APN's daily news review from Israel
Monday October 12, 2015
Quote of the day:
"People came to aid me. They took out their weapons, but I asked them: "Friends, don't shoot
(her). The woman is already lying (on the ground). The danger passed."
--Policeman Moshe Chen, who prevented the shooting of a Palestinian attacker who injured him.
--Policeman Moshe Chen, who prevented the shooting of a Palestinian attacker who injured him.
Breaking News:
Woman carries out stabbing attack on Border Policeman in Jerusalem
Female terrorist conducts stabbing attack on Border Policeman at Ammunition Hill opposite Israel Police headquarters, injuring him moderately. He shot her, moderately (Ynet) or seriously (WallaNews) wounding her.
Security forces thwart stabbing attack on Border Policeman in Jerusalem, Palestinian assailant shot dead
The male assailant was the 25th Palestinian to be killed in the latest round of violence, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. Among the dead are eight children.
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Um al-Fahem resident stabbed four near Gan Shmuel; Palestinian woman set gas balloons on fire in car near Maaleh Adumim
- In IDF attack on Gaza, pregnant woman and 2-year-old child killed; 12-year-old killed from IDF fire near Ramallah;
- Senior Shin Bet official: Abbas is not encouraging terror
- Key question: What does Mohammed Deif want? // Amos Harel
- Who is driving the creeping struggle of the Israeli Arabs? // Jack Khoury
- In Acco, the quiet has been relatively preserved, but the market is empty of visitors
- Sharp rise in incitement against Arabs in social networks
- Six senior Electricity Company managers to stand trial on suspicion of bribing Siemens for millions
- Senior officials received Ph.D. though correspondence with a Ukrainian institution and identify themselves as ‘Dr.’, although Israel does not recognize the degree
- 40% rise in number of complaints by TV viewers
- Pressure pot // Haaretz Editorial
- Shooting for the purpose of killing // Oudeh Bisharat
- The Israeli artist who made Rihanna happy
- Stuck in the past – Israel’s police can police themselves // Meirav Arlosoroff
- Elephants help researchers toward cancer cure
Yedioth Ahronoth
- At the front of terror: women – They go to murder citizens with knives, drive car bombs and throw stones
- Gan Shmuel: Arab Israeli stabbed four. Soldier in serious condition
- Maaleh Adumim: Female terrorist tried to blow up car bomb
- Liat was stabbed (near Gan Shmuel) on her 15th birthday
- Arab mayor expelled (Arab) MK Oudeh: “You ruined Nazareth”
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Four wounded near Gan Shmuel; Policeman prevented bomb attack in Jerusalem
- Mayor of Nazareth to MK Ayman Oudeh: “You ruined the city”
- “Harming the innocent is not acceptable in any religion in the world” – Deputy Police Commander of coastal region, Jamal Hakrush, the most senior Muslim officer in the Israeli Police, and who is investigating the attack at Gan Shmuel
- 20 years to Rabin’s murder
- Hot in the plenum: Knesset returns today from recess to stormy winter session
Israel Hayom
- (Gan Shmuel:) Soldier seriously wounded; Terrorist: From Um Al-Fahem
- Division in Arab sector: Nazareth mayor interrupted MK Oudeh, saying: “Get out of here, your demonstrations are destroying our city”
- Attack on birthday: Liat, 15, stood at Gan Shmuel bus station; Terror also on way to Jerusalem; PM to Attorney General: Investigate MK Zouebi on suspicion of incitement
- Buzz Aldrin landed in Israel: Int’l Space Convention begins this morning in Jerusalem
- The combat fighters, the police, the medics, the civilians: They endangered themselves and saved others. They are our heroes – Special Project
News Summary:
Palestinian attacks against Israelis wounded five, the Israeli government made plans to take legal actions against Arab Israelis it accused of incitement and against Palestinian stone-throwers, and Arab Israelis and Palestinians in the Territories continued protests making top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers, along with Hamas’ threat to retaliate for the IDF killing of a pregnant mother and her two-year-old daughter in Gaza.
On Sunday, five Israelis were wounded in two attacks, but unlike all previous incidents since this cycle of violence began, the two attackers were not shot. Two Israeli soldiers and two Israeli civilians were wounded near Gan Shmuel by an Arab Israeli attacker from Um al-Fahem, who was apprehended. An Israeli policeman was wounded near a West Bank checkpoint outside Jerusalem when a Palestinian woman set off explosives in her car. The policeman, Moshe Chen, told people who came to the scene and drew their weapons not to shoot her, as she was already lying on the ground, according to Maariv. She was seriously wounded. Police say she carried a gas pipe and was heading to Jerusalem.
Barely noted in the Hebrew press was that the killing of 13-year-old Ahmed Saraja from Jalazun refugee camp near Ramallah by IDF fire in clashes near the Beit El checkpoint. The killing of a pregnant Palestinian woman, Nur Hassan and her daughter, Rahaf, in Gaza from IDF shelling was only mentioned in the context of Hamas’ threat of retaliation. However, Yedioth ran photos of the bereaving father hugging his dead little daughter’s body. Yedioth wrote that the “chilling photos” showing him calling her to wake-up were quickly published in social media networks and in Arab and international media. Also over 332 Palestinians were wounded in clashes with the IDF across the West Bank along the Gaza Strip fence, Haaretz reported.
Reports that got little attention were attacks on Palestinians. Haaretz+ posted this on its Live Updates page Sunday: “Jews tried to run over a group of Palestinian children in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan, Palestinian reports say. There were no injuries. (Nir Hasson)” Ynet wrote the following near the end of an article: “Police received a report of a group of Jewish girls in Jerusalem who used tear gas to attack a Palestinian employee at a store. Police detained three suspects for questioning.”
The papers noted Arab Israeli anger, as communities across the Arab sector held protests. In one case, police stopped all vehicles arriving at the entrance to the village asking the occupants if they were Jews. If the answer was yes, they ordered them to make a U-turn in order to avoid the scene of conflicts. An enormous rally and a general strike in the Arab sector are planned for tomorrow. And Joint List MKs are set to visit the Temple Mount, despite prohibitions, on Wednesday. (JPost and Maariv)
Also making news, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu planned legal moves, which he hoped would stop Palestinian violence. He told the Attorney General to open a criminal probe against Arab MK Haneen Zouebi for incitement, (she said that it was he who was fomenting the violence) and he instructed officials to prepare a case to outlaw the Northern Branch of the Islamic Movement (IM) in Israel, also on grounds of incitement. The Shin Bet says the IM and Hamas are the main forces of incitement that have led to the current escalation and that Abbas is not inciting. Haaretz+ noted that Netanyahu no longer accuses Abbas of incitement.
Netanyahu’s cabinet approved harsh measures to be taken against (Palestinian) stone-throwers, including minimum four years prison sentence and denial of social benefits to parents of youth offenders. Interesting were the statements by Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein regarding the use of firepower against Palestinians, as reported by Haaretz+. Weinstein “opposed relaxing the rules governing the use of live fire by police against individuals caught throwing stones or firebombs. Weinstein said authorization for the use of .22 inch Ruger sniper rifles was enough and has proven effective over the past few days. Weinstein also said that the rules of engagement did not have to be made much more detailed, as the police are demanding, but agreed to re-examine the procedures,” Haaretz+ wrote. (Also in Maariv)
Today the Knesset winter session opens, with the national security issue topping the agenda and later this week, Middle East Quartet officials will visit the region.
Palestinian attacks against Israelis wounded five, the Israeli government made plans to take legal actions against Arab Israelis it accused of incitement and against Palestinian stone-throwers, and Arab Israelis and Palestinians in the Territories continued protests making top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers, along with Hamas’ threat to retaliate for the IDF killing of a pregnant mother and her two-year-old daughter in Gaza.
On Sunday, five Israelis were wounded in two attacks, but unlike all previous incidents since this cycle of violence began, the two attackers were not shot. Two Israeli soldiers and two Israeli civilians were wounded near Gan Shmuel by an Arab Israeli attacker from Um al-Fahem, who was apprehended. An Israeli policeman was wounded near a West Bank checkpoint outside Jerusalem when a Palestinian woman set off explosives in her car. The policeman, Moshe Chen, told people who came to the scene and drew their weapons not to shoot her, as she was already lying on the ground, according to Maariv. She was seriously wounded. Police say she carried a gas pipe and was heading to Jerusalem.
Barely noted in the Hebrew press was that the killing of 13-year-old Ahmed Saraja from Jalazun refugee camp near Ramallah by IDF fire in clashes near the Beit El checkpoint. The killing of a pregnant Palestinian woman, Nur Hassan and her daughter, Rahaf, in Gaza from IDF shelling was only mentioned in the context of Hamas’ threat of retaliation. However, Yedioth ran photos of the bereaving father hugging his dead little daughter’s body. Yedioth wrote that the “chilling photos” showing him calling her to wake-up were quickly published in social media networks and in Arab and international media. Also over 332 Palestinians were wounded in clashes with the IDF across the West Bank along the Gaza Strip fence, Haaretz reported.
Reports that got little attention were attacks on Palestinians. Haaretz+ posted this on its Live Updates page Sunday: “Jews tried to run over a group of Palestinian children in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan, Palestinian reports say. There were no injuries. (Nir Hasson)” Ynet wrote the following near the end of an article: “Police received a report of a group of Jewish girls in Jerusalem who used tear gas to attack a Palestinian employee at a store. Police detained three suspects for questioning.”
The papers noted Arab Israeli anger, as communities across the Arab sector held protests. In one case, police stopped all vehicles arriving at the entrance to the village asking the occupants if they were Jews. If the answer was yes, they ordered them to make a U-turn in order to avoid the scene of conflicts. An enormous rally and a general strike in the Arab sector are planned for tomorrow. And Joint List MKs are set to visit the Temple Mount, despite prohibitions, on Wednesday. (JPost and Maariv)
Also making news, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu planned legal moves, which he hoped would stop Palestinian violence. He told the Attorney General to open a criminal probe against Arab MK Haneen Zouebi for incitement, (she said that it was he who was fomenting the violence) and he instructed officials to prepare a case to outlaw the Northern Branch of the Islamic Movement (IM) in Israel, also on grounds of incitement. The Shin Bet says the IM and Hamas are the main forces of incitement that have led to the current escalation and that Abbas is not inciting. Haaretz+ noted that Netanyahu no longer accuses Abbas of incitement.
Netanyahu’s cabinet approved harsh measures to be taken against (Palestinian) stone-throwers, including minimum four years prison sentence and denial of social benefits to parents of youth offenders. Interesting were the statements by Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein regarding the use of firepower against Palestinians, as reported by Haaretz+. Weinstein “opposed relaxing the rules governing the use of live fire by police against individuals caught throwing stones or firebombs. Weinstein said authorization for the use of .22 inch Ruger sniper rifles was enough and has proven effective over the past few days. Weinstein also said that the rules of engagement did not have to be made much more detailed, as the police are demanding, but agreed to re-examine the procedures,” Haaretz+ wrote. (Also in Maariv)
Today the Knesset winter session opens, with the national security issue topping the agenda and later this week, Middle East Quartet officials will visit the region.
Quick Hits:
- Israel Police refused to release body of killed Palestinian to family for autopsy before burial - Fadi Alon (Allun) was shot in central Jerusalem last week for allegedly stabbing an Israeli teenager. [Video has shown that he posed no threat when he was shot dead. Nir Hasson earlier reported that on that night, Jewish right-wingers were looking for Arabs to attack.-OH] “The attempt to prevent an autopsy even though this is a case of death by unnatural causes raises suspicions that the police are trying to disrupt the investigation a priori, including the destruction of vital factual evidence,” the family’s lawyer said. (Haaretz+)
- Shin Bet tells Israeli government: Abbas not encouraging terror - Senior security service official says in briefing that the Palestinian president is instructing his security forces to prevent attacks. (Haaretz+)
- 'Anoint your knives with poison' : What incitement looks like on social media - Facebook posts call on people to 'set the area on fire' and 'anoint the knives with a poisonous substance' and to go to protests. Several posts referenced the (controversial) shooting of (Israeli-Arab) Israa Abed of Nazareth after she (allegedly) tried to stab a soldier in Afula's central bus station. "We will not be silent. Where are you residents of Nazareth? Tomorrow this will happen again. We must respond. Even as it is the situation is a big mess, this silence is a disgrace. We will die with dignity and for you, Israa." (Ynet)
- Givatayim man arrested for cursing Arab MK on Facebook - In Facebook tirade posted several days ago, 45-year-old Dror Shamir writes that Arab-Israeli MK Ahmad Tibi is "the head terrorist at this time. ... I will butcher you in a way that the Islamic State group hasn't dreamed. ... Your birth is a curse." (Israel Hayom)
- An Israeli Arab from Jerusalem, wrote on Facebook, "Death to Israel" - and was sentenced to imprisonment
- Conviction of Nasim Hamada, 36, joins a growing phenomenon of convicting those who post incitement and support of terrorist organizations on social networks. (Maariv)
- Ad hoc Israeli Facebook campaign battles hatred of Arabs - But it’s not nearly as popular as the racist posting that spurred the group on. (Haaretz+)
- Israelis view Lieberman, not Netanyahu, as best suited to deal with defense, poll says - Meanwhile, Meretz's Galon slams opposition leader Herzog for trying to compete with Israeli right. (Haaretz+)
- Metal detectors planned at Temple Mount entrance - At least 300 arrests since disturbances began; hundreds of Palestinians clash with police; Jewish teen girls suspected of attacking Palestinian with tear gas. (Ynet)
- JCPA Chief: Jewish Community Must Be More Open to Criticism of Israel - Rabbi Steve Gutow is leaving in December after 10 years as the president of the Jewish Council of Public Affairs. (JTA, Haaretz)
- Amid Violence, Women of the Wall Vote Not to Engage Police This Month - Group leaders notify Western Wall rabbi they won’t be bringing in a Torah on Wednesday. (Haaretz+)
- New York's De Blasio to Visit Israel Next Week for First Time as Mayor - NYC mayor to give keynote address at Annual Conference of Mayors in Jerusalem. (Haaretz)
- Arab markets in Acre, Haifa pay price of unrest - Merchants in the northern port cities say foot traffic has plummeted since the violence spread to Israel. (Haaretz+)
- Jailed Palestinian leader Barghouti lauds 'new generation of Palestinians' - Writing from his prison cell, former Fatah strongman defends right to 'resist occupation.' (Haaretz)
- US anthropologists' association recommends some sanctions against Israeli academia - After 1,100 anthropologists signed petition calling for boycott last year, AAA task force presents several options for action. (Haaretz+)
- Tourists not canceling winter trips to Israel, but officials prepare for the worst - Even though the upsurge in Palestinian violence is nearly a month old, tourism executives said Sunday the events were having little effect on reservations. (Haaretz+)
- Violence Empties Israeli Streets, Stores Report Rush on Tear Gas - Business is down by as much as 50% for some Jerusalem merchants, but the situation is good for security firms. (Haaretz+)
- Much of Israel's Budget Windfall Likely to Go to Defense - Army still seeking bigger appropriations than now slated; continued unrest likely to increase demands. (Haaretz+)
- Ramallah to host Palestinian film festival - Organizers decide to hold event despite increasing clashes in the West Bank, say festival is their way of supporting resistance; event to include program provided by Berlin Film Festival. (Ynet)
- WATCH: How to get by in Tel Aviv with just €69 - Tourism Ministry recruits foreign bloggers to convince tourists that it’s possible to spend a low-cost vacation in the Israeli metropolis. (Ynet)
- Cabinet approves Alsheich's appointment as Israel's next police chief - Former deputy Shin Bet head will take over Israel Police in a month. (Haaretz+)
- Maccabees’ Burial Grounds Found or Maybe Not - Archaeologists cannot confirm that site being excavated west of Modi'in is in fact the Maccabees' final resting place. (Haaretz+)
- Turkey focuses on ISIS role in fatal Ankara bombings - Israeli President Reuven Rivlin extends condolences to Turkish President Tayyep Erdogan for the 128 killed. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Putin, Abu Dhabi crown prince meet in Russia to discuss Syria - The meeting is the highest-level contact between the Kremlin and a Gulf Arab official since Russia began airstrikes to support Assad. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- What Syrian refugees in Germany think about Israel might surprise you - When it came to their views on Israel, there seemed to be more conspiracy theory than political theory. (JTA, Haaretz)
- Despite violence, Jerusalem to host world astronautical congress (today) - With 2,000 participants from 60 countries, congress is "certificate of recognition for Israeli science," says Science Minister Ofir Akunis. "Israel has much to offer to the international space community," says International Astronautical Federation head. (Israel Hayom)
- Iran test-fires new long-range ballistic missile with range to reach Israel - Semi-official Fars news agency reports new ground-to-ground missile is precision guided and can be controlled until the moment of impact. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Iran parliament approves outline of nuclear deal bill - The bill allows the government to withdraw from implementing the agreement if world powers do not lift sanctions, Iranian media reports. (Agencies, Haaretz)
Features:
Embedded journalism: Ynet reporter on night out with violent Jewish supremacists
WATCH: Our Jerusalem correspondent stumbles upon a narrowly averted attack of Arab workers at a convenience store by far-right activists. (Roi Yanovsky, Ynet report and VIDEO)
Spy versus spy can leave Israel blind
Newly released historical documents highlight the folly of overestimating the importance of military intelligence - a lesson that is all too valuable today. (Amir Oren, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
WATCH: Our Jerusalem correspondent stumbles upon a narrowly averted attack of Arab workers at a convenience store by far-right activists. (Roi Yanovsky, Ynet report and VIDEO)
Spy versus spy can leave Israel blind
Newly released historical documents highlight the folly of overestimating the importance of military intelligence - a lesson that is all too valuable today. (Amir Oren, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
Israel must do what it can to prevent a new Gaza war (Haaretz Editorial) Fear of another conflict in Gaza, which is delaying replacement of the
head of the IDF's Southern Command, must be kept constantly before the short-sighted eyes of Israel's
government.
The sum of our financial fears: What if the PA collapses? (Danny Rubinstein, Ynet) Twenty-five percent of the Palestinian economy relies on Israel. Without the connection to Israel that the Palestinian self-rule ensures, the West Bank will turn into a second Gaza.
Even the brighter side of Israel demands execution without trial (Odeh Bisharat, Haaretz+) In Israel, the occupation is embraced in almost every home. It's no wonder that cop shot the woman with the knife so quickly.
Take no chances with knives (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) Shooting attackers who refuse to surrender and drop their knifes is legitimate self-defense.
No existential peril (Yoav Limor, Israel Hayom) Despite the current violence, Israel is not facing a repeat of 1973, when the nation was truly at risk.
In Israel, no end to violence in sight (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Security forces don't know how to prevent stabbing attacks and the Palestinian Authority has lost much of its ability to restrain the public. The key question in Gaza is what Mohammed Deif, leader of Hamas’ military wing, wants.
Anti-Israel incitement starts at home (Alex Fishman, Yedioth/Ynet) Before complaining that Abbas is not doing anything to curb Palestinian incitement, Israel should crack down on its own provocateurs, emanating either from the Islamic Movement, the Knesset's Arab faction or Religious Zionism.
The law permits prosecution of those who stood by during the attack in Jerusalem (Adv. Yechiel Guttman, Maariv) The move would require a broad legal interpretation, but the law allows making an indictment precedent against Palestinians standing on the side at the time of the terrorist attack.
Make East Jerusalem the capital of Palestine (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) Twenty steps that will reverse the situation – and be far less painful than the alternative.
Death sentence through the back door (Yehuda Shohat, Yedioth/Ynet – full translation) In their attempt to engage terrorists, Israeli troops' default option has become shoot to kill. It may soon backfire - quite literally.
Abbas can’t control the lost generation of Oslo (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) Tens of thousands of families in East Jerusalem and the West Bank fear for the safety of their children, but are also proud that the young people collectively are showing that they are fed up.
Iron Dome against the lone wolf attacker (Boaz Bismuth, Israel Hayom) The only thing needed is a massive army and police presence on the ground, and every attacker needs to be treated as if he or she were a rocket.
Would there be peace if Yitzhak Rabin wasn't murdered? (Uzi Baram, Haaretz+) The slain prime minister said that once he had taken the plunge he wanted to reach the shore safely, and that safety was a signed peace agreement with the Palestinians.
Let the authorities do their job (Uri Heitner, Israel Hayom) No sane person would think Israel has anything to gain by not catching the perpetrators of the Duma arson attack.
Would Israel be better off if Putin keeps Syria's Assad in power? (Moshe Arens, Haaretz+) The one advantage of a dictatorship is that there is someone there — someone you can threaten, someone with whom you can negotiate and even make peace.
The sum of our financial fears: What if the PA collapses? (Danny Rubinstein, Ynet) Twenty-five percent of the Palestinian economy relies on Israel. Without the connection to Israel that the Palestinian self-rule ensures, the West Bank will turn into a second Gaza.
Even the brighter side of Israel demands execution without trial (Odeh Bisharat, Haaretz+) In Israel, the occupation is embraced in almost every home. It's no wonder that cop shot the woman with the knife so quickly.
Take no chances with knives (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) Shooting attackers who refuse to surrender and drop their knifes is legitimate self-defense.
No existential peril (Yoav Limor, Israel Hayom) Despite the current violence, Israel is not facing a repeat of 1973, when the nation was truly at risk.
In Israel, no end to violence in sight (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Security forces don't know how to prevent stabbing attacks and the Palestinian Authority has lost much of its ability to restrain the public. The key question in Gaza is what Mohammed Deif, leader of Hamas’ military wing, wants.
Anti-Israel incitement starts at home (Alex Fishman, Yedioth/Ynet) Before complaining that Abbas is not doing anything to curb Palestinian incitement, Israel should crack down on its own provocateurs, emanating either from the Islamic Movement, the Knesset's Arab faction or Religious Zionism.
The law permits prosecution of those who stood by during the attack in Jerusalem (Adv. Yechiel Guttman, Maariv) The move would require a broad legal interpretation, but the law allows making an indictment precedent against Palestinians standing on the side at the time of the terrorist attack.
Make East Jerusalem the capital of Palestine (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) Twenty steps that will reverse the situation – and be far less painful than the alternative.
Death sentence through the back door (Yehuda Shohat, Yedioth/Ynet – full translation) In their attempt to engage terrorists, Israeli troops' default option has become shoot to kill. It may soon backfire - quite literally.
Abbas can’t control the lost generation of Oslo (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) Tens of thousands of families in East Jerusalem and the West Bank fear for the safety of their children, but are also proud that the young people collectively are showing that they are fed up.
Iron Dome against the lone wolf attacker (Boaz Bismuth, Israel Hayom) The only thing needed is a massive army and police presence on the ground, and every attacker needs to be treated as if he or she were a rocket.
Would there be peace if Yitzhak Rabin wasn't murdered? (Uzi Baram, Haaretz+) The slain prime minister said that once he had taken the plunge he wanted to reach the shore safely, and that safety was a signed peace agreement with the Palestinians.
Let the authorities do their job (Uri Heitner, Israel Hayom) No sane person would think Israel has anything to gain by not catching the perpetrators of the Duma arson attack.
Would Israel be better off if Putin keeps Syria's Assad in power? (Moshe Arens, Haaretz+) The one advantage of a dictatorship is that there is someone there — someone you can threaten, someone with whom you can negotiate and even make peace.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.