APN's daily news review from Israel
Tuesday May 20, 2014
Quote of the day:
"Acting like an ostrich state is not an option for us."
--Justice Minister and chief Israeli negotiator Tzipi Livni slights Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's
decision to freeze peace talks.**
Front Page News:
Haaretz
- US will cooperate with Fatah-Hamas government
- Elections for presidency to be held on June 10th
- Documents reveal the forgery industry behind the land deals in the (settlement) outposts
- Bank of Israel: A sharp cut in next budget necessary
- Hebrew University to cut millions from Humanities (budget)
- (Left-wing) Blogger summoned for warning talk at Shin Bet because of Twitter post
- Swedish citizen was jailed at Ben-Gurion Airport because of her Eritrean origin
Yedioth Ahronoth
- Kings of Israel Square - The joy of Maccabi Tel-Aviv, the happiness of all: Tens of thousands celebrated the winning of the Euroleague Championship with the players yesterday at Rabin's Square
- 10th of June - Choosing a President
- Flying this morning abroad? Prepare for disruption at Ben-Gurion Airport
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links)
- Chief of Staff: We will stop training for reservists
- Maccabi Mania
- There's a date: Presidential elections will be held on 10th of June
- "Stabbed and filmed his friend dying"
- Bank of Israel: Raise taxes
Makor Rishon (Hebrew links)
- Chief of Staff Gantz: "IDF will end training of reservists in the coming year"
- Tens of thousands celebrated in Rabin Square with Maccabi Tel-Aviv players
- Waiting for the President: Elections to be held on June 10th
- Believes in an agreement - Iranian President Hassan Rouhani thinks that his country will achieve a nuclear agreement with the West
- Anger at Israel Chemicals Co. - Senior officials at company angry over recommendations of Shashinsky Committee
Israel Hayom
- Yellow celebration - Maccabi Tel-Aviv and the European trophy returned to Israel
- It's official: President of State to be elected on June 10th.
- Gantz: "This year the training for reservists will be stopped"
- Prof. Uriel Reichmann: The freedom not to to charge money (for newspaper) [in support of Israel Hayom - OH]
- Bank of Israel's bleak outlook: Budget cuts and tax raises will be needed
News Summary:
**Celebrations with Maccabi Tel-Aviv players at Rabin Square and the IDF Chief of Staff's declaration that the IDF will halt training for reservists this year due to budget cuts were top stories in the Hebrew papers today. Justice Minister and chief Israeli negotiator Tzipi Livni also made the news when she came out in her own defense for meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas last week. She subtly criticized Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, saying at Hatnuah party faction meeting that "acting like an ostrich state is not an option for us." She even hinted at accepting the soon-to-be-formed Fatah-Hamas unity government, saying: "Boycotting the other side is irresponsible...We cannot ignore the problematic nature of the deal reached between Hamas and Fatah, and in this regard we must understand that even if we wish to present an alternative position, then we must listen to the other side." (More from NRG Hebrew) Haaretz confirmed earlier reports that the US would also support the new Palestinian unity government, if it agrees to the Mideast Quartet conditions. A White House official told Haaretz+ that the US can't "engineer every member of this [Palestinian] government." But, Israel demands that Hamas also agree to the conditions in order for Israel to cooperate with the unity government. Economic woes also made headlines. The Bank of Israel said the government will have to find 18 billion shekels by making more budget cuts and raising taxes next year.
Makor Rishon/NRG Hebrew reported that Netanyahu is expanding economic ties in non-European countries to prevent Israel from being affected by European sanctions. At a Likud party faction meeting, Netanyahu layed out all the economic ties created with non-European countries and said, "This is our answer to those who want to isolate us." Israel Hayom quoted Netanyahu telling visiting Chinese Deputy Prime Minister Liu Yandong that China is fast becoming Israel's largest trading partner.
**Celebrations with Maccabi Tel-Aviv players at Rabin Square and the IDF Chief of Staff's declaration that the IDF will halt training for reservists this year due to budget cuts were top stories in the Hebrew papers today. Justice Minister and chief Israeli negotiator Tzipi Livni also made the news when she came out in her own defense for meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas last week. She subtly criticized Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, saying at Hatnuah party faction meeting that "acting like an ostrich state is not an option for us." She even hinted at accepting the soon-to-be-formed Fatah-Hamas unity government, saying: "Boycotting the other side is irresponsible...We cannot ignore the problematic nature of the deal reached between Hamas and Fatah, and in this regard we must understand that even if we wish to present an alternative position, then we must listen to the other side." (More from NRG Hebrew) Haaretz confirmed earlier reports that the US would also support the new Palestinian unity government, if it agrees to the Mideast Quartet conditions. A White House official told Haaretz+ that the US can't "engineer every member of this [Palestinian] government." But, Israel demands that Hamas also agree to the conditions in order for Israel to cooperate with the unity government. Economic woes also made headlines. The Bank of Israel said the government will have to find 18 billion shekels by making more budget cuts and raising taxes next year.
Makor Rishon/NRG Hebrew reported that Netanyahu is expanding economic ties in non-European countries to prevent Israel from being affected by European sanctions. At a Likud party faction meeting, Netanyahu layed out all the economic ties created with non-European countries and said, "This is our answer to those who want to isolate us." Israel Hayom quoted Netanyahu telling visiting Chinese Deputy Prime Minister Liu Yandong that China is fast becoming Israel's largest trading partner.
Quick Hits:
- Israeli troops shoot, injure Palestinian in northern Gaza - A 20-year-old man was collecting stones to make concrete outside of Beit Hanoun near the Erez crossing when Israeli forces shot him. On Sunday, Israeli forces shot another gravel worker in the same area. (Maan)
- Israeli bulldozers raze Palestinian structures east of Jerusalem - The structures, in al-Eizariya and the E1 area east of Jerusalem, left 15 people homeless. (Maan)
- Palestinian hunger-striker 'at risk of heart attack' - Ayman Itbish, who has been on hunger strike for 81 days for being imprisoned in Israel without charges, is now at an Israeli hospital receiving oxygen through machines, but refuses to end his strike until his detention is ended or a end date is declared by Israel. (Maan)
- Left-wing blogger questioned by Shin Bet over tweet - Noam R. says being questioned is Shin Bet's way of saying: 'Stay away from us.' Encounter came after he wrote about interrogation tactics (of Palestinian children that caused him to cry). (Haaretz+)
- Israeli forces detain 3 teenagers in Silwan - Israeli forces detained Mansour al-Awar, 16, Muath al-Awar, 16, and Ahmad al-Ghoul, 16 in Silwan neighborhood of E. Jerusalem. The reason for their arrest is unclear. (Maan)
- Court rejects demand to disclose scope of Shin Bet surveillance - Association for Civil Rights in Israel demanded to know how many permits the Prime Minister's Office issued yearly allowing the Shin Bet to carry out electronic surveillance in connected to suspected security offenses. Judge ruled that data on electronic wiretapping was excluded from Freedom of Information Law because info was held by Shin Bet, which is not subject to law. (Haaretz+)
- Israeli Supreme Court to hear appeal of Rachel Corrie case - The American peace activist was crushed to death by an Israeli military bulldozer during a nonviolent protest against the demolition of Palestinian homes in Rafah, Gaza on March 2003. (Haaretz+)
- Israeli forces uproot trees, level land near Bethlehem - Israeli bulldozers leveled large tracts of Palestinian land in the Bethlehem-area village of Nahalin. Locals believe Israeli forces are clearing land for a new road connecting the Neve Daniel and Beitar Ilit settlements. (Maan)
- Government to shift funds from religious schools to Arab ones - Education Ministry plan meant to boost low-performing Arab schools, which get 27% less in per capita funding than religious schools. (Haaretz+)
- Bedouin seek fair share of Negev tax bounty - None of the vast sums paid by the army and businesses in municipal taxes goes to the Negev regions’s neediest communities and that has to change, Bedouin argue. (Haaretz+)
- Jordanian, Algerian and local activists protest Gaza siege - Dozens of solidarity activists from Arab countries and locals from the Gaza Strip on Monday demonstrated at Gaza port against the ongoing Israeli siege imposed on the coastal enclave. (Maan)
- Cyber warfare unregulated, says IDF adviser - How the military operates in the digital realm is still murky legal ground. (Haaretz+)
- Bulgarian PM meets with families of Burgas bombing victims - Kobi Preis, whose son Elior was killed in the July 2012 bombing, says, "We ask that the European Union decision to label only the military wing of Hezbollah as a terrorist organization be changed." (Israel Hayom)
- Nobel laureate who shared prize with Israeli colleagues visits Palestinian university - Martin Karplus, who won 2013 chemistry prize with Michael Levitt and Arieh Warshel, calls for 'one state for two peoples, if two states is difficult,' says Al-Quds University press release. (Haaretz+)
- Boosting Palestinian economy at Allenby Bridge - The upgrade of the commercial crossing will mean a 30% increase in the goods passing through it, boosting the Palestinian economy. (Calcalist/Ynet)
- Dozens of Jerusalem prisoners kept locked up due to financial dispute between government institutions - Holdup was due to financial dispute between municipality and state-run rehabilitation authority that was resolved last week. (Haaretz+)
- Australian ends Mideast peace run in Jerusalem - Pat Farmer reaches Israeli capital after running 900 miles on what he calls 'Middle East Peace Run' which he hopes will help promote peace, tolerance. (Agencies, Ynet)
- DFLP: Unity govt restricted to Fatah, Hamas officials - Secretary-general of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine said Monday that the upcoming Palestinian unity government will not last long as it will only contain Fatah and Hamas officials. (Maan)
- Man suspected of conning US Embassy in Israel - Police say suspect's sting operation caused the US embassy a loss of NIS 130,000. (Ynet)
- Israeli, Chinese universities to collaborate on nanotechnology - Tel Aviv University president says agreement built from the bottom up 'because it started with our scientists meeting and falling in love with each other.' (Agencies, Ynet)
- Iranian women protest modesty laws in Facebook page - Hundreds of Iranian women are posting pictures of their bare heads on 'My Stealthy Freedom' in call for change to Iranian restriction on women attire in public. (Haaretz+)
- Rouhani: Nuclear talks will lead to agreement 'despite difficulties' - After recent round of talks in Vienna ends without results, Iranian president says accord will be reached since it's in everyone's best interests. (Agencies, Ynet)
Commentary/Analysis:
Abbas is walking a tightrope (Shaul Arieli, Haaretz+) Palestinian president is stuck between his commitments to Israel and the United
States, and the demands by Hamas and the Palestinian public.
For Martin Indyk, it's hard being a Jewish American official (Shimon Shiffer, Yedioth/Ynet) Netanyahu's associates are accusing Martin Indyk of hypocritical behavior and reminding him of his Jewishness, simply because he tried to help advance agreement between Israel and Palestinians.
Hamas wants to employ the 'Hezbollah model' (Jack Khoury, Haaretz+) Hamas source says its organization will be a party in government but will maintain an independent military; other Palestinian groups say Fatah-Hamas unity government won't last long.
Egypt's al-Sissi offers Hamas an escape hatch (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) The man who's likely to be Egypt's next president is trying to ensure his country's role in facilitating Palestinian reconciliation.
Not a time for concessions (Dr. Haim Shine, Israel Hayom) Israel should set only one condition for the renewal of peace talks -- an immediate cessation of Palestinian Authority incitement.
Competing for victimhood: Europe’s dangerous elections (Pierre Hazan, Haaretz+) The political 'immune system' against xenophobia, racism and anti-Semitism, built up by Europe in the wake of two world wars and Nazism, is steadily collapsing.
Releasing terrorists is not the role of government (Cielo Rozenberg, Makor Rishon/NRG Hebrew) The government does not give amnesty - that is the job of the president, any high school student knows that. If it does not want to release terrorists it should not submit a request.
Israel has little to fear from the International Criminal Court (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz) The ICC’s former chief prosecutor says the Palestinians wouldn’t have much of a case against Israel.
Abuse of power (Amir Weitmann, Israel Hayom) In a truly free country, the state has no right to dictate what the public reads.
Will Modi be the most pro-Israel PM in India’s history? (Seth Lipsky, Haaretz+) The signs are propitious for Israel. In common with some of his U.S. Tea Party peers, India’s prime minister-elect is business-friendly – not least to investors from Israel.
Israel Hayom, the people's paper (Danny Brenner, Israel Hayom) The public has forced Noni Mozes to face the fact that Yedioth has lost its hegemony.
Turkey and Israel, partners in muffling freedom of the press (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) U.S.-based Freedom House, which is led by a Jewish neoconservative, has downgraded both countries. It’s complicated.
For Martin Indyk, it's hard being a Jewish American official (Shimon Shiffer, Yedioth/Ynet) Netanyahu's associates are accusing Martin Indyk of hypocritical behavior and reminding him of his Jewishness, simply because he tried to help advance agreement between Israel and Palestinians.
Hamas wants to employ the 'Hezbollah model' (Jack Khoury, Haaretz+) Hamas source says its organization will be a party in government but will maintain an independent military; other Palestinian groups say Fatah-Hamas unity government won't last long.
Egypt's al-Sissi offers Hamas an escape hatch (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) The man who's likely to be Egypt's next president is trying to ensure his country's role in facilitating Palestinian reconciliation.
Not a time for concessions (Dr. Haim Shine, Israel Hayom) Israel should set only one condition for the renewal of peace talks -- an immediate cessation of Palestinian Authority incitement.
Competing for victimhood: Europe’s dangerous elections (Pierre Hazan, Haaretz+) The political 'immune system' against xenophobia, racism and anti-Semitism, built up by Europe in the wake of two world wars and Nazism, is steadily collapsing.
Releasing terrorists is not the role of government (Cielo Rozenberg, Makor Rishon/NRG Hebrew) The government does not give amnesty - that is the job of the president, any high school student knows that. If it does not want to release terrorists it should not submit a request.
Israel has little to fear from the International Criminal Court (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz) The ICC’s former chief prosecutor says the Palestinians wouldn’t have much of a case against Israel.
Abuse of power (Amir Weitmann, Israel Hayom) In a truly free country, the state has no right to dictate what the public reads.
Will Modi be the most pro-Israel PM in India’s history? (Seth Lipsky, Haaretz+) The signs are propitious for Israel. In common with some of his U.S. Tea Party peers, India’s prime minister-elect is business-friendly – not least to investors from Israel.
Israel Hayom, the people's paper (Danny Brenner, Israel Hayom) The public has forced Noni Mozes to face the fact that Yedioth has lost its hegemony.
Turkey and Israel, partners in muffling freedom of the press (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) U.S.-based Freedom House, which is led by a Jewish neoconservative, has downgraded both countries. It’s complicated.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.