APN's daily news review from Israel

Tuesday February 5, 2019


You Must Be Kidding: 
Likud MK Anat Berko's campaign video shows her being kidnapped by a Palestinian militant who later is revealed to be her husband, who flirts with her.*

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Front Page:

Haaretz

Yedioth Ahronoth

Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)

Israel Hayom

Elections 2019 News:
Today’s top stories in the Hebrew newspapers was the about the primaries being held in the Likud party today, the battle by Prime Minister and Likud leader Binyamin Netanyahu to prevent his rival within the party, Gideon Saar, from taking the spot after him and the decision to raise the price of tobacco used for rolling cigarettes to equal the price in regular cigarettes.

Election Quickees:

Quick Hits:

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Elections 2019 Commentary/Analysis:
Tuesday’s Likud Primary Is the First Act in Palace Coup Against Netanyahu (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) There are eight prominent candidates who see themselves as potential future leaders, but the next party head may yet come from a prodigal son or daughter returning to the fold.
Primary elections: Corrupt cronyism or democratic defender? (Dror Liba, Ynet) Not all Israeli political parties choose their Knesset hopefuls by polling their members, some rely on the whim of the party leadership, a phenomenon that is becoming increasingly popular.
For Likud Primary Campaign, Pledging Loyalty to Netanyahu Is Paramount (Nir Hasson, Haaretz+) At male-dominated party convention in Jerusalem ahead of Tuesday's vote, shoo-ins and hopefuls courted an array of political veterans, amid excitement over local soccer.
A celebration of democracy (Yifat Ehrlich, Yedioth) On the sidelines, there are still some parties that have internal elections, like the Labor party, Meretz, and Habayi Hayehudi [and Hadash - OH], but unfortunately, these are just fragments of parties, a pale shadow that testifies to the dark majority. Most of the parties in Israel are not democratic…Most of the parties became parties of air established on the basis of a one leader rule. You can mock the Likud, you can scoff at the Likud, but the right thing to do is to respect the only party in Israel which is big and democratic.
Netanyahu, Trump and the league of suspects (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth/Ynet) In a massively public gesture, the Israeli leader has aligned himself with the man who destroyed American influence in the world; the prime minister will do anything to dodge an indictment, but Likud members are finally waking up to a conflict of interests between them and their party leader — and his power won't last forever.
Behind Netanyahu, Gantz and Lapid: The hidden agendas of the advisers whispering in candidates' ears (Nati Tucker, Haaretz+) This election campaign is witnessing a new crop of cases where politicians’ consultants are becoming active players in the public arena – with possible conflicts of interest.
Lapid, do the right thing (Dan Shilon, Yedioth/Ynet) Dear Yair, for seven years, you have worked hard and watched a corrupt and failed leader, while promising a different leadership, a clean and a professional one. But then along came Benny Gantz. So now you must show you are the bigger man, and forgo the leadership of the opposition, for you understand that a foot soldier has no chance against a general.
Netanyahu Isn't Really Afraid of Likud Rival Sa'ar. So Why the Big Guns? (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) Netanyahu got used to Likud as his footstool, and hates the notion of other centers of power in politics besides himself.
Haaretz Poll: Half of Israelis Don't Want Netanyahu Reelected (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) Undisputed 'Mr. Security' is losing his advantage over his main rival, but the latter is largely perceived as left and the 'Gantz effect' doesn't seem to threat a fifth term for the sitting prime minister after election.
They're Not Jews. They're MAGA People. And They Run Israel (Bradley Burston, Haaretz+) I'd be disheartened but for this: I met the one person who should frighten Bibi more than any other in this world.
Why is Netanyahu so nervous? (Yuval Karni, Yedioth/Ynet) Inexplicably asking to secure spots low on the Likud Party list for candidates of his choice and accusing his former friend Gideon Sa'ar of plotting to overthrow him are just two of the irrational moves the prime minister made in recent days. Why is he so worried?
Israel's Left Must Merge (Raviv Drucker, Haaretz+) Labor's Gabbay refuses to look reality in the eye, and is willing to burn down the house with all its inhabitants.
Israeli Leftists Lurking in the Shadows (B. Michael, Haaretz+) With all the convicted terrorists and murderers, criminal suspects and defendants, and evil, anti-Semitic racists on the right, it’s the ‘left’ that’s a curse word?
The generals got it right (Ron Ben Yishai, Ynet) The IDF is in fact battle ready but the politicians’ fixation on the public’s irrational fear of casualties and potential abductions in a ground operation will have severe consequences in the next war; The IDF must also address the ambiguity with regards to administering and training the ground forces prior to and during battle.
Bibi is not the problem and Gantz is not the solution (Kobi Niv, Haaretz Hebrew and English translation by Sol Salbe) Maintaining the oppression of the Palestinians, using more or less cruel means, is the uniform and shared platform of all the Zionist parties. Bibi did not bring the Occupation with him, so even if Gantz replaces him, nothing substantial will change.
Israel's poverty tsunami (Eli Cohen, Yedioth/Ynet) The country's leaders are ignoring the raging poverty problem: they hide from it, flee to safety or simply stand still hoping to avoid the current. Except this tidal wave has long been coming, and we have to stop ignoring it before it makes landfallץ
Not Just Security: What Could Benny Gantz’s Socioeconomic Directive Be (Sami Peretz, Haaretz+) None of the candidate's advisers are economists and none have a record in finance, but potential additions could provide clear direction as tough decisions are badly needed.
Tether your steed, Don Gantzo (Dr. Eitan Orkibi, Israel Hayom) Esteemed commander Gantz, my support for Netanyahu is cognizant and sober; I have applied my own sound judgment and worldview. I don't need you to rescue me from the tyrant's clutches or from myself.
By flocking to Gantz, anti-Netanyahu voters send clear message: We need a hero, not a bloc (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) The April 9 ballot is shaping up as a do-or-die duel at high noon that could erase smaller parties and restore the semblance of a two-party system.
Beware of a repeat of '92! (Ariel Kahana, Israel Hayom) Much like 27 years ago, ideological hair-splitting is causing the Right to splinter and the Left is making gains thanks to a candidate with security and defense credentials.
Centrist parties lured by revolution (Mikhael Yigal Maimon, Israel Hayom) In 1977, Labor was not brought down by the Likud but by a new centrist party comprising the old elite. Gantz and the other centrists are now making a similar gamble, which may have unexpected results.

Commentary/Analysis:
Israeli Spaceship's Mission, According to Netanyahu: A Bible on the Moon (Asaf Ronel, Haaretz+) Netanyahu asked the science minister to make sure the spacecraft will carry a Hebrew bible. Little does the prime minister know, the ship already contains one – on a flash drive.
Could an Israeli supermarket king become a Palestinian hero? (David Rosenberg, Haaretz+) Rami Levy wants to bring cheap chicken and shopping mall ecstasy as part of his vision of co-existence. His vision is both flawed and hopeless
Forget Tlaib and Omar, Democratic 2020 front-runners should worry Israel more (Amir Tibon, Haaretz+) While the new generation of pro-BDS lawmakers are making news, Democratic presidential contenders' opposition to 'pro-Israel' legislation signals a much deeper shift.
 

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