APN's daily news review from Israel
Thursday July 10, 2014
Number of the day:
53.
--The number of Palestinians, most of whom were civilians, who were killed in the first two days
of Operation Protective Edge. That number was barely reported on in most of the Israeli press.**
Front Page News:
Haaretz
- Hamas expands the shooting range; At least 54 killed in Gaza - Rockets reached Carmel coast, no injuries; Terrorists tried again to enter Kibbutz Zikim from sea and were shot by IDF; Palestinian journalist killed in attack on car in Gaza; (Khaled) Mashaal turns to Israeli citizens: "You are in bomb shelters because of Netanyahu"; Yaalon: "The military campaign will expand"
- [Main photos: Gaza family running in fear holding children with dozens running behind them. An Israeli child's bedroom with a whole in the ceiling and rubble on the floor from a rocket]
- The ground-air dilemma // Amos Harel
- Wanted: A mediator // Barak Ravid
- Everyone is a target // Amira Hass
- Waiting for Egypt // Zvi Bar'el
- Iron Dome succeeded in 90% of the interception till now, more than in Operation Pillar of Defense
- Monument in memory of Mohammed Abu Khdeir smashed; Calls to murder Minister Peretz after he made a condolence visit to the (Abu Khdeir) family
- Resident of Ibilin indicted for murder of Shelly Dadon; motive unknown
- Rioting in Brazil: Millions took to the streets after the terrible loss to Germany
- 1/4 page ad: Public statement from (Israeli NGO) Physicians For Human Rights calling on Israel to stop shooting. (Also on Facebook.)
Yedioth Ahronoth
- 5 million Israelis under threat of rockets from Gaza Strip
- Golden Dome - Star of this operation till now is the Iron Dome anti-missile battery [Main photo: Iron Dome intercepts rocket at night]
- The female commander - When you hear a successful interception (of a rocket), it's possible that Captain Revital has a part in it
- Gaza dilemma // Sima Kadmon
- It will take time // Alex Fishman
- Israel is winning // Hanoch Daum
- More than 100 rockets launched at Israel; Rockets reached Zichron Yaakov and were intercepted in the area of the (nuclear) reactor in Dimona; Direct hit to a house in Kfar Gaza: Family was in Eilat; Some 50 killed in bombing of Gaza
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links)
- "We will reach Haifa" - Shooting from Gaza to Israel expands and yesterday reached Dimona and Carmel coast. IDF attacks targets in Gaza from air and sea, continues to prepare for ground offensive; Political sources: Round of fighting to continue at least another week; Last night: Searches for suspects at Zikim beach, residents told to stay in homes
- [Main photos: A room in Israel that was damaged by a rocket; A Palestinian man carrying pink pillows out of the rubble of ahouse destroyed by IAF in Rafah; Two plumes of black smoke in a residential area in Gaza after an IAF attack.
- Hamas is in a panic // Gen. (res.) Eliezar (Cheney) Merom
- Make them pay a price // Uri Bar Lev
- The cry of the mother - Ilana Dadon, mother of Shelly, clashed in court with Hussein Khalifa, who is indicted in murder of her daughter. "May you burn in hell," she called out to him
Israel Hayom
- IDF is increasing the pressure
- Hamas boasts: We shot at the (nuclear) reactor in Dimona; Missile at Zichron Yaakov; Heavy barrages on south
- In the air: Over 300 targets attacked, special effort against launch sites; Some 20 Palestinians killed; On land: IDF Spokesman said ground invasion plan approved; Netanyahu: "We will increase the attacks against Hamas"; Abu Mazen: Calls on Sisi to mediate
- The goal: Make Hamas blink // Yoav Limor
- Time is going and running out // Dan Margalit
- Ground operation is a must // Uzi Dayan
- Argentina beat Holland...will meet Germany in finals
- Following the rioting: Police recommends to put MK Hanin Zouebi on trial for incitement
- How to deal with pressure and how to keep the children busy during the day in the safe spaces
The second day of Operation Protective Edge was marked by Israel's intense bombing of Gaza, doubling the Palestinian casualties, and by Gazan missiles reaching farther north and also near to the sensitive location of Israel's nuclear reactor, with no casualties and limited damage.
MISSILES ON ISRAEL:
Gaza missiles fell north of Zichron Yaakov and were intercepted by Iron Dome near the nuclear reactor in Dimona, making the top story in Israeli papers. Over 225 rockets were fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip since Operation Protective Edge began, meaning about 100 each day. They only made two direct hits, both in the Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council: one to a house, in which the family was out. The other to an art gallery. In general, there were no injuries and little property damage from the Gazan rockets. That was mainly due to the success of Iron Dome, which intercepted 90% of the rockets. Haaretz has an excellent daily update in English with no paywall.
Israeli papers shared photos and stories of Israelis taking cover, continuing to work or go to summer camp despite the sirens and the fear. Haifa is also preparing the public bomb shelters and math matriculation exams were postponed. The papers provided guidelines on how to protect yourself in different situations when the sirens go off. The Home Front Command published over four pages in Yedioth the name of every community in Israel and how long residents in each one had to get to a safe space once sirens go off.
MISSILES ON GAZA:
Israel is striking the Gaza Strip heavily from sea and air, hitting 550 targets in Gaza since early Tuesday morning.
IDF says it destroyed at least 120 concealed rocket launchers and demolished homes of Hamas regional commanders. According to one Air Force officer, Israel struck more Hamas targets in two days than it did in the entire 2012 offensive. The officer told Haaretz+ that Israel struck 400 targets in the Gaza Strip - dropping more than 400 tons of explosives - in 36 hours, in a bid to destroy Hamas’ military infrastructure.
**The Israeli government decided to target homes of leaders in Hamas' military wing. This has killed numerous civilians. By Wednesday night the Palestinian death toll reached 53 with over 450 people injured, most of them civilians. With the exception of Haaretz, that fact was almost lost on the other newspapers. Maariv did not even mention it in a sub-title on its front page. Haaretz and Maan give details of some of the homes bombed killing civilians:
- There was the home of Islamic Jihad operative Hafez Hamed, who was killed along with five other family members, among them two women and two children. "Now there's only the grandfather and one of his sons left," said a relative.
- The Al-Nawasra home in the Almagazi refugee camp killed four relatives, including a woman and her two sons, one of them a toddler. Two other children are missing.
- A woman and her three-year-old daughter were killed when a house was blown up in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City.
- Two children were killed in the city’s Saja’iyeh neighborhood.
- A mother and son were killed in Beit Lahiya.
- The most deadly was the attack on the Kaware family home in Khan Younis, which killed 8 non-combatant family members and wounded 25. The Israeli army opened a preliminary investigation and said their deaths were "in error." More details here.
The IAF has been using what it calls the “the knock on the roof" method before
bombing the houses: a small missile, without an explosive warhead, is fired onto the building’s roof in
order to warn the residents to leave because a bomb is going to come.
However, a high-ranking IDF officer said that the defense establishment would continue to bomb the homes of senior Hamas operatives, even if it means killing the residents, when they try to prevent the bombings by standing on the roof as human shields. “We will take down those houses," he said. Knesset Member Ahmed Tibi accused the IDF of committing war crimes in Gaza by “purposefully wiping out entire families.”
The IDF has provided a video of the bombing of one of the homes. Ynet's military affairs reporter, Yoav Zitun, makes no mention of the civilian casualties that resulted from these attacks.
REACTIONS:
Israel began its campaign to draft the support of the international (Western) community. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke yesterday with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. White House Spokesman John Ernst said, "No country can accept rocket shooting targeting its citizens and we support Israel's right to defend itself against these attacks." Nevertheless, the West is already calling for an immediate calm, Maariv reported. Ki-Moon called for a stop and EU Foreign Minister Catherine Ashton slammed the shooting from Gaza, but also condemned "the high number of civilian victims, among them children, caused by Israel's retaliatory fire."
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Israel was waging “not a war against one faction, or against Hamas, but against the entire Palestinian people and accused Israel of committing 'genocide' in Gaza. Palestinian officials urged Abbas to apply for membership in the International Court of Justice.
Hamas politburo chief Khaled Meshaal told Israelis that Netanyahu was was the reason they were in bomb shelters and he accused Netanyahu of starving people by blocking the payment of salaries in Gaza and by ignoring the recent hunger strike by the administrative detainees in Israeli prisons. called on the international community to make it clear to Netanyahu that the Palestinians will not live under occupation. He reiterated that Hamas had no clue as to who had kidnapped the three teens in Gush Etzion, but welcomed the attack, Haaretz+ reported. “The kidnapping was the start of things as far as Netanyahu is concerned. As if the occupation, the settlements and the siege (on Gaza) don’t constitute a blatant violation of Palestinian rights,” he said. Meshaal also said, "If the occupation does not end, we will hit Haifa," Maariv reported.
In the Knesset, Arab MKs called IDF soldiers murderers and were expelled from the plenum. After MK Ibrahim Tsartsur read out the names of the Palestinians "murdered in the hands of the IDF heroes," acting Knesset Speaker (far-right-wing MK) Moshe Feiglin had him forcefully removed from the podium. Tsartsur called Feiglin a Nazi fascist. MK Ahmed Tibi told (far right-wing MK) Orit Struck to "shut your mouth while I'm reading the names of the people you killed with missiles..." MK Massoud Ghanaem continued in the same line and was expelled, Maariv reported.
Where to now? The Israeli political establishment relayed to the international community and to Hamas yesterday that Operation Protective Edge will expand in the upcoming days. One political source told Maariv that a ground invasion remains on the table. Meanwhile, the left-wing is calling for Netanyahu to avoid a ground invasion, while the right-wing is calling on him to increase actions. One political source told Maariv that Hamas will not be deterred at this point and will continue firing as well.
One question now is whether Egypt will mediate the ceasefire as it has done in the past. Abbas phoned Egyptian President Abdul-Fattah al-Sisi to intervene to save the Palestinian people in Gaza, Maan reported.It appears that Hamas is also trying to get the Egyptians on their side. Hamas' military wing dedicated the missile attacks on Haifa, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to the Egyptian soldiers who were killed in the October 1973 war. But AFP writes that while urging an end to the violence, Egypt "has signaled a more hands-off approach in the latest conflict, which comes at a time of mounting tensions between the new government in Cairo and Hamas." Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman Badr Abdelatty said, "Egyptian diplomatic efforts are aimed at immediately stopping Israeli aggression and ending all mutual violence. (Egyptian) contacts have not yet achieved a result."
Gaza Crisis Quickees:
However, a high-ranking IDF officer said that the defense establishment would continue to bomb the homes of senior Hamas operatives, even if it means killing the residents, when they try to prevent the bombings by standing on the roof as human shields. “We will take down those houses," he said. Knesset Member Ahmed Tibi accused the IDF of committing war crimes in Gaza by “purposefully wiping out entire families.”
The IDF has provided a video of the bombing of one of the homes. Ynet's military affairs reporter, Yoav Zitun, makes no mention of the civilian casualties that resulted from these attacks.
REACTIONS:
Israel began its campaign to draft the support of the international (Western) community. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke yesterday with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. White House Spokesman John Ernst said, "No country can accept rocket shooting targeting its citizens and we support Israel's right to defend itself against these attacks." Nevertheless, the West is already calling for an immediate calm, Maariv reported. Ki-Moon called for a stop and EU Foreign Minister Catherine Ashton slammed the shooting from Gaza, but also condemned "the high number of civilian victims, among them children, caused by Israel's retaliatory fire."
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Israel was waging “not a war against one faction, or against Hamas, but against the entire Palestinian people and accused Israel of committing 'genocide' in Gaza. Palestinian officials urged Abbas to apply for membership in the International Court of Justice.
Hamas politburo chief Khaled Meshaal told Israelis that Netanyahu was was the reason they were in bomb shelters and he accused Netanyahu of starving people by blocking the payment of salaries in Gaza and by ignoring the recent hunger strike by the administrative detainees in Israeli prisons. called on the international community to make it clear to Netanyahu that the Palestinians will not live under occupation. He reiterated that Hamas had no clue as to who had kidnapped the three teens in Gush Etzion, but welcomed the attack, Haaretz+ reported. “The kidnapping was the start of things as far as Netanyahu is concerned. As if the occupation, the settlements and the siege (on Gaza) don’t constitute a blatant violation of Palestinian rights,” he said. Meshaal also said, "If the occupation does not end, we will hit Haifa," Maariv reported.
In the Knesset, Arab MKs called IDF soldiers murderers and were expelled from the plenum. After MK Ibrahim Tsartsur read out the names of the Palestinians "murdered in the hands of the IDF heroes," acting Knesset Speaker (far-right-wing MK) Moshe Feiglin had him forcefully removed from the podium. Tsartsur called Feiglin a Nazi fascist. MK Ahmed Tibi told (far right-wing MK) Orit Struck to "shut your mouth while I'm reading the names of the people you killed with missiles..." MK Massoud Ghanaem continued in the same line and was expelled, Maariv reported.
Where to now? The Israeli political establishment relayed to the international community and to Hamas yesterday that Operation Protective Edge will expand in the upcoming days. One political source told Maariv that a ground invasion remains on the table. Meanwhile, the left-wing is calling for Netanyahu to avoid a ground invasion, while the right-wing is calling on him to increase actions. One political source told Maariv that Hamas will not be deterred at this point and will continue firing as well.
One question now is whether Egypt will mediate the ceasefire as it has done in the past. Abbas phoned Egyptian President Abdul-Fattah al-Sisi to intervene to save the Palestinian people in Gaza, Maan reported.It appears that Hamas is also trying to get the Egyptians on their side. Hamas' military wing dedicated the missile attacks on Haifa, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to the Egyptian soldiers who were killed in the October 1973 war. But AFP writes that while urging an end to the violence, Egypt "has signaled a more hands-off approach in the latest conflict, which comes at a time of mounting tensions between the new government in Cairo and Hamas." Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman Badr Abdelatty said, "Egyptian diplomatic efforts are aimed at immediately stopping Israeli aggression and ending all mutual violence. (Egyptian) contacts have not yet achieved a result."
Gaza Crisis Quickees:
- Iron Dome racks up 90% success rate so far - Changes to civilian aviation as Hamas takes aim at airport; Iron Dome doing better than it did in 2012. (Haaretz)
- Suspicion of infiltration attempt into southern Israel - Residents of Zikim receive message warning them to 'go into your homes and lock the doors.' IDF Spokesperson's Unit admits to ongoing security event. (Ynet)
- Israeli forces detain several Hamas leaders in West Bank - Israeli forces carried out multiple predawn raids across the West Bank on Wednesday detaining several Hamas leaders, says Palestinian Human rights group and security sources. (Maan)
- Hamas firing long-range M-302 rockets at Israel, capable of 150-km distance - Rockets smuggled into Gaza before Klos-C cache discovered are considered more accurate than makeshift projectiles made in the Strip; Hadera struck by M-302, dozens are estimated to exist in Gaza arsenal. (Haaretz)
- IAF strikes 550 targets in Gaza - IDF says it destroyed at least 120 concealed rocket launchers, demolished homes of Hamas regional commanders, with over 165 rockets being launched from Gaza; Palestinians say old women, children killed in attacks. (Ynet)
- Almoz: IDF has thousands more targets in Gaza - IDF Spokesperson's Unit chief says 'everything is on the table' as Gaza rocket fire continues, warns Hamas 'if there is no quiet we will act.' (Ynet)
- Jordan, Iran condemn Israel's 'barbaric' Gaza operation - After Arab League demands UN convene on Israel, Obama urges calm from both parties: Israelis, Palestinians must not to act out of revenge. (Agencies, Ynet)
- 11 Palestinians hurt in clashes with Israeli troops near Ramallah - Dozens of Palestinians set fire to an Israeli watchtower near the entrance to the Beit El settlement before Israeli forces shot at them with live fire and rubber-coated bullets. A young man was hit by a rubber-coated bullet in the eye, severely injuring him. (Maan)
- Palestinians, Israeli troops clash near Qalandia checkpoint - Israeli soldiers fired tear-gas canisters and rubber-coated bullets at Palestinian stone-throwers. Three were hit by rubber-coated bullets, and dozens suffered from suffocation as a result of inhaling tear gas. (Maan)
- Egypt opens Rafah for injured Palestinians - Egyptian authorities opened the Rafah crossing with the Gaza Strip early Thursday to allow hundreds of Palestinians injured during the ongoing Israeli offensive to receive medical treatment. (Maan)
- Hackers from Qatar broke into the website of the Carmel Coast Regional Council - The website's content was somewhat deleted and anti-Israel slogans were inserted. In Hebrew the hackers wrote: "In solidarity with Gaza." (Maariv+PHOTO)
- African asylum seekers helpless against Gazan rockets - In Tel Aviv they’ve gotten no instruction about taking shelter; in Holot they say they don’t understand. (Haaretz)
- Tutu: Israeli, Palestinian leaders behaving 'like children' - "Like children following a playground dust-up, political and religious leaders fall over each other, not to make peace, but to proclaim: It wasn't us, they started it," said Tutu. (Agencies, Maan)
- Fake SMS claims Haifa chemical plant hit by rocket - False report sent in Haaretz's name is received by thousands of Israelis. [Including myself, terribly scaring me!! - OH] (Haaretz)
- Operation Protective Edge – in pictures - Ynetnews presents a selection of photos, as IDF response to ongoing rocket barrages from Gaza enters second day. (Ynet)
- WATCH: 'Shit Tel Avivians say during a siren' - A YouTube video in the spirit of 'Shit Girls Say' encapsulates the blase attitude of the Tel Aviv bubble. (Haaretz+ and YouTube)
- Jerusalem Film Festival postpones opening night - After open-air venue where it was intended to be screened was deemed a security risk, Eran Riklis’ film 'Dancing Arabs' will now receive its world premiere on July 17. (Ynet)
Other News Quick Hits:
- Court orders release of three suspects in Palestinian teen's murder - The three are suspected of being part of the cell that kidnapped and killed 16-year-old Shoafat resident Mohammed Abu Khdeir last week. (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
- Israel opens probe against cop filmed beating Palestinian-American teen - 15-year-old Tariq Abu Khdeir (the cousin of Mohammed who was murdered) was beaten unconscious in Shoafat by Border Police and is being held under house arrest in Israel (sic - E. Jerusalem). The officer has been suspended for 15 days. (Haaretz+)
- Supporters of Palestinian-American teen beaten by Israeli police seek to bring him home - Friends and family post pictures on social media with hashtag 'BringTariqhome.' (Haaretz)
- Arrests following calls to the anti-incitement hotline - Justice Ministry's hotline for complaints of incitement has gotten results: Only five days after it was opened, some 300 calls were made, following which three people have been arrested. The arrested people are youth from Arad, Petach Tikva and Mevasseret Tsiyon who, following the murder of the three Jewish teens, opened the Facebook page called 'Revenge' and they call themselves "Al-Yahud Gang." The hotline number: 1-700-706-044. (Yedioth, p. 24)
- Taxi driver charged with murder of Afula teen - No motive cited for Shelly Dadon's stabbing; suspect retracted confession. (Haaretz+)
- Report: Kidnapped Israelis shot 10 times with silenced gun - US investigation contradicts Israeli claims that boys were kidnapped, says initial investigation findings indicate boys' murder was premeditated. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Palestinian man found dead south of Hebron - A young Palestinian man was found dead in an open area near al-Dhahiriya south of Hebron on Thursday. The man had no identification on him. (Maan)
- UN nuclear agency: Material seized by Iraqi insurgents 'low grade' - After correspondence between Iraq and the UN, the International Atomic Energy Agency announces that the stolen material does not pose a significant security threat. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- IOC issues warning over Israeli flag incident - International Olympic Committee opened investigation after head of Israeli Baseball Association was told he could not display national flag or name plate at World Baseball Softball Confederation congress in Hammamet in May. (Ynet)
- Magic Johnson to visit Israel in September - One of greatest basketball players of all times to attend inauguration ceremony of Jerusalem's new multi-purpose sports arena. (Ynet)
Commentary/Analysis:
In Gaza, 1.7 million Palestinians feel like human targets for IDF bombs (Amira
Hass, Haaretz+) High death toll and intensity of IDF offensive rallies Palestinians behind
Hamas, evaporating any criticism of group's possible responsibility for triggering escalation.
How Shoafat 2014 killed Hebron 1929's legacy of hope and gratitude (Former head of Jewish Agency Avraham Burg, Haaretz+) When Mohammed Abu Khdeir was murdered, my mother's legacy of hope and of gratitude to the Palestinian Arab man who saved her in Hebron, 1929, was murdered also.
Blind to reality (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) The Oslo delusionists and disengagement devotees gathered (at Haaretz's Israel Peace Conference) under missile fire, on to a kind of Noah's Ark. After them, the deluge.
Did Israel really think Hamas would turn the other cheek? (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) What exactly are 1.5 million people supposed to live on? Is there anyone who can explain why the blockade, even if partial, of Gaza continues?
The Middle Eastern paradox: If you want peace, prepare for war (Yitzhak Ben Yisrael, Ynet) Israel made a strategic mistake by informing Hamas that it does not wish to hit it too hard. In Middle Eastern language, such a statement serves as an insurance policy for Hamas.
Israeli Arab riots are no intifada - they're civil war (Noam Tirosh, Haaretz+) The fuel driving the 'Abu Khdeir intifada' is not the occupation, but the fact that the Palestinians in Israel are discriminated against and excluded from all walks of Jewish society.
The Ramadan war (Dr. Reuven Berko, Israel Hayom) History should already have taught the Palestinians that we cannot be blackmailed and that threatening us only places them in danger.
Hamas actions indicate panic, most of the "surprises" have been exposed (Gen. (res.) Eliezar (Cheney) Merom, Maariv) Former navy commander believes that there is no clear guiding hand that is running the strategic operations of Hamas' military wing, and it seems that the absence of Ahmed Jabari, who was assassinated at the beginning of Operation Pillar of Defense, is still felt in the field.
Israel's years of calm are over (Ari Shavit, Haaretz+) The bubble has burst. The combination of Hamas' fanaticism, desperation and rocket capabilities are only the precursor to what we can expect over the next years and decades.
Toe to toe, both Hamas and Israel are seeking the upper hand (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) It now seems that both sides are staring at a war of attrition, even as each is hoping that the other will blink first and call for a truce.
Iron Dome is proving its worth (Aharon Lapidot, Israel Hayom) The missile defense system provides Israel with essential protection that affords the government and the IDF greater operational leeway.
Lacking a Gaza exit strategy, Israel risks being dragged harshly in (Barak Ravid, Haaretz+) During this round of fighting with Hamas, Israel finds itself with no reliable or relevant party to mediate a ceasefire.
IDF's hesitant opening strike (Yossi Yehoshua, Yedioth/Ynet) While Hamas was well prepared for conflict, Israeli army missed opportunities to hit organization's rocket arsenal and target its commanders.
No end in sight for Operation Protective Edge (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) With Israel and Hamas behaving as if time is on their side, an agreement seems unlikely, for now.
Forceful response made possible by restraint (Yoav Limor, Israel Hayom) The scope of troops Israel is currently amassing near the southern border will allow the IDF to launch a forceful response that would increase pressure on Hamas.
The United States needs to choose sides (Shmuel Rosner, Maariv) The U.S. has so far avoided giving legitimacy to Israel's military operation in Gaza. Does Washington's lack of sympathy for Israel due to refusing peace make it difficult for the US to stand by its friend in the war against Hamas?
The real 'us’ versus 'them’ (Guy Spigelman, Haaretz+) We need a new definition of 'us' and 'them': Not Arab vs Jew, Israeli vs Palestinian, left vs right, but human and national rights vs violence and domination.
In current round of fighting, credibility is the name of the game (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth/Ynet) A day after this round ends, we will have to ask ourselves how did an enemy like Hamas stop believing Israeli prime minister's threats.
Strategy, not politics (Zvika Fogel, Israel Hayom) Only war against Hamas, in Gaza and Judea and Samaria, will change the insufferable reality in which the Jewish majority is a hostage in the land of Israel.
At last, U.S. challenges Israel’s discrimination against Arab Americans (James J. Zogby, Haaretz+) The U.S. is finally taking a decisive stand in defense of Arab American rights, protesting Israel’s treatment of its citizens at its borders; the brutal beating of Tariq Abu Khdeir may have turned the tide.
Hamas leaders need to pay the price (Uri Bar Lev, Maariv) What Hamas is doing is like putting children in the middle of a busy road. Israel must inform the heads of the organization that their homes will be bombed and allow them to evacuate them.
What really happened to Bennett at the Israel Conference for Peace (Uri Misgav, Haaretz+) The hero's sobbing after he was heckled and booed may have been pathetic, but the leftist peace camp certainly has a lesson to learn from the right-wing leader's on-stage performance.
Lapid must stand up for peace (Haaretz Editorial) Now is the time to form a peace-seeking government made up of parties that are able to lead Israel according to the Bar-Ilan framework.
Selfies in the bomb shelter: How Israelis cope when rockets fall (Allison Kaplan Sommer, Haaretz+) Israelis turn to social media - for helpful hints, levity, and most of all, as a way to come together in the isolation of a safe room or bomb shelter.
How Shoafat 2014 killed Hebron 1929's legacy of hope and gratitude (Former head of Jewish Agency Avraham Burg, Haaretz+) When Mohammed Abu Khdeir was murdered, my mother's legacy of hope and of gratitude to the Palestinian Arab man who saved her in Hebron, 1929, was murdered also.
Blind to reality (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) The Oslo delusionists and disengagement devotees gathered (at Haaretz's Israel Peace Conference) under missile fire, on to a kind of Noah's Ark. After them, the deluge.
Did Israel really think Hamas would turn the other cheek? (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) What exactly are 1.5 million people supposed to live on? Is there anyone who can explain why the blockade, even if partial, of Gaza continues?
The Middle Eastern paradox: If you want peace, prepare for war (Yitzhak Ben Yisrael, Ynet) Israel made a strategic mistake by informing Hamas that it does not wish to hit it too hard. In Middle Eastern language, such a statement serves as an insurance policy for Hamas.
Israeli Arab riots are no intifada - they're civil war (Noam Tirosh, Haaretz+) The fuel driving the 'Abu Khdeir intifada' is not the occupation, but the fact that the Palestinians in Israel are discriminated against and excluded from all walks of Jewish society.
The Ramadan war (Dr. Reuven Berko, Israel Hayom) History should already have taught the Palestinians that we cannot be blackmailed and that threatening us only places them in danger.
Hamas actions indicate panic, most of the "surprises" have been exposed (Gen. (res.) Eliezar (Cheney) Merom, Maariv) Former navy commander believes that there is no clear guiding hand that is running the strategic operations of Hamas' military wing, and it seems that the absence of Ahmed Jabari, who was assassinated at the beginning of Operation Pillar of Defense, is still felt in the field.
Israel's years of calm are over (Ari Shavit, Haaretz+) The bubble has burst. The combination of Hamas' fanaticism, desperation and rocket capabilities are only the precursor to what we can expect over the next years and decades.
Toe to toe, both Hamas and Israel are seeking the upper hand (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) It now seems that both sides are staring at a war of attrition, even as each is hoping that the other will blink first and call for a truce.
Iron Dome is proving its worth (Aharon Lapidot, Israel Hayom) The missile defense system provides Israel with essential protection that affords the government and the IDF greater operational leeway.
Lacking a Gaza exit strategy, Israel risks being dragged harshly in (Barak Ravid, Haaretz+) During this round of fighting with Hamas, Israel finds itself with no reliable or relevant party to mediate a ceasefire.
IDF's hesitant opening strike (Yossi Yehoshua, Yedioth/Ynet) While Hamas was well prepared for conflict, Israeli army missed opportunities to hit organization's rocket arsenal and target its commanders.
No end in sight for Operation Protective Edge (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) With Israel and Hamas behaving as if time is on their side, an agreement seems unlikely, for now.
Forceful response made possible by restraint (Yoav Limor, Israel Hayom) The scope of troops Israel is currently amassing near the southern border will allow the IDF to launch a forceful response that would increase pressure on Hamas.
The United States needs to choose sides (Shmuel Rosner, Maariv) The U.S. has so far avoided giving legitimacy to Israel's military operation in Gaza. Does Washington's lack of sympathy for Israel due to refusing peace make it difficult for the US to stand by its friend in the war against Hamas?
The real 'us’ versus 'them’ (Guy Spigelman, Haaretz+) We need a new definition of 'us' and 'them': Not Arab vs Jew, Israeli vs Palestinian, left vs right, but human and national rights vs violence and domination.
In current round of fighting, credibility is the name of the game (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth/Ynet) A day after this round ends, we will have to ask ourselves how did an enemy like Hamas stop believing Israeli prime minister's threats.
Strategy, not politics (Zvika Fogel, Israel Hayom) Only war against Hamas, in Gaza and Judea and Samaria, will change the insufferable reality in which the Jewish majority is a hostage in the land of Israel.
At last, U.S. challenges Israel’s discrimination against Arab Americans (James J. Zogby, Haaretz+) The U.S. is finally taking a decisive stand in defense of Arab American rights, protesting Israel’s treatment of its citizens at its borders; the brutal beating of Tariq Abu Khdeir may have turned the tide.
Hamas leaders need to pay the price (Uri Bar Lev, Maariv) What Hamas is doing is like putting children in the middle of a busy road. Israel must inform the heads of the organization that their homes will be bombed and allow them to evacuate them.
What really happened to Bennett at the Israel Conference for Peace (Uri Misgav, Haaretz+) The hero's sobbing after he was heckled and booed may have been pathetic, but the leftist peace camp certainly has a lesson to learn from the right-wing leader's on-stage performance.
Lapid must stand up for peace (Haaretz Editorial) Now is the time to form a peace-seeking government made up of parties that are able to lead Israel according to the Bar-Ilan framework.
Selfies in the bomb shelter: How Israelis cope when rockets fall (Allison Kaplan Sommer, Haaretz+) Israelis turn to social media - for helpful hints, levity, and most of all, as a way to come together in the isolation of a safe room or bomb shelter.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.