APN's daily news review from Israel
Thursday June 5, 2014
Number of the day:
1500.
--The number of new settlement homes Israel plans to build in retaliation for the formation of the (widely accepted) Palestinian Hamas-Fatah unity government.**
--The number of new settlement homes Israel plans to build in retaliation for the formation of the (widely accepted) Palestinian Hamas-Fatah unity government.**
Front Page News:
Haaretz
- Despite Netanyahu's efforts: Wave of recognition for new Palestinian government
- In two words: Diplomatic meltdown // Barak Ravid
- Crisis turned into a matter of routine // Chemi Shalev
- Obama in Poland: We won't recognize annexation of Crimean peninsula to Russia
- Why Hezbollah suddenly began to threaten to conquer the Galilee // Amos Harel
- Two security incidents in the Territories during the holiday
- When (Mick) Jagger roared "Good evening, Tel-Aviv!"
- 10-year-olds killed in swimming pool in Saviyon, apparently by electrocution
Yedioth Ahronoth
- Tragedy in the pool - Two school friends, aged 11, drowned in family pool
- How a stone rolls - Burning evening: Rolling Stones performs in Tel-Aviv
- "Netanyahu is acting out of political survival considerations" - Netanyahu's political communications advisor, Dr. Orit Galili-Tzucker, tells Yedioth: The conditions Netanyahu set for the Palestinians were meant to lead the negotiations nowhere
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links)
- Tragedy in a private pool in Saviyon - Were they electrocuted or poisoned?
- Rolling Stones in Tel-Aviv
- Suspicion: 13-year-old on the way to an assassination (in Bat Yam)
- Ahead of the next dispute - Trouble in the coalition again: The (Jewish) Nation bill will be presented before the ministerial committee Sunday, Livni continues to vehemently oppose it
- Scoop: The Treasury is bending Phoenix Insurance Company to cut the CEO's salary by 2 million shekels
- Death in the pool
- The response: (Settlement) Construction - and a battle in Congress - PM is "very concerned by the US' stance"
- The release and the storm - Bergdahl's release
- Burning Stones - In front of 50,000 excited Israelis and in particularly hot weather, the Rolling Stones gave a moving and historic performance
- Iron Dome tried to intercept rocket from Syria to Golan
- Israel celebrated Shavuot in extremely hot weather: Temperatures reached more than 40 degrees Celsius
- Suspicion: Lifer asked his 13-year-old brother to assassinate a criminal using an explosive device
News Summary:
The death of two schoolgirls in a pool, the planting of a bomb by a schoolboy and the anger in the Israeli government at the wave of world approval for the new Palestinian unity government were today's top stories in the Hebrew papers. Some of the papers managed to report on Israel's late Wednesday night announcement of 1500 more settlement homes. And Justice Minister Tzipi Livni is preparing for a battle over the 'Jewish Nation' bill Sunday.
The opposition blasted Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for his handling of the new Palestinian unity government, after countries worldwide, and particularly the US and the EU expressed their support it. The US said it rejected Netanyahu's concerns. Deputy spokesperson Marie Harf said that this "is not a government backed by Hamas," said "There are no members of Hamas in the government." US Secretary of State John Kerry said the US doesn't recognize a Palestinian government because there is no Palestinian state and that the US will closely monitor the Hamas-Fatah government to ensure it lives up to its commitments. One White House official told Haaretz+ that Israel’s 'hard line public position' belies its own actions. "It is unclear to us why some in the Israeli political leadership are staking out such a hard line public position that is fundamentally at odds with their own actions,” said the official noting that Israel has maintained its “robust coordination” with Palestinian security forces and it transferred over 500 million shekels in regular tax revenues that it collects on behalf of the Palestinians on the same day the new government was established.
The Middle East Quartet's special envoy, Tony Blair, called Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah to congratulate him on the formation of a new unity government. And, India, China and Turkey also declared their endorsement and called on the international community to throw its support behind and work with the new government. The EU and US will continue to fund the Palestinian Authority under its new Fatah-Hamas government.
Netanyahu said he was 'troubled' and 'disappointed' by the US decision to work with Palestinian government. Maariv reportd that officials in Jerusalem said it was 'a real crisis' between the two countries and that "the prime minister did not expect this." Netanyahu had tried to convince the world that it was supporting a "terrorist government." "Those who accept peace must reject Hamas," he said, but no one listened. Haaretz wrote that several hours after Netanyahu issued a statement detailing a conversation he held with French President Francoise Hollande, in which he called on the leader to reject the new Palestinian government, the French foreign ministry issued a statement supporting the unity government.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared Netanyahu failed to isolate the national unity government internationally in the "first round" of the battle with the Palestinian leadership. And in an interview, a senior Abbas aide said the "international community must tell Israel enough is enough." He also spoke of a possible change of the US stance towards Palestinians and against Israel.
Meanwhile, Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdullah called on the international community to urge Israel to allow holding Palestinian elections in East Jerusalem, after Israel said it would not. Israel has already begun punishing the new government by disallowing free movement for Palestinian ministers. The restrictions prevented the four Gazan ministers from being sworn-in and prevented the West Bank ministers from meeting in Gaza to discusss the situation in the blockaded enclave, Maan reported.
**Israel Hayom reported on another means of revenge: the building of 1,500 new settlement homes. Housing Minister Uri Ariel called it the only "fitting Zionist response to the formation of a Palestinian terror government." However, Justice Minister Tzipi Livni called it "another diplomatic blunder."
Livni is now preparing for another battle: Sunday the Jewish Nation bill will be brought before the ministerial legislative committee and she does not want it passed, wrote Maariv. She said, "We won't turn democracy into a technical method." The Israel Democracy Institute submitted an opinion to the government saying the bill was "dangerous and unnecessary," Maariv reported.
LATEST ON PALESTINIAN PRISONERS' HUNGER-STRIKE AGAINST PRISON WITHOUT CHARGES:
The death of two schoolgirls in a pool, the planting of a bomb by a schoolboy and the anger in the Israeli government at the wave of world approval for the new Palestinian unity government were today's top stories in the Hebrew papers. Some of the papers managed to report on Israel's late Wednesday night announcement of 1500 more settlement homes. And Justice Minister Tzipi Livni is preparing for a battle over the 'Jewish Nation' bill Sunday.
The opposition blasted Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for his handling of the new Palestinian unity government, after countries worldwide, and particularly the US and the EU expressed their support it. The US said it rejected Netanyahu's concerns. Deputy spokesperson Marie Harf said that this "is not a government backed by Hamas," said "There are no members of Hamas in the government." US Secretary of State John Kerry said the US doesn't recognize a Palestinian government because there is no Palestinian state and that the US will closely monitor the Hamas-Fatah government to ensure it lives up to its commitments. One White House official told Haaretz+ that Israel’s 'hard line public position' belies its own actions. "It is unclear to us why some in the Israeli political leadership are staking out such a hard line public position that is fundamentally at odds with their own actions,” said the official noting that Israel has maintained its “robust coordination” with Palestinian security forces and it transferred over 500 million shekels in regular tax revenues that it collects on behalf of the Palestinians on the same day the new government was established.
The Middle East Quartet's special envoy, Tony Blair, called Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah to congratulate him on the formation of a new unity government. And, India, China and Turkey also declared their endorsement and called on the international community to throw its support behind and work with the new government. The EU and US will continue to fund the Palestinian Authority under its new Fatah-Hamas government.
Netanyahu said he was 'troubled' and 'disappointed' by the US decision to work with Palestinian government. Maariv reportd that officials in Jerusalem said it was 'a real crisis' between the two countries and that "the prime minister did not expect this." Netanyahu had tried to convince the world that it was supporting a "terrorist government." "Those who accept peace must reject Hamas," he said, but no one listened. Haaretz wrote that several hours after Netanyahu issued a statement detailing a conversation he held with French President Francoise Hollande, in which he called on the leader to reject the new Palestinian government, the French foreign ministry issued a statement supporting the unity government.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared Netanyahu failed to isolate the national unity government internationally in the "first round" of the battle with the Palestinian leadership. And in an interview, a senior Abbas aide said the "international community must tell Israel enough is enough." He also spoke of a possible change of the US stance towards Palestinians and against Israel.
Meanwhile, Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdullah called on the international community to urge Israel to allow holding Palestinian elections in East Jerusalem, after Israel said it would not. Israel has already begun punishing the new government by disallowing free movement for Palestinian ministers. The restrictions prevented the four Gazan ministers from being sworn-in and prevented the West Bank ministers from meeting in Gaza to discusss the situation in the blockaded enclave, Maan reported.
**Israel Hayom reported on another means of revenge: the building of 1,500 new settlement homes. Housing Minister Uri Ariel called it the only "fitting Zionist response to the formation of a Palestinian terror government." However, Justice Minister Tzipi Livni called it "another diplomatic blunder."
Livni is now preparing for another battle: Sunday the Jewish Nation bill will be brought before the ministerial legislative committee and she does not want it passed, wrote Maariv. She said, "We won't turn democracy into a technical method." The Israel Democracy Institute submitted an opinion to the government saying the bill was "dangerous and unnecessary," Maariv reported.
LATEST ON PALESTINIAN PRISONERS' HUNGER-STRIKE AGAINST PRISON WITHOUT CHARGES:
- New Palestinian Prisoners Minister pledges government support for hunger strikers - Speaking at a rally in Ramallah, Shawqi al-Ayasa said that the Palestinian leadership was exerting intensive efforts to save the lives of prisoners on hunger strike. According to Al-Ayasa's undersecretary, some 80 prisoners are being treated in hospitals and are facing sudden death. (Maan)
- Israeli forces injure 3 Palestinians in protest near Ofer prison - Protesters marched near the Ofer detention center west of Ramallah in solidarity with hundreds of Palestinian prisoners currently on hunger strike. (Maan)
- Palestinians protest at UN office in support of hunger strikers - Protesters prevented employees at UNRWA's Ramallah office from accessing the UNRWA building, urging the international body to take "serious steps" to support hunger strikers. (Maan)
- Israel extends detention of 41 prisoners in May - A prisoners’ rights group said Tuesday that the Israeli authorities extended the administrative detention of 41 administrative prisoners in May, most of them for the second or third time in a row. They have not been charged. (Maan)
- PLO says Israel responsible for prisoners' lives - It warned that dozens are being moved to hospitals and are at the risk of dying at any time. (Maan)
Quick Hits:
- Settlers set fire to olive trees near Nablus - A number of settlers from Havat Gilad settlement (outpost) burned dozens of trees of Farata and Immatin villages and the fire spread in a targeted attack on local villagers, said Ghassan Daghlas. (Maan)
- IDF court: Palestinian minors have right to see social worker before remand - In ruling against army, military appeals court head says alleged stone-throwers should be screened before army decides whether to jail them until end of proceedings. (Haaretz+)
- PCHR calls for probe into Nablus checkpoint killing - Israeli forces claim that the victim, Alaa Muhammad Awad Audah, 30, opened fired at the Zaatara (Tapuach) checkpoint, injuring one of the soldiers. PCHR says there were no eyewitnesses in the area at the time to deny or confirm that claim. (Maan)
- Israeli forces refuse to release body of Nablus man killed at checkpoint - Alaa Mohammad Awad’s family, accompanied by dozens of people and an ambulance, waited for over an hour, after arrangements were made between Palestinian and Israeli liaisons offices to release the body. However, Israeli forced refused to release the body citing clashes at the checkpoint. (Maan)
- Israel begins construction on settlement units atop al-Khader lands - Salah said that the lands where the construction is taking place are near Elazar settlement but not inside the fence surrounding the settlement, meaning that the expansion constitutes a land grab of the neighboring village's territory. (Maan)
- Israel orders Yatta villagers to evacuate lands for settlement - Israeli forces handed the Hathaleen family from the village east of Yatta notices telling them to remove gardens and barbed wire from lands they own in order for the lands to be annexed to the settlement of Karmel. (Maan)
- Israeli forces detain Palestinian student north of Ramallah - Palestinian security sources told Ma'an that Israeli soldiers arrested 20-year-old Eyhab Khaled Atiyani, claiming he carried a knife and yelled 'Allahu akbar" as he ran towards soldiers at the entrance to an Israeli military base near the illegal settlement of Beit El. (Maan and Maariv)
- Tensions around Al-Aqsa as Israelis celebrate Shavuot - Israeli forces imposed restrictions on Palestinian worshipers in Jerusalem on Tuesday for the Jewish holiday of Shavuot. And, over 150 right-wing Jews visited the compound, including far-right MK Yehuda Glick. (Maan)
- Prominent scholars' group MLA fails to pass resolution critical of Israel - Measure did not win required support from at least 10 percent of its 23,900 members. (Haaretz)
- 40% of religious girls' schools shun IDF - Army representatives denied access to nearly half of religious girls' schools, Aluma association says, while national service representatives are permitted to enter and offer students information on available options. (Ynet)
- Microsoft to open cybersecurity accelerator in Israel - The accelerator, a partnership with Jerusalem Venture Partners, will assist security startups in turning their ideas into viable businesses. (Haaretz)
- 13-year-old boy nabbed for planting explosive device in public park - Teen targeted store belonging to rival family at the behest of his brother; explosive device found by children inside tree at Bat Yam park. (Ynet)
- Palestinian worker killed in Israel construction accident - Nidal Adel al-Masri, 19, from the Hebron town of Dura, was crushed to death by a steam roller while working on a road construction project in Rishon LeZion. (Maan)
- U.S. welcomes al-Sissi victory, with caveat - White House voices concerns about limits on freedom of peaceful assembly and expression, urges equal rights in Egypt; Iran's Rohani invited to inauguration in Cairo. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Abbas to attend Sisi swearing-in ceremony in Cairo -
- Palestinian ambassador to Jordan Atallah Khairi told Ma'an that Abbas will be part of at least 35 leaders to attend the ceremony. (Maan)
- Syrians vote in wartime election set to extend Assad's rule - Opponents of Assad say no credible vote can be held in midst of country's devastating civil war; French Foreign Minister calls vote 'tragic farce'. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Iron Dome fired for first time on Syrian border - Mortar fire from across border triggers first use of missile defense system. No damage or casualties reported. (Haaretz)
- Arabs mostly give Obama negative 2014 report card - Five years after President Barack Obama's landmark speech in Cairo aimed at re-setting ties with the Arab world, the poll revealed that while support for Obama, which had fallen in recent years, is on the rise again among most Arabs it still remains below an average of 50%. (Agencies, Maan)
- West prods Iran to speed up cooperation with IAEA inquiry - Dispute over Tehran's demand to be able to produce fuel for its Bushehr plant makes reaching final agreement by July deadline unlikely. (Agencies, Ynet)
Features:
When the Palestinian national poet fell in love with a Jew
The love letters between Mahmoud Darwish and 'Rita' intrigued Israeli-Arab filmmaker Ibtisam Mara’ana Menuhin for her own, very personal reasons. (Alona Ferber, Haaretz+)
007 Persia: The Amazing Story of Iranian operated Mossad
Exciting entertainment on the expense account of the Mossad and the CIA, dangerous cross-continent operations, giving up family life and one 16-year-old boy, Djahanshah Bakhtiar, who decided to take revenge on the country that murdered his grandfather. "The Mossad helped my grandfather leave Iran for France. I'll never forget that," said Bakhtiar, whose book 'I, Iranian, CIA and Mossad Agent,' was just published. (Gidi Kotz, Maariv)
A literature festival for Palestine - on both sides of the Green Line
Palfest isn’t just about celebrating the written word. It comes with an agenda. (Ilene Prusher, Haaretz+)
Is knafeh Israeli or Palestinian?
The syrupy cheese pastry listed as Israeli in BuzzFeed's list of 17 'incredible desserts from around the world' draws criticism from Palestinians. (Haaretz)
Commentary/Analysis:
The love letters between Mahmoud Darwish and 'Rita' intrigued Israeli-Arab filmmaker Ibtisam Mara’ana Menuhin for her own, very personal reasons. (Alona Ferber, Haaretz+)
007 Persia: The Amazing Story of Iranian operated Mossad
Exciting entertainment on the expense account of the Mossad and the CIA, dangerous cross-continent operations, giving up family life and one 16-year-old boy, Djahanshah Bakhtiar, who decided to take revenge on the country that murdered his grandfather. "The Mossad helped my grandfather leave Iran for France. I'll never forget that," said Bakhtiar, whose book 'I, Iranian, CIA and Mossad Agent,' was just published. (Gidi Kotz, Maariv)
A literature festival for Palestine - on both sides of the Green Line
Palfest isn’t just about celebrating the written word. It comes with an agenda. (Ilene Prusher, Haaretz+)
Is knafeh Israeli or Palestinian?
The syrupy cheese pastry listed as Israeli in BuzzFeed's list of 17 'incredible desserts from around the world' draws criticism from Palestinians. (Haaretz)
Commentary/Analysis:
The use of administrative detention must be reviewed (Haaretz Editorial) Israel must adhere to the international community’s accepted
interpretation of administrative detention and stop using it wholesale to perpetuate the
occupation.
A win for the moderates (Shimon Shiffer, Yedioth/Ynet) Israel's relatively moderate response to the Palestinian unity government is the final note in the last round of peace talks, in which not only did Israel begin a sad bout of the blame game, it also lost at its own game; meanwhile, Lieberman suggests making peace with Saudis instead of Palestinians.
Netanyahu is dancing to Abbas’ tune, always one step behind (Barak Ravid, Haaretz+) The Israeli response to the formation of the Palestinian unity government was surprisingly muted, but the situation reflects badly on the prime minister.
A thorn in the Palestinian Authority's side (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) Now that Israel has made a clear statement on its perceived course of action, it should bide its time and see how things develop.
Israel’s reckless rush to get caught in the sophisticated Abbas-Hamas trap (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) Cabinet’s naysaying is aimed at two audiences that appreciate it most: Israeli public opinion and Republican lawmakers who are eager for another Israel-centered spat with Obama.
When the government breaks the law (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth/Ynet) Case of illegal outpost illustrates how only in Israel there is a need to enact a law banning government from funding illegal activity.
Did the pope abandon Israel? (Isi Leibler, Israel Hayom) The Vatican refuses to accept that appeasing Islamists will be no less disastrous than the efforts to appease the Nazis.
How the pope put Israel to shame (Rabbi Gideon D. Sylvester , Haaretz+) Instead of seeing us as an inspiration, the world takes pity on us, sending peace envoys and religious leaders to do our work.
Israel should work to enhance benefits of Palestinian unity (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) Drawbacks of Hamas-Fatah reconciliation considerable, but Israel can still act wisely to support a positive Palestinian future.
Prisoner swaps, U.S. vs. Israeli style: Bergdahl and Shalit (Seth Lipsky, Haaretz+) Unequal trades: Shalit for 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, and five Taliban thugs for the U.S. soldier. But the Bergdahl controversy can’t divert Republicans from deciding their strategy for U.S. foreign policy.
Double standard? Netanyahu’s coalition wouldn’t pass Bibi’s test for Hamas (Peter Beinart, Haaretz+) More than a whiff of hypocrisy: Naftali Bennett’s Habayit Hayehudi party and most of the Likud don’t recognize Palestinian statehood and don’t honor past agreements.
Annexing settlements, at the right time (Dr. Haim Shine, Israel Hayom) Israel must not respond to the Palestinian unity terrorist government by annexing settlement blocs, which are part of the Land of Israel anyway.
Ruth the Refugee: Destitute, alone, and unwanted in Israel (Rabbi Daniel Landes, Haaretz+) The story we tell on Shavuot - of an undocumented foreign worker, an unasked-for and unwanted refugee - demands we confront our uglier inclinations, and stop turning our backs on refugees in Israel.
Weakened Hamas cedes power to save face (Sakher Abou El Oun, AFP/Maan) Handing over power to a unity government of independents will allow Hamas to work in the background, away from the political limelight, while the PLO shoulders the responsibility of executive authority, experts say.
Netanyahu’s supreme principle is political survival (Uzi Baram, Haaretz+) The prime minister’s zigzagging over Rivlin’s candidacy demonstrates that his decision-making process is completely enslaved to the sacred principle of survival.
A few inconvenient questions no one is asking Netanyahu (Aluf Benn, Haaretz+) While the country whiles away the hours talking about who will be the next president, the funds dearest to Bibi's heart remain untouched and opaque.
Israel's missed opportunity (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) Instead of a position of frowning and naysaying, Israel could've welcomed the Palestinian unity government, saying it would take to any authority, Hamas included, that would honor the Quartet's conditions.
Netanyahu's diplomatic meltdown on Palestinian unity (Barak Ravid, Haaretz+) PM Benjamin Netanyahu was caught off guard by the establishment of the Palestinian unity government, but it’s not too late for him to regain the initiative.
Why Jesus really was a Hebrew speaker (Randall Buth, Haaretz+) Hebrew, and not only Aramaic, was a spoken language at the time of Jesus, but PM Netanyahu’s exchange with the pope wasn’t only academic: It’s a debate with a clear religious and cultural subtext.
Syria is the new Afghanistan (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) Global jihad, which in final years of last millennium treated Afghanistan as a training ground, has relocated to Syria; and this time, Arab states are as worried as West.
Preparing for a Hezbollah invasion, in shadow of Syria war (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Conventional wisdom in the army is that Hezbollah will try for another tie, but an intelligence official argues that Hezbollah may launch a ground invasion.
A win for the moderates (Shimon Shiffer, Yedioth/Ynet) Israel's relatively moderate response to the Palestinian unity government is the final note in the last round of peace talks, in which not only did Israel begin a sad bout of the blame game, it also lost at its own game; meanwhile, Lieberman suggests making peace with Saudis instead of Palestinians.
Netanyahu is dancing to Abbas’ tune, always one step behind (Barak Ravid, Haaretz+) The Israeli response to the formation of the Palestinian unity government was surprisingly muted, but the situation reflects badly on the prime minister.
A thorn in the Palestinian Authority's side (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) Now that Israel has made a clear statement on its perceived course of action, it should bide its time and see how things develop.
Israel’s reckless rush to get caught in the sophisticated Abbas-Hamas trap (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) Cabinet’s naysaying is aimed at two audiences that appreciate it most: Israeli public opinion and Republican lawmakers who are eager for another Israel-centered spat with Obama.
When the government breaks the law (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth/Ynet) Case of illegal outpost illustrates how only in Israel there is a need to enact a law banning government from funding illegal activity.
Did the pope abandon Israel? (Isi Leibler, Israel Hayom) The Vatican refuses to accept that appeasing Islamists will be no less disastrous than the efforts to appease the Nazis.
How the pope put Israel to shame (Rabbi Gideon D. Sylvester , Haaretz+) Instead of seeing us as an inspiration, the world takes pity on us, sending peace envoys and religious leaders to do our work.
Israel should work to enhance benefits of Palestinian unity (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) Drawbacks of Hamas-Fatah reconciliation considerable, but Israel can still act wisely to support a positive Palestinian future.
Prisoner swaps, U.S. vs. Israeli style: Bergdahl and Shalit (Seth Lipsky, Haaretz+) Unequal trades: Shalit for 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, and five Taliban thugs for the U.S. soldier. But the Bergdahl controversy can’t divert Republicans from deciding their strategy for U.S. foreign policy.
Double standard? Netanyahu’s coalition wouldn’t pass Bibi’s test for Hamas (Peter Beinart, Haaretz+) More than a whiff of hypocrisy: Naftali Bennett’s Habayit Hayehudi party and most of the Likud don’t recognize Palestinian statehood and don’t honor past agreements.
Annexing settlements, at the right time (Dr. Haim Shine, Israel Hayom) Israel must not respond to the Palestinian unity terrorist government by annexing settlement blocs, which are part of the Land of Israel anyway.
Ruth the Refugee: Destitute, alone, and unwanted in Israel (Rabbi Daniel Landes, Haaretz+) The story we tell on Shavuot - of an undocumented foreign worker, an unasked-for and unwanted refugee - demands we confront our uglier inclinations, and stop turning our backs on refugees in Israel.
Weakened Hamas cedes power to save face (Sakher Abou El Oun, AFP/Maan) Handing over power to a unity government of independents will allow Hamas to work in the background, away from the political limelight, while the PLO shoulders the responsibility of executive authority, experts say.
Netanyahu’s supreme principle is political survival (Uzi Baram, Haaretz+) The prime minister’s zigzagging over Rivlin’s candidacy demonstrates that his decision-making process is completely enslaved to the sacred principle of survival.
A few inconvenient questions no one is asking Netanyahu (Aluf Benn, Haaretz+) While the country whiles away the hours talking about who will be the next president, the funds dearest to Bibi's heart remain untouched and opaque.
Israel's missed opportunity (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) Instead of a position of frowning and naysaying, Israel could've welcomed the Palestinian unity government, saying it would take to any authority, Hamas included, that would honor the Quartet's conditions.
Netanyahu's diplomatic meltdown on Palestinian unity (Barak Ravid, Haaretz+) PM Benjamin Netanyahu was caught off guard by the establishment of the Palestinian unity government, but it’s not too late for him to regain the initiative.
Why Jesus really was a Hebrew speaker (Randall Buth, Haaretz+) Hebrew, and not only Aramaic, was a spoken language at the time of Jesus, but PM Netanyahu’s exchange with the pope wasn’t only academic: It’s a debate with a clear religious and cultural subtext.
Syria is the new Afghanistan (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) Global jihad, which in final years of last millennium treated Afghanistan as a training ground, has relocated to Syria; and this time, Arab states are as worried as West.
Preparing for a Hezbollah invasion, in shadow of Syria war (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Conventional wisdom in the army is that Hezbollah will try for another tie, but an intelligence official argues that Hezbollah may launch a ground invasion.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.