APN's daily news review from Israel
Wednesday January 14, 2015
Quote of the day:
“Returning to your ancestral home need not be due to distress, out of desperation, because of
destruction, or in the throes of terror and fear. Terror has never kept us down, and we do not want terror to
subdue you.”
--Israeli President Reuven Rivlin calls on French Jews to immigrate to Israel out of love, not out of fear.**
--Israeli President Reuven Rivlin calls on French Jews to immigrate to Israel out of love, not out of fear.**
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Labor party’s plan: Attract right-wing voters with help of economic campaign
- Facing Livni // Ravit Hecht
- Consider yourself warned // Yossi Sarid
- Jews killed in attack in Paris buried in Israel
- State pressured some of families to bury their loved ones in Israel
- Good country for the dead // Avirama Golan
- Jews of France are not satisfied only with government declarations // Yair Ettinger
- Shama-Cohen accumulated debt he did not pay to Bank Discount while heading Knesset Economy Committee, bank opened proceedings after he resigned from Knesset
- Students in middle and high school boycott school today
- After all the convictions against him were cancelled, Mubarak is expected to be released from prison
Yedioth Ahronoth
- Half a million pupils boycott school
- “Look me in the eyes” – Expose: Gadi Yarkoni from Kibbutz Nirim, who lost his legs from shell, will testify today at the UN Commission in Geneva, which is investigating the events of Operation Protective Edge
- Labor party list to the Knesset
- Murdered in Paris, buried in Jerusalem
- Comeback – 4 years after anti-Semitic remarks, John Galliano returns to the catwalk
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- French Prime Minister to Jews of country: “We need you in the battle”
- French in their lives, Israelis in their death // Mordechai Chaimovitz
- France goes to war // Gideon Kotz, Paris
- Field trips instead of studies – Upper school pupils open 3-day boycott of studies
- Labor party chose
Israel Hayom
- Tears in Hebrew and in French – Their last journey: 4 murdered at Hypercacher supermarket in Paris buried in Jerusalem
- Responsible for each other in thanking and in mourning // Boaz Bismuth
- Shiffer and Barnea’s shame // Dror Eydar
- Choosing a list: Voting in Habayit Hayehudi today
- Chose a list: High voter turnout in Labor party (primaries)
- The pupils’ rebellion
- New low in ISIS’ horrifying video clips: “Boy executes spies”
- Another conviction of Mubarak cancelled; expected to be released from jail soon
News Summary:
**At the burial ceremony in Jerusalem for the four Jews murdered in
France, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin tells French Jews: “We will continue to fight for your right
to live as Jews – wherever you may be," while France goes to war against terrorism and calls on Jews to stay, and Israeli
Housing Minister Uri Ariel plans to settle them in the West Bank, making top stories in the Hebrew
newspapers along with the surprising results of the Labor party primaries and the high school students on
strike.
Shelly Yachimovich won first place in the Labor, but it was the young Stav Shaffir who surprised and nabbed second place. [Shaffir, a leader of the 2011 social justice protests against the high cost of living and housing, made a name for herself in exposing secret government transfers of monies to settlements. – OH] Unlike the Likud list, the Labor party has ample representation of women. Also, the popular Arab-Israeli sports broadcaster, Zuhair Bahlul, celebrated his victory, getting the realistic 17th spot. "In the (Arab) sector, there are more and more trends of integration in Israeli society,” he said. (Maariv)
French Attacks Quick Hits:
Shelly Yachimovich won first place in the Labor, but it was the young Stav Shaffir who surprised and nabbed second place. [Shaffir, a leader of the 2011 social justice protests against the high cost of living and housing, made a name for herself in exposing secret government transfers of monies to settlements. – OH] Unlike the Likud list, the Labor party has ample representation of women. Also, the popular Arab-Israeli sports broadcaster, Zuhair Bahlul, celebrated his victory, getting the realistic 17th spot. "In the (Arab) sector, there are more and more trends of integration in Israeli society,” he said. (Maariv)
French Attacks Quick Hits:
- Carter: Palestinian strife a cause of Paris attack - Former US president says situation in West Bank and Gaza Strip ‘aggravates people,’ and that the Israel-Palestinian conflict is one of the factors that led to recent attacks in France. (Times of Israel)
- Charlie Hebdo sells out before dawn, with Muhammad on cover - Charlie Hebdo's defiant new issue sold out before dawn Wednesday around Paris, and still people are lining up at kiosks in case of a spare copy of the paper fronting the Prophet Muhammad. (Ynet and Haaretz)
- Bulgaria: We have accomplice of Cherif Kouachi under arrest - While hunt for 5 or 6 accomplices of Paris gunmen continues, Sofia says it holds man believed to have links to one of the terrorists. (Ynet)
- Rally against Islamophobia draws 10,000 in Germany - Chancellor Angela Merkel takes part in march to protest rising anti-Muslim sentiments. (Agencies, Times of Israel)
- Ankara mayor: Mossad behind Paris terror attacks - Israeli intelligence planned shootings in retaliation for France supporting Palestinian state, says Melih Gokcek. (JTA, Times of Israel)
- State pressured Paris attack victim's family to bury him in Israel - Families and French Jewish community were asked to pay tens of thousands of shekels while burial site was changed three times; in the end, state will cover costs. (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
Quick Hits:
- Charges added against two defendants in case of arson on Jewish-Arab Yad B'Yad school in Jerusalem - Amended indictment against Lehava activists ncludes counts of incitement to violence and support for terrorist group. (Haaretz+)
- Storm over "Hannibal procedure": Senior IDF officers turned to legal counsel for fear of criminal proceedings - Commanders fear criminal proceedings over the massive firing of weapons in Rafah, following the kidnapping of an IDF officer, which killed dozens of Palestinians (50 according to the IDF, 130 according to the Palestinians). A senior military source: "There are (NGO) groups who have decided to wear down the system and load the military prosecutor's table with an infinite number of cases.” (Maariv)
- Israelis to testify before UN commission probing Gaza war crimes - Gadi Yarkoni, who lost both his legs in summer war, travels in secret to present testimony to UN inquiry into Operation Protective Edge. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- For the first time: Legal probe of the Settlement Division – Following the corruption scandal with former minister Faina Kirschenbaum (Yisrael Beiteinu), the division of the World Zionist Organization, which deals with operations over the Green Line and whose monies are not under supervision, is now being probed by the Deputy State Attorney. Certain aspects of the Division’s operations are also under a police investigation. (Yedioth, p. 18)
- Leaked tapes reveal how Yisrael Beiteinu graft network operated - In recordings, one of main suspects says corruption investigation would involve number of ministers. (Haaretz)
- Prime Minister's Office hires rightist Israel advocacy group for 1 million shekels - U.S.-based StandWithUs will work with PMO's National Information Directorate in training students to push government line via social media. (Haaretz+)
- Push the Bibi: Labor's new video game, inspired by Netanyahu's Paris appearance - 'Push the Bibi,' apparently created by youth movement of PM's campaign rival Zionist Camp, plays off of Netanyahu's deft maneuvering into front row of Sunday's giant march. (Haaretz)
- After primary, Labor will try to attract moderate right voters - In an effort to increase the party's Knesset representation, Herzog's and Livni's joint list will launch a socioeconomic campaign. (Haaretz+)
- Armed Palestinians in Jerusalem – Despite the agreement with Israel, the US Consulate in Jerusalem plans to arm dozens of security guards from E. Jerusalem, 35 are in course in Jericho. Three Israeli guards who quit in protest warn: This is a dangerous militia. Consulate: Everything is coordinated. (Yedioth, p. 10)
- Haifa’s at your service – if you speak Hebrew - Haifa takes pride in its Jewish-Arab coexistence, but non-Hebrew speakers still have trouble accessing information. (Haaretz+)
- Israel's Arabs get short shrift in telecoms market - Mobile companies and TV broadcasters do little to cater to a fifth of the population. (Haaretz+)
- Mark Gardener: I don't believe in boycotts, I'm here to play music - English singer, who is in Israel for one show, talks to Ynet about his days with the band Ride that broke up at the height of its career in the 90s and the band's upcoming reunion. (Ynet)
- Israel's facing worsening international isolation, warns Foreign Ministry paper - Classified document lists possible consequences of diplomatic deterioration, including tighter economic and academic boycotts, restricted security imports and loss of US support. (Tuesday Yedioth/Ynet)
- Israeli economy still hasn't recovered from Gaza war, central bank says - Tourism rebounding faster than expected, but exports are spotty, Monetary Committee minutes say. (Haaretz+)
- Egypt's high court overturns last conviction against Mubarak - Judicial sources say former Egyptian president could soon walk free as no convictions remain against him after the high court ordered a retrial in the embezzlement case. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Terror victims' lawyer blames PA, PLO for killings - U.S. civil trial over attacks that took place in Israel in 2001-2004 begins; many of the victims were American. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Lebanese media mistakenly identify Israeli as suicide attacker - Sheikh Taha Kiel from Galilee town shocked to see his Facebook photo on Lebanese outlets naming him as one of two terrorists behind a bombing at coffee shop in Tripoli. (Ynet)
Features:
Israel is not an option for many in the French Jewish community
A friend in a Paris suburb is furious at Benjamin Netanyahu for a dubious offer of a better life in the promised land. (Avirama Golan, Haaretz+)
Embattled French Jews have mixed feelings about Israel’s aliya calls
Dispute between Israeli, Diaspora Jews stems from divergent views about the viability of Jewish life abroad. (Times of Israel)
A friend in a Paris suburb is furious at Benjamin Netanyahu for a dubious offer of a better life in the promised land. (Avirama Golan, Haaretz+)
Embattled French Jews have mixed feelings about Israel’s aliya calls
Dispute between Israeli, Diaspora Jews stems from divergent views about the viability of Jewish life abroad. (Times of Israel)
Young Parisian Muslims dispel aura of French unity
Sitting in the now-infamous Buttes-Chaumont park, two young Egyptian emigres suggest that an anti-Muslim conspiracy was behind last week's terror attacks. (Yair Ettinger, Haaretz+)
Chiming in 2015, and leaving a community destitute (Gideon Levy and Alex Levac, Haaretz+) On New Year’s Day, the Civil Administration demolished the homes of a community of shepherds in the Jordan Valley. Happy New Year to the 80 members of the Kaabana family, now homeless.
Commentary/Analysis:
Sitting in the now-infamous Buttes-Chaumont park, two young Egyptian emigres suggest that an anti-Muslim conspiracy was behind last week's terror attacks. (Yair Ettinger, Haaretz+)
Chiming in 2015, and leaving a community destitute (Gideon Levy and Alex Levac, Haaretz+) On New Year’s Day, the Civil Administration demolished the homes of a community of shepherds in the Jordan Valley. Happy New Year to the 80 members of the Kaabana family, now homeless.
Commentary/Analysis:
What the Jews of France can teach the Jews of America (Peter
Beinart, Haaretz+) Our liberalism is due, in large part, to the freakishly fortunate experience
we've had in the United States.
Aliyah should be driven by Zionism, nothing else (Yoaz Hendel, Yedioth/Ynet) Israeli politicians don't talk about immigration at AIPAC or at pro-Israel rallies. They didn’t talk about aliyah after the 9/11 attacks or after occasional attacks on Jewish sites. They don’t talk about it, because it's not convenient in America.
Among Israeli Arab parties, much-needed unity is proving elusive (Jack Khoury, Haaretz+) Even if the parties forge a joint slate, the togetherness might not last long after the March 17 election.
Hannibal Directive: Soldiers were following clear orders (Yossi Yehoshua, Yedioth/Ynet) There is clearly a big gap between the way the procedure initiated when a soldier is kidnapped is perceived by the IDF's top command and its actual perception by the fighters on the ground.
Where’s Angela? Ultra-Orthodox paper edits Merkel and other female world leaders out of Paris march (Allison Kaplan Sommer, Haaretz+) It is rather embarrassing when at a time that the Western world is rallying against manifestations of religious extremism, our own extremists take the stage.
Netanyahu's shameful behavior in Paris (Shimon Shiffer, Yedioth/Ynet) It was the Israeli prime minister's duty to march for freedom and equality alongside world leaders; but instead of representing us in a dignified manner, he disgraced us.
Wide center-left bloc could win elections (Uri Avnery, Haaretz+) The main thing is to create the impression that a whole side of the political spectrum is uniting. Just take it from Ariel Sharon.
The abandonment of French Jewry (Mati Tuchfeld, Israel Hayom) What is taking place in France is nothing more than a continuation of Europe's traditional policy of burying its head in the sand.
Netanyahu’s evil definition of citizenship (Zvi Bar’el, Haaretz+) The demand that the Jews of France, Germany or the United States be treated as equal citizens loses its validity when the country making this demand says Arabs aren’t wanted.
Hatred and malicious intent in Paris coverage (Dr. Haim Shine, Israel Hayom) As far as the Israeli media was concerned, Netanyahu was damned if went to Paris and damned if he didn't go.
Netanyahu’s Paris comeback (Tal Niv, Haaretz+) The prime minister may be tired and under pressure, but he doesn’t deserve the scorn heaped on him this week.
After the Charlie Hebdo murders, can journalism really cover terrorism? (Bradley Burston, Haaretz+) It has been a terrible week for journalists. And a terrible week for Jews.
Aliyah should be driven by Zionism, nothing else (Yoaz Hendel, Yedioth/Ynet) Israeli politicians don't talk about immigration at AIPAC or at pro-Israel rallies. They didn’t talk about aliyah after the 9/11 attacks or after occasional attacks on Jewish sites. They don’t talk about it, because it's not convenient in America.
Among Israeli Arab parties, much-needed unity is proving elusive (Jack Khoury, Haaretz+) Even if the parties forge a joint slate, the togetherness might not last long after the March 17 election.
Hannibal Directive: Soldiers were following clear orders (Yossi Yehoshua, Yedioth/Ynet) There is clearly a big gap between the way the procedure initiated when a soldier is kidnapped is perceived by the IDF's top command and its actual perception by the fighters on the ground.
Where’s Angela? Ultra-Orthodox paper edits Merkel and other female world leaders out of Paris march (Allison Kaplan Sommer, Haaretz+) It is rather embarrassing when at a time that the Western world is rallying against manifestations of religious extremism, our own extremists take the stage.
Netanyahu's shameful behavior in Paris (Shimon Shiffer, Yedioth/Ynet) It was the Israeli prime minister's duty to march for freedom and equality alongside world leaders; but instead of representing us in a dignified manner, he disgraced us.
Wide center-left bloc could win elections (Uri Avnery, Haaretz+) The main thing is to create the impression that a whole side of the political spectrum is uniting. Just take it from Ariel Sharon.
The abandonment of French Jewry (Mati Tuchfeld, Israel Hayom) What is taking place in France is nothing more than a continuation of Europe's traditional policy of burying its head in the sand.
Netanyahu’s evil definition of citizenship (Zvi Bar’el, Haaretz+) The demand that the Jews of France, Germany or the United States be treated as equal citizens loses its validity when the country making this demand says Arabs aren’t wanted.
Hatred and malicious intent in Paris coverage (Dr. Haim Shine, Israel Hayom) As far as the Israeli media was concerned, Netanyahu was damned if went to Paris and damned if he didn't go.
Netanyahu’s Paris comeback (Tal Niv, Haaretz+) The prime minister may be tired and under pressure, but he doesn’t deserve the scorn heaped on him this week.
After the Charlie Hebdo murders, can journalism really cover terrorism? (Bradley Burston, Haaretz+) It has been a terrible week for journalists. And a terrible week for Jews.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.