APN's daily news review from Israel
Thursday September 01, 2016
Quote of the day:
"We are the world champions of occupation, and we have made it into an art form. I was GOC
Central Command -- the general of the occupation. And I ask, is this what we want to be?"
--Former GOC Central Command Maj. Gen. (res.) Gadi Shamni also charged that the "IDF's task of controlling a population of 2.5 million civilians distracts the military from its primary function."*
You Must Be Kidding:
"I don't think that we need to apologize to anyone. And I expect that they'll soon approve additional construction plans in Judea and Samaria."
--Mayor of Beit Aryeh, Avi Naim, commenting on the government giving retroactive approval yesterday to a full neighborhood that was built illegally in his West Bank settlement.**
--Former GOC Central Command Maj. Gen. (res.) Gadi Shamni also charged that the "IDF's task of controlling a population of 2.5 million civilians distracts the military from its primary function."*
You Must Be Kidding:
"I don't think that we need to apologize to anyone. And I expect that they'll soon approve additional construction plans in Judea and Samaria."
--Mayor of Beit Aryeh, Avi Naim, commenting on the government giving retroactive approval yesterday to a full neighborhood that was built illegally in his West Bank settlement.**
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Haaretz probe: Lowest grades in matriculations across country – in reading and writing
- Netanyahu against school for foreigners in Tel-Aviv; Mayor: He’s acting like an internet commenter
- An ally in the government – Minister Shaked promoted a bill that helps the Engineers Association – and after two months, received a 10,000 shekel donation from their lobbyist
- More harassment (against the Left-wing) // Haaretz Editorial
- Going up a floor: Education buildings are changing due to the population density in the country
Yedioth Ahronoth
- New beginning – School year begins this morning
- The battle over ‘Shevach Mofet’ school
- Where is the best place to live in Israel? Expose: OECD report reveals
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- The liberating bell - First day of school
- When I was a child // President (Ruvi) Rivlin
- Hiss: “Death of the terrorist – not from the shooting by Azariya”
Israel Hayom
- Good luck! 2,232,172 children and youth opened the new school year this morning
- Dispute between Netanyahu and (Tel-Aviv Mayor) Huldai: Prime Minister opposes turning ‘Shevach Mofet’ school into a school for infiltrators
- Anger in the right-wing at Gen. (res.) Shamni: “He should learn history”
- Police Commissioner in closed discussions: “They did an ambush on me”; He is aiming for reconciliation: Talked with the heads of the Ethiopian community
- Surprising pathological report in Azariya trial: “The terrorist died before the shooting”
News Summary:
Stories about school, education and the lack of it filled today’s Hebrew newspapers as the school year began this morning. Also in the news, the Ethiopian-Israeli community demanded that the Police Commissioner apologize for his racist comments and pathologist Yehuda Hiss told the court that the bullet, which Sgt. Elor Azariya shot in the head of already incapacitated Palestinian assailant, was not what killed him. Yet both Maariv and Israel Hayom forgot to note that Professor Hiss was dismissed in disgrace as the country’s chief pathologist for criminal behavior, including illegally harvesting organs. In addition, he gave testimonies in court on autopsies that supported the state prosecution line, but which he did not in fact perform. Israel Hayom did note that Hiss' testimony also refuted Azariya's version of the events, according to which he shot Abdulfattah al-Sharif after seeing him move his hands and fearing he was trying to detonate an explosive device.
Quick Hits:
- **Additional West Bank construction approved and retroactively sanctioned - The Ministry of Interior's Settlements Subcommittee has approved some 120 new housing units, retroactively approved full neighborhoods, and rejected about 60 new units. (Ynet and Israel Hayom)
- *IDF officer slammed for calling Israel 'occupation champion' - Former chief of IDF Central Command, Maj. Gen. (res.) Gadi Shamni says IDF cannot fight threats while "controlling a population of 2.5 million civilians." Jerusalem Affairs Minister Zeev Elkin: It is impossible to occupy your own land. (Israel Hayom)
- Minor who spat on (Arab) MK Tibi sentenced to community service - Four years after the incident, the now-21-year-old woman must complete 60 hours of community service, though the court refrained from convicting her 'out of concern for her future.' (Ynet)
- Border Police filmed vandalizing scooter (of Arabs) in Old City - A video appears to show two Border Police officers striking and breaking the mirrors of a parked scooter; the incident is being investigated, and the Border Police claim to be taking it 'seriously.' (Ynet)
- American-Israeli terror victim's son seeks ouster of Palestinians from Scout movement - Richard Lakin's son reports Palestinian Scout branch for promoting training course dedicated to the Armon Hanatziv killer, Baha Alyan, calling him a 'martyr;' 'If Palestinian branch is allowed to remain your organization is effectively a co-sponsor of this terror promoting course.' (Agencies, Ynet)
- Jewish extremist summer camp under fire - 'Camp incitement' and the Lahava organization are under intense fire from Knesset members and other organizations who are demanding that the group and the camp be shut down and outlawed; 'We complain, and rightly so, about incitement on the Palestinian side, but incitement among us worries me even more.' (Yedioth/Ynet)
- World Vision urges public trial of staffer accused of funneling money to Hamas - NGO says it's just as interested as its donors for the truth to come out regarding alleged diversion of $7.2 million in aid money each year since 2010 to Hamas; 'We are not a naive organization. We have world-class systems to prevent the sort of things that are being alleged here,' says World Vision International's president Kevin Jenkins. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Israel’s Defense Chief Okays Palestinian Children’s Hospital at Bethlehem - The move is part of Avigdor Lieberman’s ‘carrot and stick’ strategy for the West Bank, but forces further to the right consider it an unwise concession. (Haaretz+)
- Lieberman denies report that he refuses to negotiate with Hamas for soldiers' remains - 'The army has a total commitment with regard to anyone in captivity. It is our top commitment to bring them home,' Israeli defense minister says. (Haaretz)
- Female symbol of Protective Edge to take on unprecedented role in IDF - Following her swift response enabling IDF forces to thwart Hamas amphibious infiltration into Israel during 2014 operation, Noah Titel extended her service to become the first ever navy commander of a new simulator to prepare soldiers for similar assaults. (Ynet)
- US court throws out $655 m. terrorism judgment against PA - The appealed judgment, handed down by a Manhattan jury in US federal district court in February 2015, was the biggest judgment ever against the PA in the US. (JPost/Maariv)
- Dramatic rise in number of Israeli Jews rejecting rabbinate's marriage monopoly - Central Bureau of Statistics figures show a 29-percent increase in unmarried couples over two-year period. (Haaretz+)
- Four detained at Ben-Gurion Airport after car chase - The suspects, freed on Wednesday morning, say they drove into the airport by mistake and fled because they were nervous about having their car searched. (Haaretz)
- Indigenous Israeli dogs find warm homes in US - While Canaan breed dogs are originally from Israel, most Israelis prefer not to adopt them; these dogs, companions to people in the area for thousands of years, are instead finding new warm and loving homes in the US. (Ynet)
- Which Israeli MKs stand with non-Orthodox Jews? Report details the good, the bad and the ugly - New report from Conservative-Masorti watchdog Jewish Pluralism Watch identifies Knesset members deserving of special mention - for better or worse - on matters of Jewish pluralism. (Haaretz+ )
- Czech textbooks to drop Jerusalem as Israel's capital -
- "Palestinian incitement knows no bounds," Foreign Ministry says. Move follows complaint by Palestinian official saying atlases used in country's schools name Jerusalem as capital. Czech Education Ministry orders books revised, names Tel Aviv as capital. (Israel Hayom and Ynet)
- Model of First Temple Found in King David-era City Goes on Display in Jerusalem - Many archaeologists believe the find supports the existence of a united kingdom in the David era. It will soon be shown at Jerusalem's Bible Lands Museum. (Haaretz+)
- Artist Spencer Tunick to visit Israel in effort to save Dead Sea - Artist Spencer Tunick to return to Dead Sea five years after his mass art installation in call to save the hypersaline lake. Tunick: Israel is the only country in the Middle East where I can be allowed to have proper freedom of expression. (Israel Hayom)
- Israel's new ambassador to Egypt received by president - David Govrin has begun his new position in Cairo with the Egyptian military band playing the Israeli national anthem, stating that Egyptian-Israeli relations are vital to regional peace. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- Erdogan signs bill putting reconciliation with Israel into effect - The bill, which was passed by the Turkish parliament, settles claims in connection with the 2010 raid on the Mavi Marmara that was attempting to break Israel's naval blockade of Gaza. (Haaretz+)
- Erdoğan shakes Israeli diplomat's hand in Ankara - After having signed the reconciliation deal with Israel, the Turkish president shook the hand and welcomed the interim head of Israel's embassy, wishing her luck before a permanent ambassador is appointed. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- 72 ISIS mass graves with remains of 15,000 found in Iraq, Syria - Sinjar mountain in Iraq is scene of horrific discovery as mass graves containing from 5,200 to 15,000 bodies are found. Many more sites are expected to be discovered as jihadi group's territory shrinks. Officials do not dare guess the number of dead. (Agencies, Israel Hayom)
- Preparing to Push ISIS Out of Mosul, Iraqi Militias Recruit Underage Refugees - At least seven underage youths from a displaced persons camp have been enlisted by a force backed by Washington and Baghdad, Human Rights Watch says, in violation with UN protocol. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- WATCH: Interfaith camp inspires next generation of peacemakers - American camp promotes tolerance • Activities include helping Syrian refugees, speaking with Holocaust survivor and visiting 9/11 memorial. Yam Meir and Mohammed Kaadan speak with host Steve Ganot about Jerusalem PeaceBuilders program. (Israel Hayom)
Commentary/Analysis:
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.