APN's daily news review from Israel
Wednesday July 26, 2017
Quote of the day:
"A state that maintains democracy and whose citizens have equal rights does not need, out of a lack of
self-confidence, to define itself over and over again. The Right is the most insecure when it comes to the
future of the State of Israel. You are starting a fire here that will tear this country to shreds. When I talk
about fascism, this is a classic example. When my father stood at a rally at the U.N. against the resolution
that ruled that Zionism is racism, he emphasized that the State of Israel is a country with equal rights for
all. You, with this basic law, are unwilling to establish equal rights between Jews and Arabs. You need this
paper and to play with nuances, to humiliate, to create division instead of integration."
--Opposition leader, MK Isaac Herzog, said ahead of the launch by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu of discussions by the new committee established to debate the controversial Jewish nation-state law.**
--Opposition leader, MK Isaac Herzog, said ahead of the launch by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu of discussions by the new committee established to debate the controversial Jewish nation-state law.**
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Metal detectors dismantled, but Waqf still preventing prayer at Temple Mount
- The responsibility is his // Amos Harel
- Small doubts // Amir Oren
- Ministerial Legislation Committee approved bill that will allow split off neighborhoods from Jerusalem
- Dozens of settlers barricaded themselves in the house in Hebron
- Kushner called King Abdullah at Israel’s request
- Erdogan attacked Israel; Foreign Ministry: “His words are wacky”
- Trump spoke out against Acting director of FBI and Attorney General whom he himself appointed
- Court secretary opposed testifying and the man accused of sex crimes was acquitted
- Did we give in, so what? // Chemi Shalev
- The man that created the sound of the new wave of Israeli hip-hop
- New guidelines: No salty snacks, sweets or salt in pre-schools
Yedioth Ahronoth
- After the hug (from Netanyahu), the security guard will be interrogated
- Shin Bet chief: “The decision to remove the metal detectors (from the Temple Mount) is good for security”
- Investigation - Does a network for trafficking in babies operate (in Israel)
- “Thank you, Amiri, my dear love” - Partner of singer Amir Frisher Gutman, parts from him in special ceremony at Habima
- “Suffering from pain at performances” - (Singer) Rita suing insurance company, saying her work ability has been harmed
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Anger in right-wing for removal of metal detectors: Submission to terror
- The defeat of smugness // Ben Caspit
- It’s not a matter of national pride // Meir Uziel
- Turkish President attacks Israel’s conduct again; Foreign Ministry: “His words are wacky”
- Adv. David Shimron on the submarine affair: “I’ll come out clean”
- “Thank you for letting us part” - Friends, family and fans attended funeral of (Singer) Amir Frisher Gutman
Israel Hayom
- 1 out of every 8 - is listed at the Police, even when the case was closed
- The removal of the metal detectors: A demonstration of Netanyahu’s helplessness // Mati Tuchfeld
- “Thank you, Amir” - Friends, family and fans attended funeral of (Singer) Amir Frisher Gutman
- Against BDS: Boycott law will be brought back to Knesset
- Tragedy in the south: Shaylee Kataly and her baby daughter killed in car accident
- Assessment: Investigation in the submarine scandal will be expanded soon
News Summary:
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s warm welcome of the Israeli embassy security guard who shot dead two Jordanians and the Jordanian reaction as well as the reactions of Israelis and Palestinians to the removal of metal detectors from the Temple Mount and Turkish President Tayip Erdogan’s sharp criticism of Israel, saying Israel was trying to take the Al-Aqsa Mosque from Muslims under the guise of efforts to fight terrorism (and which Israel dismissed as 'absurd, unfounded and distorted’) were top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers.
The Hebrew papers shared photos of the hug and warm meeting between Netanyahu and ‘Ziv,’ the Israeli security guard who shot and killed two people: a Jordanian carpenter, who stabbed the guard with a screwdriver, and another Jordanian, the owner of the building, Dr. Bashar Hamarneh, a highly-respected citizen with close relations to the Hashemite Kingdom and who has long rented the building to Israeli embassy staff and had good relations with them. Maariv reported that Israel will compensate the family of the Dr. Hamarneh, who was reportedly accidentally shot. Israel still finds that “the security guard was operating properly." Ziv, the guard, will be interrogated today by Israeli police. Arab MK Taleb Abu Arar (Joint List) called the guard a “murderer who murdered two people in cold blood.”
Jordan was angry and insulted by the way Israel treated the guard. Jordan's foreign minister said Israel’s treatment of the guard as a hero was ‘absurd’ and that Jordan treated the stabbing as a criminal incident and expects Israel to stop 'distorting the facts' and do the same. The Jordanian Parliament had to close the discussion on the issue after sharp arguments between Jordanian MPs over the government decision to release the Israeli guard, Maariv reported. Some Jordanians said it hurt the state’s pride. But Jordan had to release the guard, according to international law. Nevertheless, thousands of Jordanians protested at the funeral of the Jordanian teen, whom Ziv killed, with some chanting ‘death to Israel’ and “no to an Israeli embassy or ambassador on Jordanian land.”
Meanwhile, the metal detectors were removed and Maariv reported that both Israel and Jordan said there was no ‘deal’ to release the Israeli security guard in exchange for the removal. Israel said it would install ‘smart’ security cameras at the Temple Mount, but the religious Muslim authority there, the Waqf, said it opposed any technological measures and it continued to boycott the site and call on Muslim worshipers not to enter until everything returned to how it was prior to the deadly attack by three Arab Israelis, who killed two Israeli police there on July 14th. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed his support for Jerusalemite Palestinians who continued their civil protest by praying outside the Temple Mount, Maariv reported. Last night, Palestinian journalists, medics, and a 10-year-old girl were injured in violence that erupted between police and worshipers praying at Lion’s Gate outside the Temple Mount. Haaretz referred to the Palestinian worshipers’ refusal to step through the metal detectors for the whole period as an “act of civil protest” and noted that in that period four Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces and three members of an Israeli Jewish family were murdered in the West Bank by a Palestinian.
Shin Bet director Nadav Argaman said the removal of the metal detectors and cameras was important for Israel’s security and the US also applauded the decision. But 77% of Israelis saw the removal of the metal detectors as capitulation, according to a Channel 2 News poll.
Quick Hits:
- Dozens of Israeli Settlers Break Into, Reoccupy Hebron Building Evacuated in Past - Sources close to Netanyahu say the prime minister instructed the defense minister not to evacuate settlers from the building on Tuesday night. (Haaretz, Israel Hayom , Maan and Ynet)
- *MKs removed from stormy debate on contentious nation-state bill - Opposition's Tzipi Livni blasts legislation: 'The nation-state bill in its current version, without the word ‘equality,’ is a chauvinistic law that contravenes the Declaration of Independence.' (Haaretz and Maariv and Israel Hayom)
- Settler leaders lament cut budgets for security in West Bank communities - Recent cuts saw the budget for advanced security measures in the settlements slashed from NIS 320 million to only NIS 20 million; out of 150 recognized settlements, 45 are considered under significant threat, but only 25 have proper security measures installed. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- Construction of settlement for Amona evacuees halted - Government ministries fail to transfer necessary funding to build the new settlement Amichai and the works, which have been funded by the Binyamin Regional Council so far, had to be stopped; Netanyahu asks bureau chief to work to resolve the matter. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- BDS Activists (from Jewish Voice for Peace group) Prevented From Traveling to Israel Say Jerusalem Gave Airlines a Blacklist - Five Jewish members of 22-strong interfaith group were prevented from boarding Lufthansa flight in D.C., raising questions as to how Israel enforces the policy. (Haaretz+, Maan and Ynet)
- These Four Things Will Get You Barred From Entering Israel Under Its New BDS Travel Ban - After BDS activists pulled off plane to Israel, senior minister warns, 'The rules of the game have changed.’ (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
- How 'Smart' Are the New Smart Cameras Israel Wants to Install Near the Temple Mount? - According to the police, who will be using the system, not very. (Haaretz)
- High Court orders Israel Police to return bodies of Temple Mount attackers to families - Three Israeli-Arab assailants will be buried in hometown of Umm al-Fahm, but police and families still at odds over funeral arrangements, particularly how many can attend. (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
- Behind the scenes: The row at the late-night cabinet meeting: To remove security cameras too? - Ministers Bennett, Elkin argue with Netanyahu: Calm is possible even without returning to the full status quo; Shin Bet, IDF differ with police over dismantling of cameras. (Haaretz)
- Jared Kushner Called Jordanian King at Height of Embassy Crisis With Israel and Asked Him to Help - After Netanyahu failed to reach Jordan by telephone on Sunday night, the Israeli ambassador to the U.S. approached Trump's advisor and asked him to personally intervene to resolve the crisis with the Jordanian monarchy. (Haaretz+)
- WATCH: Israeli police arrest, rough up Activestills photojournalist - Journalists were standing off to the side of a mass prayer action that devolved into light clashes when police charged at them, singling out Faiz Abu Rmeleh, later beating and harassing him, he says. (+972mag)
- IDF arrests mother of Halamish terrorist on suspicion of incitement - According to the IDF, the mother of the terrorist who murdered three people in the settlement on Friday night called to attack Jews. (Haaretz+ and Israel Hayom)
- PA envoy to UN: Don't expect all Palestinians 'to be angels' - Speaking of terrorist attack in which three people were stabbed to death, Riyad Mansour says: Don't expect Palestinians not to react to ruthless Israeli occupation • But he says violence is "not necessarily the policy of the Palestinian government. (Israel Hayom)
- Israeli blinded in terror attack urges UNSC to stop PA's terrorist stipend - Oren Almog lost five members of his family, along with his eyesight, in a terror attack when he was only 10 years old; fourteen years later, he addresses the United Nations' Security Council to talk against the Palestinian Authority's payments to convicted terrorists imprisoned in Israel and their families. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- Israeli ministry official defends state's anti-gay adoption policy - Labor and Social Services Ministry director general has claimed critics of the policy “weren’t interested in studying the complexity involved in decisions about the adoption of minors.” (Haaretz+)
- Top EU Court Overrules Lower Court, Keeping Hamas on Terrorism Blacklist - The European Court of Justice finds that the lower court's 2014 ruling was based on media reports, not legal reasoning, and refers the case back. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Austrian Court Sends Palestinian Man to Jail for Life for Incitement Against Jews in Jerusalem - The six-member jury delivered its verdict after prosecutors presented evidence that the man called on others through social media to kill victims in Jerusalem. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Israeli David Grossman’s Play Opens Lincoln Center; No BDS Protesters Show Up - Not a single protester showed up at the premiere of a dramatized version of 'To the End of the Land,' leading Israel's Culture Minister Regev to declare: 'We made lemons out of lemonade.’ (Haaretz+)
Features:
"I understood that this is my country": The young people who immigrated to Israel and enlisted in the IDF
following the “Operation Protective Edge“
As a result of the operation, many young Jews from various countries around the world immigrated to Israel to contribute their part. "I felt that I had to be a partner in defending the country," said Eitan from Texas, who enlisted and became a combatant. (Maariv)
Who Is Lev Leviev, the Israeli Billionaire With Ties to Jared Kushner and Putin
Leviev is best known for having cracked the world diamond market monopoly of the De Beers cartel in the 1980s, and for real estate holdings and construction deals from Wall Street to the West Bank. (David B. Green, Haaretz)
Commentary/Analysis:
When Israel Threatens Palestinians With a New Nakba, It Threatens Itself With Extinction (Bradley Burston, Haaretz+) There is an entire enterprise of incitement which Israeli officials have failed to address or even acknowledge for decades. It is the virulent hate-talk which begins at home.
How the world missed a week of Palestinian civil disobedience (Edo Konrad, +972mag) The violence of the past week, and the media’s coverage of the bloodletting, erased a central aspect of the story: Palestinian mass civil disobedience.
Israel's Cloned Security Guards (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) The four elements you can find in every Israeli soldier, policeman and guard which allow them to shoot Palestinian children, teenagers and women bearing knives, when they don’t pose any threat.
Jordan is key to Temple Mount (Yoav Limor, Israel Hayom) The end of the embassy standoff means that Jordan and Israel have likely struck a broader understanding.
Loathing for Leftists Compels Israeli Right to Excuse Netanyahu’s Temple Mount Fiasco (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) Just as support for Trump’s appeasement of Putin proves partisan resentment overcomes long-held ideologies.
A leftist’s open letter to Roger Waters (Bernard Bohbot, Yedioth/Ynet) The goals of the movement you support are both immoral and illegal. They are immoral because BDS espouses a moral Manichaeism. They are illegal because it calls for the destruction of Israel.
In 2014, UN Schools Offered Precious Shelter for Gaza's Civilians. Then Israel Bombed Them (Marilyn Garson, Haaretz+) Israel never denied knowing the UNRWA schools it struck three years ago were civilian shelters. I know they knew, because I compiled the lists of emergency shelters sent to them.
Even in death, Palestinians have to fight for their freedom (Rami Younis, +972mag) Perhaps through this scene, of Palestinians resorting to smuggling bodies out of a morgue to prevent indignity even after death, is it possible to show Israelis and the world what the occupation really means to Palestinians.
Temple Mount Crisis Shows That Right-wing Bluster Is Ultimately Followed by Capitulation (Ravit Hecht, Haaretz+) All of Netanyahu's cabinet dwarves enthusiastically defended a policy that turned out to be dangerous, but they need to act like ministers rather than the prime minister's social media supporters.
The metal detectors are not a matter of national honor or sovereignty: Israel has succumbed to pressure (Meir Uziel, Maariv) As usual, what is less important in recent days has caught all the attention, and what is important - the murder of Israelis in their homes and the attack on the Temple Mount - has been pushed into some back corner and covered until it disappeared.
Rebranding Sinai as a Bedouin Tourism Site, Not ISIS Badlands (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) The three tribes living in central Sinai have launched the Sinai Trail, running about 200 kilometers between Nuweiba and Saint Catherine.
A crisis in the Middle East? Trump would rather play golf (Yoav Former, Yedioth/Ynet) Obama and Kerry may have pressured us, sometimes too much, but at least they showed an interest. They knew that every single spark at the Temple Mount could set the entire Middle East on fire, and they went out of their way to prevent it. Trump’s deafening silence indicates not only that he doesn’t know that, but that he doesn’t really care.
Israel's Vote Thieves (Haaretz Editorial) The amendment to the Basic Law on Jerusalem is a manipulative move through which Israel is trying to rob Arab residents their right to vote in the city's municipal elections.
The right way to reduce the pressure (Dr. Gabi Avital, Israel Hayom) If we are to resolve the Temple Mount crisis, we must admit the truth: The Halamish murders have nothing to do with the installation of metal detectors.
Israeli Druze in the Line of Fire (Salim Brik, Haaretz+) When populist MKs go up to the Temple Mount and provoke the Muslim world, they know who will pay the price: the weaker elements of society, many of whom are Druze.
Kingdom on borrowed time (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) Isn't it time for Israel to relinquish the notion that we can decide who among our neighbors wears the crown?
Israel's Tweeters of Death (Nitzan Horowitz, Haaretz+) Except for the U.S., the entire Western world got rid of the death penalty 20 years ago, but the justice and education ministers are desperate to bring it to Israel.
As a result of the operation, many young Jews from various countries around the world immigrated to Israel to contribute their part. "I felt that I had to be a partner in defending the country," said Eitan from Texas, who enlisted and became a combatant. (Maariv)
Who Is Lev Leviev, the Israeli Billionaire With Ties to Jared Kushner and Putin
Leviev is best known for having cracked the world diamond market monopoly of the De Beers cartel in the 1980s, and for real estate holdings and construction deals from Wall Street to the West Bank. (David B. Green, Haaretz)
Commentary/Analysis:
When Israel Threatens Palestinians With a New Nakba, It Threatens Itself With Extinction (Bradley Burston, Haaretz+) There is an entire enterprise of incitement which Israeli officials have failed to address or even acknowledge for decades. It is the virulent hate-talk which begins at home.
How the world missed a week of Palestinian civil disobedience (Edo Konrad, +972mag) The violence of the past week, and the media’s coverage of the bloodletting, erased a central aspect of the story: Palestinian mass civil disobedience.
Israel's Cloned Security Guards (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) The four elements you can find in every Israeli soldier, policeman and guard which allow them to shoot Palestinian children, teenagers and women bearing knives, when they don’t pose any threat.
Jordan is key to Temple Mount (Yoav Limor, Israel Hayom) The end of the embassy standoff means that Jordan and Israel have likely struck a broader understanding.
Loathing for Leftists Compels Israeli Right to Excuse Netanyahu’s Temple Mount Fiasco (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) Just as support for Trump’s appeasement of Putin proves partisan resentment overcomes long-held ideologies.
A leftist’s open letter to Roger Waters (Bernard Bohbot, Yedioth/Ynet) The goals of the movement you support are both immoral and illegal. They are immoral because BDS espouses a moral Manichaeism. They are illegal because it calls for the destruction of Israel.
In 2014, UN Schools Offered Precious Shelter for Gaza's Civilians. Then Israel Bombed Them (Marilyn Garson, Haaretz+) Israel never denied knowing the UNRWA schools it struck three years ago were civilian shelters. I know they knew, because I compiled the lists of emergency shelters sent to them.
Even in death, Palestinians have to fight for their freedom (Rami Younis, +972mag) Perhaps through this scene, of Palestinians resorting to smuggling bodies out of a morgue to prevent indignity even after death, is it possible to show Israelis and the world what the occupation really means to Palestinians.
Temple Mount Crisis Shows That Right-wing Bluster Is Ultimately Followed by Capitulation (Ravit Hecht, Haaretz+) All of Netanyahu's cabinet dwarves enthusiastically defended a policy that turned out to be dangerous, but they need to act like ministers rather than the prime minister's social media supporters.
The metal detectors are not a matter of national honor or sovereignty: Israel has succumbed to pressure (Meir Uziel, Maariv) As usual, what is less important in recent days has caught all the attention, and what is important - the murder of Israelis in their homes and the attack on the Temple Mount - has been pushed into some back corner and covered until it disappeared.
Rebranding Sinai as a Bedouin Tourism Site, Not ISIS Badlands (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) The three tribes living in central Sinai have launched the Sinai Trail, running about 200 kilometers between Nuweiba and Saint Catherine.
A crisis in the Middle East? Trump would rather play golf (Yoav Former, Yedioth/Ynet) Obama and Kerry may have pressured us, sometimes too much, but at least they showed an interest. They knew that every single spark at the Temple Mount could set the entire Middle East on fire, and they went out of their way to prevent it. Trump’s deafening silence indicates not only that he doesn’t know that, but that he doesn’t really care.
Israel's Vote Thieves (Haaretz Editorial) The amendment to the Basic Law on Jerusalem is a manipulative move through which Israel is trying to rob Arab residents their right to vote in the city's municipal elections.
The right way to reduce the pressure (Dr. Gabi Avital, Israel Hayom) If we are to resolve the Temple Mount crisis, we must admit the truth: The Halamish murders have nothing to do with the installation of metal detectors.
Israeli Druze in the Line of Fire (Salim Brik, Haaretz+) When populist MKs go up to the Temple Mount and provoke the Muslim world, they know who will pay the price: the weaker elements of society, many of whom are Druze.
Kingdom on borrowed time (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) Isn't it time for Israel to relinquish the notion that we can decide who among our neighbors wears the crown?
Israel's Tweeters of Death (Nitzan Horowitz, Haaretz+) Except for the U.S., the entire Western world got rid of the death penalty 20 years ago, but the justice and education ministers are desperate to bring it to Israel.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.