APN's daily news review from Israel
Wednesday June 13, 2018
Quote of the Day #1:
"Israelis and Iranians, we are family. That is since the days of King Cyrus 2000 years ago. These are
just governments that ruin it all because of religion."
--Reza, an Iranian fan attending the World Cup, welcomed two Israeli Yedioth Ahronoth reporters he met at the hotel dining room.*
Quote of the Day #2:
״So I have this background that allows me to look at things from a different perspective, and to some extent that allowed me to make the movie, since I didn’t buy into the threats that most Israelis believe in – according to which most Palestinians are terrorists and it’s very dangerous to go there. My complicated identity allowed me to observe this from a slightly different angle.”
—Argentina-born Jewish Israeli filmmaker, Ines Moldavsky, made a prize-winning film about dating Palestinian men from the West Bank.**
Front Page:
--Reza, an Iranian fan attending the World Cup, welcomed two Israeli Yedioth Ahronoth reporters he met at the hotel dining room.*
Quote of the Day #2:
״So I have this background that allows me to look at things from a different perspective, and to some extent that allowed me to make the movie, since I didn’t buy into the threats that most Israelis believe in – according to which most Palestinians are terrorists and it’s very dangerous to go there. My complicated identity allowed me to observe this from a slightly different angle.”
—Argentina-born Jewish Israeli filmmaker, Ines Moldavsky, made a prize-winning film about dating Palestinian men from the West Bank.**
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Trump and Kim met and agreed to open new page in relations between countries
- As big as the show, so the significant achievements get smaller // Chemi Shalev
- What did Iran take from the Trump-Kim meeting? // Zvi Bar’el
- Removal of sanctions alone is not enough to save N. Korea // Dafna Maor
- Trump gave up on the US’ international status // Anshel Pfeffer
- Trump’s aggressive policy proved itself // Roi Samioni
- Trump’s achievement carries with it a dangerous lesson // Iris Leal
- Netanyahu testified five hours in the submarines case
- Jafar Farah was interrogated for hours on suspicion of attacking a police officer at the demonstration in Haifa
- Welcome to the settlement of Mevasseret Zion: The state is advancing expansion of the community into the West Bank
- US put sanctions on two Israeli cyber companies who aided Russia
- There is a partner // Haaretz Editorial
- Civil service // Meirav Arlosoroff
- The artists, Christian Boltanski, won a bet on his life and exhibits in Israel. An interview
Yedioth Ahronoth
- Hope for a better world (Words written in Hebrew, English and Korean with photo of Kim and Trump)
Maariv This Week
- An agreement of promises - “Enemies can become friends”
- Bet on the whole pot // Ben Caspit
- Smiles attack // Hayim Iserovich
- The path is long // Shlomo Shamir
- Netanyahu testified in submarines affair: I didn’t know that attorney Shimron was representing Ganor
- Amir Peretz against Avi Gabbay: He’s pushing the party into dealmaking
Israel Hayom
- The Trump era - They did history, Agreement that could change the face of the world
- He conquered the summit // Boaz Bismuth
- With courage, without game rules // Avraham Ben-Zvi
- From jubilee-long conflict to great hope // Haim Shine
- The regime in Iran is disappointed and scared // Menashe Amir
- Trump is aware of the risk - and the possibility // Eldad Beck
News Summary:
Israeli papers were filled with commentary and analysis on the ‘historic’ meeting between the US and N. Korean leaders, which Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu lauded, adding that Trump “has also taken a strong stand against Iran's efforts to arm itself with nuclear weapons,” while Iran warned N. Korea that Trump was known to breach agreements, and Netanyahu was questioned for the first time about the Submarines Acquisitions Affair, Case 3000, and said he did not know that David Shimron, his personal lawyer and relative, was employed by the corrupt man who represented German conglomerate ThyssenKrupp in the deal, (meanwhile, a document from eight years ago revealed that gifts to the Netanyahu couple disappeared before they were reported on to the committee responsible - Maariv) and Jewish ‘hilltop youth’ clashed with Israeli security forces, who completed the eviction of settlers from 15 homes in the Netiv Ha’avot settlement outpost. Worthy of note, 13 police officers were wounded, but only two teens and one adult were detained for assaulting an officer. Netiv Ha’avot residents say not a single Palestinian has been able to prove his ownership of the land so far. Peace Now, however, says the petition includes names of Palestinian petitioners who claim to own the land.
Diplomacy and Security Quickees:
- Palestinians Push for UN Vote on Israel's Use of 'Indiscriminate Force' in Gaza - Nikki Haley defends Israel ahead of UN vote, saying resolution on Gaza, which U.S. shot down at Security Council, is 'fundamentally imbalanced' (Haaretz)
- Yedioth's Itamar Eichner: US changes tactics at UN: From defending Israel to offensive - After US vetoes Kuwait resolution at Security Council calling to condemn Israel for use of 'excessive force' but failing to mention Hamas, Turkey and Algeria submit similar resolution to General Assembly; US submits amendment condemning Hamas as well, which is expected to fail, thus showing world's hypocrisy. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- Top US Mideast envoys head to Israel as part of regional visit - Senior Adviser Jared Kushner and Special Representative for International Negotiations Jason Greenblatt are slated to travel to Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia next week • In Israel, they will discuss the situation in Gaza, next stages of peace efforts. (Israel Hayom, Haaretz and Maariv)
- Syrian army boosts air defenses near Israel border - As the Assad army prepares for offensive in southwest, Russian-made Pantsir S1 system stationed on Golan border 'to renew the air defense system against Israel in the first degree,' according to a pro-Assad commander. (Ynet)
Quick Hits:
- Israeli army orders Jordan Valley farmers to evacuate from land in order to raze it - Army ordered Palestinian farmer, Ahmad Assi Damra, from Hijlet al-Zour, east of Jericho, to evacuate his 25 dunum (six acre) plot of land, which is planted with palm trees, in order raze it and the same for farmer Suleiman al-Zayed, whose four dunum plot in Nuweimeh village is an olive tree orchard. (Maan)
- Israeli forces detain Palestinian activist as he distributes food to needy Hebron families - Israeli forces detained Youth Against Settlements activist Muhammad al-Zughayyar, 30, while he was in the Tel Rumeida neighborhood distributing food packages to families. Maan has a video of the detention. (Maan+VIDEO)
- Stabbing of 18-year-old woman in northern Israel was terror attack, Shin Bet says - Victim was stabbed and managed to flee to a nearby cafe, where she collapsed and said that an Arab man had stabbed her. Police arrested a 20-year-old resident of Afula who was in Israel without a permit. (Haaretz and Ynet)
- This Jerusalem Suburb Is Expanding – Into the West Bank - The project for Mevasseret Zion is controlled by Israel Lands Authority, which has no jurisdiction inside the West Bank. (Haaretz+)
- Arab Lawmakers Ask Court to Overturn Ban on Debating Bill Calling Israel a State of All Its Citizens - Joint List petitions court after plenum blocks submission of proposal defining Israel's identity. (Haaretz+)
- Israeli-Arab Leader Whose Leg Was Broken in Custody Suspected of Insulting Police Officer - Jafar Farah, roughed up when he was detained during a protest against the army's fatal shootings of Gaza demonstrators, says he has just been informed of a new police charge against him. (Haaretz+)
- Arab Rights Group Demands Israel Launch New Probe Into Clash That Resulted in Bedouin's Death - Adalah leaders urge Israel's attorney general to start a 'neutral' investigation after inconclusive results published by police of the January 2017 violence in which a policeman and a Bedouin man were killed. (Haaretz+)
- (Culture Minister) Regev excluded from PM-led talks on Eurovision city - Culture and sports minister, who officials say could wreck chances of contest being held in Israel following her insistence that it be hosted in Jerusalem, says she has been fully apprised of talks’ details; ministers agree not to politicize the event after Argentina-Israel soccer debacle. Netanyahu instructed overall managerial responsibility for event to be delegated entirely to Israel Broadcasting Corporation. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- In Israel, even eggs are cause for conflict: New poultry law slammed as ‘creeping annexation’ - A law approved by the Knesset now lets poultry farmers in settlements to transfer production quotas to their counterparts in Israel; MKs charge: 'What's needed is to return settlers, not quotas.’ (Haaretz+)
- Tiny ancient Quran goes on display in Israel for Ramadan - Unique 10th-century Quran, measuring just 2.5 by 1.5 inches, on public display for first time in Israel's National Library with other Islamic texts to mark Muslim holy month • Curator: Text written without punctuation or vowels, likely religious talisman. (Israel Hayom)
- Israeli Defense Ministry Panel Urges Financial Penalties for Haredi Draft Shortfalls - Recommendations come amid disputes in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition over how to meet a September court deadline for a new enlistment law. (Haaretz+)
- Braving backlash, Muslim leader spreads 'compassion' in Israel - Despite angry protests at home over his visit to Israel, secretary general of 60-million-member Sunni Islam movement in Indonesia, Yahya Staquf, hopes the controversy can bring more attention to his message of tolerance and help solve many conflicts. (Israel Hayom)
- Paris Auto Conference to Showcase Israeli Startups - Calcalist will lead a delegation representing Israeli auto and mobility technologies and innovation to the Paris Motor Show in October. (Calcalist/Ynet)
- Future of U.S. Jews 'Keeps Me Up at Night,' Israeli Minister Tells Jewish Gathering - [Religious right-wing] Education Minister Naftali Bennett tells AJC conference that his main goal as diaspora affairs minister is 'saving the Jews' and warns of 'losing millions of Jews to assimilation.’ (Haaretz+)
- Israeli orchestra uninvited from Spanish city amid BDS push - Netanya Chamber Orchestra had their offer to perform in the Valencia province after the municipal council decided to join the BDS movement. (JTA, Haaretz)
- French town names street 'Nakba Avenue' - Street in Bezons named 'in memory of the expulsion of 800,000 Palestinians and the destruction of 532 villages in 1948 by war criminal David Ben-Gurion'; following protest from Israel, French government orders street signs removed. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- U.S. musician John Maus, three U.K. bands boycott Berlin music festival over Israeli funding - Support for BDS and opposition to Israeli Embassy funding spur the indie music acts to pull out of Pop-Kultur; Palestinian group slams Israeli effort to 'art-wash' image. (Haaretz+)
- South African city suspends councilor over pro-Israel comment - Mpho Phalatse tells pro-Israel conference, 'I am a friend of Israel and the city of Johannesburg is a friend of Israel,' prompting Johannesburg mayor to suspend her, adding he's 'disappointed' councilor attributed personal sentiments to the city. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Gal Gadot to Star in a New Action Thriller With Dwayne Johnson - 'Wonder Woman' star worked with Johnson in the 'Fast & Furious' franchise. New movie, 'Red Notice,' centers around the pursuit of an art thief. (Haaretz+)
- Report: US official eyes Israel's Egypt border for Mexico wall ideas - US Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen reportedly inspected Israel's towering, sensor-rigged Egyptian border fence; US official confirms Nielsen's visit to the frontier, noting 'She understood the challenges and opportunities that exist there.' (Agencies, Ynet)
- U.S.-led Coalition Denies Syrian State TV Report Claiming Civilian Deaths From Air Strikes - A spokesman for the coalition, Col. Sean Ryan, said the report, according to which an airstrike by a U.S.-led coalition had killed 18 Iraqi refugees at a school in eastern Syria, was false. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Jared Kushner Swore at Israel’s Ambassador for Acting Like He Owned the Place - On February 13, 2017, the day that Michael Flynn was forced out as national-security adviser, Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer reportedly went to the White House to try to arrange for Trump to sign secret documents. (Haaretz)
Features:
*Flirting on the Green Line: Israeli filmmaker chronicles her Tinder dates with
Palestinians
‘Have you ever screwed a Jewish woman?’ Ines Moldavsky asks West Bank online suitor in ‘The Men Behind the Wall.’ (Nirit Anderman, Haaretz+)
The hard core - Yedioth correspondents to the Mundial World Cup visited the training camp of the Iranian national team, got a warm reception and went home safely
Dozens of Iranian journalists with smartphones pulled out, fans who sneaked into the training zone and broke out in dance - and a moving call to the Israelis. It wasn't boring at the training of the Iranian national team. After the ice broke we didn't feel isolated. We were simply journalists. And when the team's manager came to greet each of the guests with a 'Salam,' we got one of our own. "I thought you were Iranians," he said with a smile. "...You should know that no one here is a problem with (your being Israeli)," said one of the Iranian journalists. "This is only sport and we are all humans." The leader of the fans, Bahnam, was excited when he learned where we came from. "Israelis?! Soccer is an international language. We are here in order to support our national team. This is a celebration for every country, all the fans in Israel are invited to come join us and join our celebration."..The truth is, even before the practice, we held our own real Singapore summit at breakfast at the hotel next to three dapper Iranians who came to watch the Mundial. The world 'Israel' was received with a wide smile by Reza, Kamera and Verza, and the first caught me agains on the way out and said: "Israelis and Iranians, we are family. That is since the days of King Cyrus 2000 years ago. These are just governments that ruin it all because of religion." (Yair Katan and Oz Mualem, cover, Yedioth sports supplement)
Which nation owns falafel - and does it matter?
Why are Israeli Jews so reluctant to admit their food has been influenced by Arab cuisine? In recent years, thanks to the increasingly rapid pace of globalization, it seems like practically every country is striving to define its national cuisine. I recently spent a week in Warsaw at a culinary forum that brought together international chefs, journalists and experts in culinary tourism. Terroir, the organization behind the event, is dedicated to promoting the growth of international culinary communities through discussions, lectures, workshops and shared meals. Chefs and a political scientist at the event try to figure it out. (Ronit Vered, Haaretz+)
International Conferences: A Tourism Market Israel Lets Slip By
Participants are big spenders, high quality tourists, but only recently has Israel made an effort to win the business. (Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
Mideast 'friends' beware: With North Korea, Trump just proved how easily he’ll sell out America’s allies (David Rothkopf, Haaretz+) Long-standing alliances? Disposable. The entire international security order? Expendable. The lesson for Netanyahu and U.S. allies in the Gulf is that the only Trump foreign policy doctrine is: 'What’s in it for me?'
History or hysteria? The path to Kim's nuclear disarmament is long (Shlomo Shamir, Maariv) Western intelligence organizations have no precise information on how many nuclear weapons Pyongyang has developed. Therefore, even if Kim meets the agreement, it will be very difficult to know, to examine and to ensure that he has indeed dismantled everything he has.
Trump-Kim Summit: Iran's Khamenei Can’t Smile Just Yet (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) If a paper like the one the U.S. and North Korea signed in Singapore had been signed by Iran, not only Israel would have gone crazy; for now, Tehran can watch and learn.
Trump's America is once again leading the world (Boaz Bismuth, Israel Hayom) U.S. President Donald Trump's meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un showed the world how to hold nuclear talks from a position of strength • Trump gave little and received much, showing that at times, you must wield the power you hold.
The historic summit in Singapore: Trump gambled on the whole pot (Ben Caspit, Maariv) If it turns out that North Korea is going to disarm from its nuclear weapons, Donald Trump should get the Nobel Peace Prize. But it might end exactly like last time.
Singapore summit won’t bring peace on earth, but it does prevent a war (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) The Trump-Kim meeting won’t improve human rights and the humanitarian situation in North Korea, but it relieves tensions and prevents a military conflict. Like Obama in the nuclear agreement with Iran, Trump agreed to exclude the ballistic missile issue—which Israel is particularly concerned about—from the written understandings with North Korea.
North Korea’s Kim Is Big Winner of Singapore Summit but Trump Comes Up Short (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) Pyongyang tyrant gains legitimacy and respect from U.S. president without giving up anything new or tangible in return.
Trump's flurry of smiles chilled leaders who felt his cold shoulder (Hayim Iserovich, Maariv) One could imagine that the leaders of the countries considered the closest friends of the United States had a sense of discomfort when they watched the friendliness of the free world leader with a man holding thousands of his people in concentration camps.
A Reminder to Netanyahu: The Past Need Not Define Our Future (Haaretz Editorial) Israelis can only listen in envy to the Trump’s words and wish that their own leader had a shred of his diplomatic courage.
History? Trump and Kim will make do with the applause of their base and of the world (Prof. Ben-Ami Shiloni, Maariv)
Conservatives in the US Congress and the military in North Korea do not support concessions to the other side. Apparently, each of the leaders will make do with a small achievement.
What did the British ever do for Israel? (Ian Westerman, Haaretz+) For 20 critical years, the far from philanthropic British Mandate allowed a potentially subversive shadow government to be built under their noses. That’s how Israel survived 1948.
Holding the Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv will not harm the status of Jerusalem (Meital Lehavi, Maariv) For many residents of the capital, competition of this kind is alien to their way of life and even contrary to it. The combination of such diverse populations may create friction, which in Tel Aviv will not be at all.
Israel's New Tool for Dispossessing Palestinians (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) Military order 1797 is one more item in Israel's ‘toolbox’ to stop all Palestinian construction in the lion’s share of the West Bank.
Why Israel should help solve Jordan’s economic problems (Dr. Shaul Shay, Yedioth/Ynet) A chaotic situation in Jordan—and even more so, a collapse of the Hashemite regime—could have serious ramifications on Israel’s security and on the geo-strategic balance of power in the Middle East. Israel should therefore do everything in its power to help restore stability in the kingdom.
Learning From the Pride Parade (Uzi Baram, Haaretz+) It must inspire to set the agenda with respect to the struggle for absolute equality between men and women, against exclusion of women in the public space and against gender segregation.
Far from feeble (Noam Katz, Israel Hayom) Israel's willingness to convince others will not always be met with a comparable willingness to be convinced of, let alone hear, what Israel and its officials have to say.
If You Boycott Israel, Shouldn't You Boycott Trump's America as Well? (Bradley Burston, Haaretz+) There's a difference, you say? I agree. America's record is worse.
The crisis between Europe and the US obligates Israel to maintain its relations with both countries (Adi Cantor, Maariv) A gloomy cloud now stands above the heads of both EU leaders and the American president. However, the hand of the United States is undoubtedly superior
Israeli Tactics Trump Strategy for Gaza (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) The Strip doesn't need relief measures but genuine economic development. But a discussion this week among Israeli decision makers proves they're more interested in strategies than they are in solutions.
‘Have you ever screwed a Jewish woman?’ Ines Moldavsky asks West Bank online suitor in ‘The Men Behind the Wall.’ (Nirit Anderman, Haaretz+)
The hard core - Yedioth correspondents to the Mundial World Cup visited the training camp of the Iranian national team, got a warm reception and went home safely
Dozens of Iranian journalists with smartphones pulled out, fans who sneaked into the training zone and broke out in dance - and a moving call to the Israelis. It wasn't boring at the training of the Iranian national team. After the ice broke we didn't feel isolated. We were simply journalists. And when the team's manager came to greet each of the guests with a 'Salam,' we got one of our own. "I thought you were Iranians," he said with a smile. "...You should know that no one here is a problem with (your being Israeli)," said one of the Iranian journalists. "This is only sport and we are all humans." The leader of the fans, Bahnam, was excited when he learned where we came from. "Israelis?! Soccer is an international language. We are here in order to support our national team. This is a celebration for every country, all the fans in Israel are invited to come join us and join our celebration."..The truth is, even before the practice, we held our own real Singapore summit at breakfast at the hotel next to three dapper Iranians who came to watch the Mundial. The world 'Israel' was received with a wide smile by Reza, Kamera and Verza, and the first caught me agains on the way out and said: "Israelis and Iranians, we are family. That is since the days of King Cyrus 2000 years ago. These are just governments that ruin it all because of religion." (Yair Katan and Oz Mualem, cover, Yedioth sports supplement)
Which nation owns falafel - and does it matter?
Why are Israeli Jews so reluctant to admit their food has been influenced by Arab cuisine? In recent years, thanks to the increasingly rapid pace of globalization, it seems like practically every country is striving to define its national cuisine. I recently spent a week in Warsaw at a culinary forum that brought together international chefs, journalists and experts in culinary tourism. Terroir, the organization behind the event, is dedicated to promoting the growth of international culinary communities through discussions, lectures, workshops and shared meals. Chefs and a political scientist at the event try to figure it out. (Ronit Vered, Haaretz+)
International Conferences: A Tourism Market Israel Lets Slip By
Participants are big spenders, high quality tourists, but only recently has Israel made an effort to win the business. (Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
Mideast 'friends' beware: With North Korea, Trump just proved how easily he’ll sell out America’s allies (David Rothkopf, Haaretz+) Long-standing alliances? Disposable. The entire international security order? Expendable. The lesson for Netanyahu and U.S. allies in the Gulf is that the only Trump foreign policy doctrine is: 'What’s in it for me?'
History or hysteria? The path to Kim's nuclear disarmament is long (Shlomo Shamir, Maariv) Western intelligence organizations have no precise information on how many nuclear weapons Pyongyang has developed. Therefore, even if Kim meets the agreement, it will be very difficult to know, to examine and to ensure that he has indeed dismantled everything he has.
Trump-Kim Summit: Iran's Khamenei Can’t Smile Just Yet (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) If a paper like the one the U.S. and North Korea signed in Singapore had been signed by Iran, not only Israel would have gone crazy; for now, Tehran can watch and learn.
Trump's America is once again leading the world (Boaz Bismuth, Israel Hayom) U.S. President Donald Trump's meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un showed the world how to hold nuclear talks from a position of strength • Trump gave little and received much, showing that at times, you must wield the power you hold.
The historic summit in Singapore: Trump gambled on the whole pot (Ben Caspit, Maariv) If it turns out that North Korea is going to disarm from its nuclear weapons, Donald Trump should get the Nobel Peace Prize. But it might end exactly like last time.
Singapore summit won’t bring peace on earth, but it does prevent a war (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) The Trump-Kim meeting won’t improve human rights and the humanitarian situation in North Korea, but it relieves tensions and prevents a military conflict. Like Obama in the nuclear agreement with Iran, Trump agreed to exclude the ballistic missile issue—which Israel is particularly concerned about—from the written understandings with North Korea.
North Korea’s Kim Is Big Winner of Singapore Summit but Trump Comes Up Short (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) Pyongyang tyrant gains legitimacy and respect from U.S. president without giving up anything new or tangible in return.
Trump's flurry of smiles chilled leaders who felt his cold shoulder (Hayim Iserovich, Maariv) One could imagine that the leaders of the countries considered the closest friends of the United States had a sense of discomfort when they watched the friendliness of the free world leader with a man holding thousands of his people in concentration camps.
A Reminder to Netanyahu: The Past Need Not Define Our Future (Haaretz Editorial) Israelis can only listen in envy to the Trump’s words and wish that their own leader had a shred of his diplomatic courage.
History? Trump and Kim will make do with the applause of their base and of the world (Prof. Ben-Ami Shiloni, Maariv)
Conservatives in the US Congress and the military in North Korea do not support concessions to the other side. Apparently, each of the leaders will make do with a small achievement.
What did the British ever do for Israel? (Ian Westerman, Haaretz+) For 20 critical years, the far from philanthropic British Mandate allowed a potentially subversive shadow government to be built under their noses. That’s how Israel survived 1948.
Holding the Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv will not harm the status of Jerusalem (Meital Lehavi, Maariv) For many residents of the capital, competition of this kind is alien to their way of life and even contrary to it. The combination of such diverse populations may create friction, which in Tel Aviv will not be at all.
Israel's New Tool for Dispossessing Palestinians (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) Military order 1797 is one more item in Israel's ‘toolbox’ to stop all Palestinian construction in the lion’s share of the West Bank.
Why Israel should help solve Jordan’s economic problems (Dr. Shaul Shay, Yedioth/Ynet) A chaotic situation in Jordan—and even more so, a collapse of the Hashemite regime—could have serious ramifications on Israel’s security and on the geo-strategic balance of power in the Middle East. Israel should therefore do everything in its power to help restore stability in the kingdom.
Learning From the Pride Parade (Uzi Baram, Haaretz+) It must inspire to set the agenda with respect to the struggle for absolute equality between men and women, against exclusion of women in the public space and against gender segregation.
Far from feeble (Noam Katz, Israel Hayom) Israel's willingness to convince others will not always be met with a comparable willingness to be convinced of, let alone hear, what Israel and its officials have to say.
If You Boycott Israel, Shouldn't You Boycott Trump's America as Well? (Bradley Burston, Haaretz+) There's a difference, you say? I agree. America's record is worse.
The crisis between Europe and the US obligates Israel to maintain its relations with both countries (Adi Cantor, Maariv) A gloomy cloud now stands above the heads of both EU leaders and the American president. However, the hand of the United States is undoubtedly superior
Israeli Tactics Trump Strategy for Gaza (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) The Strip doesn't need relief measures but genuine economic development. But a discussion this week among Israeli decision makers proves they're more interested in strategies than they are in solutions.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.