News Nosh: 9.21.18

APN's daily news review from Israel
Friday, September 21, 2018

NOTE: News Nosh will be on holiday during Sukkot from Sunday September 23 through Monday October 1st.

Quote of the day:
"My work as a scientist is based on freedom of thought and freedom of expression, while Netanyahu's government represents a threat to fundamental freedoms.”
—Best-selling Israeli author Yuval Noah Harari said in an interview for the cover story of France's respected weekly Le Point entitled "The world's most important thinker.’

Front Page:
Haaretz
Yedioth Ahronoth
  • The fear: Iran will speed up the smuggling of missiles
  • In the IDF, they are preparing for limits to the freedom of action in Syrian skies
  • Netanyahu to Nasrallah: If you attack - you will get a lethal blow
  • The train of promises - After 17 years of planning, the fast train from Jerusalem was finally launched
  • It’s not a solution // Udi Etzion
  • Exclusive: (The new owner) Moshe Hogeg: We won’t accept racism in Beitar Jerusalem (soccer team)
  • (Former general Yoav) Galant on the way to Likud: I am most suited to be Defense Minister
  • Aviv (spring) of youth - Givati brigade soldiers, brothers in arms of Aviv Levi, RIP, at the hottest front of the country
  • Worth gold - Linoy Ashram celebrates a medal: “I’m not even close to my top”
  • She hung up the cloak - Former High Court chief justice Miriam Naor speaks for the first time since retiring
Maariv Weekend (Hebrew links only)
Israel Hayom
  • Prime Minister: “Nasrallah will get a lethal blow when he doesn’t expect it”
  • White House: “Netanyahu and Trump will meet next week on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly”
  • Israel in an exceptional announcement: “Because of Iran’s threats - we increased protection of nuclear facilities”
  • The battle over Jerusalem will decide the fate of the coalition // Mati Tuchfeld
  • Electricity on the trails - After years of waiting, the electric train line connecting Jerusalem to the Tel-Aviv area was launched
  • Israel will deduct the amount of stipend the Palestinian Authority gives to the family of the murderer of Ari Fuld
  • Enormous protest against the light rail works: Thousands of ultra-Orthodox expected to block Jabontinsky St in Bnei Brak tonight
  • On the culinary map: Chef Gordon Ramsey visits Israel
  • Returns fire to critics: General Kobi Brick, Commander of the ground forces, in an exclusive and combative interview
  • Price of integrity: This is how senior police officials tried to take revenge against Police Brig. Gen. Guy Nir
  • The escape route - Hundreds of Jews escaped from Europe during the Holocaust period and found asylum in a small town in the Dominican Republic. today 10 families remain there
  • Rubber girl - Linoy Ashram, #2 in the world in rhythmic gymnastics, in the most personal interview
  • Israeli pride - Second Lieutenant Hamza Hamza from Kufr Qana is the son of a Jewish mother who became Muslim and a Muslim father

News Summary:
The downing of the Russian plane in Syria, for which Russia demanded Israel further investigate the incident, created a difficult dilemma for Israel, in which it fears it cannot operate freely anymore over Syrian skies to prevent increased Iranian smuggling of precision missiles to Hezbollah, as Secretary-General of Hezbollah said in a speech - to which Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu responded with a severe threat, and now Israel announced it was upgrading and reinforcing its nuclear sites amid Iranian threats to attack them. And meanwhile, tension has increased on the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip - making top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers. Also in the news, US President Trump will meet with Netanyahu on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.