APN's daily news review from Israel

Friday March 07, 2014

Quote of the day:

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Front Page News:

Haaretz

• A drop in the sea - Despite the Israeli propaganda show, the takeover of the missile ship won't harm the strategic dialogue between Washington and Teheran
• The enemy of yesterday // Amos Harel
• A good Persian, a bad Persian / Amir Oren
• Prosecution won't sign (state witness) agreement with Shula Zaken
• 4 years in his position, how will the State Attorney leave his mark?
• Despite the propaganda, Crimean residents are divided between Kiev and Moscow
• Tens of thousands in E. Jerusalem are cut off from water since Tuesday
• Not checking too carefully - The Directorate for Jewish Identity disqualified pluralistic organizations without even contacting them
• Minister of Communications plans: The Broadcasting Authority will be dismantled, its employees will be fired and the television tax will be canceled
• Three discoveries this week are advancing the study of HIV and raising hopes for cures
• Second-hand from a criminal - The police working to collect illegal weapons - and then selling them back

• "We said to the Captain: We aren't pirates, we are the Israel Defense Forces" - New revelations about the takeover of the weapons ship
• The (TV) tax will be cancelled
• Will Netanyahu give up on his loudspeaker? // Raz Sukenik
• No deal with Shula Zaken

• Netanyahu on the Iranian denials: When the ship arrives in Eilat, we will see who is a liar
• Bad winds in the Mossad, organizational reform in the Shin Bet and turnover in Military Intel: The failure to predict the Arab Spring and the technological revolution that is shaking up the Israeli intelligence services
• Rhetorical war - He knows Russia is not as strong as the Soviet Union, but he is using the best of the Soviet methods; Despite relying on a primitive doctrine, Putin succeeds in preserving Moscow's status as a world power
• Pollard hospitalized - Head of committee for his release: "Fear that he won't survive the coming months in jail" (Hebrew)
• Communications Minister Erdan announced the cancelling of the TV tax within a year and the establishment of a new broadcasting authority

• "Military Intel put together the intelligence puzzle for months" - Soldier who participated in the operation: "When the weapons were found, there were shouts of joy"
• Small people // Gonen Ginat
• Netanyahu: It's time to release Pollard
• Tragedy: Mother of six died after birth
• Fortuna died on the bloody highway
• (Communications Minister) Erdan: I will close the Israel Broadcasting Authority and cancel the (TV) tax
• Women's Day: Yael Yaniv, only 32 years old and already assistant professor at Technion
• Study: Government ministries argue between themselves - and there is no standard for baby carriers

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Security Issues and Peace Talk Highlights:
The takeover of the ship carrying missiles in the Red Sea continued to be a top story in today's Hebrew papers. Meanwhile, the Palestinians say they have not received a draft of the US framework agreement for peace and that a boycott campaign will bring peace. Israeli officials say the boycott isn't a threat. And, Israeli Foreign Minister has "pulled a fast one" on the European Union on the subject of Palestinian prisoners.
 
Iran denied Israeli claims of supplying rockets to Gaza and Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammed Zarif Tweeted mock surprise about the claim and the timing, but Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said: "When the ship reaches Eilat, we'll see who's lying." The Israeli websites have posted IDF video of the navy commando unit making the raid. A senior Israeli military intelligence officer told Maariv/NRG Hebrew that there are dozens more similar affairs connected to Iran that are being examined. The official said that the Iranians would likely freeze their activities until they discover how the information was leaked about the ship to Israel. Another senior intel officer told Haaretz+ that the naval raid blocks the smuggling route, but that new weapons shipment routes will be found. 
  
On the peace front, Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, who is holding meetings with American officials in Washington, denied he has received an outline or final proposal for a framework agreement, in contradiction to an Al-Quds newspaper report. And NRG Hebrew translated parts of a Time Magazine article by the Middle East correspondent, Karl Vick, in which the Palestinians threatened to escalate the boycott efforts after the failure of negotiations. Some Palestinian officials said that the "boycott weapon is the best chance for peace." But Israel officials are convinced: boycott efforts have failed. Israeli officials told Maariv/NRG Hebrew that despite calls in Europe and the US for a boycott, investments, exports and high-tech in the country have been unaffected. Additionally it seems that European funds that considered withdrawing their investments from Israel have changed their minds. "Their effort failed miserably," say Israeli officials. (NRG Hebrew)

Yedioth writes that Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has prepared a 'fast one' for the European Union: After the Chairman of the EU Foreign committee asked for permission for a parliamentary delegation to visit Palestinians in Israeli prisons, Lieberman instructed his ministry to respond saying that the permit would be granted if the EU would allow an Israeli delegation to visit a European jail. Israel has not received a response to its request. Itamar Eichner wrote that an Israeli Foreign Ministry official said the European request was "coordinated in advance with Palestinian sources, who are trying to lead a campaign against Israel on the subject of prisoners." [News Nosh has recorded the numerous complaints of maltreatment and negligence of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails reported on by Maan, but not in the Hebrew media. - OH]

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Quick Hits:

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