News Nosh 05.16.14

by APN 05/16/14
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APN's daily news review from Israel
Friday May 16, 2014

Quote of the day:
"The use of social networks as a tool of protest is unacceptable."
--IDF Spokesman's response after more soldiers used Facebook as a means of protest - this time against evacuating settlement outposts.**

Front Page News:
Haaretz
Yedioth Ahronoth
Maariv End of This Week
Makor Rishon
  • not published Fridays
Israel Hayom
  • "Ehud counted the money with his own hands and bought suits and cigars" - Plea bargain with Shula Zaken approved
  • Burning time - till Lag B'Omer (holiday)
  • "Soldiers' protest on Facebook - harms IDF's values" - Soldiers protested evacuation of settlement outposts, 2 Nahal soldiers expelled
  • "The title of the bill against 'Israel Hayom' needs to be: Where is the shame?" - MK Moshe Feiglin, Deputy Speaker of Knesset
  • IDF on alert for fear of riots following death of two Palestinians in 'Nakba Day' marches
  • Defense Secretary Hagel: "I don't know of any evidence of Israeli spying"
  • Friday trips - Our recommendations for heritage trips
News Summary:
Today's top story was the sentencing of Shula Zaken who got off light with a plea bargain and harsh words from the judge in the Holyland case, that sentenced her ex-boss, former prime minister Ehud Olmert, to six years in prison. The weekend magazines discussed the sentences at length as well as the subject of the upcoming papal visit and the fear of more price-tag hate crime attacks. 

Another top story was the killing of two Palestinians by Israeli security forces during Nakba Day protests. Thousands marked the day with rallies in cities across the West Bank and at Damascus Gate of Jerusalem's Old City. The Palestinians say the two youth were shot by live fire and the Israelis say they will investigate. But, meanwhile, the IDF is on alert for the violent repercussions with extensive forces deployed across the West Bank, reported Maariv This Week. Moreover, the Palestinian Authority is considering ceasing security contact with Israel, Maan reported. While the Nakba Day demonstrations took place, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu toured Jerusalem and declared that the answer to Nakba Day was to pass his nation law, which states that Israel is the state only of the Jewish people, NRG reported. Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that "In the end, Israel will be forced to choose between a bi-national state and a state of apartheid."
 
And after Maariv This Week revealed that Germany cancelled the 30% discount it had agreed to give Israel for German gunboats to protect its offshore gas fields, the paper revealed that Israel is now considering publishing an international tender for them. Germany cited the breakdown of peace talks as the reason for canceling the discount.

Quick Hits:
  • Police using drones to track West Bank hate crime perpetrators - Court documents show police used drones to apprehend Harel Koren of Eli settlement while he chopped down Palestinian olive trees of Karyut village. Police also attaching GPS transmitters to the cars of potential criminals. (Haaretz+)
  • Minors from Bat Ayin settlement were arrested on suspicion of drug offenses (and attacking a Palestinian's car) - The boys also committed property crimes and public disorder in the settlement. And they went to a hwy junction with their faces covered and set fire to the tire of a Palestinian's vehicle with the intention of harming Palestinians in retaliation for the murder of Shelly Dadon. (Maariv This Week)
  • **The soldiers who protested on Facebook were dismissed from the army - Following the pictures soldiers sent where they declared they would refuse to evacuate Jewish settlements, it was decided to dismiss two soldiers of the Nahal Brigade. IDF spokesman: "The use of social networks as a tool of protest is unacceptable." (Haaretz and Maariv This Week)
  • Despite destruction, Ma’ale Rehavam residents remain hopeful - 'Once we start rebuilding our home again, things will get easier,' local mother says after demolition of her illegally built home. (Ynet)
  • Games of Thrones - Ahead of papal visit David's Tomb has turned into the focus of tension between Jews and Christians in the city: Butcher's knife laid at the entrance to the church with a threatening letter. Vatican representative in Israel asked Police to put guards at churches and Christian schools. Greatest fear is of an attempt to harm Christians in the coming days. (Yedioth Jerusalem supplement, cover story)
  • The gospel according to Francis I - Previous papal visits were either disastrous, successful or lukewarm; this time, Israel can stay calm: This visit is really not about it. (Haaretz+)
  • Pope Francis adds Jewish and Muslim leaders to entourage for Holy Land trip - Pontiff adds Rabbi Abraham Skorka and Omar Abboud to visit to show 'normality' of interfaith ties. (Agencies, Ynet) 
  • Israel's David's Sling will not win Polish missile tender, official says - U.S. executives said tensions with Moscow had heightened Poland's interest in strengthening its ties with the United States, which made it likely one of the U.S. bids would prevail. (Haaretz)
  • 'They didn't want me, but I fought, and I excelled' - 2nd Lt. Timna Marshall was born in Paraguay and abandoned in Israel by her adoptive mother. She fought to be drafted as a lone soldier, and on Independence Day received a presidential citation. "Even if you're alone, never give up," she says. (Israel Hayom) 
  • 'World wants to learn from Israel's women in the military' - "We are the only army in which women's service is compulsory, and 33 percent of the military is comprised of women. For other first world countries, it is no more than 10 percent," IDF Brig. Gen. Rachel Tevet-Wiesel says. (Israel Hayom) 
  • West Bank exhibit gives Gaza artists rare showcase - Dozens of paintings on display in Ramallah, with works already sold for prices ranging from $850 to $9,000. (Agencies, Ynet)
  • Unemployment in Gaza at five-year high of 41% - Following Egyptian army's operations against Rafah tunnels, Israel's restrictions on transfer of construction supplies, Gaza Strip industry left in shambles with 180,000 unemployed persons. (Ynet)
  • Israeli punitive action targets Palestinian banks - Electric Corporation begins power cuts in East Jerusalem and West Bank; shekel deposits prohibited. (Haaretz+ and Maan)
  • April sees 14% rise in tourist entries to Israel - New record for incoming tourism: Some 385,000 visitors entered country last month, 342,000 of them staying for more than one night. (Ynet)
  • Hagel: No evidence Israel spied on U.S. - On visit to Israel, U.S. defense secretary responds to Newsweek report quoting unnamed U.S. officials accusing Israel of espionage. (Haaretz)
  • Yoga, toxin-cleansing and a new film: The son of Hamas is fighting the demons of the past - Son of Hamas leader who became an Israeli spy is now a vegan hottie, who will be happy to tell you about the benefits of meditation. This week he visited Tel Aviv for the screening of the film about his life, where he reveals that he was raped as a child. "The Green Prince" stopped feeling ashamed and began to forgive, but is still angry at the state (of Israel), which refuses to give him citizenship and, he says, pressured the FBI to deport him from the US, after serving 10 years as an agent. (Maariv This Week, p. 24/Walla)
  • Israel, U.S. to carry out joint anti-missile defense test next week - U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel arrives in Israel to meet his Israeli counterpart, Moshe Ya’alon and address U.S., Israeli troops. (Haaretz+)
  • Israel admitted into cheese makers' guild - France-based La Guilde Internationale des Fromagers officially recognizes Israel's cheese industry by appointing eight representatives in Holy Land. (Yedioth/Ynet) 
  • Attorney General uneasy about Lapid’s controversial housing benefit bill - Weinstein will wait until next week to weigh in on the plan to give bigger tax breaks to army vets. (Haaretz+)
  • 30 years after civil war, signpost of Israeli embassy in Liberia returned - After three decades spent on a side wall of a local pub, signpost is returned to Israeli ambassador to Ghana. (Ynet)
  • Iraq extends Jewish archive stay in the United States - A number of Jewish groups and Congressmen have demanded that the archives remain in the custody of one of the major Iraqi Jewish Diasporas. (JTA, Haaretz)
  • UN nuclear probe of Iran reaches deadline, no sign of breakthrough - IAEA is seeking further clarification from Tehran on detonators that can be used to set off an atomic explosive device. (Agencies, Ynet)


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

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