APN's daily news review from Israel
Sunday April 03, 2016
Quote of the day:
"(He) did not perceive the Arabs as a collective who had murdered his son.”
--Middle East expert, Prof. Menachem Klein, author of “Lives in Common: Arabs and Jews in Jerusalem, Jaffa and Hebron,” tells of an incident at the height of Israel's War of Independence, when Reuven Mas, the Jewish mukhtar (headman) of Talbieh, a mixed Arab-Jewish neighborhood in Jerusalem, tried to protect the rights of his Arab neighbors who had fled, just three months after his son was killed in a battle against the Arabs.
--Middle East expert, Prof. Menachem Klein, author of “Lives in Common: Arabs and Jews in Jerusalem, Jaffa and Hebron,” tells of an incident at the height of Israel's War of Independence, when Reuven Mas, the Jewish mukhtar (headman) of Talbieh, a mixed Arab-Jewish neighborhood in Jerusalem, tried to protect the rights of his Arab neighbors who had fled, just three months after his son was killed in a battle against the Arabs.
Breaking News:
Initial Report: Stabbing Attack in Central Israeli City of Rosh Ha'ayin
One woman lightly wounded after being stabbed in the arm; female assailant apprehended at the scene. (Haaretz)
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Senior officials from religious education system acting to change law of Higher Education
- Military prosecution: We have enough evidence to charge Shooting Soldier
- Obama: Fear of nuclear attacks that will harm hundreds of thousands of people
- Report: German spy agency spied on Prime Minister’s Bureau in Israel
- Yachimovitch on police probe against Herzog: “I hope the (Labor) party won’t pay a heavy price”
- For the first time, they see the neighboring village from the (Hebrew University) campus
- Help from High Court // Amira Hass
- The policeman who didn’t understand // Amir Oren
- The two Scandinavians who brought the Berlin Wall to the Tel-Aviv Museum
Yedioth Ahronoth
- Katsav’s Judgment Day
- Shira’s chilling WhatsApp message (from daughter who later died)
- Double tragedy – Amran Masarwa, 5, was born an orphan after his father died in a car accident. On Friday, Amran died, too. 4 killed in car accidents over the weekend
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- The world is preparing for a nuclear Daesh
- Der Spiegel: Germany spied on Netanyahu and collected information from the Prime Minister’s Bureau
- Investigation of the Shooting Soldier: Body of terrorist to be autopsied today
- The joyous winner – Yisrael Mimun, close to Minister Kahlon, to be appointed President of the Bonds
- Today: Prison release committee to rule in former president Katsav’s request for early release
Israel Hayom
- The autopsy will reveal: What was the situation of the terrorist – Important day in probe of the soldier from the incident in Hebron
- Moshe Katsav’s fateful day
- “German spy agency spied on Netanyahu’s office”
- Mystery at the bottom of the Kinneret: How did rare enormous sponges appear
- Yachimovich on the Herzog affair: Hope the (Labor) party won’t pay too heavy a price
News Summary:
The probe into the Shooting Soldier awaits the results of the autopsy to be performed today on the Palestinian he shot, former president and convicted rapist Moshe Katsav awaits the decision today of the prison release committee on his request for early release (which was postponed again)
and Der Spiegel newspaper reported that Germany spied on the Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu making top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers.
Quick Hits:
- U.S. concerned by Israeli demolitions of Palestinians' homes - Crackdown on what Israel claims is illegal construction has already pitied Jerusalem against the EU, who funds some of the structures. (Agencies, Haaretz, Maariv and Ynet)
- Court stops demolition of suspected terror accomplice's home in East Jerusalem - Supreme Court President Miriam Naor dissenting voice in 2-1 decision granting the family’s petition. (Haaretz+)
- Peace Now: Oppenheimer to resign, Avi Buskila to replace him - Peace Now Secretary-General Yariv Oppenheimer is resigning from his position after 14 years, but will remain active in the organization and a member of the board. The organization searched for two months for a replacement, who will replace him this month. (Israel Hayom, p. 11)
- After six months of terror wave, attacks decreasing, says Israeli army - Current Palestinian violence is different from past intifadas, military officials explain. (Haaretz+)
- Poll: Majority of Israelis believe current escalation worse than Second Intifada - A recent poll reveals that a majority of Israelis believe 'the security situation is more serious today compared to the Second Intifada'; an upcoming security conference will discuss strategies to mitigate violence. (Ynet)
- Violence in streets: Three stabbed for asking drunk youth, who vandalized a car, to quiet down - Three youth in their early twenties and a 17-year-old minor were detained Saturday morning on suspicion that they stabbed and beat residents of the city, who asked them to quiet down and stop vandalizing a car. (Israel Hayom, p. 19 and JPost)
- Hamas denies negotiations on return of captive Israelis - Militant group says it hold two Israeli civilians and two soldiers, who Israel had declared killed in action during Gaza war. (Haaretz+)
- Report: Egypt demanded from Hamas delegation information about missing Israelis - The issue rose during meeting of a Hamas delegation with officials in Cairo, which came to rebuild their relationship with Egypt. Due to Egypt's position as a mediator, it is likely the information was transferred to Israel. (Maariv)
- 102 Gazans unable to participate in Palestine Marathon - Israeli authorities say that the Palestinian Olympic Committee submitted the names of the Gazan runners late, leaving insufficient time for COGAT to prepare permits; COGAT says, 'Palestinian officials are being provocative.’ (Ynet)
- Israeli Navy sinks suspected smuggling boat off of Gaza coast - Crew jumps overboard before the army destroyed the suspicious fishing boat. (Maariv/JPost)
- WATCH: Israeli settler interrupts Palestinian reporter in video gone viral - While trying to report on weekly protest in Nabi Saleh, Palestinian journalist is interrupted by Israeli youth singing 'El El Israel' and making faces at the camera. (Ynet)
- High-profile U.S. Hacker Deflects Attack on His Site by Redirecting It to the Mossad - Israeli espionage agency would know how to handle it, hacker known as Jester, renowned for his attacks on targets ranging from Wikileaks to ISIS, tells Twitter followers. (Haaretz+)
- Losing hope of Israel ever aiding refugees, asylum seeker leader leaves for Canada - “Israel has a racist policy towards Africans, towards refugees,” despairs Davit Demoz, who fled the dictatorship in Eritrea and fought to improve his compatriots' lives in Israel. (Haaretz+)
- Israel outright rejects asylum requests by Eritreans and Sudanese - After initially ignoring requests from asylum seekers, newly enforced policy now has all those submitted a year after applicant entered Israel automatically denied. (Haaretz+)
- Dozens of migrants feared missing after boat sinks off Libya - Incident comes amid sharp increase in number of people attempting dangerous crossing from North Africa to Europe. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Israel investing NIS 11 million in LGBT tourism - Following the annual success of Tel Aviv's Pride Week, the Tourism Ministry is developing a campaign to bring even more LGBT tourists to Israel year-round. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- Israel Prize to Doron Almog, Eli Sadan for lifetime achievement - Almog founded a village for people with disabilities; Sadan established the first IDF prep program for Zionist religious youth. (Haaretz and Ynet)
- Senior Israeli minister meets with Egyptian foreign minister - Energy Minister Steinitz meets with Minister Shoukry on sidelines of Nuclear Security Summit in Washington to discuss regional energy cooperation and the fight against terrorism. (Ynet)
- Israel Looks to China, India for Tourism Boost - In 2015, tourism grew 43 percent from China to some 50,000 visitors and the ministry sees that doubling by 2018. (Haaretz)
- Report: Underground ISIS Jail Holding 1,500 Prisoners Liberated by Iraqi Forces - Most of the prisoners are civilians, local official in western province of Anbar says. (Haaretz)
- Mass Grave Found in Syria's Palmyra After Recapture From ISIS - Forty-five bodies of both civilians and Syrian troops are found in the first communal grave discovered in the city; some of the bodies had been beheaded. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Syrians rush to rescue history with ISIS militants at the door - 2,500 archaeologists, specialists, curators and engineers with Syria's antiquities department, including some who defected to join the opposition, have often risked death to protect what they can. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Obama: Nuclear Terrorism Still a Threat, Despite Progress - Citing concern about group such as Al-Qaida and SIS trying to obtain nuclear materials, U.S. president calls international community to act. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Turkish military claims media is harming morale, initiates legal response - Armed forces reaffirm their commitment to democracy, say reporting without any foundation is negatively effecting soldiers while the state tries to combat several high level conflicts. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Turkish Court Resumes Closed-door Trial of Journalists Facing Life Sentence - The editor-in-chief and Ankara bureau head from the opposition paper Cumhuriyet are accused of espionage and aiding a terrorist organization. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Obama Hails Iran Nuclear Deal as 'Success of Diplomacy' - It will take time however for Iran to reintegrate into the global economy, U.S. president says. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Ex-pat's 'Sarcasm' About Kuwait Lands Him in Jail Upon Return Home - Salem Abdullah Ashtil Dossari, who resides in Britain, published 'offensive videos and sarcastic comments' about Gulf leaders on social media. (Agencies, Haaretz)
Features:
The medic's deadly shot
We saw the complete video of the soldier shooting the wounded terrorist on Imad Abu Shamsieh's laptop at his home. Abu Shamsieh believes himself to be in danger. We interviewed people at the scene and his friends. The shooting soldier trained constantly before his enlistment, and he was apparently influenced by right-wing extremists. (Oded Shalom and Elior Levy, Yedioth/Ynet)
The road to Gaza: 80 kilometers of strife
Route 232 has become the center of a dispute between residents of the Gaza border communities and truck drivers delivering goods to Gaza. (Haaretz+)
Ben-Gurion in 1951: Only death penalty will deter Jews from gratuitous killing of Arabs
'Until a Jewish soldier is hanged for murdering Arabs, these acts of murder won’t end,' Israel’s first prime minister told his stunned cabinet 66 years ago, when Jewish murders of Arabs had become all too common. (Gidi Weitz, Haaretz+)
The Polish hipster who inherited a Warsaw building after discovering he's Jewish
Krzysztof Gutkowski's story is becoming increasingly common, but could it trigger a new wave of anti-Semitism in Poland? (Ofer Aderet, Haaretz+)
The Arab Americans Behind Bernie Sanders in New York
A Palestinian American woman whipped up the crowd at Sanders’ Brooklyn campaign launch with a speech about the Israeli-Arab conflict. (Taly Krupkin, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
The Hebron Soldier's Defense Is Working - He Is Now Every Mother’s Son (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Netanyahu’s phone call to the suspect’s father shows the shooter is the new Gilad Shalit, while attempts to scrap his trial aim to set a precedence of restricting legal interference in army conduct.
The shooting soldier affair: We must beware of harming the IDF (Major General Eliezer (Cheney) Marom, Maariv) The photos of the soldier being led in handcuffs into custody are not an easy scene. Nevertheless, the political participation and the lack of backing for the military commanders concerns me more. The meaning of that could be severe harm to society.
What went through Palestinian parents' minds as they watched son's cold-blooded execution? (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) The Israeli soldier who shot Abed Fattah al-Sharif while he was on the ground wounded is not the only one who should be punished, says his bereaved father. Everyone who was there should be punished.
Fighting for Israel's character (Yoav Limor, Israel Hayom) The outpouring of public support for the IDF soldier who shot an immobilized terrorist in Hebron last week may very well indicate the imminent end of the IDF's status as the heart of the Israeli consensus. We are waging a battle for our future.
On Hebron shooting, Israeli defense minister emerges as government's only moral voice (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) Minister Bennett claims to be the most ethical of the bunch as he competes with MK Lieberman over who is more supportive of the soldier who shot a wounded Palestinian; Israel has yet to find out why Palestinian President Abbas rejected its peace initiative.
Is the Defense Minister committing political suicide over the Hebron shooting? (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) Moshe Ya'alon is raising suspicions in the right that he may be returning to his liberal roots.
The public has its limits, too (Emily Amrousi, Israel Hayom) The Israeli public is sick of the army siding with anti-Israel elements, tying the hand of its soldiers and commanders, thus putting them in harm's way. The outrage over the denunciation of the soldier in the Hebron shooting is the pot boiling over.
Don't believe everything you read (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) The timing of the incident involving the shooting of an immobilized terrorist corresponded with a lethal combination of factors -- a wave of Palestinian terrorism, a public revulsion with certain leftist groups and the blitz launched by the leftist media.
To Israel's Chief Rabbi: I Make Coffee for a Goy on a Regular Basis (Roni Bar, Haaretz+) The day on which Sephardi Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef said it is forbidden for non-Jews to live in the Land of Israel unless they are the servants of Jews was the day on which I decided that I am no longer willing to serve this system.
Zionism Today: Not What You Think It Is (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) In some circles it's fashionable to decry Zionism, but those 'anti-Zionists' probably don't even know what the idea means in the first place.
The spat continues (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) The suspect in the Hebron shooting incident is now under supervised detention, but the debate over his actions is far from over.
Policy of Contempt for Palestinian Lives (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) The cumulative results of the establishment's actions against the Palestinians are more destructive and lethal than all the acts of the individuals.
A war over values (Lilach Shoval, Israel Hayom) As the social furor sparked by the IDF's quick condemnation of the soldier who shot an immobilized Palestinian terrorist rages on, the army is worried about how to keep extremist elements from offering soldiers an alternative code of battle ethics.
The Long and Secretive History of the Shin Bet's Fake Prisons (Avigdor Feldman, Haaretz) I get nostalgic thinking about the hackneyed, elaborate schemes into which Israeli intelligence agents — frustrated theater majors, apparently
The Only Woman Who Can Save Israel From Fascism (Ravit Hecht, Haaretz+) Secular people, liberals, leftists and just ordinary folks who don’t want to live in a country that will establish reeducation camps need a fearless leader.
Alternative history: If Herzog were prime minister (Nechama Duek, Yedioth/Ynet) What would have happened if Herzog had been elected to the highest job in the land, and done exactly what Netanyahu is doing now?
The Hebron Shooting Made Me Want to Be Home in Israel More Than Ever (Sayed Kashua, Haaretz+) There is nothing for me in a distant land. I have to return, gird my loins, roll up my sleeves and join the Jews and Arabs who are still fighting for our future.
The 2-state notion is no solution (Mati Sherman, Israel Hayom) A quick analysis of the two-state endeavor will demonstrate that not only is it an exercise in utter futility, it is both self-obstructive and self-contradictory.
Israel Must Stop Saying the Azeris Were Victims of Genocide (Yair Auron, Haaretz+) Identifying with Azerbaijan by saying there was mass murder at Khojaly in 1992 desecrates the memory of the Holocaust.
Sanders Urges 'Brothers and Sisters' to Take New York on Way to White House (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz) Vermont senator’s South Bronx campaign launch marked by anti-Clinton hostility that could poison his fans even if he loses.
Two Myths: Extinct Blondes and the BDS Threat (David Rosenberg, Haaretz) The fight against the anti-Israel boycott is hopelessly out of proportion to the real threat it poses. The anti-BDS steamroller will just run itself over.
Way to go, AIPACers: Cheering Trump undid years of work against BDS (Matthew Fidel, Haaretz+) I can see the headline of the next BDS campaign now: 'Racist demagogue Donald Trump receives warm welcome from AIPAC, 'America's pro-Israel lobby.'' Unfortunately, the headline would be true.
The world isn’t about to adopt Israeli-style airport security (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz) There doesn’t seem to be much appetite in the West to adopt the layered approach of Israeli airport security, both because of the heavy cost and the delay in passenger flow.
Despite increasing calls to boycott Israel, Shimon Peres was honored last month by UNESCO, which signed a cooperation agreement with the Peres Center for Peace. The former president spoke to Yedioth Ahronoth and explained why Israel is failing in the fight against BDS and how, by making brave decisions, we can make things better. (Interviewed by Itamar Eichner in Yedioth/Ynet)
Route 232 has become the center of a dispute between residents of the Gaza border communities and truck drivers delivering goods to Gaza. (Haaretz+)
Ben-Gurion in 1951: Only death penalty will deter Jews from gratuitous killing of Arabs
'Until a Jewish soldier is hanged for murdering Arabs, these acts of murder won’t end,' Israel’s first prime minister told his stunned cabinet 66 years ago, when Jewish murders of Arabs had become all too common. (Gidi Weitz, Haaretz+)
The Polish hipster who inherited a Warsaw building after discovering he's Jewish
Krzysztof Gutkowski's story is becoming increasingly common, but could it trigger a new wave of anti-Semitism in Poland? (Ofer Aderet, Haaretz+)
The Arab Americans Behind Bernie Sanders in New York
A Palestinian American woman whipped up the crowd at Sanders’ Brooklyn campaign launch with a speech about the Israeli-Arab conflict. (Taly Krupkin, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
The Hebron Soldier's Defense Is Working - He Is Now Every Mother’s Son (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Netanyahu’s phone call to the suspect’s father shows the shooter is the new Gilad Shalit, while attempts to scrap his trial aim to set a precedence of restricting legal interference in army conduct.
The shooting soldier affair: We must beware of harming the IDF (Major General Eliezer (Cheney) Marom, Maariv) The photos of the soldier being led in handcuffs into custody are not an easy scene. Nevertheless, the political participation and the lack of backing for the military commanders concerns me more. The meaning of that could be severe harm to society.
What went through Palestinian parents' minds as they watched son's cold-blooded execution? (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) The Israeli soldier who shot Abed Fattah al-Sharif while he was on the ground wounded is not the only one who should be punished, says his bereaved father. Everyone who was there should be punished.
Fighting for Israel's character (Yoav Limor, Israel Hayom) The outpouring of public support for the IDF soldier who shot an immobilized terrorist in Hebron last week may very well indicate the imminent end of the IDF's status as the heart of the Israeli consensus. We are waging a battle for our future.
On Hebron shooting, Israeli defense minister emerges as government's only moral voice (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) Minister Bennett claims to be the most ethical of the bunch as he competes with MK Lieberman over who is more supportive of the soldier who shot a wounded Palestinian; Israel has yet to find out why Palestinian President Abbas rejected its peace initiative.
Is the Defense Minister committing political suicide over the Hebron shooting? (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) Moshe Ya'alon is raising suspicions in the right that he may be returning to his liberal roots.
The public has its limits, too (Emily Amrousi, Israel Hayom) The Israeli public is sick of the army siding with anti-Israel elements, tying the hand of its soldiers and commanders, thus putting them in harm's way. The outrage over the denunciation of the soldier in the Hebron shooting is the pot boiling over.
Don't believe everything you read (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) The timing of the incident involving the shooting of an immobilized terrorist corresponded with a lethal combination of factors -- a wave of Palestinian terrorism, a public revulsion with certain leftist groups and the blitz launched by the leftist media.
To Israel's Chief Rabbi: I Make Coffee for a Goy on a Regular Basis (Roni Bar, Haaretz+) The day on which Sephardi Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef said it is forbidden for non-Jews to live in the Land of Israel unless they are the servants of Jews was the day on which I decided that I am no longer willing to serve this system.
Zionism Today: Not What You Think It Is (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) In some circles it's fashionable to decry Zionism, but those 'anti-Zionists' probably don't even know what the idea means in the first place.
The spat continues (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) The suspect in the Hebron shooting incident is now under supervised detention, but the debate over his actions is far from over.
Policy of Contempt for Palestinian Lives (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) The cumulative results of the establishment's actions against the Palestinians are more destructive and lethal than all the acts of the individuals.
A war over values (Lilach Shoval, Israel Hayom) As the social furor sparked by the IDF's quick condemnation of the soldier who shot an immobilized Palestinian terrorist rages on, the army is worried about how to keep extremist elements from offering soldiers an alternative code of battle ethics.
The Long and Secretive History of the Shin Bet's Fake Prisons (Avigdor Feldman, Haaretz) I get nostalgic thinking about the hackneyed, elaborate schemes into which Israeli intelligence agents — frustrated theater majors, apparently
The Only Woman Who Can Save Israel From Fascism (Ravit Hecht, Haaretz+) Secular people, liberals, leftists and just ordinary folks who don’t want to live in a country that will establish reeducation camps need a fearless leader.
Alternative history: If Herzog were prime minister (Nechama Duek, Yedioth/Ynet) What would have happened if Herzog had been elected to the highest job in the land, and done exactly what Netanyahu is doing now?
The Hebron Shooting Made Me Want to Be Home in Israel More Than Ever (Sayed Kashua, Haaretz+) There is nothing for me in a distant land. I have to return, gird my loins, roll up my sleeves and join the Jews and Arabs who are still fighting for our future.
The 2-state notion is no solution (Mati Sherman, Israel Hayom) A quick analysis of the two-state endeavor will demonstrate that not only is it an exercise in utter futility, it is both self-obstructive and self-contradictory.
Israel Must Stop Saying the Azeris Were Victims of Genocide (Yair Auron, Haaretz+) Identifying with Azerbaijan by saying there was mass murder at Khojaly in 1992 desecrates the memory of the Holocaust.
Sanders Urges 'Brothers and Sisters' to Take New York on Way to White House (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz) Vermont senator’s South Bronx campaign launch marked by anti-Clinton hostility that could poison his fans even if he loses.
Two Myths: Extinct Blondes and the BDS Threat (David Rosenberg, Haaretz) The fight against the anti-Israel boycott is hopelessly out of proportion to the real threat it poses. The anti-BDS steamroller will just run itself over.
Way to go, AIPACers: Cheering Trump undid years of work against BDS (Matthew Fidel, Haaretz+) I can see the headline of the next BDS campaign now: 'Racist demagogue Donald Trump receives warm welcome from AIPAC, 'America's pro-Israel lobby.'' Unfortunately, the headline would be true.
The world isn’t about to adopt Israeli-style airport security (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz) There doesn’t seem to be much appetite in the West to adopt the layered approach of Israeli airport security, both because of the heavy cost and the delay in passenger flow.
Interviews:
The brief moment in history when a common Israeli-Palestinian identity existed
Terror, enmity and fear were not always dominant in the Jewish-Arab narrative, maintains Middle East expert Menachem KIein, whose book “Lives in Common: Arabs and Jews in Jerusalem, Jaffa and Hebron,” was recently published in both Hebrew and English. (In a fascinating interview,) Klein tells Haaretz who brought about the erosion of those fraternal relations but also, despite everything, he offers a glimmer of optimism. (Interviewed by Nir Hasson in Haaretz+)
'BDS activists are not neutral, objective or know the facts'The brief moment in history when a common Israeli-Palestinian identity existed
Terror, enmity and fear were not always dominant in the Jewish-Arab narrative, maintains Middle East expert Menachem KIein, whose book “Lives in Common: Arabs and Jews in Jerusalem, Jaffa and Hebron,” was recently published in both Hebrew and English. (In a fascinating interview,) Klein tells Haaretz who brought about the erosion of those fraternal relations but also, despite everything, he offers a glimmer of optimism. (Interviewed by Nir Hasson in Haaretz+)
Despite increasing calls to boycott Israel, Shimon Peres was honored last month by UNESCO, which signed a cooperation agreement with the Peres Center for Peace. The former president spoke to Yedioth Ahronoth and explained why Israel is failing in the fight against BDS and how, by making brave decisions, we can make things better. (Interviewed by Itamar Eichner in Yedioth/Ynet)
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.