APN's daily news review from Israel

Thursday December 22, 2016  

You Must Be Kidding: 
"It is permitted to speak Arabic without fear."
--Israel’s Second (Broadcasting) Authority said that that sentence, said by Mira Awad, an Israeli Arab singer and actress, in a TV ad for civil rights was problematic. The Authority prevented the ad from being aired.**

---

Front Page:

Haaretz

Yedioth Ahronoth

Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)

News Summary:
 

Quick Hits:

---

Features:

 
Commentary/Analysis:
Obama’s Last Chance (Alon Liel, Haaretz+) The president failed the crucial test of stopping Assad; in the month he has left in office, will he step up to save the two-state solution?
Almost a victory: Amona residents were forced to choose between two evils (Prof. Aryeh Eldad, Maariv) Everyone benefited: right and left. The settlement will move, but will remain on the mountain. Victory for the rule of law and especially a victory for making tricky deals. The method was successful. It’s true: 50 years they have been playing this game. To go up and go down, retreat, advance, haul three trailers to three hills, give up one, make two permanent. State Land and Survey land, acquisitions and a tangle of old land laws, "Stealing Horses" and government winks and intrigues. And in this way, slowly, slowly - and now there are half a million Jews in Judea and Samaria. So why kick the bucket?... Only the residents of Amona know that they had to choose between two evils. They, and several hundred youth who feel cheated: they were called to come [and barricade themselves at the outpost –OH] for the sake of their country, and then they were let go because of the deal. They are young. Imbued with ideals and they despise deals. They don’t realize that the improved deal was achieved mainly thanks to the [government’s –OH] fear of confrontation that they created on the mountain by their very presence. And if even they understand - they came to sacrifice their souls, not to compromise. There is still concern that the government won’t meet its obligations. Just like it didn’t meet its commitments to the residents of Migron and the Ulpana neighborhood in Beit El. But Netanyahu and Bennett know that if they are exposed as deceitful – the hundreds at Amona will become thousands. And the masses will remind them on election day of their shame. And the fundamental struggle? It was deferred to the next round. See you in “Nativ Ha’Avot” (outpost). 
Hooray for Assassinations (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) In our hush-hush country, if you don’t assassinate, you don’t count. 
Ban Ki-moon's last hypocritical hurrah (Ruthie Blum, Israel Hayom) Listening to the United Nations head this week, one might have mistaken him for an innocent bystander whose ‎voice was drowned out by the anti-Israel cacophony. In fact, he has been conducting the Israel-bashing choir for 10 years.
The Real Story Behind Netanyahu's 'Rushed Eviction' From PM's Residence (Amir Oren, Haaretz+) None other than the prime minister and his wife Sara provided evidence contradicting their claims they were forced out of their home with no notice after Netanyahu lost the 1999 election. 
Azerbaijan, Israel’s mistress on the Iranian border (Prof. Eli Podeh, Yedioth/Ynet)  While the Shiite country tends to vote against Israel in international forums, it has become a favored target of Israel’s ‘new periphery’ policy.
Lieberman Reignites Debate on Israel Arming With Surface-to-surface Missiles (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Defense Minister Lieberman, a 'civilian', is challenging the accepted norms in the IDF, but it remains to be seen whether he'll get his way. 
David Friedman’s One-state 'Vision' Would Be an Ongoing Nightmare for Israelis, Let Alone the Palestinians (Brian Reeves, Haaretz+) Trump’s nominee as ambassador to Israel believes Israel can annex the West Bank, sideline Gaza and remain Jewish and democratic, all for the sake of a secure future for Israel. He couldn’t be more wrong. 
The next ambassador to Israel (Elliott Abrams, Israel Hayom) I do not share all of Friedman's views, but I am delighted that the U.S. will soon have an envoy who is a brilliant lawyer and deeply committed Zionist, can call home and speak to the top guy, and is deeply committed to Israel's security and well-being.
Trump and His Circle Have Triggered an Irrevocable Split Between U.S. Jews (Debra Nussbaum Cohen, Haaretz+) Trump and his appointees, not least Israel envoy David Friedman, have taken a mallet to the basic norms of civility that barely kept an already fragile and fractured community together. 
Erdogan hops on the Russian wagon (Prof. Eyal Zisser, Israel Hayom) At the base of the shift in Turkey's position is the recognition of Russian military might, but also the realization that the U.S. has abandoned the region and its friends there.
Servants and Masters (Yossi Klein, Haaretz+) Most of the poor people evicted from their apartments over mortgage issues are Mizrahim. But obviously this 130 million won’t reach them. Money is given out to friends, not to the needy. 
'Don't Forget Aleppo': Assassin of Russian Envoy Spoke - if Not Acted - for Many in Turkey (Simon A. Waldman, Haaretz+) Will Erdogan’s vocal, consistent opposition to the Assad regime, which has significant popular support, be the second victim of the Andrey Karlov assassination?
 

Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.