APN's daily news review from Israel
Monday January 18, 2016
Quote of the day:
“...it is impossible to repent for a sin that never occurred, and to be outraged against a situation
that does not exist. So far, no underground cell has been discovered in the Israeli left wing that has planned
to harm right wingers, soldiers or settlers; so far not a single left winger has been suspected of setting a
synagogue on fire or lynching settlers they found on the street.”
--Peace Now Secretary-General Yariv Oppenheimer slams back at those attacking the left-wing and human rights organizations following a controversial documentary, in which left-wing activist Ezra Nawi bragged he turned in to the Palestinian security Palestinians landbrokers who sold land to settlers.
--Peace Now Secretary-General Yariv Oppenheimer slams back at those attacking the left-wing and human rights organizations following a controversial documentary, in which left-wing activist Ezra Nawi bragged he turned in to the Palestinian security Palestinians landbrokers who sold land to settlers.
You Must Be Kidding:
Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan ordered the cancelation of a cultural event in East Jerusalem on the grounds that the Palestinian Authority was behind it.**
Breaking News:
Pregnant Israeli woman wounded in stabbing attack inside settlement; Palestinian assailant shot (Haaretz, Maan, Ynet)
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Stabbing attack in Otniel: Terrorist murdered woman at entrance to her house
- Senior IDF commander: Hezbollah is learning from fighting alongside Russia and is improving its attack capabilities
- Today, fateful ruling on future of Mega: Franchises’ 3,500 employees to go on strike
- Clinton’s associates: We did not properly assess (Bernie) Sanders’ strength
- Europe is sick of it // Haaretz Editorial
- Moles among us // Odeh Bisharat
- The shirt that upset Paris San Germaine
- Gas signs // Avi Bar-Eli
Yedioth Ahronoth
- Terror at the front door: Dafna Meir was murdered in front of her daughter – “Help me, they stabbed my mother”
- No entry for death // Yifat Ehrlich
- Hebron, capital of terror
- “Like Russian Roulette” – Essay Dafna Meir wrote about the security situation
- They lost hope – Almost no chance of saving the livelihood of the Mega supermarket franchise employees
- They lost their shame – Of all times: Owners of Mega approved a bonus of 560,000 shekels to Chairman Avigdor Kaplan
- The big storm: Today stormy weather and heavy haze
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Dafna was murdered in front of her children – by a Palestinian who broke into her house
- Dafna Meir wrote a week ago: “I have ruminations about the security situation, thoughts about fears, about my husband and about the children”
- Because of fear of infiltration of terrorists: Safe rooms will be locked from inside
- Mega’s last battle
- Mega mistakes // Yehuda Sharoni
- (Police Maj.-Gen.) Ritman case: The policewoman who filed complaint won’t give up – demands he be transferred from his position
- The haze has returned
Israel Hayom
- For her children: Dafna struggled against the terrorist and was murdered
- We face incomprehensible brutality // Haim Shine
- Olmerts attorneys are in last effort for a deal
- Mega at court, supermarkets are closed
- Effort into the night to prevent strike at Egged bus company
- Winter returns: Today is hazy with strong winds – tomorrow rainy and stormy in north
News Summary:
A Palestinian stabbed and killed a 39-year-old mother of six at the door of her home in Otniel settlement – and then escaped, Mega’s employees strike and its chairman received a hefty bonus a moment before the supermarket chain collapses, the US put new sanctions on Iran for its ballistic missile program, just after the country began celebrating the lifting of sanctions, while US President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu made conflicting statements on the subject making top news in the Hebrew newspapers today. Also in the news, Netanyahu made great efforts to stop European Union legislation over settlements and former president Shimon Peres harshly criticized and contradicted the Israeli government in an interview he gave to a German newspaper.
The man who murdered Dafna Meir is still on the run and Jewish residents in the area were told to stay home, as were Palestinian laborers who build in Israeli settlements. Maariv reported that it was believed the murderer knew his victim because he chose her house. Meir was a gynecological nurse at Shaarei Tzedek hospital in Jerusalem. Yedioth interviewed Dr. Ahmed Naser, a doctor who is doing his specialization in the same department. "Dafna was a special person and a devoted nurse to her patients," Dr. Nasser told Yedioth. "It didn't matter who was standing before her - Jew or Arab. We had a special relationship. She always helped me, supported me. She was my best friend in the department. Despite our having differences of opinion, she was a special person, a cut above the rest. So many times she invited me to come to her home in Otniel, but unfortunately, I did not manage to fulfill my promise. Dafna never cared about a person's identity - she treated everyone with the same courtesy and gentleness. She did not deserve to die."
Also on Sunday, Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian man following an attempted stabbing attack in the Nablus district, the IDF said. No-one else was injured in the incident. The Palestinian man was identified as Wissam Marwan Qasrawa, 21, from the village of Masliya south of Nablus.
In an interview with Der Spiegel, Shimon Peres said that Palestinian frustration over the lack of a peace process was what was leading to the violence and he rejected the accusations that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was inciting to violence. He also leveled harsh criticism against the Israeli government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
While Obama lauded the “power of diplomacy” in achieving a nuclear deal with Iran, Netanyahu said that without Israel’s efforts pushing for sanctions, Iran would have had the bomb and that the removal of the sanctions allows Iran to have more resources for its “international terrorist activity.” Indeed, Teheran celebrated as over $100 billion of funds were unfrozen and now it can buy new commercial planes [many Iranian planes have crashed because the were so old – OH]. But the US also imposed new sanctions over Iran’s ballistic missile program.
Last night, Netanyahu asked the leaders of five countries to vote today against the EU resolution that sharpened the distinction between Israel proper and West Bank settlements and limit EU-Israel agreements to inside the 1967 borders. Israeli diplomats in Europe were also working working overtime. And Science Minister Ofir Akunis (Likud) said, "Nothing the EU does will remove us from our land." (Also, Maariv)
A Palestinian stabbed and killed a 39-year-old mother of six at the door of her home in Otniel settlement – and then escaped, Mega’s employees strike and its chairman received a hefty bonus a moment before the supermarket chain collapses, the US put new sanctions on Iran for its ballistic missile program, just after the country began celebrating the lifting of sanctions, while US President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu made conflicting statements on the subject making top news in the Hebrew newspapers today. Also in the news, Netanyahu made great efforts to stop European Union legislation over settlements and former president Shimon Peres harshly criticized and contradicted the Israeli government in an interview he gave to a German newspaper.
The man who murdered Dafna Meir is still on the run and Jewish residents in the area were told to stay home, as were Palestinian laborers who build in Israeli settlements. Maariv reported that it was believed the murderer knew his victim because he chose her house. Meir was a gynecological nurse at Shaarei Tzedek hospital in Jerusalem. Yedioth interviewed Dr. Ahmed Naser, a doctor who is doing his specialization in the same department. "Dafna was a special person and a devoted nurse to her patients," Dr. Nasser told Yedioth. "It didn't matter who was standing before her - Jew or Arab. We had a special relationship. She always helped me, supported me. She was my best friend in the department. Despite our having differences of opinion, she was a special person, a cut above the rest. So many times she invited me to come to her home in Otniel, but unfortunately, I did not manage to fulfill my promise. Dafna never cared about a person's identity - she treated everyone with the same courtesy and gentleness. She did not deserve to die."
Also on Sunday, Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian man following an attempted stabbing attack in the Nablus district, the IDF said. No-one else was injured in the incident. The Palestinian man was identified as Wissam Marwan Qasrawa, 21, from the village of Masliya south of Nablus.
In an interview with Der Spiegel, Shimon Peres said that Palestinian frustration over the lack of a peace process was what was leading to the violence and he rejected the accusations that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was inciting to violence. He also leveled harsh criticism against the Israeli government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
While Obama lauded the “power of diplomacy” in achieving a nuclear deal with Iran, Netanyahu said that without Israel’s efforts pushing for sanctions, Iran would have had the bomb and that the removal of the sanctions allows Iran to have more resources for its “international terrorist activity.” Indeed, Teheran celebrated as over $100 billion of funds were unfrozen and now it can buy new commercial planes [many Iranian planes have crashed because the were so old – OH]. But the US also imposed new sanctions over Iran’s ballistic missile program.
Last night, Netanyahu asked the leaders of five countries to vote today against the EU resolution that sharpened the distinction between Israel proper and West Bank settlements and limit EU-Israel agreements to inside the 1967 borders. Israeli diplomats in Europe were also working working overtime. And Science Minister Ofir Akunis (Likud) said, "Nothing the EU does will remove us from our land." (Also, Maariv)
Quick Hits:
- IDF redeploys to West Bank positions and checkpoints it shuttered years ago - Redeployments include permanent garrison at Shedma, pillboxes in Nablus area and checkpoints outside Arab towns. (Haaretz+)
- Jewish extremists vandalize Jerusalem's Dormition Abbey - The vandals wrote anti-Christian slogans such as 'Death to the heathen Christians the enemies of Israel' on the walls and doors of the building. 'We will protect interfaith coexistence in Israel,' Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan said. (Haaretz+, Ynet, Maan and Israel Hayom)
- Pope visits Rome synagogue, condemns religious violence - On his first visit as pontiff to a synagogue, Pope Francis says, "Neither violence nor death will ever have the last word before God." He calls for "rediscovery" of Christianity's Jewish roots, says Catholics must reject all forms of anti-Semitism. (Agencies, Israel Hayom)
- Gas for cooking and heating in short supply in Gaza - Israel’s Paz Oil Company, which supplies the Strip, blames bad weather; Palestinians call for additional pipeline. (Haaretz+)
- Because of the fear of terrorist infiltration – safe rooms to be locked from the inside - The Home Front Command expects to begin the project by summer. In the new method it will be possible to shield every room in the house. (Maariv)
- **Israel cancels cultural event in E. Jerusalem saying Palestinian Authority was behind it - PA not permitted to operate in capital, but Palestinians say function had nothing to do with politics. (Haaretz+)
- Netanyahu: I support the 'Transparency Bill' but drop the ID tag provision - Speaking at the weekly cabinet meeting, the prime minister expressed hope that EU foreign ministers 'will not continue with the double standard against Israel.' (Haaretz+, Ynet and Israel Hayom)
- Netanyahu's Changes to 'Transparency Bill' Could Affect Right-wing NGOs - The version of the bill being promoted by the PM, who said that all foreign government funding should be disclosed from the first shekel, would mean the law would apply to groups such as 'World Yisrael Beiteinu.' (Haaretz)
- Palestinian hunger striker Muhammad al-Qiq taken to ICU after fainting - Doctors and officials from the Israeli Prison Service tried to convince Al-Qiq to break his hungerstrike, but Al-Qiq refused. He suffers from severe pains in his abdomen, eyes and limbs, but IPS continues to tie him to his bed. The journalist is striking against Israel imprisoning him without trial or charges. (Maan)
- Arrested left-wing activist suspected of contact with foreign agent finally meets lawyer - Meeting took place Friday after fears grew over man’s mental and physical state, even though a Jerusalem court allowed for him to be held without seeing a lawyer. (Haaretz+)
- Israeli settlement security guards detain Palestinian shepherd - Israeli civilian security guards from the illegal Israeli settlement of Efrat handcuffed and took away Salim Ahmad Ziyada, 20, from the southern Bethlehem village of Wadi Rahhal as he was leading a herd of sheep near the settlement's fence on a hilly area. (Maan)
- Israel aims to compel social media to combat Palestinian incitement - Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan proposes passing legislation together with Western countries to force social media platforms to remove posts that directly incite to violence. Legal advocacy group targets Facebook founder in bid to combat incitement. (Israel Hayom)
- El Salvador threatens to move its embassy to Ramallah - In reaction to Israel's decision to close its embassy in San Salvador due to budget cut, El Salvador says this will strengthen voices within country opposed to ties with Israel. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- Palestinians arrest negotiations aide suspected of spying for Israel - A staffer in the office of the chief negotiator Saeb Erekat arrested on suspicion of 'collaborating' and leaking documents to Israel. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Senior IDF Officer: Russian Know-how in Syria Will Improve Hezbollah’s Offensive Capabilities - Brig. Gen. Muni Katz writes that the guerrilla group will be learning a lot from its senior partner in the Syrian conflict. (Haaretz+)
- Cinema chain uses 'Minions' to draw Arab children to the movies - A father’s efforts to organize screenings of films dubbed into Arabic could spark new trend in local movie theaters. (Haaretz+)
- Palestinian Short Film Makes Oscars Short List - 'Ave Maria' takes a comedic look at an encounter between Palestinian nuns and a Jewish settler family in the West Bank. (Haaretz)
- Bennett makes up with Foreign Ministry union over attack on its workers - Israel's education minister affirms he meant only a few employees are problematic, while union head states specific diplomats as not representing his ministry. (Haaretz+)
- Olmert Expected to Sign Plea Bargain for Concurrent Sentences - Deal will ensure former prime minister serves forthcoming sentence concurrently with 18 months already dealt in Holyland case. (Haaretz+)
- Potentially major gas reserves discovered in Israeli waters - Market reaction to the findings at Daniel fields is restrained by low energy prices and high drilling costs. (Haaretz+)
- Bill for reforming status of African asylum seekers shot down in key committee - Bill would grant 41,000 refugees who cannot return to Sudan and Eritrea the right to live and work in Israel, as well as to receive national health insurance. (Haaretz+)
- How US-Iran prisoner swap drama unfolded in fits and starts- Deal to release 4 Americans in return for 7 Iranians almost fell apart because of Washington's threat in December to impose new sanctions over Tehran's recent ballistic missile tests. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Islamic State kidnaps 400 Syrian civilians in Deir al-Zor - Syria's state news agency reports massacre by ISIS during terror organization's attacks on the city, at least 300 people killed, including women and children. (Agencies, Ynet)
Features:
The accuser from Hebron, the accused from Duma
A notorious Hebron settler has filed a complaint against the elder of the Dawabsheh family, who lost a son, daughter-in-law and grandson to an arson fire allegedly set by settler terrorists. (Amira Hass, Haaretz+)
Revealed The U.K. Foreign Office’s Secret Survey to 'Measure Zionist Influence'
In 1971 seven British embassies and Whitehall diplomats were asked to evaluate Zionist activity in the U.S. and Europe. Their responses echoed anti-Semitic notions of Jewish financial power, dual loyalty and undue political influence. (Dave Rich, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
A notorious Hebron settler has filed a complaint against the elder of the Dawabsheh family, who lost a son, daughter-in-law and grandson to an arson fire allegedly set by settler terrorists. (Amira Hass, Haaretz+)
Revealed The U.K. Foreign Office’s Secret Survey to 'Measure Zionist Influence'
In 1971 seven British embassies and Whitehall diplomats were asked to evaluate Zionist activity in the U.S. and Europe. Their responses echoed anti-Semitic notions of Jewish financial power, dual loyalty and undue political influence. (Dave Rich, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
I Want to Be a Ghetto Jew (Yossi Klein, Haaretz+) Our Israeliness has changed. Today it is religious, nationalist and brutal. It
has pushed out the moderate Diaspora Judaism.
Holy War: The Chief Rabbinate is jeopardizing the IDF’s basic principles (Keren Haber, Maariv) If the IDF is indeed a national army, so removing the ‘Jewish consciousness’ branch from the Military Rabbinate is a necessary step. It is a source of power that should not have been created in the first place.
Ari Shavit, You’ve Fallen Into the Trap of 'Extremists on Both Sides' (Yariv Oppenheimer, Haaretz+) As opposed to the Haaretz columnist's claim, in reality not a single word has been spoken in support of left-wing activist Ezra Nawi’s statements about informing on Palestinians to the Palestinian Authority.
Why it's scarier this time around (Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man, +972mag) There is nothing new about the multi-pronged attack on human rights and anti-occupation activists in Israel, but there’s something different this time. Something scarier.
Living in a dream world: Obama's Hollywood vision of the Mideast (Alex Fishman, Yedioth/Ynet) The Americans may think the lifting of sanctions will lead to a utopian vision, but what's in store for Israel right now is increased vigilance. The danger has, at best, been postponed.
We need brave interfaith dialogue (Rabbi Yehuda Gilad, Israel Hayom) Religious leaders who don't address problematic texts from their own faiths are doing nothing to change things.
Spying on the Salt of the Earth (Odeh Bisharat, Haaretz+) Not even in our wildest dreams did we Arabs think the day would come when the walls belonging to Jews would also sprout ears.
Calculated conflict: Iran does not want to increase tensions between it and Saudi Arabia (Dr. Joel Guzansky and Erez Shtreem, Maariv) Despite the uproar over the execution of the Shia Sheikh Nimr, Saudi Arabia and Iran also have an interest right now to lower the flames.
Are Israel's existential threats slowly disappearing? (Edo Konrad, +972mag) The former head of the Mossad says Israel no longer faces existential threats, while one of Netanyahu’s top advisors calls the Sunni Arab states of the Middle East ‘Israel’s allies.'
The apple of Obama's eye (Boaz Bismuth, Israel Hayom) Welcome to the new American age: Iran is in, the Gulf states are out.
The Real Threat for Israel From EU's Border-drawing Resolution (Haaretz Editorial) An impending EU resolution doesn't endanger Israel economically, but does open the door for other countries to adopt the same position on settlements.
One step forward, two steps back (Dr. Reuven Berko, Israel Hayom) The Palestinians are once again threatening to dismantle the PA, ignoring the fact that doing so would hurt them more than it would hurt Israel.
Cause for concern: In Europe they are concerned about the erosion of the foundations of Israeli democracy (Uri Savir, Maariv) Other countries are allowed to criticize Israel's policies. That does not make them anti-Semitic, but rather the opposite. It is the duty of every true friend of ours.
America's new ally, Iran (Elliott Abrams, Israel Hayom) When the U.S. appears unable to differentiate between enemies and allies, it gets fewer allies and its enemies grow stronger.
Empty talk: Abbas is a minion of the left and claims to be a democratic leader (Omer Dustri, Maariv) The words of the chairman of the Palestinian Authority that were broadcast in a speech at the Meretz Conference could mislead people to think he is a suitable partner. But flattery to the Israeli left is one thing and the reality is another.
Worried About Intersectionality? Oppose the Israeli Occupation (Amna Farooqi, Haaretz) Amma Farooqi about how the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is discussed today in college campuses: ‘Through J Street U, I’ve learned that it’s possible to be both pro-Israel and progressive.’
Holy War: The Chief Rabbinate is jeopardizing the IDF’s basic principles (Keren Haber, Maariv) If the IDF is indeed a national army, so removing the ‘Jewish consciousness’ branch from the Military Rabbinate is a necessary step. It is a source of power that should not have been created in the first place.
Ari Shavit, You’ve Fallen Into the Trap of 'Extremists on Both Sides' (Yariv Oppenheimer, Haaretz+) As opposed to the Haaretz columnist's claim, in reality not a single word has been spoken in support of left-wing activist Ezra Nawi’s statements about informing on Palestinians to the Palestinian Authority.
Why it's scarier this time around (Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man, +972mag) There is nothing new about the multi-pronged attack on human rights and anti-occupation activists in Israel, but there’s something different this time. Something scarier.
Living in a dream world: Obama's Hollywood vision of the Mideast (Alex Fishman, Yedioth/Ynet) The Americans may think the lifting of sanctions will lead to a utopian vision, but what's in store for Israel right now is increased vigilance. The danger has, at best, been postponed.
We need brave interfaith dialogue (Rabbi Yehuda Gilad, Israel Hayom) Religious leaders who don't address problematic texts from their own faiths are doing nothing to change things.
Spying on the Salt of the Earth (Odeh Bisharat, Haaretz+) Not even in our wildest dreams did we Arabs think the day would come when the walls belonging to Jews would also sprout ears.
Calculated conflict: Iran does not want to increase tensions between it and Saudi Arabia (Dr. Joel Guzansky and Erez Shtreem, Maariv) Despite the uproar over the execution of the Shia Sheikh Nimr, Saudi Arabia and Iran also have an interest right now to lower the flames.
Are Israel's existential threats slowly disappearing? (Edo Konrad, +972mag) The former head of the Mossad says Israel no longer faces existential threats, while one of Netanyahu’s top advisors calls the Sunni Arab states of the Middle East ‘Israel’s allies.'
The apple of Obama's eye (Boaz Bismuth, Israel Hayom) Welcome to the new American age: Iran is in, the Gulf states are out.
The Real Threat for Israel From EU's Border-drawing Resolution (Haaretz Editorial) An impending EU resolution doesn't endanger Israel economically, but does open the door for other countries to adopt the same position on settlements.
One step forward, two steps back (Dr. Reuven Berko, Israel Hayom) The Palestinians are once again threatening to dismantle the PA, ignoring the fact that doing so would hurt them more than it would hurt Israel.
Cause for concern: In Europe they are concerned about the erosion of the foundations of Israeli democracy (Uri Savir, Maariv) Other countries are allowed to criticize Israel's policies. That does not make them anti-Semitic, but rather the opposite. It is the duty of every true friend of ours.
America's new ally, Iran (Elliott Abrams, Israel Hayom) When the U.S. appears unable to differentiate between enemies and allies, it gets fewer allies and its enemies grow stronger.
Empty talk: Abbas is a minion of the left and claims to be a democratic leader (Omer Dustri, Maariv) The words of the chairman of the Palestinian Authority that were broadcast in a speech at the Meretz Conference could mislead people to think he is a suitable partner. But flattery to the Israeli left is one thing and the reality is another.
Worried About Intersectionality? Oppose the Israeli Occupation (Amna Farooqi, Haaretz) Amma Farooqi about how the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is discussed today in college campuses: ‘Through J Street U, I’ve learned that it’s possible to be both pro-Israel and progressive.’
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.