APN's daily news review from Israel
Sunday January 4, 2015
Number of the day:
2,310.
--The number of Palestinians killed in Gaza from Operation Protective Edge, newly revised following the discovery of bodies under rubble and the deaths of wounded.**
--The number of Palestinians killed in Gaza from Operation Protective Edge, newly revised following the discovery of bodies under rubble and the deaths of wounded.**
Front Page:
Haaretz
- In response to The Hague: Israel froze the transfer of half a billion shekels of Palestinian taxes
- Settlers in the West Bank attacked a US consulate convoy
- Lieberman against (Attorney General) Weinstein: Trying to harm Yisrael Beiteinu ahead of election
- Ashkenazi leader could determine the results of the battle in the mizrachi party
- Global jihad strengthening: Number of suicide bombings jumped in 2014
- Prime Minister’s Office transferred within a few days millions of shekels for the commemoration of Jabotinsky and to the Begin Center
Yedioth Ahronoth
- Residents of communities around Gaza Strip: “They are abandoning us”
- Preparation for the storm – It starts Tuesday with strong winds and heavy rains and on mountains higher than 500 meters – snow
- Lieberman and the Attorney General: Battle over the letter – Minister Lieberman: Faina Kirschenbaum stopped arriving at her ministry even before Weinstein distributed his letter prohibiting her from showing up
- The little girl from the terror attack at ‘Apropos’ cafe is going to the army
- Without being a touch away – How does religious Zionism deal with the new phenomenon: Young men and young women are not waiting for the chuppah (marriage)
- The British Prince (Andrew), the top lawyer (Alan Dershowitz) and the 17-year-old ‘sex slave’
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Preparing for the storm
- Aharonovich qualifies his support for the police in the Yisrael Beiteinu scandal: “I hope the considerations are pure”
- Probe in Likud: Forgeries in primaries or typing error?
- Eli Yishai met with Yoram Gaon
- The ‘Pri Galilee’ factory crisis: Workers barricaded themselves in the closed factory
Israel Hayom
- On the way to a storm – The snow is coming: The north will be white – and also expecting in Jerusalem
- Retaliation for the petition to The Hague: Israel froze the Palestinian tax monies
- ‘Pri Hagalil’ factory workers barricading themselves in factory
- “Contacts to bring (former Knesset speaker) Avram Burg into (Arab-Jewish) Hadash party
- Avrum, it pains me // Yossi Beilin.
- Lieberman again attacks the Attorney General
- Awarding of medal for Operation Protective Edge to be approved today; Will be given to combat soldiers after elections
- Murder in nightclub: Singer Roman Simhayev shot dead during violent clash
News Summary:
The incoming snowstorm vied with Israel’s freezing of $127 million in Palestinian tax funds for the top story in today’s Hebrew newspapers. Also high in the news: settlers attacked a US diplomatic convoy in the West Bank and former Knesset speaker Avram Burg joined the Arab-Jewish Hadash party.
Israel is looking to punish the Palestinians after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas submitted a petition Friday to join the International Criminal Court at The Hague. Israel has begun by freezing Palestinian tax monies, which it collects and is supposed to transfer and which make up a large percentage of the Palestinian Authority budget. Palestinians blasted the move saying it was 'collective punishment’ and senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat called it a ‘war crime.' The leaders of the center-left 'Zionist Camp' bloc Tzipi Livni and Isaac Herzog slammed Netanyahu for his decision, saying he had “no real solution to Israel's deteriorating situation on the world stage.” The US sided with the Israeli government stance and warned the move would have implications and that the State Department would 'continue to review' some $400 million in aid to Palestinian Authority. US law dictates ending aid if Palestinians use court against Israel. Reuters reported that Israel was also considering prosecuting Palestinian leaders for war crimes, according to an unnamed Israeli official.
The US is 'deeply concerned' over the stoning by settlers of a US consulate convoy Friday. An official from the village of Turmus Ayya, near the scene of the incident, said they invited the US delegation to examine the 5000 olive tree seedlings which were uprooted on Thursday night – some belonging to Palestinians from the village who hold American citizenship. When the US bullet-proof vehicles arrived, settlers from the Adei Ad illegal outpost in the West Bank showed up and threw stones at them. Haaretz+ noted that “the area where the confrontation took place is where last month Palestinian Minister Ziad Abu Ein died after he was involved in a confrontation with Israeli officers during a protest held as part of the struggle of Turmusiya and Al Mugheir against Adei Ad, which has taken control of their land and prevented them from cultivating it.” Ynet reported that both Palestinian and settler sources said the US security guards drew their weapons at the settlers. The US says they did not. [Note: Had Palestinians thrown the rocks on settler cars it would have been called 'terrorism' and Israeli forces would have raided the village and arrested dozens of boys and men till they discovered who was responsible. Those people would have been put on trial for terror acts. - OH]
The incoming snowstorm vied with Israel’s freezing of $127 million in Palestinian tax funds for the top story in today’s Hebrew newspapers. Also high in the news: settlers attacked a US diplomatic convoy in the West Bank and former Knesset speaker Avram Burg joined the Arab-Jewish Hadash party.
Israel is looking to punish the Palestinians after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas submitted a petition Friday to join the International Criminal Court at The Hague. Israel has begun by freezing Palestinian tax monies, which it collects and is supposed to transfer and which make up a large percentage of the Palestinian Authority budget. Palestinians blasted the move saying it was 'collective punishment’ and senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat called it a ‘war crime.' The leaders of the center-left 'Zionist Camp' bloc Tzipi Livni and Isaac Herzog slammed Netanyahu for his decision, saying he had “no real solution to Israel's deteriorating situation on the world stage.” The US sided with the Israeli government stance and warned the move would have implications and that the State Department would 'continue to review' some $400 million in aid to Palestinian Authority. US law dictates ending aid if Palestinians use court against Israel. Reuters reported that Israel was also considering prosecuting Palestinian leaders for war crimes, according to an unnamed Israeli official.
The US is 'deeply concerned' over the stoning by settlers of a US consulate convoy Friday. An official from the village of Turmus Ayya, near the scene of the incident, said they invited the US delegation to examine the 5000 olive tree seedlings which were uprooted on Thursday night – some belonging to Palestinians from the village who hold American citizenship. When the US bullet-proof vehicles arrived, settlers from the Adei Ad illegal outpost in the West Bank showed up and threw stones at them. Haaretz+ noted that “the area where the confrontation took place is where last month Palestinian Minister Ziad Abu Ein died after he was involved in a confrontation with Israeli officers during a protest held as part of the struggle of Turmusiya and Al Mugheir against Adei Ad, which has taken control of their land and prevented them from cultivating it.” Ynet reported that both Palestinian and settler sources said the US security guards drew their weapons at the settlers. The US says they did not. [Note: Had Palestinians thrown the rocks on settler cars it would have been called 'terrorism' and Israeli forces would have raided the village and arrested dozens of boys and men till they discovered who was responsible. Those people would have been put on trial for terror acts. - OH]
Quick Hits:
- Israel Navy fires on Gaza boat; Palestinians say fisherman seriously hurt - The navy says the boat strayed from the permitted fishing zone. (Haaretz+ and Maan)
- Israeli soldiers critically injure Palestinian in shooting near Nablus - A taxi driver who was on the scene said he "saw Israeli soldiers open fire at a Palestinian youth who was about to cross the Burin intersection where several Israeli soldiers were deployed at the checkpoint." Soldiers refused to allow Palestinian medics to take the youth, saying his wound was critical and he needed go to Israel. They also refused to identify the youth. (Maan)
- Palestinians: Settlers wounded West Bank shepherds, IDF didn't intervene - IDF forces reportedly arrived at the scene but did not prevent settlers' aggression in area near Khirbet Yanun, according to Palestinian media; IDF says it is investigating. Maan: 3 shepherds injured. (Haaretz+ and Maan)
- Increasing number of Israelis renouncing their citizenship - Percentage of citizens giving up their passports rose by 65% in past year; most live in Germany, US, Austria; reasons include desire to hold other citizenship, work in security-sensitive job. (Ynet)
- Report: New Israeli prisoner being held by Hamas in Gaza - Lebanese satellite channel on Saturday claimed that an Israeli man of Ethiopian origin, who was swept out to sea while swimming off the coast of southern Israel, is now being held by Hamas after the tide swept him ashore. (Maan)
- Serious concern for life of 10-year-old boy who was swept by high waves - Large forces of police and MADA looked for boy, who was swept Saturday from cliff near Bat Yam's 'Jerusalem beach.' [Photo shows Ethiopians listening to police) (Maariv, p. 11)
- Study: Half of Israel's Jewish, Arab pupils want no contact with each other - Secular Jewish children also shun ultra-Orthodox, Ethiopian and disabled peers, study shows. (Haaretz+)
- Arab-Jewish party Hadash votes in favor of forming unified Arab list - Arab-Jewish party votes in favor of continued negotiations with Arab parties, welcomes new member: Former Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg. (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
- MK Tibi waves Palestinian flag at Temple Mount - Arab politician draws cheers as he joins East Jerusalemites marching towards al-Aqsa Mosque to mark the birthday Prophet Mohammed. (Ynet)
- Israeli forces impose curfew during raid on Ramallah-area village - Israeli forces raided the village of Deir Nidham northwest of Ramallah on Friday, imposing a curfew on local residents and forbidding them from entering the streets sparking clashes with locals. (Maan)
- Molotov cocktails thrown at settler house in (E.) Jerusalem - Israeli sources said Thursday evening that three Molotov cocktails were thrown at the home of a Jewish settler in Ras Al-Amoud neighborhood. Large sraeli police contingent reportedly entered area to search for the assailants. (Maan)
- Hamas condemns shooting of Gazan by Egyptians -- Hamas on Saturday condemned the fatal shooting by Egyptian border guards of what they said was a Palestinian minor on the Gaza border, calling it “a dangerous development and excessive use of force.” (Maan)
- Labor searches for military expert to join ranks - Sources within Labor party say Herzog holding talks with number of former IDF generals in hopes of securing military expert for center-left camp, as some insiders give insight to how and why former defense officials became such a hot commodity in elections. (Ynet)
- Givati reservists: Don't open criminal probe against Rafah battle officers - In letter to Chief IDF Prosecutor, alumni officers and combat soldiers say such investigation into events of August 1st battle will deter officers from doing what they must do during combat. (Ynet)
- **Palestinian Health Ministry: Death toll from Gaza offensive topped 2,310 - Number of casualties from Israel's summer assault on Gaza Strip (Operation Protective Edge) is significantly higher than previously reported. Revised toll likely includes a large number of Palestinians whose bodies were found in the rubble, as well as dozens who have died of their wounds. (Maan)
- IDF to issue campaign ribbons for Operation Protective Edge - Knesset committee to vote Sunday on decision to give special ribbon to soldiers, police, security officials and others. Decision made because of large scale and long duration of the operation. The ribbon will be the eighth since the state was founded. (Israel Hayom)
- Israeli forces hold Fatah leader at Bethlehem-area checkpoint - Israeli forces on Saturday stopped and held Fatah central committee member Abbas. Zaki told Ma'an that Israeli soldiers were making telephone calls and he suspected they were trying to find a reason to detain him. Ma'an lost contact with Zaki soon afterward. (Maan)
- PA: Israel arrested 112 Palestinian women and girls in 2014 - This is a 70 percent increase from 2013, said an official at the Palestinian Authority Department of Prisoner Affairs. He said there were currently 21 female Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. (Maan)
- Israeli authorities raid Palestinian prisoner cells in Megiddo jail - The raid was meant to punish them for writing slogans on the walls of their cells, a Palestinian prisoner rights group said. Prisoners said the Israeli prison forced them all to pay fines, beat several prisoners and transferred them elsewhere. Around 5,500 Palestinians are currently being held in Israeli jails, including hundreds without charge or trial. (Maan)
- Israeli forces arrest 45-year-old Palestinian during weekly march - Israeli special forces arrested Majed Abd al-Mumen Jumaa, 45, during a demonstration in the town of Kafr Qaddum (against land confiscation). Jumaa was taken to the (Israeli military) detention center at Huwwara and would soon be taken to a hospital in Israel. He suffers from heart disease. (Maan)
- PA: Prisoners complain of overcrowding in Ofer - The Palestinian Authority Department of Prisoner Affairs said the Israeli prison service has been bringing in new detainees to Ofer daily, and despite moving more that 100 prisoners from Ofer to other prisons during that past two weeks, the prison is still crowded. (Maan)
- IDF soldiers allegedly caught getting high on duty - Military police investigating claim that three paratroopers smoked marijuana while on guard duty in Hebron. (Ynet)
- Saudi leader of bloc of Islamic nations to visit Jerusalem - Iyad Madani, secretary-general of the Saudi-based Organization of Islamic Cooperation, to make first official visit Jan. 5. He says he encourages Muslims from all over the world to go to Al-Aqsa and "confirm that this mosque is a part of their faith." (Israel Hayom)
- 200 Palestinian leave Gaza Strip to pray in Jerusalem - Some 200 Palestinians made the trip Friday after receiving permission from Israeli authorities, which is rarely given. (Maan)
- Iconoclast Arab woman backing Israel runs for Knesset - "Just because I was born in the Jewish state doesn't mean a Jew is better than me," Annett Haskia says in Hebrew. "I sent [my] children to war, and nobody can tell me that I, Anett, the Arab, am second class." (Israel Hayom)
- Image depicting mound of Jewish skulls chosen for Fatah Facebook post - Abbas' party disavows, deletes photo uploaded as part of its 50th anniversary commemorations. (Haaretz)
- Alan Dershowitz denies involvement in underage sex scandal - Noted attorney was named in suit charging that prosecutors in Florida broke the law by granting his client, Jeffrey Epstein, a plea deal to avoid prosecution. (British Prince Andrew was also named.) (Haaretz)
- Israeli jailed in Egypt freed after two years - Andrey Pshenichnikov is now being held by Eilat police, and is likely to be brought before a judge on Sunday. (Haaretz)
- India moves toward closer ties with Israel - Warming of relations between two nations is unmistakable albeit low-key, as bilateral trade stands in excess of $5 billion and Israel turning into India's top defense supplier. (Ynet)
- Turkey okays construction of first church in 90 years - Syrian Christian church to be built in Istanbul; only 100,000 Christians live in Turkey, among 80 million Muslims. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Iran and U.S. reach tentative agreement in nuclear talks, diplomats say - The agreement would require Tehran to ship to Russia much of the material needed for the building of an atomic bomb, diplomats tell AP; Iran denies preliminary deal reached. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Iran claims to save nuclear engineer from Israeli assassination - Revolutionary Guards source says Israeli attempt failed; Iran blames Mossad for five dead scientists since 2010. (Ynet)
- Iran rejects bill (that would) empower police, volunteers to enforce hijab laws - 12-member Guardian Council rejected draft law which empowered volunteer militias to implement mandatory hijab wear due to unspecified flaws. (Haaretz)
Features:
Number of suicide bombings around world surged 94% in 2014 amid rise of ISIS
The claim that most suicide attacks are carried out against foreign occupiers has been proved false once again, says Israel's INSS think tank. (Amos Harel, Haaretz+)
Who opposes the partition of Jerusalem?
During election season, politicians place the issue of Jerusalem above all others • Israel Hayom investigates the top politicians' true stance on Jerusalem throughout their years in public service, focusing on seven key party leaders. So who said what? (Israel Hayom)
The Israeli guns that took part in the Rwanda genocide
A Tel Aviv court has rejected a petition by Prof. Yair Auron to reveal documentation of arms exports to the Hutu government during the genocide in the '90s. (Uri Misgav, Haaretz+)
Bilingual education in Israel faces challenges
The Hand in Hand bilingual schools teach two languages, two cultures, and three religions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Each classroom has two teachers, one who teaches in Hebrew and the other in Arabic. (Ynet)
Commentary/Analysis:
The claim that most suicide attacks are carried out against foreign occupiers has been proved false once again, says Israel's INSS think tank. (Amos Harel, Haaretz+)
Who opposes the partition of Jerusalem?
During election season, politicians place the issue of Jerusalem above all others • Israel Hayom investigates the top politicians' true stance on Jerusalem throughout their years in public service, focusing on seven key party leaders. So who said what? (Israel Hayom)
The Israeli guns that took part in the Rwanda genocide
A Tel Aviv court has rejected a petition by Prof. Yair Auron to reveal documentation of arms exports to the Hutu government during the genocide in the '90s. (Uri Misgav, Haaretz+)
Bilingual education in Israel faces challenges
The Hand in Hand bilingual schools teach two languages, two cultures, and three religions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Each classroom has two teachers, one who teaches in Hebrew and the other in Arabic. (Ynet)
Commentary/Analysis:
IDF mustn't interfere with probe into Gaza war (Haaretz Editorial) Road to improving conduct of Israeli military lies in seeking truth,
drawing lessons from what happened.
IDF inquiry into Givati tapes – an operational dilemma (Yossi Yehoshua, Yedioth/Ynet) Revelations of brigade's conduct in aftermath of Lt. Hadar Goldin place military police in quandary: how to balance faith in commanders with need to investigate.
Don't censor Gaza war investigation (Haaretz Friday Editorial) Plans to delay the release of a Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee investigation into Operation Protective Edge until after the election is inherently undemocratic. The public deserves to know the findings before they vote.
If Palestinians join ICC, Israel’s actions may trigger court’s jurisdiction (Aeyal Gross, Haaretz+) Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court would have a hard time arguing that the occupation and the plight of Gaza Palestinians are outside their jurisdiction.
A crystal ball on 2015 (David M. Weinberg, Israel Hayom) I see an Israeli unity government forming, Obama further appeasing Iran, and Abbas possibly in the dock for war crimes.
Yair Lapid hasn't earned a second chance (Raviv Drucker, Haaretz+) The ex-finance minister is campaigning on the slogan ‘we were stopped in the middle,’ but actually he did little to break up monopolies or keep money from the settlements.
Between Begin and Netanyahu (Shimon Shiffer, Yedioth/Ynet) Unlike Menachem Begin, who managed to appeal to diverse audiences, Likud list led by Benjamin Netanyahu marks fixation and obsolescence, focusing on only one issue – settlements.
Does the Israeli Left actually live here? (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) The Left's stubborn and shallow arguments, as reflected in a recent article by former Mossad chief Shabtai Shavit, point to a deep lack of understanding.
If I were a Palestinian (Zeev Sternhell, Haaretz+) I would learn a lesson from David Ben-Gurion: Take anything you are handed and always ensure the support of a world power.
Palestinians lost the diplomatic battle, not the war (Alon Pinkas, Yedioth/Ynet) While the rejection of the Palestinian appeal to the Security Council does contain a diplomatic achievement for Israel, isn't it just a case of delaying the inevitable?
US must stop blaming Abbas for joining ICC (Aaron Magid, Maan) Even officials generally sympathetic to the Palestinian plight are attacking Abbas. Instead of bashing Abbas, they should laud him for finally standing up for his people. In difficult circumstances, the PA is determined to use non-violent, but effective, measures to apply pressure on Israel after years of foot-dragging.
Four comments on Israel's situation (Yoel Marcus, Haaretz+) Anyone who still thinks that Israel is a forward American strategic asset in this region is wrong. The U.S. is not a guaranteed ally – it could get along very well without us.
What does center-left expect? (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) With Livni and Lapid, Prime Minister Netanyahu managed to ward off aggressive right-wing; but given Palestinians' rejectionism, does Herzog have a better plan?
I’ll vote for the party that will make me its head (Sami Shalom Chetrit, Haaretz+) I’m ready to devote my energy, skills and life experience to remedying the society and the state, for the benefit of all. That would not be necessary if I had someone to vote for.
What strategic challenges does 2015 hold for Israel? (Former military intel chief Amos Yadlin, Yedioth/Ynet) The Islamic State, which some people predicted would wash over the region like a huge unstoppable wave, has been curbed; the most serious potential threat was and remains Iran's nuclearization.
The diplomatic 'tsunami' has been averted, for now (Shlomo Cesana, Israel Hayom) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defeated Mahmoud Abbas at the U.N. Security Council with two phone calls. But everybody knows that even with the U.S. on our side, the Palestinians will try to impose their own agenda and avoid making any concessions.
Why (some) Israelis are allergic to the word 'Palestine' (Mira Sucharov, Haaretz+) Recognition of a Palestinian state raises at least two issues for Israelis: legitimacy and security. Yet a closer look reveals that neither concern is quite what it seems.
The national camp's last princes (Eitan Haber, Yedioth/Ynet) While the fathers' generation burnt with ideological fire, the Likud's princes were born into the government and realized – sometimes the hard way – that their parents' dreams were unrealistic.
Foreign funding for Israeli politicians undermines Diaspora ties (Joel Braunold, Haaretz+) As long as it is publicly accepted and legal for Jews from around the world to donate to political candidates in Israel, the unhealthy dynamic between Israel and the Diaspora will continue unabated.
IDF chief walks tight-rope between loyalty and duty (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) Benny Gantz uses lenient punishment in order to balance between showing faith in Givati commander and ethically leading the military.
IDF inquiry into Givati tapes – an operational dilemma (Yossi Yehoshua, Yedioth/Ynet) Revelations of brigade's conduct in aftermath of Lt. Hadar Goldin place military police in quandary: how to balance faith in commanders with need to investigate.
Don't censor Gaza war investigation (Haaretz Friday Editorial) Plans to delay the release of a Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee investigation into Operation Protective Edge until after the election is inherently undemocratic. The public deserves to know the findings before they vote.
If Palestinians join ICC, Israel’s actions may trigger court’s jurisdiction (Aeyal Gross, Haaretz+) Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court would have a hard time arguing that the occupation and the plight of Gaza Palestinians are outside their jurisdiction.
A crystal ball on 2015 (David M. Weinberg, Israel Hayom) I see an Israeli unity government forming, Obama further appeasing Iran, and Abbas possibly in the dock for war crimes.
Yair Lapid hasn't earned a second chance (Raviv Drucker, Haaretz+) The ex-finance minister is campaigning on the slogan ‘we were stopped in the middle,’ but actually he did little to break up monopolies or keep money from the settlements.
Between Begin and Netanyahu (Shimon Shiffer, Yedioth/Ynet) Unlike Menachem Begin, who managed to appeal to diverse audiences, Likud list led by Benjamin Netanyahu marks fixation and obsolescence, focusing on only one issue – settlements.
Does the Israeli Left actually live here? (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) The Left's stubborn and shallow arguments, as reflected in a recent article by former Mossad chief Shabtai Shavit, point to a deep lack of understanding.
If I were a Palestinian (Zeev Sternhell, Haaretz+) I would learn a lesson from David Ben-Gurion: Take anything you are handed and always ensure the support of a world power.
Palestinians lost the diplomatic battle, not the war (Alon Pinkas, Yedioth/Ynet) While the rejection of the Palestinian appeal to the Security Council does contain a diplomatic achievement for Israel, isn't it just a case of delaying the inevitable?
US must stop blaming Abbas for joining ICC (Aaron Magid, Maan) Even officials generally sympathetic to the Palestinian plight are attacking Abbas. Instead of bashing Abbas, they should laud him for finally standing up for his people. In difficult circumstances, the PA is determined to use non-violent, but effective, measures to apply pressure on Israel after years of foot-dragging.
Four comments on Israel's situation (Yoel Marcus, Haaretz+) Anyone who still thinks that Israel is a forward American strategic asset in this region is wrong. The U.S. is not a guaranteed ally – it could get along very well without us.
What does center-left expect? (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) With Livni and Lapid, Prime Minister Netanyahu managed to ward off aggressive right-wing; but given Palestinians' rejectionism, does Herzog have a better plan?
I’ll vote for the party that will make me its head (Sami Shalom Chetrit, Haaretz+) I’m ready to devote my energy, skills and life experience to remedying the society and the state, for the benefit of all. That would not be necessary if I had someone to vote for.
What strategic challenges does 2015 hold for Israel? (Former military intel chief Amos Yadlin, Yedioth/Ynet) The Islamic State, which some people predicted would wash over the region like a huge unstoppable wave, has been curbed; the most serious potential threat was and remains Iran's nuclearization.
The diplomatic 'tsunami' has been averted, for now (Shlomo Cesana, Israel Hayom) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defeated Mahmoud Abbas at the U.N. Security Council with two phone calls. But everybody knows that even with the U.S. on our side, the Palestinians will try to impose their own agenda and avoid making any concessions.
Why (some) Israelis are allergic to the word 'Palestine' (Mira Sucharov, Haaretz+) Recognition of a Palestinian state raises at least two issues for Israelis: legitimacy and security. Yet a closer look reveals that neither concern is quite what it seems.
The national camp's last princes (Eitan Haber, Yedioth/Ynet) While the fathers' generation burnt with ideological fire, the Likud's princes were born into the government and realized – sometimes the hard way – that their parents' dreams were unrealistic.
Foreign funding for Israeli politicians undermines Diaspora ties (Joel Braunold, Haaretz+) As long as it is publicly accepted and legal for Jews from around the world to donate to political candidates in Israel, the unhealthy dynamic between Israel and the Diaspora will continue unabated.
IDF chief walks tight-rope between loyalty and duty (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) Benny Gantz uses lenient punishment in order to balance between showing faith in Givati commander and ethically leading the military.
Interviews:
Chilean mother of Bedouin soldiers: Coexistence is natural
Blanca Hayib left Chile and had 10 children with the love of her life – a Bedouin Israeli Arab; out of the ten kids, two have been wounded in IDF service and two have married Jews: 'For us, it's natural. Why not?' (Interviewed by Noam Barkan in Yedioth/Ynet)
Blanca Hayib left Chile and had 10 children with the love of her life – a Bedouin Israeli Arab; out of the ten kids, two have been wounded in IDF service and two have married Jews: 'For us, it's natural. Why not?' (Interviewed by Noam Barkan in Yedioth/Ynet)
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.