News Nosh 10.26.15

APN's daily news review from Israel
Monday October 26, 2015

 
Quote of the day:
“That finger that pressed the trigger of the gun had many fingers, many fingers that are today in power in the State of Israel.” 
--At a local memorial ceremony marking 20 years since the assassination of prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, Carmiel Mayor Adi Eldar attacked the present government in a ‘direct and unprecedented way,’ wrote Maariv.

You Must Be Kidding: 
“We wrote a request to (the Defense Ministry to) prevent the rally and it turns out that not only did the rally take place, but you took part in it. The fact that a deputy minister participates in illegal activity, and thereby encourages it, while violating the law, is inconceivable.”
-- Deputy Attorney General Dina Zilber wrote in a sharp letter to the Defense Minister after Deputy Defense Minister Rabbi Eli Ben-Dahan (Habayit Hayehudi) participated in an illegal demonstration in the West Bank.


Breaking News:
Israeli Seriously Wounded in West Bank Stabbing Attack, Assailant Shot and Killed
Victim of Kiryat Arba attack taken to hospital with stab wounds to upper torso. (Haaretz+, Ynet and Maan)

Front Page:
Haaretz
Yedioth Ahronoth
  • The electricity failure
  • Disconnected // Sima Kadmon
  • Female fighter unity – Soldier who was critically wounded visited by her friend who eliminated the terrorist
  • Tax benefits: Hebron is in, Akko is out
  • US tried to recruit Israelis as spies
  • For life and for death – When a life-saving medicine costs 40,000 shekels a month, only those with money will survive
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
Israel Hayom

 
News Summary:
Electricity cut for hundreds of thousands of Israelis during storm, three more alleged attacks by Palestinians, two of them with questions marks, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu mulls revoking Jerusalem residency of Palestinians living on the other side of the wall and the government agrees to tax benefits for Hebron settlements making top news in the Hebrew papers. Also in the news, an Arab Israeli paraglided into Syria to join the rebels and sharp words were said at ceremonies in commemoration of the assassinated prime minister Yitzhak Rabin.
 
Sunday morning near the settlement of Meitzad and the village of Sa’ir, a settler from Kiryat Arba got out of his car after rocks were thrown at it and was allegedly stabbed and lightly wounded by a Palestinian man, whom he said he shot in the legs (Yedioth), but escaped. Meanwhile, a young Palestinian man from Sa’ir was shot by a settler and is hospitalized in a Hebron hospital with four bullet wounds in critical condition. Palestinian witnesses told Ma'an that Azzam Azmi Shalalda had been working in agricultural fields when he was shot and they believed the alleged Palestinian attacker fled the scene unharmed. They added that following the incident, Israeli forces chased a Palestinian vehicle between and then raided the nearby village of Sair. Forces opened fire and shot seven Palestinians, one in the eye, seriously wounding him. 
Yedioth reported that the after the incident, the settler’s gun was taken from him, for which he complained.
 
Later, in the day, a Palestinian teenage girl was shot and later died of her wounds after allegedly trying to stab soldiers. According to Yedioth, as she approached the checkpoint near the Cave of the Patriarchs, troops asked her to identify herself and she drew out a knife and made to stab one of the policemen while yelling at them. An Israeli police spokesperson told Maan that the girl was shot dead after police officers allegedly saw "a knife in her hand." According to the Israeli papers she was wounded, was taken by ambulance and later died. (Maariv) No Israelis were injured during the incident. The girl was identified as Dania Irsheid, 17, from central Hebron. One witness told Ma'an that he saw a schoolgirl with a schoolbag on her back trying to cross the Israeli checkpoint near the Ibrahimi mosque. "An Israeli soldier asked her to take the knife out of her bag, then he immediately fired gunshots into the air," the witness said. "Seconds later the schoolgirl was lying on the ground bleeding."
 
Then, near Ariel settlement, an Israeli was moderately wounded in a stabbing attack. A suspected assailant was later apprehended. The papers did not mention that shortly after the Ariel attack, a Palestinian was attacked in Ariel by settlers, where he worked. He was lightly wounded in the hand and managed to escape his attackers.
 
So the government did not approve Habayit Hayehudi’s request to add 61 settlements to the list of communities that receive tax benefits, however it did add all the Hebron area settlements. Yedioth noted that was at the expense of the country’s periphery: the poor city of Akko did not make the list angering the opposition.
 
At the opening of the events marking the 20th anniversary of the Rabin murder, President Reuven Rivlin said he would never pardon Rabin’s murderer. He asked Israelis: “Have we done, and are we doing enough to seal up the same breach that was opened by the murderer?” Former President Shimon Peres also spoke at the ceremony: “Rabin knew that an enemy is an enemy and that we must fight without any compromise against murderous terror," he said. "But actually peace too is made, despite the difficulties, with enemies.” Mayor of Karmiel Adi Eldar was much more pointed: "The fingers that were partner to pressing the trigger are now in power,” he said at a ceremony in his northern city, Maariv reported. "The inflammatory right-wing that chased him everywhere, that incited, that did the pulsa denura, they were partners to pulling the trigger.” Maariv has VIDEO. A week-long series of events will culminate in a main rally at Rabin Square on Saturday night.

 
Quick Hits:
  • Car Set Ablaze, Hebrew Graffiti Spray-painted in Suspected East Jerusalem Hate Crime - 'Death to Arabs' sprayed next to burnt car in Tsur Baher; Police launch investigation. (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
  • Security guard mistaken for would-be terrorist, beaten - Ultra-Orthodox suspect (i.e. attacker) flees scene after the attack. When arrested following a manhunt, he told police he saw the guard's gun and thought he was an Arab coming to attack him. Judge releases attacker to house arrest, explains that incident was the result of recent tension. (Israel Hayom)
  • Israeli forces shoot boy, 13, in cheek, shoulder, during clashes - Israeli forces shot an injured a 13-year-old Palestinian in the cheek and left shoulder during clashes in Hizma village outside of the central West Bank city of Ramallah early Saturday, medical sources said. (Maan)
  • Jerusalem family demolishes own home following Israeli order - A Palestinian family in occupied East Jerusalem demolished its own home on Saturday in order to avoid the Israeli municipality's demolition. The house had been housing 8 people of the al-Rajabi family, which had attempted to secure necessary permits, but the Jerusalem municipality refused, claiming that structure had been built too close to the street. (Maan
  • Muslim Arabs hold anti-terrorism demonstration in Tel Aviv - Protesters explain that they oppose violence, and that anyone who supports violence does not represent the Arab community, "even if he's an MK."  Abu Ghosh resident Abdul, 25, says, "We have an obligation to condemn terrorism." (Israel Hayom
  • Indictment against East Jerusalem youth who expressed joy at the murder of the Henkin couple - Indictment submitted to Jerusalem District Court against two residents of the capital for supporting a terrorist organization and incitement to violence following allegedly writing posts on Facebook. One of them posted a picture of Naama Henkin and wrote: "Anyone who was happy should write, ‘Allahu Akbar.’ (Maariv)
  • Lawmaker Mustafa Barghouti attacked near his home - Unknown assailants attacked lawmaker Mustafa Barghouthi, the secretary-general and co-founder of the Palestinian National Initiative party, also known as Mubadara, on Saturday. Barghouthi said that one of the attackers said “let the Intifada protect you” before both men fled, insinuating that the attack could have been nationalistic in nature.  (Maan)
  • U.S., Israel to Cooperate on Civilian Nuclear Issues - The move is seen as a compromise by Washington after the nuclear deal with Iran. (Haaretz+)
  • The Ministerial Committee approved the educational bill for Arabic studies from first grade: "Message of coexistence" - Bill by MK Oren Hazan for compulsory learning from first grade will be brought before first reading in Knesset. "There is no better than understanding the language in order to understand the culture and mentality of a million and a half Arab citizens.” (Maariv
  • Deputy Attorney General: “Deputy Defense Minister violated the law” - Dina Zilber wrote a sharp letter to the Defense Minister following the participation of Deputy Defense Minister Rabbi Eli Ben-Dahan (Habayit Hayehudi) in an illegal demonstration that was held next to the illegal outpost Hazon David, in Hebron. “We wrote a request to prevent the rally and it turns out that not only did the rally take place, but you took part in it. The fact that a deputy minister participates in illegal activity, and thereby encourages it, while violating the law, is inconceivable.” Yaalon responded saying he would take action after he returns from abroad. (Yedioth, p. 10) 
  • Israel welcomes, Palestinians suspicious of al-Aqsa monitoring - Netanyahu says cameras could help 'disprove the claim that Israel is changing the status quo' at the Temple Mount; PLO official Erekat says Israeli PM wants to 'monitor and arrest our people, he is lying and lying.' (Agencies, Ynet)
  • Jordan's King Welcomes Netanyahu's Status Quo Pledge 'As Long as It's Implemented' - King Abdullah II says he believes understandings reached between Jordan, Israel and the Palestinians may help end the violence and calm tensions. (Haaretz+)
  • Police: Be’er Sheva Terrorist Was in Contact With Hamas - Muhannad al-Okbi, who committed the shooting attack that killed soldier Omri Levy last Monday, prepared for the attack in advance. He is suspected of being in contact with Hamas, but that Hamas did not send him to do the attack. His brother is suspected of knowing that Okbi had become very agitated over the Temple Mount issue and had acquired a gun so police say he should have them and arrested the brother for not preventing murder. (Haaretz+, Maariv and Ynet)
  • Haniyeh: 'No power in the world can end al-Quds Intifada' - Deputy head of Hamas Ismail Haniyeh on Sunday lent his support to what he called the "al-Quds Intifada," saying: "We are ready for political and popular unity at all levels and willing to agree on a united national strategy to protect the intifada, regain Palestinians' rights, and adhere to the inalienable nationalistic principles." (Maan)
  • Gaza journalists say Israeli forces 'deliberately target' media - Palestine TV reporter Sali al-Sakni told Ma’an on Sunday her and her crew had deliberately stayed away from the center of clashes near al-Bureij refugee camp, but that they were still "showered with tear gas" while covering the clashes. Others have reported similarly. (Maan
  • Israeli Facebook Campaign Seeks to Crack Mystery of Bernie Sanders’ Kibbutz - U.S. presidential candidate stays mum on identity of his kibbutz, but Israelis are now harnessing the power of social media to solve the riddle. (Haaretz+)
  • Persian Israelis enlist to expose Iranian incitement, anti-Semitism - Within framework of Hadassah Project, students will monitor Internet activity in Iran, particularly social media networks. "We see utmost importance in keeping the Iranian issue on the national and international agenda," says project leader Ido Daniel. (Israel Hayom)
  • Sean Penn to Visit Israel - The Oscar-winning actor will attend a conference on aid to Haiti while in the country. (Haaretz)
  • Far-right French Jews Assault BuzzFeed Journalist - Armed with batons, dozens of violent Jewish activists who had gathered to protest the news agency’s Israel coverage, assaulted David Perrotin and tried to storm the offices. Riot police sprayed them with tear gas. (JTA, Haaretz)
  • Blair: Iraq war contributed to rise of IS, but was justified - Former UK premier who joined US-led ouster of Saddam Hussein says his government’s post-war planning, intelligence were faulty.  (Agencies, Times of Israel)
  • 'God' in the Holy Land - Oscar-winner Morgan Freeman visits Jerusalem's Western Wall under heavy guard for TV show; actor expected to stay until Tuesday. (Ynet)

 
Commentary/Analysis:
Open Season on Israeli Leftists Amid Recent Violence (Yuval Elbashan, Haaretz+) The role of the left in the propaganda of the Israeli right is similar to that of the Jew in anti-Semitic propaganda.
Temple Mount agreement won’t lead to immediate calm (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) The understandings reached between US Secretary of State Kerry, Prime Minister Netanyahu and King Abdullah in Jordan could definitely contribute to a change in atmosphere, but their actual impact on the wave of terror will only be seen later this week. 
20 years after Rabin, extremists still legitimize violence in Israel (Jonathan A. Greenblatt, Haaretz) How would Rabin have dealt with the challenge of the extremism that still burns within Israeli society—the same extremism that struck him down? 
Too bad Israel's right is not in power (Aviad Kleinberg, Yedioth/Ynet) The right's battle against the imaginary left is part of an overall approach of shaking off responsibility. Politically, it's working, but the reality is that there is no responsible adult in Israel.
New Understandings, Old Problems on Temple Mount (Nir Hasson, Haaretz+) Terrorism has again forced Israel into negotiations over the Temple Mount, and it seems the prime minister has gone a step farther this time. But is it enough to bring calm? 
Stop 'understanding' terror (Boaz Bismuth, Israel Hayom) There is just one problem with the distorted claim that the occupation is the reason for terror: The people don't buy it. They don't buy it because it's simply not true.
Israel Created the 13-year-old 'Terrorist' (Odeh Bisharat, Haaretz+) The Palestinians enjoy their treatment so much that their children prefer death to what Israel has to offer. How ungrateful can you get?
The evil spirits are striking again (Noa Rothman, Yedioth/Ynet) Twenty years after I mistakenly thought that Israel's citizens had signed a pact with me to avenge my grandfather's murder through life and peace and harmony, we have returned to the path of blood and his memory is more painful than ever, Yitzhak Rabin's granddaughter writes.
The Alarming Ignorance of Judicial Critic Yariv Levin (Ido Baum, Haaretz+) When such ignorance is found in a cabinet member who is a lawyer by training, who aspires to be minister of justice — concern turns into outright fear. 
The right decision (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) The prime minister was right to agree to surveillance on the Temple Mount. In fact, he should have suggested it himself.
The Rabin Assassination: When Judaism Failed (Yedidia Stern, Haaretz+) The religious and cultural failure that led to the Rabin assassination continues to threaten Israeli sovereignty and democracy today. 
Golan Heights Paraglider Incident Highlights New Dangers for Israel (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) The Arab Israeli who paraglided into Syria on Saturday may be another sign of changes in the balance of power along the Golan border – and elsewhere in Syria. 
Can Jerusalem Be Divided? (Moshe Arens, Haaretz+) Anyone who believes a few walls can divide the Jews and Arabs of Jerusalem has clearly not spent much time in the capital in recent years. 
 
 
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.