APN's daily news review from Israel
Monday July 18, 2016
You Must Be
Kidding:
“It’s called ‘not harming innocents,' that’s what they call it (...and it) is spreading like wildfire.”
--Rabbi Yigal Levinstein, a leading settler rabbi and head of an IDF pre-conscription academy at Eli settlement, denounced the army's efforts to avoid harming Palestinian civilian noncombatants.**
“It’s called ‘not harming innocents,' that’s what they call it (...and it) is spreading like wildfire.”
--Rabbi Yigal Levinstein, a leading settler rabbi and head of an IDF pre-conscription academy at Eli settlement, denounced the army's efforts to avoid harming Palestinian civilian noncombatants.**
Breaking News:
Two Israelis Soldier Hurt in West Bank Stabbing, Assailant Shot
According to paramedics, both soldiers are conscious after being stabbed in Al-Arroub near Jerusalem. Assailant severely injured and Israeli forces reportedly prevented Palestinian Red Crescent medics from treating him. (Haaretz, Ynet, Israel Hayom and Maan)
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Erdogan expands wave of arrests and blocks access to media; government plans death sentences
- Accident in Golan Heights: Two soldiers killed from hand grenade explosion
- Explosives caught in central Jerusalem
- Drone infiltrated Israel from Syria; Patriot missiles failed to intercept it
- Head of military-yeshiva academy in Eli settlement denounces educating soldiers to preserve the lives of innocents (in combat zones)
- Attorney General against the Police Commissioner
- (Expulsion Law) Incites and expels // Haaretz Editorial
- The conservatives revolution // Ido Baum
Yedioth Ahronoth
- The drone embarrassment
- Husam and Shlomo were killed in a grenade explosion
- “When Erdogan appeared on my phone screen, everyone was in shock” – CNN Turk reporter Hande Firat speaks
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Triple-miss in the air
- Grenade exploded in the hand of a soldier and killed with him another soldier
- Compulsory core studies (for ultra-Orthodox) on the way to being cancelled
- Istanbul: two nights in a hotel for 99 shekels
Israel Hayom
- A miss in the Golan skies
- Operational accident at the foot of Mt. Hermon: Two soldiers killed in grenade explosion
- Erdogan’s cleansing campaign
- A new world lack of order // Boaz Bismuth in Cleveland
- Heroes of the day: Alertness of guards prevented attack on Jerusalem light rail
- Government passed two-year budget
News Summary:
The IDF fails to intercept a drone from Syria, two soldiers – a Druze and a US immigrant - are killed in a hand grenade mishap, a Palestinian is caught getting on the Jerusalem light rail with a backpack of pipe bombs, and Turkey continues its cleansing campaign against the coup makers – making top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers.
The papers considered it ‘embarrassing’ that the Patriot missile battery failed three times to intercept a drone that entered from Syria. Maariv’s Intelligence Affairs analyst Yossi Melman wrote it was a “source of concern” and required drawing conclusions so that it won’t happen again.
Just miles away on Mt. Hermon, a grenade mistakenly went off killing two soldiers. One was the son of an Orthodox Rabbi in New Jersey, the other was a Druze, who had cancelled plans with family to go to reserve duty.
The papers shared more information about the coup attempt in Turkey and the aftermath, Israeli analysts mostly agreed that it was good that Israel and Turkey had recently reconciled and good that Israel did not express support for the coup. (See Commentary/Analysis.) Turkish officials even thanked Israel for that. Netanyahu said that relations would not be affected and Turkey said the same , indeed, business and commerce between the two countries continued as usual. Interesting, however, were the hopes expressed by some left-wing Israelis for a military coup to bring down Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. (See Quick Hits and Commentary/Analysis.)
Meanwhile, in the wake of the cancelled Beersheva gay pride parade and ahead of the planned Jerusalem gay pride parade later this week, more anti-gay remarks were made by Israeli rabbis, which President Reuven Rivlin denounced. (See Quick Hits.)
Quick Hits:
- Israeli AG Deems Bill Legalizing Settlement Outpost Building on Seized Palestinian Land is Unconstitutional - Ministers shelve bill to avert evacuation of Amona outpost. Senior Likud official says coalition would disintegrate if Amona outpost were evacuated. Demolition deadline looms. (Haaretz+, Israel Hayom and Times of Israel)
- Parliamentary assistant of MK Eitan Broshi expressed support on Facebook for a coup in Israel; Israelis called for her to be fired - On the eve of the coup in Turkey, Alice Goldman referred to the possibility of it happening in Israel, writing “Will we be brave enough to throw out our private dictator?” and got a barrage of angry reactions. Her MK (Zionist Camp) demanded she apologize and explained: "She’s new, she didn’t know how to separate between her personal views and her work as my parliamentary assistant. I immediately reprimanded her and told her to delete the post." (Maariv)
- **Anti-gay Rabbi Accuses Israeli Army of 'Delegitimizing Combat' - Yig'al Levinstein, the head of an IDF pre-conscription academy, has also angered many Israelis by denouncing members of the LGBT community as 'perverts.' Also expressed opposition to soldiers going to the national theater. (Haaretz+)
- Rabbi draws fire after calling gays 'perverts' - Rabbi Yigal Levinstein of Bnei David religious military academy, blasts military for allowing gay individuals "force their way" into its ranks. Habayit Hayehudi leader Naftali Bennett: As public leaders, we should bring people together, not the opposite. (Israel Hayom)
- Ramat Gan's chief rabbi: Gays and lesbians are disabled and predatory - Prominent Religious-Zionist Yaakov Ariel comments on Rabbi Yigal Levinstein's 'pervert' remarks, decrying gays and lesbians as disabled predators having nothing to be proud of who seek to 'turn' otherwise straight pubescent boys gay. (Ynet)
- President calls for end to incitement against LGBT community - Reuven and Nechama Rivlin met with the parents of slain 16-year-old Shira Banki one year after her murder in the Jerusalem Pride parade; president condemned homophobic incitement by rabbis and other leaders; Bankis thanked Rivlin for his words, and he replied: 'Nechama and I are just representing Shira.' (Yedioth/Ynet)
- Israeli Bill to Fine Facebook for Disseminating Incitement to Terror Advances - Critics say bill, which would hold social media responsible for censoring incitement to terror, makes impossible demands. (Haaretz+ and Israel Hayom)
- Suicide attacks and kidnappings foiled; Shin Bet chief's first situation report - Discussing why more and more women are carrying out terror attacks, the rocky political situation in the Gaza Strip, and multi-lateral cooperation to stop deadly attacks were all featured in Shin Bet Chief Nadav Argaman's report to the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee last week. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- Plea deal for lynchers of Syrian in IDF ambulance - The two residents of Majdal Shams charged with murdering a Syrian being transported in an IDF ambulance in June 2015 have pled down to manslaughter and will serve 2- and 5-year sentences. (Ynet)
- Likud MK introduces bill meant to curb V15 political activity - Likud MK Yoav Kisch to present coalition faction leaders with the bill designed to make political activity by foreign-funded groups subject to existing campaign finance restrictions. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to fast-track legislation. (Israel Hayom)
- Israeli Minister's Face Blacked Out in Nude Portrait for Art-school Show - Shenkar College President Yuli Tamir: 'Censorship' not politically motivated, the student artwork was simply sexist. (Haaretz+)
- Israel May Force Fewer ultra-Orthodox Schools to Teach Core Subjects - The move would affect around 40,000 of the country’s 444,000 Haredi school students. (Haaretz+)
- Win for Israel: Failed coup in Turkey leads to delay of UNESCO Temple Mount vote in Istanbul - The resolution, proposed by Jordan and the Palestinians, stated that the site was holy to Muslims alone. But when it was decided to cut the gathering short, Israel's stance to defer the vote was accepted. (Haaretz and Israel Hayom)
- Israel's 'contribution' to the Turkish coup - Tanks used during Friday's attempted coup in Turkey were equipped with Israeli components which were sold to the Turkish government at the beginning of the 21st century; Their uses proved effective againt Kurdish anti-tank weapons. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- Strikes on ISIS halted as Turkey blocks access to key airbase - Operations on Incirlik Airbase, used by NATO and U.S.-led forces fighting Islamic State, suspended Saturday after Turkish airspace is closed following Friday's failed military coup. Turkish authorities link some servicemen on base to the uprising. (Agencies, Israel Hayom)
Features:
Letters to the Editor: The IDF's Chief Rabbi, a Conscientious Objector and the New Refugees of the
South (Haaretz)
The eyes of the IDF: The female observers who are alert around the clock
They are camouflaged in the field and gather intelligence, they launch observation balloons into the sky and are ready to jump at any moment to provide an operational response on the (Gaza-Israel) fence. Two years since Operation Protective Edge, Eyal Levy spends time with the combat collection fighters. (Eyal Levy, Maariv)
They’re Openly Hostile to Israel. So Why Did These Italian Politicians Just Pay a Visit?
Part of the European and American populist, demagogic political tide, with a conspiracy theory twist, Italy's Five Star Movement has accused Israel of genocide. And Israeli politicians, from Ayman Oudeh to Avi Dichter, lined up to meet them. (Ariel David, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
The Case for Conscientious Objector Tair Kaminer (David Grossman, Haaretz+) The army that for nearly 50 years has cultivated injustice, oppression and the killing of civilians should allow people incapable of joining it a way to express their conscience.
Stop fantasizing about a coup in Israel (Orly Noy, +972mag) As the images of the attempted coup in Turkey flooded the media, some in the Israeli Left began fantasizing about our own version of a military takeover.
Attempted coup in Turkey: From Israel's perspective, it's business as usual (Barak Ravid, Haaretz+) In light of the sensitivity in Israeli-Turkish relations and the fear to the freshly minted reconciliation pact, Jerusalem did not rush to comment until it was clear the coup had failed. Israel believes Ankara will also want to continue as planned.
Using stolen water to irrigate stolen land (Dror Etkes, +972mag) Settlers are trying to spin water shortages as a problem that affects both Palestinians and Jews in the same manner. That couldn’t be further from the truth.
Blackout Policy: the moves harming freedom of expression undermine the public interest (Ran Adelist, Maariv) The current government has failed in all areas, except in this most important to her: the battle against free media. There is where it has made victory after victory without even a sheep bleating.
Egyptian peace initiative for Israelis, Palestinians still far from finish line (Barak Ravid, Haaretz+) Israeli prime minister sees Cairo’s peace initiative as preferable to the French alternative, with U.S. Secretary of State Kerry encouraged by initial efforts. But will Netanyahu follow through this time?
No doubt? (Yoram Yovell, Yedioth/Ynet) We all want to feel as secure as possible, but when it comes to the reality we live in, we can only know peace if we learn to embrace our fear of the unknown.
Israeli University President: After They’ve Crucified Me, Here Are the Facts (Rivka Carmi, Haaretz+) Granting the prize entails declaring support for the recipient; such a declaration of support for Breaking the Silence is not within Ben-Gurion University's mandate.
Equality could be the ultimate deterrence to violence (Talal Jabari, +972mag) If the Israeli security establishment is looking for a proper way to put an end to violence, a little equality in the eyes of the law might go a long way.
Liberty, equality and terrorism: the right to life comes before democracy (Yossi Melman, Maariv) As long as the French government continues to think that terrorism is a random and temporary phenomenon, it will make certain to preserve sacred human rights. It is time that President Hollande internalizes the reality.
You Don’t Have to Be Crazy to Defect From Israel to Gaza (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) That is, even if some of the events on the Palestinian side are a little crazy themselves.
Despite the latest events, the reconciliation agreement with Turkey is a strategic asset (Uzi Dayan, Maariv) Israel did well to avoid taking a stance regarding the coup in Turkey. Ankara and Jerusalem have joint interests on many issues, including the prevention of a nuclear Iran and a future settlement in Syria.
Share the Gruesome Nice Attack Images. We Muslims Must Face Reality (Felix Marquardt, Haaretz+) We must confront what’s being done in the name of our religion even when our so-called allies, including President Obama, undermine our position when they deny Islam’s role in terrorism.
Why won't Israel allow GoPros and model airplanes into Gaza? (Edo Konrad, +972mag) The Israeli military decides to shut down all postal services in the Gaza Strip in response to the attempted ‘smuggling’ of mail-order GoPro cameras, WiFi antennas, and slingshots.
Trump’s Candidacy and the GOP Platform Are as Much anti-Jewish as 'pro-Israeli' (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) There won’t be many Jews at the Republican convention in Cleveland but there will be multitudes of white supremacist Jew-haters.
An Israeli Law Created to Incite (Haaretz Editorial) It's still not too late for the coalition's leadership to come to its senses and put a stop to the 'expulsion law.'
We need a revolution of consciousness (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) Western liberal thought is so sophisticated that it can distinguish one kind of murderous bloodshed from another, and be willfully blind in refusing to see what these attacks have in common.
Sleeping With the Enemy: The Turkish Opposition’s Terrible Dilemma (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) Opposition leaders had no choice but to support their bitter rival and back 'democracy.' Erdogan may soon be able to rewrite the constitution.
How Erdogan survived the coup, and why we needed him to (Dr. Yaron Friedman, Yedioth/Ynet) The attempted coup in Turkey over the weekend bore striking similarities to the military overthrow of the Muslim Brotherhood regime in Egypt three years ago; However, a combination of public support, military ineptitude, and economics all resulted in Erdogan being able to weather the storm.
The Failure of Turkey's Coup: Now It’s the Omnipotent Erdogan’s Turn for a Revolution (Zvi Bar’el, Haaretz+) The conspirators have underrated the extent of support Turkey's president enjoys, and it appears the public preferred undemocratic democracy to military rule. For Erdogan, the failed coup could be an important leverage on the way to change the constitution.
ISIS' Claim of Nice Attack Solves Many Political Problems for the French (Dov Alfon, Haaretz+) Statement by Islamic State justifies extension of anti-terror measures, vindicates France’s leaders.
The eyes of the IDF: The female observers who are alert around the clock
They are camouflaged in the field and gather intelligence, they launch observation balloons into the sky and are ready to jump at any moment to provide an operational response on the (Gaza-Israel) fence. Two years since Operation Protective Edge, Eyal Levy spends time with the combat collection fighters. (Eyal Levy, Maariv)
They’re Openly Hostile to Israel. So Why Did These Italian Politicians Just Pay a Visit?
Part of the European and American populist, demagogic political tide, with a conspiracy theory twist, Italy's Five Star Movement has accused Israel of genocide. And Israeli politicians, from Ayman Oudeh to Avi Dichter, lined up to meet them. (Ariel David, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
The Case for Conscientious Objector Tair Kaminer (David Grossman, Haaretz+) The army that for nearly 50 years has cultivated injustice, oppression and the killing of civilians should allow people incapable of joining it a way to express their conscience.
Stop fantasizing about a coup in Israel (Orly Noy, +972mag) As the images of the attempted coup in Turkey flooded the media, some in the Israeli Left began fantasizing about our own version of a military takeover.
Attempted coup in Turkey: From Israel's perspective, it's business as usual (Barak Ravid, Haaretz+) In light of the sensitivity in Israeli-Turkish relations and the fear to the freshly minted reconciliation pact, Jerusalem did not rush to comment until it was clear the coup had failed. Israel believes Ankara will also want to continue as planned.
Using stolen water to irrigate stolen land (Dror Etkes, +972mag) Settlers are trying to spin water shortages as a problem that affects both Palestinians and Jews in the same manner. That couldn’t be further from the truth.
Blackout Policy: the moves harming freedom of expression undermine the public interest (Ran Adelist, Maariv) The current government has failed in all areas, except in this most important to her: the battle against free media. There is where it has made victory after victory without even a sheep bleating.
Egyptian peace initiative for Israelis, Palestinians still far from finish line (Barak Ravid, Haaretz+) Israeli prime minister sees Cairo’s peace initiative as preferable to the French alternative, with U.S. Secretary of State Kerry encouraged by initial efforts. But will Netanyahu follow through this time?
No doubt? (Yoram Yovell, Yedioth/Ynet) We all want to feel as secure as possible, but when it comes to the reality we live in, we can only know peace if we learn to embrace our fear of the unknown.
Israeli University President: After They’ve Crucified Me, Here Are the Facts (Rivka Carmi, Haaretz+) Granting the prize entails declaring support for the recipient; such a declaration of support for Breaking the Silence is not within Ben-Gurion University's mandate.
Equality could be the ultimate deterrence to violence (Talal Jabari, +972mag) If the Israeli security establishment is looking for a proper way to put an end to violence, a little equality in the eyes of the law might go a long way.
Liberty, equality and terrorism: the right to life comes before democracy (Yossi Melman, Maariv) As long as the French government continues to think that terrorism is a random and temporary phenomenon, it will make certain to preserve sacred human rights. It is time that President Hollande internalizes the reality.
You Don’t Have to Be Crazy to Defect From Israel to Gaza (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) That is, even if some of the events on the Palestinian side are a little crazy themselves.
Despite the latest events, the reconciliation agreement with Turkey is a strategic asset (Uzi Dayan, Maariv) Israel did well to avoid taking a stance regarding the coup in Turkey. Ankara and Jerusalem have joint interests on many issues, including the prevention of a nuclear Iran and a future settlement in Syria.
Share the Gruesome Nice Attack Images. We Muslims Must Face Reality (Felix Marquardt, Haaretz+) We must confront what’s being done in the name of our religion even when our so-called allies, including President Obama, undermine our position when they deny Islam’s role in terrorism.
Why won't Israel allow GoPros and model airplanes into Gaza? (Edo Konrad, +972mag) The Israeli military decides to shut down all postal services in the Gaza Strip in response to the attempted ‘smuggling’ of mail-order GoPro cameras, WiFi antennas, and slingshots.
Trump’s Candidacy and the GOP Platform Are as Much anti-Jewish as 'pro-Israeli' (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) There won’t be many Jews at the Republican convention in Cleveland but there will be multitudes of white supremacist Jew-haters.
An Israeli Law Created to Incite (Haaretz Editorial) It's still not too late for the coalition's leadership to come to its senses and put a stop to the 'expulsion law.'
We need a revolution of consciousness (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) Western liberal thought is so sophisticated that it can distinguish one kind of murderous bloodshed from another, and be willfully blind in refusing to see what these attacks have in common.
Sleeping With the Enemy: The Turkish Opposition’s Terrible Dilemma (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) Opposition leaders had no choice but to support their bitter rival and back 'democracy.' Erdogan may soon be able to rewrite the constitution.
How Erdogan survived the coup, and why we needed him to (Dr. Yaron Friedman, Yedioth/Ynet) The attempted coup in Turkey over the weekend bore striking similarities to the military overthrow of the Muslim Brotherhood regime in Egypt three years ago; However, a combination of public support, military ineptitude, and economics all resulted in Erdogan being able to weather the storm.
The Failure of Turkey's Coup: Now It’s the Omnipotent Erdogan’s Turn for a Revolution (Zvi Bar’el, Haaretz+) The conspirators have underrated the extent of support Turkey's president enjoys, and it appears the public preferred undemocratic democracy to military rule. For Erdogan, the failed coup could be an important leverage on the way to change the constitution.
ISIS' Claim of Nice Attack Solves Many Political Problems for the French (Dov Alfon, Haaretz+) Statement by Islamic State justifies extension of anti-terror measures, vindicates France’s leaders.
Interviews:
Helping Palestinians was an uphill battle for US aid chief
'Frustrating' is a word Dave Harden said repeatedly in an interview he gave as he stepped down from 11 years of heading USAID's delegation to the Palestinians, helping to distribute some $3.8 billion. (Associated Press, Ynet)
A rabbi of many colors: A genderqueer Conservative rabbi
Rabbi Becky Silverstein took the time during a recent trip to Israel to discuss his process of defining his gender identity, why he hasn’t chosen to change his name, why it was important for him to marry a Jewish woman and the replacement text he has chosen for the daily blessing thanking God ‘for not creating me a woman.’ (Interviewed by Smadar Shir in Yedioth/Ynet)
Helping Palestinians was an uphill battle for US aid chief
'Frustrating' is a word Dave Harden said repeatedly in an interview he gave as he stepped down from 11 years of heading USAID's delegation to the Palestinians, helping to distribute some $3.8 billion. (Associated Press, Ynet)
A rabbi of many colors: A genderqueer Conservative rabbi
Rabbi Becky Silverstein took the time during a recent trip to Israel to discuss his process of defining his gender identity, why he hasn’t chosen to change his name, why it was important for him to marry a Jewish woman and the replacement text he has chosen for the daily blessing thanking God ‘for not creating me a woman.’ (Interviewed by Smadar Shir in Yedioth/Ynet)
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.