APN's daily news review from Israel
Monday January 30, 2017
Quote of the day:
“Netanyahu’s statement created negative feelings among Mexicans towards Jews and the (Jewish-Mexican)
community, and that causes terrible anti-Semitism."
--Chief Rabbi of Mexico, Shlomo Tawil, wrote in a letter to Israeli Interior Minister Arieh Deri in response to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's Tweet message that US President Donald Trump's plan to build a wall on the Mexican border is a "great idea."
--Chief Rabbi of Mexico, Shlomo Tawil, wrote in a letter to Israeli Interior Minister Arieh Deri in response to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's Tweet message that US President Donald Trump's plan to build a wall on the Mexican border is a "great idea."
Front Page:
Haaretz
- With Kahlon’s support, the bill to expropriate lands of Palestinians will be advanced today
- Trump decided that order against Muslims won’t apply to Green Card holders
- Deri requested from Prime Minister to apologize to Mexico, and he refused
- Knesset advancing legislation for more severe punishments for illegal construction in Arab communities
- Aggressive, instigator and goal-focused – Five months on Netanyahu’s Facebook page show to what extent he was influenced by Trump
- Detention of suspect in murder of his wife and three children extended
- The theft regulation (bill) // Haaretz Editorial
- Trump’s photographer has hard work ahead of her
- Hates presents // Uzi Benziman
Yedioth Ahronoth
- Enormous demonstrations in the US: “Let them enter”
- Fear: Israelis will also be denied entry
- The wounds that won’t heal – Boy stabbed and injured by man who also stabbed and killed his brother and the man’s own wife and two children was released from hospital
- Attorney General to Netanyahu: I won’t defend the Regulation (Outpost) bill in the High Court
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Family of the victims in Migdal: “The murderer planned it in advance”
- Today: Fast-track move to approve the ‘Regulation Bill’; Attorney General recently made clear he won’t defend it in the High Court
- Holding a prayer – Wave of demonstrations in the US against President Trump’s order preventing entry to citizens and refugees from seven Muslim countries [Photo of Muslim passengers holding protest prayer at the Dallas Airport]
- Israeli researchers purchased area in Amazon in order to save animals in danger of extinction
Israel Hayom
- Little angels (buried after their father murdered them, their neighbor’s son and his wife)
- Today: Regulation bill up (for vote) in Knesset; Attorney General: I won’t defend it in High Court
- Poll: 48% of Americans are in favor of Trump’s immigration policy
- Brother, where are you? WhatsApp to reveal your location
News Summary:
The outcry – and Israeli concern – over US President Donald Trump’s denial of entry to citizens of seven Muslim countries, the crisis in relations between Israel and Mexico after Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu expressed support for Trump’s wall on the border with Mexico, and Netanyahu’s move to pass the controversial bill to legalize Israeli seizure of privately-owned Palestinian land in the West Bank, despite the Attorney General’s opposition, were today’s top stories in the Hebrew newspapers.
A senior official in the Trump administration said the order banning US entry to citizens of seven Muslim states was being implemented 'seamlessly,’ but Israel is still awaiting clarifications as to whether the order applies to Israeli citizens born in any of those countries. Israelis born in those countries fear they may be included. Arab-Israeli MK Ayman Odeh, leader of the Joint List faction, said he was “moved and proud to see large numbers of Americans taking to the streets against Islamophobia and racism.” Odeh said the order was “a sign of totalitarianism.”
The fallout with Mexico over Netanyahu’s Tweet in support of Trump’s wall continues. Channel 10 reported that Israel's ambassador to Mexico was summoned by Mexico’s Foreign Minister for a clarification. Mexico’s chief rabbi, Shlomo Tawil, sent a letter to Interior Minister Aryeh Deri, saying that “Netanyahu’s statement created negative feelings among Mexicans towards the Jewish-Mexican community, which causes terrible anti-Semitism." According to Rabbi Tawil, “It is clear that America can do whatever it wants, but Israel needs to respect the Mexicans who live there and support it. We ask that he try to explain what he said for the benefit of Jews here and abroad,” Maariv reported. Deri asked Netanyahu to apologize for his statement and Netanyahu refused. Now officials are examining the possibility of a holding a conversation between Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and Mexico’s President Nieto, Maariv reported.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu denied he intervened in the naval tender under police investigation and he denied being responsible for the US embassy not moving to Jerusalem yet, and added that all the embassies should relocate to Israel's capital.
As Netanyahu faces criticism and investigations, he pushed to pass the bill, which he initially opposed, for a quick final approval. The ‘Outpost Bill’ or ‘Regulation Bill’ is expected to pass after which it could legalize homes built on privately-owned Palestinian land in 16 settlements and outposts. Haaretz writes: The bill would allow the state to declare private Palestinian land on which settlements or outposts were built “innocently or at the state’s instruction” as government property, and deny its owners the right to use or hold those lands until there is a diplomatic resolution of the status of the territories. But Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit said he won't defend either the Regulation Bill or the deal for relocating Amona outpost settlers to other privately-owned Palestinian land. Amona residents have said they will peacefully leave their outpost if the government upholds the deal made to move them to alternate housing on a neighboring hill, part of which is also owned by Palestinians. The High Court is set make a judgment on the deal between the government and the residents of Amona, following an appeal by left-wing rights group Yesh Din, which is representing the Palestinian landowners. Another Israeli NGO revealed that Israel has gone full force on its West Bank remapping efforts with the aim of claiming more land over which Israel has legal jurisdiction, so it can build or expand settlements on it, Haaretz+ reported. Some 62,000 dunams were remapped in 2015, compared to only 61 dunams in 2008.
The outcry – and Israeli concern – over US President Donald Trump’s denial of entry to citizens of seven Muslim countries, the crisis in relations between Israel and Mexico after Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu expressed support for Trump’s wall on the border with Mexico, and Netanyahu’s move to pass the controversial bill to legalize Israeli seizure of privately-owned Palestinian land in the West Bank, despite the Attorney General’s opposition, were today’s top stories in the Hebrew newspapers.
A senior official in the Trump administration said the order banning US entry to citizens of seven Muslim states was being implemented 'seamlessly,’ but Israel is still awaiting clarifications as to whether the order applies to Israeli citizens born in any of those countries. Israelis born in those countries fear they may be included. Arab-Israeli MK Ayman Odeh, leader of the Joint List faction, said he was “moved and proud to see large numbers of Americans taking to the streets against Islamophobia and racism.” Odeh said the order was “a sign of totalitarianism.”
The fallout with Mexico over Netanyahu’s Tweet in support of Trump’s wall continues. Channel 10 reported that Israel's ambassador to Mexico was summoned by Mexico’s Foreign Minister for a clarification. Mexico’s chief rabbi, Shlomo Tawil, sent a letter to Interior Minister Aryeh Deri, saying that “Netanyahu’s statement created negative feelings among Mexicans towards the Jewish-Mexican community, which causes terrible anti-Semitism." According to Rabbi Tawil, “It is clear that America can do whatever it wants, but Israel needs to respect the Mexicans who live there and support it. We ask that he try to explain what he said for the benefit of Jews here and abroad,” Maariv reported. Deri asked Netanyahu to apologize for his statement and Netanyahu refused. Now officials are examining the possibility of a holding a conversation between Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and Mexico’s President Nieto, Maariv reported.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu denied he intervened in the naval tender under police investigation and he denied being responsible for the US embassy not moving to Jerusalem yet, and added that all the embassies should relocate to Israel's capital.
As Netanyahu faces criticism and investigations, he pushed to pass the bill, which he initially opposed, for a quick final approval. The ‘Outpost Bill’ or ‘Regulation Bill’ is expected to pass after which it could legalize homes built on privately-owned Palestinian land in 16 settlements and outposts. Haaretz writes: The bill would allow the state to declare private Palestinian land on which settlements or outposts were built “innocently or at the state’s instruction” as government property, and deny its owners the right to use or hold those lands until there is a diplomatic resolution of the status of the territories. But Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit said he won't defend either the Regulation Bill or the deal for relocating Amona outpost settlers to other privately-owned Palestinian land. Amona residents have said they will peacefully leave their outpost if the government upholds the deal made to move them to alternate housing on a neighboring hill, part of which is also owned by Palestinians. The High Court is set make a judgment on the deal between the government and the residents of Amona, following an appeal by left-wing rights group Yesh Din, which is representing the Palestinian landowners. Another Israeli NGO revealed that Israel has gone full force on its West Bank remapping efforts with the aim of claiming more land over which Israel has legal jurisdiction, so it can build or expand settlements on it, Haaretz+ reported. Some 62,000 dunams were remapped in 2015, compared to only 61 dunams in 2008.
Quick Hits:
- 19-year-old killed by IDF in West Bank refugee camp, Palestinian media reports, buried the same day - Muhammad Abu Khalifa was an employee of the Public Works and Housing Administration in Jenin and had celebrated his 19th birthday just a few hours before Israeli forces shot him to death. Clashes broke out in Jenin as Israeli soldiers entered camp to carry out arrests. IDF says troops responded with fire after being attacked with pipe bombs. State-run Palestinian news agency Wafa said that Abu Khalifa was shot in the back and left on the ground for hours before paramedics were able to evacuate his body. (Haaretz and Maan)
- Israeli forces prepare to demolish newly donated homes in Umm al-Hiran - Israeli police forces raided the unrecognized Bedouin community of Umm al-Hiran in the Negev Sunday, surrounding mobile homes that were donated the previous day to provide housing for families that were left homeless two weeks ago after Israeli authorities razed their homes to the ground. (Maan)
- Israel Set to Pass Law Banning pro-BDS Foreigners From Entering Country - Bill scheduled to come up for final vote Monday evening; ban would also apply to those calling for boycotts of any Israeli institution. (Haaretz+)
- Netanyahu Rejects Request by Minister to Apologize to Mexico Over Trump Wall Tweet - Israeli interior minister blasts Netanyahu for causing crisis with Mexico by supporting Trump’s wall: 'Jews in Mexico violated Shabbat to draft petitions against you.' (Haaretz and Ynet)
- Ultra-Orthodox-Zionist video warns religious women against military - Hotam goes online to curb rising female enlistment in the religious-Zionist movement. (Haaretz)
- Netanyahu investigations: police will take a deposition abroad from Sheldon Adelson - The owner of the "Israel Hayom" will be asked to testify about Case 2000 (the deal between Netanyahu and Yedioth publisher Noni Mozes). In the gifts affair, Case 1000, the connection between three business people will be examined: Yoram Globus, Zeev Rubinstein and former member of the French parliament, Meyer Habib. (Maariv)
- Netanyahu releases timetable on ships' purchase in Case 3000 - The prime minister's bureau released a statement and a timetable from 2013 to 2014, which it claims is backed up by the documentation; it says the purchase was made in accordance with Defense Ministry recommendations. (Ynet)
- Protective Edge report to be released in full - A new report on the situation which led to the ground offensive during Operation Protective Edge is set to be released by the State Comptroller soon. (Ynet)
- Groups warn of deteriorating health of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody - The PFLP said that Walid Daqqa, who has been serving a life sentence since 1986, was transferred to solitary confinement in Ramon prison on Wednesday, despite having suffered from serious health issues for years. The PFLP said the prison service was justifying it with “a flimsy excuse” in order to target the prisoner for his influential role in the prisoners’ movement. (Maan)
- Palestinian prisoner escapes from Israeli hospital - Samer Odeh, 32, was reportedly taken to the HaEmek medical center in the northern Israeli town of Afula for a checkup on Sunday morning and managed to escape the premises. (Maan)
- Hamas accuses PA security forces of targeting its members - Palestine Polytechnic University of Hebron students Jibril Abu Sbeih and Baraa Balout were detained by Palestinian security forces less than a week ago, while Amjad Salhab and Firas Jabour were detained more than two weeks ago. The movement said the four were being tortured. (Maan)
- Slipping off the sartorial noose in solidarity with presidential pacemaker - Reuven Rivlin is under doctors' orders to abstain from neckties whilst recovering from his pacemaker implantation; diplomats and visiting politicians are also going naked-necked when meeting with the president. (Yedioth/Ynet+PHOTO)
- Trump Stonewalling Only Jewish Refugee Resettlement Agency Recognized by U.S. - HIAS chief Mark Hetfield tells Haaretz that Trump's executive order is an 'international train wreck' and warns there may be no way to overturn it. (Haaretz+)
- Report: Death of Former Russian Spy Chief Linked to Dossier on Trump - Ex-KGB general Oleg Erovinkin was found dead in his car in Moscow last month. He was a close associate of a former senior Kremlin official mentioned repeatedly in dossier. (Haaretz)
Features:
Tourist Attractions in the West Bank (Where the Only Thing Missing Is Actual Tourists)
Jaded by Jerusalem? Tired of Tel Aviv? Travelers looking for something different can sign up for an organized tour of some amazing sites in Jericho, Ramallah and the Judean Desert. (Moshe Gilad, Haaretz+)
Jerusalem renewal on the way
The city of Jerusalem is 5000 years old, but an urban renewal plan expected to cost approximately a billion shekels will keep this city strong and vibrant well into the future. (Hila Tziyon, Ynet)
Israel at Risk Amid Shortage of Cybersecurity Experts
Israel has emerged as a global power in the war against hackers, but there aren’t enough people to fill the jobs on offer. (Amitai Ziv, Haaretz)
Commentary/Analysis:
Jaded by Jerusalem? Tired of Tel Aviv? Travelers looking for something different can sign up for an organized tour of some amazing sites in Jericho, Ramallah and the Judean Desert. (Moshe Gilad, Haaretz+)
Jerusalem renewal on the way
The city of Jerusalem is 5000 years old, but an urban renewal plan expected to cost approximately a billion shekels will keep this city strong and vibrant well into the future. (Hila Tziyon, Ynet)
Israel at Risk Amid Shortage of Cybersecurity Experts
Israel has emerged as a global power in the war against hackers, but there aren’t enough people to fill the jobs on offer. (Amitai Ziv, Haaretz)
Commentary/Analysis:
Plowing Into The Defenseless (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) The IDF officer asked two of his subordinates to help him help with three
settlers harassing Palestinians. He asked – big deal.
Trump’s ‘Muslim ban’ fails to address the problem (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) While the new US president’s executive order on immigration is not dramatically different from the Obama administration’s policy, it creates unnecessary humiliation and is rightly interpreted as a racist move against Muslims.
The Israeli Law to Legalize Land Theft (Haaretz Editorial) The bill to legalize settlements invites the world to conclude that Israel is a criminal state, and should therefore not be spared international sanctions.
Can Trump’s Self-quarantine Against Muslims Really Protect U.S. From Terror? (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) Suspending entry to the U.S. of citizens from seven Muslim-majority states and barring Syrian refugees indefinitely might actually push U.S. deeper into Mideast war.
The moment of truth: the moment Trump’s truthful talk turned into a big lie (Dr. Revital Amiran, Maariv) Ignorance is strength, and the President of the United States understands this very well. The role of the media, more than ever, is to pierce the veil of the distorted bubble that the government is trying to create.
Israel’s Inhumane and Stupid Bedouin Policy (Moshe Arens, Haaretz+) The government’s years of neglect – more like criminal negligence – must be followed by greater investment, less force and the creation of a better education system for the community.
Netanyahu's Party Puts the Holocaust in Perspective (Ron Cahlili, Haaretz+) Likud held a weekend bash on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. In a sense, that's a welcome change in the way an Israeli institution treats the Shoah.
What the comptroller doesn’t understand about the Security Cabinet (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth/Ynet) During Operation Protective Edge, there were at least three ministers in the cabinet who wanted to succeed Netanyahu and saw the operation as an opportunity to build themselves up at his expense. The leaks were only part of the problem. Running a military operation that way is impossible.
Arab Lawmakers, Not Collaborators (Odeh Bisharat, Haaretz+) The outline of an Arab leader that Israel is bent on fostering among you: He's a collaborator. And Arab citizens? They are expected to rise up against leaders who harm the honey-sweet relations between them and the government.
One hundred hours of destruction: the beginning of President Trump’s term degrades America (Shlomo Shamir, Maariv) In simple language, undiplomatic, and in the style of the big mouth of the President of the United States, the beginning of his tenure will be remembered as long hours of turmoil, confusion and trampling of human rights to an extent not remembered in the political history of the Republic.
Trump signals a direction (Prof. Eyal Zisser, Israel Hayom) The president's latest measures have indicated a desire to undo the paralysis that has gripped the United States on several key issues over the past decade.
Adding Insult to Injury, Trump Flirts With Classic Holocaust Denial (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) He excludes Muslim immigrants and expunges Jews from memory but the new president sees himself as 'incredibly inclusive.'
To Defeat Netanyahu, Israel's Center-left Must Unite (Tzvia Greenfield, Haaretz+) Breaking the camp into a number of small- and medium-sized groups will not get the job done.
Pseudo-liberal Jews cause great damage (Isi Leibler, Israel Hayom) Hillel the Elder said: "If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, what am I?" Yet, leftist Diaspora Jews prioritize the well-being of others over their own community.
Dawn of the Dictatorship: Trump Wastes No Time Imperiling American Democracy (Samuel G. Freedman, Haaretz) The only safe position for the opposition is to assume that every Trump gambit, no matter how seemingly spontaneous, fits a larger, nefarious purpose.
Trump’s ‘Muslim ban’ fails to address the problem (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) While the new US president’s executive order on immigration is not dramatically different from the Obama administration’s policy, it creates unnecessary humiliation and is rightly interpreted as a racist move against Muslims.
The Israeli Law to Legalize Land Theft (Haaretz Editorial) The bill to legalize settlements invites the world to conclude that Israel is a criminal state, and should therefore not be spared international sanctions.
Can Trump’s Self-quarantine Against Muslims Really Protect U.S. From Terror? (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) Suspending entry to the U.S. of citizens from seven Muslim-majority states and barring Syrian refugees indefinitely might actually push U.S. deeper into Mideast war.
The moment of truth: the moment Trump’s truthful talk turned into a big lie (Dr. Revital Amiran, Maariv) Ignorance is strength, and the President of the United States understands this very well. The role of the media, more than ever, is to pierce the veil of the distorted bubble that the government is trying to create.
Israel’s Inhumane and Stupid Bedouin Policy (Moshe Arens, Haaretz+) The government’s years of neglect – more like criminal negligence – must be followed by greater investment, less force and the creation of a better education system for the community.
Netanyahu's Party Puts the Holocaust in Perspective (Ron Cahlili, Haaretz+) Likud held a weekend bash on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. In a sense, that's a welcome change in the way an Israeli institution treats the Shoah.
What the comptroller doesn’t understand about the Security Cabinet (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth/Ynet) During Operation Protective Edge, there were at least three ministers in the cabinet who wanted to succeed Netanyahu and saw the operation as an opportunity to build themselves up at his expense. The leaks were only part of the problem. Running a military operation that way is impossible.
Arab Lawmakers, Not Collaborators (Odeh Bisharat, Haaretz+) The outline of an Arab leader that Israel is bent on fostering among you: He's a collaborator. And Arab citizens? They are expected to rise up against leaders who harm the honey-sweet relations between them and the government.
One hundred hours of destruction: the beginning of President Trump’s term degrades America (Shlomo Shamir, Maariv) In simple language, undiplomatic, and in the style of the big mouth of the President of the United States, the beginning of his tenure will be remembered as long hours of turmoil, confusion and trampling of human rights to an extent not remembered in the political history of the Republic.
Trump signals a direction (Prof. Eyal Zisser, Israel Hayom) The president's latest measures have indicated a desire to undo the paralysis that has gripped the United States on several key issues over the past decade.
Adding Insult to Injury, Trump Flirts With Classic Holocaust Denial (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) He excludes Muslim immigrants and expunges Jews from memory but the new president sees himself as 'incredibly inclusive.'
To Defeat Netanyahu, Israel's Center-left Must Unite (Tzvia Greenfield, Haaretz+) Breaking the camp into a number of small- and medium-sized groups will not get the job done.
Pseudo-liberal Jews cause great damage (Isi Leibler, Israel Hayom) Hillel the Elder said: "If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, what am I?" Yet, leftist Diaspora Jews prioritize the well-being of others over their own community.
Dawn of the Dictatorship: Trump Wastes No Time Imperiling American Democracy (Samuel G. Freedman, Haaretz) The only safe position for the opposition is to assume that every Trump gambit, no matter how seemingly spontaneous, fits a larger, nefarious purpose.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.