkish jails. (Michael Colborne and Maxim Edwards, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
Legalization of outpost exposes Israel's tricks in the West Bank (Mordechai Kremnitzer, Haaretz+) Precedent-setting ruling shows that the ancient claim that Israel is careful not to hurt Palestinians' property rights is baseless.
Geula Even, keep your views to yourself - who are you to tell us what journalism means? (Gideon Reicher, Maariv) How did this revolution take place, in which the person who informs us of what is happening also adds his personal opinion? Does the reader feel that the viewer or the listener will find it difficult to understand the meaning of the knowledge?…The TV presenter (Geula Even) on the evening news broadcast on the state television channel reported last week in the news broadcast on the death of Uri Avnery, adding that "among the recipients were President Reuven Rivlin - and also British Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, who also have no problem routinely eulogizing terrorists.” This is an expression of a very private opinion, whose place is on a website of her own or as part of a special program of expressing opinions. The old journalistic rule that states: News Without Views - news without expressing opinions - is what should be broadcast on the state channel.
UNRWA fiction may soon be exposed (Cliff Smith, Israel Hayom) The Trump administration is said to be considering declassifying a State Department report that tallies up the true number of Palestinian refugees. This could go a long way toward settling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
'You Have to Be Strong to Get Respect': What the U.S. Ambassador to Israel Really Thinks of the Middle East (Noa Landau, Haaretz+) David Friedman's remarks are strikingly similar to what Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday. 'In the Middle East there's a simple truth: There's no place for the weak,' the PM said.
The concept of Yasser Arafat as a partner is entirely Uri Avnery, so is the Palestinian state (Nadav Haetzni, Maariv) After a week of Uri Avnery celebrations, we can conclude that we have not yet emerged from the chronic illness that led us to the series of disasters of the last generation, from Oslo to the disengagement.
The joint struggle (Amjad Shbita, Ynet) Prime Minister Netanyahu fears that a joint Arab-Jewish struggle against the anti-Arab, anti-democratic Nation-State Law has the potential to make a fundamental difference if only progressive-minded Jews are willing to regard Arab citizens as equal partners, as during Oslo peace process.
Israel will pay for its too-tight embrace of Donald Trump (Shlomo Brom, Haaretz+) The Israeli public and its leaders are in love with Trump. That drunken over-identification with a president actively seeking the demise of a liberal world order does not serve longer-term Israeli interests at all.
Left is scared of its own demagoguery (Dr. Eitan Orkibi, Israel Hayom) The Left wants to have it both ways: It calls the nation-state law apartheid but also rebukes Arab MKs for turning to the U.N., forgetting that its own campaign against the law is what spurred the Arab MKs' action.
Vote for the sign: Journalists who think only about ratings should be punished (Avishai Greenzweig, Maariv) Public confidence in the Israeli media is at the bottom of the barrel, not least because of the behavior of Rafi Reshef and his team toward Nochi Dankner. Leaking the verdict was an insensitive act.
Refugee chutzpah (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) The Palestinians yearn for the land. Their yearning will not stop, certainly not on orders from Israel and America.
An end to the absurdity (Dr. Haim Shine, Israel Hayom) In the wake of government action to regulate settlements in Judea and Samaria, the court's ruling may save hundreds of Israeli homes from bulldozers while enabling Palestinians who can prove land ownership to receive compensation.
Will Israel Be Forced to Invade and Reoccupy Gaza? (Ilan Goldenberg, Haaretz) An Israel-Hamas agreement that avoids war but puts off tougher questions means replaying the last decade’s nasty cycle of conflict. But every crisis worsens Gaza’s humanitarian and governability situation, towards the point of no return.
After 50 years of neglect, the Israeli government is investing unprecedented sums in East Jerusalem, though many are calling the plan 'Israelization.’ (Nir Hasson, Haaretz+)
'A multi-million-dollar Shin Bet puppet': What went wrong with Israel's cybersecurity agency
More than three years after it was established, former key officials and other sources describe a government body has lost its focus. (Amitai Ziv, Haaretz+)
Erdogan's Long Arm: The Turkish Nationals Kidnapped From Europe
Turkey has snatched over 100 alleged members of the Gülen movement from other countries in recent years. We sat down with the wives of Kosovo-based men currently languishing in Turkish jails. (Michael Colborne and Maxim Edwards, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
Legalization of outpost exposes Israel's tricks in the West Bank (Mordechai Kremnitzer, Haaretz+) Precedent-setting ruling shows that the ancient claim that Israel is careful not to hurt Palestinians' property rights is baseless.
Geula Even, keep your views to yourself - who are you to tell us what journalism means? (Gideon Reicher, Maariv) How did this revolution take place, in which the person who informs us of what is happening also adds his personal opinion? Does the reader feel that the viewer or the listener will find it difficult to understand the meaning of the knowledge?…The TV presenter (Geula Even) on the evening news broadcast on the state television channel reported last week in the news broadcast on the death of Uri Avnery, adding that "among the recipients were President Reuven Rivlin - and also British Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, who also have no problem routinely eulogizing terrorists.” This is an expression of a very private opinion, whose place is on a website of her own or as part of a special program of expressing opinions. The old journalistic rule that states: News Without Views - news without expressing opinions - is what should be broadcast on the state channel.
UNRWA fiction may soon be exposed (Cliff Smith, Israel Hayom) The Trump administration is said to be considering declassifying a State Department report that tallies up the true number of Palestinian refugees. This could go a long way toward settling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
'You Have to Be Strong to Get Respect': What the U.S. Ambassador to Israel Really Thinks of the Middle East (Noa Landau, Haaretz+) David Friedman's remarks are strikingly similar to what Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday. 'In the Middle East there's a simple truth: There's no place for the weak,' the PM said.
The concept of Yasser Arafat as a partner is entirely Uri Avnery, so is the Palestinian state (Nadav Haetzni, Maariv) After a week of Uri Avnery celebrations, we can conclude that we have not yet emerged from the chronic illness that led us to the series of disasters of the last generation, from Oslo to the disengagement.
The joint struggle (Amjad Shbita, Ynet) Prime Minister Netanyahu fears that a joint Arab-Jewish struggle against the anti-Arab, anti-democratic Nation-State Law has the potential to make a fundamental difference if only progressive-minded Jews are willing to regard Arab citizens as equal partners, as during Oslo peace process.
Israel will pay for its too-tight embrace of Donald Trump (Shlomo Brom, Haaretz+) The Israeli public and its leaders are in love with Trump. That drunken over-identification with a president actively seeking the demise of a liberal world order does not serve longer-term Israeli interests at all.
Left is scared of its own demagoguery (Dr. Eitan Orkibi, Israel Hayom) The Left wants to have it both ways: It calls the nation-state law apartheid but also rebukes Arab MKs for turning to the U.N., forgetting that its own campaign against the law is what spurred the Arab MKs' action.
Vote for the sign: Journalists who think only about ratings should be punished (Avishai Greenzweig, Maariv) Public confidence in the Israeli media is at the bottom of the barrel, not least because of the behavior of Rafi Reshef and his team toward Nochi Dankner. Leaking the verdict was an insensitive act.
Refugee chutzpah (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) The Palestinians yearn for the land. Their yearning will not stop, certainly not on orders from Israel and America.
An end to the absurdity (Dr. Haim Shine, Israel Hayom) In the wake of government action to regulate settlements in Judea and Samaria, the court's ruling may save hundreds of Israeli homes from bulldozers while enabling Palestinians who can prove land ownership to receive compensation.
Will Israel Be Forced to Invade and Reoccupy Gaza? (Ilan Goldenberg, Haaretz) An Israel-Hamas agreement that avoids war but puts off tougher questions means replaying the last decade’s nasty cycle of conflict. But every crisis worsens Gaza’s humanitarian and governability situation, towards the point of no return.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.