APN's daily news review from Israel
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
Quote of the day:
"It is strange to read in the Italian newspapers that some people are amazed that I call Islamist terrorists
what they are, Islamist terrorists... Let us give the right weight to words. If we do not identify the
adversary—I am not saying enemy but adversary—then the game will never be won."
-- Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, in response to criticism from his coalition allies for denouncing Hezbollah as terrorists
-- Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, in response to criticism from his coalition allies for denouncing Hezbollah as terrorists
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Front Page:
Haaretz
- Netanyahu is risking Israel's interests by riding the European nationalist tiger
- US rejects Israel's request to sanction Lebanon over Hezbollah tunnels
- Criminal neglect: the Israeli government is complicit in the murder of Arab women
- After criticism over "support of terror," Haifa's would-be deputy mayor withdraws
Israel Hayom
- PM warns Hezbollah against targetting tunnel operation
- US poised to present Middle East peace plan "soon," top official says
- IDF sees spike in sexual harassment complaints in 2018
- New Haifa mayor rolls back Hamas supporter's appointment as deputy
Times of Israel
- Women protest in major cities against violence; two arrested in Tel Aviv
- Defense Ministry ombudsman says IDF ground forces unprepared for war
- Hosting Italy's deputy PM, Netanyahu urges stronger action against Hezbollah
- Police rescue teacher kidnapped from Umm al-Fahm high school
Ynet News
- Italy's Salvini criticized by allies for calling Hezbollah "terrorists"
- MK to court: PM must justify multiple posts
- Abbas rival Dahlan calls for one-state solution
- Israel preparing Jerusalem compound for embassies
i24 News
- Netanyahu tells Italian minister UN force should rein in Hezbollah more
- Salvini: EU is unbalanced, condemns Israel "left and right"
- Israeli rights group releases video of apparent Palestinian bystander shot dead
- Four-year-old Palestinian dies of wounds after border clash: Gaza ministry
News Summary:
Women are back in the streets this week protesting gender-based violence and the Israeli government's stalling of funds. These protests come after a woman was stabbed to death in Acre, which activists say marks the 25th victim of domestic violence this year. Organizers are calling on women to continue the protest and keep the issue on the agenda by striking every day at 10 a.m. for 25 minutes until the government disperses the funding it already allocated - NIS 250 million (USD 66 million) in total - for a campaign targeting violence against women.
Raja Zaatry, the newly appointed deputy mayor of Haifa, stepped down in the wake of criticism for public statements he made in support of Hezbollah and Hamas. Prime Minister Netanyahu urged Haifa Mayor Einat Kalisch-Rotem to cancel Zaatry's appointment, although she refused. The position will instead be filled by Hadash party member Shahira Shalabi.
In his meeting with Italy's Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, Prime Minister Netanyahu criticized the international community for not taking stronger action against Hezbollah: “We think UNIFIL has to do a stronger job, tougher job, but ultimately it’s the responsibility of the international community. They should stop Hezbollah from taking these acts of aggression against Israel.” Netanyahu also asked the US to take a stronger stance by sanctioning Lebanon for breaching the terms of the agreement that ended the 2006 Second Lebanon War. But the US rejected Israel's request out of consideration for its close military ties with Lebanon.
Quick Hits:
- Israeli police arrested four teenagers suspected of participating in price tag attacks - slashing tires and drawing hate slogans in the northern Israeli Arab town of Yafia. These come as the first arrests in months despite a recent wave of price tag attacks.
- Derech Chaim, a far-right Israeli group, is putting up posters in settlements, bus stops, and along West Bank roads urging people to “assassinate the terror funders," with the image of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' face in crosshairs. Abbas's spokesman, Saab Erekat, and other Palestinian officials are publically holding the Israeli government responsible for the incitement.
- Since last Thursday, the Social Workers Union has been suspending welfare services as it goes on strike in different regions around the country and demands "urgent reforms to ensure the protection of employees, higher salaries and overall improvement of working conditions."
- The “Defense Lines: Maginot, Bar-Lev and Beyond" exhibit in the Genia Schreiber University Art Gallery at Tel Aviv University depicts "life in Israel, and in general, as one long sequence of building fortifications," as it touches on themes of "human folly, memory, nature, current events, aesthetics, interpersonal relations, fear and the big question of the passage of time." Read Moshe Gilad's review of the exhibit in Haaretz.
- Australian singer-songwriter Nick Cave lashed out at the BDS movement: "I think the cultural boycott of Israel is cowardly and shameful. In fact, this is partly the reason I am playing Israel–not as support for any particular political entity but as a principled stand against those who wish to bully, shame and silence musicians."
- A senior minister in the Israeli government said that the current bill on Haredi conscription could force Prime Minister Netanyahu to call an early election if it is stalled. Alternatively, "if we manage to secure a majority to pass the law, the government can hold on until the November 2019 election."