APN's daily news review from Israel

Sunday February 24, 2019
 

Quote of the day:

Haaretz

Yedioth Ahronoth

Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)

Israel Hayom

Elections 2019 News:
The condemnation of Netanyahu by AIPAC and the polls showing the new Kahol-Lavan party surpassing Likud in elections were the top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers.

According to a Yedioth poll in today’s paper, the Kahol-Lavan (Blue-White) party jointly led by former chief of staff Benny Gantz and Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid would overtake Netanyahu by six Knesset seats. Moreover, what is commonly being referred to as the ‘center-left’ bloc and the right-wing blocs would receive equal number of seats, according to Yedioth Ahronoth poll. The support for the Kahol-Lavan party has been increasing since the announcement Thursday of the creation of the party by a merger of Gantz’s Hosen L’Yisrael party and Lapid’s Yesh Atid party. Polls by Channels 12 and 13 showed that Kahol-Lavan would win 36 seats with between 26-30 for Likud, while a Kan 11 News poll projected 35 seats for the new party and 32 for Likud. The Kan 11 poll also found that the Arab Ta'al-Hadash list would be the third-largest party in the Knesset. A Maariv poll published Friday showed Kahol-Lavan beating the Likud 35 to 26, but the right-wing bloc was larger. Moreover, Likud leader, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, was leading Gantz on the question of suitability for role of premier, 48% vs 36%.

The right-wing have been trying to discourage right-wingers from supporting Kahol-Lavan by labeling it a left-wing party. Netanyahu called it the ‘party of left-wing generals posing as right wingers.’ [In truth, Moshe Yaalon and Yair Lapid are center-right, if not right. -OH] Netanyahu blasted the Gantz-Lapid alliance, saying they rely on Arab parties intent on destroying Israel to make a coalition.

Meanwhile, AIPAC reportedly invited Gantz and Lapid to speak at the upcoming AIPAC conference, where Netanyahu will also speak, two weeks before Israel’s elections. Maariv reported that Gantz, Lapid and fellow party member, Moshe Ya'alon, are considering canceling their parties, respectively Hosen L’Yisrael, Yesh Atid and Talam. Lapid said about the decision to unite parties: "When we heard that (MK Bezalel) Smotrich (Habayit Hayehudi) would become a minister everything moved aside.” Lapid also said that Gantz “will be an excellent prime minister" and he responded to right-wing claims: "We did not speak a word with the Arabs (parties) about a bloc to block (the right-wing).“ (Maariv)

AIPAC slammed the inclusion of the Kahanist party, Otzma Yehudit, in the right-wing bloc after Netanyahu convinced the party to join forces with the religious-Zionist Habayit Hayehudi party to increase their chances of winning seats in the upcoming election and increase the size of the right-wing bloc. Otzma Yehudit had no chance of passing the threshold alone and it was questionable whether Habayit Hayehudi would. AIPAC called the party ‘racist and reprehensible.’ And Rabbi Benny Lau said a vote for Habayit Hayehudi was a vote for Nazism and a vote for the racism of Kahane. Speaking at a synagogue on Saturday, the rabbi warned that mistreating minorities goes against the Torah. He apologized for engaging in politics from the pulpit, but said he had no choice under such circumstances, JPost/Maariv reported. He even urged his congregants to read about the Nazi Nuremberg laws and compare them to the bills advanced by Kahane when he was an MK in the 1980s. Top Jewish members of Congress also condemned Netanyahu’s deal with Habayit Hayehudi, giving them two ministries in exchange for merging with the racist anti-Arab party. And the veteran Jewish organization, American Jewish Committee, (AJC), also denounced Otzma Yehudit. Both Otzma Yehudit and Netanyahu hit back accusing their detractors of hypocrisy. The Kahanist party accused AIPAC of “never coming out against figures on the Israeli left who want to cancel out the Jewish state.’ [NOTE: Cancelling out the Jewish state is a political statement, not a racist statement. - OH] And Netanyahu accused the left-wing of denouncing the right-wing while acting “to put extremist Islamists into the Knesset to create a bloc that would overtake the right."

Other News Summary:
Israel successfully launched its first moon mission, although the funding for it was private. The B’reshit (Genesis) spacecraft blasted off from Florida and is scheduled to land on the moon on April 11.
Netanyahu will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday after postponing the meeting last week in order to push Habayit Hayehudi to merge with Otzma Yehudit.

And what is getting little attention is the increasing tension and violence at the Temple Mount over the closure of the Bab al-Rahma Gate, which opens to a large structure on the compound, which has been sealed off since 2003 by an Israeli decision. After a few consecutive days of incidents, police detained 60 young E. Jerusalemites from their homes Thursday night in order to lower the tensions during Friday prayer. (Maariv) The men were expected to be released hours later without having to appear in court.  But it appears the move didn’t help much. Hundreds of Palestinians broke into Bab al-Rahma on Friday, a large structure at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem's Old City. There they prayed.
 

Quick Hits:

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Features:

For Six Months, These Palestinian Villages Had Running Water. Israel Put a Stop to It
For six months, Palestinian villagers living on West Bank land that Israel deems a closed firing range saw their dream of running water come true. Then the Civil Administration put an end to it. (Amira Hass, Haaretz+)
Kahane returns - How did the disciples of the founder of the Kach movement succeed in returning to the political map of Israel, three decades after the death of its founder, Meir Kahane
Prof. Daphna Canetti, who researches the Kahanism phenomenon, is not surprised: “The ground is fertile. Today, people in Likud send messages not much different from those of the Kahanist right-wing…The Likud of the past is not the Likud of today. There were people with different values. Now there are clear phenomenons. Today, (Likud MK) Avi Dichter, who as a Shin Bet man could have chased after Itamar Ben-Gvir (member of Otzma Yehudit), and now he is able to sit with him in a coalition. Chairman of the Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party: “It's so stereotypical. They think that if they shout out ‘Kahanists' then everyone will have a heart attack and we will have to hospitalize them. Enough, it ended 30 years ago. Today Rabbi Kahane is a brand and not a derogatory name. They tell me I'm his successor. Gentlemen, I am many things, including the rabbi's student.” (Eyal Levy, Maariv Magazine supplement, cover)
Explained: Why Racist Rabbi Meir Kahane Is Roiling Israeli Politics 30 Years After His Death
The leader of the Kach party, which advocated for an Israel free of Arabs, was assassinated in 1990, but his extremist beliefs will likely be represented in the next Knesset due to a pact between two far-right parties. (Haaretz)
A good doctor and an Arab? 'Some Jews have trouble reconciling the two'
Dr. Mushira Aboo Dia is the first woman and the first Arab to head Physicians for Human Rights in Israel. She spends her professional life helping Palestinians, but she also straddles the fence: Five of her siblings have converted to Judaism. (Netta Ahituv, Haaretz+)
'I didn’t hesitate for a second': What drives a young man to murder his sister
Men in Arab society who murdered women in their families talk frankly about the social and personal background that gives rise to murder in the family. Just don't call it 'honor killings.’ (Hilo Glazer, Haaretz+)
Israelis in Poland: 'This crisis is embarrassing us' - Israelis in Poland describe their frustration at the latest friction between their home and adopted countries. Israelis, they say, won't admit that the Poles suffered under the Nazis and believe that Poland was worse to the Jews than other countries. (Eldad Beck, Israel Hayom)
The explosion that blew the Israeli satellite industry to smithereens
The government wants its communications satellites made in Israel - but making that happen is a long, expensive battle. (Guy Erez, Haaretz)

Elections 2019 Commentary/Analysis:
For U.S. Jewry, Kahanist Caper Casts Netanyahu as Prince of Darkness and Trump on Steroids (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) Even AIPAC broke its usual silence after Netanyahu legitimized followers of the infamous Rabbi Kahane, who was a household name in America before setting foot in Israel.
The Hannibal Procedure: Netanyahu is wiping out all that remains of appreciation for Israel in the American Jewish community (Shlomo Shamir, Maariv) Those who desperately wanted to forget Meir Kahane's actions do not understand now why it is precisely the prime minister of Israel who gives legitimacy and legitimization to ideological heirs.
Otzma Yehudit is an anathema to the 'normally religious' (Chen Artzi Sror, Yedioth/Ynet) Israelis for whom observance is a natural part of life cannot stomach the union between their former ideological home and the racist, hateful Kahanists; and thanks to his cynical cunning, Netanyahu is both creator and beneficiary of this situation.
Slaughtering sacred cows (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) Smashing idols doesn't only refer to gods of wood or stone. It can also refer to smashing fixated thought and freeing oneself to move forward and create revolutions.
Netanyahu's incitement brings back memories of 1995 (Carolina Landsmann, Haaretz+) Netanyahu wants the right to look at Mendelblit’s signature on the indictment and see Rabin’s signature on the Oslo Accords, to look at the center-left camp and see Hamas.
The scenario Netanyahu expected (Mati Tuchfeld, Israel Hayom) Just because PM Benjamin Netanyahu pushed for the mergers we saw this week doesn't mean that his victory is assured. He needs to work hard to ensure that the Right wins at least 61 seats and that the Likud stays the largest party in the Knesset.
A 'savior' for the Land of Israel (Rabbi Yitzhak Levy, Yedioth/Ynet) The former head of the National Religious Party writes that Israelis should ignore the racist past of some members of the religious Zionist list (of Habayit Hayehudi, Ichud Leumi and Otzma Yehudit), 'for the greater good', but acknowledges that some will morally be unable to vote for supporters of Meir Kahane.
In the Polls, Gantz Reaches a Place Where No Netanyahu Rival Has Been Since 2006 (Arnon Harari, Haaretz+) The public opinion surveys were done fast and furious Thursday, but the Gantz-Lapid alliance surprised on the upside, always a good sign.
A new unity ticket, an old grudge (Amnon Lord, Israel Hayom) Over the past 10 years, Netanyahu has successfully pursued policies in defiance of what his generals recommended. They now want to undermine his credentials but their efforts are falling flat.
Gantz and Lapid's new party has a single ideology: To replace Netanyahu (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) There is no other political glue uniting this new venture, and in case of failure it will be summarily dismantled.
The Gantz-Lapid union shakes the political map (Moran Azoulay, Yedioth/Ynet) The union of Yesh Atid and Israel Resilience parties signals a head-to-head battle between center bloc and Netanyahu for Israel's leadership, while smaller parties on both left and right are in danger of losing valuable votes to their bigger counterparts.
The three questions that will decide Israel’s election (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) To win, it won't be enough for Benny Gantz or Benjamin Netanyahu to emerge as the leader of the largest party.
Neither side has an ideology, the struggle is over seatology (Ron Kaufman, Maariv) The political arena is ready for battle. In the right-hand corner, Bibi, decorated with scars, prepares for the battle of his life in court. In the left corner, a junta of generals and a former military reporter.
When Israel finally loses its humanity, it will happen because of horrifying cynicism (Ran Edelist, Maariv) Nissenkorn's joining Gantz, along with Netanyahu's efforts to get Ben-Gvir and Ben-Ari into the Knesset, proves who is laughing last. In Israel, there is no territory that the left did not spoil, and that the right did not destroy completely.
The Israeli Arab Voters Are Trapped in a Bottle (Odeh Bisharat, Haaretz+) Former Israeli Army Chief-of-Staff Rafael Eitan wanted the Arabs to be like drugged cockroaches in a bottle. In some areas, this wish has already come true.
Bogged down by infighting, Arab Israeli parties must now win back voters' trust (Jack Khoury, Haaretz+) The four parties have a long way to go if they want to bring in as many new voters as Joint List did in the last election.
Could Gantz be Israel's Trump? (Aluf Benn, Haaretz+) Similar to Trump, Gantz's secret was accurately reading the current sentiment among his potential supporters' camp. But the road to the Prime Minister's Office remains perilous.
The one who is really leading should not constantly remind the convoy that he is at its head (Udi Segal, Maariv) While Netanyahu claims that Gantz is a hitchhiker riding the wave, he arranges direct transportation to the Knesset for Otzma Yehudit party…Netanyahu did not only help, he also gave a shoulder, place 28 and promises go to two ministers (of Habayit Hayehudi for accepting Otzma Yehudit on a joint list -OH). Netanyahu is generous, because he is under pressure. He needs every vote. Every finger to get out of a bribery trial. In a week like this, which began with Netanyahu's accusations against Gantz about hitchhikers, he ended up as a grandmother from the Committee for the Soldier who spoils the heirs of the Kach movement with an omelet sandwich just before they board a special taxi for the Knesset.
Israel's blue and white boys club wants your vote (Allison Kaplan Sommer, Haaretz+) The political landscape of 2019 is looking very military, very male and really puts the 'general' in 'general election.’
To unseat Netanyahu, his challengers risk becoming just like him (Dahlia Scheindlin, +972mag) As party lists are finalized in the lead-up to Israeli elections, the big bangs offer little substantive changes. And the challengers of the center look uncannily like the current leadership.
Gantz and Lapid proved it was possible (Friday Haaretz Editorial) The leaders of Hosen L’Yisrael and Yesh Atid have shown political maturity in setting aside their egos to run together.

Commentary/Analysis:
Give Them Water (Haaretz Editorial) Israel must abide by international law, respect the principles of justice and equality and connect the villages in the Masafer Yatta area to the water infrastructure.
After years of government shuffling: the National Security Council is touching upon the issue of foreign investment (Yossi Melman, Maariv) In its comprehensive report, the National Security Council will address the sensitive and complex issue of the involvement of China, which is increasing its investments in Israel in particular and in the Middle East in general.
Genesis Prize Tried to Avoid More Bad PR. Then the Robert Kraft Prostitute Scandal Hit (JTA, Haaretz) After Natalie Portman's embarrassing snub last year, Netanyahu associate Kraft seemed like a trouble-free pick for the foundation. But things didn't go as planned.
Israel and the Gulf states: Relations are far from paradise (Jackie Khougy, Maariv) The contacts with them have strengthened, but Saudi Arabia and its sisters are far from neglecting the Palestinian problem, and what they need from Israel, they get now anyway…And…about Iraq. A petition published there last week was spread around among Internet users like wildfire. Commanders and leaders of the Shiite militias signed a renunciation of anyone who came into contact with Israel, or literally, "the criminal Zionist entity." Anyone who travels to Israel or talks with her government will be considered a supporter of Israel, the document says. "The cooperation with the robber entity will constitute an act of espionage and betrayal of the state," it states. "The Iraqi people, its government and its patriotic forces reject any kind of normalization with the Zionist entity, and whoever says the opposite will bear the weight of responsibility: Before the law, legitimacy and the before the people."
The Palestinian Authority Is in Meltdown – and Israel Won't Escape Unscathed (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) If Gaza hostilities don't flare up by summer, it will be a major achievement for Israel's army chief.
Gaza Nights: A journey to the region, which at any moment could ignite the whole country (Tal Lev -Ram, Maariv) Hamas is trying to put additional pressure on Israel until it reaches a military confrontation, and the nighttime incidents, including burning tires and throwing explosive charges, can easily derail the south. For two months, Hamas completely stopped the night's events, in parallel to the political developments facing Qatar and the desire to lower the flames. The move by Qatar is behind us, and Hamas is increasing the fire, as it is also challenged by Islamic Jihad, which supports more violent acts against Israel now… In another two to three months, another six-meter fence will be at the center of the violent demonstrations. From Jabaliya to Shaja'iya. Between the current fence and the new fence will be an area of about 100 meters, so entering Israel will be a much more complex challenge. [The writer did not mention that the 100 meters will be taken from the Palestinian side. - OH] On the other hand, the IDF will have to contend with the Palestinians' expected attempts to destroy the first border fence, which is on the border.
Orange is the new khaki (Yossi Yehoshua, Yedioth/Ynet) Thanks to a widespread lack of army detention facilities for women, female IDF soldiers get sent to jail for minor offenses, while male soldiers serve their time at facilities on their own base and are given cleaning duties.
Condemned Farrakhan and Mallory? Now condemn Jewish Power and Netanyahu (David Schraub, Haaretz+) We U.S. Jews said during the Women's March controversy we'd never tolerate a Farrakhan or his fans in our community: there would be an immediate, unqualified denunciation. This is our Farrakhan moment.
The Palestinian Authority helps Arabs build in Jerusalem, where the government freezes construction for Jews (Kalman Liebeskind, Maariv) Documents revealed here, relating to land in Givat Hamatos (neighborhood of Jerusalem that is over the Green Line - OH), show how the Palestinian Authority is involved in projects located at strategic points in order to establish facts on the ground.
How the New Israeli Judaism Was Born (Tomer Persico, Haaretz+) A new identity is sweeping Israel – simultaneously traditionalist, nationalist and liberal.
Another giant leap for the Jewish state (Isaac Ben Israel, Yedioth/Ynet) When three young men came into my office almost 10 years ago, it was the start of an endeavor that illustrates the Israeli entrepreneurial ethos, says the head of the Israel's Space Agency.
Regardless of the outcome of the elections, it is the High Court that will continue to rule us with a high hand (Attorney Yoram Sheftel, Maariv) Whatever the consequences, it is not the victor and the government that will form the people who will rule the country, but, as has been the practice for 30 years, the dictatorship of the High Court of Justice.
Boycotting boycotters will backfire (Yossi Beilin, Israel Hayom) The U.S. bill backing states that punish individuals and organizations that boycott Israel is doomed to fail under the First Amendment. What's worse, it causes needless tension between the Jewish state and U.S. Democrats.
Polish Honor and Israeli Hypocrisy (Daniel Blatman, Haaretz+) Israelis are demanding that Poland acknowledge that the Polish nation colluded with the Nazis in the murder of the Jews. This will never happen because it simply isn’t true.
Netanyahu must maintain his ties with Putin because Russia is here to stay (Brig. Gen. (Res.) Eli Ben Meir, Maariv) Moscow intends to continue to deepen its involvement in the region, with an emphasis on Syria. Therefore, we must continue security coordination with it, but avoid being perceived by the Americans as pro-Russian.
Mohammed Bin Salman Looks East but Worries About the West (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) The cooperation agreement with Pakistan is only the first step in the Saudi ‘expansion to the east.’ The bad news: A U.S. Congress that may end funding for the war in Yemen.
 

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