APN's daily news review from Israel
Thursday May 18, 2017
Quote of the day:
“We are sitting here with two populations, one of them endowed with all the civil rights and the other
denied all rights. This is a picture of two classes of citizens that is hard to defend, even in the special
context of Jewish history. The world will side with a liberation movement of that one and a half million
surrounded by several tens of millions.”
--Then Israeli foreign minister Abba Eban told government ministers on June 14, 1967, a week after conquering the Palestinian Territories.*
--Then Israeli foreign minister Abba Eban told government ministers on June 14, 1967, a week after conquering the Palestinian Territories.*
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Trump asked to close the investigation into his advisor’s relations with Russia
- Watergate, second version // Chemi Shalev
- Senior White House official: Trump decided not to transfer the embassy to Jerusalem now
- Israel holding talks with US about transfer of information to Russians
- With a lack of financial support from the state, shelters for abused women are scavenging for donations in order not to collapse
- Settlers are suspected of chasing after a Palestinian who threw stones and shooting him in his back
- Number of experiments on animals in Israel rose by 50% within a year
- The ministers’ discussions in ’67: “Holding the Arabs without rights – that’s an illusion”
- (Culture Minister) Regev appeared at Cannes in a dress with a drawing of Jerusalem’s Old City
- Suspicion of corruption // Haaretz Editorial
- Jerusalem monster // Gideon Levy
Yedioth Ahronoth
- The war that changed the country – Document: “The West Bank and the Gaza Strip are more than a million Arabs…Maybe that will bring (us) damage” – From cabinet session on 6, June 1967
- Trump is getting into more trouble
- It was crazy – 50,000 at Aerosmith performance in Tel-Aviv
- Miri of gold - Culture Minister Miri Regev stole the show at the Cannes Film Festival, when she appeared on the red carpet in a dress with a drawing of Jerusalem’s Old City
- Special: Tzur Shezaf on a trip in Sinai in search of the lost paradise
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- (Trump is) getting into more trouble
- Siren of calm // Yossi Melman
- Learn lessons // Gen. (res.) Eliezer (Cheney) Merom
- In Likud, preparing for the visit of the US President: Central Committee will meet to discuss annexation of Judea and Samaria
- Miri’s show – Culture Minister again makes waves (in Jerusalem dress)
- Almost a tragedy – Combat soldier seriously wounded in parachuting accident
- The protest gets stronger – Elderly will hold a demonstration in the afternoon, the handicapped in the evening
- The archives reveal: 50 years since the Six Day War
Israel Hayom
- Trump: I will reaffirm the alliance with Israel
- Ahead of the President’s visit: Israel will make financial gestures for the Palestinians
- The intel cooperation will not be harmed // Yoav Limor
- The mystery of the decoration of a hero of Israel at the flea market
- The millionaires’ patrol – to battle the robberies in their neighborhood
- Soldier in Meglan unit seriously wounded in parachuting accident; IDF: Apparently a human mistake
- Getting cooler: 8% drop in purchases of new homes
- Iranians will decide tomorrow: Another term for Rouhani – or the mandate for Raisi, the conservative
News Summary:
US President Donald Trump’s leak to Russia about ISIS and whether it would harm Israel, the protocols from the 1967 war that show that some Israeli ministers realized that occupying another people could be problematic, and Israel's Culture Minister made a statement about who Jerusalem's Old City belongs to by wearing a dress with a picture of it to the Cannes Film Festival were today’s top stories. Also in the news, former Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said that he blocked the submarine deal that is under investigation for corruption and that the deal was only renewed after he left.
Only days before Trump’s arrival in Israel and following the report that the intel that Trump leaked came from Israel, Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman maintained that Israel's military ties to the US “are deep, significant and unprecedented. That is how it was and that is how it will remain.” But Haaretz+ reported that top Israeli and US officials were meeting to figure out the Trump leak. Oddly, Trump called Netanyahu after the leak was revealed, but didn’t talk about the leak and neither the White House nor Israel mentioned its existence.
Israel is planning to grant a package of benefits to the Palestinians, ahead of President Trump's visit and Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon met secretly in Jerusalem with his Palestinian counterpart Shukri Bishara to discuss the details. (Also Maariv) Ahead of Trump's trip and in the wake of what two newspapers called Trump’s troubles, Trump reaffirmed the US’ 'unbreakable alliance with the Jewish state.' Nevertheless, a US official said Trump shelved the plan to move the US embassy to Jerusalem, so as not to harm the peace process he hopes to reignite - and that comes despite prominent US figures, such as Evangelical pastor John Hagee, urging him to do move it. Moreover, the White House rebuffed the settler Yesha council request to meet Trump, Israel Hayom reported. And after US officials said the Western Wall was not a part of Israel, the US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, broke ranks and said it was. Trump will visit the wall, but no Israeli leaders will join him, adviser says. Ynet reported that Trump's travel team was giving the Israelis a logistical headache.
Quick Hits:
- Israeli Settler Shoots Stone-throwers in West Bank, Palestinian Wounded, Army Says - Shooting on West Bank's main Hwy 60 leaves Palestinian moderately wounded; army say Palestinians threw stones at Israeli cars. Two settlers detained. (Haaretz and Ynet)
- Police Arrest Israelis Suspected of Forging West Bank Deeds to Steal Land - The suspects from the (Arab-Israeli) towns of Tira and Jaljulya aimed to sell the land to other Israelis, the police say. (Haaretz+)
- Some hunger-striking prisoners under closer medical watch - Dozens transferred to special prison wings for medical supervision. Palestinians in West Bank protest in solidarity. Three security prisoners petition High Court over "uncomfortable" prisoner transport vehicles, demand padded seats, air conditioning. (Israel Hayom)
- Circumcision held for terror victim's son at scene of attack - Family of Abraham Asher Hasno, who was murdered in a vehicular attack in October 2015, returned to Fuer Junction near Hebron to welcome grandson Netzah Asher Yaakov to the Jewish nation. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- An ultra-Orthodox young man arrested on suspicion of burning the Israeli flag on Lag B'Omer - The police located three ultra-Orthodox men suspected of burning an Israeli flag in the Mea Shearim bonfire, into which effigies of IDF soldiers were thrown as well; a 21-year-old was arrested, a teen was detained for questioning and an 11-year-old boy was questioned. (Ynet)
- Convicted terrorist elected Mayor of Hebron - Taysir Abu Sneineh is elected mayor of the largest Palestinian city within the Palestinian Authority; in first statements, pledges to work with Israeli authorities, but expresses no remorse for past acts. (Ynet)
- Judge rebukes prosecutor for calling Azaria a 'liar' - Zvi Segal reprimands chief prosecutor Weissman during third hearing in Elor Azaria's appeal of his prison sentence for calling the appellant a 'liar'; 'It is out of place. It bothers Other words can be used.’ Weissman responds by accusing Azaria of ‘changing his version five times.’ (Ynet)
- Watch: new Israeli naval launcher: '8 concomitant rockets to a range of 150 kilometers' - The Stingray, a new rocket launcher by Israel Military Industries, can operate from drilling rigs and battleships and ignores terrain conditions to allow maximum accuracy. (Ynet)
- PA president demands apology from Britain on Nakba anniversary - Marking Nakba Day in India, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas says the "catastrophe" of 1948 is a "continually intensifying historic injustice" that began with Britain's 1917 Balfour Declaration favoring a national home for Jews in Palestine. (Israel Hayom)
- Swedish gov't agency blocks Israeli amb. and Foreign Min. Twitter accounts - Accounts blocked by the Swedish Institute in addition to another 14,000 for extremist, racist, inciting, and homophobic sentiments; Twitter accounts of Iran and Saudi Arabia left open. (Ynet)
- Arab Bank settlement over terrorist attacks hits snag in court - New York appeals court judges say they may not have the authority to rule in case holding Jordan-based bank liable for facilitating terrorist attacks in Israel • Bank's lawyer: If court declines to rule, settlement could fall apart. (Israel Hayom)
- US court urged to relax convicted Israeli spy's parole conditions - A lawyer for Jonathan Pollard, a former US Navy intelligence officer who served 30 years in prison after being convicted of spying for Israel, urges a US appeals court to loosen his parole conditions. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Former Senator Lieberman Shortlisted for FBI Chief Position - Joseph Lieberman campaigned for Trump's opponent, Hillary Clinton, during the election campaign. (Haaretz+)
- Iran's top leader urges high turnout in presidential vote - Iran's supreme leader called for a high turnout in this week's presidential election, urging voters to head to the polls and send a message to the United States as 'the pathetic prime minister of the Zionist regime' will be closely watching the vote. (Agencies, Ynet)
Features:
Israeli General Moshe Dayan, Beyond the Eye Patch
An exhibition about the Dayans shows a family that shifted direction toward the world of art, and which in today’s Israel no longer embodies nationalist yearnings. (Tal Niv, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
An exhibition about the Dayans shows a family that shifted direction toward the world of art, and which in today’s Israel no longer embodies nationalist yearnings. (Tal Niv, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
From Day One: Israel Preoccupied With Occupation (Ofer Aderet, Haaretz+) Some cabinet ministers were prophetic, others, like Moshe Dayan, were in the
grip of euphoria
The Israeli Right's Love Affair With Trump Goes From Ecstasy to Agony (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) On the eve of his historic visit, the Russian intelligence scandal proves the president’s problematic personality will burn Israel too
Israel cannot ignore damage caused by Trump’s Russia leak (Alex Fishman, Yedioth/Ynet) Leaking information that belongs to other countries is a betrayal of trust. The Americans went wild with the Pollard affair and never forgave Israel for selling technological information to China. What the US president is doing is as serious as that.
Saudi Proposal Could Be the Stuff of Trump’s Dream Deal in Mideast (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) Arab media's silence following reports of Gulf States' plans for normalization with Israel suggests solid foundations. Its timing arises from the common interests of Arab leaders and Israel's right wing
Much ado about nothing (Prof. Abraham Ben-Zvi, Israel Hayom) The U.S. president's sharing of classified intelligence with the Russians will hardly compromise the intelligence infrastructure maintained by the U.S. and its allies, and this incident must not be blown out of proportion.
Israel’s Hands Are Tied - No Matter What Intel Trump Leaks (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) But reports of the supposed damage of the U.S. president’s comments could be disinformation, meant to reduce the real harm of his words.
The Costliest Mistake in Israel’s History (Avi Bar-Eli, Haaretz) In a report this week, the State Comptroller puts the excess cost Israelis are paying for natural gas from the offshore Tamar field at as much as $2.3 billion over 17 years.
Freedom of speech and the march of radicalization (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) Voicing irritating opinions is legitimate, but when the stars of the Israeli discourse are the followers of such terrorists as Samir Kuntar and Baruch Goldstein, this slippery slope must be stopped. Sometimes, silencing is the proper thing to do.
'Nobody Has More Respect for Israeli Intel Than Me. Their Spy THANKED Me!' (Terry Heyman, Haaretz) Imagining Donald Trump live Tweeting 'The best US Presidential trip to Israel since Andrew Jackson' (#FakeNews).
Daylight With Israel: Will Trump's Jewish Supporters - and Donors - Finally Jump Ship? (Jonathan S. Tobin, Haaretz+) Russia, Flynn, Comey: Those scandals don’t make Jewish Republicans and mega-donors flinch. But Trump’s broken promises and cavalier behavior towards Israel is a deal breaker.
Trump is a friend, and will remain one (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) Some delusional Israeli politicians fail to grasp that even the most powerful man in the world is saddled with limitations.
Even Trump Admits It: The Western Wall Is Occupied Territory (Zaha Hassan, Haaretz+) As Trump’s visit looms, Netanyahu is sucked into a battle of symbols and gesturing over Jerusalem, but Palestinians want.
The silence of the establishment against the riots by Maccabi Tel Aviv fans is frightening (Nurit Canetti, Maariv) As with many other things, society is losing compassion, tolerance, and the ability to see the Other. And those responsible for stopping the process - stayed home.
Rabbi Sacks, Why Are You Cheerleading for anti-Palestinian Provocateurs? (Anna Roiser, Haaretz) As a key modern Orthodox leader, think again about joining Jerusalem Day marchers who scream ‘Death to Arabs’, promoting one of the most contentious of all Israeli settlements, and the consequences for Diaspora Jews.
Trump may pay if he is perceived by his constituents as boycotting Jewish Jerusalem (Meir Uziel, Maariv) News of the president's refusal to be photographed at the Western Wall because it is "disputed territory" may indicate a turning point in his attitude towards the capital. If that is the case, he will have an account with tens of millions who voted for him.
Investigate Minister Ariel (Haaretz Editorial) Ariel’s actions raise suspicions of fraud, breach of trust and corruption. The attorney general cannot ignore this.
The Jerusalem Obsession (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) Of all of Israel’s whims, this is the craziest of all. A country trying look secular, Western and modern is going nuts over a wall.
A step in the right direction (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom)
It is the American public that should be pressuring the president to fulfill his campaign promise to move the embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
The Wall, the Embassy and Now the Intel: What Else Can Go Wrong Ahead of Trump's Israel Visit? (Allison Kaplan Sommer, Haaretz+) Trump administration's flip flops, stumbles, and sins could present an opportunity for Netanyahu in his time of need.
http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.789683
Time of decision: the drama that took place behind the scenes of the Six-Day War (Yossi Melman, Maariv) The debate over the future of the West Bank, the agreement that in exchange for peace treaties Israel could return the Sinai to Egypt and the Golan Heights to Syria, and the surprising decision to annex Gaza. 50 years since the war.
http://www.maariv.co.il/news/military/Article-584893
Why Are Secular Israelis Blind to the Dangers of the Nation-state Bill? (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) Of all people, the ultra-Orthodox are the ones opposing the bill – partly because it grants the courts the authority to determine what Jewish tradition is.
http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-1.789818
The Israeli Right's Love Affair With Trump Goes From Ecstasy to Agony (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) On the eve of his historic visit, the Russian intelligence scandal proves the president’s problematic personality will burn Israel too
Israel cannot ignore damage caused by Trump’s Russia leak (Alex Fishman, Yedioth/Ynet) Leaking information that belongs to other countries is a betrayal of trust. The Americans went wild with the Pollard affair and never forgave Israel for selling technological information to China. What the US president is doing is as serious as that.
Saudi Proposal Could Be the Stuff of Trump’s Dream Deal in Mideast (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) Arab media's silence following reports of Gulf States' plans for normalization with Israel suggests solid foundations. Its timing arises from the common interests of Arab leaders and Israel's right wing
Much ado about nothing (Prof. Abraham Ben-Zvi, Israel Hayom) The U.S. president's sharing of classified intelligence with the Russians will hardly compromise the intelligence infrastructure maintained by the U.S. and its allies, and this incident must not be blown out of proportion.
Israel’s Hands Are Tied - No Matter What Intel Trump Leaks (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) But reports of the supposed damage of the U.S. president’s comments could be disinformation, meant to reduce the real harm of his words.
The Costliest Mistake in Israel’s History (Avi Bar-Eli, Haaretz) In a report this week, the State Comptroller puts the excess cost Israelis are paying for natural gas from the offshore Tamar field at as much as $2.3 billion over 17 years.
Freedom of speech and the march of radicalization (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) Voicing irritating opinions is legitimate, but when the stars of the Israeli discourse are the followers of such terrorists as Samir Kuntar and Baruch Goldstein, this slippery slope must be stopped. Sometimes, silencing is the proper thing to do.
'Nobody Has More Respect for Israeli Intel Than Me. Their Spy THANKED Me!' (Terry Heyman, Haaretz) Imagining Donald Trump live Tweeting 'The best US Presidential trip to Israel since Andrew Jackson' (#FakeNews).
Daylight With Israel: Will Trump's Jewish Supporters - and Donors - Finally Jump Ship? (Jonathan S. Tobin, Haaretz+) Russia, Flynn, Comey: Those scandals don’t make Jewish Republicans and mega-donors flinch. But Trump’s broken promises and cavalier behavior towards Israel is a deal breaker.
Trump is a friend, and will remain one (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) Some delusional Israeli politicians fail to grasp that even the most powerful man in the world is saddled with limitations.
Even Trump Admits It: The Western Wall Is Occupied Territory (Zaha Hassan, Haaretz+) As Trump’s visit looms, Netanyahu is sucked into a battle of symbols and gesturing over Jerusalem, but Palestinians want.
The silence of the establishment against the riots by Maccabi Tel Aviv fans is frightening (Nurit Canetti, Maariv) As with many other things, society is losing compassion, tolerance, and the ability to see the Other. And those responsible for stopping the process - stayed home.
Rabbi Sacks, Why Are You Cheerleading for anti-Palestinian Provocateurs? (Anna Roiser, Haaretz) As a key modern Orthodox leader, think again about joining Jerusalem Day marchers who scream ‘Death to Arabs’, promoting one of the most contentious of all Israeli settlements, and the consequences for Diaspora Jews.
Trump may pay if he is perceived by his constituents as boycotting Jewish Jerusalem (Meir Uziel, Maariv) News of the president's refusal to be photographed at the Western Wall because it is "disputed territory" may indicate a turning point in his attitude towards the capital. If that is the case, he will have an account with tens of millions who voted for him.
Investigate Minister Ariel (Haaretz Editorial) Ariel’s actions raise suspicions of fraud, breach of trust and corruption. The attorney general cannot ignore this.
The Jerusalem Obsession (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) Of all of Israel’s whims, this is the craziest of all. A country trying look secular, Western and modern is going nuts over a wall.
A step in the right direction (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom)
It is the American public that should be pressuring the president to fulfill his campaign promise to move the embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
The Wall, the Embassy and Now the Intel: What Else Can Go Wrong Ahead of Trump's Israel Visit? (Allison Kaplan Sommer, Haaretz+) Trump administration's flip flops, stumbles, and sins could present an opportunity for Netanyahu in his time of need.
http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.789683
Time of decision: the drama that took place behind the scenes of the Six-Day War (Yossi Melman, Maariv) The debate over the future of the West Bank, the agreement that in exchange for peace treaties Israel could return the Sinai to Egypt and the Golan Heights to Syria, and the surprising decision to annex Gaza. 50 years since the war.
http://www.maariv.co.il/news/military/Article-584893
Why Are Secular Israelis Blind to the Dangers of the Nation-state Bill? (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) Of all people, the ultra-Orthodox are the ones opposing the bill – partly because it grants the courts the authority to determine what Jewish tradition is.
http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-1.789818
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.