APN's daily news review from Israel

Haaretz

Yedioth Ahronot

Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)

Israel Hayom

News Summary:
A crashing Israeli spaceship and promises of another try, challenges in appeasing the portfolio demands of the right-wing coalition partners-to-be with those of the senior Likud members in order to form a government, the adamant rejection by the Israeli President of the Brazilian President's statement that Holocaust crimes can be forgiven and an Israeli air force attack on Iranian military facilities in Syria were the top stories in today's Hebrew newspapers.

Election Quickees:

Quick Hits:

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Features:

Wounded Palestinian prisoners left in rain with no food or toilets in 'night of the atrocity'
About 100 shackled security prisoners in an Israeli prison were left outside for 36 hours, after two guards were stabbed. This week they launched a hunger strike. (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+)
A religious Jew and a devout Muslim find common ground
Elhanan Miller is a kippa-wearing Orthodox Jew and Thana Jawabreh is a devout Muslim who covers her head; together, they created a project to educate members of each other's faith and break down barriers. (Elhanan Miller and Thana Jawabreh, Yedioth/Ynet)
Soft Begin: That is how the late prime minister paved the way for peace with Egypt
This is how Menachem Begin maneuvered between the interests of the United States, the threats from Syria, the terror from Lebanon and the nuclear reactor in Iraq on the way to implementing the agreement he signed with Sadat. (Dr. Yigal Kipnis, Maariv)
Tunisian Piano, Medals and Magic Spells: Treasures Recount Glory of Jews From Arab Countries
Artifacts now on display at a Tel Aviv museum tell the story of flourishing communities in Arab countries and Iran, who sought refuge in Israel in its early years. (Ofer Aderet, Haaretz+) 
A headscarf among hijabs - Umm al-Fahm's Haredi teacher is building bridges
Ital Levy of Afula is the Arab city's sole Jewish educator, and while her appointment raised a few eyebows, she is determined to dispel what she calls 'harsh stigmas' and has won over her students and their parents. (Adir Yanko, Yedioth/Ynet)
A glimpse into the obscure world of Israel's state archives
Cabinet ministers thought that the minutes of the meeting about construction in the territories would be publicized within a few years. But it took more than five decades for the file to be opened, and then almost by chance
Yaacov Lozowick, Haaretz+)
 
Elections 2019 Commentary/Analysis:
The conclusion from the Israeli election results, this is it (Aluf Benn, Haaretz+) For Israel to achieve political stability, the electoral threshold must be raised. This can have two possible models: The tribal or the radical
Israeli voters showed they like things just the way they are (Sever Plocker, Yedioth/Ynet) To a thriving and growing middle class, Netanyahu's argument that he would change little made him a more appealing prospect than his Blue and White opponents, despite few true differences between them.
Trump Says Netanyahu’s Reelection Is Good for Peace. Israeli Politics Could Prove Otherwise (Amir Tibon, Haaretz+) The prime minister’s new right-wing team could thwart both the U.S. peace plan and bipartisan support.
The 2019 turnaround: Netanyahu's victory in the elections calls us to fight for our home (Ben Caspit, Maariv) The results of the elections could provide the prime minister with an ideal bribery coalition and mark the end of Israeli democracy, but we must not give in.
Yes, Netanyahu Won. And No, Israel's Democracy Didn't Just Die (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) Forget the hysteria, trolls and ignorance: The threat to an already faulty Israeli democracy has now intensified, but this was one of the most democratic elections we've ever had
Why Israel's Arabs stayed away on Election Day (Ayman Sikseck, Yedioth/Ynet) The meager turnout by members of the country's largest minority group is an indictment of the way in which they have been treated by Netanyahu and his clones running against him, who were clearly terrified at the prospect of making a 'deal' with the Arab parties.
For Real Change, the Zionist Left Must Drop Its Sense of Jewish Supremacy (Ravit Hecht, Haaretz+) The Zionist left has attempted to widen its circle of voters in several ways: It has tried to win hearts and minds by embracing social-minded platforms to help the weaker classes, to suck up to the Mizrahim in an attempt to weaken their historic enmity to Mapai, and to win over right-wingers through racist demographic arguments about preserving a Jewish majority in the land of Israel. All these efforts have failed. Those who spoke of possible cooperation with the Haredim in the heyday of Shas during Rabin’s second government, weren’t at all familiar with the ultra-orthodox street. Besides their great personal love for Benjamin Netanyahu, many ultra-Orthodox Jews are simply right wing. They willingly suckled the Zionists’ distrust and racism toward the Arabs. This brings us to the last group of potential partners – the Arabs. It’s true that the Zionist left treats the Arabs much better than does the right under Netanyahu, which thrives off despicable incitement against them. But the left has also not yet abandoned its sense of Jewish superiority. Forging a partnership between the Jewish left and the Arabs cannot be done through an “integrate the Arabs” slogan. It must involve a total change of DNA that involves giving up that sense of Jewish supremacy.
Now the masks come off (Yossi Beilin, Israel Hayom) If the American peace plan is unveiled before the next government is established, it could justify a move toward a national unity government so that the proposal isn't rejected.
Israel's Shallow Election Campaign Ended as It Deserved: A Farce (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) Hard-line former Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman will make Netanyahu an offer he can’t refuse, the problem will be the price.
Netanyahu must heed the will of all the people (Limor Livnat, Yedioth/Ynet) Ultimately, no one is better than the prime minister knowing how to read a room and reach those in it; so now, at the peak of his victory, he must do what all great leaders do and strive for unity.
Big Brother at the Ballot Box (Friday Haaretz Editorial) The party in power should not be permitted to deploy its people without any approval or oversight and intimidate an entire segment of society.
The opposition isn’t about making the prime minister miserable (Yossi Beilin, Israel Hayom) The point of an effective opposition is to provide well-grounded criticism of the elected government and convince the public that it presents a viable alternative – not to vote down any and all legislation that originates with the government.
As long as the Zionist left does not get over its hallucinations of peace, there will be no good governments here (Nadav Haetzni, Maariv) If a government could be formed from the Likud and its ideological satellites together with Kahol-Lavan, it would be possible to correct fundamental distortions in society and the economy.
Unity Means Following the Right (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) No, my friends, if Netanyahu is what you say he is, you have no right joining forces with him the day after the election. There is no greater fraud than that. And if he really is closer to your positions than you have let on, that’s also serious fraud. A call for unity in fact says: Everything was for show, the truth is that Netanyahu is not as bad as we told you he was.
Three important issues threaten Netanyahu's security approach (Yossi Melman, Maariv) The prime minister will seek to maintain the status quo, but he is not sure he will succeed. But it will not be easy for Netanyahu to uphold his policy, especially in the Palestinian sector. Three important issues threaten the prime minister and his approach. One is Trump's peace plan. The leaks so far indicate that he is clearly leaning toward Israeli interests, and Netanyahu hopes that the Palestinian Authority will reject it out of hand, without Netanyahu having to express his opinion on it. But it will also have elements that the right-wing parties will find difficult to accept, and this could lead to a coalition crisis. Another obstacle to Netanyahu's security stability is the annexation of the West Bank. If he decides to do so, a violent conflagration in the West Bank and Gaza is expected, international condemnation and the strengthening of boycotts of Israel. The additional challenge will be decided in response to the defense portfolio question. Two MKs from the Likud are eyeing the job: Avi Dichter and Yoav Galant. But the leading candidate is Avigdor Lieberman, without whose faction Netanyahu does not have a coalition. Also: To define the Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization has far-reaching significance, and is the police increasing the attacks on the Temple Mount?
Netanyahu's rivals should have seen it coming (Orly Azoulay, Yedioth/Ynet) The Blue and White party made the same mistake in 2019 as Hillary Clinton did in 2016, by refusing to get their hands dirty in the murky waters of politics while simultaneously failing to create a campaign of hope like Obama in 2008.
The Downfall of Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked (Shira Kadari-Ovadia, Haaretz+) After splitting from Habayit Hayehudi, the two superstars were never forgiven for leaving their activists behind.
Not a magician, a faithful stalwart of our nation (Dr. Haim Shine, Israel Hayom) Netanyahu won because of his sense of purpose and because the people know his grasp of history makes him particularly qualified.
Gantz, the former general, will have trouble commanding his political soldiers (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Sooner or later, the knives will come out at Kahol Lavan.
The Order of the Day: The plot of the legal establishment to oust Netanyahu must be prevented (Attorney Yoram Sheftel, Maariv) In the face of the unrestrained coalition of forces and the lies that he faced, including presenting him as a serial offender who repeatedly takes bribes, the prime minister's fifth victory is the most brilliant.
The Arab world and Israel’s election (Prof. Eyal Zisser, Israel Hayom) Netanyahu's re-election hasn't sparked any discernible uproar, and we can assume that some Arab leaders even breathed a sigh of relief upon learning he would continue serving as prime minister. These rulers want stability and fear any hint of change.
 
Commentary/Analysis:
The Price of Annexation (Haaretz Editorial) Annexation will lower Israel’s standing, especially in Europe, perpetuate the conflict and even spark a new round of bloodshed.
The date of Nakba Day will intersect with the Eurovision Song Contest - and may endanger the competition (Alon Ben David, Maariv) Netanyahu, whose conciliatory policy vis-a-vis Hamas has received clear support in the south, knows that no one will come to Israel while there are rockets falling.
The Best Chance for Israeli Right's Dream of Annexing the West Bank: The Palestinians (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) With Netanyahu victory, left's dream of a plan that would force concession on Israel seems more distant than ever.
In the Mayhem After Bashir’s Ouster, Sudan May Find an Unlikely Ally in Iran (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) The dictator who ruled over the African country for 30 years may have been booted, but Sudan is still deep in crisis.
From Bouteflika to Bashir, Powers Shift. But the Second Arab Spring Is Far From Breaking Out (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) Too soon to ring in the revolution: Eight years after the revolts that shook up the Arab world, public awareness isn't enough to spark true change.
Acceptance of Israeli action in Syria (Yoav Limor, Israel Hayom) The Russians and the Syrian regime, albeit more discreetly, have reservations about Iran's presence in the country. The sense in Israel, therefore, is that a window of opportunity now exists for pushing Iran out of Syria or at least significantly minimizing its activities there.
Thank You and Goodbye, Beresheet (Noa Landau, Haaretz+) Since the founding of Israel, every shared and unifying dream has disintegrated. There is almost nothing that people don’t disagree about – including, and maybe mostly – the formative national and religious events. Lacking fundamental shared experiences in the lives of the people, when even sports these days are an arena for political infighting, and after a divisive and especially painful election campaign – the Beresheet project provided a small and rare sort of opportunity to appreciate an achievement together, which was seemingly neutral. This is why the loss of communications with the spacecraft, just a moment before the anticipated landing, and just a moment before the announcement of the final election vote results, which at the very last moment went awry – exactly like the landing – felt like one big metaphor. Like the country that could have been, but we have missed out on. In the high-tech superpower filled with traffic jams and embarrassing trains, where it's impossible to receive a package in the mail, and votes can't be correctly counted, everything is so close, but not quite. But this was not the only reason the attempted landing on the moon by the Israeli spacecraft Beresheet was broadcast live Thursday night over every possible channel in Israel. The entire operation attracted enormous attention, partly because Israelis are yearning for a unifying experience. They want something not surrounded by partisanship, anything that people can agree on for a moment and be happy.
It's not anti-Semitism that makes defending Israel in America so hard. It's Netanyahu (Eric H. Yoffie, Haaretz+) For non-Orthodox U.S. Jews, Netanyahu's victory is unfortunate, even tragic. He's shown us only contempt, and his commitment to endless occupation destroys our efforts to sustain broad U.S. support for the Jewish state.
 

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