APN's daily news review from Israel
Thursday December 23, 2015
Quote of the day:
"Whoever dances at a wedding and celebrates the murder of a sleeping baby is not Jewish and not
Israeli.”
--Zionist Union leader Isaac Herzog repudiates the radical right-wing Israelis who, in a wedding dance, called for revenge and stabbed the photo of the murdered Palestinian baby, Ali Dawabsheh.**
--Zionist Union leader Isaac Herzog repudiates the radical right-wing Israelis who, in a wedding dance, called for revenge and stabbed the photo of the murdered Palestinian baby, Ali Dawabsheh.**
Breaking News:
Three Israelis wounded in three attacks in the West Bank. All three Palestinians assailants shot dead. (Haaretz, Ynet, Maan and Israel Hayom)
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Two killed and one seriously wounded in a stabbing attack in Jerusalem; bomb belt lab located
- Signs of escalation // Amos Harel
- By majority of 2:1: Justices ruled that Zadorov murdered Tair Rada
- Hilltop youth documented dancing with guns and the photo of the baby murdered in Duma
- Expansive study on IVF chances: Don’t give up even after sixth attempt
- Bank of targets in the Cold War: Industry, government and civilians (NYT)
- Yes on Shabbat // Haaretz Editorial
- Terror known in advance // Israel Harel
- The tourists aren’t coming
Yedioth Ahronoth
- 100 days of terror: 2 killed in attack
- Dance of horror
- Nation being tested // Yoaz Hendel
- Ended but not finished – High Court ruled Zadorov murdered Tair Rada
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- 100 days of terror, 24 killed: Nine more children became orphans yesterday
- Shock over the “wedding dance” video clip
- Justices ruled by majority: Zadorov murdered Tair Rada
Israel Hayom
- Blood near the (Old City) wall – terror returned to Jerusalem: two killed in stabbing attack at Jaffa gate
- “Hate wedding”: wall-to-wall condemnations
- For third time: Zadorov convicted of murdering Tair
- “Kuntar effect”: Alert in the north – (Israeli) farmers on Lebanon border told not to get close to fence
- Good news for public servants: Whoever earns less will get more; Agreement that averted general strike – and your pocket
News Summary:
Two Israelis killed on the 100th day of the wave of Palestinian violence, a wedding video shows radical right-wing Israelis celebrating the murder of baby Ali Dawabsheh and an Israeli was convicted for the third time of murdering a 13-year-old girl, despite many who think he is innocent.
Outside the Jaffa Gate of Jerusalem’s Old City, two young Palestinians from Qalandiya refugee camp stabbed to death (video) an ultra-Orthodox rabbi of Aish Hatorah before being shot by police along with a Jewish passerby, killing all three. Ynet reveals information about the two attackers. Video shows an Israeli man beating one of the shot attackers with a rod after he no longer posed a threat. The citizen was summoned for questioning, Maariv reported.
**Another video has shocked the country. Dozens of young religious Jewish men and boys dance waving guns, knives and a firebomb as they sing the ‘Revenge Song’ at a wedding party of a ‘well-known,’ but unnamed, Jewish radical couple three weeks ago. At one point a guest holds up the famous photo of baby Ali Dawabsheh, who was burned to death in the arson-murders in Duma in July. Others stab the photo repeatedly with a knife. The video was confiscated by police and was broadcast last night on Channel 10 News. The wedding guests are known to be friends of the three Jewish suspects who are being interrogated by the Shin Bet. Until now, numerous right-wing leaders and supporters have been protesting, accusing the Shin Bet of torturing the three suspects. Yesterday, the heads of the right-wing settler movement were called to the office of Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon, who played the whole video clip for them. Yesha Council director, Avi Roeh, said parts of the video were too difficult for him to watch. “We couldn’t believe that there are such radical youth,” he said. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu used the video to bolster the Shin Bet in the face of the right-wing accusations of torture.
Earlier in the day, right wing teens reenacted torture in a Tel Aviv square to protest Shin Bet tactics
Passers-by were unimpressed, Haaretz+ reported. In an interesting talk he gave to religious Zionist school principals, Education Minister Naftali Bennett said the Duma murders were a watershed event for religious Zionism: “We are currently in the middle of a highly significant event for religious Zionism and the State of Israel. I think this is a critical point here, and if I had to reduce the whole event to a single word I would say it is ‘responsibility.’ What we face today is whether to accept responsibility. Responsibility for the State of Israel … to abandon the stance of victimhood. We aren’t ‘les misrables.’ I am overseeing every action by the Shin Bet very closely now. We want leadership – we have to be responsible. It is our responsibility to catch those people and we will.” Bennett, whose far right party has members who protested against the Shin Bet treatment of the suspects, defended the Shin Bet's treatment of Jewish terror suspects as harshly as Palestinian ones, but said that it wasn’t torture and it was necessary because they were trying to make a violent coup of the State. Until now, right-wing movement rabbis and leaders have said the suspects should not be treated like Palestinian suspects because the Duma murders were a criminal act, not a terrorist act, which by definition, is to create political change through violence.
Two Israelis killed on the 100th day of the wave of Palestinian violence, a wedding video shows radical right-wing Israelis celebrating the murder of baby Ali Dawabsheh and an Israeli was convicted for the third time of murdering a 13-year-old girl, despite many who think he is innocent.
Outside the Jaffa Gate of Jerusalem’s Old City, two young Palestinians from Qalandiya refugee camp stabbed to death (video) an ultra-Orthodox rabbi of Aish Hatorah before being shot by police along with a Jewish passerby, killing all three. Ynet reveals information about the two attackers. Video shows an Israeli man beating one of the shot attackers with a rod after he no longer posed a threat. The citizen was summoned for questioning, Maariv reported.
**Another video has shocked the country. Dozens of young religious Jewish men and boys dance waving guns, knives and a firebomb as they sing the ‘Revenge Song’ at a wedding party of a ‘well-known,’ but unnamed, Jewish radical couple three weeks ago. At one point a guest holds up the famous photo of baby Ali Dawabsheh, who was burned to death in the arson-murders in Duma in July. Others stab the photo repeatedly with a knife. The video was confiscated by police and was broadcast last night on Channel 10 News. The wedding guests are known to be friends of the three Jewish suspects who are being interrogated by the Shin Bet. Until now, numerous right-wing leaders and supporters have been protesting, accusing the Shin Bet of torturing the three suspects. Yesterday, the heads of the right-wing settler movement were called to the office of Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon, who played the whole video clip for them. Yesha Council director, Avi Roeh, said parts of the video were too difficult for him to watch. “We couldn’t believe that there are such radical youth,” he said. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu used the video to bolster the Shin Bet in the face of the right-wing accusations of torture.
Earlier in the day, right wing teens reenacted torture in a Tel Aviv square to protest Shin Bet tactics
Passers-by were unimpressed, Haaretz+ reported. In an interesting talk he gave to religious Zionist school principals, Education Minister Naftali Bennett said the Duma murders were a watershed event for religious Zionism: “We are currently in the middle of a highly significant event for religious Zionism and the State of Israel. I think this is a critical point here, and if I had to reduce the whole event to a single word I would say it is ‘responsibility.’ What we face today is whether to accept responsibility. Responsibility for the State of Israel … to abandon the stance of victimhood. We aren’t ‘les misrables.’ I am overseeing every action by the Shin Bet very closely now. We want leadership – we have to be responsible. It is our responsibility to catch those people and we will.” Bennett, whose far right party has members who protested against the Shin Bet treatment of the suspects, defended the Shin Bet's treatment of Jewish terror suspects as harshly as Palestinian ones, but said that it wasn’t torture and it was necessary because they were trying to make a violent coup of the State. Until now, right-wing movement rabbis and leaders have said the suspects should not be treated like Palestinian suspects because the Duma murders were a criminal act, not a terrorist act, which by definition, is to create political change through violence.
Quick Hits:
- Israeli farmers told to stay away from Lebanon border for fear of Hezbollah reprisal - Farmers in north instructed not to go near fence due to fear of a Hezbollah response to the Samir Kuntar assassination, which has been tied to Israel. IDF closed some of the roads. (Haaretz+, Israel Hayom and Maariv)
- Hamas cell operating in Abu Dis planned suicide attacks in Israel, says Shin Bet - The unit's activity in village outside of East Jerusalem indicates Hamas is stepping up efforts to exploit West Bank escalation to advance terrorism, claims Shin Bet. (Haaretz+, Ynet and Israel Hayom)
- 13 shot by Israeli forces, Hebron school tear gassed -Thirteen Palestinians were shot by Israeli forces on Wednesday in areas around Ramallah while a Hebron-area girls school was tear gassed, locals and medics said. (Maan)
- Israel sprays crop-killing pesticides on Gaza farmland - Israeli planes reportedly sprayed agricultural crops along the Gaza border on Wednesday with pesticides that have been killing off crops for the third day in a row, the general manager of the plant protection department at the Gaza-based Ministry of Agriculture told Ma'an. (Maan)
- Settler given year to remove vineyard on Palestinian land - High Court of Justice and prosecution agree to postpone Zvi Strock’s evacuation ‘for the sake of peace.’ (Haaretz+)
- Monitor: Israeli settlers uproot 50 olive trees in Nablus - Israeli settlers on Tuesday uprooted 50 olive tree saplings near the village of al-Lubban al-Sharqiya in southern Nablus, said a local monitor. (Maan)
- Bethlehem-area village sealed by Israeli military for weeks - “They just don’t want Arabs accessing the highway,” a Ras al-Wad resident told Ma’an. (Maan)
- Education Ministry acts to ban Breaking the Silence from schools - Education Minister Naftali Bennett revokes principals' privilege to permit lectures by the group. "Anyone who portrays IDF fighters as war criminals … has no place in the education of Israeli children," says Bennett. Some teachers protest decision. (Israel Hayom)
- Habayit Hayehudi MK gets wrist slap for inciting against judge - Knesset Ethics Committee reprimands MK Moti Yogev for inciting against Supreme Court Justice Uzi Fogelman, but takes no action on his call to bulldoze the judicial institution. (Haaretz+)
- Likud MK: The left won't teach us about human rights - Israeli parliamentarian Yoav Kish submits bill on so-called foreign moles. (Haaretz+)
- MK Miki Zohar retracted: "Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon convinced me, unfortunately, that Jewish terror exists" - The Likud MK's remarks in an interview with Maariv that there is no possibility that a Jew murdered a baby in Duma sparked a furor. Zohar met Yaalon and said: “He put a light before me - or perhaps he darkened my eyes with his words." (Maariv)
- The Knesset plenum approved the regulation of the status of the Settlement Division of the WZO - The division will become a government arm and will be obligated to reveal its budget, but not its decisions. MK Osama Saadi (Joint List): “The part about freedom of information not including all the activities of the Settlement Division is because they want to continue to take the land of the Palestinian people and to continue to build settlements.” During the discussion, MKs also discussed the wedding video of the extreme right. (Maariv)
- UN adopts resolution on Palestinian sovereignty over natural resources - The United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday adopted a resolution demanding Palestinian sovereignty over natural resources under Israeli occupation. Canada, Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, and the United States voted against. Ten other states abstained from the vote. (Maan)
- Israel transfers hunger-striking Jordanian prisoner to hospital - Abdullah Abu Jaber had been transferred from the prison's clinic to a civilian hospital after his health severely deteriorated. Abu Jaber is demanding to be deported or transferred to a Jordanian prison to serve out the remainder of his sentence. (Maan)
- Israel returns body of 72-year-old Hebron woman 45 days after death - Tharwat al-Shaarawi, who was shot dead by Israeli soldiers in early November after she allegedly attempted to ram them with her car, was returned to her family via the Tarqumiya checkpoint. (Maan)
- Assault at Modi'in construction site was a terror attack, IDF says - Palestinian construction worker assaulted Israeli foreman with a blunt object and another worker at adjacent construction site. (Haaretz+)
- Political, Military Elite Celebrate 90th Birthday of Moshe Arens - Haaretz's oldest columnist celebrates turning 90 with Prime Minister Netanyahu and other patriotic well-wishers at Jerusalem's Begin Heritage center. (Haaretz)
- The son of Ahmed Jabari, the (assassinated) Hamas commando fighter, was killed in a car accident in Gaza - Hamas announced that Malik Jabari was killed in Shujaiyeh neighborhood after his motorcycle collided with a vehicle. His father commanded the armed wing of Hamas (and escorted Gilad Shalit to his release) and was killed by the IDF in 2014. (Maariv)
- Israeli naval forces detain 14 Palestinian fishermen, seize boats - It was not clear if the 14 fishermen were detained in separate incidents. (Maan)
- Israeli bulldozers level land, open fire in central Gaza Strip - Witnesses told Ma'an that four Israeli bulldozers entered 100 meters onto Palestinian territory and leveled land in the area. An Israeli army spokesperson had no immediate information on the incident. An Israeli army spokesperson had no immediate information on the incident. (Maan)
- Israel to have booth at Cannes Film Festival for first time - Culture and Sport Minister Miri Regev campaigns successfully for Israeli presence at prestigious event. Booth to promote international co-productions, cooperation. Regev: An Israeli booth at Cannes is proof of the growth and success of Israeli film. (Israel Hayom)
- Al Jazeera Journalist Compares Israeli, Syrian Jails, Sparking Facebook Debate - Talk show host Faisal al-Qasim juxtaposes photo of a rotund Samir Kuntar leaving an Israeli jail in 2008 and an inmate in Bashar Assad's prison system. (Haaretz)
- Taglit brings thousands of young Jews to Israel for winter - Taglit-Birthright launches winter season with 16,000 participants. They "represent a key element on campuses, in their communities and in standing strong for Israel by bringing its positions to strategic target populations across the world," says CEO. (Israel Hayom)
- The Brazil crisis: The minister who refused to talk to Ya'alon, the Palestinian campaign and Israel's naiveté - Palestinian diplomats pressure Brazil not to accept former settler leader Dani Dayan's ambassadorship; meanwhile, Brazil's defense minister stopped taking Ya'alon's calls. (Haaretz+)
- Assad Adviser: Syrian Government Ready to Join UN Peace Talks - Bolstered politically by Russian intervention, Western re-positioning to face ISIS, Assad signals acceptance of recent UN resolutions. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Report: US military secretly assisting Assad - Pulitzer-winning journalist Seymour Hersh claims the U.S.army is using third-party mediators, including Israel, to provide the Syrian president with intelligence to better fight Islamic State. Assistance stems from concern complete chaos will follow regime's demise, he says. (Israel Hayom)
- Lebanese army says it found launchers used to attack Israel - Rocket launchers found east of Tyre in southern Lebanon. U.N. Security Council strongly condemns fighting and use of heavy weapons by Syrian regime and rebels on Golan Heights. Amnesty International accuses Russia of possible war crimes in Syria. (Israel Hayom)
- Pro-Kurdish Turkish Politician Visits Russia, Criticizes Ankara Over Downed Jet - The most important meeting since last month when the relation became sensitive between the two countries, served as a forum to criticize the decision of Ankara. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Russia to build 2 nuclear power plants in Iran - Project part of deal signed between Iranian and Russian atomic agency subsidiaries in 2014. New sites believed to be extensions of Bushehr nuclear power station. Iran reportedly seeks to expand future nuclear power grid to include 20 plants. (Agencies, Israel Hayom)
- Who likes Obama more: Israelis or Iranians? - The U.S. president is the most popular leader worldwide, but not among Israelis, who prefer Germany's Merkel by far. (Haaretz)
Features:
IN PHOTOS: Painters Bring New Life to Hard-hit Gaza Refugee Camp
Gaza suffered heavy damage in the confrontation with Israel in the summer of 2014. But now, the Shati camp's houses are covered in vibrant colors. (Agencies, Haaretz)
Commentary/Analysis:
Gaza suffered heavy damage in the confrontation with Israel in the summer of 2014. But now, the Shati camp's houses are covered in vibrant colors. (Agencies, Haaretz)
Commentary/Analysis:
Meet Judeo-ISIS: The Inevitable Result of Israel’s Presence in the West Bank (Asher Schechter,
Haaretz) Footage showing settlers celebrating the death of a Palestinian baby 'outraged'
politicians - who took no responsibility for their role in creating the monster.
When Obama leaves the White House (Eitan Haber, Yedioth/Ynet) US presidents have come and gone, and the American policy has remained the same since the end of the Six-Day War: The 1967 borders and no recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. That is not about to change.
Thwarted Hamas terror plot a throwback to the second intifada (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Terror attempts are on the decline, but the violence is far from over. The suicide attacks planned by 25 Hamas operatives captured near Jerusalem would have pushed Israel into a large-scale operation.
Baseless criticism undermines national security (Prof. Aviad Hacohen, Israel Hayom) While the Shin Bet's methods are sometimes unorthodox, it is also under severe legal scrutiny, and it cannot "get away with anything."
Disconnect between the military and the political branches of Hamas (Noam Amir, Maariv) For two months already the Israeli security establishment has identified a disconnect between the political and military arms of Hamas. While the political arm relays it wants to rehabilitate Gaa and distance the next war as much as possible in order to repair infrastructure, the military arm continues with all its might to open terror infrastructure, mainly in the West Bank. The exposing of the Hamas cell that the Shin Bet announced yesterday reveals anew the involvement of Hamas’ military arm in Gaza in directing attacks inside Israel and in Judea and Samaria (West Bank). The rift between the political and military branches of Hamas could create a chaotic reality in which Israel will be forced to deal with both fronts of Hamas….
The Shin Bet protects us all (Haim Shine, Israel Hayom) If interrogators overstep their legal authority, Israel has the legal means to prosecute them. For now, the Right must show restraint.
In next Lebanon war, Israel must target (Giora Eiland, Yedioth/Ynet) If and when hostile activities begin from Lebanese territory, they should lead to a war between Israel and Lebanon. If we only try to defeat Hezbollah and leave Lebanon 'out of the game,' the results will be a lot grimmer than in the previous war.
The mouse that roared (Prof. Eyal Zisser, Israel Hayom) The last thing Nasrallah wants right now is a fight with Israel, which could jeopardize his main objective: saving the Assad regime in Syria.
When Obama leaves the White House (Eitan Haber, Yedioth/Ynet) US presidents have come and gone, and the American policy has remained the same since the end of the Six-Day War: The 1967 borders and no recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. That is not about to change.
Thwarted Hamas terror plot a throwback to the second intifada (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Terror attempts are on the decline, but the violence is far from over. The suicide attacks planned by 25 Hamas operatives captured near Jerusalem would have pushed Israel into a large-scale operation.
Baseless criticism undermines national security (Prof. Aviad Hacohen, Israel Hayom) While the Shin Bet's methods are sometimes unorthodox, it is also under severe legal scrutiny, and it cannot "get away with anything."
Disconnect between the military and the political branches of Hamas (Noam Amir, Maariv) For two months already the Israeli security establishment has identified a disconnect between the political and military arms of Hamas. While the political arm relays it wants to rehabilitate Gaa and distance the next war as much as possible in order to repair infrastructure, the military arm continues with all its might to open terror infrastructure, mainly in the West Bank. The exposing of the Hamas cell that the Shin Bet announced yesterday reveals anew the involvement of Hamas’ military arm in Gaza in directing attacks inside Israel and in Judea and Samaria (West Bank). The rift between the political and military branches of Hamas could create a chaotic reality in which Israel will be forced to deal with both fronts of Hamas….
The Shin Bet protects us all (Haim Shine, Israel Hayom) If interrogators overstep their legal authority, Israel has the legal means to prosecute them. For now, the Right must show restraint.
In next Lebanon war, Israel must target (Giora Eiland, Yedioth/Ynet) If and when hostile activities begin from Lebanese territory, they should lead to a war between Israel and Lebanon. If we only try to defeat Hezbollah and leave Lebanon 'out of the game,' the results will be a lot grimmer than in the previous war.
The mouse that roared (Prof. Eyal Zisser, Israel Hayom) The last thing Nasrallah wants right now is a fight with Israel, which could jeopardize his main objective: saving the Assad regime in Syria.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.