APN's daily news review from Israel

Sunday January 24, 2016
 

Quote of the day:

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Front Page:

Haaretz

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News Summary:
The eviction of settlers from a home in Hebron sparked a coalition crisis, a knife-wielding 13-year-old Palestinian girl was shot dead outside a settlement, cold weather comes to Israel and an American-Israeli basketball coach was fired from an NBA team making top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers. Also in the news, Israeli Opposition leader, Zionist Camp chief MK Isaac Herzog, told the French President that now was not the time for a peace agreement with the Palestinians.
 
Right-wing politicians were furious and some even threatened not to vote on Knesset bills until the 80 settlers, who were evicted Friday from a Hebron home they had entered the day before, were allowed to return. Because the coalition government has such a narrow majority, bills won’t pass if they don’t show. Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said Israel follows the rule of law and no settlers could move into the Palestinian home until proof of ownership was shown and the security situation was examined. But Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who gave the okay for the IDF-enforced eviction, said that the settlers would be able to return, once it was proven that they owned the house. Right-wing politicians, such as Minister of Culture and Sport Miri Regev (Likud) praised the act, saying: “Settlement is an important Zionist act and we must continue and persist with it."
  
Israel Police found that Raqiya Abu Eid, 13, fought with her family and left her home in 'Anata village with the intention to die. She went to nearby Anatot settlement. Her father went after her, but arrived at the scene only after she was shot dead by a civilian guard after entering the gate wielding a knife. Her father was detained for questioning then released. Israel returned the girl’s body to her family, who will bury it in Yatta village, where they are from and where the 15-year-old murderer of Dafna Meir, who was stabbed to death last week, is from. MK Essawi Freij, an Arab MK (Meretz), her death “an extrajudicial killing," and said she should have been restrained rather than killed. “Even if she had a knife, it should have been possible to arrest a girl of that age,” he said.
 
IDF has a new plan to try to influence Palestinian youth: using the ‘Be like Bill’ online meme and changing it to ‘Be like Bilal.' A Channel 2 poll found that two-thirds of Israelis are unhappy with the way Netanyahu is handling the wave of Palestinian violence. They think that someone who threatens to use more force or someone who was a general would be better suited. Also on Saturday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas blasted Palestinian groups lauding violence against Israel. “We support the peaceful national uprising.” He said security coordination with Israel continues. “I won't allow anyone to drag me into a battle not of my choice; I do not want a military battle." But Palestinian authorities are at a loss to stop youth from attacking Israelis, Haaretz+ reported. 
 
Also in the news, Opposition leader Herzog urged French President Francoise Hollande not to push for any moves towards a two-state solution with the Palestinians, saying it wasn’t realistic. Herzog said Israel must first separate from the Palestinians, and only then move towards a two states solution.  
 

Quick Hits:

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Features:

At Death Square, Israeli forces kill two Palestinians: An assailant and a bystander
The soldiers did not shout at the panicked van driver to stop before they began shooting, killing Adnan Mashni, a teenage passenger on his way to physics class. (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+)
Fighting the phenomenon of teenage terrorists
A third of the terrorists of the last few months have been under the age of 20. The Palestinian Authority says that most of them suffer from personal difficulties and prefer to die 'heroically.' (Elior Levy, Ynet) 
Dying for Nothing': Palestinian Authorities at a Loss Trying to Stop Youths From Attacking Israelis
Mohammad Saba’neh is one of six students from the village of Qabatiyah to die while allegedly carrying out a knife attack since October. 'The entire motherland isn’t worth one child,' his father says. (Haaretz+)
How Israel's first foreign minister broke the silence - and was censored in turn
Moshe Sharett decried troops' vandalizing Christian holy sites in 1949, telling lawmakers that such events could tarnish the fledgling state’s international image. Seventy years later, his exact remarks are still classified. (Ofer Aderet, Haaretz+) 
'Mom is in my heart,' says foster son of slain Israeli woman'
'This is the first time I have a home of my own,' said Dafna Meir when she first moved in with her husband. She was murdered by a teenage terrorist on the threshold of that home in Otniel earlier this week. But while Dafna went through life with humor and unending energy, she wasn't afraid to die. (Yifat Erlich, Yedioth)
The Israeli city where coexistence is alive and kicking
Life's good in vibrant Haifa, where Jews are not 'landlords,' but 'tenants,' living alongside Arab neighbors. We have to take this message and go national with it. (Nissan Shor, Haaretz+)
How Switzerland surrendered to Palestinian terrorism
In the wake of a wave of terror perpetrated by Palestinian terrorists in the 1970s, including aircraft hijackings, the Swiss government arranged secret negotiations with senior PLO officials. (Daniel Bettini, Yedioth/Ynet and Agencies, Maariv)
 
Commentary/Analysis:

It's open season on anyone opposing the occupation (Noam Sheizaf, +972mag) There is a campaign being carried out against anyone actively opposing the occupation in Israel, and it doesn’t matter if you’re an activist in the field, a human rights attorney or a former soldier talking about what you were ordered to do.
Don't Celebrate the Israeli Occupation's Impending Demise Just Yet (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) The world will continue to pay hollow lip service in the form of absurd steps, like marking products from the settlements, for which it doesn’t stop apologizing. 
The Israeli Occupation Will End Suddenly (Michael Sfard, Haaretz+) The strength of organizations working to end the occupation and their supporters is greater than we think. 
Israeli Politics: Trapped in 50 Shades of Occupation (Ravit Hecht, Haaretz+) The political debate is really a one-sided war, in which positions range from support for the status quo to a Masada-style annexation. 
Only international pressure will end Israeli apartheid (Amos Schocken, Haaretz+) The growing delegitimization of Israel is this country's own handiwork. Should Israel decide to end apartheid, it will return to being legitimate in every respect. 
A bill modeled on US legislation? More like North Korea (Sima Kadmon, Yedioth/Ynet) Justice Minister Shaked's new NGO labeling bill is set to severely damage free speech in the country, even without the infamous lobbyist-badge clause
Voices around Netanyahu remind there is another way (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) Sobering remarks by army and defense officials this week drowned out the prime minister's usual war-drum talk. 
Ratcheting up the pressure on Israel (David M. Weinberg, Israel Hayom) Sadly, the Obama administration seems to back the Palestinian bid to dodge peace talks and use international pressure to compel Israeli concessions. 
Hebron Settlement's Contribution to Terrorism (Haaretz Editorial) The settlers who lead invasions into Palestinians’ homes and seize their lands will do anything to provoke the Palestinians and Israeli authorities, and foment unrest.
Detainees Dumas: The argument that confessions were extracted through illegal means will not help them (Attorney Yechiel Gutman, Maariv) The line of defense in the trial of detainees of the Duma affair will be based on the argument that use of force during interrogation denied a fundamental principle of admission: that it be voluntary. 

Gaza Is Final Obstacle in Israel-Turkey Reconciliation, but Egypt Is Caught Up in the Mix (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) Will reconciliation between Egypt and Turkey precede that between Turkey and Israel, or will the process work in the reverse direction, in a way that is liable to anger Egypt?
Israeli anti-Semites and American Jewboys, From Dan Shapiro to Wyatt Earp (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) Blasting the 'unruly mob' of Gush Emunim protestors that heckled Kissinger and 'legitimized hatred of Jews,' Yitzhak Rabin wrote: 'I was ashamed.' 
Bennett's criticisms are part of his game-plan (Yonatan Yavin, Yedioth/Ynet) Minister Naftali Bennett attacked the PM, accusing him of going with Defense Minister Ya'alon's 'flow.' But is he correct about who's flowing and who's going?
Bennett is trying to outflank Netanyahu and Ya’alon (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) The premier and defense minister attacked the education minister this week, but failed to address the content of his criticism. 
An Israeli Arab Makes It to America, but Doesn't Feel Saved (Sayed Kashua, Haaretz+) As an immigrant, you have to play the game: You have to tell an American who takes an interest that indeed the U.S. is the fulfillment of a wish you always harbored. 
Colonizing the Hearts of Israeli Arabs With the National Anthem (Rogel Alpher, Haaretz+) The message of 'Hatikva' is no less extreme and nationalist than the Palestinian chant 'In spirit and blood we shall redeem Al Aqsa.'
The problem with Open Hillel (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet)  By seeking to introduce open debate and the inclusion of different opinions, Open Hillel is only giving voice to more of the same: Boycotting Israel and propaganda of lies. A true Open Hillel should fight against silencing pro-Israel voices. 
Prepare for an Earthquake in the Jewish World (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) Religious Jews, of every stripe and flavor, are now doing it for themselves, and the rabbis have never been less relevant. 
With Friends Like Ari Shavit, the Israeli Left Doesn't Need Enemies (Akiva Eldar, Haaretz+) For 15 years he has been shooting words directly at the heart of the left, but since he too sees the occupation as an existential threat to a Jewish and democratic Israel, he is shooting himself in the heart as well.
Abbas isn't going anywhere yet (Ronni Shaked, Ynet) Despite the disappointments, frustrations and deadlock, the Palestinian president is clinging on to power and has not given up hope of seeing a Palestinian state.
Anti-leftist sentiments must not be allowed to affect Israel's justice system (Friday Haaretz Editorial) Deplorable as their acts may be, the selective arrest of Ezra Nawi and other left-wing activists looks suspicious in light of the draconian conditions imposed, including a gag order and an order barring them from meeting with a lawyer.
Preventive mechanism: how long can the military hold its finger over the dam? (Yossi Melman, Maariv) While the prime minister walked in circles, the military establishment is preventing further deterioration of the situation with the Palestinians. But due to the nature of the wave of violence and the lack of a political process the capabilities of the Shin Bet and the IDF are limited. 

It's not only pro-Palestinian students who use intimidation to silence free speech (Hannah Weisfeld, Haaretz+) The behavior of pro-Palestinian students who disrupted a talk by Ami Ayalon at a London university was inexcusable. But too many British Jews also support shutting down free speech – of voices critical of Israel.
Not in his area: Eisenkot dealt with issues that are not within his responsibility (Oded Tirah, Maariv) Eizenkot listed military facts and estimates that were correct, but where are the "opportunities" he spoke of about the Iran nuclear deal and what about the contradictions between those statements and those of the Prime Minister?
Army chief is someone we can trust in these dark days (Yoel Marcus, Haaretz+) IDF commander Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot is unlike many of his predecessors. He sees his job as to protect the country, not the interests of the prime minister.
Move on from the American-Jewish liberal vs. Israeli liberal fight club (Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie, Haaretz+) Enough with the blame game. U.S. Jews have the absolute right to speak out on Israel. But without partners from the Israeli left and center addressing American Jews publicly and unflinchingly nothing will change. 
The legacy of Dafna Meir - an Orthodox feminist who was murdered before her time (Sefi Rachlevsky, Haaretz+) Knowledgeable and generous in describing the Orthodox approach, Dafna Meir presented her egalitarian and feminist position without being coercive or judgmental. 
George Weidenfeld: The Dueling Cavalier Who Fought for Good and Compassion (Ilan Manor, Haaretz) When faced with injustice some turn a blind eye, others plead ignorance. When Lord Weidenfeld saw injustice he fought it, head on. 
Israel's Opposition Leader Has Embraced Netanyahu's Logic (Thursday Haaretz Editorial) Isaac Herzog's feeble promise to 'employ an effective iron fist' against Hamas reveals that there are no longer any differences between the large parties in Israel, putting down any hope for change.
 

'I'm breaking the silence because I'm Zionist, Israeli and a patriot'
He is the 'star' of the aggressive Im Tirzu campaign against Breaking the Silence, but has so far preferred to keep quiet. Now, Avner Gvaryahu is fighting back: he responds to his comrades who accused him of lies, talks about the threats to his life, and explains why his organization actually helps Israeli hasbara abroad. (Interviewed by Yehuda Shohat in Yedioth’s Friday Magazine Ynet)
 
Houston, we have an ally
Texas Governor Greg Abbott was very impressed with Israel during his first visit to the country this week. "There is a powerful connection between Israel and Texas," he says, declaring that "Israel has no stronger supporter than the state of Texas." (Interviewed by Boaz Bismuth in Israel Hayom)

 

Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.