APN's daily news review from Israel
Quote of the day:
"Parents who choose the (Jewish-Arab) bilingual school follow a unique path different to that of most
of Israel's citizens and residents…in order to fight, in their own way, for the values of
coexistence."
--High Court Justice Elyakim Rubinstein, who headed Sunday's panel of six judges, slammed the racist arsonists of the Israeli Yad B'Yad school for trying to harm co-existence and ruled to extend their sentences.**
--High Court Justice Elyakim Rubinstein, who headed Sunday's panel of six judges, slammed the racist arsonists of the Israeli Yad B'Yad school for trying to harm co-existence and ruled to extend their sentences.**
Breaking News:
IDF: 19-year-old Palestinian, Ahmad Hassan Tuba, tried to cross West Bank barrier, pulled out a knife and was shot and killed. (Ynet, Haaretz, Israel Hayom and Maan)
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Three soldiers injured in shooting attack by Palestinian policeman
- Armed, trained and lone terrorist // Amos Harel
- Ministers approved 8-day maternity leave for men
- Study: Babies in Haifa’s most polluted areas born with smaller heads
- Primaries in US begin: Close race in Iowa between two parties
- 10,000 refugee children disappeared across Europe: Fear that they fell victim to human traffickers
- 76-year-old suspected of trying to murder his wife, who is in critical condition
- Minister Levine: In two or three more generations, all the Reform Jews will have assimilated
- Dams in Jordan and Syria are accelerating the drying up of the Dead Sea
- The answer to Netanyahu // Haaretz Editorial
- Talking about Daesh // Odeh Basharat
- Kibbutzim are beginning to include the children from outside into the community – expansion
Yedioth Ahronoth
- Worrying study: “Babies in Haifa born with smaller heads”
- The tunnel dilemma
- 76-year-old critically injured his wife with a hammer
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Palestinian security guard shot IDF soldiers
- Poor but happy – OECD report reveals difficult picture of life in Israel
- Passing grade // Yehuda Sharoni
- Netanyahu: “If we are attacked in the terror tunnels from Gaza – we will respond with greater force than in Operation Protective Edge”
- Worrying study - Because of pollution: Birth defects in children in Haifa bay area
- The Wailing Wall revolution – Historic achievement for Women of the Wall
- Parting from the Attorney General (Yehuda Weinstein)
Israel Hayom
- The historic decision (at the Wailing Wall) – and the dispute
- An agreement of maturity // Shlomo Cesana
- The Wailing Wall: With a view to the West // Dan Margalit
- Everyone claims they won // Yehuda Shlezinger
- “Every suspicion of tunnels on the Gaza Strip border is being examined”
- Worrying study: “Because of pollution in Haifa bay – babies’ heads are smaller”
- Weinstein ends his term, Mandelblitt enters: Today replacing the Attorney General
- Happiness: Maternity leave also for fathers – 8 days
- Good news for soldiers: From today – salary increases by 50%
News Summary:
Babies born with small heads due to Haifa pollution, mixed men and women prayer area at the Wailing Wall and Israeli security fears from Palestinian policemen and Gazan tunnels were top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers. Also in the news, a Hamas official was caught calling the Iranians liars and saying they did not give Hamas aid since 2009, the director of the far-right-wing ‘Im Tirtzu’ organization resigned yesterday and the controversial ‘NGO Transparency bill' goes to a first reading in Knesset today. Lastly, the Israeli and Palestinian leaders work against and in favor of the French peace summit initiative.
Shortly before Palestinian policeman, Amjad Sukari, a 29-year-old father of four, opened fire and injured three Israeli soldiers at a military checkpoint on the edge of Ramallah, he wrote on Facebook: "There is nothing worth living for as long as the occupation hangs over us." And he posted a photo of himself in his car on his way to carry out the attack. It was the second shooting attack by a member of the Palestinian Authority security forces and the IDF fears there will be more. (See Commentary/Analysis below). Now the military is reportedly restricting entry of non-residents to the Ramallah area. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu slammed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for not condemning the shooting.
On the Gaza front, Netanyahu warned Hamas that if it made a tunnel attack the Israeli response would be harsher than the Gaza war in the summer of 2014. The warning came a couple days after Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh spoke of the tunnels at a funeral for seven Hamas members who died in a tunnel collapse.
Maariv quoted Khalil Al-Haya, a senior Hamas official, as saying that “The tunnel in which Hamas members were killed was used in the kidnapping of Israeli soldier Oron Shaul.” Shaul was believed to be killed in the 2014 Gaza war and his body was not found. Hamas said it has his body. Al-Khaya also responded to criticism of the tunnels by UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon, saying: "The tunnels are designed to protect our people and our holy places."
Also in the news, in a leaked telephone conversation, a senior Hamas official called Iranians “incredibly manipulative people” and said they lied about aid to Hamas. Mousa Abu Marzouk can be heard slamming Iran: “We've received nothing from them since 2009. Everything they're saying is a lie.” He also expressed doubt that Iranians ever sent the aid vessels that they said disappeared or were seized en route. Hamas sources told Ynet that only intelligence services such as Israel's are capable of intercepting such phone calls.
Im Tirtzu director Matan Peleg resigned yesterday
over his group's controversial ad campaign that called Israeli artists and intellectuals who support left-wing and human rights organizations ‘foreign agents.’ The ‘culture’ campaign was criticized even by far right-wing politicians and by Netanyahu. Peleg told Channel 2 that the campaign not only harmed Im Tirtzu, but "gave the mistaken impression of personal persecution, which is not the case." [NOTE: The previous ad campaign also targeted individuals, those working in human rights organizations, including B’tselem and Breaking the Silence. However, it was not criticized by right-wing politicians. – OH]
A Yedioth Poll asking if readers agree with Yedioth commentator Merav Betito that a police investigation should be opened against the ‘Im Tirtzu’ campaign against ‘Israeli artists who are foreign agents’ or with Ben-Dror Yemini that no probe should be opened.
30% - Open a probe against Im Tirtzu campaign.
70% - Don’t open a probe against Im Tirtzu campaign.
Today, the controversial ‘NGO Transparency bill’ proposed by Justice Minster Ayelet Shaked (Habayit Hayehudi) will go for its first vote in Knesset. (Maariv) The bill targets the same Israeli NGOs that the Im Tirtzu campaign targeted. The ‘foreign agent’ video campaign was produced by advertiser Moshe Klughaft, who also serves as a senior advisor for Habayit Hayehudi Chairman Naftali Bennett and ran the party’s election campaign last year.
On the diplomacy front, or lack of it, Netanyahu vowed to convince France to stand back from its threat to recognize a Palestinian state if its new initiative to organize an international peace summit failed. Meanwhile, Abbas called on US Secretary of State John Kerry to give his support to the French initiative. Worthy of noting, IDF Maj. Gen. Yoav Mordechai, coordinator of government activities in the territories, said that whoever succeeds Abbas will take a strict, harsher stance toward Israel.
Babies born with small heads due to Haifa pollution, mixed men and women prayer area at the Wailing Wall and Israeli security fears from Palestinian policemen and Gazan tunnels were top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers. Also in the news, a Hamas official was caught calling the Iranians liars and saying they did not give Hamas aid since 2009, the director of the far-right-wing ‘Im Tirtzu’ organization resigned yesterday and the controversial ‘NGO Transparency bill' goes to a first reading in Knesset today. Lastly, the Israeli and Palestinian leaders work against and in favor of the French peace summit initiative.
Shortly before Palestinian policeman, Amjad Sukari, a 29-year-old father of four, opened fire and injured three Israeli soldiers at a military checkpoint on the edge of Ramallah, he wrote on Facebook: "There is nothing worth living for as long as the occupation hangs over us." And he posted a photo of himself in his car on his way to carry out the attack. It was the second shooting attack by a member of the Palestinian Authority security forces and the IDF fears there will be more. (See Commentary/Analysis below). Now the military is reportedly restricting entry of non-residents to the Ramallah area. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu slammed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for not condemning the shooting.
On the Gaza front, Netanyahu warned Hamas that if it made a tunnel attack the Israeli response would be harsher than the Gaza war in the summer of 2014. The warning came a couple days after Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh spoke of the tunnels at a funeral for seven Hamas members who died in a tunnel collapse.
Maariv quoted Khalil Al-Haya, a senior Hamas official, as saying that “The tunnel in which Hamas members were killed was used in the kidnapping of Israeli soldier Oron Shaul.” Shaul was believed to be killed in the 2014 Gaza war and his body was not found. Hamas said it has his body. Al-Khaya also responded to criticism of the tunnels by UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon, saying: "The tunnels are designed to protect our people and our holy places."
Also in the news, in a leaked telephone conversation, a senior Hamas official called Iranians “incredibly manipulative people” and said they lied about aid to Hamas. Mousa Abu Marzouk can be heard slamming Iran: “We've received nothing from them since 2009. Everything they're saying is a lie.” He also expressed doubt that Iranians ever sent the aid vessels that they said disappeared or were seized en route. Hamas sources told Ynet that only intelligence services such as Israel's are capable of intercepting such phone calls.
Im Tirtzu director Matan Peleg resigned yesterday
over his group's controversial ad campaign that called Israeli artists and intellectuals who support left-wing and human rights organizations ‘foreign agents.’ The ‘culture’ campaign was criticized even by far right-wing politicians and by Netanyahu. Peleg told Channel 2 that the campaign not only harmed Im Tirtzu, but "gave the mistaken impression of personal persecution, which is not the case." [NOTE: The previous ad campaign also targeted individuals, those working in human rights organizations, including B’tselem and Breaking the Silence. However, it was not criticized by right-wing politicians. – OH]
A Yedioth Poll asking if readers agree with Yedioth commentator Merav Betito that a police investigation should be opened against the ‘Im Tirtzu’ campaign against ‘Israeli artists who are foreign agents’ or with Ben-Dror Yemini that no probe should be opened.
30% - Open a probe against Im Tirtzu campaign.
70% - Don’t open a probe against Im Tirtzu campaign.
Today, the controversial ‘NGO Transparency bill’ proposed by Justice Minster Ayelet Shaked (Habayit Hayehudi) will go for its first vote in Knesset. (Maariv) The bill targets the same Israeli NGOs that the Im Tirtzu campaign targeted. The ‘foreign agent’ video campaign was produced by advertiser Moshe Klughaft, who also serves as a senior advisor for Habayit Hayehudi Chairman Naftali Bennett and ran the party’s election campaign last year.
On the diplomacy front, or lack of it, Netanyahu vowed to convince France to stand back from its threat to recognize a Palestinian state if its new initiative to organize an international peace summit failed. Meanwhile, Abbas called on US Secretary of State John Kerry to give his support to the French initiative. Worthy of noting, IDF Maj. Gen. Yoav Mordechai, coordinator of government activities in the territories, said that whoever succeeds Abbas will take a strict, harsher stance toward Israel.
Quick Hits:
- **Supreme Court Stiffens Jail Sentence for Bilingual (Jewish-Arab) School Arsonists - Those who attack a the Yad B'Yad bilingual school 'add fuel to the fire' and 'humiliate the Arabs among us,' judge rules, adding 9 months to sentences of Shlomo and Nahman Twito. (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
- Three Jewish teens charged with vandalizing Jerusalem's Dormition Abbey - The indictment was filed Sunday in Jerusalem District Court in the Jan. 17 attack on the Dormition Abbey, located on Mount Zion just outside the Old City of Jerusalem. (JTA, Haaretz)
- Three Palestinian minors held for suspected role in Saturday Damascus Gate stabbing - Two East Jerusalem teens, aged 15 and 16, turn themselves in to police; another East Jerusalem boy, under 12, detained and referred to welfare authorities. (Haaretz+)
- Palestinian shot, injured Sunday during alleged car ramming attack west of Ramallah - Israeli media initially said the driver had been shot dead, but later reported he was shot and injured. The driver's current condition has not been officially confirmed. (Maan)
- Israeli soldiers detain young Palestinian in disputed circumstances at Gush Etzion intersection in West Bank - Israeli media gave contradictory reports on the circumstances of the detention of a young Palestinian man. One witness said forces forced him at gunpoint to step out of the car, “They then took him at gunpoint to an open area, where he was forced to take off his clothes and lie on the ground before they violently beat him.” (Maan)
- Clashes break out near Ramallah as Israeli checkpoint leaves hundreds stranded - Clashes broke out when Israeli soldiers fired tear gas at several vehicles which tried to take alternate dirt roads through the village to reach the southern West Bank, after Israeli forces closed the Jabaa checkpoint, one of the main entrances to Ramallah, for over three hours, holding hundreds of cars in traffic. (Maan)
- Palestinian PM meets with family of imprisoned hunger-striking journalist - Hamdallah said the Palestinian government was exerting all efforts to obtain the immediate and unconditional release of Mohammed al-Qiq, who has been on a hunger strike for 69 days to protest his ongoing administrative detention -- internment without trial or charge. (Maan)
- Terror victims' relatives to gov't: Deport terrorists' families - Relatives of 18 people murdered in terror attacks have written an open letter calling on the government to stiffen the penalty for terrorists' families and increase deterrence. (Ynet)
- Judge reverses lower court's decision, bans left-wing activists from West Bank - District Court Judge Moshe Bar-Am bans Ta’ayush activists Ezra Nawi and Guy Butavia, suspected of exposing to PA Palestinians who sell land to Israelis. (Haaretz+)
- 'Israel will never leave Golan Heights, no matter what' - Foreign Ministry Director General Dore Gold tells gathering in Jerusalem of Israeli ambassadors from around the world: Iran is more dangerous that Islamic State group. Israel has no desire to become involved in Syria conflict, Gold reiterates. (Israel Hayom)
- UN chief reiterates criticism of settlements - In New York Times opinion piece titled "Don't Shoot the Messenger, Israel," U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says it is not sustainable for Israel "to keep lashing out at every well-intentioned critic". "The status quo is untenable," Ban says. (Israel Hayom)
- Some 600 Israeli academics signed a petition: Scrap the new civics textbook - Senior members of the academia call on the President and the Prime Minister not to distribute the controversial version. "Democratic civics should be inclusive and multicultural, but the contents of the book being formulated deepens rifts." (Maariv and JOL)
- MK Stav Shafir: "We have to teach that Rabin was assassinated as a result of right-wing incitement, led by Netanyahu" - Zionist Camp MK sent a letter to Education Minister demanding he "the crude correct errors in the civics textbook" and said: "This is misleading the student body and it is first-rate historical distortion." (Maariv)
- OECD: Israel's Economy Is Strong, but Inequality Is Rampant - Report lauds Israel on consistent economic growth, warns of harm from low employment among ultra-Orthodox men, Israeli Arab women. (Haaretz+)
- Quality of life in Israel among world's highest, report says - Organization for Economic Development and Cooperation cites high employment rate, average per capita income stands at $35,000. Only Japan, Switzerland have higher quality of life. But Israel's poverty rate is 21%, one of the highest in the world. (Israel Hayom)
- PA Ministry of Health sends $1.5 million in medical supplies to Gaza - The supplies included medicine for chronic diseases as well as venous solutions, antibiotics, baby formula, lab equipment and emergency room equipment. (Maan)
- Rabbi Melchior receives prestigious international peace prize - Former Israeli politician and longtime activist honored by The Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East, an organization that works to promote interfaith relations in the region. (Haaretz+)
- WATCH: Herzog Whistled Off Stage Over Delayed Elections for Party Position - Labor leader continues facing internal unrest as protesters force him off stage calling for elections for party secretary-general. (Haaretz+ and Maariv)
- Gas from Israel's Leviathan could reach markets by 2019, Noble Energy manager says - Holding estimated reserves of 622 billion cubic meters off Israel's Mediterranean coast, Leviathan will cost at least $6 billion to develop. (Haaretz+)
- Israel's Leviathan Partners Sell Gas to Turkish Energy Groups in $1.3b Deal - Edeltech Group and Zorlu Enerji plan to build power plants in Israel. (Haaretz+)
- ISIS Twin Suicide Attack Kills at Least 60 in Syrian Capital - Two suicide bombers blew themselves up at site of pilgrimage for Shi'ites from Iran, Lebanon and other parts of the Muslim world. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Main Syrian Opposition Team Lands in Geneva, Might Join Peace Talks - The HNC demands that bombing by Russia and Assad's government stops and aid convoys be allowed into rebel-held besieged areas. (Agencies, Haaretz)
Features:
From the Iranian army to a Jerusalem clinic
Dr. Shahab Davidfor served as a doctor in the Iranian army, made aliyah 2 years ago and is now working in a Romema clinic: he says the Iranian people want to make peace with Israel. (Rotem Elizera, Ynet)
Waking up with Bibi: How a political leader, who appeared to be politically destroyed, is with us for 20 years
They plowed the land, interviewed masses of people, went over the unequivocal surveys and got it wrong all along. This is how journalists and the whole Israeli media missed Israeli Benjamin Netanyahu's victory as far back as the 1996 elections. (Sara Leibovich-Dar, Maariv)
"Instead of a blood alliance, we need to make an alliance of life"
Druze Israeli policeman, Zidan Seif, was killed in the Har Nof synagogue in Jerusalem and saved dozens of worshippers. Over the weekend, his widow, Rinal, were hosted with other Druze families at the homes of religious Jews in the capital for a joint Shabbat. Yifat Ehrlich reported on the project and heard from Rinal why it moved her so much: "Sometimes I feel like I am receiving too much love." (Yifat Ehrlich, Yedioth's '24 Hours' supplement)
Weiners, zombies and goats: Sundance’s Jewish highlights
As Utah’s annual film festival comes to a close, we bring you the best the mishpocha had to offer. (Jordan Hoffman, Times of Israel)
Spain’s Jews, once expelled, now embraced by Spain
A law passed last October grants Spanish citizenship to all descendants of Spanish Jews who apply for the reinstatement of their Renaissance-era citizenship within three years. So what does it mean to the descendants of those Jews to claim Spanish citizenship, 500 years later? (Noga Tarnopolsky, Ynet)
Commentary/Analysis:
Dr. Shahab Davidfor served as a doctor in the Iranian army, made aliyah 2 years ago and is now working in a Romema clinic: he says the Iranian people want to make peace with Israel. (Rotem Elizera, Ynet)
Waking up with Bibi: How a political leader, who appeared to be politically destroyed, is with us for 20 years
They plowed the land, interviewed masses of people, went over the unequivocal surveys and got it wrong all along. This is how journalists and the whole Israeli media missed Israeli Benjamin Netanyahu's victory as far back as the 1996 elections. (Sara Leibovich-Dar, Maariv)
"Instead of a blood alliance, we need to make an alliance of life"
Druze Israeli policeman, Zidan Seif, was killed in the Har Nof synagogue in Jerusalem and saved dozens of worshippers. Over the weekend, his widow, Rinal, were hosted with other Druze families at the homes of religious Jews in the capital for a joint Shabbat. Yifat Ehrlich reported on the project and heard from Rinal why it moved her so much: "Sometimes I feel like I am receiving too much love." (Yifat Ehrlich, Yedioth's '24 Hours' supplement)
Weiners, zombies and goats: Sundance’s Jewish highlights
As Utah’s annual film festival comes to a close, we bring you the best the mishpocha had to offer. (Jordan Hoffman, Times of Israel)
Spain’s Jews, once expelled, now embraced by Spain
A law passed last October grants Spanish citizenship to all descendants of Spanish Jews who apply for the reinstatement of their Renaissance-era citizenship within three years. So what does it mean to the descendants of those Jews to claim Spanish citizenship, 500 years later? (Noga Tarnopolsky, Ynet)
Commentary/Analysis:
No Netanyahu, Not Every Attempt at Diplomacy Is a Threat to Israel (Haaretz Editorial) Israeli officials have offered nothing by scorn for France's new peace
initiative when they should be hoping the U.S. will get on board as well.
Last chance to leave his mark: what the outgoing Attorney General should do on his last day in office (Attorney Yechiel Gutman, Maariv) Israel of 2016 is steeped in hatred and antagonism between left and right, and vice versa. The newest low was reached with the ‘Im Tirtzu’ campaign calling artists foreign agents and Weinstein must order the police to open a criminal investigation against the organization.
Israel Will Finally Invest in Minority Communities but Please, No Strings Attached (Moshe Arens, Haaretz+) The government decision to allocate 15 billion shekels to Israel’s minority communities is a positive move, but achieving true equality will take time.
No to extremists, yes to Zionists (Eli Hazan, Israel Hayom) Im Tirtzu was smart to make a public apology, but it would have been proper to shelve the "foreign agents" campaign.
Careful America, No One Wants a Netanyahu 2020 Presidential Campaign (Amir Oren, Haaretz+) If Cruz can do it, Netanyahu can as well. Reclaiming his American citizenship could put Israel's prime minister in a position to deliver devastation to the U.S. as well.
The nightmare scenario that has worried Israel for months (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Sunday’s attack by a Palestinian Authority security service officer on three Israeli soldiers underscores concerns of wider involvement in terrorism by members of Palestinian security services.
The next step in the wave of terror: The attack at (outside) Beit El marks the opening to the armed intifada (Eliezer Cheney Marom, Maariv) Shooting attacks that increase the number of casualties on both sides can lead to a process of deterioration that will require drastic security measures. These will lead to a loss of confidence and undermine security coordination.
What the latest Snowden leaks tell us about the Israel-Russia relationship (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) There is absolutely nothing about the report which is surprising or damaging to Israel - perhaps it even allows Israel to assess the vulnerability of its communications systems to outside surveillance.
Non, merci (Boaz Bismuth, Israel Hayom) The French foreign minister should recognize a Palestinian state right now and spare us the dog and pony show.
If Ben & Jerry's made ice cream flavors for Israeli politicians (Liz Steinberg, Haaretz+) After a Ben & Jerry's founder designed his newest flavor with Bernie Sanders in mind, Haaretz takes a satirical look at how Israeli politicians could inspire their own ice cream treats. Care for a taste of Penal Butter Swirl or Settlemint Bloc Chip?
Let’s continue writing our history together (El Salvador Foreign Minister Hugo Martínez, Yedioth/Ynet) Following the Israeli government's announcement that it would be closing its embassy in El Salvador in 2017, the El Salvadorian foreign minister recounts the exploits of the country's heroic former consul general in Geneva, who saved 13,000 Hungarian Jewish families from almost certain deportation to death camps.
Compromise creates two Western Walls for two peoples (Yair Ettinger, Haaretz+) Government decision to permit non-Orthodox prayer space recognizes Reform and Conservative Judaism, but overlooks any other form of Judaism, including liberal Orthodoxy.
The illusion of a freeze: The Prime Minister is changing the demographic realities in the West Bank (Karen Haver, Maariv) The indecision attributed to Netanyahu is nothing but a show designed to bring the Day of Judgment, when the annexation of Area C is already a fact on the ground.
Six Reasons Trump Would Be Disaster for U.S. Jews, Israel and the Middle East (Alexander Griffing, Haaretz+) Trump's new approach to foreign policy would leave Israel twisting in the wind.
The wave of terror will continue because this is the way of a popular uprising (Lior Akerman, Maariv) An Intifada always begins spontaneously by lone assailants. With time, organized networks show up and eventually the organizations and terror headquarters join.
The Fight Against Fascism Must Start in Israel Today (Iris Leal, Haaretz+) In Israel, in some circles being left-wing has become synonymous with being a traitor. Our lawmakers must kickback, before it's too late for us all.
The 'professional journalism' behind the silencing of Israeli violence (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) The media is always looking for new exciting 'stories,' but when it comes to the Palestinians and to Israel's rule over them, the threshold of stimulation is constantly rising.
Breaking the Silence is no human rights organization - and I should know (Natan Sharansky, Haaretz+) While Breaking the Silence is not an illegitimate organization, it uses unproven allegations peddled as truths to credulous foreigners in order to override the decisions of a democratic government.
The Left's intolerance (Dr. Haim Shine, Israel Hayom) It is the right of every person in a democratic state, certainly a Jewish state, to think differently.
If you love Israel, act to save her now (Josh Weinberg, Haaretz+) We progressive Jews cannot just sit back and watch the unraveling of the fabric of Israel as an ethically Jewish and democratic state.
Last chance to leave his mark: what the outgoing Attorney General should do on his last day in office (Attorney Yechiel Gutman, Maariv) Israel of 2016 is steeped in hatred and antagonism between left and right, and vice versa. The newest low was reached with the ‘Im Tirtzu’ campaign calling artists foreign agents and Weinstein must order the police to open a criminal investigation against the organization.
Israel Will Finally Invest in Minority Communities but Please, No Strings Attached (Moshe Arens, Haaretz+) The government decision to allocate 15 billion shekels to Israel’s minority communities is a positive move, but achieving true equality will take time.
No to extremists, yes to Zionists (Eli Hazan, Israel Hayom) Im Tirtzu was smart to make a public apology, but it would have been proper to shelve the "foreign agents" campaign.
Careful America, No One Wants a Netanyahu 2020 Presidential Campaign (Amir Oren, Haaretz+) If Cruz can do it, Netanyahu can as well. Reclaiming his American citizenship could put Israel's prime minister in a position to deliver devastation to the U.S. as well.
The nightmare scenario that has worried Israel for months (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Sunday’s attack by a Palestinian Authority security service officer on three Israeli soldiers underscores concerns of wider involvement in terrorism by members of Palestinian security services.
The next step in the wave of terror: The attack at (outside) Beit El marks the opening to the armed intifada (Eliezer Cheney Marom, Maariv) Shooting attacks that increase the number of casualties on both sides can lead to a process of deterioration that will require drastic security measures. These will lead to a loss of confidence and undermine security coordination.
What the latest Snowden leaks tell us about the Israel-Russia relationship (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) There is absolutely nothing about the report which is surprising or damaging to Israel - perhaps it even allows Israel to assess the vulnerability of its communications systems to outside surveillance.
Non, merci (Boaz Bismuth, Israel Hayom) The French foreign minister should recognize a Palestinian state right now and spare us the dog and pony show.
If Ben & Jerry's made ice cream flavors for Israeli politicians (Liz Steinberg, Haaretz+) After a Ben & Jerry's founder designed his newest flavor with Bernie Sanders in mind, Haaretz takes a satirical look at how Israeli politicians could inspire their own ice cream treats. Care for a taste of Penal Butter Swirl or Settlemint Bloc Chip?
Let’s continue writing our history together (El Salvador Foreign Minister Hugo Martínez, Yedioth/Ynet) Following the Israeli government's announcement that it would be closing its embassy in El Salvador in 2017, the El Salvadorian foreign minister recounts the exploits of the country's heroic former consul general in Geneva, who saved 13,000 Hungarian Jewish families from almost certain deportation to death camps.
Compromise creates two Western Walls for two peoples (Yair Ettinger, Haaretz+) Government decision to permit non-Orthodox prayer space recognizes Reform and Conservative Judaism, but overlooks any other form of Judaism, including liberal Orthodoxy.
The illusion of a freeze: The Prime Minister is changing the demographic realities in the West Bank (Karen Haver, Maariv) The indecision attributed to Netanyahu is nothing but a show designed to bring the Day of Judgment, when the annexation of Area C is already a fact on the ground.
Six Reasons Trump Would Be Disaster for U.S. Jews, Israel and the Middle East (Alexander Griffing, Haaretz+) Trump's new approach to foreign policy would leave Israel twisting in the wind.
The wave of terror will continue because this is the way of a popular uprising (Lior Akerman, Maariv) An Intifada always begins spontaneously by lone assailants. With time, organized networks show up and eventually the organizations and terror headquarters join.
The Fight Against Fascism Must Start in Israel Today (Iris Leal, Haaretz+) In Israel, in some circles being left-wing has become synonymous with being a traitor. Our lawmakers must kickback, before it's too late for us all.
The 'professional journalism' behind the silencing of Israeli violence (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) The media is always looking for new exciting 'stories,' but when it comes to the Palestinians and to Israel's rule over them, the threshold of stimulation is constantly rising.
Breaking the Silence is no human rights organization - and I should know (Natan Sharansky, Haaretz+) While Breaking the Silence is not an illegitimate organization, it uses unproven allegations peddled as truths to credulous foreigners in order to override the decisions of a democratic government.
The Left's intolerance (Dr. Haim Shine, Israel Hayom) It is the right of every person in a democratic state, certainly a Jewish state, to think differently.
If you love Israel, act to save her now (Josh Weinberg, Haaretz+) We progressive Jews cannot just sit back and watch the unraveling of the fabric of Israel as an ethically Jewish and democratic state.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.