APN's daily news review from Israel
Tuesday September 30, 2014
Quote of the day:
"If Abbas is Hamas and Hamas is ISIS, Israel should bomb Ramallah and resume the attacks on Gaza.
Terror is terror. Instead, it is awaiting the moment American, European and Saudi money will fund Gaza's
reconstruction and pay Hamas workers' salaries."
--Top Yedioth political commentator Nahum Barnea says Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's comparison between ISIS and Hamas in unfounded.**
--Top Yedioth political commentator Nahum Barnea says Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's comparison between ISIS and Hamas in unfounded.**
Front Page News:
Haaretz
- Netanyahu: The solution is in Cairo and Riyadh, not in Jerusalem and Ramallah
- The speech returns again // Barak Ravid
- A discouraged copywriter // Chemi Shalev
- ISIS shmisis // Yossi Verter
- Following Haaretz report: State froze distribution of summons to Holot (detention center)
- Gantz's next goal: Ambassador in Washington? // Amir Oren
- Contacts between the three Arab parties ahead of possible union in next elections
- Police furious at (resigned police commander) Pariente: "If he were blackmailed or threatened, he should file a complaint"
- The girl-brides of the Syrian refugee camps
Yedioth Ahronoth
- "This is a war crime" - Netanyahu at UN: Hamas fired missiles from kindergartens
- Strong in words (but not in action) // Nahum Barnea
- Rerun // Sima Kadmon
- Hospitals: Money for medicines ran out
- The affair and the complaint of sexual exploitation - The scandals (of resigned police commander Pariente) are revealed
- Billionaire from Miami in negotiations to buy Hapoel Tel-Aviv
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links)
- "Willing to make a historic compromise" - Prime Minister stood on UN podium, presented photos of rocket launchers next to children playing (...and accused Abbas of being responsible for war crimes of Hamas)
- The artist of illusions // Ben Caspit
- Associates of Rabbi (Pinto): "Police Commander Bracha did not report on the 267 calls and text messages with Pinto's wife"
- Coalition criticizing (Lapid); Amir Peretz: "It's hard to support the budget in its present formula"
Israel Hayom
- "Abu Mazen, you are responsible for Hamas' war crimes" - PM at UN: "ISIS and Hamas - branches of the same poisoned tree" "To defeat ISIS and give nukes to Iran is to win in battle and lose in war"
- Yes, a Jewish and Zionist speech // Haim Shine
- (Temple-era) Sukkot (holiday) march returns to Jerusalem
- Court employees striking in solidarity with post office employees
- Electric bicycles - not on the sidewalks - starting Sunday; The punishment: bicycle confiscated
- Public Security Minister Aharonovitch: The resignation of a police commander or two will not hasten me to choose a police commissioner
- ISIS in Um al-Fahem: High school teacher held paraphernalia of the organization
News Summary:
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu addressed the UN accusing the Palestinian President of war crimes, declaring that Iran is a bigger threat to the world than ISIS and equating the terror organization with Hamas, making top headlines in the Hebrew newspapers. However, with the exception of Israel's right-wing camp, no one appeared to be impressed with the speech, which Israeli commentators (see Commentary/Analysis below) called a 'rerun' and a 'deja vu.' Meanwhile, the police in Acco hope that the compromise they declared over whose holiday dominates on Saturday - the solemn Jewish Yom Kippur or the celebratory Muslim Eid al-Adha - will prevent clashes in the mixed city.
Besides tying Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to what he declared were Hamas' 'war crimes,' Netanyahu also suggested the Arab countries update the Arab Peace Initiative, which all the Arab states have offered to Israel 13 times since 2002, and which Israel never responded to. A transcript of Netanyahu's speech is here and Ynet has key excerpts here and Ynet has key excerpts here.
The US disagreed with Netanyahu on key points of his speech.
On equating Hamas with ISIS: US State Department Spokeswoman Jen Psaki said, "...certainly we see differences in terms of the threat and otherwise,"
On the declaration that Hamas, Iran and Hezbollah also want a Muslim caliphate dominating the world: Psaki rejected the assertion.
On Iran being a bigger threat than ISIS: Psaki rejected the assertion, but reiterated that Washington shares Israel's concerns about Iran becoming a nuclear threshold country.
Palestinian officials as well as left-wing and Arab MKs slammed the address:
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu addressed the UN accusing the Palestinian President of war crimes, declaring that Iran is a bigger threat to the world than ISIS and equating the terror organization with Hamas, making top headlines in the Hebrew newspapers. However, with the exception of Israel's right-wing camp, no one appeared to be impressed with the speech, which Israeli commentators (see Commentary/Analysis below) called a 'rerun' and a 'deja vu.' Meanwhile, the police in Acco hope that the compromise they declared over whose holiday dominates on Saturday - the solemn Jewish Yom Kippur or the celebratory Muslim Eid al-Adha - will prevent clashes in the mixed city.
Besides tying Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to what he declared were Hamas' 'war crimes,' Netanyahu also suggested the Arab countries update the Arab Peace Initiative, which all the Arab states have offered to Israel 13 times since 2002, and which Israel never responded to. A transcript of Netanyahu's speech is here and Ynet has key excerpts here and Ynet has key excerpts here.
The US disagreed with Netanyahu on key points of his speech.
On equating Hamas with ISIS: US State Department Spokeswoman Jen Psaki said, "...certainly we see differences in terms of the threat and otherwise,"
On the declaration that Hamas, Iran and Hezbollah also want a Muslim caliphate dominating the world: Psaki rejected the assertion.
On Iran being a bigger threat than ISIS: Psaki rejected the assertion, but reiterated that Washington shares Israel's concerns about Iran becoming a nuclear threshold country.
Palestinian officials as well as left-wing and Arab MKs slammed the address:
- Meretz leader MK Zahava Gal-On: "It was the same old speech of threats, intimidations and comparisons between the Islamic State, Hamas and Iran. A comparison no one in the world considers as valid."
- Opposition Chairman Isaac Herzog: "Netanyahu knows how to deliver a speech and I agreed with quite a few of his statements, but the problem is that the world is not listening to him...This speech is the official seal of Netanyahu's utter failure to rescue Israel from the endless cycle of bloodshed and violence."
- Arab MK Ahmed Tibi: "It is unclear which Netanyahu we should believe: the one who speaks about political compromise, or the one who, during five years of his term, did not do a thing towards promoting a political initiative..the claim that Abbas wants a Palestinian state that is free of Jews is false and cynical."
- Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat: “There’s a saying that if you don’t stop a man who is lying after 24 hours, the lies turn into facts. That’s what happened to Netanyahu.”
- PLO Executive Committee Member Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, said "Netanyahu has lost touch with reality, particularly in refusing to acknowledge the fact of the occupation itself...", while Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman accused Abbas of losing touch with reality and repeated his statement that Israel has no true partner for peace in Abbas.
Israeli police will ratchet up their deployment in mixed Jewish-Arab cities on Friday night and Saturday as they brace for a day in which Yom Kippur and Eid al-Adha are both observed. Yedioth reported that Acco police said that the three-day Eid al-Adha celebrations that begin Saturday were postponed because of Yom Kippur. Instead the celebrations will be begin Sunday and the Muslims will receive an extra day- Wednesday - for celebrations. Nevertheless, businesses in Acco's Old City will be open as usual Saturday and a small area will be provided for barbeques for those who want to celebrate the holiday according to tradition. Only one entrance to the city will be open to cars and only for residents and it will lead directly to the Old City.
Quick Hits:
- Peace Now: 25% of new Jerusalem homes built in East - Some 500 homes built in East Jerusalem during first half of 2014, amounting approximately 25% of new construction in city. (Agencies, Ynet)
- U.S., Britain, Australia won’t support Palestinian bid for statehood at UN - Palestinian delegation in N.Y. continues to canvass members of Security Council; China, Russia and Jordan are on board with resolution pressing to end occupation, sources say. (Haaretz+)
- Three soldiers who participated in Operation Protective Edge committed suicide - A string of suicides is horrifying the army and the army is probing whether the draft soldiers' motivation came from the difficult incidents they experienced in the recent operation. In the last few days, IDF Medical Corps sent text messages to draft soldiers who served in the operation and told them they could receive psychological treatment. (Yedioth, p. 12)
- Artist whose work is based on photos by B'tselem was removed from Foreign Embassy website: "He should use Hamas' help" - Facebook friends of FM Lieberman and from 'Mothers of Soldiers Against B'tselem,' called his attention to the London embassy website that gives a link to the dancer and choreographer, Arkadi Zeides, who presents the IDF as an occupying army. (Maariv)
- Video: East Jerusalem boy arrested for throwing stones - Border Police officers detain 12-year-old who hurled stones at Jewish homes in capital; incident is latest of spate of violent disruptions that led to arrest of dozens of minors. (Ynet)
- PA arrests Palestinians for Facebook comments - Criticism of Palestinian officials can lead to arrests, Palestinian journalists say: 'The police asked me why I liked to curse the Abbas on my Facebook.' (Ynet)
- Bennett at embattled Paris synagogue: 'Israel is your rock' - Leader of Israel’s religious right tells French Jews: 'When you know your heritage, you know what you’re fighting for.’ (Haaretz+)
- Jerusalem unity prize dedicated to memory of 3 kidnapped teens - Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat inaugurates Jerusalem Prize for the Unity of Israel in memory of kidnapped teens Gil-ad Shaer, Eyal Yifrach and Naftali Frenkel. Prize will be awarded annually to a person or organization that works to unify Israeli society. (Israel Hayom)
- (Arab party) Balad seeks to join forces with predominantly Arab parties - Small parties fear being kept out of Knesset, but Hadash resists unity. (Haaretz)
- Minister Ya'alon: Hamas still retains 20 percent of rockets, mortars - Defense minister adds that destruction of 7,000 Gaza homes will be deterrent to Hezbollah. (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
- Egypt: Gaza talks are not the venue for disarming Hamas - In Al-Hayat interview, Egyptian foreign minister says he hopes summer conflict will prompt international efforts to establish a Palestinian state, and that disarmament can only be part of a peace deal. (Haaretz+)
- Doha deal: Buy a Ferrari, donate to Gaza - Qatar Red Crescent's public auction raises $3 million for rehabilitation of Strip by selling luxury vehicles and motorcycles. (Ynet)
- Teacher arrested for bringing ISIS material from Jordan - A 24-year-old resident of Umm al-Fahm was detained for suspected affiliation with terror group. (Ynet and Haaretz)
- Battle against Islamic State creates new alliances - Saudi Arabia and Qatar, among the most active supporters of the armed opposition seeking to topple Syrian President Bashar Assad, are now part of the coalition that appears to be helping him militarily, even if unintentionally. (Israel Hayom)
- Chief rabbis condemn Jewish-Christian prayer vigil - Joint statement seen as part of campaign against cooperating with evangelical groups; Temple Mount vigil scheduled for Sukkot holiday. (Haaretz)
- PM Netanyahu to Indian PM: For bilateral ties, 'the sky's the limit' - At first such meeting in 10 years, Netanyahu invites Modi for state visit, suggests expansion of relations into realms of technology, cyber warfare. (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
- Against regulations, U.S. donors' kids fire weapons at IDF base - Youngsters, some under 13, weren’t given any preparation and wore no safety gear; IDF to investigate incident. (Haaretz+)
- Israeli activist wins international acclaim - Time Magazine names Israeli social entrepreneur Adi Altschuler as ‘Next Generation Leader’, hails her for leading by example. (Ynet)
- Jewish leaders in Argentina blast president's UNGA address - Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner criticizes her country's Jewish leaders for not supporting Argentina's pact with Iran in order to jointly investigate the 1994 AMIA bombing attack. (JTA, Haaretz)
- 'Iranian nuclear physicist killed by Revolutionary Guard, not Israel' - Sister of Dr. Ardeshir Hosseinpour, who was killed in February 2007, says her brother was killed because he wouldn’t cooperate with the effort to divert nuclear activities from peaceful purposes. (Ynet)
Commentary/Analysis:
Netanyahu's empty UN speech was a tour de force of deja vu (Barak
Ravid, Haaretz+) The prime Minister's speech to a deserted hall was full of threats and dangers,
but lacked any strategy or a detailed, diplomatic program.
They forgot us outside (Mossi Raz, Maariv) The government of Israel prefers the peace of the settlers over the peace of the country, and partnership in a coalition with Bennett over partnership in a coalition against ISIS. So what's the surprise that the US Secretary of Defense skips over us in his visits to the region? Since 2002, the 22 Arab states have approved the (Arab) peace initiative 13 times. But Israel did not respond to the hand extended to peace. So what is the surprise that only 14% of the Israelis have heard about it?
Few buyers for Netanyahu's warmed-over UN shtick (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) The PM’s contrived use of Yankees’ demi-god Derek Jeter in an analogy with Iran seemed like the desperate ploy of a worn out copywriter who’s run out of ideas.
**Netanyahu's UN speech: All talk, no action (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth/Ynet) If Abbas is Hamas and Hamas is ISIS, Israel should bomb Ramallah and resume its attacks on Gaza. Instead, it's hoping US, European and Saudi money will fund Gaza's reconstruction and pay Hamas workers' salaries.
Netanyahu's speech at the UN: good merchandise, but no one to sell to (Ben Caspit, Maariv) The Prime Minister is a gifted explainer, who provided an impressive and moving speech. The problem was the setting: Behind Netanyahu there was no support bought by a political initiative or a strong friendship with the White House. Only when he dares to advance (peace) negotiations and disappoint some Knesset members from his faction will his speeches stop serving as election broadcasts.
Netanyahu's deceptive discourse forces Israelis to ask: What do we want? (Sefi Rachlevsky, Haaretz+) The choice of a messianic, racist, Jewish society is not yet accepted by most Israelis - so Netanyahu has made the tactical decision to conceal present his actions as a prolonged reprisal action,.
Netanyahu's speech: Sharp, but not sharp enough to scratch the conscience of the world (Shlomo Shamir, Maariv) Rhetorically-speaking, the speech was constructed beautifully, almost perfect. But the focus on Israel, ignoring the problems of the world, and problematic date may cause it to disappear into oblivion.
At UN, Netanyahu outs Abbas’ lies about Israel (Alan M. Dershowitz, Haaretz+) The contrast between the Israeli and Palestinian leaders’ speeches at the UN couldn’t be clearer: Netanyahu suggested a new pathway to peace, whereas Abbas spewed hateful and unhelpful rhetorical poison.
Netanyahu's UN speech: Hamas, Iran, Islamic State and a finger in Obama’s eye (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) At the UN, Israel's no. 1 explainer debunked Abbas' 'genocide' comments and threw a dry bone to the Arab world. And don't forget the gimmick.
Obama still has time to change his approach towards Islam (Yossi Shain, Yedioth/Ynet) For too long, US president tried to avoid a real discussion of Islam's role in global politics, and especially of its attitude towards Western culture.
Arab world first, Palestinians later (David Zucker, Haaretz+) For the past 12 years Israel has had at its doorstep a strategy that would enable a U-turn: One that goes from the general (the Arab world) to the specific (the Palestinians).
'Peace' doesn’t belong solely to Israelis, nor 'justice' to Palestinians (Joel Braunold, Haaretz+) The pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian camps have no common language: Even the words 'peace', 'justice' and 'rights' have been appropriated by different sides, and each side viciously rejects any comparison to the other.
Israel really hasn’t silenced dissent (Noah Efron, Haaretz+) A New York Times op-ed suggests that a right-wing cabal has shut us Israeli leftists up, and we can do little do about it. But we haven’t been silenced. We've just failed to make our case.
In time for Yom Kippur: Two words that could change the way we look at Israel (Bradley Burston, Haaretz+) There is immense power in two simple words, especially at this time of Judgment, when we are commanded, each of us, to pry our eyes open and take a clear and uncompromising look at ourselves.
They forgot us outside (Mossi Raz, Maariv) The government of Israel prefers the peace of the settlers over the peace of the country, and partnership in a coalition with Bennett over partnership in a coalition against ISIS. So what's the surprise that the US Secretary of Defense skips over us in his visits to the region? Since 2002, the 22 Arab states have approved the (Arab) peace initiative 13 times. But Israel did not respond to the hand extended to peace. So what is the surprise that only 14% of the Israelis have heard about it?
Few buyers for Netanyahu's warmed-over UN shtick (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) The PM’s contrived use of Yankees’ demi-god Derek Jeter in an analogy with Iran seemed like the desperate ploy of a worn out copywriter who’s run out of ideas.
**Netanyahu's UN speech: All talk, no action (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth/Ynet) If Abbas is Hamas and Hamas is ISIS, Israel should bomb Ramallah and resume its attacks on Gaza. Instead, it's hoping US, European and Saudi money will fund Gaza's reconstruction and pay Hamas workers' salaries.
Netanyahu's speech at the UN: good merchandise, but no one to sell to (Ben Caspit, Maariv) The Prime Minister is a gifted explainer, who provided an impressive and moving speech. The problem was the setting: Behind Netanyahu there was no support bought by a political initiative or a strong friendship with the White House. Only when he dares to advance (peace) negotiations and disappoint some Knesset members from his faction will his speeches stop serving as election broadcasts.
Netanyahu's deceptive discourse forces Israelis to ask: What do we want? (Sefi Rachlevsky, Haaretz+) The choice of a messianic, racist, Jewish society is not yet accepted by most Israelis - so Netanyahu has made the tactical decision to conceal present his actions as a prolonged reprisal action,.
Netanyahu's speech: Sharp, but not sharp enough to scratch the conscience of the world (Shlomo Shamir, Maariv) Rhetorically-speaking, the speech was constructed beautifully, almost perfect. But the focus on Israel, ignoring the problems of the world, and problematic date may cause it to disappear into oblivion.
At UN, Netanyahu outs Abbas’ lies about Israel (Alan M. Dershowitz, Haaretz+) The contrast between the Israeli and Palestinian leaders’ speeches at the UN couldn’t be clearer: Netanyahu suggested a new pathway to peace, whereas Abbas spewed hateful and unhelpful rhetorical poison.
Netanyahu's UN speech: Hamas, Iran, Islamic State and a finger in Obama’s eye (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) At the UN, Israel's no. 1 explainer debunked Abbas' 'genocide' comments and threw a dry bone to the Arab world. And don't forget the gimmick.
Obama still has time to change his approach towards Islam (Yossi Shain, Yedioth/Ynet) For too long, US president tried to avoid a real discussion of Islam's role in global politics, and especially of its attitude towards Western culture.
Arab world first, Palestinians later (David Zucker, Haaretz+) For the past 12 years Israel has had at its doorstep a strategy that would enable a U-turn: One that goes from the general (the Arab world) to the specific (the Palestinians).
'Peace' doesn’t belong solely to Israelis, nor 'justice' to Palestinians (Joel Braunold, Haaretz+) The pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian camps have no common language: Even the words 'peace', 'justice' and 'rights' have been appropriated by different sides, and each side viciously rejects any comparison to the other.
Israel really hasn’t silenced dissent (Noah Efron, Haaretz+) A New York Times op-ed suggests that a right-wing cabal has shut us Israeli leftists up, and we can do little do about it. But we haven’t been silenced. We've just failed to make our case.
In time for Yom Kippur: Two words that could change the way we look at Israel (Bradley Burston, Haaretz+) There is immense power in two simple words, especially at this time of Judgment, when we are commanded, each of us, to pry our eyes open and take a clear and uncompromising look at ourselves.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.