APN's daily news review from Israel
Sunday September 21, 2014
Quote of the day:
"In the end, we got nothing but casualties and injuries. I have personally had it. This is clearly not
the way. There must be another way. We feel abandoned."
--At a rally in the south calling for a diplomatic solution, Sderot resident Nitza Makan says successive Israeli governments have only brought war.**
--At a rally in the south calling for a diplomatic solution, Sderot resident Nitza Makan says successive Israeli governments have only brought war.**
Front Page News:
Haaretz
- Netanyahu and Lapid agreed: Additional 6 billion shekels to security
- PM offered Erdan to replace Saar as Interior Minister
- Senior Israeli official: Negotiations in Cairo to begin again on Tuesday
- In the shadow of the danger of the renewal of fire // Amos Harel
- Kurds in Kobani found themselves at frontline against ISIS
- Committee for choosing High Court judges to convene today: Mazoz is leading candidate
- Cameron to speed up upgrade of Scotland's status
- After two year timeout, Sarkozy returns to politics
- UN: 11 billion people will live on planet by end of 21st century
Yedioth Ahronoth
- 0% VAT bill to be approved; Security to receive another 6 billion; Taxes won't be raised - Agreement on way to budget approval
- The threat: Strike by national labor union over holidays, because of battle of Post Office employees
- Taste of the apple (iPhone 6)
- We are on the map - Weekend of achievements in Israeli sport
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links)
- The budget will be approved: Another 6 billion shekels for security in exchange for 0% VAT law
- Returning to reality - Bibi blinked first // Yehuda Sharoni
- Military secret - D., a 24-year-old lone soldier from South Africa, hides the fact that he volunteered for the IDF out of fear he will lose his citizenship
- The battle to become Interior Minister
- Pandora's box // Gil Hoffman
Israel Hayom
- Getting closer to the (2015) budget
- Negotiations over long-term arrangement in Gaza to renew on Tuesday in Cairo
- In general: It's good there is a budget // Hezi Sternlicht
- The crises are like a (political) relay race // Dan Margalit
- Lapid's 'Shabbat storm'" - Left and right-wing attacked minister for holding press conference on Saturday
- Dealing with (Gaza) tunnels - long before (Minister) Bennett (raised issue)
- Shopping carts filled with pomegranate - shopping before the Rosh Hashana
- ISIS: Hostages digging their own graves
- Challenge for New Year: Secret stalactite cave
- Not just prayers: Our guide to the most beautiful synagogues in the country
News Summary:
A magical agreement between Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Yair Lapid that gives each what they wanted was today's top story in the Hebrew papers. Meanwhile, indirect talks between the Palestinian delegation and Israel for a long-term agreement over Gaza are set to resume Tuesday in Cairo.
And in Paris, French President Francoise Hollande said France would present a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the UN Security Council. Speaking at a joint press conference with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Hollande said, “We will have a resolution, to be presented to the Security Council, that will say very clearly what we expect from the (peace) process and what the solution to the conflict must be." Abbas is flying to New York where he will promote his own proposal for peace, with an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza within three years, and present it to the UN, with backing from the Arab League.
Poll: Most Likud voters favor a two-state solution
Most Likud voters (53%) and the majority of the public (58%) believe that in light of the situation that was created after the operation in Gaza, Netanyahu should make a diplomatic initiative that leads to the two-state solution, Maariv reported. The survey was taken in mide-September by the New Wave Institute for the Geneva Initiative organization. (Maariv)
A magical agreement between Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Yair Lapid that gives each what they wanted was today's top story in the Hebrew papers. Meanwhile, indirect talks between the Palestinian delegation and Israel for a long-term agreement over Gaza are set to resume Tuesday in Cairo.
And in Paris, French President Francoise Hollande said France would present a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the UN Security Council. Speaking at a joint press conference with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Hollande said, “We will have a resolution, to be presented to the Security Council, that will say very clearly what we expect from the (peace) process and what the solution to the conflict must be." Abbas is flying to New York where he will promote his own proposal for peace, with an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza within three years, and present it to the UN, with backing from the Arab League.
Poll: Most Likud voters favor a two-state solution
Most Likud voters (53%) and the majority of the public (58%) believe that in light of the situation that was created after the operation in Gaza, Netanyahu should make a diplomatic initiative that leads to the two-state solution, Maariv reported. The survey was taken in mide-September by the New Wave Institute for the Geneva Initiative organization. (Maariv)
- 33% of the public believes that Netanyahu does not need to make a political initiative.
- 66% of the public believes that if a peace agreement is not achieved in the coming years, it will lead to a violent conflict between the sides.
- 11% of the public thinks that if no movement is made towards a diplomatic solution, the likely movement is
slowly towards a one-state solution.
Quick Hits:
- **Israelis living near Gaza border rally to demand peace - Residents of the south say peace with the Palestinians is necessary to stop the series of wars. (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
- Hundreds commemorated International Day of Peace: "Revenge will not bring back my father" - Palestinians and Israelis gathered in dialogue circles at Cinemateque Square in Tel Aviv Saturday night. Event organized by the Bereaved Families Forum. "I never thought about revenge because of my case, and not out of fear of Israel. Revenge will not bring back my father," said Mazen Faraj, resident of Deheisheh refugee camp and CEO of the forum from the Palestinian side. Actress Gila Almagor: "At a time when hatred is rampant, you sit and talk. This can lead to everything being different." MK Miki Rosenthal also attended. (Maariv)
- 5 Jewish youths suspected of attacking Arab lawyer - Attorney Ibrahim Kilani says attackers targeted him in Upper Nazareth because he was an Arab; suspects known to police for previous violent offenses. Kilani was so outraged by the attack he was considering quitting his job at the Economy Ministry. (Ynet)
- Parents' protest: We don't want Arab employees - Parents threaten to strike studies if Jerusalem municipality continues to employ Arab cleaning workers at Beit Yaakov utra-Orthodox girls' school in Bayit Vegan neighborhood. Municipality: Only Arab women will be employed. (Yedioth, Jerusalem supplement, p. 76)
- Eve of Rosh Hashana: About 1/4 of Israelis are poor - "Fourteen percent of those receiving aid are from the middle class, who fell into poverty in the last year," said CEO of Latet organization, Adv. Eran Weintraub. "This year, 40,000 additional children will be under the poverty line." Latet is umbrella organization for some 150 NGOs. Some 439,500 families and about 1,754,000 people, some 817,000 of them children, live in poverty in Israel. (Maariv, p. 6)
- Gov't (expected) to vote Sunday to build (controversial) border fence in World Heritage site in Battir - Environmental group worries for fate of agricultural terraces that preserves ancient irrigation methods; Gush Etzion head: Fence will block further settlement expansion. (Ynet)
- Medical student leads 'Hebrew Arabic' project - Arab students teach Jewish students spoken Arabic as part of unique program aimed at preparing future doctors for meeting with Arab patients. (Ynet)
- Three killed by unexploded Israeli bombs in Gaza - Gaza police explosives teams working to detect and destroyed unexploded ordnance are hamstrung by lack of resources and equipment. (Haaretz)
- New facility helps troops prepare for realities of Gaza combat - Following Protective Edge, the IDF builds model of a Gaza neighborhood featuring same operational challenges troops fighting in Gaza faced -- closely built structures, tunnels, booby traps and terrorists and civilians played by the Caracal Battalion. (Israel Hayom)
- IDF: series of sirens sounded in Gaza vicinity communities - false alarms - Two days after the rocket landed in the Eshkol Regional Council, there were a number of red alerts Thursday in the western Negev and Negev. After checking it turned out that nothing fell in Israel. (Maariv)
- Hundreds to demonstrate against Qatar at London embassy today: Stop funding terror - The demonstrators will demand "to remove the terror from soccer." Qatar will be hosting the 2022 World Cup. Demo organized by Friends of Israel in Sussex region. (Maariv, p. 8)
- Iranians held in Kenya carried Israeli passports - Iranian couple in their early twenties were trying to fly to Brussels and from there on to Israel. (Haaretz)
- Lone IDF soldiers, hailing from across the globe, set new record - 20 new immigrants from all over the world swear loyalty to the IDF and the state in ceremony at the Western Wall. Avi Leuchter, 21, from Zurich: "I know I made the right move by moving to Israel and being drafted into combat service." (Israel Hayom)
- Israeli drone crashes in southern Lebanon - The UAV experienced a malfunction during a patrol along the border, according to the IDF. (Haaretz)
- Hagee: Israel is not an 'occupier' but the owner of the land - Evangelical leader Pastor John Hagee promises that millions of Christian believers are praying for Israel and the Jewish people. He explains that Christianity cannot exist without Judaism, therefore Christian anti-Semitism is a result of ignorance. (Israel Hayom)
- U.S. Senate approves bill to bolster American-Israeli cooperation - Bill increases Israeli access to weapons, encourages Israel’s entry into visa waiver program. (JTA, Haaretz)
- Report: NSA shared unedited data on Arab Americans' calls with IDF intel unit - Ex-NSA contractor Snowden told author Bamford that data could enable Israel to target callers' relatives in Israel and territories. (Haaretz)
- Cave of stalactites found near Jerusalem - Unique cave discovered, to be opened for visitors in one month; officials mapping the cave, considering how to protect the site. (Ynet)
- Philippine peacekeepers pull out early from Golan - Filipinos repatriated one months earlier because of the deteriorating security situation in the area, Philippine military spokesman says. (Agencies, Ynet)
- 'Syrian Nelson Mandela' praises Israeli aid for wounded Syrians - "Israel treats wounded Syrians and saves their lives while Assad continues to massacre his people. All of Syria sees this and asks: Who is the real enemy?" prominent Syrian oppositionist, Dr. Kamal al-Labwani, says during visit to Ziv Medical Center. (Israel Hayom)
- Israel believes Syria kept 'significant' chemical arsenal - Intelligence official says Syria has held on to combat-ready chemical weapons despite giving up relevant raw materials. Using chemical weapons against Israel, even on a small scale, "wouldn't be a game-changer, it would be a game-ender" for Syria. (Israel Hayom)
- S&P maintains Israel’s sovereign debt rating, see little fiscal impact from Gaza war - Israel to retain its A+ rating despite costs of Operation Protective Edge, though agency expects recent war to contribute to slowdown in 2014. (Haaretz+)
- American-Jewish billionaires keeping Holocaust memory alive - Steven Spielberg, Ronald Lauder and Haim Saban join organization of memorial ceremonies marking 70th anniversary of Auschwitz-Birkenau liberation. (Ynet)
- Human traffickers 'laughed' as they capsized boat to drown refugees - Palestinian survivors of deadly shipwreck near Malta which saw over 500 people go missing or die say people smugglers rammed their boat, intentionally sinking them, as EU calls incident 'murder'. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Israeli who fought with pro-Russian separatists freed from Ukrainian captivity - 39-year-old Pavel Vetko from Rehovot was captured by Ukrainian soldiers and released as part of prisoner swap deal in Donetsk. (Ynet)
- Ariel Sharon honored in Belarus museum - Special photo exhibition in memory of late Israeli prime minister displayed at National History Museum of Belarus, from where Sharon’s parents immigrated to Jewish state. (Ynet)
Features:
Goal: An ultra-Orthodox settlement
The tension with the right-wing parties has not bothered the ultra-Orthodox sector to leave the cities to move to settlements. This week, dozens of couple arrived at a conference meant to draw yeshiva graduates to Meitzad settlement. The reasons: The price of housing and the more liberal atmosphere compared to the city. (Moshe Heller, Yedioth Jerusalem supplement, p. 96)
We'll meet in refusing (to serve)
A week after the refuseniks of Unit 8200 sparked a debate that stormed the whole country for signing a letter that they will not do their jobs listening in to conversations of Palestinians, we had two of them meet with IDF fighters who signed previous letters refusing to serve for conscientious objector reasons. Giora Ben-Dov, 72, an architect who finished his reserve duty service as a pilot with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and Chen Alon, 45, he has a Ph.D. in theater, was an officer in the armored corps. In his reserve duty he chased 10-year-old (Palestinian) children with a wooden club in his hand. Next to him sits Avner Weishnitzer, 38, he has a Ph.D in history and served as a fighter in Sayeret Matkal. All three became conscientious objectors in the Second Intifada.Across from them sit the fresh refuseniks fro the intelligence unit, Captain (res.) Daniel, 29 and Sergeant (res.) Noah, 26.
Noah: "I'm disappointed by the lack of relevancy of the debate that has opened up over the letter. The attack is on who we are (and not on what we wrote), whether we were in an intel position or a technical position...(But) I don't regret anything."
Daniel: "I feel a relief. This was burning inside me for a year and it was important to me to let it out...Many of the people who we asked them to sign the letter said they don't feel they can change anything in the situation of the country, but I am not willing to give up. I feel much more connected to this place after the step I took. The likelihood that I will move to Berlin, like many others did, is much smaller after I let out what was sitting on my heart."
Chen: "(Israeli) society is more violent today."
Commentary/Analysis:
Israel must finally address East Jerusalem’s problems (Haaretz Editorial) The Arab side of the city has suffered nearly 50 years of
disinheritance and annexation, reflected by the young people’s despair.
Watchmen for the walls of Jerusalem (David M. Weinberg, Israel Hayom) Israeli sovereignty over many Jerusalem neighborhoods is being challenged.
Building settlements while Israel burns (Yoaz Hendel, Yedioth/Ynet) Biggest challenges Israel faces today lie in Gaza-border area, Golan Heights, and in Jerusalem, where a third intifada has begun unnoticed. But Likud ministers are only interested in settlements.
The 'new' Israeli left doesn't want to upset anyone (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) The new Israeli left is the center in disguise. No wonder it calls everything to its left 'extreme.'
Lies in the service of Hamas (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) One can understand journalists who work in Hamas's service when they are coerced to do so; it's a little difficult to understand the repeated mistakes of 'rights groups' who operate free of coercion.
The Israeli military: Winning wars, losing money (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) The wastefulness of this summer's Gaza operation in terms of firepower and manpower, and the ongoing dispute over the state budget show that the IDF has yet to learn how to function according to a proper war economy.
No money left for Israel's citizens (Sever Plocker, Yedioth/Ynet) Netanyahu-Lapid budget deal will secure Israel's last place among OECD members in terms of funds allotted to economic and social development for many more years.
Can you leave Israel and still be a Zionist? (Eran Rolnik, Haaretz+) Israel's emigrants can play an important historical role in saving the democratic state from the destructive forces that threaten it from within.
Words can kill (Emily Amrousi, Israel Hayom) How easy it is to talk about the intifada in Jerusalem as "rioting in the eastern part of the city." Although it sounds far away, it is simply a matter of word choice. Shuafat is not a refugee camp. It is a neighborhood of villas. [Note: There is a wealthy E. Jerusalem neighborhood called Shuafat, where Mohammed Abu Khdeir, the youth who was burned alive, lived. And there is nearby refugee camp with the same name. - OH]
Large scale, showy terror attacks loom on Israel's horizon (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Israeli officials estimate Hamas won't risk another bout, but many variables could play into that equation; and don't forget Iran and Hezbollah still have a score to settle with the 'Zionists.'
The Hunger Games 2014 (Hezi Sternlicht, Israel Hayom) The organizations that are tasked with lifting the poor out of poverty are performing a disservice by stifling competition and cozying up to monopolies.
It’s the colonialism they hate, not Jews (Zeev Sternhell, Haaretz+) Most Europeans do not doubt the Jews’ right to an independent state, but they vehemently object to a reality in which we are keeping masses of people under occupation and consciously trampling their basic rights.
Americans were too late in realizing Israel is not the problem (Guy Bechor, Yedioth/Ynet) While John Kerry wasted his time in Israel in past two years, Syria became a jihadist den, Iraq fell apart and ISIS grew stronger.
Obama at his best (Yoel Marcus, Haaretz+) He was right in deciding that in no place and at no time will he act alone. In other words: We are not going to be the world’s patsies.
On Israel, the Democrats push further left (Richard Baehr, Israel Hayom) Along the continuum from Democrat to liberal to leftist, the support for Israel declines.
Court-sanctioned discrimination committees (Friday Haaretz Editorial) High Court's decision to uphold the residential screening law - intended to keep Arabs out of small communities - will have a chilling effect on battle against discrimination.
The Gaza plan that never was (Smadar Perry, Yedioth/Ynet) Proposal for Palestinian state in Sinai was basically aimed at getting rid of Hamas leadership. But just like they are stuck with Gaza siege, Israel and Egypt are stuck with military wings and missile launchers.
The watchdog of the IDF (Emanuel Gross, Haaretz+) The thankless role of the Military Advocate General Corps, which helps commanders understands which targets are legitimate under international law, testifies to the strength of a country in an asymmetric war.
The Gaza op cover-up (Sawsan Zaher, Yedioth/Ynet) As long as Israel fails to conduct independent investigations into grave suspicions of violation of laws of war, only option left is that of an international commission of inquiry.
B'Tselem's quixotic fight against the 'temporary' occupation (Mira Sucharov, Haaretz+) Security and human rights aren't mutually exclusive, says new chief of Israeli organization.
Watchmen for the walls of Jerusalem (David M. Weinberg, Israel Hayom) Israeli sovereignty over many Jerusalem neighborhoods is being challenged.
Building settlements while Israel burns (Yoaz Hendel, Yedioth/Ynet) Biggest challenges Israel faces today lie in Gaza-border area, Golan Heights, and in Jerusalem, where a third intifada has begun unnoticed. But Likud ministers are only interested in settlements.
The 'new' Israeli left doesn't want to upset anyone (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) The new Israeli left is the center in disguise. No wonder it calls everything to its left 'extreme.'
Lies in the service of Hamas (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) One can understand journalists who work in Hamas's service when they are coerced to do so; it's a little difficult to understand the repeated mistakes of 'rights groups' who operate free of coercion.
The Israeli military: Winning wars, losing money (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) The wastefulness of this summer's Gaza operation in terms of firepower and manpower, and the ongoing dispute over the state budget show that the IDF has yet to learn how to function according to a proper war economy.
No money left for Israel's citizens (Sever Plocker, Yedioth/Ynet) Netanyahu-Lapid budget deal will secure Israel's last place among OECD members in terms of funds allotted to economic and social development for many more years.
Can you leave Israel and still be a Zionist? (Eran Rolnik, Haaretz+) Israel's emigrants can play an important historical role in saving the democratic state from the destructive forces that threaten it from within.
Words can kill (Emily Amrousi, Israel Hayom) How easy it is to talk about the intifada in Jerusalem as "rioting in the eastern part of the city." Although it sounds far away, it is simply a matter of word choice. Shuafat is not a refugee camp. It is a neighborhood of villas. [Note: There is a wealthy E. Jerusalem neighborhood called Shuafat, where Mohammed Abu Khdeir, the youth who was burned alive, lived. And there is nearby refugee camp with the same name. - OH]
Large scale, showy terror attacks loom on Israel's horizon (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Israeli officials estimate Hamas won't risk another bout, but many variables could play into that equation; and don't forget Iran and Hezbollah still have a score to settle with the 'Zionists.'
The Hunger Games 2014 (Hezi Sternlicht, Israel Hayom) The organizations that are tasked with lifting the poor out of poverty are performing a disservice by stifling competition and cozying up to monopolies.
It’s the colonialism they hate, not Jews (Zeev Sternhell, Haaretz+) Most Europeans do not doubt the Jews’ right to an independent state, but they vehemently object to a reality in which we are keeping masses of people under occupation and consciously trampling their basic rights.
Americans were too late in realizing Israel is not the problem (Guy Bechor, Yedioth/Ynet) While John Kerry wasted his time in Israel in past two years, Syria became a jihadist den, Iraq fell apart and ISIS grew stronger.
Obama at his best (Yoel Marcus, Haaretz+) He was right in deciding that in no place and at no time will he act alone. In other words: We are not going to be the world’s patsies.
On Israel, the Democrats push further left (Richard Baehr, Israel Hayom) Along the continuum from Democrat to liberal to leftist, the support for Israel declines.
Court-sanctioned discrimination committees (Friday Haaretz Editorial) High Court's decision to uphold the residential screening law - intended to keep Arabs out of small communities - will have a chilling effect on battle against discrimination.
The Gaza plan that never was (Smadar Perry, Yedioth/Ynet) Proposal for Palestinian state in Sinai was basically aimed at getting rid of Hamas leadership. But just like they are stuck with Gaza siege, Israel and Egypt are stuck with military wings and missile launchers.
The watchdog of the IDF (Emanuel Gross, Haaretz+) The thankless role of the Military Advocate General Corps, which helps commanders understands which targets are legitimate under international law, testifies to the strength of a country in an asymmetric war.
The Gaza op cover-up (Sawsan Zaher, Yedioth/Ynet) As long as Israel fails to conduct independent investigations into grave suspicions of violation of laws of war, only option left is that of an international commission of inquiry.
B'Tselem's quixotic fight against the 'temporary' occupation (Mira Sucharov, Haaretz+) Security and human rights aren't mutually exclusive, says new chief of Israeli organization.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.