News Nosh 06.01.14

APN's daily news review from Israel
Sunday June 01, 2014
 
Number of the day:
1500.
--Number of Palestinians in Israeli jails who will be joining the 240 prisoners already on hunger-strike. **


Front Page News:
Haaretz
Yedioth Ahronoth
  • They knew and didn't tell - The oversight of the (social services) authorities who collected numerous testimonies about the woman who encouraged 13-year-olds to have sex with her - and they did not tell the police.
  • Death of the queen of theater - Hannah Maron
  • Steinitz: Security services misleading public; (Defense Minister) Yaalon's associates: He's digging
  • Kibbutzim for Chinese - After the Israeli model for pioneering was eulogized, it won new life abroad
  • Clean past - Google offers Europeans: Fill out a form and we will delete you from search results
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links)
Israel Hayom

 
News Summary:
The death of an Israeli actress, the apprehending of a young Palestinian wearing an explosives belt, the report that Israel wiretapped former US president Bill Clinton, and the revelation that social services knew the disturbed woman from Kiryat Gat was having sex with schoolboys were top stories in the Hebrew papers today. Meanwhile, Israel threatened it would cut off relations with the Palestinian Authority after the formation of a Hamas-Fatah unity government.

Two strange things about the 20-year-old Palestinian man, who arrived Friday morning at the flashpoint Tapuach Junction in the West Bank, wearing a homemade explosives belt under his heavy coat in the intense heat: 1.) When forces ordered him to take off his coat, he informed them he was carrying a bomb, "did not resist arrest or forces' attempt to take off his coat, and did not attempt to detonate the homemade blast." 2.) The belt had 12 iron pipes connected to one another with electrical wires, but only one pipe contained explosive material, Ynet reported.
  
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the Fatah-Hamas unity government would be sworn-in Monday and Israel said that when that happened, Israel would cut off relations with the Palestinian Authority, according to an official in Abbas' office, Haaretz+ and Maan reported. "Israel wants to boycott us because we made an agreement with Hamas ... but Hamas is part of our people," said Abbas. Israel also said it would not allow the two ministers from Gaza to travel to the West Bank for the swearing-in tomorrow.
 
Abbas said Saturday that the PA would respond to any Israeli punitive measure. "This is our money, not aid from Israel, and we will not stay silent," he said. Abbas reiterated that the national government would be "composed of independents and experts, not members of Fatah or Hamas or any other organization." Gaza Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said there would be no pulling back from the decision to end the Palestinian division and that the disputes between the two parties were 'under control.' Maan reported that the ministry of detainees, which president Abbas wants to dissolve but Hamas refuses to, and the choice of the appointment for the foreign minister, were the only two issues of dispute left. 
 
Prior to the report that Israel told Abbas it would cut relations with the PA over a unity government, US Secretary of State John Kerry commended Israel for waiting to see what happens. "Prime Minister Netanyahu and Israel are waiting to see what happens with the Hamas reconciliation… That’s an appropriate thing to be doing. We’re all waiting to see what happens," Kerry said in an interview with PBS Thursday. He also said he was 'disappointed' the peace process failed to yield results, but promised the US would continue to 'push the process forward' and he believed that the two sides would eventually feel the need to do the same.
 
And, while US President Barack Obama did not discuss the Israel-Palestinian conflict in his address last week, Obama told NPR that "I have not yet given up on the possibility that both Israelis and Palestinians can see their self-interest in a peace deal that would provide Israel security that's recognized by its neighbors and make sure that Palestinians have a state of their own," President Obama told NPR.

**PALESTINIAN PRISONERS' HUNGER STRIKE OVER 'ADMINISTRATIVE DETENTION': NO CHARGES, NO TRIAL
Meanwhile, there has been almost no coverage in the Hebrew papers of the Palestinian prisoner hunger-strikes, which more and more Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails are joining in solidarity with those who are in 'administrative detention'  - i.e. imprisoned without charges or trial. Below are a number of related items from the weekend:
  • Official: 1,500 more prisoners to join hunger strike -Qaraqe said many of the prisoners who began refusing meals on April 24 are suffering from internal bleeding and loss of memory and consciousness, and some are in need of surgery. (Maan)
  • Palestinian rioters clash with Israeli forces in West Bank Saturday (in solidarity with hunger-strikers) (Israel Hayom
  • Nablus shops on strike Sunday in support of hunger striking prisoners (Maan)
  • Israeli forces attack protest near Bethelehem in solidarity with hunger strikers (Maan
  • Israeli forces raid Palestinian prisoner ward in Ashkelon prison (Maan)
  • Israel denies family of hospitalized hunger striker right to visit (Maan)
     
Quick Hits:
  • Israeli military hiding panel investigating targeted killings - The Israeli security establishment set up a committee to look into the legality of aerial assaults and insists on keeping the identity of its members secret, claiming the matter is 'sensitive.' (Haaretz)
  • Cabinet set to vote on bill to stymie terrorist pardons - Bill would let judge veto the granting of pardons, making it difficult for governments to release terrorists in prisoner exchange deals. Due to agreement between Yesh Atid and Habayit Hayehudi, bill likely to pass. (Haaretz+ and Israel Hayom
  • The Putin-Netanyahu hotline - Soon the Prime Minister of Israel and the President of Russia can speak over an encrypted phone line. The warming relations are particularly notable in the shadow of the deteriorating relations between the West and Russia over the Ukraine crisis. Israel refused to censure Russia - and raised the US' ire. (Yedioth, p. 31, Ynet)
  • Bill Gates sells shares in U.K. firm linked to Israeli security services - Palestinian activists claim success after Microsoft co-founder partially divests from G4S, which provides security systems to Israeli prisons and checkpoints in West Bank. (Haaretz)
  • Israeli force apprehends Palestinian wearing suicide belt in West Bank - Border Police apprehend young Palestinian in Tapuah Junction wearing a jacket despite high temperatures; in separate incident, at least two shots fired at car near Adam settlement in the West Bank. (Haaretz+ and Ynet
  • Israeli soldiers 'assault, injure' 3 Palestinians in West Bank - Israeli forces in the Old City of Hebron late Friday detained two Palestinians after badly beating them in the street, a witness told Ma'an. Soldiers would not allow medics of Palestinian ambulance that arrived at the scene to take the two men to the hospital. (Maan)
  • Israel army: Settler car hit by gunfire near al-Ram - No injuries were reported as a result of the two shots, which hit the car Friday while it was traveling near the Jewish-only settlement of Geva Benyamin near the Palestinian village of al-Ram, the army said in a statement. (Maan
  • Israeli forces shoot, injure Palestinian fisherman off Gaza coast - A 22-year-old fisherman was moderately injured and hospitalized after Israeli naval forces deployed off of the al-Sudaniya shore in northern Gaza city opened fire at his boat. (Maan)
  • Israeli troops open fire at Gaza farmers harvesting wheat - Locals said Israeli troops stationed in watchtowers near the village of Khuzaa east of Khan Younis shot at Palestinian farmers as they were harvesting wheat. No injuries were reported. (Maan)
  • Hundreds pray in Jerusalem streets amid new Al-Aqsa restrictions - Israeli police now prevent any Palestinian man under the age of 45 from entering the (Temple Mount) compound and now allows Palestinians with blue identity card -- meaning Muslim Israeli citizens and E. Jerusalem residents -- to enter, barring all W. Bank Palestinians over 45 from praying there. (Maan)
  • Leaflets calling for demolition of al-Aqsa distributed (by Jews) in Jerusalem - The residents said that as they left their homes Thursday morning they found thousands of leaflets in Hebrew scattered in all roads and alleys including the alleys leading to al-Aqsa Mosque by an extremist Israeli organization called “Going back to the (Temple) Mount." (Maan
  • Dozens injured as Israeli forces disperse West Bank protests - Dozens of people were injured on Friday as Israeli forces dispersed non-violent protests across the occupied West Bank. Ahmad Ratib Abu Rahma, 20, was hit in the foot with a tear gas canister, Mohammad Adeeb Abu Rahma, 20, was hit in the hand, and a female Danish activist was struck in the leg and required stitches. (Maan)
  • Oversight: They chanted racist slogans and went free without charges - What punishment will fans of the [racist soccer team -OH] Beitar Jerusalem receive after being accused of chanting 'Death to Arabs' at the Beitar Jerusalem? Answer: Because of failures by the prosecution, they won't be punished at all. (MYnet Hebrew)
  • Police suspect arson in 3 synagogue fires - Two synagogues in Petach Tikva, one near Wadi Ara catch fire over the weekend. No injuries reported. Police suspect foul play, launch investigation. It is unclear at this time whether three cases are related. (Israel Hayom)
  • Lawyers make case for giving Iraqi Jews Holocaust benefits - Advocates claim that Nazi Germany was behind the Farhud, a pogrom against Iraq's Jews, which took place on Shavuot eve in 1941. (Haaretz+)
  • Palestine qualifies for 1st Asian Cup - Ashraf Alfawaghra scored the winner with a free kick in the 59th minute to help Palestine, ranked 34th in Asia, enjoy a memorable night at the National stadium in the Maldives and qualifying the team for their maiden Asian Cup appearance. (Maan
  • Rolling Stones Tel Aviv concert to start after Shavuot ends - Tel Aviv municipality makes an exception to noise pollution laws, allowing Rolling Stones concert on June 4 to start and finish a half hour later than planned. Change in scheduling will accommodate observant Jews coming to the concert. (Israel Hayom
  • Steinitz: Defense Ministry using 'undemocratic tricks' to protect budget - Comments by Strategic and Intelligence Affairs Minister are latest squabble over budget; aides to Defense Minister Ya'alon: Steinitz should practice before he preaches. (Haaretz+)
  • IAF to increase operational capabilities by 400% - By the end of 2014, Israeli fighter jets will be able to strike thousands of terror targets in a single day, IAF commander says. (Ynet)
  • U.S. to manufacture over half of Iron Dome components - Agreement will increase U.S. production of the air defense system's components from 30 percent to 55 percent as of 2015. (Haaretz+ and Ynet
  • Newsweek: Israel spied on Bill Clinton-Hafez Assad calls - Citing new book by British-Israeli author, Newsweek reports Israel eavesdropped on calls between U.S. and Syrian leaders during 1999 Israeli-Syrian peace talks. If transcripts authentic, they are indicative of "an Israeli Edward Snowden," Newsweek says. Steinitz denies report. (HaaretzYnet, Israel Hayom, and Newsweek)
  • Compromise: Ultra-Orthodox and Arabs will be able to buy a house up to 900 thousand shekels without VAT - Once it became clear that almost no apartments cost about 600 thousand shekels, Finance Minister Lapid decided go to the Justice Ministry with a compromise, despite his adviser Uri Shani arguing that the High Court will rejects the petition (that the unequal benefit is illegal). Shani: "I still oppose the expansion of eligibility (to those who did not serve)." (Maariv)
  • In pictures: IDF's female fighters finish training - Caracal Battalion is 70% female and offers Israeli woman chance to serve as full on combat soldiers, charged with patrolling the Israeli-Egyptian border - see stunning images from their final training mission before they are official inducted into battalion. (Agencies, Ynet
  • Elie Wiesel: Netanyahu pressed me to run for president - In an interview to Yedioth Ahronoth, Wiesel says he was approached by Netanyahu who told him 'everything is set, you just need to say yes.' (Haaretz and Ynet
  • Peres welcomes Panamanian president in Jerusalem - "I really want to thank you for your long-standing friendship and support for Israel and the Jewish people, on every occasion, on every issue, day in and day out," Peres says. Martinelli: Deal in the works for direct El Al flights to Panama City. (Israel Hayom
  • US Congressmen vow to work to keep Jerusalem undivided - 'Just as the United States has assisted the Jewish people in restoring their ancient state, we should lead the way in recognizing Jerusalem for what it is: the undivided eternal capital of Israel,' Congressman Trent Franks says. (Ynet
  • Concocting a success story - French pharmacists Didier Maarek and Gerard Ben Hamou started Pharmadom to sell Teva products in their pharmacies and use revenues to donate to Israeli causes. They have donated some $5.4 million so far. (Israel Hayom
  • U.S. business people eyeing investment in Iran - For the first time in decades, American entrepreneurs are traveling to Islamic Republic to discuss potential partnerships. (Agencies, Haaretz)
  • Syria pushing tourism amid ongoing civil war - The New Republic reports on Assad's plans for public beaches with fast food, and a hotel in Hama with health center and jacuzzi. (Haaretz)


Features:
Two families, one pain
In the center of the film, 'In the eye of the storm,' that will be screened tonight on Channel 1, stands the friendship between Rami Elhanan, whose daughter was murdered in a terrorist attack in Jerusalem, and Bassam Aramin, whose daughter was killed by mistaken shooting of an Israeli Border Police. The other face of the conflict. (Galit Edut, Maariv Magazine, pp. 8-9)
Was the Iranian threat fabricated by Israel and the U.S.?
In a new book and in a conversation with Haaretz, U.S. historian Gareth Porter charges that U.S. and Israeli policies on Iran have been based on fabricated evidence. (Haaretz+) 
Desalination tech makes Israel the best-hydrated Mideast country
Israel has four desalination plants operating, with a fifth set to go online later in 2014. Over one-third of Israel's drinking-quality water comes from desalination, with the number expected to exceed 40 percent by next year and hit 70 percent in 2050. (Agencies, Israel Hayom)
After the ScarJo storm subsided: a look inside the SodaStream plant
New short film, "The Factory," explores what it's like for Palestinians to work in West Bank factory of the company, which grabbed headlines when Scarlett Johansson signed as its brand ambassador. (Haaretz+) 

Commentary/Analysis:
Simply because he was bored (Haaretz Editorial) The Nakba Day shooting (killing two Palestinian teens) sums up the crime of occupation, which has turned the IDF from the people’s army into a hothouse of violence. 
Quiet, we're recording (Shimon Shiffer, Yedioth) In contrast with recent revelations about alleged Israeli spying on the US that were published in 'Newsweek,' it's almost certain that there is a basis to the revelations that were published in the book by Aharon Bergman on the negotiations between Israel and Syria.
Why did a non-combat soldier shoot at Palestinians? (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Non-combat soldiers who join the fighting forces temporarily, like the one who was suspended after the Nakba Day protests, are a serious liability for the military.
Bad apples at the negotiating table (David M. Weinberg, Israel Hayom) No progress can be made in Israeli-Palestinian relations with Martin Indyk, Saeb Erekat and Tzipi Livni at the helm.
Netanyahu playing into anti-Semites’ hands (Carolina Landsmann, Haaretz+) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thinks he's the leader of world Jewry and it's us against the Western world.
Not neo-Nazis, Judeo-Nazis (Uri Misgav, Haaretz+) Amos Oz got it wrong again. Bloodcurdling bureaucracy and the banality of evil, here in the land of milk and honey. 
No negotiations means a new path
(Ze'ev Jabotinsky, Israel Hayom) What is preventing our leaders from completely changing the harmful paradigm by which Israel has been operating for more than 20 years?
Why all Israelis are cowards (Tal Niv, Haaretz+) Israelis can no longer be indifferent to murderous acts, nor make use of the army and debase it to make murderousness the norm.
Obama's West Point address: All-inclusive, apart from Israel (Alon Pinkas, Yedioth/Ynet)  'Peace process' is just another conflict which US has had enough of trying to solve.
International kowtowing to Israel must end now (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) The Americans and Europeans have tried being the voice of reason and failed. Now they must speak to Israel in the language it understands best (hint: it’s not Hebrew.) 
National defense costs money (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) Does Lapid have any idea how many support troops stay up at night to facilitate the mission of a commando who has been dispatched to some faraway destination? 
When Nicole Krauss was bullied in Jerusalem for being a U.S. Jew (Reuven Namdar, Haaretz+) What passes through Israel's head when it lets the likes of author A.B. Yehoshua to represent it, taunting and insulting and pushing away any remaining friends in an increasingly alienated world? 
Christians' life in Israel not so wonderful (Farid Jubran, Ynet) Pope's visit was an opportunity to highlight distress and discrimination suffered by Christian community in State of Israel. 
Does Netanyahu fear Iran enough to save IAF? (Amos Harel, Haaretz) If PM was serious about Iran, he would have put presidential wheeling and dealing aside and fought the army's decision to cancel pilot training. 
What's going on underneath the Temple Mount?
(Nadav Shragai, Israel Hayom) The state comptroller has been severely critical of the way in which authorities have dealt with the developments of recent years on the Temple Mount, but the report he authored on the subject has not been cleared for publication.
Investigation into Ashkenazi reveals an ugly mix of army and politics (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) The Harpaz Affair is a multi-casualty incident that continues to eat away at the defense establishment, and especially at the former IDF chief of staff. 
The attorney general’s legacy and shadow (Amir Oren, Haaretz+) During 2010, Weinstein’s inaugural year, the Malaysian plane called the State of Israel was about to be hijacked by pilot Barak and co-pilot Netanyahu. 
Elie Wiesel: Why should I be president? (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth/Ynet) Nobel Peace Prize laureate reveals to Nahum Barnea how Prime Minister Netanyahu pressured him to become Israel's new president and why he turned down the offer.
We don’t need a yes-man (Yoel Marcus, Haaretz+) It’s the president who invites an MK to assemble a governing coalition – Bibi fears that this is where Rivlin will be waiting to let the ax fall. But Rivlin and Netanyahu are cut from the same ideological cloth, so it likely won’t come to that.

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