APN's daily news review from Israel
Tuesday April 10, 2018
You Must Be
Kidding:
"Wow, what a legendary video! YES! Son of a b****."
--In a video clip, Israeli soldiers are heard cheering when an Israeli sniper shoots at and hits a motionless Palestinian, who falls to the ground.**
Front Page:
"Wow, what a legendary video! YES! Son of a b****."
--In a video clip, Israeli soldiers are heard cheering when an Israeli sniper shoots at and hits a motionless Palestinian, who falls to the ground.**
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Security brass pushing for line of attack against Iran in Syria - Russia blames Israel for attack on base near Homs
- Message to Teheran // Amos Harel
- The Russian fire // Zvi Bar’el
- Strategic puzzle // Chemi Shalev
- IDF checking video clip in which soldiers are heard cheering after shooting Palestinian in Gaza
- Head of National Economic Council advancing plan that foreign workers receive less than minimum wage
- Zuckerberg: We did not do enough to prevent foreign intervention in elections, that was my mistake and I am sorry
- Olmert asked for the criminal file against him to be removed - a move that would allow him to return to politics
- Rabbinate: One of the main foods of the Jews of Italy is not kosher
- Diligent snipers // B. Michael
- BBC is in our hands // Amira Hass
Yedioth Ahronoth
- The video clip and the storm: The soldiers who shot a Palestinian and cheered - “Wow, what a video clip! Got him!”
- The attack in Syria, the harm to Iran - reports: Israel responsible for the bombing of a drone base in which 14 were killed, 4 of them Iranians
- With friends like that // Alex Fishman
- Putin test // Yossi Yehoshua
- Message to Teheran // Smadar Perry
- Operational and ethical // (former Military Intel chief) Amos Yadlin
- “For Holocaust survivor grandma, I was her pride, her officer granddaughter” - Special: Keren Brush, the daughter of Mireille Knoll, who was murdered in Paris, writes about hope and missing her
- “I made a mistake, I apologize” - Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Russia accuses: Israel attacked in Syria
- Direct conflict // Tal Lev-Ram
- When Russia says no // Yossi Melman
- Trump hinted about an attack in response to the massacre Assad committed: We will determine who was responsible - and everyone will pay the price
- The storm over the snipers’ video clip - Soldiers uploaded a video clip to the Internet documenting shooting of a Palestinian demonstrator near the border with Gaza with calls of encouragement
- Independence without Honduras
Israel Hayom
- Iran is not safe in Syria - In the soft stomach: Reports of powerful blow in heart of Iran’s secret drone project; Esteemed commander was eliminated
- Israel drew a clear red line // Eyal Zisser
- In Moscow, they didn’t shed a tear on the Iranians // Ariel Bolstein
- Russia’s surprising show of innocence // Yaakov Amidror
- Joy in the Arab world: “Only Israel had the courage to act”
- Worrying video clip: “Soldiers shot a Palestinian in Gaza and cheered”; IDF: “We are probing”
- He went for the truth: The Polish man who told the world about the horrors of Auschwitz
- Remains of hatred: A Nazi flag found at Sarona (entertainment complex built on former German Templar neighborhood) was transferred to Yad V’Shem
- Taking care of them: Holocaust survivors received stipends of more than 5 billion shekels
News Summary:
Israeli newspapers expressed concern over a video clip in which Israeli soldiers cheered as a sniper brought down a motionless Palestinian, Russia blamed Israel for the bombing of a military base that killed 14 people, including four Iranians, and the President of Honduras canceled his controversial participation in Israel’s 70th Independence anniversary ceremony making today’s top stories.
**In what Yedioth called a ‘bad film,’ soldiers were heard cheering when a sniper next to them shoots down a motionless Palestinian who was among protesters at the Gaza fence. The video made the rounds of social media yesterday and the Israeli army said it would probe the incident.
Shortly after Russia accused Israel of making an attack on a military base in Syria, US officials confirmed that Israeli jets had carried out the bombing on a Syrian air force base, in which 14 people were killed, at least four of them Iranian. Israeli media reported that the site was an Iranian military base for drones and also said that Israel had informed the US in advance. Israel did not admit it was responsible for the attack, but top Israeli defense officials were pushing for an offensive approach in Syria against Iran, Haaretz reported. Russia called it “a dangerous development.”
The attack came when world perception for the Syrian regime was particularly low, hours after the Syrian army had made a chemical attack on its own civilians, in Douma. Israel condemned the chemical attack and accused the regime of 'crimes against humanity.’ But at the UN Security Council, Syria insisted it did not launch a chemical attack, killing 60 people and injuring over 1000 in the city of Douma. Oddly, white supremacists defended Syria’s leader Bashar al-Assad, saying the chemical attack was fake news and that it was just an effort by Israel and ‘globalists’ to keep US troops in the Middle East.
Quick Hits:
- Angling for a comeback? Olmert asks state to wipe criminal record - Convicted of a number of crimes, former prime minister cannot yet return to the public arena unless the Justice Ministry agrees to his request. (Haaretz+, Ynet and Maariv)
- 7 Jewish activists arrested at Schumer’s NY office after calling on him to condemn Gaza deaths - ‘Your silence speaks volumes, Chuck’ members of IfNotNow chant, demanding that Jewish Democratic senator speak out after 30 Palestinians die during two weekend marches along Gaza border. (Haaretz+)
- Russia slams Israel's use of 'indiscriminate and unacceptable' force against Palestinians - Russia's condemnation comes hours after Moscow claimed Israel is responsible for the Monday attack on a Syrian air base. (Agencies, Haaretz and Ynet)
- Arab citizens back Israel, slam Hamas over Gaza border protests - Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Arabic social media outlets, usually brimming with comments criticizing Israel over their treatment of Palestinians, is flooded with remarks by citizens of Arab countries exhibiting aversion of Hamas over its 'exploitation' of Gaza and its residents in Friday's border riots. (Ynet)
- Arab social media users laud Israel for 'putting Iran in its place' - Dismissing criticism of Israel over reported strike on air base in Syria, ordinary Arabs urge Israel to continue raids on President Assad's arsenals, Iranian assets • "Luckily for Arabs, Israel is unwilling to accept Iranian control in Syria," man writes. (Israel Hayom)
- Video of Palestinian teen Ahed Tamimi's interrogation released by her family - The full video, viewed by the Associated Press, appears to show interrogators threatening Tamimi, who is currently serving prison time for hitting soldiers. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- $1 billion drone deal between Israel and Germany back on track - The contract was blocked in the German parliament for months, but a new coalition agreement calls for it to be approved. (Haaretz+)
- Israel paid African country last month to take in illegal migrants - Ynet learns that one month before Netanyahu accepted UN plan intended to resolve migrant crisis, before abandoning it and yet again pledging to deport thousands of Sudanese and Eritreans, Israel already completed at least part of the quid pro quo deal with an African 'third country' for its expulsion plan. (Ynet)
- Netanyahu congratulates Hungary's Orban after landslide reelection - PM previously discussed possibility of Israel hosting a meeting of the Visegrad group, four countries whose governments are considered the most right-wing in Europe. (Haaretz+)
- After Re-election, Hungary's Orban May Widen Crackdown on Soros Groups - Parliament expected to pass legislation that would empower government to ban NGOs that support migration and pose a 'national security risk.’ (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Indian group wins license to explore for gas, oil in Israeli waters - Consortium of four leading Indian companies is awarded three-year license with option for three-year extension • Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz welcomes move, says he plans to step up efforts to attract international investors to explore Israel's waters. (Israel Hayom)
- Israel to construct two new desalination plants in fight against drought - Five years into a drought has left Israel's natural water sources at their lowest in a century, prompting calls for government action. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- ‘The sky didn’t fall’: Enlisting in the IDF is no longer a scourge in ultra-Orthodox society - A real change has been underway over the past few years in the ultra-Orthodox world - its members aren't afraid to be seen in uniform. (Haaretz+)
- 'Big Bang' filming to keep Mayim Bialik from Israel's Independence Day torch-lighting - The Jewish-American actress was selected to represent Diaspora Jews at ceremony, but her duties as star of a hit sitcom mean she can't make the trip. (Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
Marching in Gaza, my brother risks death - to feel free (Muhammad Shehada, Haaretz+) My teenage brother risks snipers and tear gas at the marches near the Israeli border. But, like all Gazans, he feels he's dying a slow death anyway.
Where is Jewish wisdom? The thousands of Gazan demonstrators can be stopped without a single bullet (Ephraim Ganor, Maariv) We must also ask how after so many years of confrontation with Palestinian demonstrators, creative means have not yet been developed to deal with the phenomenon. Thus, the IDF continues with the same old methods of firing rubber bullets, tear gas canisters and live bullets.
Nu, open fire already (Odeh Bisharat, Haaretz+) Palestinians realize that nonviolence is their winning card, but Israelis neither hear nor see. And if they speak, it’s only in the language of force.
Israel 2018: There is something to be ashamed of (Ron Kaufman, Maariv) Miri Regev may be right in demanding that we not address now what will happen on Israel's 80th Independence Day. Ten years is a long time. Maybe then there will be a dictatorship here, so why waste time on what will happen if a dictatorship can be practiced right now?
Assad ridicules Trump with Syria chemical attack as Israel anxiously awaits next moves (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) Netanyahu fears that the U.S. will withdraw from Syria and let Iran and Russia take over. Assad's use of chemical weapons is a display of ownership aimed at the Trump administration.
With friends like Trump and Putin, Israel has no one to rely on (Alex Fishman, Yedioth/Ynet) If Monday’s strike in Syria was indeed carried out by Israeli planes, it wasn’t just a military move but a diplomatic defiance of both Russia and the US: If you fail to do what it takes to curb the Iranian entrenchment on our border, we’ll launch our own military operations.
Russia Claimed Syria Shot Down Israeli Missiles. Is Assad Revealing New Capabilities? (Yaniv Kubovich, Haaretz+) In the past, such reports came from Syria and were considered an attempt to minimize humiliation over the strikes. This time, Russia announced it.
The chemical attack in Syria raises serious questions about the readiness of the Israeli home front (Zvika Gendelman, Maariv) Chemical weapons are in the hands of all kinds of potential adversaries, and one missile is sufficient to confront us with a phenomenon we have not encountered before. I will be more relaxed to know that every Israeli has a strong protective kit.
Israel signals Russia and Iran: We're not scared of military conflict (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) The attack on the T-4 base in Syria, which was attributed to Israel, raises the tensions between Jerusalem and Moscow and sends a message that Israel will not allow Iranian military presence in Syria, even at the cost of friction with Russia.
Israel is now directly confronting Iran in Syria (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Israel won't say it is indeed behind the overnight strike in Syria, but admitted in the past of attacking the T-4 air base. Iran continuing to establish a foothold in Syria may encourage an aggressive Israeli approach.
Another shadow war: The confrontation between Israel and Iran becomes direct (Tal Lev-Ram, Maariv) One cannot ignore the fact that in two months, at least in two well-known incidents, Iranian fighters and officers were killed by an action attributed to the IDF. In light of Iran's continued entrenchment in Syria, Israel decided to remove the gloves.
Russian response to Syria strike tests coordination with Israel (Yoav Zitun, Ynet) After agreeing on a system to avoid ‘misunderstandings’ between Israeli and Russian forces in Syria in 2015, Netanyahu made the issue his top priority in his many meetings with Putin. Monday’s attack on the T-4 airbase near Homs and the unusually harsh Russian response are now putting this system to the test, following signs of tensions between the countries in recent months.
An opportunity for change: Kill Assad, and the sooner the better (Prof. Arieh Eldad, Maariv) After the war ends, Syria will again become a dangerous enemy to Israel, and perhaps even more dangerous than it was. Assad's cruel use of murderous chemical weapons gives us an opportunity to change this course of events.
A sad excuse for objectivity: My interview with the BBC, a broadcaster in Israel's pocket (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) Use the term 'disputed territory' for the West Bank and you're ignoring the fact that Palestinians are subjected under Israeli rule without rights for 50 years.
Elections in the age of fake news and social media (Nimrod Dweck, Ynet) Taking advantage of legitimate tools, political strategists can fill newsfeeds with doctored, false information presented as facts. They can spread lies through hundreds of fake accounts, bolstered by real users who accepted friend requests from fake ones. Slowly voters come to believe that the lies are truth. Fake news as a methodology, orchestrated for a purpose, served up to a willing and captivated audience. [Writer is VP of Darkenu, the largest non-partisan civil society movement in Israel, which aims to organize, amplify, and empower the moderate majority of Israelis to exert influence on government policy and on the public discourse.
East Jerusalem Is the Double-edged Sword of Israel's Capital (Haaretz Editorial) Israel has rightfully earned the suspicions of the Palestinian residents of Jerusalem.
Straightening out to the Right: The Jews in Europe may find themselves in a dangerous situation (Dr. Kirill Pfefferman, Maariv) Whether it is conservative or traditional parties or a more radical right that grows from right to traditional right, its attitude toward Jews is characterized by several things they hold in common.
Trump brings Nixon’s Madman Theory to tense Syrian standoff (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) It’s hard to stay calm when a volatile and unpredictable U.S. president goes up against wily foxes such as Putin, Erdogan, Assad, Nasrallah and even Netanyahu.
A politician who betrayed public trust cannot return to public life. Ever. (MK Mickey Rosenthal, Maariv) I have nothing personal against Ehud Olmert. After serving his sentence and paying his debt to society I admit and leave. He deserves a second chance, but with all due respect - not at our expense.
Israel needs Olmert (Rafi Eitan, Maariv) Israeli society is undergoing fundamental and personal changes and someone with a personality like Olmert is capable of contributing, balancing, and perhaps directing the social system in Israel in positive directions.
On Asylum Seekers, Netanyahu Shows He Is the Exact Opposite of a Leader (Nehemia Shtrasler, Haaretz+) Netanyahu's boasts of launching the Egypt border fence are a stretch of reality meant to hide the failures of a leader enslaved to public opinion.
Marching in Gaza, my brother risks death - to feel free (Muhammad Shehada, Haaretz+) My teenage brother risks snipers and tear gas at the marches near the Israeli border. But, like all Gazans, he feels he's dying a slow death anyway.
Where is Jewish wisdom? The thousands of Gazan demonstrators can be stopped without a single bullet (Ephraim Ganor, Maariv) We must also ask how after so many years of confrontation with Palestinian demonstrators, creative means have not yet been developed to deal with the phenomenon. Thus, the IDF continues with the same old methods of firing rubber bullets, tear gas canisters and live bullets.
Nu, open fire already (Odeh Bisharat, Haaretz+) Palestinians realize that nonviolence is their winning card, but Israelis neither hear nor see. And if they speak, it’s only in the language of force.
Israel 2018: There is something to be ashamed of (Ron Kaufman, Maariv) Miri Regev may be right in demanding that we not address now what will happen on Israel's 80th Independence Day. Ten years is a long time. Maybe then there will be a dictatorship here, so why waste time on what will happen if a dictatorship can be practiced right now?
Assad ridicules Trump with Syria chemical attack as Israel anxiously awaits next moves (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) Netanyahu fears that the U.S. will withdraw from Syria and let Iran and Russia take over. Assad's use of chemical weapons is a display of ownership aimed at the Trump administration.
With friends like Trump and Putin, Israel has no one to rely on (Alex Fishman, Yedioth/Ynet) If Monday’s strike in Syria was indeed carried out by Israeli planes, it wasn’t just a military move but a diplomatic defiance of both Russia and the US: If you fail to do what it takes to curb the Iranian entrenchment on our border, we’ll launch our own military operations.
Russia Claimed Syria Shot Down Israeli Missiles. Is Assad Revealing New Capabilities? (Yaniv Kubovich, Haaretz+) In the past, such reports came from Syria and were considered an attempt to minimize humiliation over the strikes. This time, Russia announced it.
The chemical attack in Syria raises serious questions about the readiness of the Israeli home front (Zvika Gendelman, Maariv) Chemical weapons are in the hands of all kinds of potential adversaries, and one missile is sufficient to confront us with a phenomenon we have not encountered before. I will be more relaxed to know that every Israeli has a strong protective kit.
Israel signals Russia and Iran: We're not scared of military conflict (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) The attack on the T-4 base in Syria, which was attributed to Israel, raises the tensions between Jerusalem and Moscow and sends a message that Israel will not allow Iranian military presence in Syria, even at the cost of friction with Russia.
Israel is now directly confronting Iran in Syria (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Israel won't say it is indeed behind the overnight strike in Syria, but admitted in the past of attacking the T-4 air base. Iran continuing to establish a foothold in Syria may encourage an aggressive Israeli approach.
Another shadow war: The confrontation between Israel and Iran becomes direct (Tal Lev-Ram, Maariv) One cannot ignore the fact that in two months, at least in two well-known incidents, Iranian fighters and officers were killed by an action attributed to the IDF. In light of Iran's continued entrenchment in Syria, Israel decided to remove the gloves.
Russian response to Syria strike tests coordination with Israel (Yoav Zitun, Ynet) After agreeing on a system to avoid ‘misunderstandings’ between Israeli and Russian forces in Syria in 2015, Netanyahu made the issue his top priority in his many meetings with Putin. Monday’s attack on the T-4 airbase near Homs and the unusually harsh Russian response are now putting this system to the test, following signs of tensions between the countries in recent months.
An opportunity for change: Kill Assad, and the sooner the better (Prof. Arieh Eldad, Maariv) After the war ends, Syria will again become a dangerous enemy to Israel, and perhaps even more dangerous than it was. Assad's cruel use of murderous chemical weapons gives us an opportunity to change this course of events.
A sad excuse for objectivity: My interview with the BBC, a broadcaster in Israel's pocket (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) Use the term 'disputed territory' for the West Bank and you're ignoring the fact that Palestinians are subjected under Israeli rule without rights for 50 years.
Elections in the age of fake news and social media (Nimrod Dweck, Ynet) Taking advantage of legitimate tools, political strategists can fill newsfeeds with doctored, false information presented as facts. They can spread lies through hundreds of fake accounts, bolstered by real users who accepted friend requests from fake ones. Slowly voters come to believe that the lies are truth. Fake news as a methodology, orchestrated for a purpose, served up to a willing and captivated audience. [Writer is VP of Darkenu, the largest non-partisan civil society movement in Israel, which aims to organize, amplify, and empower the moderate majority of Israelis to exert influence on government policy and on the public discourse.
East Jerusalem Is the Double-edged Sword of Israel's Capital (Haaretz Editorial) Israel has rightfully earned the suspicions of the Palestinian residents of Jerusalem.
Straightening out to the Right: The Jews in Europe may find themselves in a dangerous situation (Dr. Kirill Pfefferman, Maariv) Whether it is conservative or traditional parties or a more radical right that grows from right to traditional right, its attitude toward Jews is characterized by several things they hold in common.
Trump brings Nixon’s Madman Theory to tense Syrian standoff (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) It’s hard to stay calm when a volatile and unpredictable U.S. president goes up against wily foxes such as Putin, Erdogan, Assad, Nasrallah and even Netanyahu.
A politician who betrayed public trust cannot return to public life. Ever. (MK Mickey Rosenthal, Maariv) I have nothing personal against Ehud Olmert. After serving his sentence and paying his debt to society I admit and leave. He deserves a second chance, but with all due respect - not at our expense.
Israel needs Olmert (Rafi Eitan, Maariv) Israeli society is undergoing fundamental and personal changes and someone with a personality like Olmert is capable of contributing, balancing, and perhaps directing the social system in Israel in positive directions.
On Asylum Seekers, Netanyahu Shows He Is the Exact Opposite of a Leader (Nehemia Shtrasler, Haaretz+) Netanyahu's boasts of launching the Egypt border fence are a stretch of reality meant to hide the failures of a leader enslaved to public opinion.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.