APN's daily news review from Israel
Monday June 16, 2014
Quote of the day:
59%.
--Percentage of Israeli Jews who believe settlements harm Israel’s relationship with the US government.**
--Percentage of Israeli Jews who believe settlements harm Israel’s relationship with the US government.**
Front Page News:
Haaretz
- Security forces ramp up hunt for Hamas cell (in West Bank)
- The kidnappers enjoyed hours of quiet // Amos Harel
- The candidates for the position of scapegoat // Amir Oren
- Criticism of police commissioner: Returned from US only yesterday
- Disagreements in Hamas
- Mass prayers for the youth
- Knesset to hold marathon session to approve force-feeding of (Palestinian) hunger-strikers
- Protest at Holot detention facility: Asylum seekers did not show up to sign in
- State changing its position: Parents whose son died can bring child to world from his sperm
Yedioth Ahronoth
- "They kidnapped me" - This is what one of the youth whispered twice in an emergency call to police hotline. Police thought it was a hoax
- Cabinet considering: Deportation of Hamas leaders from West Bank to Gaza
- Turning worlds over (to find you) // Racheli Frenkel, mother of Naftali
- Not optimistic // Alex Fishman
- Wanted: Courage // Amnon Abramovitch
- Justifiers of terror // Ben-Dror Yemini
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links)
- The blunder - Minutes after they took a ride, one of the three youth called the police emergency hotline and whispered: "They kidnapped me." Police decided it was a hoax - and did nothing
- Operation "Return the Brothers": Extensive search for Eyal, Naftali and Gil-Ad continues
- Masses prayed across the country: "May they return in peace"
- With closing of newspaper: 2 wanted men were detained in a break-in to a building close to Hebron; "Red Color" siren in Ashkelon, Iron Dome intercepted barrage of rockets above the city
Israel Hayom
- Increasing the pressure - Mothers of kidnapped calling for prayer; Ministers and MKs and PM's wife visited families; Operation Return the Brothers gaining speed: IDF arrested dozens of Hamas people in Hebron; Escalation in south: Grads to Ashkelon
- Released for publication: One of the youth called emergency hotline and whispered: "We were kidnapped"; At the hotline they thought it was a hoax. Commissioner: "We will examine everything at the right time"
- Gil-Ad's chair is empty // Emily Amrousi
- Methodical damage to Hamas infrastructure
- In the shadow of the kidnapping: Wife of Abu Mazen hospitalized in Assuta Hospital (in Israel)
- Today: High Court to rule whether to re-open Talansky case (against Olmert)
News Summary:
The search for the three yeshiva youth kidnapped in the West Bank continued to dominate the pages of Israeli papers today. The main story in all the papers but Haaretz was the revelation yesterday that one of the youth called the police and whispered, "We've been kidnapped." But the police thought it was a hoax and Israeli security forces lost the precious first hours in finding them.
Israeli Prime Minister has accused Hamas of being behind the kidnapping, to which Hamas spokesman in Gaza, Sami Abu Zuhri said that was ridiculous. According to the IDF, it is not clear if the kidnapping was an independent directive by a local cell in Hebron or the result of a directive by Hamas leadership in Gaza, writes Amos Harel. Nevertheless, Israel is focusing its actions on Hamas in order to pressure the organization to help resolve the kidnapping: Detaining numerous Hamas leaders and political activists, including the Speaker of the Palestinian parliament. Yesterday the Justice Ministry discussed the legal implications of expelling senior West Bank Hamas officials to Gaza.
Yedioth's Alex Fishman writes, "We can assume that this kidnapping is the kind of operation that the Hamas' military wing comes to know about, both here and abroad. It's also very likely that at a certain point, the military wing will have to decide what is the next stage: dig in the ground and disappear or begin sending feelers for negotiating through a third-party. Nevertheless, we can also very much assume that the political leadership of Hamas - Ismail Haniyeh and Khaled Mashaal - did not know about the operation in advance." Haaretz's Zvi Bar'el reports that opinions are divided also within Hamas on how to respond to the kidnapping. One Hamas official told him he was not sure the timing of the kidnapping served the organization’s interests. Hamas is now involved in a reconciliation process with Fatah and has no interest in giving Israel and Fatah any excuse to destroy what has been achieved, particularly the US recognition of the Hamas-backed government, said the Hamas official. The Hamas official suggested that indeed, "It is possible that it is an independent cell or factions that are mad at us over the reconciliation with Fatah and want to prevent it.”
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said that “many indications point to Hamas’ involvement.”
Yedioth's Alex Fishman wrote that Israel is taking advantage of this kidnapping to destroy Hamas infrastructure, to cause a rift between Fatah and Hamas and to cause the international community to oppose the unity government.
Both Egypt and the Palestinian Authority is cooperating closely with Israel in finding the teens. Cooperation between Israel and Egypt involves giving Egypt advance warning of plans to attack in Gaza, wrote Bar'el. According to reports, Egyptian forces moved back 300 meters from the border before Sunday’s attack.
Israel's Operation Return the Brothers has been difficult for Palestinians in the West Bank: Mass arrests, roads blocked leading to cessation of commerce, soldiers taking positions on private homes, house-to-house searches (with dogs, writes Yedioth) and use of tear gas. Palestinians warn that Israeli pressure on the West Bank could backfire. The common feeling among Palestinians in the area is that Israel is putting pressure on the local population, with many Palestinians viewing it as collective punishment. Maariv interviewed the Dr. Nasser Lahem, editor of Maan News Agency, who said: "Most of the Palestinian population was surprised by the kidnapping as much as the Israeli population. The public has no way to act or to respond, due to the Israeli (military) activity in the West Bank, and therefore they are just observers. Israel is frustrated and acts from force. (Israel) lacks the intelligence information, and therefore it uses collective punishment against the Palestinians." Palestinian sources told Haaretz+ that massive pressure on the population will be translated into clashes inside neighborhoods and villages as happened on Sunday throughout the day in villages in the Hebron area.
The Palestinian Authority has attacked Netanyahu for what it called "a campaign of incitement" against the PA. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas continued his personal silence through Sunday and his only public step was to convene a meeting of the PLO executive committee Sunday evening.
Meanwhile, some 25,000 Jews [religious-nationalist, as it appears from the photos - OH] prayed at the Wailing Wall for the teens. The mothers of the abducted teens spoke with the media and thanked the security forces for their support and hard work, and urged the 'Israeli nation' to pray for the safety of their children.
Poll:
**Support for West Bank settlements has dropped drastically among Israeli adults since 2009.
59% - Believe settlements harm Israel’s relationship with the United States government.
50% - Agree with claims that the budget for settlements come at the expense of education and social welfare.
40% - Believe Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria are a waste of the country’s money.
71% - Stated that settlers’ clashes with the IDF prevent them from identifying with the settlements.
12% - Support perpetuating the status quo.
31% - Support partial or full annexation of the West Bank.
51% - Would support partial or full disengagement as part of an agreement with the Palestinians.
84% - Say support for a peace agreement hinges upon a complete cessation of terror.
82% - Say support for a peace agreement hinges upon a Palestinian declaration to end the conflict.
550 adults living in Israel - not inside the West Bank - were polled by a think tank led by Prof. Yitzhak Katz. Poll was ordered by the Samaria and Jordan Valley Research and Development Center, and presented at Ariel University. (Haaretz+)
The search for the three yeshiva youth kidnapped in the West Bank continued to dominate the pages of Israeli papers today. The main story in all the papers but Haaretz was the revelation yesterday that one of the youth called the police and whispered, "We've been kidnapped." But the police thought it was a hoax and Israeli security forces lost the precious first hours in finding them.
Israeli Prime Minister has accused Hamas of being behind the kidnapping, to which Hamas spokesman in Gaza, Sami Abu Zuhri said that was ridiculous. According to the IDF, it is not clear if the kidnapping was an independent directive by a local cell in Hebron or the result of a directive by Hamas leadership in Gaza, writes Amos Harel. Nevertheless, Israel is focusing its actions on Hamas in order to pressure the organization to help resolve the kidnapping: Detaining numerous Hamas leaders and political activists, including the Speaker of the Palestinian parliament. Yesterday the Justice Ministry discussed the legal implications of expelling senior West Bank Hamas officials to Gaza.
Yedioth's Alex Fishman writes, "We can assume that this kidnapping is the kind of operation that the Hamas' military wing comes to know about, both here and abroad. It's also very likely that at a certain point, the military wing will have to decide what is the next stage: dig in the ground and disappear or begin sending feelers for negotiating through a third-party. Nevertheless, we can also very much assume that the political leadership of Hamas - Ismail Haniyeh and Khaled Mashaal - did not know about the operation in advance." Haaretz's Zvi Bar'el reports that opinions are divided also within Hamas on how to respond to the kidnapping. One Hamas official told him he was not sure the timing of the kidnapping served the organization’s interests. Hamas is now involved in a reconciliation process with Fatah and has no interest in giving Israel and Fatah any excuse to destroy what has been achieved, particularly the US recognition of the Hamas-backed government, said the Hamas official. The Hamas official suggested that indeed, "It is possible that it is an independent cell or factions that are mad at us over the reconciliation with Fatah and want to prevent it.”
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said that “many indications point to Hamas’ involvement.”
Yedioth's Alex Fishman wrote that Israel is taking advantage of this kidnapping to destroy Hamas infrastructure, to cause a rift between Fatah and Hamas and to cause the international community to oppose the unity government.
Both Egypt and the Palestinian Authority is cooperating closely with Israel in finding the teens. Cooperation between Israel and Egypt involves giving Egypt advance warning of plans to attack in Gaza, wrote Bar'el. According to reports, Egyptian forces moved back 300 meters from the border before Sunday’s attack.
Israel's Operation Return the Brothers has been difficult for Palestinians in the West Bank: Mass arrests, roads blocked leading to cessation of commerce, soldiers taking positions on private homes, house-to-house searches (with dogs, writes Yedioth) and use of tear gas. Palestinians warn that Israeli pressure on the West Bank could backfire. The common feeling among Palestinians in the area is that Israel is putting pressure on the local population, with many Palestinians viewing it as collective punishment. Maariv interviewed the Dr. Nasser Lahem, editor of Maan News Agency, who said: "Most of the Palestinian population was surprised by the kidnapping as much as the Israeli population. The public has no way to act or to respond, due to the Israeli (military) activity in the West Bank, and therefore they are just observers. Israel is frustrated and acts from force. (Israel) lacks the intelligence information, and therefore it uses collective punishment against the Palestinians." Palestinian sources told Haaretz+ that massive pressure on the population will be translated into clashes inside neighborhoods and villages as happened on Sunday throughout the day in villages in the Hebron area.
The Palestinian Authority has attacked Netanyahu for what it called "a campaign of incitement" against the PA. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas continued his personal silence through Sunday and his only public step was to convene a meeting of the PLO executive committee Sunday evening.
Meanwhile, some 25,000 Jews [religious-nationalist, as it appears from the photos - OH] prayed at the Wailing Wall for the teens. The mothers of the abducted teens spoke with the media and thanked the security forces for their support and hard work, and urged the 'Israeli nation' to pray for the safety of their children.
Poll:
**Support for West Bank settlements has dropped drastically among Israeli adults since 2009.
59% - Believe settlements harm Israel’s relationship with the United States government.
50% - Agree with claims that the budget for settlements come at the expense of education and social welfare.
40% - Believe Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria are a waste of the country’s money.
71% - Stated that settlers’ clashes with the IDF prevent them from identifying with the settlements.
12% - Support perpetuating the status quo.
31% - Support partial or full annexation of the West Bank.
51% - Would support partial or full disengagement as part of an agreement with the Palestinians.
84% - Say support for a peace agreement hinges upon a complete cessation of terror.
82% - Say support for a peace agreement hinges upon a Palestinian declaration to end the conflict.
550 adults living in Israel - not inside the West Bank - were polled by a think tank led by Prof. Yitzhak Katz. Poll was ordered by the Samaria and Jordan Valley Research and Development Center, and presented at Ariel University. (Haaretz+)
Quick Hits:
Force-feeding bill meeting stiff opposition as debate approaches - Israeli NGOs cite medical ethics, human rights as Knesset Committee launches two-day marathon of debates over controversial bill allowing the force-feeding of hunger-striking prisoners. Israel Democracy Institute: "The primary purpose of this bill is an attempt to block hunger-striking prisoners, some of them administrative detainees who were never tried, from any political propaganda achievements.” (Haaretz+)
Lieberman changes tack, party to oppose release of prisoners - Yisrael Beiteinu head says its cabinet members will be instructed to reject any future deal to free Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Party cabinet members, but not Lieberman, voted in support of the Shalit deal, as well as last year’s goodwill gesture to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for the release of prisoners in four stages. (Haaretz+)
IDF strikes Gaza for second time in 24 hours - Air Force attacks six targets across territory in response to rocket fire. Iron Dome intercepts rockets launched at Ashkelon, IAF strikes 5 terror targets. (Haaretz and Ynet)
During kidnapping crisis, Abbas' wife secretly undergoes surgery in Israel - Hours before three boys kidnapped in West Bank, Amina Abbas admitted for leg surgery at Tel Aviv's Assouta Medical Center; to be released Sunday. (Haaretz)
Education Minister bans soldiers from bearing arms in preschools - But Meretz MK Tamar Zandberg says the army should never appear in kindergartens. (Haaretz+)
Panel to vote on seven new Jewish communities in Negev - New plan under sponsorship of settlement division of World Zionist Organization. Environmentalists and ministry vehemently oppose plan, want expansion of existing cities such as Arad and Be’er Sheva. [Note: Article does not discuss fact that Israel won't recognize nearby Bedouin villages, while it is creating new Jewish ones. - OH] (Haaretz+)
Report: Aliyah surges in 2014 - At current pace, aliyah figures for 2014 could be among the highest seen in recent years, government agency says. First few months mark a 32% increase from 2013, with some 7,000 immigrants relocating to Israel. (Israel Hayom)
Australian minister to meet ambassadors over East Jerusalem row - In bid to calm fury in Arab world over Australia's decision to stop referring to East Jerusalem as 'occupied', Australian FM to meet Arab ambassadors. (Agencies, Ynet)
Presbyterian Church to vote on BDS - As BDS movement gains steam in Europe, it now moves to register significant gain in US, with more and more religious organizations and student unions gearing up to join boycott and work to promote divestment. (Agencies, Ynet)
Israeli books become hot commodity in Arab world - Culture succeeds where politics has failed: Books written by Israelis are translated into Arabic, sold and read in Iran, Pakistan and Lebanon, while publishers from hostile countries develop warm relations. (Ynet)
Queen honors British-israeli journalist David Landau - In his decades-long career, London-born journalist has served as chief editor of Haaretz, diplomatic correspondent and managing editor of Jerusalem Post. (Ynet)
Global nuclear arsenal estimated at 16,300 warheads, says think tank - Pace of nuclear bombs reduction seems to be slowing, says Stockholm International Peace Research Institute; Israel's stock reportedly remained at 80. (Haaretz)
Shiite fighters leave Basra to take up arms against Sunni insurgents - U.S. moves aircraft carrier into the Gulf but is not considering troops on the ground. Spokesman for Kurdish armed forces says Kurds fighting Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant in self-defense. Kurds gain control of oil hub Kirkuk. (Agencies, Israel Hayom)
Force-feeding bill meeting stiff opposition as debate approaches - Israeli NGOs cite medical ethics, human rights as Knesset Committee launches two-day marathon of debates over controversial bill allowing the force-feeding of hunger-striking prisoners. Israel Democracy Institute: "The primary purpose of this bill is an attempt to block hunger-striking prisoners, some of them administrative detainees who were never tried, from any political propaganda achievements.” (Haaretz+)
Lieberman changes tack, party to oppose release of prisoners - Yisrael Beiteinu head says its cabinet members will be instructed to reject any future deal to free Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Party cabinet members, but not Lieberman, voted in support of the Shalit deal, as well as last year’s goodwill gesture to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for the release of prisoners in four stages. (Haaretz+)
IDF strikes Gaza for second time in 24 hours - Air Force attacks six targets across territory in response to rocket fire. Iron Dome intercepts rockets launched at Ashkelon, IAF strikes 5 terror targets. (Haaretz and Ynet)
During kidnapping crisis, Abbas' wife secretly undergoes surgery in Israel - Hours before three boys kidnapped in West Bank, Amina Abbas admitted for leg surgery at Tel Aviv's Assouta Medical Center; to be released Sunday. (Haaretz)
Education Minister bans soldiers from bearing arms in preschools - But Meretz MK Tamar Zandberg says the army should never appear in kindergartens. (Haaretz+)
Panel to vote on seven new Jewish communities in Negev - New plan under sponsorship of settlement division of World Zionist Organization. Environmentalists and ministry vehemently oppose plan, want expansion of existing cities such as Arad and Be’er Sheva. [Note: Article does not discuss fact that Israel won't recognize nearby Bedouin villages, while it is creating new Jewish ones. - OH] (Haaretz+)
Report: Aliyah surges in 2014 - At current pace, aliyah figures for 2014 could be among the highest seen in recent years, government agency says. First few months mark a 32% increase from 2013, with some 7,000 immigrants relocating to Israel. (Israel Hayom)
Australian minister to meet ambassadors over East Jerusalem row - In bid to calm fury in Arab world over Australia's decision to stop referring to East Jerusalem as 'occupied', Australian FM to meet Arab ambassadors. (Agencies, Ynet)
Presbyterian Church to vote on BDS - As BDS movement gains steam in Europe, it now moves to register significant gain in US, with more and more religious organizations and student unions gearing up to join boycott and work to promote divestment. (Agencies, Ynet)
Israeli books become hot commodity in Arab world - Culture succeeds where politics has failed: Books written by Israelis are translated into Arabic, sold and read in Iran, Pakistan and Lebanon, while publishers from hostile countries develop warm relations. (Ynet)
Queen honors British-israeli journalist David Landau - In his decades-long career, London-born journalist has served as chief editor of Haaretz, diplomatic correspondent and managing editor of Jerusalem Post. (Ynet)
Global nuclear arsenal estimated at 16,300 warheads, says think tank - Pace of nuclear bombs reduction seems to be slowing, says Stockholm International Peace Research Institute; Israel's stock reportedly remained at 80. (Haaretz)
Shiite fighters leave Basra to take up arms against Sunni insurgents - U.S. moves aircraft carrier into the Gulf but is not considering troops on the ground. Spokesman for Kurdish armed forces says Kurds fighting Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant in self-defense. Kurds gain control of oil hub Kirkuk. (Agencies, Israel Hayom)
Features:
Iran's new clothes
The Rouhani era is making signals. More and more woemn are liberating themselves from the hijab, adamant to show the Western world that there is another life in Teheran. (Yasser Ukabi, Maariv magazine cover)
For gay right-wingers, life is doubly difficult
Likud hosts first international convention of LGBT activists in conservative parties. (Judy Maltz, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
The Rouhani era is making signals. More and more woemn are liberating themselves from the hijab, adamant to show the Western world that there is another life in Teheran. (Yasser Ukabi, Maariv magazine cover)
For gay right-wingers, life is doubly difficult
Likud hosts first international convention of LGBT activists in conservative parties. (Judy Maltz, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
The Palestinians must stop throwing Netanyahu a lifesaver (Oudeh
Basharat, Haaretz+) By the way, its not just Palestine. Fundamentalist Islam is the biggest obstacle
in the Arab peoples’ path away from dictators.
'So long, Israel, and thanks for nothing' (Carol Daniel Kasbari, Haaretz+) As a Palestinian Israeli married to a Palestinian, we've been waiting for Israel to grant us permission to live together. 15 years later, forced to choose between homeland and family unity, we have finally left.
Lieberman's right, you can reach an agreement only through a broad regional inclusion (Ben Caspit, Maariv) Although he sometimes his 'Yvette' gets the better of him, the Foreign Minister is more sober today and is trying to race the regional solution horse. But maybe disappointment awaits him.
Israel looks for new scapegoat in kidnapping case (Amir Oren, Haaretz+) The Israel Police is in the firing line following last Thursday's events in the West Bank, and heads look set to roll.
Five illusions, quashed (Aaron David Miller, Haaretz+) Israelis and Palestinians should give a busy U.S. president reason to play a bigger role in peace: by undertaking serious talks.
Kidnapped Jews? Who cares?! (Boaz Bismuth, Israel Hayom) Coverage of the kidnapping would be quite different if the hostages were Arabs.
The U.S. embrace of the Palestinian unity government (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) For Washington, there are worse scenarios than dealing with a Palestinian government that includes a terrorist organization. Like dealing with no one at all.
Looking for excuses (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) Descriptions like "settlers" and "yeshiva students" make it hard for the Israeli Left to empathize with the abducted Jewish boys.
Netanyahu's ill-timed, ill-judged attacks on Abbas (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) Prime minister's use of abduction to continue 'blame game' with Palestinian unity only creates new enemies while Israeli teens remain in captivity.
Reviving the dormant idea of peace (Akiva Eldar, Haaretz+) If once peace was an elusive but much-sought goal in Israel, it has over the last decade been abandoned by most of the Israeli media and public.
The government is on their side (Aryeh Eldad, Haaretz) Civil Administration officials have known how to conduct their own policy in recent years, and the government is hard-pressed to cope with them.
Because of the hate propaganda (Nadav Shragai, Israel Hayom) Slanderous anti-Israel propaganda and calls to "force" prisoner releases have made kidnappings a trump card for the Palestinians.
Hamas' West Bank kidnapping is reminiscent of past abductions by Hezbollah (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Kidnappers received a gift they hadn’t expected - nearly six hours of total quiet before Israeli security forces launched a search operation.
This time, they're mum (Prof. Eyal Zisser, Israel Hayom) The PA, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad are all maintaining radio silence about this weekend's kidnapping. Could the abduction be the work of another group?
#BringOurBoysHome: Is a hashtag really the best response to a kidnapping? (Allison Kaplan Sommer, Haaretz+) If hashtags don't help the victims, who are we using them for?
Abductions won't stop settlers from hitchhiking (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) For religious teens in single-sex schools, there are few places they can feel as free as on the road. For them, hitchhiking isn't just a way of getting around - it's a rite of passage.
Stick to our guns (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) If a kidnapping actually took place, will the government be able to maintain its policy of avoiding prisoner exchanges?
'So long, Israel, and thanks for nothing' (Carol Daniel Kasbari, Haaretz+) As a Palestinian Israeli married to a Palestinian, we've been waiting for Israel to grant us permission to live together. 15 years later, forced to choose between homeland and family unity, we have finally left.
Lieberman's right, you can reach an agreement only through a broad regional inclusion (Ben Caspit, Maariv) Although he sometimes his 'Yvette' gets the better of him, the Foreign Minister is more sober today and is trying to race the regional solution horse. But maybe disappointment awaits him.
Israel looks for new scapegoat in kidnapping case (Amir Oren, Haaretz+) The Israel Police is in the firing line following last Thursday's events in the West Bank, and heads look set to roll.
Five illusions, quashed (Aaron David Miller, Haaretz+) Israelis and Palestinians should give a busy U.S. president reason to play a bigger role in peace: by undertaking serious talks.
Kidnapped Jews? Who cares?! (Boaz Bismuth, Israel Hayom) Coverage of the kidnapping would be quite different if the hostages were Arabs.
The U.S. embrace of the Palestinian unity government (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) For Washington, there are worse scenarios than dealing with a Palestinian government that includes a terrorist organization. Like dealing with no one at all.
Looking for excuses (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) Descriptions like "settlers" and "yeshiva students" make it hard for the Israeli Left to empathize with the abducted Jewish boys.
Netanyahu's ill-timed, ill-judged attacks on Abbas (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) Prime minister's use of abduction to continue 'blame game' with Palestinian unity only creates new enemies while Israeli teens remain in captivity.
Reviving the dormant idea of peace (Akiva Eldar, Haaretz+) If once peace was an elusive but much-sought goal in Israel, it has over the last decade been abandoned by most of the Israeli media and public.
The government is on their side (Aryeh Eldad, Haaretz) Civil Administration officials have known how to conduct their own policy in recent years, and the government is hard-pressed to cope with them.
Because of the hate propaganda (Nadav Shragai, Israel Hayom) Slanderous anti-Israel propaganda and calls to "force" prisoner releases have made kidnappings a trump card for the Palestinians.
Hamas' West Bank kidnapping is reminiscent of past abductions by Hezbollah (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Kidnappers received a gift they hadn’t expected - nearly six hours of total quiet before Israeli security forces launched a search operation.
This time, they're mum (Prof. Eyal Zisser, Israel Hayom) The PA, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad are all maintaining radio silence about this weekend's kidnapping. Could the abduction be the work of another group?
#BringOurBoysHome: Is a hashtag really the best response to a kidnapping? (Allison Kaplan Sommer, Haaretz+) If hashtags don't help the victims, who are we using them for?
Abductions won't stop settlers from hitchhiking (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) For religious teens in single-sex schools, there are few places they can feel as free as on the road. For them, hitchhiking isn't just a way of getting around - it's a rite of passage.
Stick to our guns (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) If a kidnapping actually took place, will the government be able to maintain its policy of avoiding prisoner exchanges?
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.