APN's daily news review from Israel

Thursday October 17, 2019

NOTE: News Nosh will be on Sukkot holiday from Sunday through Tuesday, October 20-22.
 

Quote of the day:

Haaretz

Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)

Israel Hayom

Top News Summary:
The death of the teen who was struck by lighting, the tuna fish that has poisoned Israelis and the conflicting statements over whether Jordan agreed to postpone the return of its lands in Moshav Tzofar by six months were top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers alongside the diplomacy to stop the Turkish attack against Kurds in northern Syria and the latest moves by politicians in election news.

Turkey’s offensive on Syria’s Kurds continues with over 200 civilians killed and has prompted meetings both in Turkey and in Israel. US Vice President Mike Pence and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrive in Ankara today to try to convince Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan to agree to a ceasefire. Afterward, Pompeo will visit Israel. And yesterday, the leader of Kahol-Lavan and former IDF chief of staff, Benny Gantz, met with the IDF’s Chief of Staff to discuss the “recent security challenges,” which are increasingly worrying Israel. After the newspapers went to print, the shocking October 9th letter, in which US President Donald Trump wrote to Erdogan: “Don't be a tough guy. Don't be a fool!,” was released. The websites shared the letter today and reported later today that Erdogan threw it away. In Tel-Aviv, Israelis demonstrated outside the Turkish and U.S. embassies against the US withdrawal of forces in Syria and against Turkey’s attack.

Yedioth published a two-page spread titled "Sowing (the land) with tears." In less than a month, the historic agreement with Jordan will expire, and Israel will have to return to the kingdom the enclaves in Moshav Tzofar and Kibbutz Naharayim. Foreign Ministry officials announced there was a six-month postponement of the return of the lands of Tzofar. However, Amman firmly denied the Israeli report that it may delay the return: “We made a final and unequivocal decision.” Jordan announced its intention last year to re-assume full control of two enclaves let to Israel under the 1984 peace treaty. Yedioth wrote: "There are 268 miles along the country's long border that separate between the Tzofar enclave in the south and the Naharayim enclave in the north. But despite the great distance between them in the minimal dimensions of the State of Israel, the two places have a very common and real threat: the Jordanian claim of ownership." Yedioth Hebrew interviewed Israeli farmers who fear for their livelihood and who said they are experiencing tremendous frustration with the country's incompetence: "The day the land transfers to Jordan will be a black day in Israel's history," said farmers.

Elections 2019 News:
The papers reported that Netanyahu had members of his right-wing/religious bloc sign another agreement that they won’t sit with Kahol-Lavan in a minority government. The commitment includes a pledge to thwart any new legislation if Gantz did succeed in forming the next governmen. MKs Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked refused, saying they don’t need to sign a document to prove their loyalty. Netanyahu is concerned that Gantz will forge a minority government with Israel's center-left parties and the support of Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman and the external support of the Joint List. But Maariv reported that according to Channel 12 News, Gantz does not rule out the President's proposal of a rotation government, with Netanyahu serving first as prime minister, but on condition he steps down if and when he is indicted. "We will sit under Netanyahu for a few months, we'll hold our noses, but in the end, Netanyahu has an expiry date," Gantz said according to his associates.

Then today, Thursday, six days before Netanyahu’s mandate to form a coalition government expires, he announced to the leaders of the (right-wing) “bloc" that he intends to offer the chairman of Kahol-Lavan an outline for a unity government with Kahol-Lavan that includes agreements in the areas of religion and state. A senior source in Kahol-Lavan: responded saying it was spin: “There was no proposal and no draft and Netanyahu doesn’t mean a single word. He does everything to lead to new elections and just tries to blame others as always.” (Maariv) Meanwhile, Election Chairman, Retired Justice Hanan Melcer, called for criminal probes into voting fraud at 30 polling stations. (Also Maariv.)
 

Quick Hits:

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Features:

*Entered the heart
A year after he had a heart transplant, Ido Hermon, 48 from Nes Ziona, met with Naif Abu-Arar, 59, the eldest brother of 17-year-old Issa, who was killed in a car accident. The two had a moving meeting. ”It's as if my brother is still alive, but in a different way,” said Abu-Arar,  who donated his youngest brother’s heart, despite opposition from his family and religious figures. “To me it doesn’t mattter if it’s a Muslim, a Christian or a Jew, the issue is to save someone’s life,” said Abu-Arar, who is the mayor of the Bedouin village of Arara. “(Ilana Stutland, Maariv Magazine supplement, cover)
 
Commentary/Analysis:
The Spring of Disinheritance (Haaretz Editorial) On Tuesday, after numerous delays, the site of Ein Hanya, the jewel in the crown of the metropolitan park on the southwestern borders of Jerusalem, was opened temporarily, for the interim days of Sukkot. Planners and developers of the Jerusalem Development Authority, the Jerusalem municipality and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority have stressed the importance of the surrounding terraced landscape and conservation of traditional agriculture, which “expresses the traditional cultural heritage of agriculture and settlement,” say the instructions for the park’s establishment plan. It was opened on condition that Palestinians, including the farmers responsible for the creation and conservation of the terraced landscape, were kept away from the park. The story of Ein Hanya is about annexation, expulsion and sidelining Palestinians from their space under the cover of security. The spring is one of the most plentiful in the Jerusalem mountains and is part of an archaeological site with a long history. Until restoration work started a few years ago, it was a popular destination for Palestinians from the village of Al-Walaja, which sits above the spring, and nearby Beit Jala. Israelis and Palestinians have often enjoyed the site side by side. Shepherds would come to water their herds while on the slopes Palestinian farmers cultivated the terraces and olive groves.
Yossi Cohen does not deserve to be head of the Mossad (Ran Edelist, Maariv) The statements by the head of the Mossad indicate that he has tied the organization to the implementing of policy whose purpose is the fleeing of the Prime Minister from going on trial, and he is talking about assassinations like Netanyahu, who corresponds with his political base to gain points.
An Anonymous Backpacker Turned Israeli Hero (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) A new Gilad Shalit has been born: Naama Issachar. An unlucky Israeli backpacker, who was found in possession of a drug that made her the victim of an international plot. She has become our latest national heroine. A moment ago nobody would have cared what happened to her, although she has been rotting in a Russian jail for a few months; in a moment from now, when the media loses interest and moves on to the next hero, she’ll be forgotten. Meanwhile she is our girl, she belongs to all of us. Israel loves momentary heroes like this, into which it can pour everything that is horrifically absent here on a day-to-day basis. There’s no real solidarity with the weak, in fact there’s hardly any solidarity at all. Go to the street, to the mall, to a parking garage, drive the roads, stand in line, and see the Israeli lack of consideration for others, any others, the unbelievable aggression, violence, rage and even hatred roiling and bubbling everywhere.
Trump Has Handed Turkey, Iran and Russia a Poisoned Victory in Syria (Yoel Guzansky and Ari Heistein, Haaretz+) Trump’s abrupt Syria withdrawal has triggered hysterical headlines. But for America’s enemies, it isn’t such a wonderful gift.
Netanyahu's failed gamble on the world stage (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) The PM has made political capital of his friendships with world leaders, primarily Trump and Putin; but the American president is increasingly isolationist and unstable and the Russian leader is holding an Israeli hostage on trumped up drug charges due to an extradition row.
Trump's About-face in Syria Forces Israel to Rethink Its Middle East Strategy (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) The American disengagement from the region will bear severe, far-reaching consequences.
The withdrawal from Syria highlights the benefits of a binding defense alliance with the US (Zalman Shoval, Maariv) When Netanyahu talked about discussions with President Trump, he was accused of electioneering. But in light of recent events, would it not be right to adopt an alliance approved by Congress?
How Trump brought Israel and Democrats closer together (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) The unintended consequence of Trump’s betrayal of Kurds: Amy Klobuchar's depiction of Israel in Democratic debate as 'beacon of democracy' is sweet music to the ears of worried supporters.
Trump’s Middle East moves show why Israeli deterrence is crucial (Evelyn Gordon, Israel Hayom) They may actually make war with Iran less likely because they send the vital message that if Tehran attacks Israel, Jerusalem will hit back – and hard.
Turkey's problem isn't Trump, it's Erdogan's gunboat economics (David Rosenberg, Haaretz+) Somehow the Istanbul Stock Exchange doesn't seem to be asking how their fearless leader plans to extract economic prosperity from occupied territory
Trump can afford to break his promise (João Lemos Esteves, Israel Hayom) The 45th president is the only White House occupant in the last four decades who has not started a war. If he chooses to stay in Syria, voters will forgive him.
Meet Gordon Sondland, the Holocaust Survivors’ Son Whose Testimony Could Get Trump Impeached (Allison Kaplan Sommer, Haaretz+) U.S. ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland will be the star turn Thursday as he testifies at a Trump impeachment inquiry hearing in Washington. But who is he and what is he expected to say?
You don't really care (Maha Aghbaria, Yedioth Hebrew) The wave of violence in Arab society has culminated in the past year, and the blood that has spilled brought thousands of us, the Arab sector in Israel, into the streets - because how can we continue to live in such a jungle that threatens our lives? Opposition to the establishment of new police stations in Arab localities does not stem from a reluctance to cooperate, but because we see the police as hostile to the Arab citizen and who does not act as it should, to say the least, when it comes to the Arab cities. The action of the police in our city amounts to the distribution of parking reports and concern for minor affairs only, while a well-intentioned and well-thought-out operation for the collection of weapons - which the police know exactly where and with whom they are - is out of the question for them. Some argue that such an operation would endanger the lives of the police, and that is a legitimate claim, but is that not their job by definition? And is it okay that for the enforcement forces not to enter the "problem areas,” we will continue to count victims, most of whom have no hand in any conflict, and the circle of bereavement will expand? What about (Jewish citizens) identifying and joining the fight out of the moral obligation of those who are in the right place and want to give everyone a safe life? The Jewish public proves that beyond the headlines of the media, it doesn't care about the problems of Arab society.
A historic visit took place under the radar (Dr. Michael Barak, Israel Hayom) Israel should foster ties with Sufi Islam after Sufi leader Sheikh Mehmet Adil al-Haqqani visited Israel last month despite a ban by many Islamic movements, who fear official visits will legitimize Israeli sovereignty over Islamic holy sites.
‘Our Boys’ Is Good PR for Israel (Yossi Klein, Haaretz+) The main thing is that we came out looking good from the TV series “Our Boys.” Everyone came out looking good. The prosecution, the court, the Shin Bet security service and mainly us. The prosecution was determined, the court was reasonable, and the Shin Bet was merciful. After all, we aren’t involved and the series is not about us. We’re familiar with the story of the murder of Mohammed Abu Khdeir from television, and as bystanders we found that it is very well made, really. An excellent series. We came out looking good when it comes to the murderers too. What do we have to do with them, they aren’t like us. They look different, dress differently and speak differently. Who knew before the series that there’s an expression “nidon al shem sofo” (one’s act will be judged on its future outcome)? Who knew that it’s a kind of permission for murder? We came out looking good, our conscience is clear. The Shin Bet too, look how good they look. Without torture, without suspects in the hospital “after the interrogation” and without any hostage who was murdered after being captured. On the contrary, if you have to fall into someone’s hands I recommend the doleful Simon from the Shin Bet, who “is only doing his job,” rather than Transportation Minister Bezalel Smotrich; go know what God tells him to do. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the series “anti-Semitic.” That’s understandable. “Anti-Semitism” has a special meaning for him. An anti-Semite is anyone who makes him angry, an anti-Semite is anyone who opposes his policy. And his policy is that “the Arabs” are the enemy, and you don’t talk to an enemy, and you certainly don’t make a TV series about him that is full of understanding and sensitivity….The creators of the series are guilty of comparing Arab bereavement to Jewish bereavement. After all, there’s no such expression as “a bereaved Arab family.” Terror, like loss, like the Holocaust, is ours alone. A terror attack and its victims are the holy of holies. Only we are allowed to enter it, we’re not familiar with the term “a bereaved Arab family.”
No separating anti-Zionist agitation from Jew-hatred (Jonathan S. Tobin, Israel Hayom) A Forward editor learns that those who seek to delegitimize Israel and its supporters are more than willing to tolerate anti-Semitism.
 

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