APN's daily news review from Israel
Wednesday June 7, 2017
Quote of the day:
"In Netanya, they would not close the entrance to the city. They treat us as second-class
citizens."
--Resident of Arab-Israeli city of Kafr Qassem reacts to the police closure of the city after riots during which a Jewish security guard shot in the face a local, killing him.*
--Resident of Arab-Israeli city of Kafr Qassem reacts to the police closure of the city after riots during which a Jewish security guard shot in the face a local, killing him.*
Breaking News:
ISIS Claims First Attack in Iran: 12 Dead in Shootings, Suicide Bombings on Parliament, Khomeini Shrine
All four parliament attackers have been killed. Deputy interior minister says terrorists disguised themselves in women's clothing. One of Khomeini mausoleum attackers detonated suicide belt.Twin attacks at Iranian parliament, Khomeini mausoleum. (Ynet and Haaretz)
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Riots in Kafr Qassem: Security guard shot dead a youth
- Police left an empty place and militias took their place // Yaniv Kubovich
- Despite Corbyn, Jews of Britain are in no rush to abandon the Labor party // Anshel Pfeffer
- If the Arab public and the police don’t change their attitude, the continuation is likely to come // Jack Khoury
- Man convicted of indecent act was hired as teacher and arrested again on suspicion that he hurt schoolgirls
- Bank Hapoalim thwarting the debt arrangement with Fishman: Calls for bankruptcy proceedings and realization of assets
- NSA: Russian army tried to break into US voting system ahead of the elections
- Israeli analyst of Israel Hayom, Dan Margalit: I was fired because I criticized Netanyahu
- That’s not peace // Chemi Shalev
- In Nazareth, I created a record company – Anan Qasis wants to promote Palestinian indie-music
- Natan Donovich, founder of Haaretz’s ‘Musaf’ supplement, died
- The Likud is Beiteinu ('our home,' but also refers to part of the name of Yisrael Beiteinu party) // Liza Rozonovsky
- Deri got scared and missed the rare opportunity to design the Gush Dan metropolis
Yedioth Ahronoth
- “The teacher hugged and kissed us at the end of class” – How did a pedophile succeed in becoming a teacher for 2nd grade
- Enormous construction plan in the Territories: Come live in “East Gush Dan”
- Crisis of trust – Following the riots in Kafr Qassem that took the life of Mohammed Taha, 25, the winds in the village continued to be stormy. Thousands took part in his funeral. Today: general strike in all Arab communities
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Oversight: Pedophile in elementary school
- High alert in Kafr Qassem
- Dan Margalit: I was fired for political reasons
- The convoy is racing // Ben Caspit
- The defense system blew up // Meir Uziel
- National Book week is calling you
Israel Hayom
- Israeli-American ultimatum against the deceiving UN institution - The threat: Group abandonment of Human Rights Council
- 1 out of 5 youth admits: At least once, I became unconscious from drinking alcohol
- The nightmare of every parent: “How does a pedophile teach in a school?”
- “It was like a lynch” – Said the police at the end of the riots in Kafr Qassem
- Stormy debate about (tycoon) Fishman in Knesset: Officially: All the banks oppose the debt settlement
- Protest on the right: “Don’t give a prize to Ahinoam Nini”
- Saudi Arabia: “One of the conditions for reconciliation with Qatar – ending support for Hamas”
News Summary:
High tension after a Jewish security guard killed an Arab youth in riots with police in Arab city of Kafr Qassem, fear after a convicted pedophile was hired at elementary school and molested second-grade schoolgirls, and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s announcements of continued settlement expansion were top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers. Almost no mention was made of the young Palestinian shot dead by Israeli soldiers during clashes along the southern Gaza border.
Also in the news, the latest on the Qatar crisis with Saudi Arabia saying that Qatar had to cut relations with Hamas in order to mend the rift and revelations that Russians hacked the Qatar government website and inserted fake news, which sparked the whole rift with other Arab countries. Read more at ‘Qatar Crisis Quick Hits.'
*Israel Hayom’s front page expressed the fear of the security guard who shot in the face and killed a young Arab-Israeli who, with many others, was attempting to free a local in their city from being arrested by police. The man being arrested was the head of the local civil guard of Kafr Qassem that was trying to preserve law and order in place of the police, which had not been doing the job, Haaretz explained. Unlike Israel Hayom, Maariv gave the headlines to the victim’s side, interviewing his father who said the police killed his son in cold blood. Thousands attended Mohammed Taha’s funeral, calling him a martyr. Maariv also interviewed Arab MK Esawi Freij, who said, "There is chaos in the community, the police participated in another murder." The whole Arab sector of Israel declared a general strike for today. Freij also wrote an Op-Ed, which was published in Maariv. (See Commentary below.) The police put the city of Kafr Qassem under curfew. Maariv interviewed one local who said, "In Netanya they would not close the entrance to the city. They treat us as second-class citizens." Other residents said: “The problem is not with the Jews, but with the police.” The lawyer of the security guard said his client 'didn't shoot to kill…It was a pogrom, the guard has no choice but to open fire.,
At the Knesset ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of Six-Day War, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Israel would always keep security control over the West Bank
and would never return the Golan Heights and that he would strengthen the settlement enterprise. His comments came as the Minister of Housing and Construction proposed a plan for 67,000 apartments in the West Bank to combat high prices in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area. And an Israeli panel approved a West Bank settlement plan, making Amichai officially the first new Israeli settlement since 1999. Palestinians reacted angrily to the reports.
U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged Israelis and the Palestinian Authority to resume peace negotiations, calling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict "a driver of violent extremism and terrorism" from the region and said it "imposed a heavy humanitarian and development burden on the Palestinian people."
Meanwhile, Israel is spearheading a threat of a mass exodus from the UN Human Rights Council, Israel Hayom reported. US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley gave the UN Human Rights Council formal notice that the Trump administration is reviewing its participation in the forum.
High tension after a Jewish security guard killed an Arab youth in riots with police in Arab city of Kafr Qassem, fear after a convicted pedophile was hired at elementary school and molested second-grade schoolgirls, and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s announcements of continued settlement expansion were top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers. Almost no mention was made of the young Palestinian shot dead by Israeli soldiers during clashes along the southern Gaza border.
Also in the news, the latest on the Qatar crisis with Saudi Arabia saying that Qatar had to cut relations with Hamas in order to mend the rift and revelations that Russians hacked the Qatar government website and inserted fake news, which sparked the whole rift with other Arab countries. Read more at ‘Qatar Crisis Quick Hits.'
*Israel Hayom’s front page expressed the fear of the security guard who shot in the face and killed a young Arab-Israeli who, with many others, was attempting to free a local in their city from being arrested by police. The man being arrested was the head of the local civil guard of Kafr Qassem that was trying to preserve law and order in place of the police, which had not been doing the job, Haaretz explained. Unlike Israel Hayom, Maariv gave the headlines to the victim’s side, interviewing his father who said the police killed his son in cold blood. Thousands attended Mohammed Taha’s funeral, calling him a martyr. Maariv also interviewed Arab MK Esawi Freij, who said, "There is chaos in the community, the police participated in another murder." The whole Arab sector of Israel declared a general strike for today. Freij also wrote an Op-Ed, which was published in Maariv. (See Commentary below.) The police put the city of Kafr Qassem under curfew. Maariv interviewed one local who said, "In Netanya they would not close the entrance to the city. They treat us as second-class citizens." Other residents said: “The problem is not with the Jews, but with the police.” The lawyer of the security guard said his client 'didn't shoot to kill…It was a pogrom, the guard has no choice but to open fire.,
At the Knesset ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of Six-Day War, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Israel would always keep security control over the West Bank
and would never return the Golan Heights and that he would strengthen the settlement enterprise. His comments came as the Minister of Housing and Construction proposed a plan for 67,000 apartments in the West Bank to combat high prices in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area. And an Israeli panel approved a West Bank settlement plan, making Amichai officially the first new Israeli settlement since 1999. Palestinians reacted angrily to the reports.
U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged Israelis and the Palestinian Authority to resume peace negotiations, calling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict "a driver of violent extremism and terrorism" from the region and said it "imposed a heavy humanitarian and development burden on the Palestinian people."
Meanwhile, Israel is spearheading a threat of a mass exodus from the UN Human Rights Council, Israel Hayom reported. US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley gave the UN Human Rights Council formal notice that the Trump administration is reviewing its participation in the forum.
Quick Hits:
- Israel's AG Stalls Establishment of New Settlement for Amona Evacuees - Some settler leaders claim that low building project figures for West Bank show that a de facto construction freeze is in force. (Haaretz+)
- Israeli Justice Minister: All Legislation Must Mention Settlements - 'We have waited 50 years and it is time to change our approach,' says another minister. (Haaretz+)
- Israeli minister rails at IDF for failing to cite 'liberation' of Jerusalem in events - Army adheres to government guidelines to mark 50 years since 'unification' of city, without mentioning 'liberation'; Miri Regev calls army's adherence to government guidelines "a disgrace.” (Haaretz+)
- Israeli Cabinet Minister Lashes Out at 'Unruly' Bedouin Citizens - Minister Yoav Galant warns against Negev Bedouin achieving territorial contiguity with West Bank Palestinians, urges continued settling of south Hebron Hills. (Haaretz+)
- Israel Defends Decision to Comply With Russian Ban of Adoption by Same-sex Couples - LGBT task force calls Israeli move 'surrender to homophobic thuggery of Russian government.' (Haaretz+)
- Report: Significant decline in French immigration to Israel - CBS data indicate that in 2016 there was a 7% drop in the number of immigrants to Israel compared to 2015; the largest drop was among immigrants from France (36%); the country that provided the most immigrants—Russia. (Ynet)
- Businesses that refuse to serve soldiers to face hefty fines - Bars and eateries have sparked public outcry by refusing to serve soldiers and reservists • MK Robert Ilatov: People in uniform deserve to be honored • Im Tirtzu CEO Matan Peleg: It's inconceivable that people in uniform are denied entry to public places. (Israel Hayom)
- Roger Waters Responds to Radiohead’s Thom Yorke Over BDS Criticism - Pink Floyd guitarist said he made 'every effort' to engage personally with Radiohead before co-writing an open letter urging the band to boycott Israel. (Haaretz)
- Sears and Walmart website offers platform for sale of 'Free Palestine' shirts - The website of the U.S. retailer that has been better known for its sale of appliances, also has Israeli flags and Israeli flag magnets for sale. (Haaretz and Ynet)
- After Second Car-ramming, London Adopts Israeli-style Security Measures - Like many terror-attack techniques adopted by Islamist groups in Europe, the 'low-tech' method of using a car to mow people down was pioneered in Israel. (Haaretz+)
- U.S. Launches Airstrike on Pro-government Forces in Syria - The coalition's presence in Tanf, on the Damascus-Baghdad highway, meant to stop Iran-backed groups from opening an overland route between Iraq and Syria. (Haaretz)
- Award-winning singer brings message of hope to Birthright - Singer-songwriter Yael Deckelbaum relates her evolution from upcoming celebrity to peace activist • At the height of professional success, Deckelbaum realizes she "wasn't going to join the 27 Club" and finds deeper meaning in building bridges for peace. (Israel Hayom)
Qatar Crisis Quick
Hits:
- Hamas 'shocked' by Saudi demand to Qatar to cut ties - The Islamic terror group reacts with surprise to calls from Saudi Arabia for Qatar to halt Hamas support; Hamas warns that 'Israel exploits these statements to carry out more violations against the Palestinian people.' (Agencies, Ynet)Qatar Says Ready for Mediation to Ease Crisis With Arab Nations - Saudi Arabia cut its diplomatic ties with Qatar, along with Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, who accuse Qatar of supporting terrorism. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Trump: Qatar Rift Hopefully the Beginning of the End of the Horrors of Terrorism - Saudi Arabia cut its diplomatic ties with Qatar, along with Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, who accuse Qatar of supporting terrorism. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- WATCH: Saudi Ban Pushes Qatar Flights to Africa Through Europe - The crisis in the Gulf: Qatari flights to North Africa and southern Europe are now much longer, adding travel misery and fuel costs. Israelis know what it's like: They also have to circumvent the Arab Peninsula. (Haaretz+)
- UAE Threatens 15-year Jail Term for Anyone Showing Sympathy Toward Qatar - People who object to the Emirates' position on the issue – including on social media – would also be affected, local news outlets report. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Qatar Crisis With ex-Sunni Allies Began Two Decades Ago Over Gas and Iran - Qatar's wealth from gas has allowed the small country to create relationships with other world and regional powers that have angered its Arab neighbors. (Haaretz)
Features:
The Immigrants Fueling the Population Growth of West Bank Settlements
'We’ve already stopped counting the numbers, but in some, they are almost half the population,' Knesset speaker tells settler activists. (Judy Maltz, Haaretz)
I'm Sorry, BDS My Dear, but You're Up for Elimination: RuPaul's Drag Queens Come to Tel Aviv
Sharon Needles and Jinkx Monsoon are in Tel Aviv to take part in the LGBT film festival, despite calls to boycott the event. They talk about Trump's incitement, Kathy Griffin's freedom of speech and reveal their favorite to win season 9 of RuPaul's Drag Race. (Avshalom Halutz, Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
Israel's Arab Citizens Have a Right to Protection (Haaretz Editorial) It seems that the police refuse to recognize that the Arabs of Israel are citizens of the state and that it is their right to receive police services and protection just like any other citizens.
Democratatorship of force: We are the ones responsible for our bleeding routine (Yitzhak Ben-Ner, Maariv) 50 years after the Six-Day War, the State of Israel is strong in security and deterrence on the outside, but weak from within. Although they try to convince us otherwise, responsibility for our failures rests with us… For 50 years, Israeli governments have failed to bring us closer to peace, to daring and creative thinking outside the box, to castrate extremism from within and without, and to reach a regional settlement. Our rulers for a decade have managed to frighten and convince the majority of the people that our destiny is determined in Heaven and not in our actions and omissions; that there is no deterrent advantage to a strong state like ours in a peace process and in the separation of peoples; that it an arrogant ideological-belief based occupation that is reciprocated with terror, war and bloodshed is preferable over creating a continuous status quo of the Sun-Jerusalem-Dome (peace)…
For the sake of security, the police must act with the residents of Kafr Qassem, not against them (MK Esawi Frej, Maariv) Muhammad Taha's death must be investigated by a state commission of inquiry. It is inconceivable that instead of fighting crime in the community, the police will act against those who protect civilians in their absence.
Whether Against ultra-Orthodox or Arabs, Police Violence Must Stop (Israel Cohen, Haaretz+) Arabs and Jews, right and left, need to band together to protest police efforts to stifle freedom of expression.
Trump effect rocking the Middle East (Alex Fishman, Yedioth/Ynet) Even before the US president set foot in Saudi Arabia, different countries in the region were required to pay ‘earnest money’ to be able to join the Sunni bloc against Iran and ISIS. One of the demands was that all Sunni Arab states—particularly Qatar—would wash their hands off Hamas.
As Qatar Crisis Backs Hamas Into a Corner, Israel Fears Another Round of Violence in Gaza (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) The severe rift between Saudi Arabia and Qatar could have consequences in another arena closer to Israel
A Trojan horse in the Sunni camp (Oded Granot, Israel Hayom) The Qataris realized too late that playing both ends against the middle would make them outcasts among the moderate Sunni states.
Netanyahu’s Blueprint for a Palestinian Bantustan (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) How can the prime minister be considered a peacemaker if he never bothers to talk to Palestinians?
Will the dismissal of (Israel Hayom commentator) Dan Margalit shatter the envelope of defense over what is happening in the newspaper? (Meir Uziel, Maariv) No one disputes the journalistic integrity of the veteran commentator who was fired from Israel today. His departure is regrettable whether it is for reasons of silencing or downsizing.
Hiring More Arabs Won't Solve Israel's Police Problems (Jack Khoury, Haaretz+) The police need to change their policy and treat Arabs as citizens with full rights, not just as a security threat.
Jordan’s anti-Israel rhetoric on the rise (Media Line, Ynet) Fifty years after the Six-Day War 23 years after the peace treaty, the Jewish state and Hashemite kingdom's relations are not at their best; Jordanians oppose 'normalization.'
In the teachings of Herzl and Ahad Ha'am, the material did not outweigh morality (Dr. Revital Amiran, Maariv) In the vision of the two thinkers, territorial expansion at the expense of the rights of another people are not necessary or appropriate. The two strongly opposed continued Israeli control of the Territories and the denial of the rights of the Palestinian people. Israel has distanced itself from the original Zionist ideas.
What Israel Gained - and Lost - by Unifying Jerusalem (Uzi Benziman, Haaretz+) Fear has driven Israel’s behavior in Jerusalem since 1967; from a city formerly associated with majesty and holiness, it has morphed into an alienated real estate project.
Terror is human, not technological (Hagar Buhbut, Yedioth/Ynet) Recruiting terrorists through YouTube videos, the UK government opposing end-to-end security applications and Facebook, which seeks to become a 'hostile environment' for terrorists; again, the accusations are misplaced, redefining the term 'technophobia.'
Germany Is Repaying Its post-Holocaust Debts to Israel - but Not to the Palestinians (Daniel Barenboim, Haaretz) Europe, whose anti-Semitism led to the Holocaust, also has a moral and historical obligations towards the Palestinians, who still suffer its consequences.
Qatar will fold in the end (Orit Perlov, Israel Hayom) Only two weeks have passed since the announcement of the establishment of an Arab alliance against Iran and the Islamic State, and already the bubble of unity has burst.
The original sin: the dogs are kicked, the convoy races, and everything passes in absolute silence (Ben Caspit, Maariv) Dan Margalit's criticism of the royal [Netanyahu] family in Balfour sentenced him, but his joining the freebie newspaper Israel Hayom (to begin with) pretends will forever be remembered to his disgrace.
Terror Attacks in Europe Drive NATO Closer to Israel (Amir Oren, Haaretz+) Ties with the military alliance have become tighter thanks to the reconciliation between Israel and Turkey and NATO's thirst for terror-fighting strategies.
The Left's Abbas problem (Jonathan S. Tobin, Israel Hayom) Opponents of the Netanyahu government are making a big mistake when they downplay the Palestinian leader's incitement and payments to terrorists.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.