APN's daily news review from Israel
Monday December 19, 2016
Quote of the day:
“It’s not just putting money where our mouth is – we’re putting it where our survival is. It’s not a new
idea, but the motivation is much more compelling and urgent now.”
--Jewish American writer and feminist activist, Letty Cottin Pogrebin, told Haaretz+ why she made a personal call to 120 friends to donate to Americans for Peace Now after far-right-winger David Friedman was appointed the next US ambassador to Israel. Donations to pro-peace American organizations have risen sharply since the appointment.*
--Jewish American writer and feminist activist, Letty Cottin Pogrebin, told Haaretz+ why she made a personal call to 120 friends to donate to Americans for Peace Now after far-right-winger David Friedman was appointed the next US ambassador to Israel. Donations to pro-peace American organizations have risen sharply since the appointment.*
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Amona settlers will leave in exchange for millions of shekels
- When Netanyahu was sprung from his bed // Yossi Verter
- Moshe Katsav’s release was approved: “There is no doubt that he has gone through a change”
- MK Ghattas suspected of smuggling phones to security prisoners
- MK Slomiansky suspended himself from chairing the Knesset Legislative committee
- Atrocious government in Damascus // Odeh Bisharat
- Hopefully Assad will be victorious // Abed L. Azab
- Azerbaijan demands the extradition of an Israeli who criticized its regime and was arrested in Belarus
- Number of female soldiers in IDF combat units equaled the number of secretaries
- The secret deal with Castro: Immigrants from Cuba in exchange for goats
- Trump donated thousands of dollars to Beit El settlement
- The Attorney General in favor of theft // Adv. Michael Sfard
- A politician (at the head) of the Mossad // Raviv Drucker
Yedioth Ahronoth
- Smuggled 12 phones to terrorists in jail – Suspicion against MK Ghattas
- Price Tag: 1 million shekels to each family in Amona – compensation for their eviction
- The settlers chose peace // Yifat Erlich
- The whole country is their hostage // Raanan Shaked
- Postponement of (opening) of Public Broadcasting Corporation: Kulanu party will pay for Netanyahu’s decision
- Being released (photo of convicted rapist former president Moshe Katsav)
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- On the way home (photo of convicted rapist former president Moshe Katsav)
- Cost of eviction of Amona: 150 million shekels
- The suspicion: MK Ghattas smuggled phones to security prisoners
- From Israel with love: 500,000 shekels to Syrian children
- The battle in the Labor party heats up: Amir Peretz is expected to announce today that he will run for the head of the party
Israel Hayom
- The release and the dispute – after 5 years (in prison) Moshe Katsav goes home
- The parade of [recent] scandals: Brig. Gen. Buchris confessed and was convicted in a plea bargain, Rabbi David Harrison was indicted on rape of a female student, MK Nissan Slomiansky will stop chairing the Knesset Legislation Committee, Or Yehuda Mayor David Yosef was convicted of sex crimes and sent to jail
- Netanyahu on MK Ghattas: “Whoever harms the security of the state is unfit to serve in the Knesset”
- Amona crisis: Residents agreed to voluntary eviction; every family to receive a million shekels compensation
- Government approved: 1.2 billion shekel across the board cut in budget
- Terror attack in Jordan: 10 murdered, tourists held as hostages
News Summary:
Amona settlers accepted money – lots of it – in exchange for leaving Palestinian land, an Israeli Arab MK was accused of giving Palestinian security prisoners cellular phones and the convicted rapist, former president Moshe Katsav, was given early release from prison on the same day that four other leading Israeli men made headlines for sex crimes – making top news in today’s Hebrew newspapers.
*Haaretz+ also reported that donations to pro-peace organizations in the US had sharply risen after the appointment of far-right-winger David Friedman as the next US ambassador to Israel. Americans for Peace Now, J Street and the New Israel Fund not only got more funding, but they were looking to pressure senators who back two-state solution to reject Friedman’s nomination because he opposes the two-state solution.
They got a great deal. Forty Amona outpost settler families will each get a million shekels (about $385,000) in order to leave the Palestinian-owned land they have been squatting on for years. Then the state will pay another 130 million shekels to cover the evacuation of illegal outpost and for building a new settlement near Shvut Rachel. But the new location on a nearby hilltop is also on land privately owned by Palestinians. They are simply not around. The enormous cost of the Amona bribery and move, along with the decisions to postpone the opening of the new public broadcasting corporation and to give more money to ultra-Orthodox education, has forced the government to make an across the board budget cut of $310 million, 1.25% percent of each ministry's budget. Opposition legislator MK Shelly Yacimovich said it “made a mockery of any socially minded achievements.” Young Amona supporters were disappointed with the deal, Maariv reported. "The Land of Israel does not make outlines and does not conclude agreements," said a girl who stayed at the outpost for three days.
Israel Prison personnel found 12 phones on Palestinian inmates with whom MK Basel Ghattas (Joint List) met. Ghattas said he was being “politically persecuted” and that the media had blown things up. Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said it was proof the Arab party was a “Joint list of spies and traitors.” Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said that, if true, it will cost Ghattas his job.
Sex crimes made big news. Yesterday, former president Katsav was granted early release after five years in prison for rape – angering many women. On the same day, disgraced Brig. Gen. (res.) Ofek Buchris admitted to sexual misconduct as part of his plea bargain and will see a psychiatrist to determine if he is a threat to society. (His only punishment was that he would no longer serve in the army.) Also Sunday, the MK Natan Slomiansky (Habayit Hayehudi), the far right-wing chairman of a powerful Knesset committee stepped down from his chair, after allegations of sex crimes and Rabbi David Harrison was indicted for rape and sodomy of a 14-year-old pupil at the religious girls' school where he taught. All of the above men were religious men. In addition, the former Or Yehuda mayor got two years in prison for sexual offenses and corruption.
Quick Hits:
- 19-year-old Palestinian shot dead by Israeli forces over stone throwing laid to rest - Thousands of Palestinians attended on Sunday morning the funeral of 19-year-old Ahmad Hazem al-Rimawi, who was shot in the chest by an Israeli sniper after clashes broke out earlier Sunday when Israeli forces made an early morning raid in the village of Beit Rima. (Maan)
- IDF Commander Reprimanded Three Years After Soldiers Beat Journalists in West Bank - A photographer from the AFP news agency, Jaafar Ashtiyeh, was injured. His lawyer said a civil complaint seemed to be the only reason the military police had looked into the case. Proceedings against the company commander were based on the allegation that he ordered the use of excessive force. He was found to have exceeded his authority, was reprimanded and left the army. The soldiers who beat the journalists and locals with clubs were not punished, on the grounds that they were following orders. (Haaretz+ and YouTube)
- Israeli Supreme Court mulls force feeding 2 Palestinian hunger strikers - In a pre-hearing discussion with the Israeli general prosecution on Sunday, the Israeli Supreme Court suggested the possibility of force feeding hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners Anas Shadid and Ahmad Abu Farah, a decision that could amount to a violation of international law. The prisoners are protesting their administrative detention -- prison without charges. (Maan)
- Israel sentences 27 Palestinians to administrative detention - Israeli authorities sentenced 27 Palestinian prisoners to administrative detention – prison without charges. The sentences ranging from three to six months in prison. (Maan)
- Israelis begin building road to illegal outpost on Palestinian village's land - The road servicing the outpost of Shvut Rachel encroached on Palestinian lands south of the Palestinian village of Jalud and would lead to the seizure of dozens of dunams of agricultural land and contribute to expansion of settlements, said a Palestinian official who monitors settlement activity. An Israeli gov’t agency said "the work in question was not legal and did not have the approval of the required authorities and therefore was stopped." (Maan)
- Israeli forces seal off Ramallah-area village - Locals of Abud village hypothesized that the road closures were in preparation of a military operation in the village after Israeli forces failed to find gunmen who opened fired at settlers’ cars in the area. (Maan)
- Israel closes main road to Jerusalem-area village for 6th consecutive day - The mayor of Hizma in the Jerusalem district of the occupied West Bank said Sunday that the economic situation of the village had seriously deteriorated, as Israel has continued to enforce a closure on Hizma’s main entrance for the sixth day in a row. (Maan)
- Tunisia confirms 'foreign elements' involved in dispatch of Hamas terrorist - In first official statement since Mohammad al-Zawahri was bumped off—allegedly by the Mossad—Tunisia promises to pursue 'foreign criminals' using all 'legal methods whether on home or foreign soil.' (Ynet)
- Number of Female Soldiers in IDF Combat Units Doubles Over Four Years - Seven percent of women in Israeli army now in combat units, the same percentage as in clerical roles. 'The glass ceiling is beginning to crack,' says senior IDF officer. (Haaretz+)
- Israelis hold rally in support of Syrians - Participants made a human chain from the Russian embassy to the American embassy in which they called on the two powers to put a stop to the bloodshed; another rally is expected to be held on Saturday in an effort to bring attention to the plight of civilians of Syria. (Ynet)
- Aleppo: Yad Vashem chairman says global community must stop killings in Syria - The head of Israel's official Holocaust memorial Avner Shalev called on an international effort to 'provide humanitarian assistance to the victims seeking safe haven.' (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Israeli blogger jailed in Belarus for criticizing Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan seeks extradition - The Israeli blogger was arrested in Belarus after visiting the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, where he expressed support for independence; Azerbaijan is now seeking his extradition, citing 'threats to homeland security.' (Yedioth/Ynet and Haaretz+)
- (Jewish French tycoon) Arnaud Mimran: "Netanyahu helped to get me investors, he played the game” - The businessman, who is serving eight years in prison for a sting operation against the government, told ‘Vanity Fair’ in an interview that he invited prime minister Netanyahu to stay at his apartment in Paris. (Maariv)
- Israeli Kibbutz Members To Pay Income Tax For First Time Ever - A Knesset committee approves the historic reform after four months of negotiations with the movement. (Haaretz+)
- 2016 deadliest year on Israeli roads - As if 2016 wan't bad enough, last weekend broke the record for number of people killed in car crashes in Israel; with two weeks left to go, 357 people have died in vehicle crashes this year and many others injured. (Ynet)
- Gaza electricity company accuses Israel of stalling power line repairs - The Gaza Strip’s electricity company accused Israel on Sunday of pushing off repairs on the “Baghdad” power line which has been damaged for four days, worsening the already dire electricity situation in the besieged Palestinian territory. (Maan)
- Czech Republic buys Iron Dome radars - Eight Israel made MMR radars—used on both the Iron Dome and David's Sling missile-defense systems—sold to the Czechs, who are seeking to replace their old, Soviet-era radar systems. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Trump Taps Israeli Silicon Valley Bigwig Safra Catz for Transition Team - Catz, co-CEO of the Oracle Corporation, is considered one of the most powerful women in Silicon Valley and was the highest-paid female executive in the U.S. in 2015. (Haaretz+)
- At least 9 killed in Jordanian shootings - Gunmen carried out series of attacks in central Jordan, including at a Crusader castle popular with tourists; no immediate claims of responsibility reported. (Agencies, Ynet)
- UN nuclear watchdog: Iran showing commitment to deal - After meeting with Iran's nuclear energy chief Ali Akbar Salehi and President Rouhani, Yukiya Amano says IAEA 'satisfied with the implementation of the (agreement) and hope that this process will continue.' (Agencies, Ynet)
Features:
"We can’t be silent in the face of horrors": Record responses to initiative to help Syrian
children
The activists of the Israeli donations project called, “Syrians on the Fence," reported that since they went public on Saturday night they raised more than half a million shekels. They intend to purchase emergency products, food, medicines and equipment for winter. (Yuval Bango, Maariv)
Coming out of the fringe: The American extreme right is penetrating the mainstream
They are educated and convey decency and intellectualism, but they also support white supremacy and they make the Nazi salute. Jewish community: "This must turn on warning lights in Israel." (Shlomo Shamir, Maariv Magazine supplement – Sunday)
Commentary/Analysis:
The activists of the Israeli donations project called, “Syrians on the Fence," reported that since they went public on Saturday night they raised more than half a million shekels. They intend to purchase emergency products, food, medicines and equipment for winter. (Yuval Bango, Maariv)
Coming out of the fringe: The American extreme right is penetrating the mainstream
They are educated and convey decency and intellectualism, but they also support white supremacy and they make the Nazi salute. Jewish community: "This must turn on warning lights in Israel." (Shlomo Shamir, Maariv Magazine supplement – Sunday)
Commentary/Analysis:
A disgraceful surrender in the illegal West Bank outpost of Amona (Haaretz Editorial) Under the camouflage of presumed concern for 40 buildings, the
settlers have succeeded once again in making a mockery of Israel's government. What is surprising is that
the public accepts this with indifference.
The path to preserving relations with the American Jewish community goes through J-Street (Tal Schneider, Maariv) Israel's ambassador to the United States turns his back on them and the new US ambassador to Israel calls them "kapo," but they represent a significant part of the American Jewish public. We should give them our serious attention.
In Absurd Theatre of Israel, Netanyahu Submits to Settler Outlaws (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) To avoid the violent scenes that ensued during the last evacuation of the illegal West Bank outpost of Amona, Netanyahu was willing to spend millions and bend every rule of proper governance.
If you want to be like Trump, go all the way (Yoaz Hendel, Yedioth/Ynet) The Israeli government’s problem is not positions of trust, but the legal advisers and the impossible missions they are tasked with. And if we want to be like America, limiting the prime minister’s term is also a good idea.
The prime minister’s flexible principles (Aviad Kleinberg, Yedioth/Ynet) Nothing that has been said by Swedish Foreign Minister Wallström can match what our old-new friend, Turkish President Erdoğan, has been saying about us. But when it comes to the Swedes, who we are less afraid of, Netanyahu has principles.
Suddenly Gideon Levy Doesn’t Care About International Law (Michal Sela, Haaretz+) Attacking Israel for not getting involved in Syria is hypocrisy.
Sex and Power in the Israeli Military (Iris Leal, Haaretz+) The glorification of the 'hero' in Israeli society and in the army, especially, doesn't lead to being 'captivated' by a person’s courage, but to being crushed by his weight.
Golan Heights: From annexation to recognition (Zvi Hauser, Yedioth/Ynet) For the first time in nearly 50 years, there is an historic window of opportunity to change the formula of the future Golan arrangement from an Israeli withdrawal in exchange for an agreement with Syria to an international agreement for long-lasting Israeli control of the area as a core component of the region’s stabilization.
Trump’s Israel Envoy Should Be Persona Non Grata (Sunday Haaretz Editorial) If the settlers had a state of their own in the West Bank, he might be suitable to serve as ambassador there.
Embassy relocation as a litmus test (Yoram Ettinger, Israel Hayom) Moving the embassy will underscore the independence of U.S. action, set Trump apart from his predecessors, and set his worldview apart from that of the United Nations.
Republicans have already realized: no Palestinian state will be established here (MK Yoav Kish, Maariv) Many Republicans, as well as the appointed US ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, have something in common: recognition that the settlement enterprise in Judea and Samaria is not an obstacle to peace. This is a sharp contrast to the well-known American policy.
Why Is the Israeli Army Scared of a 14-year-old Boy? (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) What kind of training do soldiers receive if they’re so frightened by a young kid with a knife that they shoot him in the back when he tries to flee?
Tunisia assassination: Yossi Cohen’s baptism of fire (Ronen Bergman, Yedioth/Ynet) If the Mossad is indeed behind the assassination of Hamas aviation engineer Mohammad al-Zawahri in Tunisia, this is the first assassination attributed to the Israeli intelligence organization under Cohen’s leadership.
Assad's Atrocious Regime (Odeh Bisharat, Haaretz+) Don't worry, this regime won’t last. Its existence contradicts the direction of history.
I Hope Assad Wins (Abed L. Azab, Haaretz+) All the organizations – Islamic State, Ahrar al-Sham, the Nusra Front – are essentially the same terror that is being supported by the American-Saudi-Qatari-Turkish axis.
Obama Admits He's Unwilling to Pay a Price to Save Aleppo (Asaf Ronel, Haaretz+) If he didn't maintain the lie of opposition to Assad remaining in power, he would have avoided the suffering caused to so many Syrians.
The path to preserving relations with the American Jewish community goes through J-Street (Tal Schneider, Maariv) Israel's ambassador to the United States turns his back on them and the new US ambassador to Israel calls them "kapo," but they represent a significant part of the American Jewish public. We should give them our serious attention.
In Absurd Theatre of Israel, Netanyahu Submits to Settler Outlaws (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) To avoid the violent scenes that ensued during the last evacuation of the illegal West Bank outpost of Amona, Netanyahu was willing to spend millions and bend every rule of proper governance.
If you want to be like Trump, go all the way (Yoaz Hendel, Yedioth/Ynet) The Israeli government’s problem is not positions of trust, but the legal advisers and the impossible missions they are tasked with. And if we want to be like America, limiting the prime minister’s term is also a good idea.
The prime minister’s flexible principles (Aviad Kleinberg, Yedioth/Ynet) Nothing that has been said by Swedish Foreign Minister Wallström can match what our old-new friend, Turkish President Erdoğan, has been saying about us. But when it comes to the Swedes, who we are less afraid of, Netanyahu has principles.
Suddenly Gideon Levy Doesn’t Care About International Law (Michal Sela, Haaretz+) Attacking Israel for not getting involved in Syria is hypocrisy.
Sex and Power in the Israeli Military (Iris Leal, Haaretz+) The glorification of the 'hero' in Israeli society and in the army, especially, doesn't lead to being 'captivated' by a person’s courage, but to being crushed by his weight.
Golan Heights: From annexation to recognition (Zvi Hauser, Yedioth/Ynet) For the first time in nearly 50 years, there is an historic window of opportunity to change the formula of the future Golan arrangement from an Israeli withdrawal in exchange for an agreement with Syria to an international agreement for long-lasting Israeli control of the area as a core component of the region’s stabilization.
Trump’s Israel Envoy Should Be Persona Non Grata (Sunday Haaretz Editorial) If the settlers had a state of their own in the West Bank, he might be suitable to serve as ambassador there.
Embassy relocation as a litmus test (Yoram Ettinger, Israel Hayom) Moving the embassy will underscore the independence of U.S. action, set Trump apart from his predecessors, and set his worldview apart from that of the United Nations.
Republicans have already realized: no Palestinian state will be established here (MK Yoav Kish, Maariv) Many Republicans, as well as the appointed US ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, have something in common: recognition that the settlement enterprise in Judea and Samaria is not an obstacle to peace. This is a sharp contrast to the well-known American policy.
Why Is the Israeli Army Scared of a 14-year-old Boy? (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) What kind of training do soldiers receive if they’re so frightened by a young kid with a knife that they shoot him in the back when he tries to flee?
Tunisia assassination: Yossi Cohen’s baptism of fire (Ronen Bergman, Yedioth/Ynet) If the Mossad is indeed behind the assassination of Hamas aviation engineer Mohammad al-Zawahri in Tunisia, this is the first assassination attributed to the Israeli intelligence organization under Cohen’s leadership.
Assad's Atrocious Regime (Odeh Bisharat, Haaretz+) Don't worry, this regime won’t last. Its existence contradicts the direction of history.
I Hope Assad Wins (Abed L. Azab, Haaretz+) All the organizations – Islamic State, Ahrar al-Sham, the Nusra Front – are essentially the same terror that is being supported by the American-Saudi-Qatari-Turkish axis.
Obama Admits He's Unwilling to Pay a Price to Save Aleppo (Asaf Ronel, Haaretz+) If he didn't maintain the lie of opposition to Assad remaining in power, he would have avoided the suffering caused to so many Syrians.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.