APN's daily news review from Israel
Monday August 8, 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:
"Amona must stay in place, thrive and flourish. The cabinet must make sure that a vibrant community does not
become a desolate place just because of formalities."
- Culture and Sports Minister Miri Regev
on the eviction of Amona illegal outpost
on the eviction of Amona illegal outpost
Front Page:
Haaretz
- World Vision: Israeli claim that Hamas siphoned funds from Gaza charity doesn't add up
- Swiss Court orders Israel to pay Iran 1 million NIS for Shah-era debt
- Asylum seekers in Israel deprived of basic medical care as services stop treating them
- ISIS bombing of Pakistani hospital leaves 63 dead
Israel Hayom
- Israel seeks to deport, deny entry to BDS activists
- Attorney General greenlights relocation of illegal outpost of Amona
- Olympic chiefs chide Lebanese team leader on clash with Israelis
- Likud minister warns combative singer will give party a bad rap
Times of Israel
- Ex-Shin Bet chief: World is hideously naïve about widespread diversion of aid to fund Hamas
- Canada's Green Party votes to support Israel boycott
- PM: Only results count in ending racism against Ethiopian Israelis
- Swedes demand Israel repair ship seized en route to Gaza
Ynet News
- MKs turn to UNESCO to save prophet's tomb
- IDF chief promoting full scholarships to combat soldiers
- Fan of Jerusalem soccer club indicted for attempted murder
- Australia, Germany suspended World Vision aid over Hamas funding accusations
News Summary:
Russia admits that it mistakenly flew a drone over the Golan three weeks ago, attributing it to human error. Although Israel fired on the drone - the first instance of Israel firing on a Russian aircraft operating in Syria - the drone was not shot down, causing many to question the effectiveness of the security procedures in place. The incident has been a topic of conversation between Putin and Netanyahu - Russia is emphasizing that it was a mistake, and Israel is emphasizing the importance of coordination with Russia over this issue.
As the stakes mount for the case against World Vision - Australia and Germany have suspend funding - the charity denies the allegations and asserts that the sums Mohammad El-Halabi is accused of funneling are impossibly and improbably high. Their Germany spokesman, Silvia Holten, claims the charity's Gaza budget totals only $22.5 million for the last decade, while Shin Bet claims El-Halabi rerouted $7.2 million a year for the last 5 years, which would exceed the total budget in World Vision's records. Holten points to this as a questionable discrepancy. The UN aid coordinator for activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories has called for due legal process to verify Israel's accusations against World Vision and El Halabi.
Quick Hits:
- Israel will crack down to deport or deny entry to supporters of the BDS movement. Interior Minister Aryeh Deri and Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan announced the establishment of a taskforce to identify, deport or deny entry to individuals who support BDS. (The Guardian)
- Scientists at the Technion in Haifa have proposed an innovative system for harvesting drinking water from air. It has been found that the atmosphere contains water vapor in amounts comparable to all the surface and underground water on the planet. Although systems already exist to extract water from the atmosphere, this new system would result in 20 to 65% energy savings over systems currently in use. (The Indian Express)
- While commemorating 11 years since the expulsion of Gush Katif, the bloc of Israeli settlements in the Gaza strip, Agriculture Minister MK Uri Ariel is concerned that history will repeat itself – through Amona. (Arutz Sheva)
- “What the U.S. is learning from how Israel treats transgender soldiers” is a story found in Time Magazine. It is a moving story of “Amy”- a girl trapped in a boy’s body and her induction into Israel’s military. (Time)
- The variety piece, "Israel’s relationship with Palestinian filmmakers sees ups," states that Miri Regev, the Minister of Culture and Sports, decided that Palestinian movies that are supported by Israel will be credited as Israeli rather than Israeli-Palestinian pictures. (Variety)
- Unfortunately, Sergy Rikhter, Israel's Olympic air rifle hopeful, finished 14th in his event and failed to make it into the championship round. (Times of Israel)
- The IDF conducted an overnight arms raid in Hebron from Saturday into Sunday, and they say the are successfully hampering terrorist cells' abilities to carry out attacks on Israelis in the area. (Jerusalem Post)