APN's daily news review from Israel
Sunday November 29, 2015
Quote of the day:
"The truth should also be voiced clearly. Little can be done to prevent lone terrorists from carrying
out their plans, especially when their motives are no longer clear."
--Maj. Gen. (ret.) Yaakov Amidror writes in Israel Hayom that imposing harsh measures on the Palestinians because of the act of individuals, won't
help and could make things worse.
Breaking News:
Woman, Border Policeman Wounded in Two Jerusalem Stabbing Attacks
Woman and Border Policeman lightly wounded within hours of each other. In first incident in the Old City, assailant shot and killed. Suspect in second attack detained. (Haaretz and Ynet)
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Putin ordered economic sanctions on Turkey
- Seven soldiers injured in two car-ramming attacks in West Bank
- Ministers looking for magic cure, exactly like in the Intifadas // Amos Harel
- Thousands protested the outlawing of the Islamic Movement
- UAE: The Israeli consular office opening in Abu Dhabi does not express a change in the relations between us
- The fate of the hills in the west of Jerusalem will be decided this week
- Thousands demonstrated across the country against the gas agreement
- (State Prosecutor) Shai Nitzan in letter to Attorney General: Reign in the activities of the Prosecution Comptroller
- Author Amir Gottfreund died at age 52 from cancer
- Three killed from shooting at abortion clinic in Colorado
- The 12 grade female students were told to pull the bottoms of their dresses down
- Dangerous government // Haaretz Editorial
Yedioth Ahronoth
- Agitation in the Mossad: Don’t want a chief from outside – former IAF commander is a candidate
- Netanyahu-Yaalon battle over appointment of director of security of the defense establishment
- “Death scares me, doesn’t suit my plans, I have so many more dreams” – Author Amir Gottfreund, 52, died from cancer
- Taking care of my sisters // Odelia Carmon writes about mixed message from silence of right-wing female MKs in the sexual harassment accusations against MK Yinon Magal
- Thousands demonstrated: “Don’t approve the gas agreement”
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Dispute between Netanyahu and Yaalon on who will be director of security of the defense establishment
- The police commander suspected of sexual harassment told his investigators: Give me a polygraph test
- Undiplomatic relations – Erdogan apologized, Putin punishes
- Cancer hit twice – Amir Gottfreund 1963-2015
- The mother complained to the police: “8-year-old threatened my child that he would cut him with scissors and onto skewers”
Israel Hayom
- Erdogan (almost) apologized; Putin’s response: Sanctions
- Whose ego is bigger // Boaz Bismuth
- Official Israeli office in Abu Dhabi
- Amir Gottfreund 1963-2015
- 8 soldiers wounded in car-ramming attacks; discussion on expulsion of families of terrorists
- Today, name to be published of police commander accused of sexual harassment; Claims: “They made a targeted assassination of me”
- (MK) Yinon Magal affair: Complainant A.: “There are others he sexually harassed”
News Summary:
Disputes over the candidates for the jobs of director of the security of the defense establishment and the director of the Mossad, the wounding of seven soldiers in two car-ramming attacks Friday and the sanctions by the Russian President on Turkey even after the Turkish President expressed ‘regret’ for the downing of a Russian fighter jet made top news in today’s Hebrew newspapers.
‘An elbow battle,’ as Maariv’s Ben Caspit called it, between Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon over who will replace the outgoing head of the 'MALMAB,' the highly-confidential department responsible for the security of the defense establishment, defending state secrets and securing its secret facilitie, will likely leave the department headless in two days time, when the present head ends his term. And Netanyahu’s insistence to appoint someone who headed the Air Force to be the chief of Mossad has enraged people in the spy agency.
Even before two Palestinians injured eight soldiers in two separate vehicular attacks in the West Bank Friday, the Israeli security cabinet authorized the army to impose full closures on Palestinian villages while searching for wanted people, But Haaretz+ reported that has long been something the IDF does when it feels the need. But after the attacks, Transport Minister Yisrael Katz said that curfews should be imposed on Palestinians in every area where attackers came from, restricting the movement of Palestinians and freezing work permits.
Disputes over the candidates for the jobs of director of the security of the defense establishment and the director of the Mossad, the wounding of seven soldiers in two car-ramming attacks Friday and the sanctions by the Russian President on Turkey even after the Turkish President expressed ‘regret’ for the downing of a Russian fighter jet made top news in today’s Hebrew newspapers.
‘An elbow battle,’ as Maariv’s Ben Caspit called it, between Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon over who will replace the outgoing head of the 'MALMAB,' the highly-confidential department responsible for the security of the defense establishment, defending state secrets and securing its secret facilitie, will likely leave the department headless in two days time, when the present head ends his term. And Netanyahu’s insistence to appoint someone who headed the Air Force to be the chief of Mossad has enraged people in the spy agency.
Even before two Palestinians injured eight soldiers in two separate vehicular attacks in the West Bank Friday, the Israeli security cabinet authorized the army to impose full closures on Palestinian villages while searching for wanted people, But Haaretz+ reported that has long been something the IDF does when it feels the need. But after the attacks, Transport Minister Yisrael Katz said that curfews should be imposed on Palestinians in every area where attackers came from, restricting the movement of Palestinians and freezing work permits.
Quick Hits:
- Thousands of Israeli Arabs protest ban of Islamic Movement - Protesters accused Israel of racism. Leader of recently outlawed northern branch vows to continue activities: 'Protest proves Islamic Movement has been born again' and said: "The terrorist is the one who closes an institution that cares for 23,000 orphans." (Haaretz+, Maariv and Ynet)
- Tel Aviv Concert Hall to Host (Chabad) Event With Extremist Right-wing Rabbi - Yitzchak Ginsburgh, head of Yitzhar yeshiva, set to address Chabad celebration at city-owned auditorium. Ginsburgh has been known for extreme views, such as justifying the Baruch Goldstein killings. (Haaretz+)
- United Arab Emirates: Israeli mission in Abu Dhabi not a sign of changed attitude toward Israel - UAE foreign ministry spokesperson says new mission to be accredited to International Renewable Energy Agency and activities to be limited to issues relating to agency-related contacts. (Haaretz+)
- (Justice Minister) Ayelet Shaked warns: "a high increase in attempts to intimidate judges" - At a memorial for Judge Adi Azar, who was murdered 11 years ago, Shaked called to protect public officials: "The black graffiti on the walls of the High Court is enough to understand that the target has been marked and the red lines have been crossed.” (Maariv)
- Acclaimed Palestinian theater in Jerusalem faces closure - Al Hakawati theater amasses a debt of $150,000 in unpaid bills over past five years; PA official says Abbas will step in and pay off theater's debts. (Ynet)
- They want to contribute to: increase of 13% of Arab youth volunteering for civil national service - "Shlomit" organization, which works in the Arab sector, says that despite the hostile attitude in their environment, young people are not deterred and generally have the support of at least one parent, "from the desire to nurture the sense of belonging to the state." (Maariv)
- Arabic graffiti found scribbled on easyJet aircraft fuel tanks - Low-cost airline calls for employees to take extra precautions after the graffiti was found on a relatively secure portion of four jets in France, sparking fears of a more sinister plot. (Ynet)
- Pogrom in Petach Tikva: (Jewish) youth threw rocks at police, causing severe injury and yelled: “We are Daesh and we will eliminate you white people” - A resident asked the group of youth in the park at 1AM to talk more quietly and was brutally assaulted. The police who were called to the site were stoned, and a large rock hit a policeman’s face, causing loss of consciousness. Eight youth were detained. (Maariv)
- (Arab) Policeman stabbed in northern Israel; suspect in custody - Police say the suspect and the victim were arguing before the attack took place on Saturday. (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
- Palestinian suffered a heart attack at the Erez crossing - treated by the crossing manager and his son, a paramedic - With the arrival of the MADA ambulance to the crossing, crossing employees were surprised to discover that the crossing director’s son, a paramedic who was present in the area, continued to treat the Palestinian businessman, who was transferred to an Israeli hospital. (Maariv)
- Amir Peretz to challenge Isaac Herzog as Labor leader - Until the campaign, which Peretz says will take place in two years, he will continue to support Herzog against Netanyahu's coalition. (Haaretz)
- Michael Oren blames Obama for U.S. shortcomings in peace process - Speaking in southern Israel, the former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. says Obama's worldview informs his unwillingness to use military force. (Haaretz+)
- Michael Oren Storm: "I did not say radical Muslim values entered into the White House" - MK and former ambassador to the US was quoted as making those statements in a ‘Shabbatarbut’ cultural event in Beersheva, but Oren said things according to the recording. But MK Oren did not say the things as per the recording. MK Oren: "This is a cynical attempt to make headlines from a clear and responsible analysis." (Maariv and JPost)
- HBO Buys Israeli Series About Palmach Vigilantes in Tel Aviv - The series will be called 'Eagles' in English and directed by Allen Poul, who previously did episodes of 'The Newsroom' and 'Six Feet Under.' (Haaretz+)
- Switzerland set to purchase Israel drones - Swiss government approves purchase of six Hermes 900 drones from Israel's Elbit systems, despite attempts in the country to scuttle the deal due to the drone's alleged use in targeted killings in Gaza. (Ynet)
- Egypt discovers iron tunnel network under Gaza border - Massive network of 'extremely expensive' tunnels with 40cm-thick iron walls discovered on Egyptian side of the border, which Cairo claims was built by Hamas and funded by Qatar. (Ynet)
- Paris attacks 'mastermind' plotted to attack Jewish targets - New details have emerged from the investigation into the terror attacks in Paris, showing that Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the alleged mastermind behind the attacks, had planned to carry out similar strikes against Jewish targets. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Kenya police arrest two over 'plot' linked to Iran - Police in the East African nation have arrested two men who were allegedly planning attacks on Western targets on behalf of Iran. (Agencies, Ynet)
Features:
What drove a popular Palestinian girl to attempt a stabbing attack?
A Palestinian teen who tried to stab an Israeli woman in the West Bank was run over and shot to death. Her father, imam of the refugee camp where she grew up, says his daughter was 'responding to the occupation.' (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+)
Departures-Arrivals: An intercontinental couple driven away by Israeli bureaucracy
A Frenchwoman and an Israeli man who met in India look for a new home. (Liat Elkayam, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
A Palestinian teen who tried to stab an Israeli woman in the West Bank was run over and shot to death. Her father, imam of the refugee camp where she grew up, says his daughter was 'responding to the occupation.' (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+)
Departures-Arrivals: An intercontinental couple driven away by Israeli bureaucracy
A Frenchwoman and an Israeli man who met in India look for a new home. (Liat Elkayam, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
The Israeli Government Is More Afraid of Change Than Terror (Haaretz Editorial) This week marks the end of the second month of the most recent wave of
violence, but are the Palestinian knife attackers and car-rammers Israel's biggest problem?
An intifada without a leader (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth/Ynet) The first intifada started as a popular uprising, with the masses taking to the streets. The second one was led by the Palestinian leadership. The third one, at the moment, is neither. Either way, this is the end of the Abbas era.
Needed: Revolutionary struggle (David M. Weinberg, Israel Hayom) Israel must meet Palestinian terrorism with ideological drive and defiant expansion.
A recipe for failure: A society who lives by the sword is unable to maintain the sanctity of life (Prof. Mordechai Kremnitzer, Maariv) We are paying for the policy here not only in terror, but also in a long-term society-morality price. What is the level of the low point we have to go down to before we recognize that the way we are being led corrupts our humanity?
Israel 2015: Where the Army Urges Moderation and the Politicians Are Brutal (Uzi Baram, Haaretz+) Netanyahu and his government push aggressive policies out of the naïve faith that 'whatever is not decided by force will be decided by even more force.'
Cooler heads must prevail (Maj. Gen. (ret.) Yaakov Amidror, Israel Hayom) Despite the surge in violence, there is no room for unjust punishments, grandiose statements, or rash decisions.
Treating Pollard cruelly? Look what we do to Vanunu (Kobi Niv, Haaretz+) Not only is the 'atomic-spy traitor' forbidden to talk to the media, he’s forbidden to talk to people who aren’t citizens of holy Israel.
Teaching peace during times of war (David Lehrer, Yedioth/Ynet) Peace will ultimately be made by courageous visionary leaders, but until that happens, the role of peace-building NGOs is to restore trust between Israelis and Palestinians and build mutually beneficial and interdependent relationships.
Saying 'Israel Is Not a Jewish State' Is No Longer Incendiary (Rogel Alpher, Haaretz+) In Israel and in the Diaspora, many Jews refuse to see what is patently obvious to others: Israel is neither Jewish nor democratic.
Is Kerry reinventing the Middle East? (Yoram Ettinger, Israel Hayom) The U.S. secretary of state insists on ignoring the reality in the Middle East.
Magical New Steps to Curb Palestinian Terror? (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Netanyahu's security measures aren't magic or new and, according to the army, they're not all that effective either.
Not born yesterday (Nadav Shragai, Israel Hayom) Several of the Palestinians attacking Jews in recent weeks have been minors, including pre-teens. The phenomenon of child terrorists comes as no surprise when schools, babies and sports teams in the PA are named after terrorists and murderers.
Archenemies Netanyahu and Bennett find common ground: shame (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) Kerry left the region this week bitterly disappointed; Netanyahu signaled he regards opposition leader Herzog as nothing more than a spare tire.
The IDF cannot win this time (Eitan Haber, Yedioth/Ynet) How can an army, no matter how big and strong it is, prevent a 13-year-old boy from stabbing an innocent citizen on the street?
Our Situation in Israel Has Never Been Better! (Yoel Marcus, Haaretz+) You can call it whatever you please, but this is a popular Palestinian uprising that stems from a feeling of having nothing to lose.
IDF 'gestures' are simply steps to continue the occupation (Friday Haaretz Editorial) The same sober, realistic army that knew there was no military solution to the occupation is offering a band-aid solution that will ultimately bring the responsibility for the situation onto its own head.
No longer supporting actors: Daesh is likely to figure prominently in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (Alon Ben-David, Maariv) In the past, the Arab-Israeli conflict was the formative experience of the Middle East, today the driving force is Daesh. The result is that Israel and the Palestinians were left alone in the ring.
The Israelis who see the light a little too late (Yossi Sarid, Haaretz+) Shimon Peres, security chiefs and writers all failed to issue their warnings about the government's policies when it could still have made a difference.
With a club and a carrot: The security establishment is applying the lessons of the Second Intifada (Ben Caspit, Maariv) On the other side stands the furious right wing government, which demands to slam into the Arabs with all its power.
Very undemocratic, very non-Jewish - very Israeli (Avraham Burg, Haaretz+) When I look at my children I see a generation that did not experience the classic pattern of Jewish victimhood. Yet they do not place on their public agenda restraining Israel’s use of power. Why is this so?
To Bomb or Not to Bomb: British Dilemma Reflects West’s Confused Approach to ISIS (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) While Prime Minister David Cameron tries to convince parliament to support bombing missions in Syria, he is hard pressed to show how such a move will be a game-changer.
Why Republicans' Fear of Terrorism Will Only Make Donald Trump Stronger (Peter Beinart, Haaretz) Trump has persuaded voters shaken by events abroad that the greatest threats lie within the U.S. The idea that they will abandon Trump as they grow more afraid of terrorism makes no sense.
What the West fails to understand about ISIS (Sever Plocker, Yedioth/Ynet) Contrary to what many Western leaders think, the Islamic State is not a nihilist movement, but rather an organization which supports a totalitarian ideology like communism and Nazism.
Musicians: Boycotting Israel fans the flames of conflict (Steve Schnur, Haaretz) Brian Eno is just the latest BDS activist using untruths and misinformation to prey on musicians and artists’ natural affinity for those perceived as victimized.
Tearing into UN racism (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) Back in 1975, then-Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. Chaim Herzog made a famous speech that is still relevant today. And he used a tactic that we are afraid to use: going on the attack, rather than the defensive, and refusing to apologize.
Muslim courage in Canada: Funding the national Holocaust memorial (Rabbi Daniel Friedman, Haaretz+) At a time when Muslims, Christians and Jews are equal targets for Islamist radicals, a moment of shared opposition to intolerance.
Interviews:
“The accusations are far from reality": EU Ambassador worried about the political discourse in Israel
Lars Faborg-Andreson explains why the storm over the decision to label (settlement) products was excessive and opposes statements linking terrorism of Daesh to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Interviewed by Dana Somberg in Maariv’s Magazine supplement)
An intifada without a leader (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth/Ynet) The first intifada started as a popular uprising, with the masses taking to the streets. The second one was led by the Palestinian leadership. The third one, at the moment, is neither. Either way, this is the end of the Abbas era.
Needed: Revolutionary struggle (David M. Weinberg, Israel Hayom) Israel must meet Palestinian terrorism with ideological drive and defiant expansion.
A recipe for failure: A society who lives by the sword is unable to maintain the sanctity of life (Prof. Mordechai Kremnitzer, Maariv) We are paying for the policy here not only in terror, but also in a long-term society-morality price. What is the level of the low point we have to go down to before we recognize that the way we are being led corrupts our humanity?
Israel 2015: Where the Army Urges Moderation and the Politicians Are Brutal (Uzi Baram, Haaretz+) Netanyahu and his government push aggressive policies out of the naïve faith that 'whatever is not decided by force will be decided by even more force.'
Cooler heads must prevail (Maj. Gen. (ret.) Yaakov Amidror, Israel Hayom) Despite the surge in violence, there is no room for unjust punishments, grandiose statements, or rash decisions.
Treating Pollard cruelly? Look what we do to Vanunu (Kobi Niv, Haaretz+) Not only is the 'atomic-spy traitor' forbidden to talk to the media, he’s forbidden to talk to people who aren’t citizens of holy Israel.
Teaching peace during times of war (David Lehrer, Yedioth/Ynet) Peace will ultimately be made by courageous visionary leaders, but until that happens, the role of peace-building NGOs is to restore trust between Israelis and Palestinians and build mutually beneficial and interdependent relationships.
Saying 'Israel Is Not a Jewish State' Is No Longer Incendiary (Rogel Alpher, Haaretz+) In Israel and in the Diaspora, many Jews refuse to see what is patently obvious to others: Israel is neither Jewish nor democratic.
Is Kerry reinventing the Middle East? (Yoram Ettinger, Israel Hayom) The U.S. secretary of state insists on ignoring the reality in the Middle East.
Magical New Steps to Curb Palestinian Terror? (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Netanyahu's security measures aren't magic or new and, according to the army, they're not all that effective either.
Not born yesterday (Nadav Shragai, Israel Hayom) Several of the Palestinians attacking Jews in recent weeks have been minors, including pre-teens. The phenomenon of child terrorists comes as no surprise when schools, babies and sports teams in the PA are named after terrorists and murderers.
Archenemies Netanyahu and Bennett find common ground: shame (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) Kerry left the region this week bitterly disappointed; Netanyahu signaled he regards opposition leader Herzog as nothing more than a spare tire.
The IDF cannot win this time (Eitan Haber, Yedioth/Ynet) How can an army, no matter how big and strong it is, prevent a 13-year-old boy from stabbing an innocent citizen on the street?
Our Situation in Israel Has Never Been Better! (Yoel Marcus, Haaretz+) You can call it whatever you please, but this is a popular Palestinian uprising that stems from a feeling of having nothing to lose.
IDF 'gestures' are simply steps to continue the occupation (Friday Haaretz Editorial) The same sober, realistic army that knew there was no military solution to the occupation is offering a band-aid solution that will ultimately bring the responsibility for the situation onto its own head.
No longer supporting actors: Daesh is likely to figure prominently in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (Alon Ben-David, Maariv) In the past, the Arab-Israeli conflict was the formative experience of the Middle East, today the driving force is Daesh. The result is that Israel and the Palestinians were left alone in the ring.
The Israelis who see the light a little too late (Yossi Sarid, Haaretz+) Shimon Peres, security chiefs and writers all failed to issue their warnings about the government's policies when it could still have made a difference.
With a club and a carrot: The security establishment is applying the lessons of the Second Intifada (Ben Caspit, Maariv) On the other side stands the furious right wing government, which demands to slam into the Arabs with all its power.
Very undemocratic, very non-Jewish - very Israeli (Avraham Burg, Haaretz+) When I look at my children I see a generation that did not experience the classic pattern of Jewish victimhood. Yet they do not place on their public agenda restraining Israel’s use of power. Why is this so?
To Bomb or Not to Bomb: British Dilemma Reflects West’s Confused Approach to ISIS (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) While Prime Minister David Cameron tries to convince parliament to support bombing missions in Syria, he is hard pressed to show how such a move will be a game-changer.
Why Republicans' Fear of Terrorism Will Only Make Donald Trump Stronger (Peter Beinart, Haaretz) Trump has persuaded voters shaken by events abroad that the greatest threats lie within the U.S. The idea that they will abandon Trump as they grow more afraid of terrorism makes no sense.
What the West fails to understand about ISIS (Sever Plocker, Yedioth/Ynet) Contrary to what many Western leaders think, the Islamic State is not a nihilist movement, but rather an organization which supports a totalitarian ideology like communism and Nazism.
Musicians: Boycotting Israel fans the flames of conflict (Steve Schnur, Haaretz) Brian Eno is just the latest BDS activist using untruths and misinformation to prey on musicians and artists’ natural affinity for those perceived as victimized.
Tearing into UN racism (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) Back in 1975, then-Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. Chaim Herzog made a famous speech that is still relevant today. And he used a tactic that we are afraid to use: going on the attack, rather than the defensive, and refusing to apologize.
Muslim courage in Canada: Funding the national Holocaust memorial (Rabbi Daniel Friedman, Haaretz+) At a time when Muslims, Christians and Jews are equal targets for Islamist radicals, a moment of shared opposition to intolerance.
Interviews:
“The accusations are far from reality": EU Ambassador worried about the political discourse in Israel
Lars Faborg-Andreson explains why the storm over the decision to label (settlement) products was excessive and opposes statements linking terrorism of Daesh to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Interviewed by Dana Somberg in Maariv’s Magazine supplement)
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.