News Nosh 04.30.15

by APN 04/30/15
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APN's daily news review from Israel

Thursday April 30, 2015 
 

Quote of the day:

"Sadly, even when the Nepal coverage dies down, Israelis will probably still not be interested in the Gaza crisis. How is that possible? Can people truly be selectively compassionate, and if so, are they really compassionate, or are they just fooling themselves and everyone else?"
--Haaretz+ commentator Asher Schechter asks why Israel is more concerned by people thousands of miles away than the 100,000 people still homeless in Gaza.**


Front Page:

Haaretz

Yedioth Ahronoth

Maariv This Week (Hebrew links)

Israel Hayom

  • On the way to a government: Kahlon and Yehadut Hatorah signed
  • “I plan to enter the job and shake-up the Health Ministry” – Yehadut Hatorah Chairman Yaakov Leitzman
  • “It pained me to see senior police officers on a march to Internal Investigations” – Public Security Minister Aharonovich
  • Yes, the ultra-Orthodox are part of the public // Haim Shine
  • Or Asraf is still missing in Nepal – the last Israeli not to make contact
  • Dangerous arson by angry woman at Jerusalem gas station

 

News Summary:
Coalition agreements were signed between Likud and Moshe Kahlon’s Kulanu party and the Yehadut Hatorah (UTJ) party while Israeli rescuers saved lives in Nepal and Israeli backpackers returned with traumatic stories making top news in today’s Hebrew newspapers. Also in the news were more articles about the Hamas military wing ‘Chief of Staff’ Mohammed Deif and plans by France and New Zealand to push peace on Israel and Palestine.
 
Likud signed coalition deals with Kulanu that gave Kahlon veto rights to prevent the weakening of the High Court and the passing of the Jewish nation state bill. The ultra-Orthodox UTJ party received guarantees that sanctions against them for not enlisting in the army would be dropped.
 
Over the last two days the papers have been reporting on Mohammed Deif, the Hamas military wing commander who survived an Israeli assassination attempt during the summer’s Gaza war, and about his plans without giving any sources. Today, Maariv’s Noam Amir writes that Deif’s plan is to shell Eilat in order to harm the tourism there and to set up an elite underground combat unit. Amir also writes that “according to reports, the statements by security officials, according to which Iron Dome’s capacity to intercept missiles would drop in the northern sector due to a large number of launches from Hezbollah, caused Deif to understand that massive firing of rockets and mortars at once on the communities near the Gaza Strip will harm Iron Dome's success rates.” He also writes that “Senior IDF officials will not admit it, but they say behind closed doors that if Hamas returns to a major confrontation with the IDF within one to two years, Operation Protective Edge will be considered a failure. Israel's failure means Deif’s success, and that is what he is striving for. Nevertheless, the IDF still believes that Hamas is deterred. The Gaza Strip is devastated and the organization does not have the ability and support from the street to return a substantial and long-term conflict in the coming years.” [NOTE: It is unlikely that the reporter collected this information from Hamas, but what is curious is why he wouldn't write who the source was. If the source were the IDF then it probably made not attributing it a condition to make the information sound more reliable. - OH]

Meanwhile, Ynet interviews former Israeli security chiefs who attribute Deif’s escape from death to luck or to being very sophisticated. Former Mossad chief (res.) Maj. Gen. Danny Yatom said Deif has been more cautious and has learned from previous assassination attempts, like the January 1996 killing of Hamas bombmaker Yahya Ayyash with an explosives-laden cellphone. "We managed to reach his phone – it was his wish to tell his parents about his newborn son which sealed his fate." Hamas political leader in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, said that Israel’s admission that it tried and failed to assassinate Deif “exposes the scale of the Israeli military's frustration…(and) proves that Israel carried out war crimes that harmed civilians and United Nations facilities."
 
Haaretz+ reported that the US and several other countries, including Arab states, are pressing France to postpone its UN resolution on Palestine, saying the move would only disrupt negotiations with Iran and efforts to win support for a nuclear deal in Congress. Meanwhile, New Zealand is preparing to launch new peace efforts, and has said it was open to supporting the French initiative “if it has a chance of succeeding,” but that action was needed soon. Israel and New Zealand recently resolved their diplomatic spat after New Zealand agreed to appoint a separate ambassador to Palestine. “The move by New Zealand, which was elected as one of the 10 non-permanent members of the UN Security Council last year, reflected growing impatience within the council over the failure to agree on a UN approach for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process,” wrote AP. However, Israel Hayom reported that in a meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin stressed the importance of a return to direct negotiations with the Palestinians, but warned of the negative consequences that would result from unilateral international initiatives to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
 

Quick Hits:

  • New footage shows Jerusalem vehicular attack - Security camera captures video of terror attack on eve of Holocaust Memorial Day, when Arab from East Jerusalem ramming car into Yohai Cherki, who was killed in the attack, and Shira Klein, who was left in serious condition. (Ynet)
  • Israel Police arrest 6-year-old East Jerusalem boy suspected of stoning bus - 12-year-old brother of the child was also detained by undercover Israeli operatives in the E. Jerusalem neighborhood of Wadi Joz. Both were later released. The Zaatari family has had four children detained this week between the ages of 7-12. (Haaretz+ and Maan)
  • Israeli forces violently disperse al-Tur sit-in (against road closure in neighborhood where local teen was killed) - Dozens of Palestinian residents and some foreign activists in the Mount of Olives neighborhood were protesting shutting down of major thoroughfare with two concrete blocks after locals protested earlier this week against killing of 17-year-old local boy after scuffle with a soldier. (Maan) 
  • More Arab students in East Jerusalem seeking Israeli matriculation certificate - Now that separation barrier makes it hard to get to West Bank universities, Arab students need Israeli exams to get into Israeli colleges. (Haaretz+)
  • Israel's nuclear whistleblower detained over 'long conversation' with foreigners - Mordechai Vanunu, who is under strict restrictions, is allowed to "hold a chance conversation in person with foreign citizens...(for) no more than 30 minutes," which was the case when he sat in the international book store at the American Colony Hotel in E. Jerusalem, wrote his lawyer Michael Sfard on Facebook. Nevertheless, he was arrested and held by police for hours over the incident. (Haaretz+ and Maariv, p. 17)
  • Chief justice raps Netanyahu for trying to curb Supreme Court’s power - Miriam Naor’s comments come as Likud is crafting a bill to let parliament override the top court. (Haaretz+) 
  • Israel returns 15 confiscated Gaza fishing boats - This is another by IDF at orders of political echelons for benefit of Gaza civilians, writes Maariv. Fishing union chief Nizar Ayyash said return of 15 boats was welcome, but demanded return of 60 others and criticized frequent Israeli attacks on local fishermen before they've even exceeded the imposed limit. (Maan and Maariv, p. 4)
  • Israel lets 14,000 tons of building material into Gaza - Largest single shipment of building material since summer conflict enters blockaded territory. The UN says that 100,000 Gaza residents are still homeless since last summer's Gaza war. (Agencies, Ynet and Maan)
  • Israeli forces demolish Palestinian barn near Nablus - Israeli forces demolished a sheep barn in Rujeib village Wednesday only hours after notifying the owner. Report by Israeli NGO, Bimkom: some 95% of Palestinian requests for construction rejected. (Maan)
  • IDF opens hospital in earthquake-ravaged Nepal - Military field hospital officially opened to treat those injured in disaster, will remain in operation for at least 2 weeks. (Ynet) 
  • Bereaved families continue their legal fight against 'Jenin, Jenin' - Representatives for the soldiers who fought in the battle appeal to senior government officials to reopen judicial proceedings against "Jenin, Jenin" director for what they say is a libelous portrayal of Israeli soldiers. (Israel Hayom)
  • Four Israeli soldiers arrested for suspected gang rape - At least one suspect claims act with female soldier at air force base was 'consensual.' (Haaretz+) 
  • DFLP leader's detention period extended by 4 months -  Nader Mahmoud Jaffal, 43, a member of the DFLP's Central Committee, was detained on Dec. 26, 2014 and has been held without charges. (Maan)
  • Doctors Without Borders denies collaboration with Israel accusation - The Palestine branch of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has denied accusations that members of the mission leaked information on Palestinian patients to Israeli authorities. (Maan)
  • Gaza rally for Palestinian unity ends in scuffles - Waving Palestinian flags, university students urge Hamas and Fatah to resolve differences. (Agencies, Haaretz)
  • Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter cancels Gaza visit - The removal of the Gaza Strip from Carter's itinerary was announced without reason by the Elders, an NGO that describes itself as a group of "independent global leaders working together for peace and human rights." Foreign Ministry: Not at Israel's request. Carter intended to reconcile between Hamas and Fatah. (Agencies, Haaretz and Maan)
  • Roger Waters to Robbie Williams: Playing in Israel is endorsement of its racism - Pink Floyd star appeals to fellow artists to think of the kids in Gaza killed by the IDF while playing soccer last summer and called on Williams to cancel his concert. (Haaretz)
  • March sees 33% drop in tourist hotel stays - Israel Hotel Association calls on next tourism minister to implement an emergency program with an increased budget to tackle deepening incoming tourism crisis. (Ynet)
  • Cameron shouts out support for Israel's right to defend itself - British Prime Minister tells Jewish Chronicle equivalence between Hamas and Israeli forms of attack against each other is 'wrong' and 'unfair.' (Haaretz and Ynet)
  • Egyptian plane damaged after hitting runway at Ben-Gurion Airport - No injuries reported in accident, which follows a similar incident, also involving an Embraer aircraft from the Egyptian carrier. (Haaretz) 
  • Report: Iran pushing Hezbollah to carry out attacks against Israel - Iran has instructed Syria and Hezbollah to provoke conflict on northern border, says Channel 10. Orders believed to be a ploy to increase Iran's regional influence. Israel's U.N. envoy calls on Security Council to condemn Sunday's infiltration attempt. (Israel Hayom)
  • US Senate rejects bid to toughen Iran nuclear review bill - Senate votes 57-39 to reject amendment to Iran Nuclear Review Act that would have required any nuclear deal with Iran to be considered an international treaty, which would have necessitated ratification by two-thirds of Senate. (Agencies, Israel Hayom)
  • Middle East Updates / Zarif says lifting of sanctions to start within days of nuclear deal - Iranian FM says meeting of draft nuclear deal Thursday; Iraqi official blames media for Islamic State war failures; Egypt president says parliament elections to be held in 2015. (Haaretz)
  • French cartoonist says won’t draw Muhammad anymore - Cartoonist Luz, who drew Charlie Hebdo’s front cover picture of Mohammed following the massacre of the satirical weekly’s editorial team by jihadists in January, has told a French magazine he will no longer draw the prophet. (Times of Israel)
  • Middle East Updates / Opposition, activists report chemical attack in Syria's Idlib - U.S. Senate rejects amendment tying terrorism support to Iran sanctions relief. (Haaretz) 
  • N.Y. public transit to ban all political ads after 'Hamas Killing Jews' controversy - New York is following in the footsteps of cities including Los Angeles, Chicago and Philadelphia, which already have banned political ads on public transit. (Agencies, Haaretz)
  • Why did Auschwitz survivor Eva Kor shake hands with an SS guard? - Oskar Groening did everything he is accused of, but anger doesn't work so well, says Kor. (Haaretz) 


Features:

Why the Chinese are about to fall in love with the Dead Sea
Reality show founded by 'China's Oprah' films celebrity couples, including male army colonel turned female ballerina, traveling through Israel. (Yael Einav, Haaretz+)

Commentary/Analysis:

End the harassment campaign against Vanunu (Haaretz Editorial) Mordechai Vanunu has served his sentence, and the secrets he revealed in his time are obsolete. He should be allowed to either leave Israel, or remain as a free man.
Israel must seize the opportunity for a deal with the Palestinians (Aviad Kleinberg, Yedioth/Ynet) In the new map of interests in the Middle East, created by radical Islam's attack on pro-Western Arab states, the price Israel will be required to pay for a solution to the conflict is exceptionally low.
Who's the real racist in the Knesset? (Iris Leal, Haaretz+) Joint Arab List leader Ayman Odeh demonstrates greater sensitivity than Jewish MKs toward the Knesset and its symbols.
Israelis must act now to prevent a bloody awakening (Ari Shavit, Haaretz+) No one knows exactly how the calamity will look, whether a political downfall, a popular uprising or a violent clash.
Shaken into perspective (Boaz Bismuth, Israel Hayom) Today it is trendy to talk about Nepal. In a few months most people probably won't remember how many people died there.
Killing in Gaza, saving in Nepal: Israel's moral hypocrisy (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) Israel doesn’t have to go all the way to Kathmandu to save lives; it would be enough to lift the siege it imposes an hour’s drive from Tel Aviv and let Gaza be rebuilt.
For the American right, Israel embodies the values that Obama’s U.S. no longer does (Peter Beinart, Haaretz+) U.S. conservatives love Israel for the same reason anti-Zionists hate it: Because they see it as a Western outpost in the Middle East.
**Israel sends aid to Nepal, but what about Gaza? On Israel’s selective compassion (Asher Schechter, Haaretz+) Once again, Israel is shining during a disaster thousands of miles away. But the people down the coast are another thing. 
The new Jewish-Christian alliance (Yossi Shain, Yedioth/Ynet) In a period in which Jews and Christians have a common enemy in the form of radical Islam, Israeli officials should understand the great potential of the building relationship with the Catholic Church.
Saudi King Salman purging monarchy of Abdullah's inner circle (Zvi Bar’el, Haaretz+) But the strong man in the kingdom is without a doubt still Mohammed ibn Nayef, who will continue to serve both as interior minister and head of National Security Council.
Baltimore meets Holon: Police brutality against Ethiopian-Israeli caught on tape (Don Futterman, Haaretz+) If a police assault on an Ethiopian-Israeli soldier had not been caught on camera, the victim would likely be in jail now and the officers would still be out there, 'protecting' our streets.
Happiness indexes be damned: Gov't should build roads, not read minds (David Rosenberg, Haaretz+) A UN survey says Israelis are the 11th happiest people in the world; Gallup found them to be quite morose. They had the same data. Maybe happiness isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Munich again? (David Parsons, Israel Hayom) World leaders insist the ayatollahs are only venting when they cry, "Death to Israel!" and "Death to America!" In fact, they mean every word.  
Will American Zionists be sued for urging a boycott of Israeli settlements? (Joel Braunold , Haaretz+) The Israeli High Court's decision to uphold the 'Anti-Boycott Law' further tears apart the Jewish pro-Israel community in the Diaspora, forcing people into polemical positions.

 

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

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