APN's daily news review from Israel
Thursday February 4, 2016
Quote of the day:
"I told him I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, and he said ‘Yes, this is the situation
today.’"
--Art curator Nira Itzhaki, who represents Israeli photographer Miki Kratsman, retells how conversation she had with Israeli art collector Doron Sabag, who told her that the joint exhibit of Kratsman and the Chinese artist and dissident, Ai Weiwei, about refugees and Palestinians at the Tel-Aviv Museum of Art will likely be nixed due to the 'political situation.' It was.
--Art curator Nira Itzhaki, who represents Israeli photographer Miki Kratsman, retells how conversation she had with Israeli art collector Doron Sabag, who told her that the joint exhibit of Kratsman and the Chinese artist and dissident, Ai Weiwei, about refugees and Palestinians at the Tel-Aviv Museum of Art will likely be nixed due to the 'political situation.' It was.
You Must Be Kidding:
“All Bedouin need to be shot as soon as they are identified.”
-One of the answers to the question, ‘What will you do if you identify a Bedouin near an embankment stealing military equipment’ that was on an IDF questionnaire distributed among IDF reserve soldiers – and which sparked outrage.
Breaking News:
Two 13-year-old Arab Israeli girls stab and lightly wound a security guard in Ramle (Haaretz, Ynet and Israel Hayom)
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Border Policewoman killed in attack in Jerusalem; Terrorists came from West Bank and carried guns, knives and explosives
- Operation of a terror cell // Amos Harel
- Exception to the routine of attacks // Nir Hasson
- Sharp budget cut to the main body battling human trafficking
- Health of administrative detainee, who is hunger-striking 72 days, has deteriorated; High Court to discuss his petition today
- Women who worked with Moshe Ivgi say he sexually harassed them; Actor denies
- Economy Ministry against the plant nurseries who employ Jews on Shabbat
- Outrageous injustice // Haaretz Editorial
- AIPAC in Israel // Ari Shavit
Yedioth Ahronoth
- Hero – Coordinated terror attack at Damascus Gate yesterday; When Border Police force ran into two armed Palestinians, Hadar Cohen, 19, did not hesitate: She shot the terrorist who stabbed her friend, and saved her life. But another terrorist was waiting on the side and opened fire. Abu Mazen embraces terror: Invited the terrorist’s families to his office
- (Actor Moshe) Ivgi Storm
- What will you show us in Duma? “Homes that were set on fire” – Special: The transcript of Amiram Ben-Uliel, who admitted to the horrifying murder of the Dawabsheh family
- Soon in the educational program: The Mizrachi revolution of the Education Ministry
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- “Hadar prevented a mass murder”
- Dangerous trap // Ben Caspit
- Unsatisfying answer // Eliezar Cheney Merom
- Ivgi’s troubles: Seven women claim he sexually harassed them
Israel Hayom
- Heroism of the female fighters – They were only sworn in six days ago – and already they were put on the front line at Damascus Gate
- Organized cell, no longer the ‘lone attacker’ // Yoav Limor
- Protecting the path to the Wailing Wall with their bodies // Nadav Shragai
- The Moshe Ivgi storm: “Sexually harassed 7 women”
- Obama made a speech at a mosque: “Statements against Muslims is unforgivable”
- Gas agreement draft reached the High Court: Netanyahu asked to appear before the judges
- Health Ministry statistics prove: Heads of babies in Haifa are the same as the rest of the country
News Summary:
The killing of an Israeli Border Policewoman in an organized attack by three Palestinians, the conflicting information about whether babies are affected by Haifa Bay pollution and the accusations of sexual harassment against a famous actor were top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers.
The Israeli analysts declared that because the attack Wednesday was committed by three Palestinians with various weapons, it was an escalation in the level of the wave of violence. The analysts also asked why Hadar Cohen, 19, who was killed, and a second Border Policewoman, who was injured, were stationed at Damascus Gate, where numerous attacks have taken place, despite only being recruited two months ago and still being in basic training. The three attackers, two of them aged 19 and one aged 20, were friends from the Jenin-area village of Qabatiya, and one of them was friends with another young Palestinian who reportedly tried to stab a soldier at a checkpoint and was shot dead. (Maariv) Israel Hayom expressed outrage that a few hours after the attack Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with families of 11 other attackers, who asked him to pressure Israel to return the bodies of their children.
Meanwhile, the Interior Minister revoked the temporary residency of the father of the Palestinian young man who made a ramming and stabbing attack wounding four Israelis in Hadera in October.
Some Israelis are accusing the right-wing of being behind accusations by seven women of sexual harassment against the beloved actor Moshe Ivgi, Maariv reported. The story is all over the social media networks of Israelis, and some say that because he appeared in a election broadcast for the Zionist Camp (Labor party) ahead of last year’s March elections, he is being targeted.
The killing of an Israeli Border Policewoman in an organized attack by three Palestinians, the conflicting information about whether babies are affected by Haifa Bay pollution and the accusations of sexual harassment against a famous actor were top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers.
The Israeli analysts declared that because the attack Wednesday was committed by three Palestinians with various weapons, it was an escalation in the level of the wave of violence. The analysts also asked why Hadar Cohen, 19, who was killed, and a second Border Policewoman, who was injured, were stationed at Damascus Gate, where numerous attacks have taken place, despite only being recruited two months ago and still being in basic training. The three attackers, two of them aged 19 and one aged 20, were friends from the Jenin-area village of Qabatiya, and one of them was friends with another young Palestinian who reportedly tried to stab a soldier at a checkpoint and was shot dead. (Maariv) Israel Hayom expressed outrage that a few hours after the attack Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with families of 11 other attackers, who asked him to pressure Israel to return the bodies of their children.
Meanwhile, the Interior Minister revoked the temporary residency of the father of the Palestinian young man who made a ramming and stabbing attack wounding four Israelis in Hadera in October.
Some Israelis are accusing the right-wing of being behind accusations by seven women of sexual harassment against the beloved actor Moshe Ivgi, Maariv reported. The story is all over the social media networks of Israelis, and some say that because he appeared in a election broadcast for the Zionist Camp (Labor party) ahead of last year’s March elections, he is being targeted.
Quick Hits:
- Israeli cop indicted for exposing Jewish women who spent time with Arabs to extremist group - The head of the right-wing group LEHAVA says the Border Police officer should have received a citation of merit, not an indictment. (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
- 70 right-wing Israelis tour Aqsa compound, Palestinians denied entry - Witnesses said that as many as 70 Israelis entered the compound through the Dung Gate, accompanied by nearly 20 Israeli Border Police and two Israeli intelligence officers. (Maan)
- Palestinian hunger striker Mohammed Al-Qiq's condition takes a turn for the worse - Al-Qiq launched a hunger strike 72 days ago to protest his detention without trial. UN calls for his release. (Haaretz, Israel Hayom and Maan)
- Israel to hand over long-time Jordanian prisoner after hunger strike - Akram Zuhra had been on hunger strike since Jan. 23, demanding his release after he completed a 16-year sentence. (Maan)
- Did Israel have a hand in the tunnel collapse in Gaza? Gen. Mordechai: "God knows" - After two more Hamas activists were killed in a tunnel collapse, COGAT director Gen. Poli Mordechai spoke with Maan News and suggested that the residents of Gaza don’t deal with “death tunnels" and rather stay away from them, especially in light of reports of their collapse. (Maariv)
- Hamas released a PR video: This is how tunnels are dug into Israel - The organization's promotional video was posted Wednesday morning, just after another Hamas commander and activist were announced killed by a tunnel collapse. Another eight were missing. (Maariv+VIDEO)
- IDF was filmed by local Gazans searching for Hamas tunnels - Senior Hamas member Mahmoud al-Zahar claimed the tunnels crossed the border into Israel, but then recanted and said they were only defensive. (Ynet)
- Former head of GOC Southern Command: "We need to reach (senior Hamas politician Ismail) Haniyeh and (Hamas military leader Mohammed) Deif’s hiding place" - Brigadier General (res.) Zvika Fogel said that the Israeli leadership is “scared…We're always on the defense. Once, we knew how to take power and use it wisely and with cunning. Today we use it with intensity. Even (interviewer) Nissim Mishal can destroy 11,000 homes in Gaza with the Air Force, but to get to the enemy and defeat it, we need a little more than that, and that is something no one is going to do. We wait in our tunnels, instead of going to the tunnels there." (Maariv/103FM)
- Ultra-Orthodox politicians intervene in Israeli army affairs to save Jewish Identity branch - Heads of Shas, United Torah Judaism meet with Defense Minister Ya'alon and IDF Chief of Staff Eisenkot, who ultimately reject bid to keep Jewish Awareness Department within the Military Rabbinate. (Haaretz+)
- Due to criticism: Education Ministry made amendments to concepts about citizenship for matriculation exam - Public pressure on the part of teachers, lecturers and MKs led to changes. Among other things, critics said that the Arab sector (Arab [sic – Muslim], Christian, Druze) were divided into good and bad Arabs. Moreover, there was a complete distinction between the phrases "decision by majority” and “tyranny of the majority,” but it wasn’t clear from the definition that protecting minority rights is essential for the majority decision to be legitimate. (Maariv)
- **IDF apologizes for insulting questionnaire: “We will put on trial those responsible” - IDF was quick to apologize to heads of Bedouin community, who were hurt by the questionnaire distributed among reserve soldiers, which asked: “What will you do if you identify a Bedouin near an embankment stealing military equipment” and offered as one of the answers “All Bedouin need to be shot as soon as they are identified.” (Maariv, p. 13 and MAKO+PHOTO)
- Israel proposes construction enforcement units for Arab communities - Mayors of Arab communities opposes plan, say they will not cooperate unless all demolition orders are frozen. (Haaretz+)
- "Labor Party Youth " to Attorney General: Open a criminal investigation against (settler) Zeev Hever and ‘Amana’ - The petition comes in the wake of the Channel 10 expose by reporter Raviv Drucker, which presented cases in which Amana/Al-Watan organization, headed by Hever, was involved in forging land transactions as if Palestinians sold settlers land. Chairman of the Labor Youth "Such a serious issue must end with an investigation with the focus on Ze'ev Hever." (Maariv)
- Legislative Bill: 50,000 shekel fine for refusing to provide services to the communities of Judea and Samaria - The private bill of MK Shuli Mualem Rafaeli, which was approved by a majority of 51 representatives of the coalition, also states that there will be no need to prove damage due to lack of delivery service to West Bank settlements. (Maariv)
- Israeli settlers assault Palestinian man in Hebron - Raad Muhammad al-Haddad, 21 was evacuated to hospital in Hebron after a group of settlers from the illegal Kiryat Arbaa settlement assaulted him. (Maan)
- Prime Minister's Office: It's not in Israel's interest to make noise over BDS movement - Knesset meeting reveals that Strategic Affairs Ministry has been allotted $32.8 million in fight against Israel boycott movement, while Foreign Ministry was allotted just $10 million. (Haaretz+)
- IDF general says Israel effectively part of coalition against ISIS - Israeli military sharing intelligence with allies battling the Islamic State group, Maj. Gen. Nitzan Alon says. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Police oppose prosecuting disgraced ex-Israeli interior minister over harassment allegations - Officials believe women's testimonies that Silvan Shalom molested them point to serial behavior, but none have filed a formal complaint. (Haaretz+)
- Netanyahu denounces Israeli tourism minister's attack on U.S. Reform Jews - 'Reform and Conservative Jews are part and parcel of the Jewish people,' the prime minister says after U.S. rabbis accused Yariv Levin of bias. (Haaretz+)
- U.K. anti-Semitic incidents down 22 percent, says security group - After reaching a record 1,168 anti-Semitic incidents in 2014, 2015 sees 924 though many remain unreported and figures remain 'unacceptably high.' (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Presbyterian group promotes two-state solution in new anti-boycott pamphlet - Presbyterians for Middle East Peace hope to keep church, which divested from three Israeli companies in 2014, from abandoning two-state solution during June's biennial meeting. (JTA, Haaretz)
- PA rejects political motive in arrest of dissident Palestinian professor - Dr. Abd al-Sattar Qassem, 68, a long-time political science professor at Najah University in Nablus, was arrested one week after he gave an interview to al-Quds TV, a Hamas affiliated news channel, during which the professor criticized the PA, as well as the PLO, for not following their own laws. Qassem has been arrested at least twice in the past by the PA for criticism of the PA gov’t. (Maan)
- Egypt's Highest Appeals Court Orders Retrial in Mass Death Sentence Case - 149 defendants are alleged to have attacked a police station in the town of Kerdasa in 2013 after Morsi's ouster, killing 11 policemen and two civilians. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Saudi Arabia Commutes Palestinian Poet's Death Sentence to 800 Lashes, Eight Years in Jail - Ashraf Fayadh was sentenced to death in 2014 for apostasy and abandoning his Muslim faith. (Agencies, Haaretz)
Features:
*Tel Aviv Art Museum Nixes Ai Weiwei Exhibit; Israeli Artist Says Censorship at
Play
Art curator Nira Itzhaki, who represents Israeli photographer Miki Kratsman, retells the conversation she had with Israeli art collector Doron Sabag about the exhibit of both Kratsman and the Chinese artist and dissident, Ai Weiwei: "(Sabag said he) didn’t think the (Tel-Aviv Museum of Art) could withstand the assault that it would incur if the project was presented. I told him I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, and he said ‘Yes, this is the situation today.’ He also said that he thinks Miki should tone it down a little, and I was really surprised to hear that.” Ai planned an exhibit related to refugee camps around the world. Kratsman was going to present portraits of Palestinians he happened to meet and whose fate he wondered about, a project he began after winning the $50,000 Robert Gardner Fellowship from Harvard University’s Peabody Museum. The joint exhibit was nixed. (Shany Littman. Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
Art curator Nira Itzhaki, who represents Israeli photographer Miki Kratsman, retells the conversation she had with Israeli art collector Doron Sabag about the exhibit of both Kratsman and the Chinese artist and dissident, Ai Weiwei: "(Sabag said he) didn’t think the (Tel-Aviv Museum of Art) could withstand the assault that it would incur if the project was presented. I told him I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, and he said ‘Yes, this is the situation today.’ He also said that he thinks Miki should tone it down a little, and I was really surprised to hear that.” Ai planned an exhibit related to refugee camps around the world. Kratsman was going to present portraits of Palestinians he happened to meet and whose fate he wondered about, a project he began after winning the $50,000 Robert Gardner Fellowship from Harvard University’s Peabody Museum. The joint exhibit was nixed. (Shany Littman. Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
Israelis Ignore the Gaza Ghetto Until the War Drums Are Heard (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) Two million human beings, some of whom worked here for years, some of them even
have friends here, live in abject poverty and petrifying despair, mainly because of Israel's
blockade.
For many years there was no Israeli initiative in the peace process. It is time for one (Ami Ayalon, Gilad Sher, Orni Petrushka, Maariv) He who refuses the problematic French initiative must understand that in order to get Israel out of the political and security mess it’s in, an Israeli initiative is needed: A border, with or without an agreement, around a Jewish majority, and a democracy.
Jerusalem terror attack stands out from the others (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) The attack on Border Police officers in the capital's Old City is the act of a daring, methodical local terror cell, even if it is not part of a known organization.
How to juggle foiling Palestinian attacks and the fear (that it will cause) Palestinians to join terror? (Ben Caspit, Maariv) Behind the wave of terrorism there is no bank of targets, infrastructure, leadership or hierarchy. When this is the situation, the option arises to revert the West Bank to the days of the 2nd Intifada of checkpoints and blockades. The IDF opposes this, but at the current pace, it’s not certain that will help.
World Jewry Needs an AIPAC-style Lobby in Jerusalem (Ari Shavit, Haaretz+) A lobby for Diaspora Jews would ensure that Israel fulfills its role as the second home of every Jew, wherever he or she may live.
Opposing the silencers (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) The wall of separation that differentiated the sane, Zionist left from the zany anti-Israel camp has fallen down. That leads some leftists, such as author Amos Oz and journalist Nahum Barnea, into a tragic state, as they can’t seem to tell the difference anymore.
Israeli Fascism-lite: Good for Im Tirtzu, Bad for Startup Nation (David Rosenberg, Haaretz+) The ideal of everyone united, conforming to the Zionist idea and distrusting the outside world is the antithesis of the open attitudes that startup culture needs to thrive.
Farewell to a fighter who saw the state he dreamed of – as it expires (Ran Adelist, Maariv) Farewell to Dov Yermiah, a man of great actions and full of clarity of the purpose of his life - the State of Israel, democratic, secular and liberal –which he defended body and soul, and which is about to die.
Israel Must End the Injustice in the Hebron Hills (Haaretz Editorial) The problem with home demolitions in the West Bank is greater than the structures that were razed, but the solution is simple.
Jerusalem Terror Attack a Harsh Reminder of the Second Intifada (Nir Hasson, Haaretz+) Wednesday's attack that left a border policewoman daed may mark a turning point for much worse in the conflict.
No more illusions: Come home (Isi Leibler, Israel Hayom) The situation of Diaspora Jews is disastrous in Europe and South Africa and worrisome in North America and Australia.
Ban Ki-moon's Occupation Comments Prove Ineffectiveness of Israel's PR Strategy (Israel Harel, Haaretz+) We must compel the world to address the basic argument about the Jewish people’s deep roots in its land, compared to the Arabs’ superficial ones.
It's not Bernie Sanders' Jewishness that matters. It’s his secularism (Peter Beinart, Haaretz) The Vermont Senator symbolizes America's growing partisan divide over religion.
The Islamist wears Dolce & Gabbana (Clifford D. May, Israel Hayom) Are we now to believe that haute couture headscarves counter violent extremism?
How 'pinkwashing' has become an authoritarian creed of intimidation (Arthur Slepian, Haaretz+) Complexity, nuance and the possibility for empathy with Israelis are the real targets of the BDS movement. And its supporters won't stop until they silence any conversation on Israel that they don’t want to hear.
Why Sharansky should have stayed silent about Breaking the Silence (Liza Rozovsky, Haaretz+) The head of the Jewish Agency rejected comparisons of Breaking the Silence and Russian dissidents, but his argument overlooked some key facts.
Jewish students on campus should be free to make up their own minds on Israel (Caroline Morganti, Haaretz+) Hillel only practices paternalism on one subject. While it’s OK to express disbelief in God or halakha within their bounds, the same can’t be said for expressing certain beliefs about Israel.
Regev’s Gift to Israeli Democracy (Lior Levin, Haaretz+) A High Court hearing on the minister’s loyalty bill would mark a major contribution to the democratic discourse in Israel.
For many years there was no Israeli initiative in the peace process. It is time for one (Ami Ayalon, Gilad Sher, Orni Petrushka, Maariv) He who refuses the problematic French initiative must understand that in order to get Israel out of the political and security mess it’s in, an Israeli initiative is needed: A border, with or without an agreement, around a Jewish majority, and a democracy.
Jerusalem terror attack stands out from the others (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) The attack on Border Police officers in the capital's Old City is the act of a daring, methodical local terror cell, even if it is not part of a known organization.
How to juggle foiling Palestinian attacks and the fear (that it will cause) Palestinians to join terror? (Ben Caspit, Maariv) Behind the wave of terrorism there is no bank of targets, infrastructure, leadership or hierarchy. When this is the situation, the option arises to revert the West Bank to the days of the 2nd Intifada of checkpoints and blockades. The IDF opposes this, but at the current pace, it’s not certain that will help.
World Jewry Needs an AIPAC-style Lobby in Jerusalem (Ari Shavit, Haaretz+) A lobby for Diaspora Jews would ensure that Israel fulfills its role as the second home of every Jew, wherever he or she may live.
Opposing the silencers (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) The wall of separation that differentiated the sane, Zionist left from the zany anti-Israel camp has fallen down. That leads some leftists, such as author Amos Oz and journalist Nahum Barnea, into a tragic state, as they can’t seem to tell the difference anymore.
Israeli Fascism-lite: Good for Im Tirtzu, Bad for Startup Nation (David Rosenberg, Haaretz+) The ideal of everyone united, conforming to the Zionist idea and distrusting the outside world is the antithesis of the open attitudes that startup culture needs to thrive.
Farewell to a fighter who saw the state he dreamed of – as it expires (Ran Adelist, Maariv) Farewell to Dov Yermiah, a man of great actions and full of clarity of the purpose of his life - the State of Israel, democratic, secular and liberal –which he defended body and soul, and which is about to die.
Israel Must End the Injustice in the Hebron Hills (Haaretz Editorial) The problem with home demolitions in the West Bank is greater than the structures that were razed, but the solution is simple.
Jerusalem Terror Attack a Harsh Reminder of the Second Intifada (Nir Hasson, Haaretz+) Wednesday's attack that left a border policewoman daed may mark a turning point for much worse in the conflict.
No more illusions: Come home (Isi Leibler, Israel Hayom) The situation of Diaspora Jews is disastrous in Europe and South Africa and worrisome in North America and Australia.
Ban Ki-moon's Occupation Comments Prove Ineffectiveness of Israel's PR Strategy (Israel Harel, Haaretz+) We must compel the world to address the basic argument about the Jewish people’s deep roots in its land, compared to the Arabs’ superficial ones.
It's not Bernie Sanders' Jewishness that matters. It’s his secularism (Peter Beinart, Haaretz) The Vermont Senator symbolizes America's growing partisan divide over religion.
The Islamist wears Dolce & Gabbana (Clifford D. May, Israel Hayom) Are we now to believe that haute couture headscarves counter violent extremism?
How 'pinkwashing' has become an authoritarian creed of intimidation (Arthur Slepian, Haaretz+) Complexity, nuance and the possibility for empathy with Israelis are the real targets of the BDS movement. And its supporters won't stop until they silence any conversation on Israel that they don’t want to hear.
Why Sharansky should have stayed silent about Breaking the Silence (Liza Rozovsky, Haaretz+) The head of the Jewish Agency rejected comparisons of Breaking the Silence and Russian dissidents, but his argument overlooked some key facts.
Jewish students on campus should be free to make up their own minds on Israel (Caroline Morganti, Haaretz+) Hillel only practices paternalism on one subject. While it’s OK to express disbelief in God or halakha within their bounds, the same can’t be said for expressing certain beliefs about Israel.
Regev’s Gift to Israeli Democracy (Lior Levin, Haaretz+) A High Court hearing on the minister’s loyalty bill would mark a major contribution to the democratic discourse in Israel.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.