APN's daily news review from Israel

Sunday February 12, 2017
 

Quote of the Day #1:

“There is no question here. The government of Israel is simply not allowed to apply the laws of the Knesset on territories that are not under the state’s sovereignty...If it does so, it is a legal cacophony. It will cause Israel to be seen as an apartheid state, which it is not."
--Israeli President Reuven Rivlin expressed opposition to Israel's expropriation law.*
  "I will not let them exploit me."
--Star NFL football player Michael Bennett wrote in a Tweet with a photo of Martin Luther King and announced he was canceling his participation in a trip to Israel meant to make him an ambassador of good will for Israel.**

---

Front Page:

Haaretz

Yedioth Ahronoth

Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)

Israel Hayom

News Summary:
Intense right-wing pressure ahead of the Wednesday meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, the possible appointment of MK Tzipi Livni as ‘under secretary general’ of the UN in exchange for the US withdrawing its block of former Palestinian premier, Salaam Fayad receiving the job of Special Envoy to Libya and the latest revelations in Case 1000, about gifts the Netanyahu family received from billionaires made today’s top stories in the Hebrew newspapers.

Netanyahu flies tomorrow with his wife (and son, Yair!) to the US and ahead of his meeting with Trump, and has been holding intense consultations in his bureau, with the National Security Council, the Foreign Ministry and the security establishment about what messages he needs to give the US President. Education Minister and Habayit Hayehudi chief, Naftali Bennet, already threatened that if Netanyahu accepts a two-state solution the ‘earth will shake.’ Today he speaks with his cabinet after which he will formulate the ‘National Israeli Interest,’ which he will present to Trump. Yedioth’s Itamar Eichner wrote that Netanyahu will seek to lower American expectations for peace on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and that the Israeli government is not enthusiastic about talks on a regional initiative by the moderate Arab nations. On Iran, Netanyahu won’t ask to cancel the nuclear agreement with Tehran, but will urge Trump to impose additional sanctions. Israel also opposes any Iranian presence in Syria.
 
Meanwhile, US officials met with the Palestinian Intel chief and reassured him regarding the settlements and a possible Jerusalem embassy move, Palestinian sources told Haaretz+. The Palestinian government believes that pressure by Arab leaders, such as Jordanian King Abdullah II and Saudi King Salaman, have had some effect on how the Trump administration views the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Yedioth reported that the decision over the embassy move was put off till May.
 
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is considering appointing Tzipi Livni to a senior role in return for the US withdrawing its objection to the appointment of former Palestinian Prime Minister Salaam Fayad as the UN's special envoy to Libya. The US reportedly had agreed to Fayyad for the UN job before abruptly vetoing the appointment, much to the pleasure of Israel’s UN ambassador, Danny Danon. Former senior Obama and Bush officials said the Trump administration's bid to shoot down ex-Palestinian premier's UN nomination is ignorant and even contrary to Israeli interests. The PLO also slammed the US block of Fayyad. One PLO member said, “It defies logic that the most qualified candidate is blocked because it is perceived as detrimental to Israel.” The Palestinian Authority made no comment about it.
  
The latest in Case 1000 is that Sara Netanyahu testified to Police that her husband the Prime Minister did not know about all the wine (champagne) she was receiving from their mutual friends. Commentators assume this is Mr. Netanyahu’s line of defense: that he didn’t know about the gifts. Maariv’s Ben Caspit wrote a biting piece about Mr. Netanyahu not knowing about all the corruption cases around him. (See Commentary below.) Netanyahu will be questioned again in the case and will be confronted with the collected investigation materials. Maariv wrote that the police intend to recommend indicting Netanyahu in Case 1000. Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said that if indicted, Netanyahu should not resign. Meanwhile, Israel Police are reportedly also investigating Netanyahu's ties to billionaire Poju Zabludowicz to see if he. Too, gave any gifts to Netanyahu.
 

Quick Hits:

---

Features:

'State of Jenin': A Palestinian refugee camp raided by Israeli troops night after night
After a soldier was wounded in Jenin, the IDF intensified its nighttime raids there. 
And when the Israelis don’t enter this West Bank refugee camp, the Palestinian security forces do. (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) 
Arab residents of east Jerusalem cite patterns of discrimination
Home demolitions in Arab neighborhoods have reportedly increased; mayor's office counters only structures built without permission are demolished, and most applications from Arab neighborhoods are approved. (Ynet)
How Hollywood mogul Arnon Milchan uses his Benjamins to influence Israeli politics - The Israeli-born billionaire has been close to politicians in Israel for years, but he doesn’t throw presents around – except of course the cigars and champagne demanded by the prime minister. (Shuki Sadeh and Hagai Amit, Haaretz+) 
A day with wounded Syrian kids hospitalized in Israel
Dozens of children, who were raised on the belief that Israel is as bad as Satan, are receiving life-saving treatments at the Ziv Medical Center in Safed after escaping the pain and suffering of the civil war in Syria. ‘I was afraid to come to Israel because I was afraid of the Jews, but now I’m not afraid at all,’ says a 10-year-old boy whose hands were saved by Israeli doctors. (Ariela Ayalon, Yedioth/Ynet) 
From Sleepovers to Speaking Fees: NYT Profile Reveals Netanyahu's Close Ties to the Kushners
Netanyahu's relationship with Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner goes way back. His father featured alongside Adelson and Ron Lauder on a list of potential donors Netanyahu compiled in 2007. (Allison Kaplan Sommer, Haaretz) 
Palestinians who want Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria (the West Bank): "This is the way to peace"
The Regulation (expropriation) law is only the right-wing’s appetizer towards full annexation. But it turns out that this move has more supporters, who are much more surprising. (Sarah Beck, Maariv) 
'In the Tunnel': Two Israelis and One Palestinian Stuck in an Existential Limbo
How depressing to discover that satire in Israel is timeless, as the Gesher Theater production of ‘In the Tunnel’ makes clear. (Michael Handelzalts, Haaretz+) 
 
Commentary/Analysis:
Pro-peace American Jews Must Impose Sanctions on the Israeli Government (Steven Klein, Haaretz+) Liberal Diaspora Jews have, sometimes unknowingly, financed Israel’s addiction to settlement creep. If you care about Israel's future, intervene now. Cut off the cash. 
The final word has not been said (Mati Tuchfeld, Israel Hayom) The Knesset may have passed the regulation law, but the general assumption is that the High Court will repeal it • This prospect has given way to a slew of initiatives to curb the judiciary, as lawmakers seem to want to put the court back in its place. 
The Right Fears Netanyahu Meeting With Trump (Israel Harel, Haaretz+) Before his trip to the U.S. Netanyahu will have to announce that new West Bank settlements will be built, not just in the blocs, if he truly has such intentions. 
Enough of intimidating: Israeli society needs leadership that also gives hope (Alon Ben-David, Maariv) There is no sign of an imminent confrontation with Gaza, unless we decide to bring one on. Perhaps Minister Naftali Bennett is proud that if we get into an unnecessary confrontation with Hamas, this time there will be more who finished top level in mathematics among the dozens of fallen soldiers. [Bennett is pushing for students to study five units math levels. – OH]
When You Occupy, It Hurts (Iris Leal, Haaretz+) The moral health of society depends on its ability to identify the basic humanity in others, even its enemies. That’s why the settler community has an incurable illness. 
Facing new challenges (Maj. Gen. (ret.) Yaakov Amidror, Israel Hayom) The new U.S. administration is far more sympathetic to Israel than its predecessor, but we must avoid taking steps from which there is no return • The Middle East is not Washington's sole focus and Israel must preserve the bipartisan support it enjoys 
Mr. Piggy (B. Michael, Haaretz+) Even if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu isn’t indicted for receiving gifts, his actions show him to be completely unfit to serve in public office. 
If Netanyahu Can Accept Gifts From a Friend (Guy Rolnik, Haaretz+) This is gang war, in which each camp sees corruption only when political rivals are doing it. 
A Thin Line: Did Israelis pull the rope too thin? (Yossi Melman, Maariv) The assessment is that Hamas and Israel do not want another round of fighting in the south. Also: The original proposal of one former CIA agent to establish a canal around the Gaza Strip. 
How far will American Jews go to resist Trump? (Rabbi Jeremy Kalmanofsky, Haaretz) We 19 rabbis didn't suffer beyond sore wrists from the plastic tie handcuffs. But in our arrest we affirmed we'll stand with Syrian refugees even when it hurts, as we wish Americans had stood with Jews fleeing Hitler. 
Imagine Netanyahu arrested in London (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) And Defense Minister Lieberman extradited from Minsk; settlers' Minister Bennett quivering in federal prison; army generals not getting off the plane in France.
A small detail in a long process (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) The controversial regulation law is just foam on the much deeper water of our lives in our historic homeland. Thinking that concessions will solve our problems is a dangerous mistake, and our return will be complete only when we take the long view. 
Israel's Masters of War Set Their Sights on Gaza – Again (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) Gaza cries out, but the warmongers don't listen. For them, the Strip is just an opportunity to advance their careers.
Will Trump back Israel in the next war? (Ruthie Blum, Israel Hayom) Recent tensions indicate another war is on the horizon, either with Hamas or Hezbollah. Israel is hoping the Trump administration will prove a steadfast friend.
The Law Is Us (Carolina Landsmann, Haaretz+) We, the people, are as corrupt as Bibi, phony like Lapid, populist like Regev, fascist like Shaked, racist like Smotrich. 
"Greater Israel": Netanyahu does not need tips on what to say for the good of the people (Meir Uziel, Maariv) After dealing with the police investigators, a less difficult event awaits the Prime Minister: meeting with Trump. This will be a conversation with a President who loves Israel, who is understanding and moral in international issues. A meeting that every Israeli wishes will end well. Oh yes, there are in Israel contradicting definitions regarding the question of what is a good ending.
The Real Housing Crisis in Israel Is in Its Arab Towns (Hagai Amit, Haaretz) Little available land, not enough builders, a low-rise housing culture and red tape are among the culprits. 
In Trump's America, Whiffs of the Reichstag Fire (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) In their upcoming meeting, grandmaster Netanyahu can teach the new president how terror can advance personal and political aims. 
In Jerusalem We Were Palestinians. In the U.S. We've Become Muslims (Sayed Kashua, Haaretz+) What's my daughter doing going to a mosque all of a sudden? What are we – Muslims? Oh right...
He did not know: Will Netanyahu's defense line last? (Ben Caspit, Maariv) With the case of the gifts (to Netanyahu) is so plump, juicy and laden with goodies, and when the submarine affair is close to being a criminal investigation, it is doubtful whether the Prime Minister defense line will hold water. But perhaps eliminating the Public Broadcasting Corporation engaged him too much… Meanwhile, he replaced the defense minister, so that the submarines affair will pass more smoothly, without knowing anything. And then he did not know that suddenly they wanted to buy anti-submarine ships, too, even though we need anti-submarine ships around like Milchan needed to buy Sara all that champagne. And afterward it turned out that there is also a plan to relocate the maintenance of submarines from the Navy's hands into the hands of the Germans, because it is very logical to transfer the country's most important strategic weapon into foreign hands… And meanwhile, they increased the size of the patrol boats and made them more expensive, so that (Israeli tycoon) Yitzhak Tshuva can sleep well at night over the gas rigs, and the Germans will get more money, and friends who are celebrating their commissions would benefit from something. And all this happens in the same neighborhood of Caesarea, between the villa of (Miki) Ganor [the representative of the German company building the submarines – OH] and the villa of (Avriel) Bar-Yosef [whom police detained for questioning on suspicion of taking bribes, money laundering, fraud and breach of trust – OH] and the villa of (David) Shimron [Netanyahu’s personal lawyer – OH], but Bibi (Netanyahu) did not know any of this, because he just sat in the villa of Edri, in front of his house, and drank espresso and smoked a cigar in one of the working sessions he holds regularly, while we are funding his villa, which is forbidden to enter without a strict disinfection process, that is, you just don’t enter...
From Outposts to The Hague: The Illegality of Israel’s Land-grab Law (Aeyal Gross, Haaretz+) Right-wing politicians pushed a Knesset law to legalize illegal West Bank outposts. They might have triggered the International Criminal Court to question the legality of every single Israeli settlement. 
The Israeli Right Voted for Trump but Got Obama (Barak Ravid, Haaretz+) Minister Naftali Bennett wants America's president to ditch the the two-state solution. But like his predecessors, Trump has placed the Israeli-Palestinian peace process high on his agenda.
Is the Lebanese scar guiding Israel’s operations in Gaza? (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Twenty years later, a reserve brigade commander believes Israel’s great helicopter disaster hastened the exit from Lebanon in 2000. Fear of soldiers dying is also paralyzing leaders today.
6 Reasons Why Israeli UN Envoy's Glee at Blow to Salam Fayyad Is Simply Dumb (Barak Ravid, Haaretz+) Danny Danon took Hamas' side by opposing ex-Palestinian prime minister's appointment as the head of the UN mission to Libya. 
Radical and Rational in Fierce Battle Royale for Trump’s Soul - and Presidency (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) Amid the madness and mayhem there are also signs of levelheadedness, but not enough to justify hopes of a happy ending. 
Palestinians Freed in Shalit Deal Running the Show for Next Prisoner Swap (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) A key figure is Yahya Sanwar, the new strongman of Hamas' military wing who speaks in apocalyptic terms about perpetual war with Israel.
 

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