News Nosh 04.28.15

by APN 04/28/15
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APN's daily news review from Israel

 Tuesday April 28, 2015 
 

Quote of the day:

“They were chanting ‘Muhammad is dead’ and ‘Death to the Arabs.’ It’s painful to witness, because these aren’t just chants, it’s incitement that becomes ecstatic. Guys were jumping up and down, adults as well as youngsters. Every year this day brings out the bad in people.”
--Neta Polizer, 26, Hebrew University student, part of a group strategizing how to prevent a 'bad' Jerusalem Day.**


Front Page:

Haaretz

Yedioth Ahronoth

Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)

Israel Hayom

 

News Summary:
The arrival of Israeli trekkers and surrogate babies to Israel and the search for those still missing in Nepal, the unusual Israeli denial of being behind an attack Monday night in Syria and the latest news on the thwarted attempt to lay mines on the Israel-Lebanon-Syria border were the top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers. Also the US statement that it would be hard to support Israel in the UN if Israel steps back from two-state solution was front page in Haaretz, minor news in Yedioth and Israel Hayom and didn’t make Maariv. And, only Haaretz+ reported that Israel issued tenders for construction of 77 new homes in East Jerusalem, the first such tenders since the elections. Meanwhile, two interesting interviews were quoted from the foreign press. Ynet and Israel Hayom reported on an interview with former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who said that Israel tried to evade commitments it made in Camp David peace deal. And Maariv reported on the Maan interview with a Hamas official who confirmed that Israel and Hamas are holding indirect talks with European mediation (and he gives details).
 
Israel does not comment officially on attacks it does or does not make outside of Israel and the Palestinian territories and would not say on the record whether it struck at a missile site near Damascus early Monday morning. But it made sure that all the military correspondents of the Hebrew papers reported that ‘an unnamed security source’ [who could easily be the IDF spokesman – OH] denied Israel was behind the attack. The source said it was the work of the Al-Nusra Front militant group fighting the Assad regime, and not Israel, reliable sources told Ynet.
 
Two of the four militants, whom the Israeli Air Force killed when they tried to place road bombs on the Lebanon-Syria-Israel border in the Golan Heights on Sunday night, were actually brothers from Majdal Shams, the Druze village on the Israeli-occupied side of the Golan Heights. They had relocated to a village on the Syrian side 20 years ago, after their father was released from Israeli prison. Maariv’s Yasser Okbi writes that Lebanese and Syrian media reported that the four were either members of Hezbollah or from a Hezbollah-trained cell, or from a Syrian cell called the ‘Martyrs of Quneitra.’ Some family members on the Israeli side of the border rejected the allegation that the two intended to place mines. One of the brothers was supposed to get married next week. Moreover, Maariv's Yasser Okbi and Karin Rozkovsky write that the security establishment believes that Samir Kuntar was behind sending the four on the operation because one of the dead, Abdallah Badria, was his right-hand man. Kuntar is a Lebanese Druze former member of the PLF, who was convicted of murder in the attempted kidnapping of an Israeli family in Nahariya that resulted in the deaths of four Israelis and two of his fellow kidnappers. He was 16 at the time of the operation and 45 when he was released in a prisoner exchange.
 

Quick Hits:

  • Israeli military drill sparks fire on Palestinian farmland - A fire sparked by an Israeli military drill swept across thousands of dunams of Palestinian farmland in the northern Jordan valley on Monday. Civil defense crews arrived from Qalqiliya and Nablus to fight the fire but were prevented from reaching the area as Israel has declared it a closed military zone. (Maan) 
  • Israeli forces close 2 checkpoints after settler car set on fire - Israeli forces on Monday afternoon closed Huwarra and Zaatara checkpoints south of Nablus after a settler pick-up truck bus belonging to Eish Kodesh settlement outpost caught fire after a Molotov cocktail was thrown at it. Only the driver was in the car and he was lightly burned on his hand and treated at the site. Also, investigation shows that a Molotov cocktail was thrown at a bus Saturday night causing it to light on fire on Hwy 443 (which goes through the West Bank). (Maan and Israel Hayom, p. 11) 
  • Hundreds attend funeral of (E.) Jerusalem teen killed at checkpoint – defying restrictions - Israel said it allowed only 70 people to attend the burial in al-Tur, but hundreds turned out waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans in support of protecting Jerusalem. Israel had delayed delivering the body until 2AM on Monday and clashes broke out at the burial between mourners and Israeli forces. (Maan+PHOTOS)
  • Arab-Israeli High Monitoring Committee call for Arab-Israelis general strike over housing crisis- In protest of the demolition of homes of Arab citizens in the Triangle, the Negev and Galilee, the committee members called a strike to be held today (Tuesday). A rally will also be held at 17:00 at Rabin Square in Tel Aviv, with MKs from the Joint List and Jewish and Arab intellectuals. (Maariv and Israel Hayom)
  • Rabbis come out against Jerusalem Day violence - Several dozen rabbis sign letter decrying 'serious fringe phenomenon of violence during the Jerusalem Day March,' which takes place today. (Haaretz+) 
  • Shin Bet arrests alleged West Bank terror cell - Six (young) men from the village of Beit Rima are suspected of having thrown firebombs and pipe bombs early this year at the Elisha pre-military academy and at Halamish settlement, in which it is located. (Times of Israel)
  • Israeli forces close entrance of Jerusalem-area village - Israeli forces on Monday afternoon closed down parts of the eastern entrance of al-Issawiya village with cement blocks in response to alleged rock-throwing and tire-burning. (Maan) 
  • Hamdallah meets with German delegation in Ramallah - Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah called on the international community to find a comprehensive solution to the Palestinian question Monday, as he received a parliamentary delegation from Germany in his office in Ramallah. (Maan) 
  • Israeli forces detain 5 women from Aqsa compound - An Israeli police spokesman confirmed that two women had been arrested at the compound for "causing disturbances." (Maan) 
  • UN report: Israel responsible for hits on 7 Gaza facilities during war - Report also finds that three UN facilities were used by Palestinian militants for storing weapons, and shooting rockets and mortar shells. (Haaretz+, Maariv and Ynet)
  • Policeman caught on camera beating IDF soldier (of Ethiopian descent) - Israel Police slams incident, suspends officer and hands footage over to internal investigations department. (Ynet+VIDEO)
  • Israeli forces demolish 4 structures in Jericho village - Israeli authorities demolished four agricultural structures used by farmers in al-Jiftlik village on Monday, and did not allow the owners to remove their belongings before demolishing the structures, residents said. (Maan)
  • Netanyahu says he still 'aspires' to pass anti-Supreme Court bills - Statement comes in wake of Moshe Kahlon’s declared opposition to legislation. (Haaretz+) 
  • Palestinian student vote offers taste of real democracy - As prospect of general election seems distant, student vote becomes single voting outlet to pit Fatah against Hamas. (Agencies, Ynet)
  • Palestinian dies in Gaza tunnel collapse - Muhammad Khalid al-Najjar, 27, was killed when a tunnel collapsed in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. The Institute for Palestine Studies reported in 2012 that Hamas authorities had counted 160 deaths inside the tunnels since the Israeli blockade began. [Tunnels are Gazans' main way of receiving goods. -OH] (Maan)
  • Gazans visit jailed relatives in Israeli prison - 87 Gazans, including 27 children, would be allowed to pass through Erez crossing to visit 43 Palestinians in Ramon prison, said ICRC. Palestinians in Gaza City took part in a weekly sit-in in front of the ICRC headquarters, taking place since 1995, demanding the release of their jailed relatives. (Maan)
  • Berlin police apologize for making soccer fans put away Israeli flag - Police were reportedly concerned with the flag's political implications at Ingolstadt Soccer Club-Union Berlin match on Sunday. (JTA, Haaretz)
  • Mubarak: Israel tried to deceive Egypt in every way - In interview marking 33 years since Israel returned Sinai Peninsula to Egypt, ousted president says Israel tried to evade commitments it made during peace deal signed with Anwar Sadat. (Ynet)
  • Lebanon's 'revolution' inspires flood of jokes on social networks - Amid general chaos, the government showed its authority with a new law that targets chaotic drivers. (Haaretz+)
  • Polish city to secure Jewish cemetery following vandalism - Israel Hayom report about vandalism and anti-Semitic graffiti on headstones in Olkusz Jewish cemetery sparks local anger • Mayor Roman Piasnik vows to act to protect site • City Councilman Adam Szydlowski hopes promise will translate into action.  (Israel Hayom)
  • Middle East updates / Saudi-led airstrikes target Houthi rebels across Yemen - Two car bombings in Baghdad kill at least 17 civilians; ISIS kills five journalists working for Libyan television station; Syrian insurgents capture military base in northwest; Sudanese President Bashir wins 94.5 pct of vote in election. (Haaretz)
  • Kerry, Zarif meet at UN anti-nuclear arms conference - Zarif to be first state party to address 190 signatories of 1970 nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty at UN headquarters in New York Monday; Israel to attend conference as observer first first time since 1995. (Agencies, Ynet)
  • Iran aims to use NPT conference to renew international pressure on Israel - Jerusalem to attend non-proliferation meet for first time in 20 years; Iran FM at opening of conference: 'Israel is the single [worst] violator of this international regime [the NPT].' (Haaretz+)
  • Senate takes up congressional Iran nuclear deal bill Tuesday - Legislation would block Obama from waiving congressional sanctions as lawmakers weigh in, stipulates that if senators disapprove deal, Obama would lose authority to waive Iran sanctions. (Agencies, Ynet)
  • Boehner: Republicans would lack the votes to overcome an Obama veto on Iran - U.S. House Speaker makes remarks at a private event with the Republican Jewish Coalition, Bloomberg reports. (Haaretz)


Features:

**Before Jerusalem Day march, opponents aim to thwart racism
Citing recurrent nationalistic violence, local activists are mulling ways of protesting the annual flag parade through Old City’s Muslim Quarter. (Elhanan Miller, Times of Israel)
My wife, the jailed Palestinian MP
An elected representative like Khalida Jarrar, being sent to prison for six months without undergoing a trial – such things are everyday occurrences in Israel. But there's no public discussion at all. (Gideon Levy and Alex Levac, Haaretz+)
The A-Tur bomb
The breakouts of violence that washed over E. Jerusalem last summer have all but subsided, but in the more established E. Jerusalem A-Tur neighborhood (Mt. of Olives), which is moderate and has tourist potential, the explosive barrel is filling up more and more. The residents say that the Israeli (settler and soldier) presence 'strangles' them and they warn: Whoever did not want Fatah here will get Hamas. (Moshe Steinitz, Maariv Magazine cover story)
VIDEO: Inside the IDF's top secret beating heart
Ynet gains exclusive access to the highly classified site that lies underneath the Defense Ministry's Kirya compound in Tel Aviv, where all major operations are managed. (Yoav Zitun, Ynet+VIDEO)
 
Commentary/Analysis:

Israel's north is heating up: Nasrallah will have the final word (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Whether Israel attacked Syria again on Monday, as some reports say, the chance of sliding down a slippery slope into a major conflict grows every day.
With a score to settle, Hezbollah will not give up (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) An attempt to plant explosives on Israeli side of Syria border fence shows an attempt to carry out an attack that leaves no Syrian fingerprints. 
Low Risk: Iran and its agents have no desire to deteriorate the situation in the region (Eliezar Cheney, Maariv) Tehran is busy with the nuclear deal, Hezbollah and the Assad regime are busy in the civil war in Syria. Therefore Israel should prevent Hezbollah, as much as is possible, from achieving quality weapons which could harm the IDF’s freedom to operate in a future conflict, on the one hand, and on the other, which could accurately hit quality targets deep in Israel's home front. Let it be said at once that despite this strategic assessment, it is possible that events in the north could get out of hand, for example by an unsuccessful attack that results in many casualties on either side or as a result of uncontrolled deterioration.
Hurtling toward the brick wall of reality (Carolina Landsmann, Haaretz+) It may be possible to establish a right-wing coalition, but it cannot survive because a true democracy cannot decide democratically to act against democracy without falling apart. 
The young Arabs who have chosen to be part of Israel (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) If more people like Lucy Aharish become the face of Israel's Arab public, the Jewish public will be more supportive of equal rights for Arabs and the level of hostility and racism will drop.
Every incident could potentially escalate (Yoav Limor, Israel Hayom) The unstable dynamic on in the north makes for a dangerous game of retaliatory pingpong between Israel and Hezbollah.
The war racket in the Middle East serves the U.S. (Salman Masalha, Haaretz) As a U.S. senator, Kerry was among the lawmakers with the most money invested in companies with Department of Defense contracts and who earned the most from these investments.
Israel goes above and beyond (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) The average Israeli should feel proud of Israel's exemplary conduct on the humanitarian front. So why are we being criticized?
How Israel profits from the nonprofits (Eytan Avriel, Haaretz+) Civil society organizations can influence the public agenda just as much as the media. Some leading figures within the establishment here would prefer that they disappear. 
Jews in the service of Israel's enemies (Elyakim Haetzni, Yedioth/Ynet) It's time for the State of Israel to reassess its relationship with Diaspora Jews who have embraced anti-Israel views and initiatives.
Analysis: Shin Bet: Hamas training Palestinian students in Malaysia (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Says operatives are sent to set up military networks in West Bank, act as messengers between territories and foreign countries, and carry out secret transfers of funds to meet Hamas’ needs; Malaysia denies it.
A light unto the nations (Eli Hazan, Israel Hayom) When the IDF rescuers arrive in Nepal, they will fulfill David Ben-Gurion's mission of utilizing the military to advance educational and socio-economic causes.
Is David Cameron the most pro-Israel British PM ever? (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) The United Kingdom may no longer be a major player on the world stage, but its prime minister has still been able to work quietly in support of the Jewish State. 
It's a different story when it's on Europe's doorstep (Sever Plocker, Yedioth/Ynet) Same Europe that wasn't shocked by murder of 200,000 Syrian citizens is now in shock because bodies are washing up on its beautiful coastline.  
Saudi Yemen operation proves Iranian meddling not under threat (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) The on-again, off-again campaign, supported by Arab countries, has shown that Tehran is not facing a military threat in Yemen or in Damascus.

 

Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.

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