APN's daily news review from Israel
Wednesday November 5, 2014
Quote of the day:
"One of the most painful problems we have has a name...It is the combination of the two words 'yehiyeh
biseder' ('it'll be alright'). The combination of these words is intolerable. Behind these two words is hidden
everything that is not 'alright': arrogance and an exaggerated sense of self-confidence."
--Excerpt from slain prime minister Yitzhak Rabin's famous 'It'll be Okay' speech.**
--Excerpt from slain prime minister Yitzhak Rabin's famous 'It'll be Okay' speech.**
Front Page News:
Haaretz
- Olmert's consulting company received millions from an American associate
- Livni ordered probe into change in law that will ease submitting indictments against inciters
- [Main photo: Solidarity march for Hezbollah on the Day of Ashura. Leader Hassan Nasrallah said if here were a dispute, Israel would have to close all its airports... ]
- The regional chaos is beginning to seep // Amos Harel
- Replacements for two who resigned: Erdan will replace Saar as Interior Minister
- Despite the promise of the Histadrut National Labor Union, thousands of shekels were deducted from teachers' salaries - because of a calculation mistake
- Democrats in battle for every vote
- For Arabs only? // Salman Masalha
Yedioth Ahronoth
- No limits - Day after the big disgrace at the derby: (Player) Eran Zahavi has bodyguard, violent fistfight between Hapoal Tel-Aviv and Maccabi Tel-Aviv fans in the street, and eyes are turned to the enforcement authorities: what will stop the next (brawl)
- Hooligans, go // Avram Granat
- Emergency situation // Arieh Meliniak
- Changing from the base // Sharon Davidovich
- The class moved to grandmother's house
- Remembering Rabin - Today is official memorial day
- Don't extradite me - She ran away from punishment in France, opened a new life here - and is begging not to be sent to jail (there)
- Evicted without luck - Residents in a different part of Givat Amal neighborhood are being demanded to leave their homes without compensation
- The minister and the cellular phone - Which brand phone does which minister use?
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- "It will end in murder" - Said the manager of Hapoal Tel-Aviv soccer team (following the violence on the field that put an end to the derby)
- Don't punish everyone // Ben Caspit
- 19 years without him - Memorial events for the prime minister laid to rest, Yitzhak Rabin, will climax today
- Erdan to be appointed Interior Minister
- One dead, one injured in explosion of car in heart of Ashdod - Assassination wars in underworld
Israel Hayom
- "The solution: Hard hand" (against violent fans at soccer games)
- Zahavi only defended himself // Dan Margalit
- Stray weeds of Maccabi // Adi Rubinstein
- Obama's test
- Next Interior Minister: Gilad Erdan
- 19 years to the murder (of Yitzhak Rabin)
- Minister Katz on Nasrallah's threats: "We will destroy Lebanon to its foundations"
- Free for the whole family: Cloth shopping bags to replace harmful plastic bags
- Recall: Fear of listeria bacteria in 'Klik' products
BREAKING NEWS:
1 dead, 3 seriously wounded in Jerusalem terror attack - At least 14 people wounded when a car hits pedestrians on Shimon Hatzadik Street. Police shoot and kill driver, Ibrahim al-Akri, from Shuafat. Second hit and run in two weeks. (Haaretz)
News Summary:
The words of admiration by President Ruvi Rivlin at the official memorial ceremony for murdered prime minister Yitzhak Rabin and the words of warning by Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah on the occasion of the Ashura were leading stories in today's Hebrew newspapers along with the debate about how and whom to punish for the violence on the soccer field at the Tel-Aviv derby. Meanwhile, the Palestinians announced they would submit their UN resolution this month for an end to the occupation by next year and the new EU Foreign Minister said her priority was the creation of a Palestinian state within five years.
President Rivlin, a staunch Likud man who opposes a two-state solution, spoke highly of Rabin, who was murdered for trying to create two states. President Reuven Rivlin at memorial ceremony for Yitzhak Rabin. "Alongside his commitment to peace, Rabin did not wait idly for a 'post-peace' Israel. The peace that would finally solve all the problems from now until the end of time," Rivlin said. "He was brave enough to deal with the Israel of the here and now. He did not neglect to look inward into the depths of Israeli society."
**Israel Hayom reported that the IDF Archives released the recording of Rabin's famous 'It'll be okay" speech from 1992, in which he said:
"One of the most painful problems we have has a name, a first name and a last name. It is the combination of the two words 'yehiyeh biseder' ('it'll be alright'). The combination of these words is intolerable. Behind these two words is hidden everything that is not 'alright': arrogance and an exaggerated sense of self-confidence ... the 'it will be alright' has been with us for a long time, years, and it is a sign of the atmosphere that borders on irresponsibility in many areas of our lives. The 'it will be alright,' that same friendly pat on the shoulder that wink, that 'Trust me,' is the sign that wink, is an indication of lack of order and discipline."
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah threatened that his organization would strike Israel's air and seaports with missiles if Israel began a war against it. "The deterrent power of our resistance is what is preventing war," he said. To which Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz responded that if that happened, "we will return [Lebanon] to the Stone Age." Nasrallah also defended Hezbollah's fighting alongside Syrian President's Bashar Assad's troops, saying they were battling American and Israeli hegemony.
A PLO official in Ramallah said that the Palestinians will move forward this month with their UN resolution to end the Israeli occupation since the bilateral talks failed and the US hasn't offered any other solution to achieve peace. The Palestinian Authority also threatened it would join the International Criminal Court if the US vetoed the UN move. The Palestinians have some support from Europe. The new European Union foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, said the creation of a Palestinian state in five years is the main goal of her term.
1 dead, 3 seriously wounded in Jerusalem terror attack - At least 14 people wounded when a car hits pedestrians on Shimon Hatzadik Street. Police shoot and kill driver, Ibrahim al-Akri, from Shuafat. Second hit and run in two weeks. (Haaretz)
News Summary:
The words of admiration by President Ruvi Rivlin at the official memorial ceremony for murdered prime minister Yitzhak Rabin and the words of warning by Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah on the occasion of the Ashura were leading stories in today's Hebrew newspapers along with the debate about how and whom to punish for the violence on the soccer field at the Tel-Aviv derby. Meanwhile, the Palestinians announced they would submit their UN resolution this month for an end to the occupation by next year and the new EU Foreign Minister said her priority was the creation of a Palestinian state within five years.
President Rivlin, a staunch Likud man who opposes a two-state solution, spoke highly of Rabin, who was murdered for trying to create two states. President Reuven Rivlin at memorial ceremony for Yitzhak Rabin. "Alongside his commitment to peace, Rabin did not wait idly for a 'post-peace' Israel. The peace that would finally solve all the problems from now until the end of time," Rivlin said. "He was brave enough to deal with the Israel of the here and now. He did not neglect to look inward into the depths of Israeli society."
**Israel Hayom reported that the IDF Archives released the recording of Rabin's famous 'It'll be okay" speech from 1992, in which he said:
"One of the most painful problems we have has a name, a first name and a last name. It is the combination of the two words 'yehiyeh biseder' ('it'll be alright'). The combination of these words is intolerable. Behind these two words is hidden everything that is not 'alright': arrogance and an exaggerated sense of self-confidence ... the 'it will be alright' has been with us for a long time, years, and it is a sign of the atmosphere that borders on irresponsibility in many areas of our lives. The 'it will be alright,' that same friendly pat on the shoulder that wink, that 'Trust me,' is the sign that wink, is an indication of lack of order and discipline."
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah threatened that his organization would strike Israel's air and seaports with missiles if Israel began a war against it. "The deterrent power of our resistance is what is preventing war," he said. To which Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz responded that if that happened, "we will return [Lebanon] to the Stone Age." Nasrallah also defended Hezbollah's fighting alongside Syrian President's Bashar Assad's troops, saying they were battling American and Israeli hegemony.
A PLO official in Ramallah said that the Palestinians will move forward this month with their UN resolution to end the Israeli occupation since the bilateral talks failed and the US hasn't offered any other solution to achieve peace. The Palestinian Authority also threatened it would join the International Criminal Court if the US vetoed the UN move. The Palestinians have some support from Europe. The new European Union foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, said the creation of a Palestinian state in five years is the main goal of her term.
Quick Hits:
- Rising disorder prompts Livni to seek harder line against incitement to violence - The justice minister hopes to make it easier to indict while not significantly eroding freedom of expression. (Haaretz+)
- Israel demolishes two Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem - Authorities knocked down the buildings near the district of Abu Tor, southeast of the Old City, in the early hours, saying they had been built without construction permits. (Haaretz)
- Gaza violence will erupt again unless stability achieved, UN warns - Director of UNRWA says renewal of fighting likely due to ineffective Palestinian unity government in Strip, Israeli blockade impeding reconstruction efforts. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Gaza reconstruction has officially begun, says UN - Program commenced Monday with sale of construction materials to hundreds of Gazans whose homes were damaged in recent fighting; UN: 60,000 residences need repairs immediately. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Israel reopens two border crossings into Gaza - Israel closed the two crossings after a rocket fired from Gaza landed in Israeli territory on Friday. No casualties or damage were reported. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Palestinians request Egypt open Gaza border crossing for special cases - Rafah border crossing was closed after attack which killed 33 Egyptian soldiers in Sinai. (Haaretz)
- Diskin: I won't run in the elections because the center-left bloc is "ideologically hollow" - Former Shin Bet chief, who was considered as a potential candidate to lead the bloc, wrote on Facebook that he would not join any political party and won't run in the elections, if they are held in the coming year. (Haaretz+ Hebrew)
- New Israeli factory to manufacture parts for F-35 jets - Ya'alon uses inauguration of new factory to show business as usual in US-Israel security ties; IAI to make 800 sets of F-35 wings, while Elbit will produce helmets for pilots. (Ynet)
- Defense Minister Ya'alon: Israel wants to keep Jerusalem status quo - Speaking at inauguration ceremony of Israeli production line for the F-35 fighter jet, defense minister says U.S. and Israel share 'unbreakable bond.' (Haaretz+)
- Rightist NGO appeals ruling barring it from running Western Wall archaeological site - Elad's agreement to manage the archaeological park is opposed by pluralistic Jewish organizations. (Haaretz+)
- Israel to host U.S. officials for homeland security discussions - Third International Conference for Homeland Security, to be held from November 9 to 12 in Tel Aviv, will include officials from FEMA and U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (JTA, Haaretz)
- Israeli lawmakers propose stiffer penalties for rioting soccer fans - ‘We will respond with a heavy hand,’ vows police chief after Tel Aviv derby abandoned following violent attack on player. (Haaretz+)
- Israel's first new Arab city on its way to becoming a reality - National planning council approves the project to build a home for 40,000 in the western Galilee. (Haaretz+)
- Israel Embassy in Dublin battles fake Tweets taunting Irish government - Embassy threatens legal actions against culprits, including those behind satirical mock Tweets from popular Irish student website that posted fake embassy tweets such as: "Ireland, your foreign policies are almost as ugly as your mother." (Ynet)
- WATCH: Alicia Keys congratulates Idan Raichel on MTV prize - American R&B singer surprises Israeli musician with special video in honor of MTV Role Model Award. 'You are an incredible human being and you inspire me all the time,' she tells him. (Ynet)
- Olmert's company pocketed $1.25 million from U.S. tycoon's peace foundation - Former prime minister was generously compensated by his friend, billionaire Daniel Abraham, for addressing American audiences. The story broke on the investigative site ProPublica. (Haaretz+)
- In response to the boycott by the city of Lille: French Jews adopted the Israeli city of Safed (Tsfat) - A month after the mayor's decision to freeze relations with the sister city of Safed following 'Operation Protective Edge,' a delegation of senior officials, businessmen and priests from France will visit Safed today to strengthen the residents and to explore opportunities for investment. (Maariv)
- Opening statements set in trial of U.S.-Palestinian immigrant convicted in Israel bombing - 66-year-old Rasmieh Odeh is accused of concealing her role in a deadly bombing in Israel when she filed U.S. immigration papers. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- 3,400-year-old temple unearthed in illegal Egypt dig lands seven in jail - Two of those arrested are Palestinians; archaeological remains date back to reign of King Tuthmose III. (Haaretz)
- Iraq Shi'ite Ashoura ritual, attended by millions, escapes major attacks - In the past, suicide bombers posing as pilgrims have infiltrated large crowds marking the Shiite religious commemoration. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Report: Iran agrees to ship uranium to Russia as part of nuclear deal - According to officials quoted by the New York Times, Moscow would convert uranium to special fuel rods for Bushehr, which would make it difficult for Iran to use them to make a nuclear bomb. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Russia skips nuclear summit planning meeting - Absence considered serious blow to Obama's initiatives against nuclear terrorism, not immediately clear if the move is intended boycott of 2016 Nuclear Security Summit. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Senior Iran official: Israel's Mossad created ISIS - Deputy foreign minister's accusation echoes many others, which abounded after an Iranian news report purportedly proving Islamic State's Israeli and American roots. (Haaretz)
- Terrorists using social media as command center, says U.K. intel chief - Terrorist groups send an average of 90 tweets per hour; one leader quit over Twitter use. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Egypt, Saudi Arabia and UAE discuss the establishment of a military alliance - Future cooperation between the countries is now at hand in order to fight against radical Islam. Al-Sisi: "We are in an existential struggle." Terrorists threaten: "We will turn Sinai into our base of our operations against the regime." (Maariv and Times of Israel)
Commentary/Analysis:
Word to the Israeli wise: Obama has been humiliated, but he is no lame duck (Chemi
Shalev, Haaretz+) If anyone thinks a confrontation between a belligerent Congress and an embattled
U.S, President is 'good for the Jews,' he's got another think coming.
The Third Intifada is already here (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) The uprising has been running for almost a year, initiated by Abbas and perpetuated by Israel's extreme nationalist right-wing.
Soccer violence in Israel doesn’t come out of nowhere (Haaretz Editorial) Unruly fans realize that inside a stadium you can curse, threaten and beat people up — and receive a ridiculously lenient punishment, if any.
The best way to honor Yitzhak Rabin - for every Israeli (Yedidia Stern, Yedioth/Ynet) Memorial day for prime minister's assassination should become 'Democracy Day' - something in which every member of Israeli society could share.
Ending the 'stone intifada' in the glass house of Jerusalem (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) The new bill threatening stone-throwers with 10 years in jail refuses to recognize that Jerusalem is two cities - just like Nicosia in Cyprus, post-WWII Berlin and Belfast before the peace deal.
Wake up from Peres' and Obama's delusion (Nadav Haetzni, Maariv) The time has come to disconnect from the magical cords that the two fascinated the public with and to wake up from the fantasies of the two about peace. Before it's too late. Because ass is the way of prophets of lies, we will never succeed in convincing them about the facts.
American Jews: Challenge Israel’s segregated bus lines (Catie Stewart and Gabriel Erbs, Haaretz+) Segregation was wrong in Birmingham, Alabama, and it is wrong in the West Bank. U.S. Jews’ proud record of fighting for civil rights demands we now address these unjust Israeli policies.
When will Israel tackle online incitement in Arabic? (Yoaz Hendel, Yedioth/Ynet) A simple Google search would have detected Muslim nationalists' threats against Yehuda Glick; but in the Justice Ministry, no one seems to understand Arabic.
Abbas and the Rabin legacy (Ruthie Blum, Israel Hayom) Instead of waking up to the fact that slain Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was wrong, the Left holds on to his "legacy" for dear life.
New Arab city will perpetuate inequality (Salman Masalha, Haaretz+) We should oppose the construction of a new Arab city on principle. From here it’s a short distance to pushing Arab citizens out of so-called 'Jewish' cities.
A one-sided 'peace initiative' (Zalman Shoval, Israel Hayom) The basis for regional diplomacy cannot be the draconian Arab initiative, which at its core is not a peace deal but rather a "be all end all" styled ultimatum.
Why are Obama officials so mad at Netanyahu? Because they can’t get even (Peter Beinart, Haaretz+) Obama’s not the first president to loathe Bibi. But the others could retaliate against him at home.
Unity over alienation (Aliza Gershon, Israel Hayom) The elimination of prejudice and stereotypes and the fostering of dialogue is only possible when the meeting with the "other" takes place naturally.
An 'unfortunate' - or timely - week to hear the Jerusalem passport case? (Seth Lipsky, Haaretz+)
The judges of the U.S. Supreme Court are still trying to figure out whether the Jerusalem passport case should be decided by Arab rioters or the Constitution.
The minister who stood up to the Left (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) Gideon Sa'ar did not hesitate to stick to his beliefs on controversial education, immigration, and religious issues, even in the face of opposition from the Left.
Between ISIS and Hamas, Israel realizes 'stable instability' in the region won't last (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) There’s rocket fire from Gaza as a response to events in Jerusalem, and the Nusra Front and Hezbollah are never too far away from Israel’s northern border.
The Third Intifada is already here (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) The uprising has been running for almost a year, initiated by Abbas and perpetuated by Israel's extreme nationalist right-wing.
Soccer violence in Israel doesn’t come out of nowhere (Haaretz Editorial) Unruly fans realize that inside a stadium you can curse, threaten and beat people up — and receive a ridiculously lenient punishment, if any.
The best way to honor Yitzhak Rabin - for every Israeli (Yedidia Stern, Yedioth/Ynet) Memorial day for prime minister's assassination should become 'Democracy Day' - something in which every member of Israeli society could share.
Ending the 'stone intifada' in the glass house of Jerusalem (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) The new bill threatening stone-throwers with 10 years in jail refuses to recognize that Jerusalem is two cities - just like Nicosia in Cyprus, post-WWII Berlin and Belfast before the peace deal.
Wake up from Peres' and Obama's delusion (Nadav Haetzni, Maariv) The time has come to disconnect from the magical cords that the two fascinated the public with and to wake up from the fantasies of the two about peace. Before it's too late. Because ass is the way of prophets of lies, we will never succeed in convincing them about the facts.
American Jews: Challenge Israel’s segregated bus lines (Catie Stewart and Gabriel Erbs, Haaretz+) Segregation was wrong in Birmingham, Alabama, and it is wrong in the West Bank. U.S. Jews’ proud record of fighting for civil rights demands we now address these unjust Israeli policies.
When will Israel tackle online incitement in Arabic? (Yoaz Hendel, Yedioth/Ynet) A simple Google search would have detected Muslim nationalists' threats against Yehuda Glick; but in the Justice Ministry, no one seems to understand Arabic.
Abbas and the Rabin legacy (Ruthie Blum, Israel Hayom) Instead of waking up to the fact that slain Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was wrong, the Left holds on to his "legacy" for dear life.
New Arab city will perpetuate inequality (Salman Masalha, Haaretz+) We should oppose the construction of a new Arab city on principle. From here it’s a short distance to pushing Arab citizens out of so-called 'Jewish' cities.
A one-sided 'peace initiative' (Zalman Shoval, Israel Hayom) The basis for regional diplomacy cannot be the draconian Arab initiative, which at its core is not a peace deal but rather a "be all end all" styled ultimatum.
Why are Obama officials so mad at Netanyahu? Because they can’t get even (Peter Beinart, Haaretz+) Obama’s not the first president to loathe Bibi. But the others could retaliate against him at home.
Unity over alienation (Aliza Gershon, Israel Hayom) The elimination of prejudice and stereotypes and the fostering of dialogue is only possible when the meeting with the "other" takes place naturally.
An 'unfortunate' - or timely - week to hear the Jerusalem passport case? (Seth Lipsky, Haaretz+)
The judges of the U.S. Supreme Court are still trying to figure out whether the Jerusalem passport case should be decided by Arab rioters or the Constitution.
The minister who stood up to the Left (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) Gideon Sa'ar did not hesitate to stick to his beliefs on controversial education, immigration, and religious issues, even in the face of opposition from the Left.
Between ISIS and Hamas, Israel realizes 'stable instability' in the region won't last (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) There’s rocket fire from Gaza as a response to events in Jerusalem, and the Nusra Front and Hezbollah are never too far away from Israel’s northern border.
Interviews:
'Sometimes being called traitor is a badge of honor'
Amos Oz discusses his new book about Judas Iscariot, the fulfillment of the Zionist dream, and the danger of extremism. (Interviewed by author Eshkol Nevo in Yedioth's '7 Days' magazine, 24 October 2014)
Before coming here, I Googled the phrase, "Amos Oz traitor", and I'm sure it won't surprise you to learn that my search yielded results. When you sent a copy of A Tale of Love and Darkness to imprisoned Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti, for example, you were accused of treason.
OZ: "Actually, I've been called a traitor since '67, because ever since '67, I have supported a two-state solution.
Where were you the night Rabin was shot?
Eight prominent public figures, from Tzipi Livni to Dan Shapiro, remember the night of November 4, 1995, when the former prime minister was assassinated. (Interviewed by Alona Ferber in Haaretz+)
Amos Oz discusses his new book about Judas Iscariot, the fulfillment of the Zionist dream, and the danger of extremism. (Interviewed by author Eshkol Nevo in Yedioth's '7 Days' magazine, 24 October 2014)
Before coming here, I Googled the phrase, "Amos Oz traitor", and I'm sure it won't surprise you to learn that my search yielded results. When you sent a copy of A Tale of Love and Darkness to imprisoned Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti, for example, you were accused of treason.
OZ: "Actually, I've been called a traitor since '67, because ever since '67, I have supported a two-state solution.
Where were you the night Rabin was shot?
Eight prominent public figures, from Tzipi Livni to Dan Shapiro, remember the night of November 4, 1995, when the former prime minister was assassinated. (Interviewed by Alona Ferber in Haaretz+)
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.