APN's daily news review from Israel
Sunday June 21, 2015
Quote of the day:
“Next time you enter this community, I’m detaining you all for disturbing the peace ... You’re known as
left-wing activists, and I have no problem doing this legally, okay? I’m telling you, that’s how we’ll work
starting from tomorrow.”
--What policeman Yaniv Ohana told Ta'ayush peace activists filming illegal settlement construction at
the West Bank settlement outpost of Avigail.**
Breaking News:
Israeli border policeman critically wounded in Jerusalem stabbing attack
Border policeman stabbed by 18-year-old Palestinian at Damascus Gate, but managed to shoot attacker before collapsing. (Haaretz and Ynet)
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Yaalon approved renovating (West Bank church) compound ahead of establishing strategic settlement (there)
- Israeli murdered in terror attack in West Bank, terrorist not yet caught
- Prime Minister’s Office prevented closing social gaps as a goal for the next decade
- Theater prizes ceremony: Gila Almagor abandoned the hall after (Culture Minister) Regev cut off a speech (on the occupation)
- Shooter at Black church in Charleston expressed desire to ignite civil war in US
- Poet and author Aryeh Sivan, Israel Prize Laureate, died at age 86
- Ahead of work on the (Tel-Aviv) light rail: Enormous parking lots and shuttles in Gush Dan
- Foreign fire // Haaretz Editorial
- Inferiority feelings // Gideon Levy
Yedioth Ahronoth
- The trip to the spring in Samaria ended in a murderous terror attack - the terrorist motioned Danny to stop – and shot 10 bullets
- War and peace – On the one hand, (Culture Minister Miri Regev) has a reconciliation meeting between (Arab) actor Norman Issa and on the other hand, she is booed at the theater prize ceremony
- School for politics – The pupils in this photo became MKs and senior ministers
- The girlfriend of the Speaker of the Knesset: daughter of billionaire Nevzlin
- The Alterman era – Prepare your wallet: Blue 200sh. bills will enter in six months
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- The terrorist shot Danny from point-blank range
- From Wikileaks documents – The Saudi fear: “Students from Gulf state visited Israeli embassies”
- The meddling and the upheaval // Ben Caspit on Netanyahu’s choice of Yoav Horowitz as his office’s chief of staff
- The ‘Sardine protest’ (against crowded classrooms) reaches the big cities
Israel Hayom
- Murder from point-blank range – Terror shooting in Binyamin: Danny Gonen murdered, his friend was injured, search continues for terrorist; Hamas took responsibility, but assessment is that it is a lone wolf attacker
- (Religious) MK Moti Yogev, resident of nearby Dolev settlement: “The mixed male-female IDF units do not suit fighting terror in Judea and Samaria”
- Mofaz – tense visit to London
- Topol: Remarks by artists – babble, storm in a teacup
- The female good ones to pilot’s course: 3 graduates expected to celebrate receiving their wings this week
- In the shadow of the nuclear talks, US report reveals: “Iran increased its support for terror”
- Mark in your calendar, preparations for light rail: On August 2nd, digging will begin in Gush Dan
News Summary:
A Palestinian killed a Jewish Israeli in the West Bank (and an Israeli fugitive settler who killed a Palestinian in a similar way was just caught in Brazil), a former defense minister landed in London without being arrested and Israel’s Culture Minister continued to stir a storm, making top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers. Also in the news, Wikileaks exposed the Saudi Arabian Foreign Ministry – and an Israel link – and weekend visitors expressed shock over the arson at the Church of the Multitudes. Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius visits Israel and Palestine today for a couple hours.
A Palestinian shot dead a religious Israeli man and injured his friend who were driving on a dirt road from a natural spring in the West Bank, West of Ramallah, near the settlement of Dolev. The IDF had no leads on who the killer was. Haaretz, quoted Maan, which reported that a group loosely affiliated with Hamas claimed responsibility referring to the Israeli men as settlers. Although the man who was killed, Danny Golan, 25, was religious and wore a kippah, he was not a settler, but rather from Lod. [Note: A couple years ago a UN report said that settlers ‘took over’ dozens of West Bank springs and prevented Palestinians from accessing them. – OH] Israel Hayom reported that Hamas was responsible. Yedioth and Ynet reported accurately that Hamas refrained from claiming responsibility, but welcomed the attack as retaliation for ‘occupation crimes.' The security establishment believes it was another ‘lone wolf’ attack. President Reuven Rivlin said the West Bank shooting was another step in the quiet and serious escalation in acts of terrorism we have witnessed in recent months” and added, "We will not accept a situation in which a young hiker has his life taken from him in the land of Israel because he is Jewish.” The victim's wounded friend recounted the attack.
Meanwhile, a settler from Itamar, who killed a Palestinian in a similar manner - but was only convicted of manslaughter - was just re-arrested in Sao Paolo, Brazil, 11 years after he escaped the country. In 2004, Yehoshua Elitzur, was holding an M-16 rifle and saw the victim driving on a road near Alon Moreh and motioned him to stop. “The Palestinian man continued driving and Elitzur shot him dead,” Yedioth’s Itamar Eichner wrote. But Times of Israel gave much more detailed and chilling report of the indictment (Al-Shtayye did stop). In 2005, Elitzur, who immigrated to Israel from Germany in 2001, disappeared from his home in the settlement of Itamar, shortly before an Israeli district court sentenced him to 20 years prison. [How was someone suspected of murder allowed to be on house arrest? And how was someone who shot dead a man as described – only convicted of manslaughter? – OH]
At the Israeli theater awards ceremony, Regev’s speech was heckled by members of the audience, including actress Gila Almagor, who stormed out of the hall shortly after Regev interrupted a speech condemning Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, Haaretz+ reported. On Friday, Regev met with Arab-Israeli actor Norman Issa, whose Jaffa theater she had threatened to defund over Issa’s statement that he would not perform in a West Bank settlement. According to Times of Israel, Issa has since agreed to perform in the West Bank, prompting Regev to announce that she would not cut his Elmina Theater’s state funding. But the Al-Midan Theater is fighting Regev’s decision to cease financing the Arab Haifa theater. At a protest held at the theater, Joint List MK Ahmed Tibi said, “Regev’s attitude towards Al-Midan actors is the same as how the police act towards the (Israeli) Arabs." The Joint List has filed a complaint against Regev in the European Parliament for “discrimination and harm to freedom of creation,” because she cancelled funding the theater.
The papers seemed relieved that former defense minister Shaul Mofaz landed in London without being arrested, despite Britain’s refusal to grant him immunity to ex-Israeli defense minister Mofaz during London visit. His status as a private citizen reportedly prevented efforts to grant him immunity.
After meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Egypt, where French Foreign Minister Fabius said that the Israeli-Palestinian stalemate will set the conflict “ablaze,” Fabius arrived here this morning to meet with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and push France’s peace initiative - without US leadership and despite Israeli rejection. Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely called the French initiative “counter-productive.” Haaretz+ writes that the visit comes at “a tense moment in French-Israeli relations.”
Tomorrow, Fabius will meet with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif to discuss the final round of nuclear talks in an attempt to bridge the gaps. Western officials said that a deal is likely a few days after the June 30th deadline for an agreement.
A Palestinian killed a Jewish Israeli in the West Bank (and an Israeli fugitive settler who killed a Palestinian in a similar way was just caught in Brazil), a former defense minister landed in London without being arrested and Israel’s Culture Minister continued to stir a storm, making top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers. Also in the news, Wikileaks exposed the Saudi Arabian Foreign Ministry – and an Israel link – and weekend visitors expressed shock over the arson at the Church of the Multitudes. Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius visits Israel and Palestine today for a couple hours.
A Palestinian shot dead a religious Israeli man and injured his friend who were driving on a dirt road from a natural spring in the West Bank, West of Ramallah, near the settlement of Dolev. The IDF had no leads on who the killer was. Haaretz, quoted Maan, which reported that a group loosely affiliated with Hamas claimed responsibility referring to the Israeli men as settlers. Although the man who was killed, Danny Golan, 25, was religious and wore a kippah, he was not a settler, but rather from Lod. [Note: A couple years ago a UN report said that settlers ‘took over’ dozens of West Bank springs and prevented Palestinians from accessing them. – OH] Israel Hayom reported that Hamas was responsible. Yedioth and Ynet reported accurately that Hamas refrained from claiming responsibility, but welcomed the attack as retaliation for ‘occupation crimes.' The security establishment believes it was another ‘lone wolf’ attack. President Reuven Rivlin said the West Bank shooting was another step in the quiet and serious escalation in acts of terrorism we have witnessed in recent months” and added, "We will not accept a situation in which a young hiker has his life taken from him in the land of Israel because he is Jewish.” The victim's wounded friend recounted the attack.
Meanwhile, a settler from Itamar, who killed a Palestinian in a similar manner - but was only convicted of manslaughter - was just re-arrested in Sao Paolo, Brazil, 11 years after he escaped the country. In 2004, Yehoshua Elitzur, was holding an M-16 rifle and saw the victim driving on a road near Alon Moreh and motioned him to stop. “The Palestinian man continued driving and Elitzur shot him dead,” Yedioth’s Itamar Eichner wrote. But Times of Israel gave much more detailed and chilling report of the indictment (Al-Shtayye did stop). In 2005, Elitzur, who immigrated to Israel from Germany in 2001, disappeared from his home in the settlement of Itamar, shortly before an Israeli district court sentenced him to 20 years prison. [How was someone suspected of murder allowed to be on house arrest? And how was someone who shot dead a man as described – only convicted of manslaughter? – OH]
At the Israeli theater awards ceremony, Regev’s speech was heckled by members of the audience, including actress Gila Almagor, who stormed out of the hall shortly after Regev interrupted a speech condemning Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, Haaretz+ reported. On Friday, Regev met with Arab-Israeli actor Norman Issa, whose Jaffa theater she had threatened to defund over Issa’s statement that he would not perform in a West Bank settlement. According to Times of Israel, Issa has since agreed to perform in the West Bank, prompting Regev to announce that she would not cut his Elmina Theater’s state funding. But the Al-Midan Theater is fighting Regev’s decision to cease financing the Arab Haifa theater. At a protest held at the theater, Joint List MK Ahmed Tibi said, “Regev’s attitude towards Al-Midan actors is the same as how the police act towards the (Israeli) Arabs." The Joint List has filed a complaint against Regev in the European Parliament for “discrimination and harm to freedom of creation,” because she cancelled funding the theater.
The papers seemed relieved that former defense minister Shaul Mofaz landed in London without being arrested, despite Britain’s refusal to grant him immunity to ex-Israeli defense minister Mofaz during London visit. His status as a private citizen reportedly prevented efforts to grant him immunity.
After meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Egypt, where French Foreign Minister Fabius said that the Israeli-Palestinian stalemate will set the conflict “ablaze,” Fabius arrived here this morning to meet with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and push France’s peace initiative - without US leadership and despite Israeli rejection. Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely called the French initiative “counter-productive.” Haaretz+ writes that the visit comes at “a tense moment in French-Israeli relations.”
Tomorrow, Fabius will meet with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif to discuss the final round of nuclear talks in an attempt to bridge the gaps. Western officials said that a deal is likely a few days after the June 30th deadline for an agreement.
Quick Hits:
- Israeli rights group blasts army for failing to protect Palestinians from settlers - Yesh Din report details failures of training and enforcement, as well as 'culture set by commanders that denies army's policing duties.' (Haaretz+)
- Defense minister okays work on West Bank church compound bought for settlers - Renovation aimed at establishing new settlement between Hebron and Gush Etzion; compound bought by non-profit controlled by U.S. billionaire Moskowitz, earmarked for settlers. (Haaretz+)
- **Israel Police issues formal apology to West Bank activists for wrongful detention, questioning - Three men from the Taayush organization were held in a police station for more than five hours in 2013 before being released without charge. (Haaretz+)
- PLO official: Retract recognition of Israel - Saeb Erekat issues report recommending that Palestinians should rescind acceptance of Israel's existence until it is reciprocated. (Ynet)
- Hamas to Abbas: We aren't working with Israel to control Gaza - After the Palestinian president claims Israel is helping the armed group rule the coastal enclave, Hamas fires back, blaming Abbas for disowning the Strip. (Haaretz+)
- IDF Operations Directorate chief: No strictly-military solution for Gaza problem - Maj.-Gen. Yoav Har Even says the army could have been more prepared to deal with tunnel threat, but that 'Hannibal Directive' used on Rafah's Black Friday during last summer's war was never meant to endanger Hadar Goldin's life. (Ynet)
- Forget the party - Israeli pupils mark end of sixth grade with a military-style march - A growing number of elementary schools are holding graduation ceremonies at memorial sites in what some critics call a death-sanctifying ritual. (Haaretz+)
- Students who fly abroad to undergo hasbara and public diplomacy lessons - A new initiative currently underway, takes students who are meant to fly abroad on different delegations, and requires them to undergo a minimum of 10 hours of public diplomacy training. The effort is meant to combat the de-legitimization of Israel abroad. (Ynet)
- Palestine 48 channel to Netanyahu: 'Get used to a station of the Arab droves' - The Arabic channel Netanyahu seeks to shut down has started broadcasting on first night of Ramadan; channel's operators claim PM is trying to stifle freedom of expression. (Ynet)
- Investigation of arson at Church at Sea of Galilee: Dead End or hunt for suspects? - Sources involved in the investigation of the arson at the Church of the Multitudes believe that the cops are at a dead end, but police say the investigation is under way. (Maariv)
- Herzog to pro-Palestinian protesters: "We are not afraid of you" - Opposition leader Isaac Herzog visited the UK as part of the Israeli hasbara effort (PR) and answered those who demonstrated outside his lecture on a British campus: "We are not deterred by your shouts." (Maariv)
- Israeli photographer causes stir on Austrian flight - 'You killed six million Jews. You want to kill another one?' says Israeli photographer to Austrian police coming to escort him off flight from Vienna to Tel Aviv after argument broke out over overweight luggage. (Ynet)
- Today at the Ministerial Committee for Legislation: Bill for education against racism - The bill will be raised again after it was rejected by the previous Knesset. MK Essawi Frej proposed the bill: “The political discourse between right and left has become nationalistic and racist." (Maariv)
- Prisoner involved in lynch of Jewish murderer [terrorist] released - Jamil Safuri, who was convicted for his involvement in the death of Eden Natan-Zada gets parole on second attempt. (Haaretz)
- 11% of new IAF pilots born outside of Israel, Flight Academy report shows - IDF releases a statistical breakdown of the pilot's schools graduating class, shedding light on the people inside the cockpit. (Ynet)
- Final UN shelter in Gaza closes - Relief agency gives money to families made homeless by last summer's conflict for temporary accommodations; reconstruction of homes yet to begin. (Agencies, Ynet)
- How many Israelis are there in America? Let us count the ways to answer that - While a U.S. census puts the number at about 140,000, some Israeli advocacy groups claim the total is five times that many. (Haaretz+)
- Israeli-American leader: Israel not wanted in new census category - U.S. Census Bureau's bid to add 'Israel' to the newly created Middle East-North Africa ethnicity category inspires ‘red herring’ claims. (Haaretz+)
- Michael Oren: Obama's outreach to Muslim world could be rooted in father abandonment issues - In latest attack on U.S. president, former Israeli envoy to U.S. takes Obama to task for 'boycotting' Charlie Hebdo and Hyper Cacher memorial in Paris. (Haaretz)
- Jokes, hugs and a whole lotta love in farewell NY gala for Foxman - Obama, Bush, Rice and Power were among those greeting the outgoing ADL director, whose departure marks the end of an era. (Haaretz+)
- For first time, Israeli artist wins top British portrait award - The art prize, which includes a $47,500 cash stipend, was presented to Matan Ben-Cnaan at London's National Portrait Gallery during a ceremony on Tuesday. (JTA, Haaretz)
- Greek Deputy Minister at a Holocaust memorial monument: "The victims are becoming bullies" - At an inauguration ceremony of a monument to commemorate the Jews murdered in his country, Deputy Minister of Regional Development in Greece mentioned the Gaza Strip as an example of not learning the lessons of the past. Wiesenthal Center calls speech “inversion of the Holocaust." (Maariv and JPost)
- Germany arrests senior Al Jazeera journalist at Egypt's request - Ahmed Mansour sentenced in absentia in Cairo for torturing lawyer in Tahrir Square in 2011; media outlet denies charges. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- No one appointed Iran to destroy Israel, says Iranian professor - Tehran University's Sadegh Zibakalam said last year that he recognizes Israel because it is recognized by the UN. (Haaretz)
- Middle East Updates / Putin reaffirms Russia's support for Syria's Assad - Palestinians call truce in Lebanon camp after deadly clashes ; Kidnapped Tunisian diplomats freed and back in Tunisia, foreign minister says; Al-Qaida in North Africa says Algerian militant Belmokhtar is alive. (Haaretz)
- Leaked Saudi diplomatic cables reveal skepticism on Iran nuke talks and a visit to Israeli embassy - WikiLeaks begins release of massive trove of Saudi documents, exposing concern over US attitudes towards Iran and over a visit by students at the Israeli embassy in Washington. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Wikileaks: Saudi top secret memo says Iran bombed South Sudan - Another top secret memo says Gulf countries were prepared to pay $10 billion to secure freedom of Egypt's Hosni Mubarak. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Mideast crises cause global refugee numbers to skyrocket, UN report say - Israel is home to more than 45,000 of world's 59.5 million refugees; lion's share of world refugees come from war-torn Syria. (Agencies, Haaretz)
Features:
ISIS's bureaucracy of terror: Repentance cards, execution certificates, and innumerable
rules
Refugees from ISIS-controlled cities describe life under the repressive regime. (Associated Press, Haaretz)
Bnei Brak's Indiana Jones
Following a fascinating journey to Morocco in his youth, Yitzhak Carmeli has dedicated his life to locating evidence of Jewish life around the world. (David Elimelech, Ynet)
Clockwork oranges || The forgotten story of the original Jaffa oranges
For decades, a sign hid under layers of paint in a building on Jaffa's Salameh Street. Restorers recently unearthed the sign, and together with it some touching stories and forgotten facts about citriculture in Mandatory Palestine. (Ofer Aderet, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
Refugees from ISIS-controlled cities describe life under the repressive regime. (Associated Press, Haaretz)
Bnei Brak's Indiana Jones
Following a fascinating journey to Morocco in his youth, Yitzhak Carmeli has dedicated his life to locating evidence of Jewish life around the world. (David Elimelech, Ynet)
Clockwork oranges || The forgotten story of the original Jaffa oranges
For decades, a sign hid under layers of paint in a building on Jaffa's Salameh Street. Restorers recently unearthed the sign, and together with it some touching stories and forgotten facts about citriculture in Mandatory Palestine. (Ofer Aderet, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
Israeli top brass plays Gaza war crimes blame game (Amos Harel, Haaretz) The Israel Defense Forces, the Shin Bet security service and the upper echelons
of the government are all trying to ensure they’re not the ones being called to international justice for
potential war crimes.
Breaking the Silence and its slanderers (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) There are two sides to the IDF’s conduct during the Gaza war, but only Breaking the Silence’s soldiers are revealing the dark one.
Hyphenated Israelism (Jacob Magid, Ynet) The civil right movement ushered in a wave of tolerance throughout America that has largely stifled suspicions of dual loyalty. American Jews have reaped the benefits. What will it take for Palestinian citizens of Israel to experience a similar revolution?
‘Lone wolf’ terrorists remain biggest threat in West Bank, Jerusalem (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Shin Bet security service and Military Intelligence still struggling to combat killers acting independently or in small local units.
Working to prevent another round in Gaza (Smadar Perry, Yedioth/Ynet) Key players seek an agreement to forestall next conflict, but major sticking points remain as game of intricate Middle East politics gets muddier.
With Druze facing possible massacre in Syria, Israel is forced to take a stand (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) The encroachment this week by extremist rebels on the Druze village of Khader in Syria is a microcosm of the predicament the greater community is facing; Israeli Druze compare their concern for a religiously motivated massacre on their brethren to Israeli fears of attacks on Jews abroad.
Hamas has become Israel's frenemy (former Mossad chief Efraim Halevy, Yedioth/Ynet) While Hamas is in a state of war with Israel, its battle against other organizations in Gaza which reject its authority serves Israel's security needs.
Ambassador vs. Ambassador: How Michael Oren betrayed Dan Shapiro (Allison Kaplan Sommer, Haaretz+) The former Israeli envoy to the U.S. stunned and angered Shapiro with his charge that the Obama White House 'deliberately' damaged U.S. - Israel relations.
Till when will Israel let its churches and mosques be burnt? (Haaretz Editorial) Israel must treat those behind hate crimes like the one committed in Tiberias with no less gravity than those who send car bombs into city centers.
The herd mentality of Israeli artists (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) Removing a play that identifies with a murderer from the culture basket is not silencing. But herd behaviour tends to be an automatic response. The facts don't matter. The identification is Pavlovian in nature.
How Michael Oren sold out U.S.-Israel ties to sell a few more books (Barak Ravid, Haaretz+) The former ambassador didn't shy from pouring fuel on the fire that is the U.S.-Israeli relations crisis, and we can expect even more when his book is launched next week in Washington.
A lose-lose situation for Syrian Druze (Zvi Bar’el, Haaretz+) Druze in ‘homeland’ region see Nusra Front as an enemy that must be fought, while Druze in the north are dependent on the rebel Sunni group.
Control Center: This is how Miri Regev turned from Minister of Culture of the right-wing to Minister of Nationalism (Carmit Sapir-Weitz, Maariv) When values of the state clash with the needs of minority groups, censorship loses its validity and becomes the means of self-determination.
Fascism is bubbling in Israel, and that's good news (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) The right-wing is attacking because it is afraid. And it is afraid because it is unsure if it’s right.
Artists' rights and theaters' duty (A. B. Yehoshua, Yedioth/Ynet) Would the Culture Ministry cancel a theater's funding because its manager is an 'ardent Zionist' who refuses to perform in front of Israeli emigrants?
Boycott the Louvre, if you love Israel (Rogel Alpher, Haaretz+) 'Boycott whoever boycotts us,' proposed Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked. What better place to start than the fabled Parisian museum?
The nature of the Abbas regime (Yoram Ettinger, Israel Hayom) The Palestinian Authority regime is a rare combination of corruption, incitement and violations of civil liberties.
Censoring of documentary on Rabin's murderer shows entire nation lost its marbles (Carolina Landsmann, Haaretz+) Israel continues to deny the political nature of the assassination of Israel's prime minister by Yigal Rabin.
Why Israel's leaders always take war personally (Yossi Sarid, Haaretz+) Newly released documents reveal what we already knew about the first Lebanon war: our leaders lied to us. Expect something similar to emerge when the archive is finally opened on last summer’s Gaza war.
War of words poses real threat (Einat Wilf, Israel Hayom) The BDS movement's clever use of international forums employs lofty language and advocacy of human solidarity to hide its true goal -- an Israel-free world.
It may seem like Netanyahu won power struggle with Orange CEO, but did he? (Steven Klein, Haaretz+) Stephane Richard’s pilgrimage to Jerusalem to apologize to Israeli PM is reminiscent of King Henry IV going to Canossa to debase himself before Pope Gregory VII in 1077. But while the pope won in the short term, his ultimate fate could be a warning to Netanyahu.
What the data really says about European anti-Semitism (Anna Momigliano, Haaretz+) A recent poll challenges claims of a surge in anti-Jewish sentiment on the continent, but the numbers aren't the only story.
The battle after the war (Nadav Shragai, Israel Hayom) Israel is releasing boundless documentation of Hamas war crimes, of the IDF's ongoing legal monitoring in the battlefield and Hamas altering evidence to tilt world opinion against Israel. But in the face of delegitimization campaigns, it may not help.
Note to Regev: No Israeli film has delegitizimed the state (Uri Klein, Haaretz+) With her ‘delegitimization’ obsession, the minister has to realize her paranoia is shaking the foundations of local culture.
Breaking the Silence and its slanderers (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) There are two sides to the IDF’s conduct during the Gaza war, but only Breaking the Silence’s soldiers are revealing the dark one.
Hyphenated Israelism (Jacob Magid, Ynet) The civil right movement ushered in a wave of tolerance throughout America that has largely stifled suspicions of dual loyalty. American Jews have reaped the benefits. What will it take for Palestinian citizens of Israel to experience a similar revolution?
‘Lone wolf’ terrorists remain biggest threat in West Bank, Jerusalem (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Shin Bet security service and Military Intelligence still struggling to combat killers acting independently or in small local units.
Working to prevent another round in Gaza (Smadar Perry, Yedioth/Ynet) Key players seek an agreement to forestall next conflict, but major sticking points remain as game of intricate Middle East politics gets muddier.
With Druze facing possible massacre in Syria, Israel is forced to take a stand (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) The encroachment this week by extremist rebels on the Druze village of Khader in Syria is a microcosm of the predicament the greater community is facing; Israeli Druze compare their concern for a religiously motivated massacre on their brethren to Israeli fears of attacks on Jews abroad.
Hamas has become Israel's frenemy (former Mossad chief Efraim Halevy, Yedioth/Ynet) While Hamas is in a state of war with Israel, its battle against other organizations in Gaza which reject its authority serves Israel's security needs.
Ambassador vs. Ambassador: How Michael Oren betrayed Dan Shapiro (Allison Kaplan Sommer, Haaretz+) The former Israeli envoy to the U.S. stunned and angered Shapiro with his charge that the Obama White House 'deliberately' damaged U.S. - Israel relations.
Till when will Israel let its churches and mosques be burnt? (Haaretz Editorial) Israel must treat those behind hate crimes like the one committed in Tiberias with no less gravity than those who send car bombs into city centers.
The herd mentality of Israeli artists (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) Removing a play that identifies with a murderer from the culture basket is not silencing. But herd behaviour tends to be an automatic response. The facts don't matter. The identification is Pavlovian in nature.
How Michael Oren sold out U.S.-Israel ties to sell a few more books (Barak Ravid, Haaretz+) The former ambassador didn't shy from pouring fuel on the fire that is the U.S.-Israeli relations crisis, and we can expect even more when his book is launched next week in Washington.
A lose-lose situation for Syrian Druze (Zvi Bar’el, Haaretz+) Druze in ‘homeland’ region see Nusra Front as an enemy that must be fought, while Druze in the north are dependent on the rebel Sunni group.
Control Center: This is how Miri Regev turned from Minister of Culture of the right-wing to Minister of Nationalism (Carmit Sapir-Weitz, Maariv) When values of the state clash with the needs of minority groups, censorship loses its validity and becomes the means of self-determination.
Fascism is bubbling in Israel, and that's good news (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) The right-wing is attacking because it is afraid. And it is afraid because it is unsure if it’s right.
Artists' rights and theaters' duty (A. B. Yehoshua, Yedioth/Ynet) Would the Culture Ministry cancel a theater's funding because its manager is an 'ardent Zionist' who refuses to perform in front of Israeli emigrants?
Boycott the Louvre, if you love Israel (Rogel Alpher, Haaretz+) 'Boycott whoever boycotts us,' proposed Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked. What better place to start than the fabled Parisian museum?
The nature of the Abbas regime (Yoram Ettinger, Israel Hayom) The Palestinian Authority regime is a rare combination of corruption, incitement and violations of civil liberties.
Censoring of documentary on Rabin's murderer shows entire nation lost its marbles (Carolina Landsmann, Haaretz+) Israel continues to deny the political nature of the assassination of Israel's prime minister by Yigal Rabin.
Why Israel's leaders always take war personally (Yossi Sarid, Haaretz+) Newly released documents reveal what we already knew about the first Lebanon war: our leaders lied to us. Expect something similar to emerge when the archive is finally opened on last summer’s Gaza war.
War of words poses real threat (Einat Wilf, Israel Hayom) The BDS movement's clever use of international forums employs lofty language and advocacy of human solidarity to hide its true goal -- an Israel-free world.
It may seem like Netanyahu won power struggle with Orange CEO, but did he? (Steven Klein, Haaretz+) Stephane Richard’s pilgrimage to Jerusalem to apologize to Israeli PM is reminiscent of King Henry IV going to Canossa to debase himself before Pope Gregory VII in 1077. But while the pope won in the short term, his ultimate fate could be a warning to Netanyahu.
What the data really says about European anti-Semitism (Anna Momigliano, Haaretz+) A recent poll challenges claims of a surge in anti-Jewish sentiment on the continent, but the numbers aren't the only story.
The battle after the war (Nadav Shragai, Israel Hayom) Israel is releasing boundless documentation of Hamas war crimes, of the IDF's ongoing legal monitoring in the battlefield and Hamas altering evidence to tilt world opinion against Israel. But in the face of delegitimization campaigns, it may not help.
Note to Regev: No Israeli film has delegitizimed the state (Uri Klein, Haaretz+) With her ‘delegitimization’ obsession, the minister has to realize her paranoia is shaking the foundations of local culture.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.