News Nosh 9.5.17

by APN 09/05/17
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APN's daily news review from Israel
Tuesday September 5, 2017
 
Quote of the day:
"Israel Hayom newspaper was set up to serve Netanyahu, so when he called the editor to dictate the headlines, he certainly did not think there was anything wrong with that. The newspaper was at his disposal.”
—Former minister of justice Meir Sheetrit, who was in the Likud for 32 years, tells Maariv after Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's phone calls logs were revealed and juxtaposed with headlines.**

You Must Be Kidding: 
Jawad Ali Katosh had ignited a field of dried thorns near his home in the West Bank village of Battir. After being detained, questioned on suspicion of arson and released, he was not questioned again, let alone charged with anything. Yet Israel hasn't reinstated his permit to work in Israel and now he has difficulty supporting his four children.*

Front Page:
Haaretz
Yedioth Ahronoth
  • Submarines affair branches out: Minister Steinitz expected to testify; Former minister in detention
  • Expose: Mossad follows the footsteps of Dr. Mengele // Ronen Bergman (Hebrew)
  • Israeli start-up of Mercedes
  • 20 years since the Shayetet (Navy seals) disaster - Sister of Navy SEAL fighter Itamar Eliah tells about life alongside the loss
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
Israel Hayom
  • Submarines affair branches out: Attorney General approved getting testimony from (Minister) Steinitz - (Former minister) Sandberg and the advisor of Steinitz are suspected of bribery
  • Probe of the books reveals: It isn’t religionization
  • Shameful: High school students filmed video clip inspired by ISIS
  • Her honor: Today - Esther Hayut expected to be appointed chief justice
  • Revolution in Army Radio: Station will move to Jerusalem, singers who are conscientious objectors - won’t be heard

News Summary:
Today’s top stories in the Hebrew newspapers were the submarines corruption affair, which branched out with police arresting more people on suspicion of bribery over the purchase of submarines and warships from Germany and the largest military drill in 20 years, which begins today - simulating war with Hezbollah - in a show of force against the organization, which got the backing of Russia in the UN Security Council, the latter successfully demanding that references to Hezbollah’s violations be removed from the text of a resolution to renew the mandate of the UN peacekeeping forces (UNIFIL) in southern Lebanon, much to Israel’s chagrin.

Eliezer (Moodi) Sandberg, a former cabinet minister and presently the Chairman of Keren Hayesod, the official fundraising organization for Israel in most of the world, was arrested Monday on suspicion of bribery in the submarines corruption affair, as was the advisor of Minister Yuval Steinitz, the latter who is a key ally of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. Steinitz is expected to be called to give testimony on the affair. An unnamed former commander of Israel’s ‘Shayetet’ (Navy SEALS) was also arrested in the affair.

*Meanwhile, Channel 10 investigative journalist Raviv Drucker continued to expose the timing of the talks between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Noni Mozes, the publisher of Yedioth Ahronoth, in November 2014, which when juxtaposed with the phone calls Netanyahu held with Sheldon Adelson, the publisher of the daily freebie, ‘Israel Hayom,’ and the headlines in Yedioth, attest to the possibility that Netanyahu tried to "realize the deal” with Mozes in which Netanayhu limits the rival newspaper, ‘Israel Hayom,’ in exchange for tempered coverage in Yedioth, also known as Case 2000. (Maariv) Haaretz has an excellent explainer by Judy Maltz of all the scandals involving Netanyahu, and where they stand.
 
Quick Hits:
  • Palestinian Shot in Clashes With IDF Near Bethlehem Dies of Wounds - According to Palestinian Prisoners Administration, Raed A-Salhi, 21, was shot by live fire near Bethlehem last month. (Haaretz and Maan)
  • Israel transfers body of slain Palestinian between Israeli hospitals - Raed al-Salhi’s body was transferred from  Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem to the Rishon Lezion hospital in central Israel after he was pronounced dead on Sunday. Al-Salhi was held in intensive care following a predawn military raid on Aug. 9, when Israeli forces shot him several times in his chest at close range, puncturing his liver and causing severe damage to his internal organs. (Maan)
  • Fatah demands action against Israeli order expanding settler municipal powers in Hebron - According to Israeli NGO Peace Now, the Israeli army announced last Thursday that the military order was signed to establish a municipal services administration for Hebron's notoriously aggressive Israeli settlers. Peace Now said that “by granting an official status to the Hebron settlers, the Israeli government is formalizing the apartheid system in the city.” (Maan)
  • Israel's High Court freezes removal of settlers who broke into Hebron building - After petitioning the court over a building embroiled in an ownership dispute, the settlers are allowed to stay in the building until a ruling is made. (Haaretz and Maan)
  • Israeli forces raid E. Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah, threaten 7 Palestinian homes with eviction - Israeli authorities gave six eviction notices to three families, whose 6 homes house about 30 people. Meanwhile, Israeli police forces raided Shamasna family home, telling to voluntarily leave their home by Sept. 9, despite Israeli court decision to suspend their eviction due to legal challenges. (Maan)
  • **Israel Denies Work Permit to Innocent Palestinian 'Arsonist' Months After Freeing Him - Jawad Ali Katosh was initially arrested during 2016 rash of fires while burning weeds on his farm; he hasn’t been questioned since but case still open. (Haaaretz+)
  • Israeli authorities deny that settlers set up mobile homes near Nablus - Ghassan Daghlas, who monitors settlement activities in the northern West Bank, said that the structures were set up only a few meters away from the site where Israeli authorities plan to build the illegal Amihai settlement, Israel’s first new official settlement to be established in the occupied West Bank in 25 years. (Maan)
  • Settler organization asked IDF to destroy (Palestinian) balcony used to throw stones - Following stone throwing incident at Jewish worshipers returning from Cave of the Patriarchs, legal aid organization Honenu demands IDF destroy balcony from which stones were supposedly thrown. (Yedioth/Ynet)
  • In Rare Move, Israeli Military Court Voids Restraining Order Against Right-wing Activist - This is the second time an administrative order against a Jew being is overturned by the court in the last decade. (Haaretz)
  • Wife of Jailed Palestinian Leader Barghouti Says Barred From Prison Visits Until 2019 - Israel Prison Service confirms Fadwa Barghouti was barred from visiting for 'security reasons' as a consequence of the hunger strike held earlier this year. (Haaretz and Israel Hayom)
  • Attorney General to indict Israel's 'bad boy' lawmaker for assaulting mayor of hometown - Likud's Oren Hazan charged with pushing, cursing, threatening mayor of Ariel settlement over family restaurant’s unpaid municipal tax bill. (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
  • Religious fanatic indicted for threats, extortion and planned arson against [left-wing and Reform Jews] - A resident of Bnei Brak is accused of buying gasoline in order to set fire to the offices of the Breaking the Silence organization, threatening heads of atheist organizations, sending threatening letters to the Reform community and spraying graffiti on their homes. (Ynet)
  • The malicious ‘news item’: "Abu Hassan's employees were arrested after they cooked hummus in the toilet" - A satirical Facebook page published the fake post in the guise of a newspaper news item, called it a "first publication" and even produced a fabricated response from the restaurant. The director of the restaurant: "I went into shock, people asked if there was any truth in it.” (Maariv)
  • New Civil Service Commissioner to be appointed: mother of a secretary in the Prime Minister's Office - After three months without a permanent commissioner, Netanyahu is expected to appoint Ofra Bracha, who serves as director of the Interior Ministry. If the appointment is approved, it will be the first time a woman has been in office. There was criticism in the commission over Netanyahu's conduct and claims that Bracha did not have the skills required for the job. (Calcalist Hebrew and Yedioth Hebrew, p. 14)
  • Ministers allocate NIS 60M for Amona evacuees' new community - Residents of Migron outpost demonstrate outside PM's office, demanding he approve plan to start building permanent settlement • Residents of disputed Hebron house petition High Court to remain, claiming racism • PM promises increased disability benefits. (Israel Hayom)
  • Israel Admits: We're Incapable of Forcing Out All 40,000 Asylum Seekers - Interior Minister Dery slams Supreme Court for setting limits on detention for those who refuse to leave. (Haaretz)
  • 'Foreign entities give millions to groups aiding infiltrators in Israel' - Report by right-wing group says that between 2012 and 2017, European governments and U.N. agencies gave some $13 million to Israeli groups helping illegal migrants • New Israel Fund: Figures distorted, Israel must protect refugees without discrimination. (Israel Hayom)
  • State to regulate 3 Druze holy sites in northern Israel - Golan Heights tombs of venerated figures to see major renovations to accommodate growing number of pilgrims • Plan, devised by Druze leadership and zoning officials, to improve access roads and add more facilities. "This is a milestone," official says. (Israel Hayom)
  • Jerusalem real estate war between Israel and Orthodox churches escalate - Catholic, Ethiopian, Greek Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Lutheran, Syrian and other churches in Jerusalem protest what they see as a major change to the status quo. (Haaretz)
  • Israel pledges $1 million aid to Houston's flood-devastated Jewish community - 'For years the Jewish communities stood by Israel when it needed their help; now it is our turn to stand by Houston's Jewish community,' Diaspora Minister Naftali Bennett says. (Haaretz)
  • Israel's water sources at new low - Decreased rainfall in the north during winter leads to unprecedented negative August water level records, with a decrease in the Kinneret's and Dead Sea's water levels. (Yedioth/Ynet)
  • Trump's visa crackdown could have 'drastic impact' on Jewish summer camps - U.S. administration’s plan to cut foreign participation in work-exchange programs could bar Israeli counselors and deal a blow to Jewish summer camps across the U.S. (Haaretz+)
  • Israel condemns North Korea's nuclear test, calls for 'decisive international reaction' - Israeli foreign ministry urges North Korea to comply with Security Council resolutions and refrain from "developing weapons of mass destruction.” (Haaretz)
  • Israelite refugees found high office in Kingdom of Judah, seals found in Jerusalem show - Archaeologists believe illustrative impressions were used to seal deals during the First Temple period, lending credence to the theory that Jerusalem was administrative capital of Judean kingdom. (Haaretz and Israel Hayom)
  • Israeli illustrator hired by Norway's Prime Minister - Amit Shimoni, who became famous for painting iconic leaders as colorful hipsters, is hired by the Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg for her reelection campaign. (Yedioth/Ynet)
  • Palestinian security forces arrest prominent Palestinian Activist Over Facebook Post Slamming PA Crackdown on Journalists - Issa Amro, a Hebron-based social activist and the founder of Youth Against the Settlements, earlier criticized Palestinian security forces for arresting a journalist who called for Mahmoud Abbas to resign. (Haaretz+ and Maan)
  • 'The technology I learned here will impact my entire life' - Some 1,200 students from Africa and Asia graduate unique Israeli agricultural program that promotes food security • AgroStudies apprenticeship, now in its 13th year, is considered a central element of Israel's international aid efforts. (Israel Hayom)
  • London festival aims to introduce Israeli culture to British audience - Some 20,000 people are expected to attend music festival organized by Strategic Affairs Ministry, London Jewish community, British businessman Marc Worth • Festival is the biggest Israeli cultural event to be held abroad, says Minister Gilad Erdan. (Israel Hayom)
  • UC Irvine puts pro-Palestinian activists on probation for disrupting Israeli event - Students for Justice in Palestine activists put on disciplinary probation for two academic years after showing up at speaking event with IDF reservists, chanting slogans advocating the destruction of Israel, and swearing at Israeli delegation members; SJP appeals sanctions by university. (Yedioth/Ynet)
  • Major Canadian union joins BDS - Unifor National, Canada's largest private union, adopts proposal to boycott Israel; union states that 'sectors of Israel’s economy and society profit from the ongoing occupation of the OPT (occupied Palestinian territories),' adding that 'Unifor will support such a form of BDS until such time as Israel implements a permanent ban on further settlement construction in the OPT.' (Yedioth/Ynet)
  • Moscow to fund Egypt's first nuclear power plant - Following almost two years of negotiations, a deal was finalized on the sidelines of the BRICS summit held in China. (Agencies, Haaretz)
  • Syrian regime troops close to breaking three-year ISIS city siege - Recapture of the oil-rich province's capital, Deir el-Zour, would be a drastic setback for the Islamist group as its self-declared caliphate continues to crumble. (Agencies, Haaretz)

Features:
“It’s our duty to know why our sons are gone”: The parents of those killed in the Shayetet (navy seals) disaster want answers
Two decades have passed since their sons fell in the Shayetet disaster, but Moshe Rodovsky and Nachshon Tabi find no rest. They are busy commemorating and continue to struggle to reveal what really happened that fateful night. (Oz Rosenberg, Maariv)
From the head of the Gestapo to Mengele: This is how the Mossad failed in hunting down high-ranking Nazi officials
Assassination attempts that failed and those who entered the "black lists,” but were not caught. A new book, revealed here exclusively, gives a glimpse into the historical hunt. (Part 1) (Yossi Melman, Maariv)
In Mosul, From Ashes of Library Burned Down by ISIS, New Hope Arises
The book burning was one of the first ritual ceremonies ISIS conducted. But the students discovered that not everything went up in flames. (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+)
 
Commentary/Analysis:
In Israel, Conan O'Brien Became a Patsy for Netanyahu's Propaganda (Hagar Shezaf, Haaretz) His 'Conan in Israel' tour has exceeded even the expectations of Israel's right-wing prime minister and the energetic hasbara apparatus that seeks to disappear the occupation.
Nothing comes for free (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth/Ynet) Now that PM Netanyahu has been ordered to reveal details of his many conversations with Israel Hayom's owner and editor, those who refused to acknowledge these communications will finally have to admit to the inappropriate nature of Netanyahu's relationship with Israel Hayom, as well as stressing the importance of safeguarding the press as an independent entity.
'All the Colors Have Been Washed Out of Our Celebrations': My Family's Eid in Gaza (Muhammad Shehada, Haaretz) My mother spent two days cleaning and baking maamoul on her own, then waited for a knock on our door. But none came. After years of the blockade and its privations, those who are left won't visit empty-handed - and they have nothing to bring.
Netanyahu was not satisfied with a private propaganda shofar - he also wanted to crush his opponents (Ben Caspit, Maariv) 'Israel Hayom' tried to dress up as a real newspaper, but in practice it has become a monster unparalleled. It is the forbidden financing of political parties and a personality cult that costs billions, with the sole purpose of keeping the emperor from Balfour St. (in his chair).
If You Can’t Jail 'Em, Starve 'Em (Haaretz Editorial) If Israel genuinely wants to join the family of nations, it must do its part to take in refugees and asylum seekers
A Government in Denial (Ron Cahlili, Haaretz+) The Ashkenazi-Zionist propaganda machine strives to convince us that Arabs and Arab Jews are the barrier keeping us from progress and prosperitטץ
Straight Talk (Nitzan Horowitz, Haaretz+) The assumption that if you’re a moderate and reasonable person, you are weak or worse than that – a liar – is evil and twisted.
Unmasking the UN (Yoram Ettinger, Israel Hayom) The U.N.'s atrocious record of failure on important goals such as peacekeeping, arms control and human rights protection threatens to make the organization irrelevant.
The Occupation Will Corrupt, Is Corrupting, and Has Corrupted (B. Michael, Haaretz+) From now on we are neither democratic nor Jewish. We’re just a zealous, racist, evil, arrogant caliphate that is a danger to itself and its environment.
 
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.

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