News Nosh 05.22.16

by APN 05/22/16
Share

APN's daily news review from Israel
Sunday May 22, 2016
 
Quote of the day:
“After this week, I’m not sure I want my children to remain here.”
--Patriotic veteran Channel 2 News military correspondent, Roni Daniel, shocks the country on live TV.*

You Must Be Kidding: 
In one of numerous examples of refusal by Israel's National Archives, researcher activists say they tried to access files compiled by a committee examining the 1990 riots on the Temple Mount, but the archives allegedly refused to provide the documents, giving no reason, even though 25 years had passed since the incidents. **

Front Page:
Haaretz
Yedioth Ahronoth
  • The champion! – Beersheva (soccer team) is in the clouds
  • Yaalon: Bibi abandoned me and the Chief of Staff”
  • Forward in reverse // Nahum Barnea
  • General of the center Likud // Sima Kadmon
  • Yaalon’s concern // Alex Fishman
  • The moral protest // Shai Piron
  • (Channel 2 News Military correspondent) Roni Daniel: “After this week, I am not sure I want my children to stay here”

Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)

  • There is a champion!
  • Yaalon will leave his office without giving Lieberman an overlap
  • The angry speech of the military affairs commentator (Roni Daniel)
  • Defeat for the lovers of the country // Carmit Sapir-Weitz
  • Whoever wants to should go // Karni Eldad

Israel Hayom

 

News Summary:
Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon resigned on Friday and warned the country that it was not being led by values, but by extremist elements. His words were echoed by another former defense minister and prime minister, Ehud Barak, and a patriotic Israeli TV military correspondent, who surprised when he expressed fear for the country’s future making top stories in today's Hebrew papers. Also it was revealed that Arab states were willing to amend the Arab Peace Initiative and Netanyahu had been discussing it with Zionist Camp leader MK Isaac Herzog.

In a powerful resignation speech Friday, Yaalon said, “I fought with all my might against manifestations of extremism, violence and racism in Israeli society, which are threatening its sturdiness and also trickling into the IDF, hurting it already.” He explained he had strong moral and professional disagreements with a number of ministers and MKs. Haaretz+’s political analyst Yossi Verter wrote that “The warning was also a call to all rational elements in the country to rally around the flag, especially voters of Likud and the right who are fed up with brutalization and vandalism; with the slime that national politics has been reduced to under Netanyahu.” Although he was taking a break from politics, Yaalon said that he did "not intend to leave political and public life." Yaalon’s resignation follows the surprise move by Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to bring ultranationalist MK Avigdor Lieberman and his Yisrael Beiteinu party and give him Yaalon’s job.

Israeli analysts wrote that Netanyahu’s move was the result of the division between the IDF and Netanyahu following the Hebron shooting affair, where IDF solider Elor Azariya shot in the head and killed a Palestinian assailant laying on the ground wounded after already being shot. Yedioth/Ynet revealed that in an interview last Tuesday Yaalon said that "When the Hebron shooting affair just happened, Netanyahu had agreed with me that we needed to let the military prosecution investigate and handle this. And then, when he noticed the public mood, he changed his mind. As a minister, I had to back the IDF chief, but I felt like Netanyahu abandoned me." Yaalon also slammed how Lieberman was involved in pushing for support of Azariya. “Lieberman was involved both personally and indirectly when (former Yisrael Beytenu MK) Sharon Gal, who is Lieberman's man, became the (Azariya) family's PR guy. I felt like Netanyahu had abandoned both the IDF chief and myself when Gal put him through to talk to the family on the phone. I have principles. Not everything is politics." Yaalon also responded to accusations from the far right that during his term in office, he foiled settlement in the West Bank, saying he couldn’t approve construction in places that were illegal. Netanyahu said there was no crisis of confidence with Yaalon and that he should have stayed on as Foreign Minister. Netanyahu also called for Zionist Camp to join the government even though it was clear that would not happen with Lieberman in the government.
 
Yedioth/Ynet also described how Likud Minister Yariv Levin has been working with Lieberman to formulate a draft bill proposal on death sentence to terrorists, Yisrael Beytenu's flagship legislation. But former attorney general Yehuda Weinstein called on his successor to oppose the bill.
and the bill faces other obstacles.
 
*Interestingly, a poll found that most Jewish Israelis prefer
prefer Yisrael Beiteinu over Labor in a coalition government (48% to 31%), but the majority preferred Yaalon over Lieberman as Defense Minister (46% to 40%). A Channel 2 News poll on Thursday showed similar results. The US said it was looking forward to working with the next Israeli Defense Minister. But many Israeli politicians responded negatively to Yaalon’s ouster. Former prime minister Ehud Barak told Israeli TV Friday night that Israel has been "infected by the seeds of fascism” and there are “no serious leaders left in the world who believe the Israeli government.' He also said Ya'alon's resignation is "the end of a chain that began with the case of the soldier who shot [a wounded Palestinian assailant to death]...This government needs to be brought down before it brings all of us down." Former Likud minister Gideon Sa'ar called Ya'alon "a brave man who will still contribute greatly to Israel." (Maariv) And the veteran and prominent military affairs reporter of Channel 2 News, Roni Daniel, [who people in the media jokingly call the ‘IDF Spokesman’ because of his all-out unquestioning support of the IDF and government view – OH] shocked the country when he said on live TV Friday night: “I’m not sure I want my kids to stay here.”

Hundreds of Israelis demonstrated in Tel-Aviv against the entry of Lieberman in the coalition. Among the participants, some of whom were Meretz Party and Peace Now, was also former MK Yael Dayan. The spontaneous event organized through Facebook read: "How much longer will we pay in blood for Netanyahu’s low political games, how much more will we give up on our country for the madness of Lieberman? We cannot let Netanyahu get away with this, we must not allow the most dangerous right-wing government ever to continue destroy, sow hatred and fear. The State of Israel is being destroyed, any chance for a better life in peace, coexistence, dignity are disappearing under the government of malice. Death sentence, Yehuda Glick as a member of the coalition, Bennett as Education Minister, Lieberman as Defense Minister - the Netanyahu government is dangerous to Israel. Death instead of hope, hatred and fear instead of solidarity – we must stop this madness." (Maariv) Meanwhile, Zionist Camp and Labor party leader MK Isaac Herzog and Labor party MK Shelly Yachimovich are still exchanging verbal blows over Lieberman's party entering the government and not the Zionist Camp, as Herzog had planned.

Fears have risen among the Palestinians at the announcement of Lieberman as Defense Minister. Lieberman has made numerous murderous statements against Hamas leaders and Gazans. Last month he said that if he were defense minister he would assassinate Hamas leaders if Hamas did not return the bodies of IDF soldiers killed in the 2014 Gaza war. Senior Hamas official Mahmoud al-Zahar responded with a warning over the weekend.
 
Interesting, Channel 10 reported Friday that Arab governments said they would amend the Arab Peace Initiative to make it more acceptable to Israel in a bid to restart the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Then on Saturday, Herzog revealed that he and Netanyahu 'labored' over the Initiative through a number of discussions over the past several months.
 

Quick Hits:

  • Temple Mount activist Yehuda Glick to replace Ya'alon as Knesset member, vows won't go up to Temple Mount - Glick is a prominent proponent of the right of Jews to visit the Temple Mount. He survived an assassination attempt in October 2014. (Haaretz+, Israel Hayom and Ynet)
  • **Activists: State Archives Buries History to Save Israeli Government From Shame - Documents that shed light on difficult events in the state’s history are still classified, years after the period of restriction expired, says ‘Ikvot,’ an activist group that documents Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Haaretz+) 
  • Israel interrogates 2 Palestinian children for 6 hours over allegations of stone throwing - Israeli forces detained Muhammad Samih Ulayan, 10, and Mustafa Abu al-Hawa, 12, as they were walking in E. Jerusalem neighborhood, then transported them to nearby illegal Israeli settlement (enclave), then to al-Tur police station, then to Salah al-Din police station, where they were interrogated for 6.5 hours without any parent or lawyer present. (Maan)
  • 'Minister Bennett Uses Education to Indoctrinate Kids With Nationalist Ideas' - A Tel Aviv high school principal who slaughtered a sacred cow by canceling trips to death camps in Poland discusses fascism in Israeli society and accuses the education minister of tearing the country apart. (Haaretz) 
  • Israel returns body of young Palestinian attacker, funeral held in Qalqilya district - The body of Bashar Masalha, 22, was laid to rest in his village of Hajja after Israeli forces returned his body almost three months following his death, on condition the funeral be held at night. Israeli forces shot dead Masalha after he carried out a stabbing attack in March near the port of the Israeli city of Jaffa, killing a US tourist, while wounding at least nine Israelis. (Maan)
  • Israel Releases Palestinian Mohammed al-Qiq, Who Went on Hunger Strike - Qiq, who ended a three-month strike earlier this year to protest his administrative detention, said Israel only compromises when aggressive tactics are used. (Haaretz+ and Israel Hayom)
  • Arab nations demand removal of Israeli UN panel that calls Jerusalem capital of Jewish people - Palestinian envoy excoriates panel for negating city's Arab, Muslim and Christian history and identity, but UN says Israeli exhibition follows UN rules. (Agencies, Haaretz)
  • Hebron's Civilian Security Chief Notified Army About Killing of Wounded Palestinian - According to a senior officer, commanders at the scene did not immediately grasp what was going on when Abdel Fattah al-Sharif was shot. (Haaretz+)
  • Israeli police forces thwart stabbing attack in Jerusalem - A Palestinian youth was found to be carrying a butterfly knife Thursday; police say he confessed to planning to attack policemen. (Haaretz) 
  • IDF Medical Corps adapts to knife intifada - Following six months of knife attacks targeting both civilians and military personnel, the IDF has invented a neck collar for its soldiers to wear to reduce the risk of their dying if attacked. (Ynet)
  • Birthright Participant Kills Himself on Trip to Israel - The man's family and the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv were reportedly notified of the death. (JTA, Haaretz)
  • Government and energy companies agree to new stability clause - The new clause will allow future governments to review and amend the gas deal legislation; Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz praises the agreement, saying that it will be brought to a cabinet vote in the coming days. (Ynet/Calcalist)
  • Israeli officials pledge support of Druze community - As Druze celebrate holiday of Ziyarat al-Nabi Shu'ayb at Jethro's tomb outside of Tiberias, Minister Aryeh Deri and President Reuven Rivlin pledge funds to assist the Israeli religious minority. (Ynet)
  • Israeli life expectancy among highest in world, WHO finds - Life expectancy around the world has increased dramatically over last 15 years, according to World Health Organization report. Israel's average life expectancy, 82.5 years, is sixth highest in world. Large gaps exist between wealthy and poor countries. (Israel Hayom)
  • Israel to upgrade West Bank checkpoints, shortening wait time - Defense and finance ministries agree to move, which will cost $78 million. (Haaretz+) 
  • Two Israeli Films Win Awards at the Cannes Film Festival - Or Sinai's 'Anna' took first place in the Cinéfondation student film competition, while Asaph Polonsky's 'One Week and a Day' won a Critics' Week award. (Haaretz+ and Ynet) 
  • Restoration Begins on Tomb of Jesus in Jerusalem's Church of Holy Sepulchre - Work is expected to last up to a year, during which time visitors will still be able to visit the holy site. (Agencies, Haaretz)
  • Singaporean who defied boycott of Israel finally visits the Holy Land - Despite fear of backlash from his neighbors, Seow Kee Quek, a Singaporean businessman, rented space to the Israeli government on the 4th floor of a building owned by his family 40 years ago; now, he's visiting Israel. (Ynet) 
  • Did an Austrian Presidential Candidate Lie About Witnessing a Terror Attack in Israel? - The far-right Norbert Hofer, who visited Israel in 2014, claims he witnessed Israeli police shooting a heavily-armed woman on Temple Mount. But the incident appears to have never happened. (Haaretz) 
  • Netanyahu offers condolences over EgyptAir plane crash - Phone conversation between Netanyahu and Egypt's Sissi takes place after EgyptAir plane carrying 66 passengers and crew disappears over Mediterranean. (Haaretz) 
  • Israel to return Egyptian mummy sarcophagi - Four years ago, Israel Antiquities Authorities Antiquities Robbery Prevention Unit found two sarcophagus lids being smuggled through the Old City of Jerusalem to Europe. They will be returned to Egypt on Sunday in an effort to warm relations. (Yedioth/Ynet)
  • Egypt and Israel close to reaching compromise deal over gas - Egypt will pay Israeli Electrical Corporation $865 million over 14 months in compensation for non-supply of gas to Israel via the al-Arish-Ashkelon pipeline since February 2011; if deal is signed, it will open doors to the implementation of a number of other Egyptian-Israeli deals. (Ynet/Calcalist)
  • Lebanese Charity Says U.S. anti-Hezbollah Law Is Unfairly Applied - The Mabarrat foundation claims Lebanon's banks, scared of the risk of international isolation, are taking the restrictions too far. (Agencies, Haaretz) 
  • US tells European banks trade with Iran is okay - U.S. secretary of state, EU's foreign policy chief reiterate assurances that instating ties with once-embargoed Iranian banks will not result in sanctions. "We won't stand in the way of permitted business activity with Iran," they say in joint statement. (Agenices, Israel Hayom)


Features:

The center that is fighting the LEHAVA organization "It is a Jewish cover intended to conceal racism"Data from the Center for Reform Judaism indicates that every 6 minutes an offensive social media post is written against Arabs and every 27-minutes a post is written calling to physical violence. About half of the posts praise the work of LEHAVA director Bentsi Gopstein. (Tal Ariel-Amir, Maariv Magazine supplement) 
'Doing Things Out of Spite Is Part of Israeli Culture' - Arrivals / Departures:
A British life coach working with Tony Robbins reluctantly offers a piece of advice; Israeli siblings explains the difference between weddings in Israel and Brazil. (Liat Elkayam, Haaretz+) 
The trauma remains
Resisim is an organization which helps Israelis express their feelings and emotions after wars; It turns out, its not just soldiers on the front lines who are directly affected by the fighting. (Asaf Kamer, Ynet)
About to Become Likud's Newest MK, Yehuda Glick Agrees Temple Mount Is Out of Bounds, for Now
The Temple Mount activist was number 33 on the Likud’s list of Knesset candidates, a slot which, before the elections, seemed unlikely to be filled. 'I’m very sorry Ya’alon has gone,' he tells Haaretz. (Nir Hasson, Haaretz+) 
Which events most impacted Israeli democracy?
Joint poll by Ynet and the Israel Democracy Institute explores the top 10 events during Israel's 68 years of independence, including Rabin's assassination, the Gaza disengagement and the Six Day War. (Ynet)
A Bridge Between Enemies, Iranian Art Exhibit Opens in Israel
On display at Jerusalem's Museum of Islamic Art, its coinciding with the inflammatory and controversial Holocaust cartoon show in Tehran is perhaps more than a coincidence. (Ofira Koopmans, DPA, Haaretz+) 
Grandpa returns to the Western Wall
Dr. Yitzhak Yifat, one of the three paratroopers immortalized at the Western Wall after it was captured during the Six Day War, returned 49 years later with his grandchildren to recreate the photo. (Yedioth/Ynet)
 
Commentary/Analysis:
Lieberman May Shake Up Race for IDF Chief's Succession (Amir Oren, Haaretz+) Moshe Ya’alon’s replacement by Avigdor Lieberman as defense minister reopens the possibility of a second deputy chief of staff being appointed, as a stepping stone to the top post. 
Sting like a Bibi (Alex Fishman, Yedioth/Ynet) While Sisi tries to promote peace through diplomatic agreements, the main rhetoric in Israeli politics is more about personal survival
Who is behind the underhanded maneuver to expand Israel's right-wing coalition? (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) Moshe Ya'alon has been dumped, Avigdor Lieberman won the lottery, the best-laid plans of Herzog and some of his fellow Zionist Union members exploded in their faces, to the delight of their detractors – and Benjamin Netanyahu has achieved his principal goal: staying on top.
A strategic surprise (Mati Tuchfeld, Israel Hayom) It all started a month ago, when Immigrant Absorption Zeev Elkin made a surprise proposal to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Despite his skepticism, Netanyahu agreed, and now Yisrael Beytenu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman is poised to join the coalition. 
Have the Palestinians Given Up? (Larry Derfner, Haaretz+) They may not admit it to themselves, but facts on the ground look as though Palestinians are conceding to the occupation, with no change in sight.
Netanyahu is jeopardizing Israel's national security (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) The Prime Minister is making political experiments at the public's expense, replacing an experienced and professional defense minister with the inexperienced Lieberman. The dramatic move clearly signals to the military that the values they're used to cherishing are no longer of the utmost importance. 
Frustrated and Weak, the Israeli Left Has Turned to Bullying the Palestinians (Roy Isacowitz, Haaretz+) The Palestinians may have been under the heel of a brutal, occupation regime for the past 50 years but, according to the 'pro-peace' Zionist left, it’s still their responsibility to get us out of this mess.
End of Israeli coalition talks shouldn't spell end for peace (Carolina Landsmann, Haaretz+) If Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Isaac Herzog were on the verge of forging a historic opportunity to advance regional peace, isn't that opportunity still on the table? 
The Man Who Will Bring Down Netanyahu (Uri Misgav, Haaretz+) Ousted Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon will keep his word and return to face off against Netanyahu and his anti-Zionist road. 
Proportionality is relative (Judith Bergman, Israel Hayom) Judging by the liberal media, it is acceptable to kill a belligerent drunk but not an ideologically driven terrorist.
Israeli Soldiers Who Provide Testimony to NGOs Must Be Granted Immunity (Haaretz Editorial) Instead of investigating the Israel Defense Forces’ assault policies, the Military Police and State Prosecutor’s Office are focusing on a low-severity case of a soldier who provided testimony that raised suspicions of war crimes.
We aren’t moving from here: we, who love the country, have been defeated (Carmit Sapir-Weitz, Maariv) In many ways it has become unbearable here. The day to day is hard, taxes on everyone's head and the job market is like the discourse on the street: violent, brutal, lacking compassion. Now my friends are looking to get foreign passports for them and their children. It’s hard. They are looking for a more comfortable place. They have a lot of claims. "The fact that you get insurance for your home against fires and earthquakes, does not mean you're wishing for a fire or other disaster, right?" said one of them. It didn’t help when I told him that if there is a fear that my house is going to burn, I can just hold a water hose or if they are afraid of earthquake they have to work to strengthen the structure,  and if dirty, they must endeavor to clean as much as possible. But a real Jerusalem knows that escaping is not an option. 
Will there be another act in outgoing Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon's tempestuous career? (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) To return to the political arena and contend for the premiership, the outgoing defense minister will need political skills he may not have. 
Lieberman's natural appointment (Mati Tuchfeld, Israel Hayom) Just over a year ago, the voters said they wanted the Right in power. Lieberman has always been part of the Right.
Lieberman's first dilemma: Will be stop the returning of the bodies of the terrorists? (Noam Amir, Maariv) Two bodies of terrorists were returned over the weekend to the Palestinians. Will they be the last? In the past he said this "undermines deterrence and encourages attacks." Possibly. 
Israeli Defense Minister's Days Were Numbered After Hebron Shooting in March (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Moshe Ya'alon went out on the attack on Friday, but the falling out with the prime minister over the military made his demise inevitable. 
Security Now: Lieberman came to take over the right-wing and replace Netanyahu (Udi Segal, Maariv) The Prime Minister may find that Lieberman has irregular proposals, only so that he will stop him. The new left-winger could be the Prime Minister himself. And imagine the next International Summit: Putin, Lieberman and Trump. 
29 questions Lieberman should answer before becoming defense minister (Gidi Weitz, Haaretz+) What do we really know about the defense minister-designate? Prime Minister Netanyahu and the public would be well advised to ask him these questions. 
Israeli-Palestinian Peace? Sissi Has Enough Problems at Home (Zvi Bar’el, Haaretz+) The Egyptian president is more preoccupied with the war on terror and improving the country's anemic economy. For him, a quiet Gaza is enough. 
Netanyahu and Lieberman will seek to reeducate Israel's military brass (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Avigdor Lieberman’s pending takeover of the Defense Ministry reflects Netanyahu’s war against the elites, of which the military high command remains the last target.
'Are You Coming to the Nakba Party?' (Juliana Khalil, Haaretz+) I want you to know how I feel when my Jewish friends ask me that and what it's like for me to be surrounded by Israeli flags. 
Faced with a rightist front of racism and oppression, it's time for Israeli left to unite (Friday Haaretz Editorial) Jewish left has to shake off Herzog's false leadership, come together with the Joint Arab List and seize the opportunity to rejuvenate its ideology and leadership. 
Relax, Israel's Defense Minister Isn’t Calling the Shots and Lieberman Won't Bomb Egypt (Yoel Marcus, Haaretz+) The defense minister is not omnipotent. In reality, he decides much less than most people think he does. 
The tipping point of Israel's global image (Joanna Landau, Ynet) There was an element of complacency in Israel's management of its international standing, until a year ago, when the Palestinians tried to oust Israel from FIFA. Now, we must invest heavily in promotion of Israel's economic, social, scientific and cultural strengths.
The Israeli tragedy of spring 2016 (Aluf Benn, Haaretz+) The moment the video of the execution in Hebron surfaced, the process of deposing Moshe Ya’alon and replacing him with Avigdor Lieberman was set in motion.
The Holocaust can never escape the Jewish ghetto (Yehuda Bauer, Haaretz+) Prof. Daniel Blatman objects to 'Judeo-centrist' Holocaust studies, but after all, Jews weren't brought to Treblinka merely because they were human beings.
Sara Netanyahu's Rumored Mastery of Her Husband Is Israel's Greatest Story Never Told (Yossi Klein, Haaretz+) Israeli journalists are afraid of criticizing Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife. Not just scared, but the terror that paralyzes anyone who hides in the attic from the storm troopers below.
Lieberman's Lofty Position Means Nothing to Struggling Russian-Israeli Community (Liza Rozovsky, Haaretz+) Avigdor Lieberman says he's 'shattered the glass ceiling for Russian Israelis' with his ascension to the Defense Ministry, but the statistics tell a different tale. 
When Satire Made Israel's Opposition Leader Look Less Racist Than He Actually Is (Sayed Kashua, Haaretz+) Recollections of a one-time encounter with Isaac Herzog that began pleasantly but went sour. 
 
Interviews:
Ai Weiwei: Israelis and Palestinians Have Gotten Used to Living With a Chair Tied to Their Leg
The Chinese dissident and world-renowned artist, whose documentary on refugees took him to Gaza and West Bank, tells Haaretz what he thinks of the refusal by Israeli state officials to meet him, what's unique about Tel Aviv Museum's cancellation of his art show and who's his favorite artist. (Interviewed by Shany Littman in Haaretz+)


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

Recent Entries