APN's daily news review from Israel
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
Quote of the day:
“If we manage to kill Nasrallah in the next war, I would see that as reaching a decisive victory.”
“If we manage to kill Nasrallah in the next war, I would see that as reaching a decisive victory.”
-- Maj. Gen. Yaakov Barak
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Top IDF official: Killing Hezbollah's Nasrallah would be decisive victory in next war
- Church of the Holy Sepulchre to reopen after Israel backtracks on steps that spurred crisis
- Israel 'sought to manipulate Kushner' using his financial woes, inexperience as leverage
- Iran building new base in Syria 'with missiles capable of hitting Israel'
Israel Hayom
- Sattelite images show new Iranian missile base in Syria
- Key US lawmakers want to boost Israel's $38 billion defense aid package
- EU ready to amend Iran nuclear deal, diplomats say
- Church of Holy Sepulchre to reopen after tax spat
Times of Israel
- Report: Trump peace plan could recognize Palestinian state
- Defense minister casts doubt on 'new' Iranian base in Syria
- Meretz old guard bows out of party leadership race
- Live Update: Palestinian FM says EU countries working to change US peace plan
Ynet News
- High Court delays evacuation of Nativ Ha'avot
- In Ethiopia, Jews threaten mass hunger strike
- Suspect in Bezeq probe released to house arrest
- Haredim: No vote on IDF draft bill, no state budget
i24 News
- EU countries trying to persuade US to amend peace plan, Palestinian FM says
- Israel court extends deadline to demolish 15 settler homes
- Israel's left-wing set for overhaul as Meretz heads drop from leadership race
- Lebanon's Hezbollah launches Syria war video game
News Summary:
The London-based Saudi newspaper Ashraq Al-Awsat reported that the Trump Administration's peace plan may include US and international recognition of a Palestinian state, the removal of far-flung settlements, the acceptance of East Jerusalem as the Palestinian's capital, international protection for the Old City of Jerusalem, and an abandonment of the right of return. This report followed a meeting in Brussels of Arab and European foreign ministers organized to discuss the forthcoming proposal from Trump. The Palestinian Authority has already rejected the plan, and Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki has said that a number of European countries are trying to persuade the US to amend some aspects of its plan.
The High Court of Justice has postponed the evacuation and demolition of 15 homes in the illegal outpost Netiv Ha'avot to June 15. Supreme Court Chief Justice Esther Hayut wrote that: “In the case before us, even though the ruling gave considerable time (a year-and-a-half) to prepare for the implementation of the demolition order, the state’s respondents could not finalize a residential alternative for the residents of the buildings on time." The government's plan, however, provides 60 million shekels ($17 million, 14 million euros) in compensation for the settlers living in the homes to be demolished and to provide temporary housing for them.
The old guard Meretz leadership is ceding power to a younger generation. Meretz head MK Zahava Golan and MK Ilan Gilon have dropped out of the upcoming Meretz primaries on March 22. The Times of Israel lists Meretz MK Tamar Zanberg, former Peace Now director Avi Buskila, and social activist Avi Dabush as the front-runners in the Meretz race.
Quick Hits:
- Representatives of the Jewish community in Ethiopia announced the staging of a mass hunger strike if Israel eliminates funding to help the Ethiopian Jewish community reunite with their families in Israel. Around 8,000 Ethiopian Jewish already have relatives living in Israel at the moment.
- The Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem reopened on Wednesday after closing for three days. The Church was closed in response to what Christian leaders describes as discriminatory policy by the Israeli government against Christians.
- In response to the issue of passing a new law for Haredi exemptions from IDF service, United Torah Judaism chairman Ya’acov Litzman stated that he would not support the 2019 state budget unless the law was approved.
- US Senator Lindsay Graham stated that Israeli officials revealed to him last week that a war against Hezbollah in Lebanon was imminent if Hezbollah continued its construction of a guided missile factory. The construction of a guided missile factory aided by Iran has been a constant concern for the Israeli government and IDF.
- Bezeq Israel Telecom announced today that it named Yakov Paz as interim CEO while CEO Stella Handler is under police investigation. Handler was arrested in connection with an investigation into allegations of fraud, bribery, and securities offenses.
- United Nations Relief and Work Agency is planning a fundraising conference in Rome next month in order to make up the loss after the Trump Administration cut funding to the organization. The US announced last month it was withholding around $100 million in funding for the organization.
- Official sources from the Israeli government denied that they were going to nullify Egypt’s debt to Israel in response to media reports. Egypt owes more the $1.8 billion to Israel.
- Arab League Secretary General, Ahmed Aboul-Gheit said on Wednesday: “It will not be possible to establish normal relations between the Arabs and Israel before settling the Palestinian cause fairly and permanently.” He made these remarks after meeting with Russian deputy foreign minister.
- A +972 article argues that the IDF has spread a false narrative concerning Mohammed Tamimi, who was shot in the head by Israeli soldiers during a protest on December 15, 2017 and sustained severe head trauma. The IDF has continued to state that he was injured after falling off his bicycle. This article highlights how the Israeli press has helped propagate this narrative.