APN's daily news review from Israel
Wednesday September 1, 2015
Quote of the day:
“Between the headlines and the news that reflect the complex reality, I am encouraged by the joint activities
of Palestinians and Jews to save lives, (prevent) cruelty to animals and (to)
coexist together."
--Avi Naim, Mayor of Beit Arye settlement, reacts to the joint Palestinian-Israeli operation to save a trapped donkey.
--Avi Naim, Mayor of Beit Arye settlement, reacts to the joint Palestinian-Israeli operation to save a trapped donkey.
You Must Be Kidding:
“Two victims were physically harmed and hospitalized as moderately and seriously wounded, and at the end of the criminal proceedings the case was closed (by police) due to lack of public interest.”
--Adv. Nasser Ali, lawyer of two Arab gardeners who were brutally beaten for having the gall to refuse to show their ID cards to security guards as they walked with their gardening equipment in the neighborhood of the Prime Minister’s Residence.
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Knesset to vote today on sweeping bill that expands (Shiin Bet's) authorities against terror
- The regulations law against terror // Haaretz Editorial
- US secretly accepting asylum seekers that Israel neglected
- Defense Ministry did not know about FBI investigation against 20 (Israeli) arms exporters
- Police recommends prosecuting MK Oren Hazan for assault on director of Ariel municipality
- Satellite photos prove that ISIS destroyed the important temple in Palmyra
- (Former chief justice) Beinish slams commission overseeing State Prosecution
- The chutzpah and the (gas) agreement // Zvi Bar’el
Yedioth Ahronoth
- (Finance Minister) Kahlon’s plan: 17% VAT (instead of 18%)
- Europe: The gates for refugees are closing
- Police: Prosecute MK Oren Hazan for assault
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- IDF plan: Evacuate the north during war
- Obama is one vote away from approving the nuclear deal
- Help, ISIS – Exclusive: (Commentator) Lior Dayan with the Yazidis in northern Iraq
- The migration crisis: Europe at boiling point
- First step (photo of children in school)
- History: Starting today, a quarter of the Knesset members are female
Israel Hayom
- Special: The teachers failed at the test – Unbelievable: Our children’s educators lack basic knowledge about the state
- No need for a walking encyclopedia, just basic pedagogy // Boaz Bismuth
- Hungary blocked migrants from the train
- 55% of Americans oppose the nuclear deal with Iran
- The security failure at the Gay Pride Parade: (Jerusalem) regional police commander received a censure, 3 senior officers dismissed
- First reading (1): “The terror law” meant to give powers to the Shin Bet to be brought before Knesset today
- Second reading: (2): Tension in Knesset ahead of vote in plenum over 2015-2016 budget
- Police recommend prosecuting MK Hazan for assault against director of Ariel municipality
News Summary:
Europe’s refugee/migration crisis, the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s resignation from the head of the Palestinian Liberation Organization's Executive Committee, US President’s Barack Obama’s single missing vote of support for the Iran nuclear deal, and the police recommendation to prosecute a controversial Likud MK were top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers. Also in the news, the Knesset votes today on the “terror bill,” a controversial proposal to add what critics call ‘totalitarian’ provisions that would give expansive powers to the Shin Bet and Maariv revealed the IDF plan to evacuate Israeli communities on the northern border in a war with Hezbollah, with reservists from elite units deployed in the ghost towns.
The Hebrew papers noted that after two more US Senators declared support for the Iran nuclear deal, President Obama needs only one more to secure the presidential veto if Congress rejects the deal. The papers also noted that in an interview with The Forward newspaper Obama reassured that Israel will remain more powerful than Iran and he would increase cooperation with Israel
The question of Abbas’ successor as the leader of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, which represents all Palestinians (although some factions are not involved in it, such as Hamas) is up in the air, after Abbas declared he was quitting as the head of the Palestinian Liberation Organization's Executive Committee and will also not be running for reelection for the top seat later this month. Senior Palestinian officials told Yedioth/Ynet’s Elior Levy that Abbas has despaired of the PLO and the Fatah movement, but mostly Abbas despaired of Israel and the fact there is no real hope for diplomatic negotiations that could lead to the formation of a Palestinian state. Senior PLO officials told Haaretz+ that reports of Abbas’ retirement are very premature, despite his sense 'that everyone abandoned him, particularly the United States.' However, Abbas will remain Palestinian President. Yedioth's Levy wrote that whoever wins the chairmanship of the PLO has a significant advantage in running for the job of President of the Palestinian Authority, when that time comes. A recent poll found that only 16% of Palestinians back Abbas, but other potential leaders have even less support.
Europe’s refugee/migration crisis, the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s resignation from the head of the Palestinian Liberation Organization's Executive Committee, US President’s Barack Obama’s single missing vote of support for the Iran nuclear deal, and the police recommendation to prosecute a controversial Likud MK were top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers. Also in the news, the Knesset votes today on the “terror bill,” a controversial proposal to add what critics call ‘totalitarian’ provisions that would give expansive powers to the Shin Bet and Maariv revealed the IDF plan to evacuate Israeli communities on the northern border in a war with Hezbollah, with reservists from elite units deployed in the ghost towns.
The Hebrew papers noted that after two more US Senators declared support for the Iran nuclear deal, President Obama needs only one more to secure the presidential veto if Congress rejects the deal. The papers also noted that in an interview with The Forward newspaper Obama reassured that Israel will remain more powerful than Iran and he would increase cooperation with Israel
The question of Abbas’ successor as the leader of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, which represents all Palestinians (although some factions are not involved in it, such as Hamas) is up in the air, after Abbas declared he was quitting as the head of the Palestinian Liberation Organization's Executive Committee and will also not be running for reelection for the top seat later this month. Senior Palestinian officials told Yedioth/Ynet’s Elior Levy that Abbas has despaired of the PLO and the Fatah movement, but mostly Abbas despaired of Israel and the fact there is no real hope for diplomatic negotiations that could lead to the formation of a Palestinian state. Senior PLO officials told Haaretz+ that reports of Abbas’ retirement are very premature, despite his sense 'that everyone abandoned him, particularly the United States.' However, Abbas will remain Palestinian President. Yedioth's Levy wrote that whoever wins the chairmanship of the PLO has a significant advantage in running for the job of President of the Palestinian Authority, when that time comes. A recent poll found that only 16% of Palestinians back Abbas, but other potential leaders have even less support.
Quick Hits:
- Indyk in 2010: Netanyahu lacks 'generosity of spirit' regarding Palestinians - Netanyahu's fear of being seen a 'sucker' was complicating peace talks, former U.S. envoy wrote in declassified email, which offered ways to deal with Israeli prime minister's 'psychology.' (Haaretz)
- Netanyahu to peace activists: I'm ready to go to Ramallah to meet with Abbas - Israeli prime minister meets with four leaders of 'Women Wage Peace' group, who recently held 50-day hunger strike in front of his Jerusalem residence. (Haaretz+)
- The final blow - Two Arab gardeners, who were severely beaten by security guards of the Prime Minister’s Residence seven years, were surprised to hear that the case against five of the six aggressors was closed due to lack of public interest. Two years ago, the Unit to Investigate Police planned to indict them. The police unit in response: "Some of the guards who assaulted have left (the service) and others were reprimanded and fined." In addition to the police internal investigation, the two gardeners, Ihab Abu Najma and Ahmed Abu Jamal, also sued the Public Security Ministry, which compensated them with 200,000 shekels. (Yedioth, p. 26)
- Defense Ministry did not know of FBI probe into Israeli arms dealers - Sources say because ministry wasn't informed, it continued to issue export licenses; over 20 Israelis - including Gal Hirsch, the new candidate for police commissioner - are being investigated. (Haaretz+)
- Israel complains to UN leaders over Palestinian bid to raise flag - Palestinians are trying to change UN tradition to 'score political points,' envoy accuses in letter; Palestinian ambassador says expect 'overwhelming majority' in General Assembly for initiative. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Operation to release a donkey: trapped in the fence and rescued through an Israeli-Palestinian collaboration - Resident of Beit Arye settlement in Samaria went for a walk and spotted the trapped animal. He called for help from his settlement, but after they failed to rescue it, they called Hani from the neighboring Palestinian village of Al-Luban (Luban Al-Sharkiya), who helped rescue the frightened donkey with the help of a tractor. (Maariv+PHOTOS)
- Western countries secretly took in 200 African asylum seekers from Israel, activists say - Neither the UN nor the accepting countries release information on resettlement of asylum seekers from Israel. 'It’s very hush-hush,' a human-rights activist told Haaretz. (Haaretz+)
- Israel's Arab sector to receive 900 million NIS in aid - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strikes agreement with Arab representatives on multiyear plan that will infuse millions into solving various challenges. Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman: Netanyahu is shooting the Zionist state in the foot. (Israel Hayom)
- Former Justice Dorit Beinisch slams oversight of State Prosecution - 'The damage from the oversight commission far outweighs its usefulness and you can quote me,' Beinisch says at conference of past and present members of the prosecution. (Haaretz+)
- New Palestinian city welcomes first 'Rawabians' - After years of delays and disputes with Israel over water provisions, the first Palestinian planned city opens its gates to the West Bank's middle class. (Ynet)
- IDF to train all infantry sub-squad commanders as sappers - New training program will give soldiers in the urban battlefield the ability to defuse bombs and booby-trapped homes without needing to wait for a specialized engineering force to clear the path, which was often the case during Operation Protective Edge. (Israel Hayom)
- Most Polluted River in Israel and West Bank to Stay Filthy Because of Government Vacillation - Untreated sewage from both Jewish and Palestinian neighborhoods of East Jerusalem and nearby Palestinian villages has flowed into the Kidron River for years. Agencies responsible for cleaning it up can't decide what to do. (Haaretz+)
- Netanyahu criticized for eating at non-kosher restaurant in Italy - PM eats at Enoteca Pinchiorri at invitation of Italian premier, but PMO says he 'did not eat forbidden foods.' (Agencies, Ynet)
- Initiatives to reform Jewish radicals falling short, critics charge - A new education ministry program aims to rehabilitate hilltop youth while preventing the next attack; however, the program has experienced very little success. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Israeli officer wounded in West Bank likely hit by friendly fire - Raid had apparently targeted senior Hamas operative in Jenin; unclear if suspected terrorist apprehended. (Haaretz+)
- Foreign Ministry retrieves young Jewish Israeli who planned to enter Syria from Turkey - Family had feared that the 21-year-old would try to join ISIS and enlisted help of Foreign Ministry and Interpol; Foreign Min. source: Matter not being treated as security incident, rather personal issue. (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
- ISIS destruction of Palmyra confirmed by satellite - UN Institute for Training and Research confirms ISIS destroyed the Temple of Bel, a World Heritage Site that was over 2,000-years-old. (Agencies, Ynet)
- 2,000-year-old stairs unearthed in City of David excavation - Pyramid-shaped set of stairs is located next to a street that leads from the Pool of Siloam to the Temple • Israel Antiquities Authority archeologists believe structure functioned as a podium from which government decrees, news, and gossip were announced. (Israel Hayom)
- New children's book tells story of kittens rescued from Gaza - Tzuk and Eitan were rescued from the fighting zone in the Strip during Operation Protective Edge by an IDF soldier, who is now the protagonist of a new optimistic and colorful book for children. (Ynet)
- Noble Energy shares fall 7.1% on news of Egypt natural gas find - Egypt's historic discovery of massive gas field off its Mediterranean coast jeopardizes lucrative deals being negotiated between Israeli companies and their Western counterparts operating in Egypt, which may now no longer need to import gas. (Agencies, Israel Hayom)
- Israeli bridge champions accused of cheating - Teammates claim Lotan Fisher and Ron Schwartz cheated, bridge duo hire legal team to 'expose interests' behind claims. (Ynet)
- Germany open to 'constructive' Iranian role in Syria talks - At news conference in Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel expresses "disappointment" that Iran refuses to recognize Israel. "It is not acceptable how Iran continues to talk about Israel," Merkel says. (Israel Hayom)
- August 2015 was second-hottest since 1935 - Scorching temperatures and drenching humidity made August 2015 a somewhat unpleasant record breaker. (Ynet)
Features:
First-graders’ First Step on Road to the Army
On the first day of school in central Israel, parents pull out the smartphones, kids are excited about arithmetic and the principal compares first grade to getting married and joining the military. (Ofra Edelman, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
On the first day of school in central Israel, parents pull out the smartphones, kids are excited about arithmetic and the principal compares first grade to getting married and joining the military. (Ofra Edelman, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
A rare look into the dark world of Israeli arms traders (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) The brouhaha over Gal Hirsch’s planned appointment as police chief enables a
glimpse into a severely broken system.
Brain nation, brainless government (Yoel Esteron, Yedioth/Ynet) Calcalist founder and publisher, Yoel Esteron, speaks to the gap between the world-renowned Israeli brain and the dim Israeli governance, which is pushing the nation down a slippery slope.
A terrorism bill which sabotages the battle against terror (Haaretz Editorial) Bill up for first reading in Knesset has such broad definitions of 'terrorism' that it defies all logic.
We’re going to miss him: a warning ahead of the resignation of Abu Mazen (Yossi Melman, Maariv) “True, Abbas is considered a weak indecisive leader, who left at the last minute before signing the most generous offer that Israel ever offered - when Ehud Olmert was prime minister. But he truly believed in two states for two peoples.” Melman writes that for some time Israel is trying to figure out who will be the next leader of Palestine and that the name of Marwan Barghouti, who is serving jailtime for murder for his involvement in terror attacks in the Second Intifada, was raised. “In the past offers were raised in Israel for Israel to release Barghouti, who is considered a charismatic leader and liked by the Palestinian ‘street.’ Saeb Erekat and Mohammed Dahlan’s names were also mentioned… We can assume that in the future the government of Israel, including the right-wing government, will miss Abu Mazen. Israel may regret having refused to negotiate and advance a peace settlement. It is clear that his replacement will have to be firmer and more extreme and that the chance for peace, if it still exists, is shrinking even more. Eventually, Israel might find itself in a situation where the Palestinian Authority collapses up or is voluntarily dismantled, and Hamas will enter in the vacuum. Maybe that's what the right-wing Israeli leaders are hoping for.”
Only right wingers may speak their mind in Israel (Sefi Rachlevsky, Haaretz+) When a left-wing artist says a scrap of a sentence against Israeli policy, the government mob attack goes wild. When a pop singer incites against Arabs, he is invited to the PM's residence to sing the national anthem.
Studying together (Assaf Hirshfeld, Israel Hayom) Fear and prejudice stem from lack of familiarity. Integrated schools for secular and religious students seek to generate fundamental change.
How dare Egypt discover gas? (Zvi Bar’el, Haaretz+) Al-Sissi stole nothing from Israel, and he can provide it with a neighbor that is in slightly better economic shape than it was before the discovery of gas - and yet no Israeli leader bothered to congratulate him.
You Love Israel. You Hate the Occupation. A New Year's Dawning. What's Your Move? (Bradley Burston, Haaretz+) There's a certain freedom in a time of extremism and obsession and chaos. Freedom to chart a new course. Freedom to love Israel. Freedom to help undo what it's done in your name.
They killed without making a fuss: The Palmach does not comly with the guidelines of "B'Tselem" (Ran Edelist, Maariv) The fighting arm of the Yishuv (Jewish pre-State of Israel) leadership was many things, including left-wing Zionist bordering on communism - but it would never cross the bar of B’tselem. Also back then they didn’t internalize the Geneva Convention.
What division? Jewish community united as ever over Iran deal (Seth Lipsky, Haaretz+) Not only are left and right in Israel united in opposition to Obama's compact of appeasement; the deal has made bedfellows of an astonishing array of Jewish organizations in America.
Abu Mazen, learn from the Jews: "never retire or resign” (Ben Caspit, Maariv/103.FM) Caspit calls on Abbas to learn from us not to go anywhere.
Brain nation, brainless government (Yoel Esteron, Yedioth/Ynet) Calcalist founder and publisher, Yoel Esteron, speaks to the gap between the world-renowned Israeli brain and the dim Israeli governance, which is pushing the nation down a slippery slope.
A terrorism bill which sabotages the battle against terror (Haaretz Editorial) Bill up for first reading in Knesset has such broad definitions of 'terrorism' that it defies all logic.
We’re going to miss him: a warning ahead of the resignation of Abu Mazen (Yossi Melman, Maariv) “True, Abbas is considered a weak indecisive leader, who left at the last minute before signing the most generous offer that Israel ever offered - when Ehud Olmert was prime minister. But he truly believed in two states for two peoples.” Melman writes that for some time Israel is trying to figure out who will be the next leader of Palestine and that the name of Marwan Barghouti, who is serving jailtime for murder for his involvement in terror attacks in the Second Intifada, was raised. “In the past offers were raised in Israel for Israel to release Barghouti, who is considered a charismatic leader and liked by the Palestinian ‘street.’ Saeb Erekat and Mohammed Dahlan’s names were also mentioned… We can assume that in the future the government of Israel, including the right-wing government, will miss Abu Mazen. Israel may regret having refused to negotiate and advance a peace settlement. It is clear that his replacement will have to be firmer and more extreme and that the chance for peace, if it still exists, is shrinking even more. Eventually, Israel might find itself in a situation where the Palestinian Authority collapses up or is voluntarily dismantled, and Hamas will enter in the vacuum. Maybe that's what the right-wing Israeli leaders are hoping for.”
Only right wingers may speak their mind in Israel (Sefi Rachlevsky, Haaretz+) When a left-wing artist says a scrap of a sentence against Israeli policy, the government mob attack goes wild. When a pop singer incites against Arabs, he is invited to the PM's residence to sing the national anthem.
Studying together (Assaf Hirshfeld, Israel Hayom) Fear and prejudice stem from lack of familiarity. Integrated schools for secular and religious students seek to generate fundamental change.
How dare Egypt discover gas? (Zvi Bar’el, Haaretz+) Al-Sissi stole nothing from Israel, and he can provide it with a neighbor that is in slightly better economic shape than it was before the discovery of gas - and yet no Israeli leader bothered to congratulate him.
You Love Israel. You Hate the Occupation. A New Year's Dawning. What's Your Move? (Bradley Burston, Haaretz+) There's a certain freedom in a time of extremism and obsession and chaos. Freedom to chart a new course. Freedom to love Israel. Freedom to help undo what it's done in your name.
They killed without making a fuss: The Palmach does not comly with the guidelines of "B'Tselem" (Ran Edelist, Maariv) The fighting arm of the Yishuv (Jewish pre-State of Israel) leadership was many things, including left-wing Zionist bordering on communism - but it would never cross the bar of B’tselem. Also back then they didn’t internalize the Geneva Convention.
What division? Jewish community united as ever over Iran deal (Seth Lipsky, Haaretz+) Not only are left and right in Israel united in opposition to Obama's compact of appeasement; the deal has made bedfellows of an astonishing array of Jewish organizations in America.
Abu Mazen, learn from the Jews: "never retire or resign” (Ben Caspit, Maariv/103.FM) Caspit calls on Abbas to learn from us not to go anywhere.
Interviews:
Exiled Algerian Author Fears Iran Could Lead Radical Islam That Dooms Europe
Boulem Sansal, the Algerian Michel Houellebecq, talks to Haaretz about his new dystopian novel, ISIS, and death threats. (Interviewed by Gaby Levin in Haaretz+)
Boulem Sansal, the Algerian Michel Houellebecq, talks to Haaretz about his new dystopian novel, ISIS, and death threats. (Interviewed by Gaby Levin in Haaretz+)
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.