APN's daily news review from Israel
Monday December 8, 2014
Numbers of the day:
75%.
--Percentage of Education Ministry funding that Jewish high-schoolers from a weak socioeconomic background receive more than Arab high-schoolers from a similar background.**
--Percentage of Education Ministry funding that Jewish high-schoolers from a weak socioeconomic background receive more than Arab high-schoolers from a similar background.**
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Syria: Israel attacked targets in Damascus area
- The reasons changed, the sorties continue // Amos Harel
- MKS to decide today on question of asylum seekers - and vote for the dispersal of the Knesset
- Yehadut Hatorah party: "If Herzog succeeds in forming a government - we'll back him"
- The oil leak in the Arava desert: State Comptroller found irregularities in Eilat Ashkelon Pipeline Company, military censor shelved the reports
- Suspects arrested in arson of (Jewish-Arab) Bi-Lingual School
Yedioth Ahronoth
- Attack near Damascus
- Knesset disperse
- Bugie (Yaalon), sold // Amnon Abramovich
- Assad's choice // Alex Fishman
- Necessary action // Yossi Yehoshua
- My superman - Interview with wife of Golani battalion commander, who was injured in Gaza
- "We decided to continue to live" - 1.5 years after she lost her son in a car accident, Michal Tzuk, 46, gave birth to a daughter
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Syrian Army: Israel attacked adjacent to Damascus
- IDF has no political schedule // Alon Ben-David
- Red line // Eliezar (Cheney) Merom
- Battle for the (Likud) chair: Gideon Saar to his activists: I'll decide by Thursday
- Bennet's show in Washington // Ben Caspit
Israel Hayom
- A strike at Damascus - Syrian reports: Israel attack in daylight; "The target: missiles for Hezbollah"
- The MKs' vanities bombings // Dan Margalit
- We must stay alert on the northern border // Yoav Limor
- Knesset ahead of dispersal - going to elections
- State Comptroller vs. Attorney General: "He did not respond to 50 petitions; Most of them suspicions over criminal acts"
News Summary:
The 'elimination' of targets in Syria and the 'elimination' of 19th Knesset were the top stories in today's Hebrew newspapers. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Economy Minister Naftali Bennett spoke at the Saban Forum in Washington, both blaming the Palestinians for the lack of peace.
Israel has not responded to allegations that it attacked sites around Damascus in broad daylight, but Israeli newspapers don't appear to doubt that Israel was responsible. Most Israeli commentators wrote that the attacks were not an elections campaign gimmick by Netanyahu, but rather a necessary attack, possibly against the transfer of missiles to Hezbollah. (See Commentary/Analysis below.) However, Yedioth's Alex Fishman suggested that this attack may have been for internal political purposes. He also warned the government cabinet against making harmful decisions and recommended it show restraint - particularly difficult now that the three moderate ministers, Yair Lapid, Tzipi Livni and Yaakov Perry, are gone. (Video of alleged IAF attack.)
Meanwhile, the Knesset will likely vote today on the second and third readings to disperse itself.
Speaking via video to the Saban Forum, Netanyahu blamed the Palestinians for failure to achieve peace and took credit for no nuclear deal being made with Iran. Far right-wing Habayit Hayehudi leader, Economy Minister Naftali Bennett, said the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was an 'unsolvable problem,' suggested cutting funding for the 'peace industry,' expressed his disdain for the two-state solution and said 'Israel should be the 'Jewish lighthouse in the Muslim storm. He and former peace envoy Martin Indyk, who is now vice president of the Brookings Institution, which hosts the forum, got into arguments, accusing each other of living in a “different reality,” while host Haim Saban said Bennett “lived in a bubble.” Indyk accused the Israeli right-wing of treating US officials with lack of respect without having to pay a price. Still hopeful, Jordan's King Abdullah said the door was still open for the Middle East peace process and added that lack of progress would hinder fight against international Muslim extremism.
The 'elimination' of targets in Syria and the 'elimination' of 19th Knesset were the top stories in today's Hebrew newspapers. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Economy Minister Naftali Bennett spoke at the Saban Forum in Washington, both blaming the Palestinians for the lack of peace.
Israel has not responded to allegations that it attacked sites around Damascus in broad daylight, but Israeli newspapers don't appear to doubt that Israel was responsible. Most Israeli commentators wrote that the attacks were not an elections campaign gimmick by Netanyahu, but rather a necessary attack, possibly against the transfer of missiles to Hezbollah. (See Commentary/Analysis below.) However, Yedioth's Alex Fishman suggested that this attack may have been for internal political purposes. He also warned the government cabinet against making harmful decisions and recommended it show restraint - particularly difficult now that the three moderate ministers, Yair Lapid, Tzipi Livni and Yaakov Perry, are gone. (Video of alleged IAF attack.)
Meanwhile, the Knesset will likely vote today on the second and third readings to disperse itself.
Speaking via video to the Saban Forum, Netanyahu blamed the Palestinians for failure to achieve peace and took credit for no nuclear deal being made with Iran. Far right-wing Habayit Hayehudi leader, Economy Minister Naftali Bennett, said the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was an 'unsolvable problem,' suggested cutting funding for the 'peace industry,' expressed his disdain for the two-state solution and said 'Israel should be the 'Jewish lighthouse in the Muslim storm. He and former peace envoy Martin Indyk, who is now vice president of the Brookings Institution, which hosts the forum, got into arguments, accusing each other of living in a “different reality,” while host Haim Saban said Bennett “lived in a bubble.” Indyk accused the Israeli right-wing of treating US officials with lack of respect without having to pay a price. Still hopeful, Jordan's King Abdullah said the door was still open for the Middle East peace process and added that lack of progress would hinder fight against international Muslim extremism.
Quick Hits:
- Gag order lifted: Police arrest suspects in Jewish-Arab school arson - Suspects are thought to be behind a racially-motivated attack on a Jerusalem school. The suspects were arrested about a week ago. A gag order on the number of suspects and details of the investigation remains in place. (Haaretz and Ynet)
- Suspicion: Arab driver of Egged bus attacked - Egged bus driver Awad Janin from E. Jerusalem filed a complaint with the police that five Jewish youth attacked him while he was driving, said curses against Arabs and yelled "Death to Arabs." One suspect was arrested, but he claimed driver attacked him. In recent months, there are almost daily reports of incidents of violence between Jews and Arabs in Jerusalem. Two weeks ago, settler girls from Yitzhar were arrested on suspicion of spraying tear gas on Arab taxi drivers they hired. (Yedioth, p. 10)
- Oz, Grossman sign petition calling on European parliaments to recognize Palestine - Letter that bears signatures of 800 Israelis, including prominent public figures, has been sent to lawmakers in several countries contemplating the move. (Haaretz and Maariv)
- Israel may seek tougher line against incitement to violence than Livni planned - Under a bill being considered, no call to an act of violence or terror deserves to be protected by the principle of freedom of expression. The bill would be submitted in the next Knesset. (Haaretz+)
- Seven Israeli-Arab teens charged for throwing pipe bombs during rally - Violent demonstration in Fureidis was one of many protests held by Arabs in the wake of the death of 22-year-old Khayr al-Din Hamdan, who was shot to death by an Israel Police officer. (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
- Israeli forces arrest Palestinian woman 'planning attack' - Israeli troops on Sunday detained a young Palestinian woman who was suspected of attempting to attack soldiers at an Israeli military checkpoint east of Bethlehem. (Maan)
- Israeli forces detain 12 fishermen off Gaza coast - A local human rights researcher said the arrests were the largest "detention campaign" against Gaza fishermen since a ceasefire between Palestinian militants and Israeli forces was announced. (Maan)
- **Israel's religious Jews get more school funds than, Arabs, seculars - Moreover, Religious schools receive more funding per pupil than secular schools. (Haaretz+)
- Jews live an average of three years longer than Arab citizens - That is one of the many gaps in health care that the outgoing minister had plans to close. (Haaretz)
- Censor permitted publishing secret of the candidate for chief of Mossad - 2014: Senior Mossad official Ram Ben-Barak was appointed CEO of Ministry for Intelligence Affairs and marked as one of candidates to replace Tamir Pardo at head of Mossad next year. In the '90's: A young Mossad agent was caught with his cell in a foreign country. His real name was not revealed, but his picture was published around the world. Now it's permitted to reveal: It's the same person. (Yedioth, pp. 15-16)
- Kerry: U.S. will not interfere in Israeli election - Secretary of state says there's 'not an inch of daylight' between the U.S. and Israel on strategy regarding Iran's nuclear program. (Haaretz+)
- Right must be blocked, former Shin Bet chief says - In a weekend Facebook post, Yuval Diskin warns of Right-led "social, economic, security, and diplomatic oblivion," urges public to opt for "a new path." Likud: Diskin has shown his true radical-leftist colors. MK Orbach: Animosity for PM the only thing gluing Left bloc together. (Israel Hayom)
- Arab parties presenting united front - up to a point - Raised electoral threshold may actually benefit rival factions at Israel's next election, tentatively scheduled for March 17. (Haaretz+)
- Rivlin: Many Israelis may stop believing in democracy - President Reuven Rivlin told the "Globes" 2014 Israel Business Conference that he is concerned some Israelis will not vote in the elections. (Globes)
- '6 million refugees, myself included, are waiting to return' - Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas tells Egyptian daily Akhbar el-Yom that he will not recognize a Jewish state because it hurts the national interests of Israeli Arabs. Abbas lambastes Hamas, Muslim Brotherhood as "a bunch of liars." (Israel Hayom)
- Six Palestinians charged with illegal antiquities dig in Judean Desert - Israeli antiquities officials believe the suspects were searching for undiscovered Dead Sea scrolls to sell on international markets. (Haaretz)
- Israeli prison guard indicted for taking bribes from Palestinian inmate - Guard accused of passing cell phones to Fatah man, while knowing there is 'a near-certainty' the goods would 'facilitate the committing of terror acts.' (Haaretz+)
- Israelis in south demand Gaza border fence to match Egypt's - Residents who live near the Gaza border are demanding a new security fence in the wake of what have become near-daily attempts by Gazans to cross into Israel. (Haaretz+)
- Israel has not granted refugee status to any Darfur genocide survivors, study finds - Report by Center for Refugees and Immigrants reveals Israel gives 0.19% of Eritreans and Sudanese nationals in Israel refugee status compared to other Western countries, where 70-80% are given refugee status. (Ynet)
- The controversy that wasn't: Qatar displays Israeli flag after all - Israeli swimmer Guy Barnea posted on Facebook that the Israeli flag displayed when he won a heat during the swimming championships was missing the Star of David. The post was soon removed. (Haaretz)
Features:
Comes to the mount
For one year, photographer Kobi Wolf documented Yehuda Glick and the 'Temple Mount Faithful' up close. He saw the provocations, the friction and the desire to build a new Holy Temple. Now he is sure more than ever that World War III will start here. (Yedioth '24 Hours' supplement, pp. 4-5)
The goal: to expel as many Palestinians from their land as possible
Forced relocation plan decrees overcrowding for West Bank Bedouin. Nearby Jewish settlements, meanwhile, sprawl free. (Amira Hass, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
For one year, photographer Kobi Wolf documented Yehuda Glick and the 'Temple Mount Faithful' up close. He saw the provocations, the friction and the desire to build a new Holy Temple. Now he is sure more than ever that World War III will start here. (Yedioth '24 Hours' supplement, pp. 4-5)
The goal: to expel as many Palestinians from their land as possible
Forced relocation plan decrees overcrowding for West Bank Bedouin. Nearby Jewish settlements, meanwhile, sprawl free. (Amira Hass, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
Israel's Zionist left is kidding itself: It can't lead without Arabs (Kobi
Niv, Haaretz+) The whittled-down left must wake up and realize: only a true partnership with
Israel's Arabs will allow it to lead. Until then, things will continue to worsen.
Binational state is this election's critical issue (Sever Plocker, Yedioth/Ynet) Instead of an anti-Bibi front, centrist and leftist parties should create a front focusing on saving the Jewish state from a violent future.
The Left attacks (Haim Shine, Israel Hayom) The heads of the Center-Left are deluded to think they should be prime minister, and the media wants anyone but Netanyahu.
Bennett isn't a small Bibi - he is a dangerous Bibi (Ben Caspit, Maariv) Habayit Hayehudi chairman appeared at the Saban Forum and became the talk of the day. He is a brave man, he makes decisions quickly, but the Americans will miss Netanyahu.
Iran is playing with fire (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) Did the IAF strike in Syria in response to public declaration by Iranian Revolutionary Guard on transfer of advanced missiles to Hezbollah?
The attack (on Syria) was not related to elections, stressful days are ahead of us (Alon Ben-David, Maariv) Not that you can't suspect Netanyahu was happy to schedule such an attack now, but the IDF does not know, nor would it agree, to adapt itself to the schedule of politics.
Syria strikes are in line with Israeli policy (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) If any of Netanyahu’s rivals claims there were elections-driven motivations behind the alleged air strikes, the burden of proof is on them.
Syria strike was not driven by elections (Yossi Yehoshua, Yedioth/Ynet) As far as Israel is concerned, destroying Hezbollah-bound missiles is a necessary military action aimed at removing or reducing a threat which will cause dramatic damage in the future.
The election is a sideshow to our real struggle (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) The malaise in democracy and growing tolerance of xenophobia is not unique to Israel or the Jews. It’s a sickness running through the Western world.
Saban Forum becomes an elections forum (Boaz Bismuth, Israel Hayom) The Brookings Institute's Center for Middle East Policy holds 11th annual Saban Forum to discuss Israel's relationship with the United States. Journalists, Israeli politicians are more interested in possible early elections than Israel-U.S. relations.
Arab rulers dreaming of a new Israeli PM (Smadar Perry, Yedioth/Ynet) While Netanyahu doesn’t have a single advocate in Arab world, Israel's security cooperation and strategic coordination with Jordan, Egypt and other undisclosed places have never been better.]
Does Netanyahu belong to the same club as Putin, Erdogan and Sisi? (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz) Benjamin Netanyahu likes to be seen as the leader of a democratic state, but in some of his actions and attitudes he resembles those other political strongmen.
Binational state is this election's critical issue (Sever Plocker, Yedioth/Ynet) Instead of an anti-Bibi front, centrist and leftist parties should create a front focusing on saving the Jewish state from a violent future.
The Left attacks (Haim Shine, Israel Hayom) The heads of the Center-Left are deluded to think they should be prime minister, and the media wants anyone but Netanyahu.
Bennett isn't a small Bibi - he is a dangerous Bibi (Ben Caspit, Maariv) Habayit Hayehudi chairman appeared at the Saban Forum and became the talk of the day. He is a brave man, he makes decisions quickly, but the Americans will miss Netanyahu.
Iran is playing with fire (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) Did the IAF strike in Syria in response to public declaration by Iranian Revolutionary Guard on transfer of advanced missiles to Hezbollah?
The attack (on Syria) was not related to elections, stressful days are ahead of us (Alon Ben-David, Maariv) Not that you can't suspect Netanyahu was happy to schedule such an attack now, but the IDF does not know, nor would it agree, to adapt itself to the schedule of politics.
Syria strikes are in line with Israeli policy (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) If any of Netanyahu’s rivals claims there were elections-driven motivations behind the alleged air strikes, the burden of proof is on them.
Syria strike was not driven by elections (Yossi Yehoshua, Yedioth/Ynet) As far as Israel is concerned, destroying Hezbollah-bound missiles is a necessary military action aimed at removing or reducing a threat which will cause dramatic damage in the future.
The election is a sideshow to our real struggle (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) The malaise in democracy and growing tolerance of xenophobia is not unique to Israel or the Jews. It’s a sickness running through the Western world.
Saban Forum becomes an elections forum (Boaz Bismuth, Israel Hayom) The Brookings Institute's Center for Middle East Policy holds 11th annual Saban Forum to discuss Israel's relationship with the United States. Journalists, Israeli politicians are more interested in possible early elections than Israel-U.S. relations.
Arab rulers dreaming of a new Israeli PM (Smadar Perry, Yedioth/Ynet) While Netanyahu doesn’t have a single advocate in Arab world, Israel's security cooperation and strategic coordination with Jordan, Egypt and other undisclosed places have never been better.]
Does Netanyahu belong to the same club as Putin, Erdogan and Sisi? (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz) Benjamin Netanyahu likes to be seen as the leader of a democratic state, but in some of his actions and attitudes he resembles those other political strongmen.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.
