APN's daily news review from Israel
Wednesday October 22, 2014
Quote of the day:
“It's time to make it clear to the prime minister and his ministers: This is not a reality show, this
is a reality. In reality, you have to show results."
-- Labor leader and Opposition Chairman Isaac Herzog slammed the new alliance between Ministers Yair Lapid and Tzipi Livni to advance the peace process with the Palestinians.**
-- Labor leader and Opposition Chairman Isaac Herzog slammed the new alliance between Ministers Yair Lapid and Tzipi Livni to advance the peace process with the Palestinians.**
Front Page News:
Haaretz
- Netanyahu advancing new alliances and expecting government will collapse within two months
- Europeans formulating red lines for (Israeli) moves in West Bank: Fear in Israel of sanctions
- Jordan demands clarifications over bill to change status quo on Temple Mount
- Unknown person tried to assassinate key witness in corruption at Ashdod Port case
- Political win for Bennett and (Jerusalem Mayor) Barekat: Shlomo Amar and Arieh Stern chosen as chief rabbis of Jerusalem
- Doctors succeeded in causing paralyzed man to walk
- Ancient inscription sheds light on Bar Kochba revolt
Yedioth Ahronoth
- The new alliance: Livni and Lapid – Yesh Atid and Hatnua parties formulating joint front
- How much will (iPhone) 6 cost in Israel
- This is how you can get out of doing a psychometric exam – and still get into an academic institution
- Mother of navigator pilot who was killed in Nepal: “Even when I cry, I say to myself that Tamar probably finished her role in the world”
- Half of Michal – This is how the former children’s show star Michal Tzafir became a weight-loss guru
- The world inside – Rare talent: 5-year-old autistic girl draws like Renoir and Monet
- Do you recognize her? What happened to Renee Zelwinger’s charming face?
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Drones instead of observers (in Golan Heights)
- “Loyalty or early elections” – Prime Minister will meet today with Lieberman, Lapid, Livni and Bennett to calm coalition crisis
- Shashinsky (Commission on taxing natural resource revenues) fears early elections: The recommendations for taxing Israel Chemical revenues will be softened
- Last night in Haifa: Father murdered man who attacked his son
- Achievement for Bennett and Habayit Hayehudi: Rabbi Arieh Stern chosen as chief Ashkenazi rabbi of Jerusalem
Israel Hayom
- Netanyahu: “Israel does not need elections now”
- There are chief rabbis in Jerusalem: Shlomo Ammar – Sephardic rabbi, Arieh Stern – Ashkenazi rabbi
- “1 out of 3 will be accepted (to higher education) without a psychometric exam”
- The responsibility is on their shoulders – 40th course for land officers ended, 380 new commanders
- Hope for those suffering from paralysis
- Rare finding in Jerusalem reveals background for Bar Kochba revolt
- Assassination attempt or scare? State witness in Ashdod port affair – in the crosshairs
- Drama in Haifa: Youth brawled, relatives joined in – and terrible end was death of relative of former beauty queen
- History in Israel Police: First female Druze officer
News Summary:
Possible early elections and new political alliances were the top story in Hebrew newspapers today. Meanwhile, Haaretz revealed that the European Union is proposing ‘red lines’ regarding Israeli moves in the West Bank, just as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said unilateral moves must stop. Maariv revealed a suggestion to replace UN peacekeeping observers in the Golan Heights with drones.
After the papers yesterday wrote that Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu wanted to hold early primaries for the Likud party because he wanted to hold early general elections in May, Netanyahu announced that he does not want early elections and that he was holding a meeting today with the heads of the coalition parties in an attempt to stabilize the government.
**Justice Minister Tzipi Livni told Yedioth that her Hatunuah party and Finance Minister Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid were joining forces to advance the revival of peace talks with the Palestinians, forming a 25-MK bloc on the diplomatic front, as well as matters of religion and state, the latter in which they will also be joined by Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu. Labor party and opposition leader Isaac Herzog was unimpressed with the new alliance, saying "The Livni-Lapid alliance, like all other alliances we're seen in this coalition, was meant to give artificial CPR to a nonfunctional government."
Meanwhile, the EU seeks talks with Israel to formulate ‘red lines’ over Israeli actions in the West Bank, e.g. settlement construction and land appropriation, which create a “focused and increasing threat to the possibility of the two-state solution,” Haaretz reported. Israeli officials fear that the negotiations are a prelude to further European sanctions.
Ban ki-Moon said that Israel and the Palestinians must stop unilateral initiatives. It was believed that the UN chief's remarks to the UN Security Council on Tuesday were almost certainly aimed at Israel's continued settlement building in the West Bank and the Palestinians' pursuit of a UNSC resolution that would set November 2016 as the deadline for Israeli troops to withdraw from all Palestinian territory.
Meanwhile, the Argentinian representative to the UN passed Syria and Israel a query about replacing UN observers with drones on the Golan Heights, according to the Lebanese media network Al-Manar, Maariv reported. Damascus agreed, but Israel is finding it difficult to deal with the issue: "This is a very sensitive decision,” said a senior Israeli security source. Meanwhile, the fighting resumed at Kuneitra and a mortar fell in Israel. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad wants to retake control over the Kuneitra crossing, said the source, and massive fighting is expected there in the coming days.
Possible early elections and new political alliances were the top story in Hebrew newspapers today. Meanwhile, Haaretz revealed that the European Union is proposing ‘red lines’ regarding Israeli moves in the West Bank, just as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said unilateral moves must stop. Maariv revealed a suggestion to replace UN peacekeeping observers in the Golan Heights with drones.
After the papers yesterday wrote that Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu wanted to hold early primaries for the Likud party because he wanted to hold early general elections in May, Netanyahu announced that he does not want early elections and that he was holding a meeting today with the heads of the coalition parties in an attempt to stabilize the government.
**Justice Minister Tzipi Livni told Yedioth that her Hatunuah party and Finance Minister Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid were joining forces to advance the revival of peace talks with the Palestinians, forming a 25-MK bloc on the diplomatic front, as well as matters of religion and state, the latter in which they will also be joined by Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu. Labor party and opposition leader Isaac Herzog was unimpressed with the new alliance, saying "The Livni-Lapid alliance, like all other alliances we're seen in this coalition, was meant to give artificial CPR to a nonfunctional government."
Meanwhile, the EU seeks talks with Israel to formulate ‘red lines’ over Israeli actions in the West Bank, e.g. settlement construction and land appropriation, which create a “focused and increasing threat to the possibility of the two-state solution,” Haaretz reported. Israeli officials fear that the negotiations are a prelude to further European sanctions.
Ban ki-Moon said that Israel and the Palestinians must stop unilateral initiatives. It was believed that the UN chief's remarks to the UN Security Council on Tuesday were almost certainly aimed at Israel's continued settlement building in the West Bank and the Palestinians' pursuit of a UNSC resolution that would set November 2016 as the deadline for Israeli troops to withdraw from all Palestinian territory.
Meanwhile, the Argentinian representative to the UN passed Syria and Israel a query about replacing UN observers with drones on the Golan Heights, according to the Lebanese media network Al-Manar, Maariv reported. Damascus agreed, but Israel is finding it difficult to deal with the issue: "This is a very sensitive decision,” said a senior Israeli security source. Meanwhile, the fighting resumed at Kuneitra and a mortar fell in Israel. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad wants to retake control over the Kuneitra crossing, said the source, and massive fighting is expected there in the coming days.
Quick Hits:
- Palestinian Authority should end joint security with Israel, says chief Palestinian negotiator - Step should be taken if U.S. vetoes Palestinian end-of-occupation bid at UN Security Council, Saeb Erekat says. (Haaretz+, Maariv and Maan)
- Jordan asks Israel for clarifications over Temple Mount bill - Bill by MK Miri Regev (Likud) seeks to change status quo at the Jerusalem holy site, asks to allow Jews to pray there; Arab media reports bill will come to a vote next month. (Haaretz+, Israel Hayom and Maan)
- Police to form new unit to deal with Jerusalem unrest - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approves plan by Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch to form unit dedicated to dealing with riots in the capital. "These are serious incidents and they must be treated as such," police commissioner says. (Israel Hayom)
- Defense Minister Ya'alon blasts Turkey, Erdogan as 'leaders of Muslim Brotherhood Axis' - In U.S. visit, Ya'alon says Hamas has moved 'terror headquarters' from Damascus to Istanbul. (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
- 'Israel won't allow Gaza reconstruction if tunnels rebuilt' - Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon tells U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon in NYC that Israel wants Gaza to "improve their economic situation" but not at the cost of allowing Hamas to rearm. Hamas has said it intends to build tunnels rather than homes, Ya'alon warns. (Israel Hayom)
- Israel and Hamas to resume indirect talks on October 27, says Hamas official - Hamas's Abu Marzouk says demands include opening a port, reopening airport, prisoners, reconstruction and other 'unfinished' matters. (Haaretz)
- Israel football body to discipline Palestinian team Bnei Sakhnin - The Israel Football Association said Monday it had "decided to take disciplinary action against Bnei Sakhnin" after the club paid tribute to former MK Azi Bishara for helping secure a Qatari donation to build its state-of-the-art football stadium and sports complex. Bishara fled Israel in 2007 after being accused of collaborating with the Lebanese faction Hezbollah. (Maan)
- Prime Minister Netanyahu celebrates 65th birthday - PM: "Many things are still ahead of us." Communications Minister Gilad Erdan: "You're just at the beginning of the road." Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry send birthday wishes. (Israel Hayom)
- Israel demolishes steel structures in Jordan Valley - Bulldozers escorted by Israeli military forces entered the al-Jiftlik area of the Jordan Valley and destroyed structures belonging to Muhammad Abu Arram and Nader Abu Shahin. Israeli forces also confiscated three tractors in the Wadi Baziq area of the Jordan Valley. (Maan)
- Israeli official: Hamas lets their people have treatment in Israel, but not regular Gazans - COGAT responds to revelation that Hamas leader's daughter was treated in Tel Aviv. Hospital: We don't care who the patients are. Palestinian source: Treatment coordinated through Palestinian Authority. Relatives of other Palestinian officials have been treated in Israel. (Ynet)
- Israeli forces close entrance to village, roads in Nablus - Israeli forces closed the entrance to Burin village in Nablus on Tuesday after firebombs were thrown at settler cars. Villagers could not get to work or school. Israeli forces also closed main road to Awarta village in southern Nablus to secure route for a marathon run held by settlers. (Maan)
- Watch: IDF soldiers celebrate return home with drag show - Nahal fighters in Dimona nuclear put on show wearing women's clothing after returning from Gaza op, conflict breaks out with commanders. (Ynet)
- Palestinian activist convicted for 'interfering' with Israel army work - Abdullah Abu Rahma, who spent 15 months behind bars for organizing weekly demonstrations against Israel's separation wall in the village of Bilin and who is regarded by the EU as a human rights defender, was convicted on Monday at Ofer military court near Ramallah. (Maan)
- Expensive holiday: 7 security guards for traveling minister - Housing Minister Uri Ariel (Habayit Hayehudi) and his wife went Monday on a private visit to Petra in Jordan with 3 Israeli bodyguards and 4 Jordanian bodyguards for a 5-hour trip. (Yedioth, p. 23)
- Israeli start-up uses math to detect cyber threats - ThetaRay offers innovative approach to digital security, counts General Electric and Bank Hapoalim as corporate sponsors. (Agencies, Ynet)
- IAI unveils advanced IED-detection suite - Israeli military manufacturer publishes simulation of new system to identify, destroy hidden explosive devices – both above and below ground. (Ynet)
- Rise in number of academics in Arab (Israeli) sector: Some 68% are women - Central Bureau of Statistics reports that between 2009-2012 number of Arab students in higher education rose by 8.4% compared with 1.1% rise among Jews and others. Highest percentage of Arab students is in Haifa. (Maariv, p. 17)
- 2,000-year-old stone fragment unearthed in Jerusalem - Stone with Latin inscription, dedicated to emperor known for his cruelty to Jews, uncovered north of Damascus Gate. (Ynet and Israel Hayom)
- Israeli scientist: Egypt’s expansion of Suez Canal could hurt marine ecosystem - A group of scientists headed by an Israeli woman, Dr. Bella Galil, says the project could do significant damage: 'Thousands of species have already migrated from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean.' (Ynet)
- Middle East Updates / UN: Assault on Yazidis may be genocide attempt - FBI: Three U.S. girls may have tried to join Islamic State. (Haaretz)
- Iran offers 'compromises' in nuclear talks; West unmoved - Tehran drops demand for end to all sanctions, but European diplomat says Iran 'not willing to limit enrichment program to acceptable level'. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Report: Iran arrests suspected spies near nuclear plant - Intelligence minister claims foreign operatives attempted to gather information on Bushehr nuclear plant. (Agencies, Ynet)
Features:
Everything remains in the family
How we develop our perspectives regarding "Jews" and "Arabs", and why it happens when we are still in diapers? First study of its kind reveals how it's actually the parents who are responsible for stereotypes. (Carmit Sapir-Weitz, Maariv Magazine supplement, p. 10)
This Day in Jewish History / The Canadian WWII fighter pilot who helped form Israel’s air force
On the day that Canada declared war on Germany, September 10, 1939, Sydney Shulemson enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Three years later, he graduated flight school, near the top of his class. (Haaretz+)
It's beginning to be reminiscent of the Holocaust
He lives in Baghdad and sees how his community is massacred by ISIS. Priest Andrew White, one of the Christian leaders in Iraq, survived Saddam Hussein, but believes the end will be the worst of all. Now he is visiting in Israel and attacks the world's hypocrisy: "You know what happened last week? They beheaded my believers and no one wrote a word about it...While the world was dealing with Gaza, they massacred us in Iraq and no one cared." (Binyamin Tobias, Yedioth's '24 Hours' supplement, cover)
Rivlin Effect
Within three months as President of the country, Likud man Ruvi Rivlin, the man of Greater Israel who wanted to be "Everyone's President", turned from the darling of the right-wing to the beloved of the left-wing and a source of anger to the right. How did this happen? He condemned the right-wing demonstrations outside the marriage hall of a Jewish-Arab couple from Jaffa, he condemned the arson of a mosque near Nablus, he condemned the settler takeover of homes in Silwan, E. Jerusalem and the 'violence from both sides.' (Arik Bender, Maariv Magazine supplement, cover)
Commentary/Analysis:
How we develop our perspectives regarding "Jews" and "Arabs", and why it happens when we are still in diapers? First study of its kind reveals how it's actually the parents who are responsible for stereotypes. (Carmit Sapir-Weitz, Maariv Magazine supplement, p. 10)
This Day in Jewish History / The Canadian WWII fighter pilot who helped form Israel’s air force
On the day that Canada declared war on Germany, September 10, 1939, Sydney Shulemson enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Three years later, he graduated flight school, near the top of his class. (Haaretz+)
It's beginning to be reminiscent of the Holocaust
He lives in Baghdad and sees how his community is massacred by ISIS. Priest Andrew White, one of the Christian leaders in Iraq, survived Saddam Hussein, but believes the end will be the worst of all. Now he is visiting in Israel and attacks the world's hypocrisy: "You know what happened last week? They beheaded my believers and no one wrote a word about it...While the world was dealing with Gaza, they massacred us in Iraq and no one cared." (Binyamin Tobias, Yedioth's '24 Hours' supplement, cover)
Rivlin Effect
Within three months as President of the country, Likud man Ruvi Rivlin, the man of Greater Israel who wanted to be "Everyone's President", turned from the darling of the right-wing to the beloved of the left-wing and a source of anger to the right. How did this happen? He condemned the right-wing demonstrations outside the marriage hall of a Jewish-Arab couple from Jaffa, he condemned the arson of a mosque near Nablus, he condemned the settler takeover of homes in Silwan, E. Jerusalem and the 'violence from both sides.' (Arik Bender, Maariv Magazine supplement, cover)
Commentary/Analysis:
A fatal blow to Israel’s human rights (Haaretz Editorial) Israel’s ministers must reject the proposed law meant to circumvent the
High Court ruling that rendered the imprisonment of asylum seekers unconstitutional.
Israel's absurd zigzag policy on Gaza (Yoaz Hendel, Yedith/Ynet) Is Hamas really ISIS, as Netanyahu argued, or an organization we negotiate with and offer gestures to - like treating its leader's daughter in Israel?
Thwarting any chance of a solution in Jerusalem (Lior Amichai, Haaretz+) There can be no two-state solution without a compromise in Jerusalem, and the latest moves to expand Israel’s presence in the eastern part of the city will make such a compromise impossible.
Netanyahu obsessed with being prime minister (Eitan Haber, Yedioth/Ynet) Israeli leader doesn't want to control millions of Palestinians, but is unwilling to jeopardize his position as prime minister even if it jeopardizes the State of Israel's future.
Let the Israeli right crash and burn (Carolina Landsmann, Haaretz+) The fact that control of the Palestinian people is maintained by a democratic Israeli government increases the responsibility of every one of its citizens for what’s being done in their name.
Israel needs its head examined (Ruthie Blum, Israel Hayom) Israel's practice of providing medical services for Hamas is utterly incomprehensible.
The international occupation of Palestine (Salman Masalha, Haaretz+) The time has come to call a spade a spade: The occupation in Palestine isn’t just Israeli – it’s a Western occupation.
Hell-bent on a bad deal (Boaz Bismuth, Israel Hayom) The American president only recently admitted that his intelligence services incorrectly assessed the threat posed by the Islamic State group. Is anyone willing to take the chance of another wrong assessment as it pertains to the Iranian nuclear program?
'Klinghoffer' opera does not glorify anti-Semitic violence (Brian Schaefer, Haaretz+) Raw, uneasy, complicated and messy: Despite its faults, the Met Opera’s ‘Death of Klinghoffer’ is simply not the anti-Semitic bogeyman the protesters make it out to be.
The silent Arab majority (Daniel Siryoti, Israel Hayom) Israeli Arabs feel their MKs do too much for the Palestinians and too little for them.
What the price of pudding reveals about Israelis' fragile national psyche (Avraham Burg, Haaretz+) The war of words about Israeli emigration would be less emotional if we were to let go, for a moment, of all the excess baggage and think and speak like normal human beings.
Achtung habibi, it’s off to Berlin (David Rosenberg, Haaretz+) Or is it? Shorn of its historical symbolism, the brouhaha over Israelis who move to Berlin is a virtual figment that has little to do with the real world.
The third intifada is upon us (Dov Kalmanovitz, Israel Hayom) Our leaders have an obligation to protect us.
On a scale of 1 to 10, how much do I love Israel? Ten. (Bradley Burston, Haaretz+) Many of the best people I have ever met, live in Israel - Jews, Arabs, mixes and migrants. Many of those who love this place the most, are leftists. They are heroes.
Israel's absurd zigzag policy on Gaza (Yoaz Hendel, Yedith/Ynet) Is Hamas really ISIS, as Netanyahu argued, or an organization we negotiate with and offer gestures to - like treating its leader's daughter in Israel?
Thwarting any chance of a solution in Jerusalem (Lior Amichai, Haaretz+) There can be no two-state solution without a compromise in Jerusalem, and the latest moves to expand Israel’s presence in the eastern part of the city will make such a compromise impossible.
Netanyahu obsessed with being prime minister (Eitan Haber, Yedioth/Ynet) Israeli leader doesn't want to control millions of Palestinians, but is unwilling to jeopardize his position as prime minister even if it jeopardizes the State of Israel's future.
Let the Israeli right crash and burn (Carolina Landsmann, Haaretz+) The fact that control of the Palestinian people is maintained by a democratic Israeli government increases the responsibility of every one of its citizens for what’s being done in their name.
Israel needs its head examined (Ruthie Blum, Israel Hayom) Israel's practice of providing medical services for Hamas is utterly incomprehensible.
The international occupation of Palestine (Salman Masalha, Haaretz+) The time has come to call a spade a spade: The occupation in Palestine isn’t just Israeli – it’s a Western occupation.
Hell-bent on a bad deal (Boaz Bismuth, Israel Hayom) The American president only recently admitted that his intelligence services incorrectly assessed the threat posed by the Islamic State group. Is anyone willing to take the chance of another wrong assessment as it pertains to the Iranian nuclear program?
'Klinghoffer' opera does not glorify anti-Semitic violence (Brian Schaefer, Haaretz+) Raw, uneasy, complicated and messy: Despite its faults, the Met Opera’s ‘Death of Klinghoffer’ is simply not the anti-Semitic bogeyman the protesters make it out to be.
The silent Arab majority (Daniel Siryoti, Israel Hayom) Israeli Arabs feel their MKs do too much for the Palestinians and too little for them.
What the price of pudding reveals about Israelis' fragile national psyche (Avraham Burg, Haaretz+) The war of words about Israeli emigration would be less emotional if we were to let go, for a moment, of all the excess baggage and think and speak like normal human beings.
Achtung habibi, it’s off to Berlin (David Rosenberg, Haaretz+) Or is it? Shorn of its historical symbolism, the brouhaha over Israelis who move to Berlin is a virtual figment that has little to do with the real world.
The third intifada is upon us (Dov Kalmanovitz, Israel Hayom) Our leaders have an obligation to protect us.
On a scale of 1 to 10, how much do I love Israel? Ten. (Bradley Burston, Haaretz+) Many of the best people I have ever met, live in Israel - Jews, Arabs, mixes and migrants. Many of those who love this place the most, are leftists. They are heroes.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.