News Nosh 03.28.16

by APN 03/28/16
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APN's daily news review from Israel
Monday March 28, 2016
 
Quote of the day:
"Whoever encourages the violation of the law to please an extreme and violent minority could lead us to anarchy."
--Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon in a counter-attack against Education Minister Naftali Bennett and other Knesset members, who called to end the investigation against the soldier who 'executed' the Palestinian assailant, Abdul Fattah al-Sharif. 

You Must Be Kidding: 
“If our hands were strong, if we had governing power, then non-Jews shouldn’t live in the Land of Israel.”
-- Israel’s Chief Sephardi Rabbi, Yitzhak Yosef, said, adding that at least the non-Jews served a purpose: “Who will be the servers? Who will be our assistants? Therefore, we leave them here in the land.”

Front Page:
Haaretz
Yedioth Ahronoth Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only) Israel Hayom

News Summary:
Israel’s High Court struck down the controversial gas deal angering Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and making today’s top story in the Hebrew newspapers. Also high in the news was tears the former Israeli president and convicted rapist, Moshe Katsav, shed before the Prison release committee and the continued battle in the government and in the country over the ‘Shooting Soldier’ – i.e. the IDF soldier who shot dead an already shot and prone Palestinian assailant. Meanwhile, Yedioth and Ynet are holding their anti-BDS conference today, Fatah and Hamas are holding negotiations over reconciliation (again), Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to discuss Israeli detention raids and settlement activity and Israel and the US continued talks over the U.S. on the 10-year security package.

Heated arguments broke out when Education Minister Naftali Bennett urged the government to intervene in support for the ‘Shooting Soldier,’ as the Israeli media calls the soldier who may face murder charges for ‘executing’ Abdul Fattah Al-Sharif, a Palestinian young man who stabbed and injured another soldier. Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon accused right-wing ministers and MKs of waging a campaign of incitement against the IDF. Yaalon said that pleasing an extreme and violent minority – i.e. some of Bennett’s voters – could lead Israel to anarchy. Netanyahu told Bennett not to preach to him, “I've led more soldiers in battle than you.” At the same time, Netanyahu partially backtracked from his initial statement that what happened in Hebron was wrong, saying that “questioning the IDF's morality is outrageous and unacceptable.” A Channel 2 poll found overwhelming support by Israelis for the soldier online. The IDF responded to allegations by the family of the soldier, saying he is not being court-martialed in public. New video has revealed the soldier shook hands with far right-wing settler and activist Baruch Marzel after killing al-Sharif. Moreover, the military probe found that the 'shooting soldier' said al-Sharif 'needs to die' before shooting him in the head. Meanwhile, the IDF raided the Al-Sharif’s home and detained his brother. And the IDF still holds the body, which has yet to be autopsied. Al-Sharif’s family rejected the Israeli offer that a Palestinian doctor be present at the autopsy but not participate. Maariv has an online poll showing the Btselem video of the shooting and asking viewers if they think the soldier executed the Palestinian or whether “it’s not clear what happened here.”
On Monday, 70% answered that “it’s not clear.”
 
Quick Hits:
  • Israeli companies leaving West Bank in apparent response to boycott pressure - A soon-to-be-released report by peace group obtained by Haaretz suggests that international pressure may have affected companies' decisions to move within the Green Line. (Haaretz+) 
  • Palestinian Christians celebrate Easter amid Holy Land turmoil - Turnout of pilgrims at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City was significantly lower than in previous years. "There was a drop in numbers mainly due to the instability in the Middle East in general, and the wave of violence here in particular." (Maan) 
  • 2 Palestinians injured, 2 detained in predawn Duheisha camp raid - Israeli forces raided and ransacked several houses in the camp and detained Muhammad Khalid Shafout and Hamza Abu Ajamiyeh. (Maan)
  • Two Palestinians shot and injured by Israeli forces in Qalqiliya - Mohammed Majid Haj Hassan,19, was detained by Israeli forces for at least 15 minutes after being shot in the knee and thigh and suffered from severe bleeding without being given medical treatment. He was then released to paramedics who transferred him to the Qalqiliya hospital, where he has been in serious condition. (Maan) 
  • 5 Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike to protest solitary confinement - Sami Janazrah has been on hunger strike since March 3, Imad al-Batran started his strike since March 15, and Abd-al-Rahim since March 24, all in protest of administrative detention. They were joined by two others. (Maan)
  • Breaking the Silence Accuses Israeli Politicians of Incitement - After an IDF investigation into the organization showed that the information it collected from soldiers wasn’t highly classified, the NGO blames right-wing lawmakers of being 'shameless and irresponsible.' (Haaretz+) 
  • Israeli forces arrest Gazan patient at Erez crossing - A human rights lawyer told Ma’an that Sharab is the fifth case of a Palestinian patient being detained at the crossing since the start of the year. (Maan)
  • Gaza farmers, shepherds forced to leave land after Israeli forces open fire - Witnesses told Ma’an that Israeli military forces deployed east of Juhr al-Dik in the central Gaza Strip opened fire on the workers while they were in their agricultural fields, forcing them to leave the area. (Maan)
  • 4 teens detained after allegedly throwing Molotov cocktails at (E. Jerusalem) settlement - Lawyers said two of teh youth, aged 16-17, had signs of torture. The four are accused of throwing firebombs at Beit Orot settlement (enclave) in E. Jerusalem. One of the four told the lawyer he was on his way to a pharmacy to buy medicine, two others were walking home when they were detained. (Maan)
  • IN PHOTOS: Palestinians take protesting to the circus - Palestinian Circus School in the village of Bir Zeit perform in support of Muhammad Abu Sakha, their trainer jailed by Israel without trial or charges. (Haaretz)
  • U.S. National Security Agency head paid secret visit to Israel - Working visit dealt with deepening cooperation between Israeli and American intelligence units, especially against cyber attacks by Iran and Hezbollah. (Haaretz+)
  • Sephardi Chief Rabbi Says non-Jews Forbidden From Living in the Land of Israel - Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef argues that Jewish law prohibits non-Jews from living in Israel unless they have accepted Noachide laws, adding that some non-Jews live in Israel to serve the Jewish population. (Haaretz+)
  • New prize launched for Jewish student leaders - The Jerusalem Unity Prize, together with Hillel International, announces launch of the Jerusalem Unity Prize for Young Leadership to be awarded to student leaders working on their campuses to advance Jewish unity. (Israel Hayom)
  • Britain Denies Report Accusing It of Funding Palestinian Terrorists - A Mail on Sunday report claims British foreign aid makes its way to terrorists, and takes particular issue with PA President Abbas' spending habits. (Haaretz)
  • Rare Ethiopian Torah scroll given to National Library - The rare scroll, translated from Hebrew to Ge'ez, was written around 400 years ago and used by the spiritual leader of the Jewish community in Ethiopia's Tigray province. Orit contains five books of Moses as well as books of Joshua, Judges and Ruth. (Israel Hayom)
  • Netanyahu sues journalist for claiming wife Sara threw him out of car - Igal Sarna slapped with libel suit for Facebook post about incident that the Netanyahus vehemently deny ever took place. (Haaretz+)
  • Top Israeli general killed in plane crash laid to rest - Thousands participated in the funeral of Brig. Gen. Mounir Amar, head of the Israeli army's Civil Administration. (Haaretz+) 
  • Netanyahu moves to water down Western Wall deal to appease ultra-Orthodox - Responding to political pressure, PM asks bureau chief to hold discussions over the creation of an egalitarian prayer space at the Western Wall, file recommendations within 60 days. (Haaretz+) 
  • Israeli-Druze businesswoman conquers Spanish hearts - Jamila Hair, a 76-year-old owner of a soap factory, amazes Spanish audience and press at Festival of Women in Segovia, Spain, speaking about the peace between Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and Druze women within the walls of her soap factory. (Ynet) 
  • WATCH: Maybe Europe will lay off Israel now; Europeans have been real assholes, says Bill Maher - 'Now that Europe has been attacked four times now in a little over a year, and they say ISIS has 400 fighters there.. Maybe Europe will have a little more sympathy for what Israel goes through.' (Haaretz) 
  • Former head of military intel: Russian army still in Syria - Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin: The battles in Syria are a threat to Israel, but I'm optimistic about Israel's security situation. When asked if the Israeli Air Force can stop an Iranian bomb: There is no mission in the Middle East the IAF can't carry out. (Israel Hayom)
  • Syrian Government Forces Regain Full Control of Palmyra From ISIS Militants - Some 400 Islamic State fighters reportedly killed in battle from historic city, leaving large portions of ISIS territory strategically open for assault. (Agencies, Haaretz)

Features:
The strange case of a Nazi who became an Israeli hitman
Otto Skorzeny, one of the Mossad’s most valuable assets, was a former lieutenant colonel in Nazi Germany’s Waffen-SS and one of Adolf Hitler’s favorites. (Haaretz) 
From Samaria to Paris, opponents meet
Two Israeli businessmen operating in the West Bank travelled to France with a local politician, seeking to confront BDS activists and build business connections. (Elisha Ben Kimon, Yedioth/Ynet)
Despite Regev's Accusations, Israeli Filmmakers Aren't Really Interested in Palestinians
Culture minister complained that funds don’t promote societal films and lack diversity among their reviewers, but a Haaretz investigation shows the opposite. (Nirit Anderman, Haaretz+)
A look inside Gaza
Despite the catastrophic economic situation in Gaza, which includes high unemployment and immense poverty, residents have persevered, creating something out of nothing. (Elior Levy, Ynet)
Work-life Balance? Maybe in the West, Not in Israel
Israelis work longer hours than just about any other nation, yet ‘flex-time’ is a foreign concept here. (Janan Bsoul, Haaretz+) 
Exposing the IDF draft dodgers
After exposé reveals how easy it is to dodge the draft, Yedioth Ahronoth found 'ultra-Orthodox' who tricked the IDF into giving them an exemption to study at yeshiva. The problem - many of these young people don't attend classes, and aren't even ultra-Orthodox at all. (Ariela Sternbach, Yedioth/Ynet)
Israel seeks to share hi-tech success with Arab sector
Israeli private and public sectors seek to address economic inequality through integration of Arabs into hi-tech; companies open offices in Nazareth. (Ynet)
How 'Ego Wars' Among Israeli Rescue Organizations Are Endangering the Public
Rival groups rushing to an accident scene may have ulterior motives for arriving first, with infusions of cash as paramount as those of blood. (Shuki Sadeh, Haaretz+)
When MKs attempt to speak English
We checked what happens when Jewish American students who are considering making aliyah turn to Israel's elected officials with questions about issues that bother them about life in Israel. The result was embarrassing. (Ynet/Yediot)
  
Commentary/Analysis:
Netanyahu's Rivals Use Hebron Shooting to Fire Political Bullet at Prime Minister (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) Netanyahu panics after realizing that his electorate sees the soldier who fatally shot a 'neutralized' terrorist as an Israeli hero; Bennett is right to criticize the PM, except that he's absolutely wrong. 
There are currently no winners in the battle over the face of the country (Ben Caspit, Maariv) In the country of everyone against everyone, there is never a quiet moment: the nation is against the Chief of Staff, the Minister of Education is against the Defense Minister, the Prime Minister is against the High Court and the executive branch is against the judiciary. 
Why We Should Care About the Suicide Note of a Palestinian Teenage Knife Attacker (David Sarna Galdi, Haaretz+) Ahmad Amer approached Israeli soldiers at a West Bank checkpoint with a knife and was immediately killed. His short goodbye letter might ironically contain a message of hope. 
Lethal weapon: the use of riot dispersal tools is inappropriate (Attorney Ann Sochi, Maariv) The use by the security forces of riot dispersal means is excessive. It not only harms the freedom of expression, but also endangers the lives of the protesters themselves. 
Remember, this is war (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) Soldiers make mistakes sometimes, especially in dangerous situations. But the IDF is under no obligation to placate the likes of B'Tselem, et al.
On Hebron shooting, Netanyahu and Bennet follow enraged public all the way to the right (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) It’s noteworthy that what most infuriates the Internet commenters, and apparently many combat soldiers as well, is the murder charge; and what was the role of Hebron settlers in the incident?
The hand that pressed the trigger belongs to all of us, the soldier is simply the guard at the post (Orit A. Brown, Maariv) Let us not pretend to be innocent: neither we nor our leaders are wash clean hands. Shooting from such a short-range is not new in the security establishment. Accusing the soldier of murder is hypocrisy. We send our sons on a mission impossible. 
Lieberman Is Right About the Hebron Shooting (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) Is this the first time a soldier has executed a Palestinian in cold blood, or did the fact that it was caught on film make the difference?
The fight for the IDF's image (Yoav Limor, Israel Hayom) The military has only one set of orders, one Code of Ethics. This is what saves us from anarchy. 
Breaking the Silence Is Only a Danger to Israeli Right's Ambitions (Ravit Hecht, Haaretz+) The unavoidable and rather painful conclusion is that if the left wants to have an impact, it must regain its foothold in the IDF. And that’s a conclusion that won’t be easy to implement.
Releasing a remorseless rapist (Sima Kadmon, Yedioth/Ynet) There's no reason to oppose shortening convict Moshe Katzav's prison sentence; he'll never confess, but if we ignore him after his release, his punishment will continue. 
If the World Doesn’t Care About Hebron Shooting, Israel Won't Either (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) Netanyahu and the IDF prepared for the fallout from the Hebron shooting. When it never came, they moved on.
Taking down BDS (Reuven Rivlin, Yedioth/Ynet) President Rivlin argues that while criticism of Israel is fair, when it comes under the guise of BDS and used as a camouflage for anti-Semitism, it crosses a line. Israel must stand together in order to overcome the BDS threat. 
ISIS flourishes in failed states: Syria, Iraq, Libya and now Belgium (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) Belgium, the nerve center of Europe, is in some aspects a failed state. Yet the recent wave of violence shows that Israel, for all its experience, is no better off.
Obama’s Final Task: Don't Veto UN Resolution on Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (Carolina Landsmann, Haaretz+) Obama has an opportunity to create a historic change of direction and to move the peace process beyond the highest hurdle of all – the first one.
By Helping Elite Veterans, I Am Also Helping the Weak (Ehud Barak, Haaretz+) I know well who needs the generosity of philanthropists, and those are exactly the people who benefit from the activities of the Sayeret veterans association. 
Golan Druze Are Settling Down to the Reality of Staying in Israel (Moshe Arens, Haaretz+) After many years of living in anticipation of the Golan Heights being turned over to Syria, many Golan Druze consider themselves fortunate to be part of Israel.
  
 
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.

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