APN's daily news review from Israel
Wednesday September 14, 2016
Quote of the day:
"For a while, I was the most hated Jew in America ... by other Jews anyway. (But,) I didn't waste time
agonizing."
--Stanley K. Sheinbaum, a former economics professor whose drive for Mideast peace had him mingling with presidents, royalty and movie stars, said in 2011. He died Monday at age 96.*
--Stanley K. Sheinbaum, a former economics professor whose drive for Mideast peace had him mingling with presidents, royalty and movie stars, said in 2011. He died Monday at age 96.*
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Former president Peres hospitalized in serious condition after stroke
- Liaison for Missing Persons: We offered Hamas two offers for exchange deals and it refused
- Assad’s army shot at IDF planes that flew over Quneitra (Syria)
- US and Israel to sign today security aid agreement
- Within a year, Israel Military Industries sold US citizens ammo at a cost of 250 million shekels
- The payments and the recordings – Contractors in Netanya recorded talking about money they transferred to deputy mayor; Mayor banned from municipality
- Education Ministry training matchmaker coordinators for religious high schools
- Archaeological park established in the heart of Tel-Aviv, but residents won’t be able to enjoy it
Yedioth Ahronoth
- Shimon Peres: Fighting for his life
- In a league of his own // Nahum Barnea
- A well of youth // Eitan Haber
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Shimon Peres is fighting for his life; His son: “We need to make a decision”
- The shark // Ben Caspit
- Suspicion: Glitch to the spy satellite, Ofek 11, which was launched to space
- Syrian Army tried to down Israel Air Force aircraft
Israel Hayom
- Shimon Peres: Battling for his life
- After the anti-aircraft shooting: Another attack on Syria
- Aid agreement to be signed today with the US
- Suspicion of glitch to the satellite, Ofek 11
News Summary:
Former president Shimon Peres had a massive stroke, the Golan Heights border heats up, Hamas rejected an Israeli offer for an exchange of captives, problems arose after an Israeli spy satellite launches and the US and Israel were expected to sign a massive security aid package today – making top stories in today’s Hebrew papers.
Shimon Peres was responsive, but still fighting for his life after a stroke - and the damage is yet unknown. Hours earlier, he released a video urging Israelis to buy home-made products.
Problems in the skies: Israel struck Syrian artillery again after three shells hit Golan Heights. The incident came hours after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s military fired missiles at Israeli military aircraft, to which Israel hit Assad regime artillery. Syria said it hit Israeli aircraft, which Israel denied. Syrian journalists outside of Syria said Assad would never have the courage to pull off such a move. But IDF officials said the targeting of Israeli aircraft shows Assad is getting bolder. Meanwhile, Israel’s new spy satellite, Ofek 11, experienced multiple malfunctions after it was launched from Palmachim military base yesterday.
However, Israel can look forward to $38 billion of US aid over the coming decade when it signs a security aid package with the US today. US officials said it was the 'largest pledge of bilateral military assistance in U.S. history.’
In an exceptional move, Israel made public that it proposed two swaps with Hamas for the release of the two dead soldiers and the two captive civilians being held in Gaza, but that Hamas refused. Israel said it offered to return to all the men it captured – both dead and alive – in Gaza during the 2014 Gaza war in exchange for Lt. Hadar Goldin and First Sgt. Oron Shaul and two civilians, a Bedouin-Israeli and an Ethiopian-Israeli, but Hamas demanded the release of other members of Hamas, which Israel said have no connection with that war. [In actuality, they were detained in Operation Brother’s Keeper, the round-up of Hamas activists during the search for three missing soldiers that led up to the war. – OH]
Quick Hits:
- J Street calls on Treasury Dept. to review tax-deductibility status of pro-settlement groups - The liberal Jewish Middle East policy group stated a 'private network' in the U.S. funded by tax-deductible donations has channeled 'millions of dollars to strengthen the settlements.' (JTA, Haaretz)
- Israeli Supreme Court rejects appeal to release comatose Palestinian hunger striker - The Israeli Supreme Court Tuesday rejected an appeal to completely release hunger-striking prisoner Malik al-Qadi from administrative detention -- internment without charge or trial -- as the 25-year-old entered the 59th day of his strike. (Maan)
- Doctors against the High Court: they refuse to force-feed hunger strikers - The High Court rejected the petition of the Israel Medical Association (IMA), which refused to force-feed (Palestinian) prisoners who are on hunger strike. The IMA called on its member physicians to act according to their conscience. “There is no obligation on the doctor to take part in the legal process to request permission to feed or force feed. Participation in this process, and certainly performing a coercive medical action against the wishes of the patient - even with court approval – is contrary to medical ethics in the country and the world, with all that implies," Dr. Tami Karni and IMA Chairman, Dr. Leonid Eidelman, wrote to members. (Maariv)
- Israel transfers control of West Bank power grid to Palestinian Authority - In an effort to get the PA to pay a NIS2 billion debt, the Israel Electric Corporation will be transferring control over the Palestinian electric grid to the PA; US taxpayer to help foot the bill to the tune of NIS100 million ($25.4 million). (Yedioth/Ynet)
- Shufat residents bury Palestinian killed during Israeli raid a week earlier - Mustafa Nimr, a Palestinian who was killed by Israeli forces during a night raid earlier this month [and whose death Israeli Police blamed on his brother-in-law, for which it was chastised by a judge – OH], was buried on Tuesday in the occupied West Bank refugee camp of Shufat,Quds News Agency reported. (Maan)
- Israeli defense minister compares illegal Israeli outpost (Amona) with native Palestinian villages - Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman compared the illegal Israeli Amona outpost to the indigenous Palestinian Bedouin village of Susiya and Palestinian land in Jerusalem on Monday. (Maan)
- MK Bezalel Smotrich threatens: "Without a law authorizing Amona (settlement outpost)- there is no government" - (Far-right settler) MK of Habayit Hayehudi told 103FM Nonstop Radio that “without legalizing it, there won’t be an Arrangements Law and the budget won’t pass. Defense Minister Lieberman is wrong. The law according to which the High Court rules should be changed.” (Maariv)
- Palestinian youths detained for throwing rocks, paint cans at Israeli settlers - According to Israeli media, Israeli forces detained three youths who had thrown rocks and paint cans at the front window of the bus near al-Arrub, breaking the glass and splashing paint all over the window. (Maan)
- Israel: Sudan Violates Human Rights, but Has Distanced Itself From Iran - Israeli officials don't deny Israel has been lobbying on Sudan's behalf in U.S. and Europe, as exposed by Haaretz, but say Jerusalem will never accept genocide. (Haaretz+)
- Eid al-Adha 2016: Over 1.4 million Muslims live in Israel - Jerusalem has the largest concentration of Muslim residents, making up 20.9% of the total Muslim population in Israel and 35.9% of the city's residents, new data shows • Some 5,300 Muslims graduated from Israeli higher education institutions in 2015. (Israel Hayom)
- Israeli communities evacuated in drill simulating Hezbollah infiltration - Residents will not be forced to evacuate in emergency, but 'people will listen to the army,' Home Front official says. (Haaretz)
- IDF Chief of Staff Eisenkot reaches term's halfway mark - A year and a half into his term, it's clears Eisenkot is leading an assertive military, which is determined to attain clear goals. The IDF chief takes risks—like reducing the number of planes and tanks, promotes long-forgotten plans and makes fast decisions. (Ynet)
- Former Netanyahu chauffeur convicted of raping six girls over two decades - Ilan Shmuel, indicted for sexually assaulting six girls between nine and 16 years old, says he's innocent and will appeal. (Haaretz+)
- Israel to compensate far-rightist Gopstein for illegal search - Bentzi Gopstein and two colleagues from the group Lehava were arrested after calling out the start of a Hebrew prayer on the Temple Mount. (Haaretz+)
- No need to be lonely: Ricky Martin is here in Israel - Before his Israeli premiere performance on Wednesday night, Ricky Martin has arrived with his twin sons at Ben Gurion Airport. (Ynet)
- Israeli ammo sales surge in U.S. civilian market - Israel Military Industries reports significant rise in orders ahead of expected gun-law reform in U.S. (Haaretz+)
- Israel arrests man smuggling explosive material into Gaza - The man was arrested in August after attempting to smuggle explosives and weapons-making material into the Gaza Strip; Investigation reveals that the man intended to carry out a terror attack on IDF forces in Zikim. (Ynet)
- Jersey native enlists in IDF to follow in PM brother's footsteps - "My mother was a child during Operation Entebbe, and she decided that when she has a son, she'll name him after Yoni," New Jersey's Yonatan Weisinger explains decision to come to enlist in military like his namesake, war hero Yoni Netanyahu. (Israel Hayom)
- *Peace activist dies at 96 in Los Angeles - After suffering through the Great Depression and being rejected from dozens of colleges, Sheinbaum went on to study at Stanford and broker a peace agreement between Palestinian Chairman Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, an initiative he admitted had failed; 'For a while, I was the most hated Jew in America ... by other Jews anyway,' he said in his 2011 autobiography, before adding, 'I didn't waste time agonizing.' (Ynet and Haaretz)
- Guatemala Cops Raid Jewish Cult Lev Tahor Wanted for Abusing Children - Unconfirmed reports say police took children away from parents, and that Israeli officials were present at the raid on the Lev Tahor community. (Haaretz+)
- France names first-ever female ambassador to Israel - Helene Le Gal arrives in Tel Aviv to replace outgoing French Ambassador Patrick Maisonnave. Le Gal served as first secretary at the French Embassy in Israel between 1994 and 1998. New envoy considered a defense and security expect. (Israel Hayom)
- Turkey Formally Requests U.S. Arrest of Cleric Gulen Over Coup Plot - Turkey blames members of Gulen's religious movement for the failed putsch two months ago. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Likud MK: 'Hamas wants political bureau chief Mashaal to run for president' - Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee head Avi Dichter says post-Mahmoud Abbas era will see terrorist group make a play for the Palestinian presidency. Palestinian Authority's Supreme Court rules to suspend Oct. 8 municipal elections. (Israel Hayom)
- Abbas to meet Mauritanian president in Nouakchott - Abbas will be in Mauritania for a three-day visit from September 14 to 16 to meet with Mauritania President Muhammad Ould Abd al-Aziz to reportedly carry out bilateral talks to boost cooperation between the two countries in several fields. (Maan)
Features:
A year without the first victim of Israel's wave of terror
The children of Alexander Levlovich, who was killed last Rosh Hashana after losing control of his vehicle when Palestinians pelted him with stones, explain how they cope with the tragedy; 'How can I be happy? This time last year my dad was killed.' (Yael Freidson, Ynet)
Commentary/Analysis:
Education Minister Thinks Judaism Trumps Math and Science - Here’s Why That Matters (Eetta Prince-Gibson, Haaretz+) Why are so many Israelis up in arms over what Naftali Bennett said?
A league of his own (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth/Ynet) Throughout his entire political career, Shimon Peres yearned for the people's love and saw it go to others, until he was elected president. In the eyes of his people, he ceased to be a politician; he became a historical figure.
Why is Israel letting Facebook off the hook on incitement? (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) Facebook has agreed to remove calls for violence against Israelis on its pages. But this deal is not a victory for Israel - or any democratic society for that matter.
What Ari Shavit Doesn’t Understand About Palestinian Children and Jews (Ziona Snir, Haaretz+) The only Israelis that many Palestinian youngsters have seen are soldiers or settlers.
When Shimon Peres finished his term as president, the decline began (Ben Caspit, Maariv) He was a human shark, always in motion, dreaming, planning, thinking about the next challenge. He was addicted to the action, adrenaline, conflicts. At the age of 93, when the dream of peace is collapsing around him, the countdown began. Those who spoke to him at the time heard statements that were difficult, bitter, full of deep concern for the fate of the country, its future, the direction its leaders are directing it.
Changing directions: ISIS is expanding its ranks and recruiting women, children and even Jews (Gideon Kotz, Maariv) The defeats on the battlefield and the difficulty of recruiting foreigners to fight in the field is causing the murderous terrorist organization to adopt new tactics to recruit fighters to its ranks and to carry out attacks in Europe.
The Real Casualty of Bennett's Simplistic Viewpoint on Education (Haaretz Editorial) Israel's education minister's remark that Judaism is more important than science and math is not only a pedagogical mistake - it's part of deeper problems that erode universalist values in Israeli schools.
Is this law, or a public opinion poll? (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) Whenever the international community has asked an occupier to withdraw, it has meant the army, not civilians. Israel is the only exception.
The Hollow Joke That Is Israel's Supposedly Deeply Divided Political Arena (Uri Misgav, Haaretz+) Habayit Hayehudi, Israel Beiteinu, Kulanu, Shas, Yesh Atid, Zionist Union, the new list currently being proposed - are all just nuanced versions of the same thing.
Lieberman and Eisenkot: A clash waiting to happen? (Yossi Yehoshua, Yedioth/Ynet) Don’t let the IDF chief's shy smile fool you – he is quite unhappy with the defense minister's decisions and statements, particularly those about Sgt. Elor Azaria.
Standing Up for Israel Means Saying 'Not In My Name' (Bradley Burston, Haaretz+) Did someone say ethnic cleansing? Have a good look in the mirror.
We Don’t Need More Judaism, We Need a Better One (David Rosenberg, Haaretz) Naftali Bennett says teaching Judaism trumps teaching math, but the Judaism taught in the schools is a dry tribalist faith that speaks to few.
The Israeli return to Africa (Dr. Moshe Terdiman, Yedioth/Ynet) Prime Minister Netanyahu's recent visit to Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia and Rwanda was the highlight of diplomatic activity aimed at curbing Iranian influence on the continent, expanding trade ties and persuading African states not to vote against Israel in international organizations.
Israel-Hamas Negotiations Over Prisoner Release Appear to Reach Dead End (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Israeli official's public statement that Hamas has refused all proposal for swaps was an exceptional step: It sends a message not only to Hamas, but also to the people it supposedly represents, as well as to the Israeli families.
The children of Alexander Levlovich, who was killed last Rosh Hashana after losing control of his vehicle when Palestinians pelted him with stones, explain how they cope with the tragedy; 'How can I be happy? This time last year my dad was killed.' (Yael Freidson, Ynet)
Commentary/Analysis:
Education Minister Thinks Judaism Trumps Math and Science - Here’s Why That Matters (Eetta Prince-Gibson, Haaretz+) Why are so many Israelis up in arms over what Naftali Bennett said?
A league of his own (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth/Ynet) Throughout his entire political career, Shimon Peres yearned for the people's love and saw it go to others, until he was elected president. In the eyes of his people, he ceased to be a politician; he became a historical figure.
Why is Israel letting Facebook off the hook on incitement? (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) Facebook has agreed to remove calls for violence against Israelis on its pages. But this deal is not a victory for Israel - or any democratic society for that matter.
What Ari Shavit Doesn’t Understand About Palestinian Children and Jews (Ziona Snir, Haaretz+) The only Israelis that many Palestinian youngsters have seen are soldiers or settlers.
When Shimon Peres finished his term as president, the decline began (Ben Caspit, Maariv) He was a human shark, always in motion, dreaming, planning, thinking about the next challenge. He was addicted to the action, adrenaline, conflicts. At the age of 93, when the dream of peace is collapsing around him, the countdown began. Those who spoke to him at the time heard statements that were difficult, bitter, full of deep concern for the fate of the country, its future, the direction its leaders are directing it.
Changing directions: ISIS is expanding its ranks and recruiting women, children and even Jews (Gideon Kotz, Maariv) The defeats on the battlefield and the difficulty of recruiting foreigners to fight in the field is causing the murderous terrorist organization to adopt new tactics to recruit fighters to its ranks and to carry out attacks in Europe.
The Real Casualty of Bennett's Simplistic Viewpoint on Education (Haaretz Editorial) Israel's education minister's remark that Judaism is more important than science and math is not only a pedagogical mistake - it's part of deeper problems that erode universalist values in Israeli schools.
Is this law, or a public opinion poll? (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) Whenever the international community has asked an occupier to withdraw, it has meant the army, not civilians. Israel is the only exception.
The Hollow Joke That Is Israel's Supposedly Deeply Divided Political Arena (Uri Misgav, Haaretz+) Habayit Hayehudi, Israel Beiteinu, Kulanu, Shas, Yesh Atid, Zionist Union, the new list currently being proposed - are all just nuanced versions of the same thing.
Lieberman and Eisenkot: A clash waiting to happen? (Yossi Yehoshua, Yedioth/Ynet) Don’t let the IDF chief's shy smile fool you – he is quite unhappy with the defense minister's decisions and statements, particularly those about Sgt. Elor Azaria.
Standing Up for Israel Means Saying 'Not In My Name' (Bradley Burston, Haaretz+) Did someone say ethnic cleansing? Have a good look in the mirror.
We Don’t Need More Judaism, We Need a Better One (David Rosenberg, Haaretz) Naftali Bennett says teaching Judaism trumps teaching math, but the Judaism taught in the schools is a dry tribalist faith that speaks to few.
The Israeli return to Africa (Dr. Moshe Terdiman, Yedioth/Ynet) Prime Minister Netanyahu's recent visit to Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia and Rwanda was the highlight of diplomatic activity aimed at curbing Iranian influence on the continent, expanding trade ties and persuading African states not to vote against Israel in international organizations.
Israel-Hamas Negotiations Over Prisoner Release Appear to Reach Dead End (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Israeli official's public statement that Hamas has refused all proposal for swaps was an exceptional step: It sends a message not only to Hamas, but also to the people it supposedly represents, as well as to the Israeli families.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.