APN's daily news review from Israel
Sunday August 21, 2016
Quote of the day:
“We are not offering a political solution. We are offering a human solution in which people see a human
being facing them. From that point, it will be easier to reach understandings.”
--Hadi Goldschmidt, a religious Jewish co-organizer of a backgammon face-off held in E. Jerusalem between Jews and Arabs.**
Front Page:
--Hadi Goldschmidt, a religious Jewish co-organizer of a backgammon face-off held in E. Jerusalem between Jews and Arabs.**
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Cost of electricity production dropped, but price for public did not
- Israel’s rhythmic gymnastics team made it to finals
- Turkish parliament voted in favor of adopting reconciliation agreement with Israel
- Despite court decision, Likud refuses to reveal documents of workers in the party
- Last of the Jews of the Amazons are fighting to survive // The Guardian
- Price of (IDF keeping) kosher // Amir Oren
Yedioth Ahronoth
- Dad’s heroism – Beersheva: Father saved daughter’s life and was run over and killed
- Final show –Israel’s rhythmic gymnastics team hope to bring a historic medallion today
- The wife of (Nazi figure) Goebbel and her Jewish father
- Food protest: Parents oppose the school food
Maariv this Week (Hebrew links only)
- Father managed to save his daughter – and was run over and killed
- The meeting and the denial – Herzog and Netanyahu: We did not talk about a unity government
- The hope for the medallion (from Israel’s rhythmic gymnastics team)
Israel Hayom
- They only want to win (Israel’s rhythmic gymnastics team)
- Europe against the burkini and the burqa
- “Watch out” Zamir yelled to his daughter – and was run over and killed
- Boaz Bismuth on Donald Trump’s new strategy
- Now it’s official: Turkish parliament approved reconciliation with Israel; Jerusalem congratulated
- Starting this year: “Language School” for elementary school students
News Summary:
Israel welcomed the Turkish parliament's ratification of the reconciliation deal with Israel leading Turkey’s deputy prime minister to announce that he is interested in visiting Israel, both Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Opposition leader MK Isaac Herzog deny they held a secret meeting to discuss creating a unity government, as Channel 2 reported Saturday and Israel held its breath after the national rhythmic gymnastics team made the finals. Meanwhile, Israel Hayom ran a full-page analysis by Boaz Bismuth declaring that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s new strategy is ‘modesty’ and a half-page article declaring that Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is “getting into trouble” over the emails affair. The other papers reported on the New York Times article that revealed that Trump is $650 million in debt.
Quick Hits:
- Abbas no longer opposed to Cairo peace summit — report - Palestinian leader said to seek preconditions, including settlement freeze, for Netanyahu meeting; says Egyptian efforts would not replace the Paris initiative. (Times of Israel)
- Likud blasts ex-PM Ehud Barak as 'biggest failure' in Israel's history - Likud party slams Barak's "pathetic attempts to return to the political arena through baseless and irresponsible attacks" on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Party issues statement after former PM alleges Netanyahu caused "strategic damage to Israel." (Israel Hayom)
- Likud Officially Cancels New Rules That Would Have Restricted Netanyahu - After Netanyahu threatens to fire the minister who heads the Likud secretariat, the body votes to abort proposed guidelines to curtail PM's administrative powers. (Haaretz)
- Days after serving 14-year sentence for poison plot, Palestinian arrested for 'supporting terrorism' - Sofian Abdu, a resident of the Jabel Mukkaber neighborhood in Jerusalem was jailed in 2002 for planning to poison patrons at a Jerusalem café. (Haaretz+)
- Officers from Azaria’s regiment to testify in his defense - Elor Azaria’s defense team gears up for battle, issuing subpoenas for 25 witnesses, including two officers from the Kfir Brigade who were in Hebron at the time of the incident; Brig. Gen. (res.) Shmuel Zakai, who left the IDF after a public confrontation with then Chief of Staff Moshe Ya’alon, will also testify in defense of Azaria. (Ynet)
- Books dealing with Jewish-Arab relations removed from school matric curriculum - At least one of the two novels was admittedly removed for 'political reasons.' (Haaretz+)
- National Religious school tightens dress code to parents' ire - A girls' high school in Petah Tikva has announced, a fortnight before school resumes, that skirts must now be floor-length, when knee-length used to be the norm; the parents protest such extremism in a non-ultra-Orthodox establishment. (Ynet)
- Israeli Arabs in Abu Ghosh celebrate relative's gold medal - Villagers proud of native son Ahmad Abughaush's achievement, which also brought Jordan its first Olympic medal • Restaurateur Jawdat Ibrahim: I felt like Israel had won. We plan to invite Ahmad to meet Israeli athletes, all in the name of coexistence. (Israel Hayom)
- Jerusalem Man Suspected of Moving Money for Hamas via Turkey - The 39-year-old is charged with making contacts with a Hamas operative who was released from Israeli jail as part of the prisoner swap for Gilad Shalit in 2011. (Haaretz+)
- Hadar Goldin's paintings to be displayed at UN Headquarters - As world leaders travel to make speeches at the UN headquarters in Turtle Bay, they will be treated to an exhibition of paintings drawn by IDF Lieutenant Hadar Goldin, killed and captured during a UN brokered ceasefire during Operation Protective Edge. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- At least 50 killed, dozens wounded in bomb attack at Turkish wedding - Turkish officials say Islamic State suicide bomber likely behind Saturday's attack on Kurdish wedding party, in city of Gaziantep in mainly Kurdish southeast • In past week, bombings in the region, blamed on Kurdish PKK, have left 10 people dead. (Agencies, Israel Hayom)
- Brother of Syrian boy wounded in Aleppo dies of injuries - Ali Daqneesh dies of injuries days after Syrian warplanes bomb his family's home. Viral photo of shell-shocked boy is a symbol of Aleppo's suffering, but his brother is the reality, says activist. Russia declares 48-hour humanitarian truce in Aleppo. (Agencies, Israel Hayom)
Features:
For Israel, Palestinian murderer's widow bears mark of Cain
Soldiers conducted three raids on the childhood home of Hadeel Odeh, the pregnant widow of the man who killed Rabbi Michael Mark - the last raid even after her husband had been killed. (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+)
The Movement to Return to Gaza's Gush Katif
The evacuees of Gush Katif still long for the day they'll return home. A new movement they established is laying the groundwork—of infrastructure and 'hearts'—to return to the area from which Israel withdrew in the 2005 Gaza Disengagement. They know their chances are slim, but they won't give up on their dream. (Oded Shalom and Elisha Ben Kimon, Yedioth/Ynet)
One Killed and Dozens Wounded at a Palestinian Refugee Camp, All for Two Pistols
Hundreds of Israeli soldiers raided the al-Fawwar refugee camp in the West Bank for 20 hours this week, carrying out searches and finding little. They arrested three residents. Why? (Amira Hass, Haaretz+)
**Palestinians and Israelis Confront Each Other - Over Backgammon
Over 150 play in tournament organized by Jerusalem activists, who were looking to have Jews and Arabs sit face-to-face. 'We are offering a human solution in which people see a human being facing them,' organizer Hadi Goldschmidt says. (Nir Hasson, Haaretz+)
Hamas set to take majority of West Bank cities in local elections - As part of its efforts to take over the Palestinian Authority, Hamas unexpectedly decided to run in the West Bank municipal elections; this led Israel to scramble for an action plan to thwart Hamas's ambitions, including legalizing illegal Palestinian homes in Area C and building a new Palestinian city, but these measures could still be too little too late, and Israel might have to deal with armed Hamas militants right on the Green Line. (Alex Fishman, Yedioth/Ynet)
Departures arrivals: Tarzan's message to Palestinian youth
For a 'creative community' that works with Palestinian kids, a trip to Greece reaffirms the power of optimism; Brazilian Protestants walk in the footsteps of Jesus. (Liat Elkayam, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
Soldiers conducted three raids on the childhood home of Hadeel Odeh, the pregnant widow of the man who killed Rabbi Michael Mark - the last raid even after her husband had been killed. (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+)
The Movement to Return to Gaza's Gush Katif
The evacuees of Gush Katif still long for the day they'll return home. A new movement they established is laying the groundwork—of infrastructure and 'hearts'—to return to the area from which Israel withdrew in the 2005 Gaza Disengagement. They know their chances are slim, but they won't give up on their dream. (Oded Shalom and Elisha Ben Kimon, Yedioth/Ynet)
One Killed and Dozens Wounded at a Palestinian Refugee Camp, All for Two Pistols
Hundreds of Israeli soldiers raided the al-Fawwar refugee camp in the West Bank for 20 hours this week, carrying out searches and finding little. They arrested three residents. Why? (Amira Hass, Haaretz+)
**Palestinians and Israelis Confront Each Other - Over Backgammon
Over 150 play in tournament organized by Jerusalem activists, who were looking to have Jews and Arabs sit face-to-face. 'We are offering a human solution in which people see a human being facing them,' organizer Hadi Goldschmidt says. (Nir Hasson, Haaretz+)
Hamas set to take majority of West Bank cities in local elections - As part of its efforts to take over the Palestinian Authority, Hamas unexpectedly decided to run in the West Bank municipal elections; this led Israel to scramble for an action plan to thwart Hamas's ambitions, including legalizing illegal Palestinian homes in Area C and building a new Palestinian city, but these measures could still be too little too late, and Israel might have to deal with armed Hamas militants right on the Green Line. (Alex Fishman, Yedioth/Ynet)
Departures arrivals: Tarzan's message to Palestinian youth
For a 'creative community' that works with Palestinian kids, a trip to Greece reaffirms the power of optimism; Brazilian Protestants walk in the footsteps of Jesus. (Liat Elkayam, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
Israel, should I stay
or should I go? (Yoana Gonen, Haaretz+) I’m not the Israeli that Lapid and Lieberman would hate to see leave,
although others would rue such a decision. I’m still here although many dear friends have abandoned ship.
In fact, I even helped bring one Israeli back.
Bar Refaeli: From Enlightened post-Zionist to Predictable Patriot (Rogel Alpher, Haaretz+) How did the supermodel, who once said it’s better to live in New York than die for Israel, end up doing PR for the Foreign Ministry?
Agreement with Turkey has great benefits and a possible to link Ehud Barak's remark (Yossi Melman, Maariv) With the approval of the agreement by the Turkish parliament, it is possible to examine the various implications and see that Israel is the greatest beneficiary of it. Turkey is changing, and Israel will continue to probe it carefully.
Netanyahu Is Turning Israel Into a Democratorship (Avraham Burg, Haaretz+) As religious and nationalist fundamentalism penetrate further into the top ranks of Israel, and as press and NGOs face increasing restrictions, Israel needs a strong opposition.
Netanyahu Didn't Ruin Israeli Democracy. The Occupation Did (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) 'Everything bad began with Benjamin Netanyahu's governance and will end when it ends' - a typical delusion that absolves one of responsibility.
The silence of the Jews: The tax exemption that is stopping leaders of the Jewish-community in America from condemning Trump (Shlomo Shamir, Maariv) While the American media is full of objections to Trump, Jewish community leaders are silent. “Studies will try to explain the silence of the Jews to the racism and madness."
Netanyahu touts Israel's ties with Arab states in media briefings blitz (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) On paper, the new military aid agreement with the U.S. is the best yet, but the fine print belies the optimism.
Closing in the ranks (Alex Fishman, Yedioth/Ynet) Faced with a constant attack from religious Zionists, the IDF is finally trying to halt them from taking the army over from within; ill it succeed, or will Bezalel Smotrich and his ilk have the last smirk?
America, Here's a Glimpse of Life With 'Unfit' Leaders (Steven Klein, Haaretz+) Netanyahu's cabinet is filled with ministers with Trump-like qualities who do not serve their country so much as treat their ministries as private fiefdoms.
Leave the IDF out of it (Smadar Bat-Adam, Israel Hayom) As the human makeup of the Israeli military changes, the IDF's values and battle ethos are coming under political fire, both within Israeli society and from abroad.
Netanyahu and His People's Contempt for Israeli Diplomats Hits New Low (Haaretz Editorial) Latest directive banning Foreign Ministry personnel from speaking to journalists is both ridiculous and infuriating.
Looking a gift horse in the mouth (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) After billionaire George Soros was discovered to be behind a plot to influence Israeli NGOs, practical action must be taken to prevent such a threat in the future.
Talking About Talking With Palestinians Won't Solve Occupation (Friday Haaretz Editorial) As long as Lieberman’s initiative contains nothing of substance, no ray of light that the Palestinians could grasp at to justify direct talks with Israel, his idea will remain empty prattle.
Netanyahyu's mistake, or Barak's misunderstanding? (Alex Fishman, Yedioth/Ynet) Prime Minister Netanyahu rejected having the US military station advanced weapons in Israel, something which Ehud Barak harshly criticized the prime minister over; however, is there something going on behind closed doors between the Prime Minister's Office and the White House which neither Barak nor the public knows about?
Bar Refaeli: From Enlightened post-Zionist to Predictable Patriot (Rogel Alpher, Haaretz+) How did the supermodel, who once said it’s better to live in New York than die for Israel, end up doing PR for the Foreign Ministry?
Agreement with Turkey has great benefits and a possible to link Ehud Barak's remark (Yossi Melman, Maariv) With the approval of the agreement by the Turkish parliament, it is possible to examine the various implications and see that Israel is the greatest beneficiary of it. Turkey is changing, and Israel will continue to probe it carefully.
Netanyahu Is Turning Israel Into a Democratorship (Avraham Burg, Haaretz+) As religious and nationalist fundamentalism penetrate further into the top ranks of Israel, and as press and NGOs face increasing restrictions, Israel needs a strong opposition.
Netanyahu Didn't Ruin Israeli Democracy. The Occupation Did (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) 'Everything bad began with Benjamin Netanyahu's governance and will end when it ends' - a typical delusion that absolves one of responsibility.
The silence of the Jews: The tax exemption that is stopping leaders of the Jewish-community in America from condemning Trump (Shlomo Shamir, Maariv) While the American media is full of objections to Trump, Jewish community leaders are silent. “Studies will try to explain the silence of the Jews to the racism and madness."
Netanyahu touts Israel's ties with Arab states in media briefings blitz (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) On paper, the new military aid agreement with the U.S. is the best yet, but the fine print belies the optimism.
Closing in the ranks (Alex Fishman, Yedioth/Ynet) Faced with a constant attack from religious Zionists, the IDF is finally trying to halt them from taking the army over from within; ill it succeed, or will Bezalel Smotrich and his ilk have the last smirk?
America, Here's a Glimpse of Life With 'Unfit' Leaders (Steven Klein, Haaretz+) Netanyahu's cabinet is filled with ministers with Trump-like qualities who do not serve their country so much as treat their ministries as private fiefdoms.
Leave the IDF out of it (Smadar Bat-Adam, Israel Hayom) As the human makeup of the Israeli military changes, the IDF's values and battle ethos are coming under political fire, both within Israeli society and from abroad.
Netanyahu and His People's Contempt for Israeli Diplomats Hits New Low (Haaretz Editorial) Latest directive banning Foreign Ministry personnel from speaking to journalists is both ridiculous and infuriating.
Looking a gift horse in the mouth (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) After billionaire George Soros was discovered to be behind a plot to influence Israeli NGOs, practical action must be taken to prevent such a threat in the future.
Talking About Talking With Palestinians Won't Solve Occupation (Friday Haaretz Editorial) As long as Lieberman’s initiative contains nothing of substance, no ray of light that the Palestinians could grasp at to justify direct talks with Israel, his idea will remain empty prattle.
Netanyahyu's mistake, or Barak's misunderstanding? (Alex Fishman, Yedioth/Ynet) Prime Minister Netanyahu rejected having the US military station advanced weapons in Israel, something which Ehud Barak harshly criticized the prime minister over; however, is there something going on behind closed doors between the Prime Minister's Office and the White House which neither Barak nor the public knows about?
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.