APN's daily news review from Israel

Monday June 17, 2019

 

Quote of the day:

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Front Page:

Haaretz

Yedioth Ahronoth

Maariv This Week

Israel Hayom

Top News Summary:
The Israeli Prime Minister’s wife, Sara Netanyahu, admitted to and was convicted of a criminal offense after which her husband, Binyamin, claimed that she was the “victim of a witch hunt,” US President Donald Trump’s Middle Envoy, Jason Greenblatt, declared he, too, believes that Israel has the right to annex lands from the occupied Palestinian Territories making the top two stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers.

Sara Netanyahu signed a plea bargain that dropped the original charges of aggravated fraud, fraud and breach of trust. The Israeli commentators thought she got off easy, only having to give the state back $15,000 even though she allegedly spent $100,000 of public funds on catered fine dining meals and for chefs to come to cook, even though the Residence has a hired chef. Some of the papers mocked Mrs. Netanyahu in the titles of the Op-Eds: “The ‘Lady’ has a B.A, M.A. and a criminal report,” read Ben Caspit’s Op-Ed in Maariv (NOTE: He can’t stand her -OH]. Yossi Verter’s piece in Haaretz was titled, “Sara, the hero.” And the papers (with the exception of ‘Israel Hayom’) derided the Prime Minister, who said after the conviction that there was no justification for the investigation against his wife. A senior Justice Ministry official told Maariv and Haaretz afterward that “Sara is not Dreyfus," he said. "Even though today Mrs. Netanyahu stood in court, admitted to committing a criminal offense in which she unethically received 175,000 shekels from the state and she was convicted, immediately afterwards, the prime minister denied these facts and claimed that a ‘delusional witch hunt’ was conducted against her. The prime minister completely ignored the fact that Mrs. Netanyahu explicitly confessed that she acted in a tricking way contrary to a binding procedure, and he now claims that the binding procedure was ostensibly illegal. The prime minister continues to talk about ordering “disposable trays of take-out food” even though Sara Netanyahu explicitly admitted that she ordered many meals from luxury restaurants and in some cases also summoned chefs from restaurants (to cook), and every reasonable person understands that with 175,000 shekels, we do not order only disposable trays of takeout food.” (Maariv)

Speaking at The Jerusalem Post Conference, Trump’s envoy, Jason Greenblatt said he believes Israel has the right to annex parts of the West Bank. Greenblatt was referring to the statement by US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman's comments last week. “I support his comment. I will let David’s comment stand for itself," said Greenblatt. Greenblatt also said that the Trump Administration may again postpone revealing the ‘Deal of the Century' until after the upcoming general election in Israel, scheduled for September 17th. Meanwhile, Israel expects to attend the peace plan’s Bahrain economic summit. Interestingly, Trump confidant Lindsey Graham said he supports a two-state solution, despite the instruction from Trump’s son-in-law and advisor, Jared Kushner, not to use the term.

Not reported widely:
Two more attacks on Arab-Israeli bus drivers, but the Hebrew newspapers don’t mention that they are Arab. The overwhelmingly number of attacks on drivers have been by Jews against Arab drivers. Video shows the attack on the Kavim bus line #278 that travels from the ultra-Orthodox West Bank settlement of Elad to Tel-Aviv. Another video with clear audio reveals how the religious passenger first verbally attacked the driver, cursing him, then physically attacked him, punching and choking him, as passengers shouted to him to stop. (Ynet Hebrew+VIDEO) The attack follows one on a driver named Yehiya Shumari on May 22nd, which left the driver unconscious. Mako news website reported that “bus drivers come to work with tear gas and fire arms. “We are getting closer to the day a bus driver will be murdered,” said one. ”There is not a day that we do not experience violence."

Elections Quickees:

Quick Hits:

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Features:

'No one is immune to battle fatigue, not even the best fighters in the world'
Optimism, determination, meticulous preparations and a healthy dose of humor – Israel Hayom offers an exclusive glimpse into what makes the members of the IDF's elite special forces units tick. (Ran Puni, Israel Hayom)
Setting the record straight: Why Haaretz said Hitler 'made a good impression'
In 1932, Haaretz's reporter in Berlin was sent to cover a libel trial in which the Nazi leader was sued by one of his opponents. Hitler made a good impression, the reporter noted, paving the way for decades of fake news. (Ofer Aderet, Haaretz)
In an era of BDS, kids connect to Israel at summer camp
As support for the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement on US college campuses grows, many American Jewish teens turn to summer camps to bolster their affinity with Israel. “We create a space where it feels good to be Jewish and love Israel,” says one camp organizer. “There’s a reason singing ‘Hatikvah’ is the last thing we do each night.” (Deborah Fineblum, Israel Hayom)
 
Elections 2019 Commentary/Analysis:
A spoiled right-wing: Rabbis and politicians with big egos want to grab each other's necks (Dr. Chaim Misgav, Maariv) Anyone who has not learned a lesson from what happened in 1992 must not stay a day longer at the wheel. It is inconceivable that the right-wing camp will again pass that traumatic experience. Yitzhak Rabin and his friends laughed, no doubt stunned when they looked at the harakiri of their political rivals. And when the government fell into their hands as a ripe fruit, they did not think there should be a democratic decision before embarking on fateful moves. Arafat was brought back from Tunisia to the Gaza Strip, and the entire Zionist vision was about to collapse. And let's not forget, Rabin's government was established with the help of a blocking Arab majority, and this can happen now. The Gantz-Lapid team might do exactly what Rabin did. I believe that their “Separation” (from the Palestinians) plans are already in their drawer, prepared to be immediately put into operation. So it may be that all those who want to shake the ship want the government to change hands, but that's not what most of the right-wing camp wants.
Judges Put Aside Duty to Protect Sara Netanyahu. Will They Do the Same With Her Husband? (Revital Hovel, Haaretz+) The true face of Israel's judicial system was revealed when it came to judging the strongest woman in the country.
Bursting the Lieberman balloon (Yehuda Shlezinger, Israel Hayom) Given Yisrael Beytenu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman’s unprecedented incitement, the ultra-Orthodox parties will simply thank him for his years working closely with them and voting to increase their budgets.
With Sara's Conviction, Netanyahus Deceitfully Portray Themselves as Ultimate Victims (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) Instead of thanking the merciful prosecution for the VIP criminal procedure it granted his wife, Netanyahu chose slandering law enforcement and baseless, ridiculous self-pity.

Commentary/Analysis:
Masked Men: The Ugly and the Beautiful (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) Fawzi Ibrahim bequeathed courage to his sons, against his will and theirs: The courage to oppose the continued theft of their land by the Jewish settlers in Emek Shiloh. When a hilltop youth throws stones at Palestinian farmers and Palestinian cars, he is a criminal following in the footsteps of the government’s crimes. These are the crimes that built his parents’ private home in the settlement, and ensure the welfare of the outpost that will be born of the outpost where he now lives happily. When a Palestinian teenager throws stones at soldiers and policemen, at a reinforced military lookout post, and at Israeli cars, he is fulfilling his historical right and obligation to rise up against any enemy because he is an enemy. Even if his act is pathetic and desperate, occasionally capricious and imitative, and at the moment ineffective, because it is not part of a mass popular uprising.
By Demonizing BDS, Germany Is Betraying the Fight Against anti-Semitism (renowned Israeli artist Dani Karavan, Haaretz+) The Bundestag mixed up the struggle against anti-Semitism with support for the most right-wing, populist government ever to rule Israel. Will Germany's government now make the same dangerous mistake?
The decision of the Tel Aviv municipality to distribute Amos Oz's book to students fills me with hope (Nurit Canetti, Maariv) What a storm! The Tel Aviv municipality, which has given (the same - OH) four books to children in educational institutions over the years, has replaced the repertoire. Of course, the choice that made the most significant public debate was the decision to replace the book "Altneuland" by Binyamin Zeev Herzl, which has been distributed for the past 20 years to the graduates of the high schools, with Amos Oz's book, “How to cure a fanatic,“ (Hebrew title: “Peace for the fanatics”), which combines three current events and political articles. As a mother of girls in the Tel Aviv school system, the logical, humanistic, and ethical thinking process that is being made regarding the gifts to students fills me with hope. And a populist response will not change that.
Arab nationalism is hurting Haifa (Eldad Beck, Israel Hayom) The city's authorities are doing nothing to stem the tide of Arab nationalism flooding it with false narratives; to a large extent, they are even collaborating with it and helping to fund it.
Welcome to Trump Heights, the Israeli Town That Doesn't Exist (Noa Landau, Haaretz+) The sign with gilded letters and the dramatic ceremony, just as the president likes, hides the fact that the proposal to establish the new Golan Heights community does not include any actual steps toward building it.
Jared Kushner's 'paradigm-busting' Mideast peace deal just won't work (Jane Kinninmont, Haaretz+) Kushner's 'all new' economic peace approach has been tried before. It doesn't work. And for Gulf states, long seeking deeper ties with Israel, it won't help either.
Trump? Bahrain? Jordanians Outraged Over Netflix's First Original Series in Arabic (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) With recent protests and many in the kingdom furious over upcoming U.S.-sponsored peace summit, King Abdullah may prefer his subjects to be preoccupied with a TV show.
What Netanyahu Sowed, This Northern Israeli City Reaps (Haaretz Editorial) Slogans regarding the need to “preserve the Jewish character” of a place were once again heard in Afula, during a demonstration on Saturday night held in front of a home that was sold to an Arab family. These slogans cannot hide the racist division between “our people” and “the others,” between the superior and inferior, between the holy and the unclean, that accompanies a person here from womb to tomb. Afula is a racist mirror of broad sections of Israeli society, the legacy of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent years in office. The spirit of the nation-state law – the Netanyahu government’s crowning glory – wafts over the Afula demonstration and gives legitimacy to discriminatory, ugly behavior toward Arab citizens. Israel urgently needs local and national leadership that will facilitate ways for Jews and Arabs to live together.
Jews are discriminated against in Jerusalem's Old City (Gilad Sharon, Yedioth/Ynet) Despite being the only country in the Middle East where Christians thrive, Greek Orthodox Church officials refuse to sell property to Jews claiming their presence is offensive to them and even trying to enlist the help of the Supreme Court.
Iran is a threat, but occupation is also Israel's enemy: Listen to Haaretz publisher Amos Schocken (Amos Schoken, Haaretz Weekly Podcast - FREE) Haaretz is celebrating 100 years and our publisher popped into the podcast studio for a wide-ranging discussion.
Iran is following a policy that is going to the edge, but not breaking the rules (Yossi Melman, Maariv) Although it is clear that Washington and Tehran do not want a military confrontation, it is difficult to see how and where the ladder will be found that will lower both sides from the tree on which they climbed.

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