APN's daily news review from Israel
Tuesday January 12, 2016
Quote of the day:
“I told him the band would never believe that I’d gone for a week to record with him and asked if
he could write me a note, like for a teacher. He gladly agreed.”
--Israeli bassist Yossi Fine recalls the life-changing experience of recording alongside music legend David Bowie.
--Israeli bassist Yossi Fine recalls the life-changing experience of recording alongside music legend David Bowie.
Breaking News:
Erdogan: Syrian Suicide Bomber Behind Istanbul Blast
Blast leaves 10 dead, 15 wounded in touristic Sultanahmet district, says governor. (Haaretz)
Front Page:
Haaretz
- State Prosecutor: It is legally untenable to appoint Deri as Interior Minister
- Hamas rebuilt its tunnel system: According to assessments, some are already in Israeli territory
- David Bowie, the artist who broke the borders of pop // Ben Shalev
- US Ambassador in message to (Justice Minister) Shaked: We are concerned about the bill that will limit left-wing NGOs
- The elections for the head of Likud: Netanyahu is even scared to run against himself // Yossi Verter
- Policeman shot dead a young man while chasing him, Police Investigations Unit decided not to investigate
- Swedish police hid sexual attacks by refugees
- Bury him (Nashat Melhem)
- In the lentil stew // Uri Ben-Dov on the gas agreement
- For religious people only – Justice Ministry probing whether to allow marketing of housing neighborhoods for religious-nationalist Jews only
Yedioth Ahronoth
- The Russian weaponry on the way to Iran
- The dispute that is shaking up IDF Intel Branch
- Parting from a legend – David Bowie
- North Korea is here // Sima Kadmon on the primaries in Likud
- iPhone will answer you in Hebrew
- Cannabis is on the way to pharmacies
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Primaries in Likud: Prime Minister opposes white ballot
- May democtotatorship live on // Ben Caspit
- The leader who they love to hate // Karni Eldad
- Reaching a plea bargain with Olmert
- “Russia transferred missiles to Hezbollah”
- Details of the new security budget were revealed
- End to the conspiracies // Yehuda Sharoni
- Israeli pride at Golden Globes – Film ‘The man who was born again’ won three top prizes
- David Bowie 1947-2016
- Ezra Nawi, left-wing activist who starred in ‘Uvda’ investigation, was arrested at Ben-Gurion Airport
Israel Hayom
- Wave of power – Welcome to the IDF’s long arm – The most advanced there is: Rahav submarine to arrive today to Israel’s coast
- Be in peace, Major Tom
- Radical left-wing activist arrested at Ben-Gurion Airport moment before escaping
- Shake-up in IDF Intel Branch: Senior officer resigned
- At end of extensive search: Female resident of Taybeh, who threatened to make a terror attack, was arrested in Nahariya
- “Olmert in offer to prosecution: Cancellation of the appeals – in exchange for an agreed upon punishment”
News Summary:
Israel is worried about Russian arms on the way to Iran and Hezbollah, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is concerned he will be running against himself today for the head of Likud party and the US expressed concern over Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked’s ‘NGO transparency bill’ making top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers. Also high in the news was the surprising resignation of the #2 man in IDF Intel and the confusion over two false terror attack warnings in the north and south of the country.
The Iranians reportedly filled the Arak heavy water nuclear reactor with cement, essentially neutralizing the site's potential to produce plutonium for a nuclear weapon, ahead of the end to international sanctions on Iran, which EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini said would happen soon. It’s likely to happen in three days, wrote Yedioth’s Alex Fishman in a front page piece about Israel’s concern that this paves the way for the enormous sale of Russian arms to Iran.
Meanwhile, a Hezbollah commander said that Russia is supplying the organization with heavy weapons and that there were no restrictions on using them against Israel. "When it comes to Israel, Hezbollah doesn't take directions from anyone," another Hezbollah commander told the Daily Beast. But Ynet’s Ron Ben-Yishai wrote that officials in the West and Middle East rejected the report, citing agreements reached between Putin and Netanyahu that prevent such a thing.
Netanyahu is set to compete against himself today for the head of the Likud, which Israeli commentators scorned (with the exception, of course, of Israel Hayom). Yedioth’s Sima Kadmon likened it to North Korea and Maariv’s Ben Caspit called it a ‘democtatorship.’ (See Commentary/Analysis.)
US Ambassdor to Israel Dan Shapiro made clear to Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked that the US is concerned about her ‘NGO transparency bill,’ which targets left-wing and human-rights organizations. Shapiro made it clear to the justice minister that, in contrast to her assertions, the bill has no similarity to any US legislation. The two met yesterday after which the US released a statement saying the bill would have a "chilling effect" on Israeli society. Shaked reacted by slamming US intervention in ‘internal legislation.’
Two warnings of attacks in Israel ended up being false. In the north, a 28-year-old female from Taibe was originally believed to have set out on a terror attack. She was caught and then released from detention after it turned out she was escaping her husband in Jerusalem. Her family said she had no intention of attacking anyone. In the south, dozens of roadblocks were set up after someone called the police saying a woman was on the way to make an attack. Now a hoax is suspected after it was discovered that the woman wasn’t even in Israel.
Separately, near Jenin, Zayd Mahir al-Ashqar, 18, was shot and severely wounded after he “attempted to stab a soldier during a security check" at a checkpoint, the IDF said. No soldiers were injured.
Israel is worried about Russian arms on the way to Iran and Hezbollah, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is concerned he will be running against himself today for the head of Likud party and the US expressed concern over Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked’s ‘NGO transparency bill’ making top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers. Also high in the news was the surprising resignation of the #2 man in IDF Intel and the confusion over two false terror attack warnings in the north and south of the country.
The Iranians reportedly filled the Arak heavy water nuclear reactor with cement, essentially neutralizing the site's potential to produce plutonium for a nuclear weapon, ahead of the end to international sanctions on Iran, which EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini said would happen soon. It’s likely to happen in three days, wrote Yedioth’s Alex Fishman in a front page piece about Israel’s concern that this paves the way for the enormous sale of Russian arms to Iran.
Meanwhile, a Hezbollah commander said that Russia is supplying the organization with heavy weapons and that there were no restrictions on using them against Israel. "When it comes to Israel, Hezbollah doesn't take directions from anyone," another Hezbollah commander told the Daily Beast. But Ynet’s Ron Ben-Yishai wrote that officials in the West and Middle East rejected the report, citing agreements reached between Putin and Netanyahu that prevent such a thing.
Netanyahu is set to compete against himself today for the head of the Likud, which Israeli commentators scorned (with the exception, of course, of Israel Hayom). Yedioth’s Sima Kadmon likened it to North Korea and Maariv’s Ben Caspit called it a ‘democtatorship.’ (See Commentary/Analysis.)
US Ambassdor to Israel Dan Shapiro made clear to Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked that the US is concerned about her ‘NGO transparency bill,’ which targets left-wing and human-rights organizations. Shapiro made it clear to the justice minister that, in contrast to her assertions, the bill has no similarity to any US legislation. The two met yesterday after which the US released a statement saying the bill would have a "chilling effect" on Israeli society. Shaked reacted by slamming US intervention in ‘internal legislation.’
Two warnings of attacks in Israel ended up being false. In the north, a 28-year-old female from Taibe was originally believed to have set out on a terror attack. She was caught and then released from detention after it turned out she was escaping her husband in Jerusalem. Her family said she had no intention of attacking anyone. In the south, dozens of roadblocks were set up after someone called the police saying a woman was on the way to make an attack. Now a hoax is suspected after it was discovered that the woman wasn’t even in Israel.
Separately, near Jenin, Zayd Mahir al-Ashqar, 18, was shot and severely wounded after he “attempted to stab a soldier during a security check" at a checkpoint, the IDF said. No soldiers were injured.
Quick Hits:
- Netanyahu fears more EU sanctions against West Bank settlements - During the monthly meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels next week, a decision is expected on its next steps on the Israel-Palestinian issue, but it is still not clear how harsh it will be. (Haaretz+)
- Police make airport arrest of left-wing activist who turned Palestinians in to PA - Last week, a report showed Ezra Nawi saying that he had turned in Palestinian land brokers to PA security services, who would then kill them. (Haaretz+ and Maariv)
- IDF’s Jewish Identity branch to be moved away from military rabbinate - The army chief of staff's decision is expected to draw harsh criticism from rabbis of the religious Zionist movement as well as Knesset members from Habayit Hayehudi. (Haaretz+)
- Israel releases body of Palestinian killed 3 months earlier – on condition - The Israeli authorities on Monday released the body of Mustafa Adel al-Khatib, 17, who is from Jabal Mukabbir in E. Jerusalem, only on condition that he be buried in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. (Maan)
- Group: Majority of Jerusalem Palestinians detained in 2015 were minors - Israeli forces detained more than 1,900 Palestinians from occupied East Jerusalem in 2015, some two-thirds of whom were minors, 65 of whom were put under house arrest. Palestinian Prisoners’ Center for Studies: Israel uses house arrests on Palestinians under 14 to skirt Israeli law regarding imprisonment of minors. (Maan)
- Locals raise funds to rebuild demolished home of Palestinian attacker - “This campaign is a message to the Israeli occupation that whatever procedures they take, people will continue to support the families of martyrs and victims of occupation,” said an activist involved in the campaign to rebuild the family home of Muhannad al-Halabi in the village of Surda, which Israel demolished Saturday. (Maan)
- Palestinian journalist on hunger strike in critical condition - Palestinian official says health of Mohammed al-Qeq, who has been on a hunger strike in an Israeli jail for 48 days, is deteriorating. Al-Qeq is serving six months in administrative detention for alleged "incitement." (Israel Hayom and Ynet)
- Palestinians illegally paving road passing through Area C - Despite demolition order issued to road passing through Israeli-controlled West Bank area, construction onnecting the village of Tuqu', near Bethlehem, to the Dead Sea continues unhindered. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- Israeli forces level private land to make way for military tower - A resident of the village of Tuqu, Issa Froukh, said that Israeli excavators have leveled 2.5 dunams (0.6 acres) of land since Wednesday, covering the area with cement. (Maan)
- Netanyahu blasts critics who suggested his incitement caused fire at B'Tselem - Although arson was initially suspected in fire at the human rights group's offices, an electrical short is now thought to be the cause. (Haaretz+, Israel Hayom and Maariv)
- New deal to allow IDF officers to retire at 35 with $130,000 package - Defense, Finance ministry talks produce five-year defense budget agreement that includes major pension reforms and streamlining measures. Under deal, defense budget to stand at $15 billion per year. Reforms expected to save $380 million per year. (Israel Hayom)
- Israel welcomes newest submarine with much fanfare - Israel's cutting edge fifth submarine, the INS Rahav, was set to arrive in Israel on Tuesday. The stealthy vessel, with reported second-strike capabilities, will be a key component in Israel's deterrence mechanism. Sixth submarine to arrive in 2019. (Israel Hayom)
- Israel Set to Soften Controversial Stop-and-frisk Bill - Revised bill will not include searches near nightclubs and bars, but will include right to stop and frisk anyone due to a terror threat. (Haaretz+)
- Arabs out: "Afula residents want to maintain the Jewish character of the neighborhood" - Attorney representing the four petitioners against the 45 Arab families who won tenders for land in Afula told Gabi Gazit of 103FM radio: “This is not racism. Also in Arab communities there is a 90% preference for locals.” Gazit said this was stinking and ugly racism by Jews, who do not want to live with Arabs in Afula. (Maariv)
- Crime and Punishment: A soldier wrote "Death to Arabs" on Facebook and was dismissed from commanders' course - Fighter from the Kfir Brigade wrote a post after a woman else published a post that expressed surprise that Channel 2 covered at length the tragic story of a Bedouin family whose three children were killed in a house fire last week in Rahat. Some of the commenters, particularly from the Arab sector, were baffled and angry that she expressed surprise and cursed her. The soldier responded by writing: "Death to Arabs.” One of his friends saw his post and sent it to the brigade commander, who summoned him to clarify. (Maariv)
- Israel appeals decision to let right-wing group run site near Western Wall - Supreme Court appeal claims that deal with Elad restricts government’s role in regulating prayer arrangements at Wall. (Haaretz+)
- Birzeit University condemns Israeli 'military attack' on campus - The West Bank Palestinian university said Israeli soldiers raided the campus in more than 15 military vehicles shortly before 3 a.m., breaching the campus' western gate, storming the university's student council and faculty of science, and confiscating equipment and computers and damaging furniture. (Maan)
- Construction workers in Israel are falling hard between the cracks - Many more workers [who are overwhelmingly Arab – OH] at Israeli building sites getting killed, maimed in falls. Tel Aviv hospital ICU head: ‘The workers are treated almost like raw material, a disposable item.’ (Haaretz+)
- Israeli forces detain 60 Palestinian workers without permits - Israeli police reportedly detained the workers in two Arab Israeli towns. The contractors that hired the Palestinians were also detained. Separately, Israeli forces shot and wounded a Palestinian worker attempting to cross Israel's separation wall. (Maan)
- What Hebrew Wikipedia says about Israelis - We are preoccupied with Jews and wars, liberal arts are out, young women have it over older ones, and Hapoal lost again to Maccabi, according to the list of the 100 most popular entries in 2015. (Haaretz+)
- Jerusalemites take part in 'No Pants Day,' ride trouserless on city's light rail - The 'No Pants Day' is now marked in over 60 cities around the world. The idea behind it is that random passengers board a subway car at separate stops in the middle of winter, without wearing trousers. (Haaretz)
- Broke Tycoon Ejected From Italian Restaurant in Tel Aviv - Chef at upscale eatery takes to social networks to bemoan ‘unforgivable’ behavior of Nochi Dankner, who has debts of $120 million; in rare media interview, the former IDB head admits to living off others' money. (Haaretz+)
- Why Israel's Government Doesn’t Use Its Arsenal to Reduce Inequality - Could the tax system by itself turn out to be a powerful tool to deal with both growth and inequality? (Haaretz+)
- Hamas, factions meet on initiative to reopen Rafah - meeting was held Sunday between Hamas and a committee of Palestinian political factions regarding ongoing efforts towards reopening the Rafah crossing with Egypt. (Maan)
- US Supreme Court Rejects Appeal Over pro-Israel Ad in Boston - The ad by a pro-Israel group uses the word 'savage’ in apparent association to Palestinians or Muslims. (Haaretz)
- Muslims Will Outnumber Jews in U.S. by 2040, Study Finds - Pew Research Center estimates 3.3 million Muslims currently live in U.S., and expects the population to double from its current 1 percent by 2050. (Haaretz)
- Body of first Israeli F-35 fighter jet unveiled in Texas - Named Adir, the plane will now enter advanced production at Lockheed Martin's plant in Fort Worth. Israel will receive its first two F-35s in December. "The F-35 will improve Israel's ability to defend itself from a variety of threats," says official. (Israel Hayom and Ynet)
- In Warsaw, Hundreds March Supporting Israel - March organized by Christian organizations in Poland. 'I've never seen such a large demonstration of support for Israel,' said Israel's envoy to Poland, Anna Azari. (JTA, Haaretz)
- Jewish man attacked by machete-wielding teen in Marseille - Police arrest 15-year-old after Jewish man attacked and lightly wounded next to a synagogue. (Ynet)
- Israeli passenger arrested in Canada after he rioted on flight, forcing an emergency landing - The Israeli smoked in the bathroom and after being caught by the crew began to go wild. Because of the turmoil the pilot was forced to land. (Maariv and JPost)
- Iranian Foreign Minister Points Accusing Finger at Saudis in Times Op-ed - Mohammed Zarif highlights Saudi involvement in terrorism even though Iran itself has regularly been accused of sponsoring terror. (Haaretz)
- Iranian official: Saudi rulers are serving the Zionists and Americans - Saudi policies are serving the interests of the United States and Israel by harming the Muslim world says Iran's judiciary chief. (Agencies, JPost)
- Iran Tries to Limit Diplomatic Fall-out From Saudi Embassy Attacks - Tehran fears that the storming of the embassy by a mob protesting Riyadh's execution of a Shi'ite cleric may derail moves to end years of isolation. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Aid Convoys Head Toward Besieged Syrian Town of Madaya after Russia Pressures Assad - As part of an agreement between warring sides, trucks will enter the rebel-held town, where aid agencies have warned of widespread starvation. (Agencies, Haaretz and Maariv)
- Russian Airstrike Kills 12 Children in Syrian School, Say Activists - At least 12 children, teacher killed with others critically wounded in strike by Russian air force jet, according to Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- France: Russia, Syria Must End Military Operations Against Syrian Civilians - Laurent Fabius says images coming out of Madaya, where aid agencies warn of starvation, shows Assad could not remain in power. (Agencies, Haaretz)
Features:
Government Reveals Some Details of Israeli Army Spending Reforms
But officials mostly mum during tense news conference, failing to reveal full details of new reform. (Haaretz+)
"Why doesn’t anyone care whether he is released or not?"
13 years after the bus bombing in Haifa that killed 17 people, the families who lost loved ones are fighting against the early release of Munir Rajabi, who recently asked to deduct a third of his sentence. Rajabi’s brother called him on the day of the attack and told him he was on his way to make an attack. Rajabi was convicted of covering up an attack. (Eyal Levy, Maariv)
Letters to the Editor: Has Hadassah forgotten its founder? (Haaretz)
The compelling memoirs of Ali Abumghasib
The family Ali Abumghasib, a Palestinian Bedouin from the nomadic tribes that lived in the Bir Al-Saba (Beersheva) region in Palestine, lost everything in 1948. His father became a squatter in the land of some Gaza feudalist, herding a few sheep in a pitiful attempt to survive. Ali, who was born in 1951, ran away from home just months after Israel occupied the Gaza Strip (and the rest of historic Palestine) in 1967, without even informing his parents of his decision. This may seem like a typical refugee story, but it is far from that. For Ali’s odyssey that followed was not only compelled by circumstances, but also choices that for the rest of us may seem extraordinary. (Ramzy Baroud, Maan)
An Israeli's Week in the Recording Studio With Bowie
A surprise phone call in 1995 led to bassist Yossi Fine recording alongside the music legend in New York. He recalls that life-changing experience. (Yossi Fine, Haaretz)
Commentary/Analysis:
But officials mostly mum during tense news conference, failing to reveal full details of new reform. (Haaretz+)
"Why doesn’t anyone care whether he is released or not?"
13 years after the bus bombing in Haifa that killed 17 people, the families who lost loved ones are fighting against the early release of Munir Rajabi, who recently asked to deduct a third of his sentence. Rajabi’s brother called him on the day of the attack and told him he was on his way to make an attack. Rajabi was convicted of covering up an attack. (Eyal Levy, Maariv)
Letters to the Editor: Has Hadassah forgotten its founder? (Haaretz)
The compelling memoirs of Ali Abumghasib
The family Ali Abumghasib, a Palestinian Bedouin from the nomadic tribes that lived in the Bir Al-Saba (Beersheva) region in Palestine, lost everything in 1948. His father became a squatter in the land of some Gaza feudalist, herding a few sheep in a pitiful attempt to survive. Ali, who was born in 1951, ran away from home just months after Israel occupied the Gaza Strip (and the rest of historic Palestine) in 1967, without even informing his parents of his decision. This may seem like a typical refugee story, but it is far from that. For Ali’s odyssey that followed was not only compelled by circumstances, but also choices that for the rest of us may seem extraordinary. (Ramzy Baroud, Maan)
An Israeli's Week in the Recording Studio With Bowie
A surprise phone call in 1995 led to bassist Yossi Fine recording alongside the music legend in New York. He recalls that life-changing experience. (Yossi Fine, Haaretz)
Commentary/Analysis:
Impending lifting of Iran sanctions worries Israel (Alex Fishman, Yedioth/Ynet) Friday will see the removal of the sanctions regime imposed on Iran since
2007, and Russia is already deep in talks with Tehran on the sale of advanced weapons.
Crime Within Israeli Arab Communities Follows Israel Police's Shameful Neglect (Moshe Arens, Haaretz+) The suspicion arises that the government is simply indifferent to violations of the law as long as they seem to affect only Arab citizens of Israel.
NIS 15 billion for Arab sector - on condition of good behavior (Sima Kadmon, Yedioth/Ynet) The new five-year plan for the development of Arab communities would not have passed in the government had it been put to a vote two days after the Dizengoff terror attack rather than two days before. But since it has passed, Netanyahu appointed two babysitters for the plan in the form of Ministers Elkin and Levin, to make sure that only Arab communities who deserve the funding get it.
Israeli Security Forces Are Responsible for All Citizens, Jews and Arabs Alike (Haaretz Editorial) The police do not operate in a vacuum, but rather in tandem with the message conveyed by the Israeli government and its leader, who incite against Arab citizens.
Not all Arabs are to blame (Majdi Halabi, Israel Hayom) The Tel Aviv terrorist was indeed a vile murderer, but he doesn't represent all Israeli Arabs.
In Israel, citizenship for Arabs is always conditional (Nadeem Shehadeh, Haaretz) Arab citizenship in the Jewish state never truly been regarded as being equal to that of Israeli Jews, making them easy targets for Israeli political leaders.
Learning Arabic: the key to coexistence (Avi Nachmani, Yedioth/Ynet) Consensus is growing in Israel on importance of teaching Arabic to children as of first grade. A few examples plucked from Arabic media illustrate how vital speaking Arabic is to get a better grasp of the current conflict; it will also engender honest dialogue and mutual respect.
A Creative Answer to Israel's McCarthyist Bill (Hillel Ben-Sasson, Haaretz+) The proposed law targeting NGOs with left-wing agendas provides an opportunity to breathe new life into political philanthropy in Israel, by widening the base of donors.
Long live the democtatorship: We are not far from the day when Netanyahu will choose his successor (Ben Caspit, Maariv) This is one of the most ridiculous ways to spend four million shekels from the state coffers, but no one here will say anything. Not Likud, where everyone is aligned with the leader, not in the rule of law, and not even in the media.
Calling out the two liberals who can stop Israel's NGO bill (Uri Keidar, Haaretz+) MKs Rachel Azaria and Roy Folkman worked at groups funded by the NIF. Have they checked their liberal, progressive values at the door of the Knesset?
Where is the fair-minded Left? (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) Leftists must take a clear stance against the radical activist who turned in Palestinian land brokers to PA security forces.
Why is Netanyahu running unopposed for the Likud leadership? (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) Because Netanyahu is a-f-r-a-i-d. He’s too scared to even run against himself. Even when he stands alone.
Identity crisis: We do not leave Israel, Israel is leaving us (Lawyer Ron Tira, Maariv) Those born in the 60s are now the backbone of the country, but there is no connection between the Israel where we grew up and that of today. Today's Israel scorns its voters, rejects the developers that build it, makes its farmers extinct and is hostile to its judges.
This Is Your Israel. Be Proud. Let Darkness Fail. (Bradley Burston, Haaretz+) Something snapped in me last week. It began when a cop closed our street. It was Palestinian Israeli Orthodox Christmas in Jaffa. I didn't know it yet, but I wasn't going to be the same after this.
Dead End: In the case of the right-wing government, the worse it is, the better it will be in the future (Ran Adelist, Maariv) The issue of a democratic society is to identify those signs which blossomed and matured into dark regimes in the past, and to fight them. The situation now, from the point of Hebrew University lecturer, Ofer Kassif, is no different to the situation of pre-Nazi Germany. His problem is the Minister of Justice Ayelet Shaked. Inbal Hyman, another person who thinks (based on the Facebook post she published) that there are Nazi overtones in the way the government is conducting itself.
In Stark Contrast to the Bleak Feeling in Israel, a Different Wind Is Blowing in the World (Nitzan Horowitz, Haaretz+) It's not all Putin, Erdogan and book bans. Will this new wind find its way here too?
Hamas' desire to increase West Bank attacks could trigger new Gaza war (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Events in West Bank could have greater impact on the Strip, where Hamas is still investing great efforts on its attack tunnels into Israel.
Hamas' and Hezbollah's pyromania (Prof. Eyal Zisser, Israel Hayom) Though many in Israel believe Hamas and Hezbollah would do anything to avoid conflict, the facts tell a different story.
Israel needs Palestinian unity (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) Israel would benefit from a Hamas-Fatah reconciliation, but won’t see one until it removes its political blinders.
The Knesset has become a source of provocations style MK Smotrich, MK Zohar and MK Hazan and nothing more (Keren Haber, Maariv) Democracy is tested by its substance as well as by process. Netanyahu is uprooting both, and into this vacuum enters a patriotic terminology with Messianic overtones.
Iran-Saudi Tensions Present Unprecedented Opportunity for Israel (Miriam Goldman, Haaretz+) Israel has watched from the sidelines as intra-Muslim conflict has directed attention away from its own policies. But to defang the influence of Iran and Hezbollah, Israel should get closer to the Arab Sunni states, not least Saudi Arabia.
Crime Within Israeli Arab Communities Follows Israel Police's Shameful Neglect (Moshe Arens, Haaretz+) The suspicion arises that the government is simply indifferent to violations of the law as long as they seem to affect only Arab citizens of Israel.
NIS 15 billion for Arab sector - on condition of good behavior (Sima Kadmon, Yedioth/Ynet) The new five-year plan for the development of Arab communities would not have passed in the government had it been put to a vote two days after the Dizengoff terror attack rather than two days before. But since it has passed, Netanyahu appointed two babysitters for the plan in the form of Ministers Elkin and Levin, to make sure that only Arab communities who deserve the funding get it.
Israeli Security Forces Are Responsible for All Citizens, Jews and Arabs Alike (Haaretz Editorial) The police do not operate in a vacuum, but rather in tandem with the message conveyed by the Israeli government and its leader, who incite against Arab citizens.
Not all Arabs are to blame (Majdi Halabi, Israel Hayom) The Tel Aviv terrorist was indeed a vile murderer, but he doesn't represent all Israeli Arabs.
In Israel, citizenship for Arabs is always conditional (Nadeem Shehadeh, Haaretz) Arab citizenship in the Jewish state never truly been regarded as being equal to that of Israeli Jews, making them easy targets for Israeli political leaders.
Learning Arabic: the key to coexistence (Avi Nachmani, Yedioth/Ynet) Consensus is growing in Israel on importance of teaching Arabic to children as of first grade. A few examples plucked from Arabic media illustrate how vital speaking Arabic is to get a better grasp of the current conflict; it will also engender honest dialogue and mutual respect.
A Creative Answer to Israel's McCarthyist Bill (Hillel Ben-Sasson, Haaretz+) The proposed law targeting NGOs with left-wing agendas provides an opportunity to breathe new life into political philanthropy in Israel, by widening the base of donors.
Long live the democtatorship: We are not far from the day when Netanyahu will choose his successor (Ben Caspit, Maariv) This is one of the most ridiculous ways to spend four million shekels from the state coffers, but no one here will say anything. Not Likud, where everyone is aligned with the leader, not in the rule of law, and not even in the media.
Calling out the two liberals who can stop Israel's NGO bill (Uri Keidar, Haaretz+) MKs Rachel Azaria and Roy Folkman worked at groups funded by the NIF. Have they checked their liberal, progressive values at the door of the Knesset?
Where is the fair-minded Left? (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) Leftists must take a clear stance against the radical activist who turned in Palestinian land brokers to PA security forces.
Why is Netanyahu running unopposed for the Likud leadership? (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) Because Netanyahu is a-f-r-a-i-d. He’s too scared to even run against himself. Even when he stands alone.
Identity crisis: We do not leave Israel, Israel is leaving us (Lawyer Ron Tira, Maariv) Those born in the 60s are now the backbone of the country, but there is no connection between the Israel where we grew up and that of today. Today's Israel scorns its voters, rejects the developers that build it, makes its farmers extinct and is hostile to its judges.
This Is Your Israel. Be Proud. Let Darkness Fail. (Bradley Burston, Haaretz+) Something snapped in me last week. It began when a cop closed our street. It was Palestinian Israeli Orthodox Christmas in Jaffa. I didn't know it yet, but I wasn't going to be the same after this.
Dead End: In the case of the right-wing government, the worse it is, the better it will be in the future (Ran Adelist, Maariv) The issue of a democratic society is to identify those signs which blossomed and matured into dark regimes in the past, and to fight them. The situation now, from the point of Hebrew University lecturer, Ofer Kassif, is no different to the situation of pre-Nazi Germany. His problem is the Minister of Justice Ayelet Shaked. Inbal Hyman, another person who thinks (based on the Facebook post she published) that there are Nazi overtones in the way the government is conducting itself.
In Stark Contrast to the Bleak Feeling in Israel, a Different Wind Is Blowing in the World (Nitzan Horowitz, Haaretz+) It's not all Putin, Erdogan and book bans. Will this new wind find its way here too?
Hamas' desire to increase West Bank attacks could trigger new Gaza war (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Events in West Bank could have greater impact on the Strip, where Hamas is still investing great efforts on its attack tunnels into Israel.
Hamas' and Hezbollah's pyromania (Prof. Eyal Zisser, Israel Hayom) Though many in Israel believe Hamas and Hezbollah would do anything to avoid conflict, the facts tell a different story.
Israel needs Palestinian unity (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) Israel would benefit from a Hamas-Fatah reconciliation, but won’t see one until it removes its political blinders.
The Knesset has become a source of provocations style MK Smotrich, MK Zohar and MK Hazan and nothing more (Keren Haber, Maariv) Democracy is tested by its substance as well as by process. Netanyahu is uprooting both, and into this vacuum enters a patriotic terminology with Messianic overtones.
Iran-Saudi Tensions Present Unprecedented Opportunity for Israel (Miriam Goldman, Haaretz+) Israel has watched from the sidelines as intra-Muslim conflict has directed attention away from its own policies. But to defang the influence of Iran and Hezbollah, Israel should get closer to the Arab Sunni states, not least Saudi Arabia.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.