APN's daily news review from Israel
Tuesday May 13, 2014
Quote of the day:
Israeli police were "looking into the circumstances of how (the settlers) accidentally entered
Burin."
--Israel Police Spokesman says armed Israeli settlers driving ATVs inside a Palestinian village was unintentional. Locals detained the settlers and handed them over to Palestinian security forces.**
--Israel Police Spokesman says armed Israeli settlers driving ATVs inside a Palestinian village was unintentional. Locals detained the settlers and handed them over to Palestinian security forces.**
Front Page News:
Haaretz
- Today: Sentencing of Olmert and others convicted in Holyland affair
- At army's demand, Netanyahu to examine how to again increase security budget
- [Main photo] Boko Haram published photos from captivity: "The girls converted to Islam"
- Netanyahu's (coalition) partners leave window open for postponing the date of presidential elections
- Netanyahu is counting on stubbornness
- Assessment: Limit of house value for VAT exemption for those who did not serve in army to rise to 950,000 shekels
- Minister Perry thwarting (law) prohibiting pardon for terrorists
- (Education Minister) Piron's reforms will actually harm the outstanding students
Yedioth Ahronoth
- Preparing for prison - Today: Olmert's sentencing
- No reason to celebrate // Nahum Barnea
- Sting operation on Golani Brigade officers
- Israeli force aiding in search (for kidnapped Nigerian girls)
- Shameful budget cut of ceremony of Maalot massacre
- I chose not to be angry - Moran Nitzan, daughter of Ronen Nitzan, former commander of Ramle prison, speaks about his murderer, who was released from prison
- Is there an apartment like that? We looked for apartments that cost 600,000 shekels, the limit for the VAT exemption for those who didn't serve in the army
Maariv
- not published today
Makor Rishon
- Today: Court to give Olmert's sentence in Holyland affair (Hebrew)
- Minister Perry appealed law prohibiting release of prisoners (Hebrew)
- Don't touch the presidency // Dr. Ofer Kenig
Ukraine in crisis
- Peres Street - Haifa to discuss today naming neighborhood in honor of President Shimon Peres (Hebrew)
- Late compensation - European court of human rights ruled that Turkey will pay compensation for its invasion of Cyprus
Israel Hayom
- Judgment Day - For first time in history of state: Former prime minister Ehud Olmert expected to be sent to prison
- Words are not enough - the judge must give Olmert a prison sentence // Dan Margalit
- (Defense Minister) Yaalon: Treasury de-legitimizing career soldiers
- Soccer - without smoke - Bill passed in first reading prohibiting smoke at stadiums
- [Extremist right-wing -OH] Rabbi Druckman: Law against Israel Hayom is scandalous
- Netanyahu considers bringing bill to government to vote on postponing elections for President
- Report submitted to UN reveals: This is how Iran bypasses sanctions
News Summary:
Today's top story in the Hebrew papers was about what sentence former prime minister Ehud Olmert would receive for taking bribes. The newspapers' websites reported this morning that he got six years prison. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's efforts from Japan to postpone the vote for a new president and Science Minister Yaakov Perry's effort to derail the bill prohibiting release of Palestinian prisoners also made headlines. Meanwhile, the Palestinians have asked Western nations to add Israeli hate crimes to their terror lists, while Israel's Public Security Minister told Israeli Arabs to have restraint in regards to the attacks against them. Later this week, Palestinian and US leaders will meet in Europe for talks.
For the first time in Israel's history, a former prime minister received a jail sentence. Tel-Aviv District Judge David Rozen sentenced Ehud Olmert to six years in jail for accepting bribes in the Holyland real-estate development corruption affair and ordered him to pay a 1 million shekel ($290,000) fine. "He who offers a bribe is corrupt and he who accepts a bribe is no better than a traitor," said the judge. Olmert is expected to appeal to the High Court. President Shimon Peres said, "Personally, this is a sad day."
Right-wing ministers are furious over Yesh Atid Science Minister Yaakov Peri's appeal against a bill that would make it illegal to release terrorists serving life sentences. The bill drafted by Habayit Hayehudi passed the ministerial committee Sunday with the support of seven right-wing ministers from Likud, Yisrael Beytenu and Habayit Hayehudi. Peri, Health Minister Yael German (Yesh Atid) and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni (Hatnuah) opposed it. The decision whether or not to discuss the appeal is in the hands of the Prime Minister only, wrote NRG Hebrew. Habayit Hayehudi members said in response that they considered it a declaration of war by Yesh Atid. The two parties were allied until not long ago. If passed, the law will complicate peace processes, as release of Palestinians from Israeli jails is a top priority for Palestinian families.
In a letter sent to EU and US foreign ministers and leaders, the Palestinian Authority asked that Israeli 'hilltop youth' and 'price tag' activists be added to terror lists, saying they breed a culture of hate and racism. Haaretz+'s Barak Ravid writes that "it is still unclear whether this Palestinian move is the beginning of a prolonged political campaign or an isolated step aimed solely at PR needs. If the move is serious, it is likely the Palestinians were inspired by successful past campaigns launched by Israel to include Hamas and Hezbollah on the list of terrorist organizations in the EU and other countries around the world." Ravid believes the Palestinian campaign has a chance of success, as the US has listed Jewish Israeli groups on the list of terror organizations in the past: Kach and Kahane Chai. [Some hilltop youth are supporters of Kahane Chai. - OH]
In Israel, Arabs were asked not to react to price-tag attacks against them. During a tour of the north of Israel on Monday Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch said that Arabs should 'exercise restraint' in the face of vandalism and allow the police to do the work, promising that justice will be served, Haaretz+ reported. [Israeli-Arabs have said they don't believe that in light of the statistics. Practically no one has been indicted for such attacks. - OH]
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State John Kerry and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will meet Thursday in London to discuss the US-Palestinian relationship. It is possible the discussions will focus on the difficulties the US will have in giving funding to the Palestinian Authority following the unity deal between Fatah and Hamas and the unity government that is soon to be formed.
European Union foreign ministers said they welcomed the union between Fatah and Hamas and that the unity government that will be established would recognize the existence of Israel as legitimate, NRG Hebrew reported. Meanwhile, Palestinians are preparing for "Naksa Day" protests.
Today's top story in the Hebrew papers was about what sentence former prime minister Ehud Olmert would receive for taking bribes. The newspapers' websites reported this morning that he got six years prison. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's efforts from Japan to postpone the vote for a new president and Science Minister Yaakov Perry's effort to derail the bill prohibiting release of Palestinian prisoners also made headlines. Meanwhile, the Palestinians have asked Western nations to add Israeli hate crimes to their terror lists, while Israel's Public Security Minister told Israeli Arabs to have restraint in regards to the attacks against them. Later this week, Palestinian and US leaders will meet in Europe for talks.
For the first time in Israel's history, a former prime minister received a jail sentence. Tel-Aviv District Judge David Rozen sentenced Ehud Olmert to six years in jail for accepting bribes in the Holyland real-estate development corruption affair and ordered him to pay a 1 million shekel ($290,000) fine. "He who offers a bribe is corrupt and he who accepts a bribe is no better than a traitor," said the judge. Olmert is expected to appeal to the High Court. President Shimon Peres said, "Personally, this is a sad day."
Right-wing ministers are furious over Yesh Atid Science Minister Yaakov Peri's appeal against a bill that would make it illegal to release terrorists serving life sentences. The bill drafted by Habayit Hayehudi passed the ministerial committee Sunday with the support of seven right-wing ministers from Likud, Yisrael Beytenu and Habayit Hayehudi. Peri, Health Minister Yael German (Yesh Atid) and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni (Hatnuah) opposed it. The decision whether or not to discuss the appeal is in the hands of the Prime Minister only, wrote NRG Hebrew. Habayit Hayehudi members said in response that they considered it a declaration of war by Yesh Atid. The two parties were allied until not long ago. If passed, the law will complicate peace processes, as release of Palestinians from Israeli jails is a top priority for Palestinian families.
In a letter sent to EU and US foreign ministers and leaders, the Palestinian Authority asked that Israeli 'hilltop youth' and 'price tag' activists be added to terror lists, saying they breed a culture of hate and racism. Haaretz+'s Barak Ravid writes that "it is still unclear whether this Palestinian move is the beginning of a prolonged political campaign or an isolated step aimed solely at PR needs. If the move is serious, it is likely the Palestinians were inspired by successful past campaigns launched by Israel to include Hamas and Hezbollah on the list of terrorist organizations in the EU and other countries around the world." Ravid believes the Palestinian campaign has a chance of success, as the US has listed Jewish Israeli groups on the list of terror organizations in the past: Kach and Kahane Chai. [Some hilltop youth are supporters of Kahane Chai. - OH]
In Israel, Arabs were asked not to react to price-tag attacks against them. During a tour of the north of Israel on Monday Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch said that Arabs should 'exercise restraint' in the face of vandalism and allow the police to do the work, promising that justice will be served, Haaretz+ reported. [Israeli-Arabs have said they don't believe that in light of the statistics. Practically no one has been indicted for such attacks. - OH]
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State John Kerry and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will meet Thursday in London to discuss the US-Palestinian relationship. It is possible the discussions will focus on the difficulties the US will have in giving funding to the Palestinian Authority following the unity deal between Fatah and Hamas and the unity government that is soon to be formed.
European Union foreign ministers said they welcomed the union between Fatah and Hamas and that the unity government that will be established would recognize the existence of Israel as legitimate, NRG Hebrew reported. Meanwhile, Palestinians are preparing for "Naksa Day" protests.
Quick Hits:
- Palestinians detain 3 armed Israeli settlers driving ATVS inside Palestinian village - Dozens of Palestinians detained three Israeli settlers driving quad bikes through Burin village Monday, "provoking" residents. Palestinians "detained" them in an apartment in the village near Nablus before contacting the Palestinian security services. (Maan)
- Stars of David with swastikas scrawled on Conservative synagogue in J'lem - Unknown if vandals were Jews or Arabs; marks second graffiti assault at Moreshet Yisrael in three days. (Haaretz+)
- NGO: Israel puts more (Palestinian) children in solitary confinement - In more than one in five cases recorded by Defence for Children International in 2013, children detained for questioning by army reported "undergoing solitary confinement," said DCI. (Agencies, Maan)
- Holy See: Israel turning holy sites into military base ahead of papal visit - Papal spokesman tells The Economist Israeli security measures are so strict that pope and Christian pilgrims won't be able to see each other. (Haaretz+)
- Jordan sees tourist opportunity in Pope's visit - The Hashemite Kingdon, which is home to several holy sites, seeks to revive tourism industry adversely impacted by regional turmoil. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Israeli forces demolish houses, steel structures near Nablus - Dozens of military vehicles raided the village of Khirbet al-Tawil and demolished what an Israeli spokesperson said the "buildings...built illegally inside firing zones." Israel said the firing zones were used by the Israeli army "on a regular basis for trainings." (Maan)
- Israel won't ease sanctions on visits to jailed Palestinians - Citing security concerns, Defense Minister Ya'alon refuses to increase the number of family visits to Palestinians in Israeli prisons for now. (Haaretz)
- Peres state visit sparks protests in Norway - President met with political demonstrations over countries policies in West Bank on first visit by Israeli head of state to Scandinavian country. (Agencies, Ynet and Israel Hayom)
- Peres: Democracies have both a prime minister and a president - Netanyahu's proposal to abolish his office rebuffed by President Peres, echoing sentiment across the political spectrum. (Ynet)
- 7 injured in Abu Dis clashes as Palestinian youth re-open hole in separation wall - Palestinian youth east of Jerusalem have re-opened a hole in the Israeli separation wall that was sealed earlier on Monday, amid clashes in the town of Abu Dis. (Maan)
- Israeli forces, students clash at Al-Quds university - Clashes broke out in Abu Dis on Monday after Israeli forces raided the town to repair a hole made by local activists in the separation wall. (Maan)
- Lapid: Those who give more to the state, get more from the state - Finance Minister tells Israeli business conference that young people who completed national service is a 'better and more worthy citizen.' (Ynet)
- Lawmakers seek to raise home-buying VAT exemption for Israelis who don't do army service - Finance Minister Lapid comes to defense of two-tier benefit, saying those who serve deserve to get more. (Haaretz+)
- In recruiting campaign, Israel Police discriminates against Arabs, ultra-Orthodox Jews - The police say they prefer combat experience, contradicting their goal of getting more Israeli Arabs on the force. (Haaretz+)
- Trying to be apolitical, Israeli architects wall themselves into boycott - Royal Institute of British Architects resolved to ask the IUA to expel the Israel Association of United Architects from its ranks unless it condemned settlement construction and took action against those Israelis involved in it. (Haaretz)
- Likud takes control of powerful Knesset panel in Yesh Atid deal - Two senior Likud lawmakers to share leadership of Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee; Lapid's party to get extra deputy minister. (Ynet)
- Netanyahu may speed up sale of army land to fill holes in budget - The plan might prove a way to provide an extra $580 million that the military says it needs. (Haaretz+)
- Ya'alon: Finance Ministry is delegitimizing career officers - Defense minister says he will work to cancel raising the retirement age for career officers because the Finance Ministry has not followed through with a government-approved pay raise. Finance Ministry criticizes Ya'alon's "invective." (Israel Hayom)
- Turkish FM calls Jerusalem 'Palestinian land' - Davotuglu makes remarks at Palestinian solidarity conference against background of reconciliation talks with Jerusalem. (Haaretz+)
- Netanyahu in Japan: You have North Korea, we have Iran - Prime Minister in Tokyo for four-day working visit 'intended to strengthen the financial and business ties', calls for closer Israeli-Japanese ties. (Ynet)
- Israeli arrested at Ben-Gurion airport for selling arms to Iran - 64-year-old Israeli citizen wanted in U.S. for exporting military equipment to Islamic Republic. (Haaretz)
- New UN report shows how Iran evades sanctions - Confidential report by U.N. panel finds that Iran's methods of deception range from concealing titanium tubes inside steel pipes to using its petrochemical industry as a cover to obtain items for the heavy-water reactor in Arak. (Israel Hayom)
- European court orders Turkey to pay Cyprus over 1974 invasion - Ruling by Europe's top human rights court for 90 million euros in damages is its largest judgment ever. (Agencies, Haaretz)
Commentary/Analysis:
Without chance of pardon, prisoners denied the right to hope (Aeyal
Gross, Haaretz+) Beyond the impediment the new bill would place on negotiating release of future
Israeli captives, it also raises humanitarian questions.
No mercy for terrorists (Zvika Fogel, Israel Hayom) The bill prohibiting the release of murderous terrorists is not about revenge, but rather about setting a new norm in our moral values.
Denial, delusion and Jewish settlements are killing the two-state solution (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) Martin Indyk was blasted for fingering Israel in the ‘blame game’ but his warnings on the demise of the Zionist enterprise fell on deaf ears.
Don't rejoice at Olmert's downfall (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth/Ynet) Former prime minister may be a convicted felon, but he is not Satan. His jail sentence is not a cause for celebration.
Conference on 'Price Tag' (attacks) - a delusional criminal hierarchy (Yehuda Yifrach, NRG Hebrew) Is the legal treatment by Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and State Prosecutor Shai Nitzan of the phenomenon of 'price tag' deviating from the democratic legal rules?
Another unfortunate use of 'Nazi' (Katia Ritvin, Israel Hayom) I would like to apologize to my grandparents and other Holocaust survivors for the comparison writer Amos Oz made between the Nazi monsters and the "price-tag" vandals.
There is a solution: a Jewish and Israeli citizenship to Palestinians (Uri Elitzur, NRG Hebrew) We are here to establish a Jewish state. And it needs to be democratic, because if we become an apartheid state we won't exist at all, and no rabbinic sophistry will help. Our generation is strong, and can deal with the challenge of a state, in which one third of its citizens are Arabs with equal rights.
Sheldon Adelson discovers the limits of his power - in Israel (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) A new law targeting the mogul's free newspaper may succeed where the entire U.S. Democratic Party machine has failed in curbing Adelson's power to use his money to influence politics.
No mercy for terrorists (Zvika Fogel, Israel Hayom) The bill prohibiting the release of murderous terrorists is not about revenge, but rather about setting a new norm in our moral values.
Denial, delusion and Jewish settlements are killing the two-state solution (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) Martin Indyk was blasted for fingering Israel in the ‘blame game’ but his warnings on the demise of the Zionist enterprise fell on deaf ears.
Don't rejoice at Olmert's downfall (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth/Ynet) Former prime minister may be a convicted felon, but he is not Satan. His jail sentence is not a cause for celebration.
Conference on 'Price Tag' (attacks) - a delusional criminal hierarchy (Yehuda Yifrach, NRG Hebrew) Is the legal treatment by Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and State Prosecutor Shai Nitzan of the phenomenon of 'price tag' deviating from the democratic legal rules?
Another unfortunate use of 'Nazi' (Katia Ritvin, Israel Hayom) I would like to apologize to my grandparents and other Holocaust survivors for the comparison writer Amos Oz made between the Nazi monsters and the "price-tag" vandals.
There is a solution: a Jewish and Israeli citizenship to Palestinians (Uri Elitzur, NRG Hebrew) We are here to establish a Jewish state. And it needs to be democratic, because if we become an apartheid state we won't exist at all, and no rabbinic sophistry will help. Our generation is strong, and can deal with the challenge of a state, in which one third of its citizens are Arabs with equal rights.
Sheldon Adelson discovers the limits of his power - in Israel (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) A new law targeting the mogul's free newspaper may succeed where the entire U.S. Democratic Party machine has failed in curbing Adelson's power to use his money to influence politics.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.