News Nosh: 9.13.18

APN's daily news review from Israel
Thursday September 13, 2018
 
Quote of the day:
“This is particularly problematic when the owner of the disseminating account is the person who serves as the prime minister of Israel.”
--Attorney Shachar Ben-Meir is suing Facebook and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for Netanyahu's posting of a fake news report by 'Israel Hayom' that claimed that George Soros is collaborating with the totalitarian regime in Iran.*

You Must Be Kidding: 
"What are you bringing in here? Let him die."
--Head security guard at Shaarei Tzedeq Hospital in Jerusalem said to another security guard when a critically injured Palestinian boy arrived at the hospital entrance.**

Front Page:
Haaretz
Yedioth Ahronoth
  • The revolutionary conversion ruling - Jerusalem District Court ruled that Interior Ministry must register as a Jew a woman who converted outside the Rabbinate
  • Victory of reality // Chen Artzi-Srur
  • Exclusive - Excerpts from the book (by Ben Woodward) that sparked a storm - A peek into the summit of fear
  • The new apples (iPhone)
  • “Why hasn’t the house of my son’s murderer been demolished?” - Expose - The letter of the bereaved father
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
  • Government against the High Court: We were elected to rule
  • 25 million Americans on high alert US preparing for arrival of Hurricane Florence
  • “Israel won’t withstand an attack by Hezbollah” - In his new book, journalist Ben Woodward quotes senior White House officials who warned President Trump that the US could be drawn into a Middle East war
  • The new apple iPhone
Israel Hayom
  • Doctors without limits - The ‘deal’ of the doctors: Flying at the expense of the pharmaceutical companies - and promoting them
  • A quarter of a hundred of naiveté // Amnon Lord on the Oslo Accords
  • Apple (iPhone) in honey
  • Big in Japan - Programmed for success: Israeli team won gold, silver and bronze medals in the Youth Computer Sciences Olympics in Japan
  • Scared in the US (from the approaching hurricane)
  • Hope for the ill: molecule that helps the cell fight melanoma
  • Blow to BDS: US to define opposition to Israel as anti-Semitism
  • After resigning from the committee for appointing senior officials: Green light for choosing Chief of Staff and Police Commissioner
  • Social Security crisis: “Surplus won’t be transferred to the Ministry of Finance”

News Summary:
Excerpts from Ben Woodward’s book on the Trump administration reveal information about Israel and the withdrawal of Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s close associates from the Advisory Committee for the Appointment of Senior Officials - due to High Court pressure - paves the way for appointments of IDF Chief of Staff and the Israel Police Commissioner, making top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers.  Maariv also reported that security guards at a major Jerusalem hospital delayed the admission of a critically injured Palestinian child.

Maariv reported that in his book, Woodward quoted US officials, who told US President Donald Trump that despite Iron Dome and other missile defense systems, “Israel will not withstand a confrontation with Hezbollah" and the US will be drawn into a Middle East war

Haaretz noted that the book revealed that Trump’s son-in-law and Middle East advisor, Jared Kushner, played ‘matchmaker’ between Israel and Saudi Arabia, clashing with U.S. intelligence.

The papers wrote that Netanyahu ‘got the clue’ that the High Court won’t stand for his close associates sitting on the four-person Advisory Committee for the Appointment of Senior Officials. Yesterday Netanyahu's associates resigned, following the High Court’s decision to freeze the committee’s work due to conflict of interests. Now a Chief of Staff and a Police Commissioner can be appointed.

**A recording shown on Channel 10 revealed the discrimination and racism of the security guards at Sha'arei Tzedek Hospital in Jerusalem. When Nur Al-Din Sanduka, 13, was being brought in critical condition after being injured in the head while playing soccer, the head security officer said, in a conversation that was recorded without her knowledge: “Why is he letting in a Red Crescent ambulance?" Another security guard answered her, saying, "They said he was going to die." In response, she told him, “About to die? Let him die.” Afterwards, a paramedic joined the conversation and said: "Yes, I heard you. His situation is really very critical, okay?" To which the head security officer responded: "So why didn’t you inform me?" Maariv reported that this is not the first case of discrimination (against Arabs - OH) by security personnel at Shaare Zedek Medical Center. In recent years, the Red Crescent medical team has filed numerous complaints alleging discriminatory treatment. For example, about a year and a half ago, the hospital's security team prevented the entry of a baby in an incubator who was rushed in critical condition. The security guard, who prinjurie
evented the ambulance from entering, said at the time: "They told me to wait until someone came to check." Also, about six months ago, a Palestinian volunteer was forced to chase the ambulance after the hospital did not allow him to enter the hospital while he was in the vehicle. Shaare Zedek Hospital responded: "The ambulance was not delayed, and the boy was immediately brought in, without delay. Shaare Zedek condemns the foolish slip of the tongue [of the head security guard]. She works for a security company that provides security services to the hospital. The worker was suspended and will be brought before a disciplinary committee at the security company.”
 
Quick Hits:
  • Citing customer concerns, Israeli cleaning firm hires Jews only - Owner of Kiryat Ono-based company says he has 'nothing against Arabs,' but employing mainly Jewish staff pacifies Jews ‘afraid of some sort of terror attack.’ (Ynet)
  • EU's Mogherini: Israeli demolition of West Bank village endangers two-state solution - EU foreign policy chief says looming demolition of Khan al-Ahmar 'will only further entrench a one-state reality.’ (Haaretz+)
  • Israel Demolishes Protest Shacks Built by Palestinian Activists Near Khan al-Ahmar - The shacks were raised in protest of the controversial demolition of the West Bank Bedouin village. (Haaretz+ and Times of Israel)
  • Israel Denied Entry to U.S. Jewish Activist With Temporary Residency Status – Because She Visited (Khan al-Ahmar in) West Bank - Julie Weinberg-Connors, 23, who is in the process of immigrating to Israel, was allowed in after Haaretz and lawmakers intervened. She is supposed to start studying at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem today. After the investigator asked her what places she had visited in the West Bank, he said she couldn’t enter the country after she said ‘Khan al-Ahmar.’ She said he told her 'you're here to make trouble.’ (Haaretz+ and Times of Israel)
  • Israeli navy opens fire at fishermen in northern Gaza - Israeli naval boats opened fire at fishing boats in northern Gaza, forcing Palestinian fishermen to sail back to shore. No injuries were reported from the incident. (Maan)
  • Preparation of international conference for UNRWA support - Jordan and Egypt are organizing an international conference for the support of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which will be held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meetings next month. (Maan)
  • Court extends detention of Israeli Arab suspected of incitement to terror - Raja Agbariyeh, an Umm al-Fahm resident and political activist, was arrested on suspicion of incitement for praising in an Arabic poem on Facebook a terror attack on the Temple Mount (that killed 2 Border Policemen - OH). Agbariyeh argued that his posts don’t justify the police’s suspicions, and that they are protected by freedom of expression. (Haaretz+)
  • Deadly hit and run near West Bank outpost wasn't an attack, IDF and police determine - Military prosecution files indictment against Palestinian driver for causing death by negligence, abandoning the scene of an accident. (Haaretz+ and Times of Israel)
  • Ronen Lubarsky's father urges IDF to speed up terrorist's house demolition - Father of Duvdevan soldier murdered by Hamas activist three months ago writes letter to Central Command chief asking him to stop delaying execution of demolition orders and tear down terrorist's family home; 'Ronen was murdered three and a half month ago, and terrorist's house is still standing.' (Yedioth/Ynet)
  • Liberman visits Georgia, signs defense cooperation agreements - Defense minister, first in his position to travel to eastern European nation, agrees to work with Tbilisi on counterterrorism, cybersecurity. (Times of Israel)
  • Police unit ignores two-thirds of construction accident cases - This year, construction mishaps have claimed the lives of 30 workers and two passersby however only one third of all accidents were examined. (Haaretz+)
  • Ten More Women Accuse Netanyahu Spokesman Keyes of Improper Behavior - After Julia Salazar and WSJ reporter Shayndi Raice, new allegations against David Keyes surface, including claims that D.C. think tank had to intervene after complaints by two women. (Haaretz+ and Times of Israel)
  • *Netanyahu shared fake news about Soros. Now he and Facebook have to answer to the court - The article falsely claimed that Jewish billionaire George Soros cooperated with the Iranian regime. (Haaretz+ and Maariv)
  • Pro-Israel group secretly ran misleading Facebook ads to target Palestinian-American poet - Anonymous digital campaigns appear to be a central part of the advocacy group Israel on Campus Coalition’s efforts to combat pro-Palestinian activism on U.S. campuses. (Haaretz)
  • 'I get the boycott. But it's not the way': U.S. band Why? explains why they performed in Israel - For many, Why? was the highlight of last weekend’s Meteor Festival. Lead singer Yoni Wolf, explains why he gets BDS but came anyway. (Haaretz+)
  • Czech Republic Considering Moving Embassy to Jerusalem - The opening of a Czech cultural center in Jerusalem in November could be understood as a 'first step,' says a spokesman for President Milos Zeman. (Agencies, Haaretz)
  • Anti-Israel signs pop up all over London - Pro-Palestinian activists put up anti-Israeli ads on London's bus stops reading 'Israel is a racist endeavour' in protest of the Labor Party's adoption of IHRA definition of anti-Semitism; London's Mayor orders removal of 'unauthorized and offensive' posters. (Ynet)
  • Eric Trump Accused of anti-Semitism for Saying Woodward Earned 'Three Extra Shekels' on CNN - The remark, which was not prompted by any discussion about Israel or Jews, swiftly elicited outrage on Twitter. (Haaretz)
  • Former Sex and City star (outraged after) accused of anti-Semitism - Cynthia Nixon, who is a candidate for governor of New York state, is accused by her rival Andrew Cuomo of opposing Jewish school funding and calling to boycott Israel over its treatment of Palestinians; Hollywood actress, who has two children being raised in Jewish faith, calls claims 'an outrage.' (Agencies, Ynet)
  • US may define some anti-Israel campus protests as anti-Semitism - Education Department reopens case quashed by Obama administration that caused critics to accuse former president of ignoring rising hostility in colleges toward Jews during anti-Israel protest. (Ynet and Israel Hayom)
  • Poll shows Palestinian mistrust of Trump runs deep - After string of decisions taken by the US regarding the Palestinians, over than 60% oppose resuming dialogue with Americans; 53% back state in areas captured by Israel in Six-Day war, while only 24% in favor of one-state solution. (Ynet)
  • Iran pivots toward China as U.S. sanctions bite - First among China's wants likely is Iran's energy supply, as other U.S. allies cut off their purchases by a November deadline. Nearly a quarter of all of Iran's oil exports went to China in 2017. (Agencies, Haaretz)
  • Iran has between 3,000-4,000 active centrifuges, parliament speaker says - Rare announcement of specific data on the nuclear program comes days after Iran’s nuclear chief said it had completed a facility to build advanced centrifuges. (Agencies, Haaretz)
  • U.S. warns Iran: We'll respond swiftly to attacks by Tehran's allies in Iraq - The White House accused Iran of not preventing attacks in recent days on the U.S. Consulate in Basra and the American Embassy compound in Baghdad. (Agencies, Haaretz)
  • US issues fresh warning to airlines about using Iranian airspace - Federal Aviation Administration cites concerns over military activity associated with Syrian conflict, including an unnamed U.S. civil operator being intercepted by fighter jets last year • Flight Service Bureau: There is no perfect route in the region. (Agencies, Israel Hayom)
  • Assad Regime Used Chemical Weapons on Damascus and Idlib, UN Watchdog Says - The team says banned chlorine was previously used in Idlib, where the UN says it now fears a major imminent assault by Russia, Syria. (Agencies, Haaretz)
  • Over One Million Displaced in Syria So Far This Year, UN Says - UN agency warns that a possible offensive on the northwestern province of Idlib 'would generate a catastrophic' humanitarian crisis. (Agencies, Haaretz)


Features:
All sticks, no carrot: Five times Trump targeted the Palestinians
Punitive measures the White House has taken against the Palestinians since December 2017. (Haaretz)
Labor ethic
Persecution of Jewish party delegates, threats, anti-Israeli demonstrations and speeches at Hyde Park: Anti-Semitism storm in the UK Labor party refuses to die down. (Gideon Kotz in London, Maariv Magazine supplement, cover)
Sick and Stuck in the Strip: How Leaving Gaza Became Mission Impossible
Less than 30 years ago, Palestinians could exit and enter the coastal enclave almost as they wished. That all changed in 1991, though, and things have only gotten more difficult since. (Amira Hass, Haaretz+)
 
Commentary/Analysis:
I advised the Palestinian negotiating team. It was a mistake to have negotiated with Israel at all (Diana Buttu, Haaretz+) Buoyed by the Oslo Accords, I moved to the West Bank as a legal adviser to the PLO team. I was wrong. 25 years since that iconic Arafat-Rabin handshake, it's clear talks are futile - and Palestinians are no closer to freedom.
It will be far less convenient when a democratic president recognizes that the will of his voters is to strike Israel (Shmuel Rosner, Maariv) If Trump acts against the Palestinian leadership for tactical reasons or for substantial reasons, understanding the dispute between the two sides in his government is necessary to assess the likelihood that one day, if and when, similar American pressure will be exerted on Israel.
Diplomatic retribution at last (Amnon Lord, Israel Hayom) The Trump administration is breaking norms. Instead of courting the Palestinians in the hope that they will enter negotiations with Israel, the White House is punishing them and acting to bring about their defeat.
The Oslo Accords didn't achieve peace. But they did birth Startup Nation (David Rosenberg, Haaretz+) The much-disparaged Oslo accords didn’t bring Israel security, but they did end Israel’s isolation and enabled the economy to take off.
Shutting Palestinian offices in Washington long overdue (Noah Klieger, Yedioth/Ynet) The man in the White House is doing exactly the right thing in shutting the Palestinian diplomatic mission. Firstly, the state of 'Palestine' does not exist. Secondly, for too long the Palestinians have refused to sit at the negotiating table with Israel and they have gotten away with it, as Trump's predecessors surrendered time and again to Palestinian blackmail and threats.
The messianic Zionist religion whose believers worship Judaism (but can't practice it) (Ofri Ilany, Haaretz+) The Noahide Project, which has Israeli governmental and rabbinical support, is trying to proselytize members of remote communities. Just as long as they don’t call themselves Jews, right?
What happens when the court discusses two different issues of conflict of interest (Yehuda Amrani, Maariv) The High Court has demonstrated in a resounding way how it relates to criticisms directed at it and how it knows how to move into places where similar but weak claims are directed at elected officials.
Are the Bedouin of Palestine a lost tribe of Israel? (Seraj Assi, Haaretz+) Israel's highest court okaying the erasure of yet another West Bank Bedouin village is a striking departure from early Zionists who saw the Bedouin as blood brothers, 'hidden Jews,' and an aspirational model for the modern Hebrew nation.
European hypocrisy rears its ugly head (Eldad Beck, Israel Hayom) The same EU that routinely rushes to condemn any "illegal" Jewish settlement construction is now rushing to defend the illegal but non-Jewish settlement of Khan al-Ahmar.
25 years later, Israel’s right wing is still battling the Oslo Accords (Yotam Berger, Haaretz+) Some segments of the right cooperated with the government even as it was negotiating with the Palestinians. Either way, nobody is admitting to any of the incitement that preceded Yitzhak Rabin's assassination.
Deal cancellation (Shlomo Shamir, Maariv) Even before the closure of the Palestinian representative offices in Washington, it was clear that Trump’s peace plan won’t take shape. Every White House official who was asked recently when the peace plan would be presented didn’t know what to answer…President Trump said recently that Israel “will have to pay a high price” for the transfer of the US embassy to Jerusalem. But the US has already paid a diplomatic and reputation price following the peace plan that never happened, which the President put at the head of his priorities.
Failure’s Silver Anniversary (Moshe Arens, Haaretz+) The chance to find a local Palestinian leadership for negotiations was lost with Israel's recognition of the PLO at Oslo.
 
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.