APN's daily news review from Israel
Thursday October 13, 2016
Quote of the day:
“As an MK, if I curse and use the worst words against a left-wing person and then meet with voters that
night, they’ll applaud me. That’s not how it should be. The public can’t complain about MKs not speaking nicely
and cursing and behaving inappropriately if they reward those MKs time and again.”
--Speaker of the Knesset, Yuli Edelstein, says he can’t sleep over the name-calling by MKs in the Knesset.*
--Speaker of the Knesset, Yuli Edelstein, says he can’t sleep over the name-calling by MKs in the Knesset.*
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Haim Saban to Clinton: Distance yourself from Obama on Israel
- The rift widens: Trump called Republicans who opposed him “traitors”
- Clashes in E. Jerusalem: Silwan resident killed by Police
- UNESCO expected to approve decision that doubts Jewish ties to Wailing Wall
- Moshavs in Beit Shemesh area farming land in West Bank that Palestinians claim is theirs
- A silly solution: Who even wants to see a performance that was approved by the Culture Minister? // Doron Tavori
- Jerusalem Municipality gives budget to houses of worship – for Jews only
- Self destruction // Ari Shavit
- Two Israeli child killed in Georgia
Yedioth Ahronoth
- The family that was torn – Tragedy on holiday in Georgia – two children killed
- 30 years without him: (Photos of) Ron Arad in 8th grade
- Former Military Intel chief Shlomo Gazit in rare interview: I am pessimistic
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- The children’s tragedy in Georgia – two killed during family trip
- Trump against the Republicans
- Kahlon: Taxing of apartments will pass in Knesset
Israel Hayom
- They won’t return - Brother and sister killed in accident in Georgia
- Suspicion of terror in US: Jordanian citizen crashed light plane
- Hammer, nail, we will (build a sukkah)
- “The Clinton spokeswoman insults religion” – Wikileaks reveals emails that insult Catholics and Evangelists
- An unquiet Yom Kippur in E. Jerusalem: Clashes and disorderly conduct
News Summary:
Two Israeli children were killed in an accident while on holiday in Georgia and Republicans turn against their Presidential nominee Donald Trump making top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers.
Also in the news, Israeli-American billionaire Haim Saban told Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton to “distance herself from Obama's Israel policies” and Maariv’s Dana Somberg reported that Jerusalem is concerned about what the Obama Administration has planned for Israel after the Jewish holidays. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's office expressed concern that the US might support the French proposal at the United Nations for the formation of a Palestinian state. Netanyahu asked US Secretary of State John Kerry about it and was told that the US has made no decision on the subject yet.
What was a minor news story was that Israeli police shot dead with live fire a 20-year-old Palestinian, Ali Atef Shuyukhi, during riots in E. Jerusalem Tuesday. Police said the rioting "was directly targeting the force and substantially endangered the lives of the soldiers." Clashes have been ongoing for four days in two E. Jerusalem neighborhoods, A-Ram and Silwan, as locals clashed with Border Police raiding the areas and making arrests. “Both Silwan and al-Ram have been the focus of ongoing detention campaigns and heavy security restrictions in the wake of the attack, as the slain attacker, Misbah Abu Sbeih, (who killed two Israelis last week,) was from Silwan, but was recently forced to relocate to al-Ram after Israeli authorities banned him from entering the Jerusalem municipality,” Maan reported. Shuyukhi was buried by his family only two hours after he was killed, reportedly due to concern that Israeli forces would take his body and refuse to return it. Maan reported that “as a result of the violent nature of the raids, locals have protested outside of the targeted homes, leading to clashes with Israeli forces.
Quick Hits:
- UNESCO Poised to Pass Resolution Casting Doubt on Jewish Ties to Temple Mount - Israel attempts to convince as many states as possible to oppose the resolution, but only few are swayed; Foreign Ministry issues brochure proving historic affiliation between the Jews and Jerusalem. (Haaretz+)
- Israeli farmers working private Palestinian land improperly allocated by Israel - Rural communities in heart of Israel use Palestinian land granted to them in 80’s by Israel Lands Authority. Palestinians from three villages that existed in the area until 1967 claim ownership. (Haaretz+)
- After Months of Foot-dragging, Israel Releases Details of Lethal Shooting of Palestinian Siblings - In the incident, the 16-year-old brother Ibrahim Salah Talah and 23-year-old sister Maram were killed by private contractors after the latter pulled a knife at the Qalandiyah checkpoint, while Ibrahim repeatedly tried to stop her; new details into the investigation have been cleared for publication at Haaretz's request. (Haaretz)
- Israeli forces open fire at Palestinian unarmed bird hunters in southern Gaza - Israeli forces opened fire at unarmed Palestinian bird hunters who were using nets at the eastern borders of the Khan Yunis district in the southern Gaza Strip Wednesday morning. (Ynet)
- Israel Prize winners call for release of Palestinian poet Dareen Tatour - Around 170 intellectuals and cultural figures sign petition calling for charges to be dropped against Tatour, arrested almost a year ago because over a poem published online. (Haaretz)
- Israel demolishes eight Bedouin structures in West Bank built with EU funds - Civil Administration tears down buildings constructed in 2012 as living quarters without permits, according to sources. (Haaretz+)
- Additional funds approved for defense budget - The transfer of an additional NIS 2 billion to the defense budget was approved Tuesday by members of the Joint Committee with the possibility of an additional transfer of NIS 3 billion; The approval of the additional transfer brings the total defense budget to roughly NIS 59 billion. (Ynet)
- Israel charges Jerusalem man over suicide bombing plot - Mohammed Jolani, 22, accused of reaching out to Hamas online and planning to carry out range of attacks including blowing himself up. (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
- Israel releases 7 Jerusalemites from detention, extends the sentence of another - Meanwhile, the detention of Nawras Abu Ghazaleh was extended until next Friday. He was detained after posting “our time has come” on Facebook, amid an increasing crackdown by Israel on Palestinian activists, journalists, and civilians for alleged “incitement” on social media. (Maan)
- Israel bans Palestinians from Ibrahimi Mosque on Jewish holiday - Earlier in October Israeli forces closed the Ibrahimi Mosque to Palestinian worshipers during the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah, including banning the Islamic call to prayer, a usual component of everyday life in Hebron. (Maan)
- Israelis perform religious rituals at Al-Aqsa Mosque compound ahead of Yom Kippur - The Islamic Endowment (Waqf) in charge of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound reported that 156 Israelis escorted by Israeli police toured the compound. The Waqf said that the Jewish visits at the compound represented an attempt to change the “historical situation” of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, because they changed the status quo of 1967. (Maan)
- Israeli army shutters candy store belonging to family of Jerusalem gunman - Israeli army says that candy store was a 'hub of incitement'; Security forces raze home of Palestinian abettor in Henkin couple's killing. (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
- Calling Palestinians 'animals,' deputy Jerusalem mayor vows retribution after shooting attack - 'We lived in false hope that if we would help them they would change their animal behavior,' says Meir Turgeman. Jerusalem mayor says remarks don't reflect municipal policy. (Haaretz+)
- Jewish-Arab women's peace group delivers political message while avoiding politics - During the 'March of Hope,' Palestinian and Jewish women walk from northern Israel to Jerusalem in support of a peaceful solution to the conflict. (Haaretz+)
- A synagogue in every precinct and rabbi-approved pens: Israel cops get religion - With more and more cops refusing to fight crime on Shabbat and the appointment of a new police rabbi who opposes female and male officers serving together, some voice concern of changing norms in Israel's police force. (Haaretz+)
- Jerusalem City Budget for Houses of Worship Goes Only to Synagogues - Criteria states that money may be given to applicants who intend to 'establish a synagogue.' (Haaretz+)
- Israel Police appoints chief rabbi for first time in 5 years, who said: Homosexuals 'not in line with laws of nature' -Rabbi Rami Brachyahu chosen as the top religious figure in the police despite problematic past statements: 'We instruct police officers how to not get into a situation in which they are alone in a police cruiser with a female officer in the dark.' (Ynet and Israel Hayom)
- Israeli Army reports rise in sexual harassment claims, decrease in investigations - Number of reported incidents has increased every years since 2012, but fewer women are pursuing legal action. (Haaretz+)
- Settler leader averts ouster for sexual harassment complaint - A mostly male panel of the Gush Etzion Council decides to leave Davidi Perl in office as chairman, citing a failure of the woman who complained against him to go to police or answer their questions. (Haaretz+)
- Ad Informing El Al female passengers that they don't have to switch seats rejected by Port Authority - After spate of complaints that women were forced to move because male ultra-Orthodox refused to seat next to them, Israel Religious Action Center sponsors ad campaign. (JTA, Haaretz)
- Israel has one of lowest pension payouts in OECD - An OECD report has brought to light that Israel pays fourth lowest amount in pensions, only paying more than Chile, Mexico, S. Korea; children are the poorest sector in Israeli society, while millennials are typically poorest in other OECD countries. (Ynet)
- Israel to join executive board of UN agency for women's rights - Israeli ambassador to U.N. says agreement will prevent politicization of U.N. Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women, delegitimization of Israel. Israeli delegation planning follow-up agreements to deepen ties with the organization. (Israel Hayom)
- 64 Ethiopian immigrants brought to Israel - As part of a government plan to eventually bring 9,000 Ethiopian immigrants of the Falash Mura community to Israel over the next five years, 64 immigrants arrived in Israel Monday at a welcoming ceremony held at Ben-Gurion Airport. (Ynet)
- Yom Kippur Eve: Gaza's 2 millionth resident is born - On Tuesday, Walid Shaath was born in a Rafah hospital to Jihad and Lana; Jihad: ' I hope that my son will become one of the soldiers of the al-Aqsa (Martyrs' Brigade).' (Yedioth/Ynet)
- PMO denies reports of secret peace talks with PA in London - Saudi report claiming Israeli, Palestinian officials secretly met in Britain five times in two months in effort to reignite stalled peace process is false, Jerusalem officials say. PA delegation is in London to negotiate construction of gas pipelines. (Israel Hayom)
- Channel 2: New intelligence reports suggest missing aviator Ron Arad died early in captivity - According to previous assessments, Arad, who fell captive in 1986, died of an illness in Lebanon in 1995. (Haaretz)
- Hezbollah vows at mass Beirut rally to keep up 'jihad' in Syria - Thousands of black-clad supporters in Beirut respond to speech by terror organization leader urging to continue the fighting in the neighboring war-torn country, saying 'We answer your call, o Nasrallah!' (Agencies, Ynet)
- Recording of daring Yom Kippur War rescue mission made public - The operation was headed by Yoni Netanyahu, the brother of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who later received a distinguished service medal for his role in the successful rescue. (Haaretz+)
- US looking into terror link after Jordanian pilot crashes light plane - U.S. National Transportation Safety Board says all indications suggest flight student Feras Freitekh deliberately crashed his twin-engine aircraft. Flight instructor seriously wounded. Police say all leads being pursued, including suicide, terrorism. (Agencies, Israel Hayom)
Features:
The Yom Kippur War Came as a Surprise to the Egyptians as Well, Documents Show
The war’s beginning was decided upon many months and weeks before it began and the date was a closely-kept secret that foreign intelligence failed to crack. (Amir Oren, Haaretz+)
Jordan and Israel Cooperated During Yom Kippur War, Documents Reveal
King Hussein of Jordan had to keep up appearances in Arab world, but he secretly worked to avoid hostility with Israel. (Haaretz+)
Secret 1978 Talks Lay Bare the Hawk That Peacemaker Peres Once Was
'Jordan is also Palestine,' the late Shimon Peres tells then-Prime Minister Menachem Begin, declassified minutes of a top secret meeting ahead of Camp David reveal. (Gidi Weitz, Haaretz+)
Up in armor, 43 years on
Ahead of Yom Kippur, the memories of the 1973 war come flooding back for those of my generation. Post-trauma? Not necessarily, but we all recognize that what happened in Israel 43 years ago was a transformative experience for an entire generation. (Amos Regev, Israel Hayom)
Dear Israeli lawmaker, do you believe in God?
In advance of the Day of Atonement, Haaretz asked all 120 members of the Knesset if they believe in God. The results: 71 said yes, 9 said no, 38 didn’t give an answer, and 2 gave elaborate replies that defy characterization. (Netta Ahituv and Doron Halutz, Haaretz+)
Why Is Pnina Feiler, 93, Prevented From Seeing Her Son?
Dror Feiler, now a Swedish citizen, can't visit his mother in Israel because of his participation in Gaza-bound flotillas. (Amira Hass, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
Israel Has Overcome Every Threat, Except the One From Within (Ari Shavit, Haaretz+) After defeating the anti-Semites, the Nazis, the Arabs and the Palestinians — we are losing to the Israelis.
The question of identity: The Jewish people is getting stronger in Israel, and our neighbors better understand that (Amos Gilboa, Maariv) After Yom Kippur, one must remember that Judaism has many different meanings: religious, but also cultural, historical and national. Too bad that Arab leaders find it difficult to accept that.
The Price an Unwavering Israeli Leftist Paid for Conscientious Objection (Yitzhak Laor, Haaretz+) Uri Avnery always saw himself as a foreign minister without a government, not a political activist. His memoir is a type of consolation for his political isolation.
Farewell to Sisyphus: Peres won in the end (Orly Azoulay, Yedioth/Ynet) In spite of Shimon Peres’ many accomplishments and contributions to Israeli society, in general elections, he tended to lose. But in his final days, Peres won, and secured his place in history.
This Home Belongs to All of Us, Jews and Arabs Alike (Tuesday Haaretz Editorial) Precisely because Israel wants to be a home for the Jewish people demands that its leaders show empathy for the impossible situation of the Arab minority. By boycotting the Joint List in the Knesset, Netanyahu is shaming Israeli democracy.
Forbidden affairs: Israel must ask for forgiveness on Yom Kippur (Yossi Melman, Maariv) Our country has a dark history of relations with dictatorships around the world. It’s support for the oppressive and murderous regime of Sudan is another stain on the Israeli and Jewish conscience.
The Israel Police Needs No Rabbi (Haaretz Editorial) The connection between religion and the police has so far been proven to be not beneficial but harmful.
Land of Shaked: The vision presented by the Minister of Justice is important, but full of contradictions (Dr. Revital Amiran, Maariv) In the shadow of the praises for the manifesto of the Minister of Justice, Ayelet Shaked, are also many failures: from the desire to temper the excess of legislation under pretext to the disregard of all the minorities living in the country.
Sleazy Debate Maneuver Stains Ivanka and Jared's Squeaky Clean Image (Allison Kaplan Sommer, Haaretz+) Donald Trump's Orthodox Jewish daughter and her husband have served as a type of kosher stamp for their scandal-ridden father(-in-law) - until the second presidential debate came along.
The sickness of narrative thinking (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) In recent years, the truth has fallen casualty to storytelling; the Palestinian narrative of the Nakba must not override the truth that the Arab armies came to try and destroy Israel in its inception, and must not infantilize the Arab population by not holding them accountable for their actions.
From 1973 to 2016 (Israel Harel, Haaretz+) It goes like this: What the terrorists want is political independence, not to kill for the sake of killing.
For Israelis, Peace Is War (Rachel Neeman, Haaretz+) Most Israelis think Israel doesn’t need 'peace'; it has high-tech, it has an army, a state; at the airport there are long lines, the cafes and restaurants are full. True, from time to time sons are sacrificed, but the numbers are negligible.
Russia Is Fated to Lose the War in Syria; We Should Let It (David Rosenberg, Haaretz+) Syria will remain in a humanitarian crisis with or without U.S. intervention and be a strategic burden for Moscow for years to come.
Mizrahim and Arabs, Time for a Correction (Merav Alush Levron and Ron Gerlitz, Haaretz+) The present government may be deepening the alienation between Jewish and Arab citizens, and Jewish-Arab coexistence may be in deep crisis, but let’s not make light of steps that have been taken to correct the injustice.
The war’s beginning was decided upon many months and weeks before it began and the date was a closely-kept secret that foreign intelligence failed to crack. (Amir Oren, Haaretz+)
Jordan and Israel Cooperated During Yom Kippur War, Documents Reveal
King Hussein of Jordan had to keep up appearances in Arab world, but he secretly worked to avoid hostility with Israel. (Haaretz+)
Secret 1978 Talks Lay Bare the Hawk That Peacemaker Peres Once Was
'Jordan is also Palestine,' the late Shimon Peres tells then-Prime Minister Menachem Begin, declassified minutes of a top secret meeting ahead of Camp David reveal. (Gidi Weitz, Haaretz+)
Up in armor, 43 years on
Ahead of Yom Kippur, the memories of the 1973 war come flooding back for those of my generation. Post-trauma? Not necessarily, but we all recognize that what happened in Israel 43 years ago was a transformative experience for an entire generation. (Amos Regev, Israel Hayom)
Dear Israeli lawmaker, do you believe in God?
In advance of the Day of Atonement, Haaretz asked all 120 members of the Knesset if they believe in God. The results: 71 said yes, 9 said no, 38 didn’t give an answer, and 2 gave elaborate replies that defy characterization. (Netta Ahituv and Doron Halutz, Haaretz+)
Why Is Pnina Feiler, 93, Prevented From Seeing Her Son?
Dror Feiler, now a Swedish citizen, can't visit his mother in Israel because of his participation in Gaza-bound flotillas. (Amira Hass, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
Israel Has Overcome Every Threat, Except the One From Within (Ari Shavit, Haaretz+) After defeating the anti-Semites, the Nazis, the Arabs and the Palestinians — we are losing to the Israelis.
The question of identity: The Jewish people is getting stronger in Israel, and our neighbors better understand that (Amos Gilboa, Maariv) After Yom Kippur, one must remember that Judaism has many different meanings: religious, but also cultural, historical and national. Too bad that Arab leaders find it difficult to accept that.
The Price an Unwavering Israeli Leftist Paid for Conscientious Objection (Yitzhak Laor, Haaretz+) Uri Avnery always saw himself as a foreign minister without a government, not a political activist. His memoir is a type of consolation for his political isolation.
Farewell to Sisyphus: Peres won in the end (Orly Azoulay, Yedioth/Ynet) In spite of Shimon Peres’ many accomplishments and contributions to Israeli society, in general elections, he tended to lose. But in his final days, Peres won, and secured his place in history.
This Home Belongs to All of Us, Jews and Arabs Alike (Tuesday Haaretz Editorial) Precisely because Israel wants to be a home for the Jewish people demands that its leaders show empathy for the impossible situation of the Arab minority. By boycotting the Joint List in the Knesset, Netanyahu is shaming Israeli democracy.
Forbidden affairs: Israel must ask for forgiveness on Yom Kippur (Yossi Melman, Maariv) Our country has a dark history of relations with dictatorships around the world. It’s support for the oppressive and murderous regime of Sudan is another stain on the Israeli and Jewish conscience.
The Israel Police Needs No Rabbi (Haaretz Editorial) The connection between religion and the police has so far been proven to be not beneficial but harmful.
Land of Shaked: The vision presented by the Minister of Justice is important, but full of contradictions (Dr. Revital Amiran, Maariv) In the shadow of the praises for the manifesto of the Minister of Justice, Ayelet Shaked, are also many failures: from the desire to temper the excess of legislation under pretext to the disregard of all the minorities living in the country.
Sleazy Debate Maneuver Stains Ivanka and Jared's Squeaky Clean Image (Allison Kaplan Sommer, Haaretz+) Donald Trump's Orthodox Jewish daughter and her husband have served as a type of kosher stamp for their scandal-ridden father(-in-law) - until the second presidential debate came along.
The sickness of narrative thinking (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) In recent years, the truth has fallen casualty to storytelling; the Palestinian narrative of the Nakba must not override the truth that the Arab armies came to try and destroy Israel in its inception, and must not infantilize the Arab population by not holding them accountable for their actions.
From 1973 to 2016 (Israel Harel, Haaretz+) It goes like this: What the terrorists want is political independence, not to kill for the sake of killing.
For Israelis, Peace Is War (Rachel Neeman, Haaretz+) Most Israelis think Israel doesn’t need 'peace'; it has high-tech, it has an army, a state; at the airport there are long lines, the cafes and restaurants are full. True, from time to time sons are sacrificed, but the numbers are negligible.
Russia Is Fated to Lose the War in Syria; We Should Let It (David Rosenberg, Haaretz+) Syria will remain in a humanitarian crisis with or without U.S. intervention and be a strategic burden for Moscow for years to come.
Mizrahim and Arabs, Time for a Correction (Merav Alush Levron and Ron Gerlitz, Haaretz+) The present government may be deepening the alienation between Jewish and Arab citizens, and Jewish-Arab coexistence may be in deep crisis, but let’s not make light of steps that have been taken to correct the injustice.
Interviews:
'We won't allow Iran to control Syria'
Yoav Gallant, construction minister and former head of Shayetet 13 naval commandos, says Iran is the greatest threat to Israel. When it comes to the Palestinians, he says both sides have to compromise, but Israel will never withdraw to the 1967 borders. (Interviewed by Shlomo Cesana in Israel Hayom)
The Knesset speaker speaks his mind
Yuli Edelstein hopes MKs will do some introspection on the High Holy Days and start setting a better example for their voters. (Interviewed by Lahav Harkov in JPost and Maariv)
The Sunni option
Maj. Gen. Nitzan Alon, head of the IDF's Operations Directorate, believes regional developments present both challenges and opportunities for Israel. Above all, he says, the IDF draws its strength from its ethics and the faith the public places in it. (Interviewed by Yoav Limor in Israel Hayom)
'We won't allow Iran to control Syria'
Yoav Gallant, construction minister and former head of Shayetet 13 naval commandos, says Iran is the greatest threat to Israel. When it comes to the Palestinians, he says both sides have to compromise, but Israel will never withdraw to the 1967 borders. (Interviewed by Shlomo Cesana in Israel Hayom)
The Knesset speaker speaks his mind
Yuli Edelstein hopes MKs will do some introspection on the High Holy Days and start setting a better example for their voters. (Interviewed by Lahav Harkov in JPost and Maariv)
The Sunni option
Maj. Gen. Nitzan Alon, head of the IDF's Operations Directorate, believes regional developments present both challenges and opportunities for Israel. Above all, he says, the IDF draws its strength from its ethics and the faith the public places in it. (Interviewed by Yoav Limor in Israel Hayom)
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.
News Nosh 10.10.16