APN's daily news review from Israel
Wednesday April 26, 2017
Quote of the day:
"One of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s great 'contributions' to the Israeli discourse is turning
the definition of 'left' into a curse, an accusation and a condemnation.”
--Channel 10 chief international correspondent and Yedioth political analyst, Nadav Eyal, writes about Israel’s poisonous political discourse.*
You Must Be Kidding:
The Jerusalem Municipality plans to expropriate land in a Palestinian neighborhood in E. Jerusalem for a new visitor and information center to serve the adjacent Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives, which already has one.
“Establishing a tourist site in the heart of the historic basin of Jerusalem, adjacent to a mosque, opposite the Temple Mount, means building a kind of settlement. This project…not only increases tensions in Jerusalem and harms the delicate fabric of life there, but also threatens the prospect of reaching any compromise agreement in Jerusalem.” --Hagit Ofran coordinator of the Peace Now settlement watch team responded.**
--Channel 10 chief international correspondent and Yedioth political analyst, Nadav Eyal, writes about Israel’s poisonous political discourse.*
You Must Be Kidding:
The Jerusalem Municipality plans to expropriate land in a Palestinian neighborhood in E. Jerusalem for a new visitor and information center to serve the adjacent Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives, which already has one.
“Establishing a tourist site in the heart of the historic basin of Jerusalem, adjacent to a mosque, opposite the Temple Mount, means building a kind of settlement. This project…not only increases tensions in Jerusalem and harms the delicate fabric of life there, but also threatens the prospect of reaching any compromise agreement in Jerusalem.” --Hagit Ofran coordinator of the Peace Now settlement watch team responded.**
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Abbas increases pressure on Hamas in order to return control of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority
- A bet before Trump // Amos Harel
- Netanyahu cancelled meeting with German Foreign Minister
- North Korea held military exercise over arrival of submarine to S. Korea
- Within a decade, number of people sent to forced hospitalization by judge’s order grew by 60%
- Knesset opened expedited move to postpone (Israel Public Broadcasting) Corporation broadcasts, and in Likud they want another delay; Chairman of IPBC: Politicians intervened in professional appointments
- Woman chosen for first time to serve as Islamic judge
- After a long battle, park established on the Kishon River bank
- This confusion // Zvi Bar’el
Yedioth Ahronoth
- The emergency treatment oversight – Investigation: This is how they endanger the patients
- The German crisis
- What is he making a big deal about? // Nahum Barnea
- My first Memorial Day – families of recently fallen soldiers
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Concern in Judea and Samaria: The housing units that were allowed to be built were delayed
- The Germans ‘Broke the Silence’
- Senior IDF officer: “In the attack in Syria we destroyed missiles meant for Hezbollah; Russia is not updated about the attacks”
Israel Hayom
- “We won’t meet with whoever meets with those who slander the IDF” – Prime Minister cancelled meeting with German Foreign Minister
- The feigned innocence of the German FM // Dr. Gabi Avital
- Stop the shameful European intervention in our policies // Dror Eydar
- Prime Minister is actually strengthening the organizations which he wants to weaken // Yossi Beilin
- “A conflict with Korea will also have consequences on Israel” – said Defense Minister Lieberman
- Police Rabbi: “There will be a great desecration of the Sabbath on Mt. Miron” (on Lag B’Omer holiday)
- Senior IDF officer: “Abu Mazen is pushing Hamas into a corner, this could bring about a flare up with Israel”
News Summary:
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu canceled his meeting with German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, after which Gabriel refused to speak with Netanyahu on the phone in what the newspapers called a ‘diplomatic crisis’ making the top story of the Hebrew newspapers. (However, President Reuven Rivlin did meet with Gabriel.) Also, ahead of the meeting tomorrow between US President Donald Trump and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Abbas ramped up pressure on Hamas leaders in Gaza through economic freezes while ‘highers up’ in the Israeli government put a de facto freeze on settlement construction, according to settlers. Meanwhile, Trump was planning to cut foreign aid to numerous countries, but send more money to the Palestinian territories.
The head of a settlement in one of the settlement blocs told Maariv that "a clear order came from Jerusalem" to freeze the construction of settlement housing units that already received the green light. The assessment, writes Maariv, is that Netanyahu wants to wait until agreements are reached with the American administration before allowing construction in settlements to resume. Moreover, Haaretz+ reported that Amona evacuees accused Israeli authorities of thwarting the establishment of a new settlement for them. Nevertheless, Haaretz reported that Israel is reviving a plan for 10,000 new homes in East Jerusalem.
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu canceled his meeting with German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, after which Gabriel refused to speak with Netanyahu on the phone in what the newspapers called a ‘diplomatic crisis’ making the top story of the Hebrew newspapers. (However, President Reuven Rivlin did meet with Gabriel.) Also, ahead of the meeting tomorrow between US President Donald Trump and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Abbas ramped up pressure on Hamas leaders in Gaza through economic freezes while ‘highers up’ in the Israeli government put a de facto freeze on settlement construction, according to settlers. Meanwhile, Trump was planning to cut foreign aid to numerous countries, but send more money to the Palestinian territories.
The head of a settlement in one of the settlement blocs told Maariv that "a clear order came from Jerusalem" to freeze the construction of settlement housing units that already received the green light. The assessment, writes Maariv, is that Netanyahu wants to wait until agreements are reached with the American administration before allowing construction in settlements to resume. Moreover, Haaretz+ reported that Amona evacuees accused Israeli authorities of thwarting the establishment of a new settlement for them. Nevertheless, Haaretz reported that Israel is reviving a plan for 10,000 new homes in East Jerusalem.
Quick Hits:
- Terror stabbing attack thwarted in West Bank - The terrorist attempted to carry out a stabbing attack at Huwara near an IDF military base before being quickly shot and neutralized by IDF soldiers; no other injuries were immediately reported; attack is the second to have taken place within two days. (Ynet, Maan and Haaretz)
- Israel Destroyed Dozens of Hezbollah-bound Missiles in Last Syria Raid, Officer Says - The Israeli military sought to prevent the weapons from reaching Hezbollah, and Israel has acted ‘not once’ in similar situations, the officer added. (Haaretz and Ynet)
- **Jerusalem plans to use Palestinian land for Jewish cemetery's visitor center - Although specific plans for project have yet to be published by city hall, construction appears to have already begun. (Haaretz+)
- 9 days on, several imprisoned Palestinian hunger strikers hospitalized - Hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel have been participating in the hunger strike led by senior Fatah official Marwan Barghouthi since April 17 to protest the torture, ill treatment, and medical neglect of prisoners at the hands of Israeli authorities, as well as Israel’s widespread use of administrative detention -- internment without trial or charges. (Maan)
- Abbas Meets With Wife of Palestinian Hunger Strike Leader Marwan Barghouti - Fatah calls strike in West Bank today and for a “day of rage” on Friday in support of hunger strikers. (Haaretz)
- Jerusalem Rejects Calls to Cancel Screening of Film About Israeli Defense Industry - Culture Minister Regev claims the documentary, ‘The Lab,’ which is to be shown at the Jerusalem Cinematheque on Thursday, ‘seeks to undermine the state and its values.’ (Haaretz)
- Freed to Travel to U.S., BDS Founder Blasts 'Colonizing' Israeli Jews - At Columbia University event on Monday, Omar Barghouti says Israel has ‘dropped thin mask of democracy’ and is drunk on power in the age of Trump. (Haaretz+)
- Calls to Bar Israeli Envoy From Speaking at London University Campus - More than 100 staff at School of Oriental and African Studies call for planned speech by Mark Regev on Thursday to be canceled. (Haaretz+)
- Nearly 50 artists, public figures call on Radiohead to cancel Israel concert - No indication that Tel Aviv gig by Radiohead, scheduled for July 19, will be scrapped. (Haaretz and Israel Hayom)
- Palestinians say UK refuses request for apology over Balfour Declaration; Palestinians threaten to sue - The 1917 Balfour Declaration set path towards future Israel; Britain plans to mark declaration's centenary; Palestinians say UK rejected their demand for apology, which they regard as unjust. (Agencies, Ynet and Maan)
- Israel Bans Tour Groups From Staying in West Bank, Then Backtracks - Tour agencies are awaiting clarification, fearing such a directive would hurt Christian groups that spend the night in Bethlehem. (Haaretz)
- Do it yourself – Aziz Al-Turi, 42, a father of six from the unrecognized village of Al-Araqib, will come to the A-Genre Festival 2017 in Tel-Aviv in order to build his house for the 112th time, this time on stage in a performance called, ‘The 112th house – a political construction lesson.’ Through his construction, the story will be revealed of the unrecognized Bedouin village that was destroyed 111 times and became a symbol of the Bedouin struggle for the recognition of their rights to the lands. A joint production with Einat Weizmann with the ironic title, ‘Home Sweet Home.’ (Maariv Magazine supplement, p. 10)
- Israeli authorities demolish Bedouin village in Negev for 112th time - On Tuesday morning, “Forces of demolition and ruin" stormed the village, which is “unrecognized” by Israel, and razed its makeshift homes to the ground, said al-Araqib local committee member Aziz Sayyah. (Maan)
- 2 (Bedouin Israeli) children killed after Israeli ordnance explodes in Negev - 8-year-old Omar Ismail Abu Qweidar and his 10-year-old cousin Muhammad were killed on Tuesday evening while playing when an Israeli ordnance exploded in the tent in the unrecognized Bedouin village of al-Zarnouq in the Negev of southern Israel. (Maan and Maariv)
- Israel appoints first woman to Knesset Sharia committee - Justice Minister Shaked hails historical appointment of Han Khatib to the committee of Muslim judges dealing with family law; 'This is great news for Arab women and Arab society in general.' (Yedioth/Ynet and Haaretz)
- Public Security Minister Erdan's visit to the community of Ar'ara in the Negev was canceled - Naariv Abu Arar, head of the Arara Regional Council in the Negev, told Maariv Online that the Minister’s office promised him that the minister would apologize to the Bedouin population and visit the Abu al-Qian family to apologize to the family (for saying that their relative, whom the police killed, was a terrorist) – but then they changed their minds so the visit was unnecessary. (Maariv)
- Dorit Rabinyan reads from her blacklisted Israel-Palestinian love story 'All the Rivers' - While sales of the book have soared throughout Israel since its disqualification, Rabinyan experienced harassment and backlash for her work. (Haaretz)
- Israel to examine claims that religious content is seeping into secular school textbooks - One book that depicts a religious family positively and secular family negatively will already be amended, said the ministry. (Haaretz+)
- Footage shows police dressed as soldiers arrest attacking Haredim - In another of a series of undercover operations, police disguised as soldiers are attacked by ultra-Orthodox Jews in Beit Shemesh; other undercover policemen hidden in the crowd subdue the attackers. (Ynet)
- Jubilation following release of longest-serving female Palestinian prisoner raises ire - Lena Jarbouni, who was convicted of conspiring to carry out terrorist attacks, was released after more than a decade in prison to be met with celebrations in Arraba; the right-wing National Union party demands an investigation against the town's mayor. (Ynet)
- Terrorist involved in infamous 1987 glider attack killed in Syria - Abd al-Rahim Ahmed Atik, a senior member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine -- General Command, is reportedly killed in alleged Israeli strike northeast of Quneitraץ Atik commanded a terrorist attack that left 6 IDF soldiers dead. (Israel Hayom)
- Egyptian president: Gaza buffer zone not enough - Abdel Fattah al-Sisi tells a conference of Egyptian youth that despite the army's efforts, tunnels and terrorism from Gaza in the Sinai present an ongoing problem; 'We found tunnels that are three kilometers long and 35 meters deep. These are tunnels that can transport vehicles and not just people.' (Ynet)
- Poland may sign multibillion-dollar deal for Israel aerial defense systems - Warsaw moves towards signing a large order of the Patriot anti-ballistic system, developed by Israel and the US in response to rising security tensions in Eastern Europe. (Ynet)
Features:
How do the peace associations deal with the freezing of permits after the terror attack in Tel
Aviv?
After it turned out that the terrorist who stabbed in Tel Aviv was staying in Israel with a permit to participate in a tour to promote peace, the NGOs are facing a significant obstacle: "Someone used our good will to achieve bad will.” (Sigal Ben David, Maariv Magazine supplement)
Commentary/Analysis:
Netanyahu's Spat With Germany Shows Israel Won’t Be Treated as a Regular Democracy (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) Netanyahu's anger is understandable. Rarely do foreign leaders meet with representatives of NGOs of functioning democracies, like the German FM did. But Israel is not regular.
Netanyahu’s constant search for enemies is beyond pathetic (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth/Ynet) B’Tselem and Breaking the Silence's activity abroad may be wrong, but it is legal. By preventing foreign guests from meeting with these organizations, the prime minister is doing exactly what they have been criticized for—he is getting foreigners involved in the internal Israeli debate.
With Ultimatum to German FM, Netanyahu Gives World a Simple Choice (Ravit Hecht, Haaretz+) The choice Netanyahu has given the world and above all Israelis is simple: maintaining control of the territories, probably through an apartheid regime, or accepting an Israel in its 1967 borders
*Israel’s poisonous political discourse (Nadav Eyal, Yedioth/Ynet) One of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s great ‘contributions’ to the Israeli discourse is turning the definition of ‘left’ into a curse, an accusation and a condemnation and turning any legitimate argument into an identity conflict.
Abbas-Hamas Power Struggle Ahead of Trump Meeting Pushes Gazans to the Brink (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Israel is watching closely as Abbas attempts to strong-arm Hamas into symbolic Palestinian unity ahead of his Washington visit next week
Netanyahu Is Harming Israel (Haaretz Editorial) Unlike the prime minister, the rights groups he seeks to silence are fulfilling Zionism's precepts heroically
The German foreign minister spat in the face of Israel, the prime minister was one hundred percent correct (Meir Uziel, Maariv) Binyamin Netanyahu acted correctly when he canceled his meeting with Zigmar Gabriel, who decided to hurt him and the Israelis. The minister's meeting with the left-wing organizations signifies giving them support and solidarity.
The Israeli Tango (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) The army and police’s failure to prevent settler attacks, as happened last weekend, isn’t a surprise. They’re in cahoots.
Bereavement, Bow Your Head (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) Bereaved parents last week forgot that national bereavement is a state asset, a strategic item, a fundamental part of hope and security, and that they have no right to ask questions
A broken reed backrest: Trump can not be trusted, by right or left (Uri Savir, Maariv) The two-state solution will be affected by the American president's public relations, and therefore his policy will remain unpredictable. Just as opponents of the two-state solution idea could not trust him, neither can its supporters.
Netanyahu’s War on Whistleblowers Damns the IDF and the Occupation (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) Even those who broke the silence on horrid crimes such as the My Lai Massacre were first vilified as traitors
'Oslo' is no more than a show (Zalman Shoval, Israel Hayom) History, not New York theater critics, will ultimately decide whether secret meetings were the best approach to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Get Over It, Mr. Adelson: Jerusalem's U.S. Embassy Isn't Happening (Asher Schechter, Haaretz+) Three reasons why relocation of the embassy would create a giant mess for all concerned and will probably never happen.
The discourse surrounding the integration of women into the army shows that Israel is going backwards in terms of gender equality (Bella Abrahams, Maariv) The renewed controversy over the integration of female soldiers into combat roles attests to the extent to which we are still far from gender equality. The solution lies in the state, the employers and the women themselves.
Did Putin Urge Assad To Fire Missiles At Israel? (Amos Harel, Haaretz) And is Netanyahu being dragged into another Gaza war?
After it turned out that the terrorist who stabbed in Tel Aviv was staying in Israel with a permit to participate in a tour to promote peace, the NGOs are facing a significant obstacle: "Someone used our good will to achieve bad will.” (Sigal Ben David, Maariv Magazine supplement)
Commentary/Analysis:
Netanyahu's Spat With Germany Shows Israel Won’t Be Treated as a Regular Democracy (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) Netanyahu's anger is understandable. Rarely do foreign leaders meet with representatives of NGOs of functioning democracies, like the German FM did. But Israel is not regular.
Netanyahu’s constant search for enemies is beyond pathetic (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth/Ynet) B’Tselem and Breaking the Silence's activity abroad may be wrong, but it is legal. By preventing foreign guests from meeting with these organizations, the prime minister is doing exactly what they have been criticized for—he is getting foreigners involved in the internal Israeli debate.
With Ultimatum to German FM, Netanyahu Gives World a Simple Choice (Ravit Hecht, Haaretz+) The choice Netanyahu has given the world and above all Israelis is simple: maintaining control of the territories, probably through an apartheid regime, or accepting an Israel in its 1967 borders
*Israel’s poisonous political discourse (Nadav Eyal, Yedioth/Ynet) One of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s great ‘contributions’ to the Israeli discourse is turning the definition of ‘left’ into a curse, an accusation and a condemnation and turning any legitimate argument into an identity conflict.
Abbas-Hamas Power Struggle Ahead of Trump Meeting Pushes Gazans to the Brink (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Israel is watching closely as Abbas attempts to strong-arm Hamas into symbolic Palestinian unity ahead of his Washington visit next week
Netanyahu Is Harming Israel (Haaretz Editorial) Unlike the prime minister, the rights groups he seeks to silence are fulfilling Zionism's precepts heroically
The German foreign minister spat in the face of Israel, the prime minister was one hundred percent correct (Meir Uziel, Maariv) Binyamin Netanyahu acted correctly when he canceled his meeting with Zigmar Gabriel, who decided to hurt him and the Israelis. The minister's meeting with the left-wing organizations signifies giving them support and solidarity.
The Israeli Tango (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) The army and police’s failure to prevent settler attacks, as happened last weekend, isn’t a surprise. They’re in cahoots.
Bereavement, Bow Your Head (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) Bereaved parents last week forgot that national bereavement is a state asset, a strategic item, a fundamental part of hope and security, and that they have no right to ask questions
A broken reed backrest: Trump can not be trusted, by right or left (Uri Savir, Maariv) The two-state solution will be affected by the American president's public relations, and therefore his policy will remain unpredictable. Just as opponents of the two-state solution idea could not trust him, neither can its supporters.
Netanyahu’s War on Whistleblowers Damns the IDF and the Occupation (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) Even those who broke the silence on horrid crimes such as the My Lai Massacre were first vilified as traitors
'Oslo' is no more than a show (Zalman Shoval, Israel Hayom) History, not New York theater critics, will ultimately decide whether secret meetings were the best approach to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Get Over It, Mr. Adelson: Jerusalem's U.S. Embassy Isn't Happening (Asher Schechter, Haaretz+) Three reasons why relocation of the embassy would create a giant mess for all concerned and will probably never happen.
The discourse surrounding the integration of women into the army shows that Israel is going backwards in terms of gender equality (Bella Abrahams, Maariv) The renewed controversy over the integration of female soldiers into combat roles attests to the extent to which we are still far from gender equality. The solution lies in the state, the employers and the women themselves.
Did Putin Urge Assad To Fire Missiles At Israel? (Amos Harel, Haaretz) And is Netanyahu being dragged into another Gaza war?
Interviews:
ICRC official: Israel is not an apartheid state
Jacques De Maio, who heads the International Committee of the Red Cross delegation to Israel and the PA, asserts: 'There is no IDF order to shoot suspects to kill, as political officials tried to convince us'; he also rejects claims of apartheid: 'There isn't a regime here that is based on the superiority of one race over another; there is no disenfranchisement of basic human rights based on so-called racial inferiority.' (Interviewed by Sever Plocker in Yedioth/Ynet)
ICRC official: Israel is not an apartheid state
Jacques De Maio, who heads the International Committee of the Red Cross delegation to Israel and the PA, asserts: 'There is no IDF order to shoot suspects to kill, as political officials tried to convince us'; he also rejects claims of apartheid: 'There isn't a regime here that is based on the superiority of one race over another; there is no disenfranchisement of basic human rights based on so-called racial inferiority.' (Interviewed by Sever Plocker in Yedioth/Ynet)
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.