APN's daily news review from Israel
Friday August 5, 2016
While News Nosh's Israel editor is on vacation, we are publishing an abbreviated version produced in Washington and therefore it may be sent later in the day.
While News Nosh's Israel editor is on vacation, we are publishing an abbreviated version produced in Washington and therefore it may be sent later in the day.
Quote of the day:
"There has always been a large gap between the world the Palestinians see and the world the Israelis see, but in recent years this hasn’t been so much an argument over the narrative, or over the fairness or abnormality of the situation, so much as that, for every event, every death, every incident, there seems to be a Palestinian version and an Israeli version."
"There has always been a large gap between the world the Palestinians see and the world the Israelis see, but in recent years this hasn’t been so much an argument over the narrative, or over the fairness or abnormality of the situation, so much as that, for every event, every death, every incident, there seems to be a Palestinian version and an Israeli version."
- Nir Baram, author of "In a Land Beyond the Mountains," a chronicle
of his journey through the occupied territories in the West Bank
of his journey through the occupied territories in the West Bank
Front Page:
Haaretz
- The profound chasm in how Israelis and Palestinians see the occupation
- The Israel - Nazi Germany analogy: rethinking the 'banality of evil' theory
- Hundreds of Hamas inmates declare hunger strike after Israel clears prison wings
- Obama: Israel acknowledges Iran has abided by nuclear deal
Israel Hayom
- An Olympic medal in incitement for the Palestinians
- Security officials: Hamas likely has plants in other NGOs
- PM, defense minister reject plan to build Gaza port on artificial island
- Ex-president on suicide watch after being denied parole
The Times of Israel
- UK Jews slam peerage for author of probe that played down Labour anti-Semitism
- Himmler diaries reveal chilling details of Nazi wartime life
- Panic at Tel Aviv market after mentally ill man spotted with knife
- France to rescue Europe's oldest Jewish building
Ynet News
- Health, Environmental Protection Ministries reject study on Haifa pollution
- Israel's diplomats to put a spotlight on rediverting aid to Hamas
- Health Minister threatens to revoke Unilever's license after recall
- Animals rescued from illegal Bedouin market
News Summary:
Netanyahu and Lieberman rejected Transportation Minister Yisael Katz's plan to build a five mile artificial island for Gaza with foreign investments, which would cover the building of a seaport, airport, staff areas, hotels and advanced facilities for energy production and desalination. Netanyahu and Lieberman claim it would not be possible to guarantee effective security checks, although the IDF and Shin Bet found no security reason not to build the port.
Israel's Foreign Ministry launched a campaign to put a spotlight on World Vision's Mohammed El Halabi, who has been arrested under suspicion of funneling millions in aid to Hamas's military wing. Israeli diplomats have been asked to emphasize Israel's humanitarian aid to Gaza and spread the news of Halabi's actions among World Vision's liberal supporters.
The Israeli Prison Services transferred two units of Palestinian prisoners affiliated with Hamas - 120 inmates from the Nafha and Eshel Prisons in Southern Israel - citing a possible conspiracy that prisoners had smuggled in cell phones and were collaborating to revolt. More than 250 Palestinian prisoners have responded with hunger strikes.
With tensions running high, panic broke out in Tel Aviv's Carmel market when a mentally ill Israeli man, known to local health professions, was spotted carrying a knife. Market visitors shouted "Terrorist! Terrorist!" mistaking the man for a Palestinian. Although there were no injuries, two people were treated for shock
Quick Hits:
- On August 1, Dani Dayan, a West Bank settler, assumed his position as Israeli Consul General in New York after the Brazilian government refused to accept his appointment as Israeli Ambassador to Brazil for residing in an occupied territory. Dayan has publicly challenged the two-state solution in the past claiming "it is not attainable, and if it is attained, it will not bring peace, only serve as a prelude to the next war.” (Al Monitor)
- In a Haaretz op-ed, Dmitri Schumsky says "Yes to a Boycott - but Not Just Any Boycott," and that now is the time to seriously talk about boycotting the Israeli settlements to end the occupation as opposed to the BDS model of undermining the right to self-determination of the Jewish nation. (Haaretz)
- Various Black Lives Matter groups issued a platform on many issues detailing points of view that included calling for an end to federal U.S. aid to Israel. The language contained in this release stated the US is "complicit in the genocide taking place against the Palestinian people." Jewish groups, even those who are progressive and speak-out against Israel’s occupation, denounced such language. Rabbi Jonah Pesner, head of the Religious Action Center of the Reform Movement said to the Washington Post, "it’s never helpful, never helpful to use phrases like ‘complicit in genocide’ which is patently false, or make unfair analogies to apartheid." (Washington Post)
- 240 boxes of cornflake cereal potentially tainted with salmonella cannot be accounted for and may have been sold to an unsuspecting public. Unilever is under fire for its’ handling of this issue. (Times of Israel)
- In "Tearing down before building up," Moran Aviv and Mohammed Khaliliyeh argue that "in order to create genuine housing solutions for Arab society in Israel, existing homes and developments must be retroactively licensed, and only then will it be possible to tackle illegal construction." (+972)
- Although he has denied the allegations, a Chabad emissary - a 39 year old father of seven - was arrested upon his return to Israel from an assignment abroad for sexually abusing minors. (Ynet News)
- Human Rights Watch released a letter today to President Obama calling for the US to help Jordan transfer about 70,000 Syrians who are living in appalling conditions. Jordan hosts approximately 657,000 refugees. (Human Rights Watch)
- Moment Magazine has a feature that itemizes what they think are the top ten Jewish podcasts. The first few are: Can we talk?, (Is it) Good for the Jews?, Israel Story, and On The Other Hand - Ten Minutes of Torah. (Moment Magazine)
- CBN is making a film for the 50th anniversary of the Six-Day War, which will portray personal stories and
experiences from the Battle of Ammunition Hill. (Ynet News)