APN's daily news review from Israel

Tuesday October 20, 2015 
 

Quote of the day:

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Front Page:

Haaretz

• Bedouin from the Negev perpetrated the Beersheva attack; Police to investigate the lynch on the asylum seeker
• Shooting without thought // Amos Harel
• Price of belligerency // Aeyal Gross
• In town of Hora, they condemn the attack: “You probably will present us all as terrorists”
• Senior official in Jerusalem municipality: The wall in Jabal Mukaber was accidentally placed there
• Khaled Mashaal met with President of S. Africa, Israel made official complaint
• Wage data in Israel: Gaps between men and women grew, a Jew earns tens of percentage more than an Arab
• The new commander of the Prison Service: Ofra Klinger
• Stop the incitement (against Arab Israelis) // Haaretz Editorial
• The good Arab // Jacky Khoury
• Artists envision Israeli in 2048

• A terrorist among them – Leaders of Bedouin condemn the attack: ‘We want co-existence’
• The challenge of the blue (Israeli) ID card // Yossi Yehoshua 
• The double tragedy – Sgt. Omri Levy, who was killed in the attack in Beersheva was buried next to his father who died 3 years ago
• The (Eritrean) victim of the lynch
• Blood on their hands // Sima Kadmon on Israeli society
• The photos that were not forgotten – At Habimah Theater, a photo exhibition initiated by Yedioth was opened marking 20 years to Rabin’s murder
• New commander to the Prison Services: Ofra Klinger

• The bloody attack in Beersheva: the investigation, the shock, the shame
• Netanyahu: Civilians are not allowed to take the law into their hands
• Careful, anarchy // Yossi Melman
• The first (attack by a Bedouin Israeli), not the last // Kalman Libskind
• Security establishment suspects: Hamas is making efforts to make suicide attacks across Judea and Samaria
• Making history: Ofra Klinger became the first commander of the Prison Service who was appointed from within the organization

• Netanyahu: Closing the money faucet to the Islamic Movement
• Minister Israel Katz suggests: “Capital Guard” – Thousands of police who will operate in Jerusalem. Political source: Public Security Minister Erdan opposes, not interested in special police unit for every city
• “Put the lynch perpetrators on trial”
• Strong, despite the pain
• Sgt. Omri Levy RIP
• “Due the instability in the area”: SAS will stop its flights to Israel
• Indonesian ATM machine hacker: Wave of theft of credit card details of Israelis
• New chairman of JNF: MK Danny Atar
• New commander of Prison Service: Ofra Klinger

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News Summary:
The significance of the Beersheva attack, perpetrated by a Bedouin citizen of Israel and followed by the murder lynching of an Eritrean citizen by Israeli citizens, was today’s top story in the Hebrew newspapers. Meanwhile, Israel said Hamas planned to renew suicide attacks and US Secretary of State John Kerry sought to clarify the status quo on the Temple Mount.
 
Muhannad al-Okbi, the killer at the Beersheva Central Bus Station was a Bedouin-Israeli from the Negev, whom Haaretz+ reported had hoped to move to Canada. The Bedouin community leaders united in condemnation of the attack he made that killed one soldier and wounded 10 others. Ynet’s Hassan Shaalan had an illuminating piece from Hura village. The head of the Hura municipality, Dr. Muhammad Nabari condemned the attack, but gave context: "The difficult situation Bedouin society is in is known to all. There are young people without hope, and that can lead to a catastrophic result and to radicalization. Only if we make an effort of local and national leaders together, can we lead to a better quality of life in the Bedouin society, giving people something to lose, and that way they'll be deterred from this kind of extremist action." Muhannad al-Okbi’s father believed his son was ‘executed.’ He isn’t alone. The rest of his family and other Hura residents also said they did not believe he was involved. Neighbors feared that all Bedouin would be perceived as ‘terrorists.’
  
But what has become a bigger story than the attack itself was what happened immediately afterward, when a mob beat to death Habtoum Walda Zarhoum, an Eritrean asylum-seeker, who a security guard already had shot and injured after mistaking him for an accomplice to the killer. The papers dedicated long articles to his story of escaping his ‘vicious fate in Eritrea.’ Commentators discussed at length the deeper meaning of Israelis beating an already neutralized man to death. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu called on civilians not to take the law into their own hands (although they were told to carry weapons), Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said the lynch perpetrators must be brought to justice. And the police said they would investigate the people seen on the videos, who lynched him. Eritreans asylum-seekers in Israel expressed shock and fear for themselves.
 
Israeli officials, who remained anonymous, told the Israeli media that Hamas has told West Bank members to commit suicide attacks in order to further escalate friction. Some of the papers reported it as fact that Hamas intended to do so.
 
US Secretary of State John Kerry seeks to ‘upgrade and clarify’ the status quo at the Temple Mount, which is in question. Jordanians and Palestinians argue that Israel violated Temple Mount understandings, but Israel rejects the claim, arguing Palestinians have staged provocations at flashpoint site, Haaretz+ reported.
 

Quick Hits:

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Features:

'In the midst of this storm, we don't forget our humanity'
The commander of the Border Police's Jerusalem District is trying to keep the sanity in the burning city, but his orders to his men are clear: Don't hesitate to shoot; Meanwhile on the Temple Mount, police commanders are trying to deal with the explosive situation; 'Every terrorist sees himself as the Guardian of al-Aqsa. It all starts and ends with the fear over the status quo.' (Oded Shalom, Yedioth/Ynet) 
Abbas and the mysterious multi-billion-dollar fund
Palestinian president may be seen by Israel as a weak and irrelevant leader, but he holds a huge amount of power through his control of Palestinian National Fund, which has been financing PLO and PA's battle against Israel's international legitimacy. (Doron Peskin, Calcalist/Yedioth/Ynet)
The haredi battle over the Temple Mount: A growing dilemma
Israel's ultra-Orthodox public, which is paying a heavy price in the latest wave of terror, is torn between the strict halachic ban on visiting the holy site and the national desire to strengthen Jewish presence in the area. (Tali Farkash and Kobi Nachshoni, Ynet)
Sifting Through the Dirt to Uncover the Temple Mount’s Secrets
How do you excavate a site where an archaeological dig could start a war? Enter the Sifting Project, which hunts for treasures in earth once dug up by the Mount’s Muslim authorities. (Danna Harman, Haaretz+) 
Palestinian propaganda: PA video portrays terrorists as innocent victims
Video makes no mention Palestinian attackers shown have murdered or tried to murder Israelis, and chooses to instead display a one-sided version of events. (Elior Levy and Tova Tzimuki, Yedioth/Ynet)

Commentary/Analysis:

Tensions in Israel Prompting Ill Use of Firearms (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) The Israeli-Arab community is making an effort to rein in violent demonstrations; meanwhile, the lynch of an Eritrean migrant in Be'er Sheva proves authorities' impassioned rhetoric and legal authorities' silence are proving deadly.
Killed in a war that wasn't his (Danny Adeno Abebe, Yedioth/Ynet) Imagine the mother of the poor Eritrean, who underwent an exhausting journey to reach Israel and was shot and brutally assaulted by an angry mob after the Be'er Sheva shooting attack, receiving the news that her son has died in a bloody conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
Police and Politicians Firing Up Trigger-happy Public (Aeyal Gross, Haaretz+) Sunday’s lynching of an Eritrean asylum seeker follows statements by public figures and a failure on the part of police to follow protocol on the use of firearms.
Caution, anarchy: a lynching by citizens does not help fight terrorism (Yossi Melman, Maariv) Such an act is the result of a spirit of evil, fear, and the heat of passion that is passing over the country. Precisely in times like this fortitude is required, because Israel is still a country of laws with clear rules on opening fire.
Netanyahu and Erdogan: Brothers in Arms (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) A poll indicates that the war on terror is more important today than freedom of expression or civil rights in Turkey. 
Netanyahu Must Stop Ostracising Israeli Arab Lawmakers (Haaretz Editorial) The Arab public in Israel constitutes some 20 percent of the population, and it is its full right to elect its representatives, whatever their views. 
Why Israel's Unwritten 'Shoot to Kill' Policy Is So Dangerous (Steven Klein, Haaretz+) Since September this year, death has been the fate of most knife-wielding Palestinians. Is this the result of 'excessive force', and what are the consequences for Israel itself? 
Why Jerusalem Can and Must Be Divided (Shaul Arieli, Haaretz+) The attempt to ‘Judaize’ East Jerusalem failed and the Palestinians currently comprise 40 percent of the capital. How exactly is it united? 
The Cost of Our 'United' Jerusalem (Nehemia Shtrasler, Haaretz+) Could the latest wave of terror attacks in the city actually be good for the economy? 
Victory is the only option (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom)
Israel must spare no time in fixing the security fence; inaction may result in an unnecessary loss of Israeli lives.
Those Arabs the Israeli Media Loves to Love (Jacky Khoury, Haaretz+) Nazareth Mayor Ali Salam and broadcaster Lucy Aharish have become the jokers the Israeli media pull out of the deck to attack Israeli Arab MKs and other voices deemed ‘extremist.’
Stop the terror snuff (Danny Hirschberg, Israel Hayom)
In the past, if an Israeli was confronted with a terrorist he would either attack or run. Nowadays, it is becoming more legitimate to film.
Why Bernie Sanders Needs to Talk More (And Better) About Foreign Policy (Peter Beinart, Haaretz+) The Democratic presidential hopeful's underdeveloped foreign policy is doing him, and the American left, a disservice.
Public's sense of safety rattled (Yoav Limor, Israel Hayom)
The Beersheba attack will undoubtedly see Israeli cities demand increased police presence on their streets. 
Abetting Evil on the Temple Mount: Palestinian Revisionism and Jewish Activism’ (Rabbi Avi Shafran, Haaretz+) There is no justification either for Palestinians incitement, or high-profile visits by Jewish 'activists' to the Temple Mount whose nationalist rush contributes to spilling innocent blood.
Not just boycotts: Why it's hard to bring singers to Israel (Ami Friedman, Ynet) Cancellations of concerts due to security concerns are practically a routine matter, but it turns out there are other obstacles to international artists and bands coming to Israel.
Identity of Be'er Sheva Killer Inflames Heated Atmosphere (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Assailant was from Bedouin town of Hura in the Negev, where the influence of the Islamic Movement is growing,
 

Vice President of J Street "They treat us like traitors"
Vice President of the American Jewish left-wing organization, ‘J Street,’ Alan Elsner, who is currently visiting Israel, refuses to rest on his laurels, despite the struggle that he led in favor of the nuclear deal with Iran succeeded. He believes that the Israeli government is pursuing his organization. (Interviewed by Dana Somberg in Maariv)
 
Elsner wishes to share with us his sorrow over the Israeli government’s boycott of J-Street due to J-Street’s support of the Iran nuclear deal.
"I am an Israeli citizen. I served in the army. My father died here, my whole family is here, and I plan to come back here. It hurts when someone says you have no right of thought or speech.”

Even when the bottom line was you won?
"It's not about the winner or loser. It’s the treatment of us. We represent many people in the Jewish community. 800 rabbis identify with us, and many federations. You do not have to agree, but you can hold a tolerant dialogue."

You can’t understand the anger? After all, you went against the position of the Israeli government.
"No, I don’t understand. We live in a democratic system, and we are talking about foreign policy that the Americans set in the United States and, therefore, we believe that the agreement is good for Israel. This belief of mine should not make me a 'traitor.’

On AIPAC
"We have no competition with them, in fact we have many mutual friends...Our goal is to promote the two-state solution. That is the way to preserve Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, and they support what the government of Israel without asking questions. They say to everything, 'Yes, sir.’”

But you realize that the solution is going away?
"There are little things that Israel can do to improve the situation. Ministers should not go up to the Temple Mount. Put a Jordanian presence at the Temple Mount. Give powers to the Waqf. Don’t allow Border Police to enter these neighborhoods. It is no coincidence that the terrorists come out of the neighborhoods where the economic situation is beneath criticism. There is no comparison between (Jewish neighborhood of) French Hill and (adjacent Arab neighborhood) Shuafat.”
 
Would you like to say something to the Prime Minister?
"Absolutely. I want Netanyahu to know that J Street is a Zionist organization, which loves Israel and fights against the BDS movement. It’s an organization that wants a better future, that cares and identifies with the situation. And Netanyahu should put us in the camp." 

Netanyahu vows to root out Islamic Movement in Israel
In Israel Hayom interview, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he will outlaw transfer of funds to the Islamic Movement in Israel. Security situation is under control and Israel is stable and safe by any measure, he says. (Interviewed by Shlomo Cesana in Israel Hayom)
 

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