APN's daily news review from Israel
Thursday March 28, 2019
Quote of the day:
"It’s not an overstatement to say that what is at stake in the coming election is saving democracy in
Israel."
--Haaretz Editorial today.
--Haaretz Editorial today.
Breaking News:
Seven Iranians Killed in Israeli Strike in Syria, Watchdog Says (Haaretz and Ynet)
Front Page:
Haaretz
- European Union states unanimously warned: We don’t recognize Israeli sovereignty in the Golan
- Calm for a short time // Amos Harel
- State Comptroller: Police (awarded contract to) company headed by Gantz after receiving false information from it
- After the Haaretz expose, State Comptroller criticized the police for its deal with Lior Horev
- (Netanyahu’s cousin) Milikovsky to The Marker: A third party sold Netanyahu the stocks, it was a private issue
- Even if statute of limitations already began, the stocks affair must be investigated // Ido Baum and Gur Megiddo
- New top Balad party members want to advance a ‘country for all citizens’ (as opposed to Jewish state - OH), but first - it needs to enter the Knesset
- 10 kilometers in Sdom: New mapping revealed in Israel the longest salt cave in the world
- I am ashamed! // Yehuda Atlas
- Without difficult questions // Itai Stern criticizes flattering interview of Sara
- Netanyahu by Sandra Ringler in the ‘You’ magazine
- Clocks move forward an hour tonight
- Like a quiet prophecy of rage, Rona Keynan’s new album describes the collapse of the left-wing
Yedioth Ahronoth
- Preparations on the fence - After fighting: In the south they are preparing for mass Palestinian riots
- State Comptroller report - “Millions from the police to Gantz’s company - without a tender”
- “So what if they shot at Ashkelon” - Culture Minister Miri Regev’s infuriating remark sparked storm
- Tonight: Don’t forget to turn the clocks forward an hour
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Record preparations ahead of Land Day events in the Gaza Strip Saturday
- Maariv Conference on National Security - Ashkenazi: “...The Likud campaign is shameful, what will a soldier think about how they speak about a former chief of staff?”
- Likud: “Gantz must be investigated immediately” - State Comptroller report revealed problematic conduct of police and former police commissioner with (Gantz’s former company)
Israel Hayom
- Gantz-Alsheikh case - State Comptroller report: Suspicions against the police; Comptroller spokesperson: Gantz was involved
- The new affair: Case 50 million // Amnon Lord
- Something rotten in the police kingdom // Meir Indor
- Highest alert on the Gaza border
- A year of demonstrations
- Both sides are playing with fire // Yoav Limor
- Sitting on the fence // Lilach Shuval
- Hamas tactic // Daniel Siriyoti
- Residents in area: “We feel we were abandoned”
- Crime of the (African) infiltrators - the numbers are revealed
- Israel 1 - Iran 0: Title of “Longest salt cave in the world” passed from Iran to us after it was assessed the cave in Sodom is 10 kilometers long
- Tonight clocks move to summer time, but this weekend - winter
- Tel-Aviv presents: You volunteered for society? You got a street in your name
Elections 2019 News:
In the 12 days before elections, practically every news is related to the elections. Hence, today's top stories, the high alert and preparations of Israeli forces on the Gaza border, the State Comptroller report that revealed problematic conduct by the former police commissioner Roni Alsheikh for awarding a job to Benny Gantz's former company without first offering a tender and after receiving false information from the company and the European Union declared that all its members unanimously rejected recognition of Israeli sovereignty in the occupied Golan Heights could affect the elections.
Gaza UPDATED Quickees:
- Gaza terms take shape: End to border violence, better conditions in Strip - Egyptian mediators present Hamas with Israeli conditions in overnight meeting attended by Islamic Jihad and other militant groups; proposal calls for increased Gaza power supply, fishing zone in return for halt in attacks on Israel, troops. IDF bolsters its forces on Gaza border as it braces for a mass demonstration planned for Saturday. (Haaretz and Ynet)
- Hamas leader: The resistance spoke and Israel got the message - Ismail Haniyeh, whose Gaza City office was destroyed in Monday IAF strike, apparently signaled his group's readiness to end the latest round of fighting with Israel on Wednesday, but indicated that the protests planned for Saturday will go ahead. Said Hamas will rebuild headquarters that were also bombed by Israeli warplanes in latest round of fighting triggered by rocket fire on Israeli home near Tel Aviv. Both sides signal willingness to refrain from flare-up, but are primed for renewed aggression. (Haaretz and Ynet)
- As Egypt Brokers Talks, Israel Braces for Mass Gaza Protests - Netanyahu can't afford to give Hamas concessions so close to the upcoming election. But without them, the border protests may blow up this weekend. (Haaretz+)
- With Israeli drones buzzing overhead, Gazans remain home in 'paralyzed' Strip - Despite reports Egyptians are holding marathon talks with Gaza factions and Israeli officials, Gaza’s schools are closed and offices are shut as well. (Haaretz+)
- Israeli forces raid lands, attack Palestinian farmers in Gaza - Four large D-9 Israeli military bulldozers entered dozens of meters into Palestinian lands, east of Rafah, and razed the lands while drones flew overhead. (Maan)
- Israeli forces injure Palestinian youth in Gaza - A Palestinian youth was shot and injured with Israeli live fire, east of al-Breij refugee camp, in the central besieged Gaza Strip, on late Wednesday. (Maan)
- 3 Palestinians shot, injured in Gaza's night protests - Israeli forces shot and injured three Palestinians during the “Night Confusion” protest, near the border fence, east of Khan Younis in the southern besieged Gaza Strip, on late Wednesday. (Maan)
- Israeli airstrike targets, injures 3 Palestinians in Gaza Thursday afternoon - According to local sources, an Israeli warplane fired at least one missile towards a group of Palestinian youths, who were allegedly launching incendiary kites and balloons, east of Jabaliya in northern Gaza. (Maan)
- Israel bans fishing off Gaza's coast for 4th consecutive day - The Israeli authorities also continue to seal off the Kerem Shalom land crossing, while the Erez (Beit Hanoun) crossing is partially open to allow patients and blue-ID holders to cross. (Maan)
Golan Quickees:
- At UN, US criticized for recognizing Israeli sovereignty over Golan Heights - At U.N. Security Council, 14 fellow members of international body all condemn Trump declaration, with Russia calling it 'aggressive revision of international law.' Assad ally Russia urges governments to continue to view Golan Heights as Israeli-occupied territory. (Israel Hayom and Ynet)
- Syria to UN: Trump's Golan Declaration Leaves Only One Solution – the Use of Force - Germany slams Syria: Its request for UN meeting over violation is 'profoundly cynical.' Trump's recognition doesn't violate 1974 separation agreement or UN mandates, UN says. (Haaretz+)
- Golan Recognition Will Promote Israeli-Palestinian Peace, Mike Pompeo Says - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says that the decision was 'the right thing to do,' despite overwhelming denouncement from Palestinians and Arab countries. (Haaretz)
Quick Hits:
- Israeli army kills Palestinian medical volunteer wearing reflective vest, report says - Clashes erupt in refugee camp near West Bank city of Bethlehem when Israeli force entered to conduct arrests. Palestinian Health Ministry says Sajed Mizher was shot in the stomach despite wearing reflective vest and service uniform. (Maan)
- WHO strongly condemns killing of Palestinian volunteer paramedic - World Health Organization strongly condemned Israel's killing of volunteer paramedic Sajed Abed al-Hakim Mizher while on duty: “Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Sajed’s family and our colleagues at PMRS (Palestinian Medical Relief Society.)” (Maan)
- On eve of Land Day: Israel occupies more than 85% of Palestinian land - Israel occupies more than 85% of the total area of historical land of Palestine, which totals about 27,000 square kilometers. Palestinians, the original population of the land and who comprise 48% of the total population of historical Palestine, utilize only 15% of their ancestral land. (Maan)
- Netanyahu Bought Shares in Cousin’s Steel Firm at a 95% Discount, U.S. SEC Report Shows - The PM's 2007 purchase of shares in Seadrift came three months before a third party offered to pay 19 times more for the same stock, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing suggests. (Haaretz+)
- Israeli Army Inks $127-million Deal With Elbit to Develop Next Generation of Artillery Cannons - The cannons are expected to improve the effectiveness of the army’s artillery, requiring fewer soldiers to operate them and cutting maintenance costs. (Haaretz+)
- Israeli researchers say Sodom salt cave is world's longest - Recently completed survey of Malham Cave at the southern tip of the Dead Sea determines labyrinthine cavern stretches more than 6 miles in length, putting it well ahead of Iran's Namakdan Cave, previously thought to be world's longest salt cave. (Israel Hayom)
- Boycott Call Turns Israeli Wine Into Dutch Best-seller - BDS activist’s tweet prompts Israel supporters to mount giant social media campaign. (JTA, Haaretz)
- 'Beneath any leader' Ilhan Omar takes swipe at Nancy Pelosi for condemning BDS at AIPAC - Speaker Pelosi told the AIPAC audience on Tuesday morning, 'we must also be vigilant against bigoted or dangerous ideologies masquerading as policy, and that includes BDS.’ (Haaretz)
- U.S. Approves Secret Deal to Sell Nuclear Technology to Saudi Arabia - Many U.S. lawmakers are concerned that sharing nuclear technology with Saudi Arabia could eventually lead to a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Key Allies of Algerian President Back Army's Plan to Oust Him - Bouteflika's departure on health grounds could solve Algerian crisis, army chief tells officers. (Agencies, Haaretz)
Elections 2019
Commentary/Analysis:
*Saving Israeli Democracy (Haaretz Editorial) This is one of the most dramatic elections in the country’s history, it’s not an overstatement to say that what is at stake in the coming election is saving democracy in Israel.
Among all the stories, it is no longer clear what is truth and what is bluff that is meant to pass the election (Yitzhak Ben-Ner, Maariv) Why did Netanyahu agree to sell the submarines to Egypt? What is the meaning of Trump recognizing Israeli sovereignty in the Golan? And are the Iranians really behind the hacking of Gantz's cell phone?
There is a connection between approving the sale of the submarines to Egypt and the situation in the Gaza vicinity (Menachem Ben, Maariv) The connection between the advanced submarines that were approved [by Israel] for sale to Egypt and the intolerable situation in the Gaza vicinity may be based on the evil, invisible agreements between the prime minister and the Egyptian president. Netanyahu is acting towards the southern front with the restraint that the commentators praise, while in the face of Iran on the northern front, he is arrogant and has already brought about a direct and dangerous military clash with Tehran after a missile was fired at the Golan Heights. Perhaps this is the ostensibly dark consensus between Netanyahu and A-Sisi - the secret they tell the head of the National Security Council, not the heads of the IDF), whose basis is the alliance, cooperation with the Egyptian army (for the benefit of Egypt) and at the same time, an anti-Iranian operation that ostensibly serves the Sunni countries - again Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states. In the framework of Israel's alliance with the "friendly" Sunni world (which the monstrous ISIS was created from it), Israel allows Germany to sell advanced submarines to Sunni Egypt (whose Sunni Arab citizens hates us to death). Because what won’t we do against the supposed Iranian-Shiite threat in the service of the Saudi-American-Egyptian coalition? And if the German submarine company Thysenkrupp is benefiting in the meantime, what's wrong with that? So it is true that Iran is a serious threat to Israel, but it seems that two opposing forces operate in Iran: On the one hand, the extremist Revolutionary Guards, on the other hand, relatively enlightened and moderate forces, such as President Rohani and Foreign Minister Zarif, who even mentioned the Ahasuerus revolution in relation to the Jewish people in the Book of Esther and in another case, Cyrus the Great. That is to say, there are Ahasuerus and there are still Hamans in Persia today. We must not deal only with the masses and we must not sell ourselves to the American-Saudi interest and inflame the hatred of the Shi'ites in favor of our relations with the Sunni world, most of which still hate us today. So it is true that Netanyahu spoke with shining eyes of his regional vision as a way to bypass Abu Mazen, who is of course a great trouble for Israel, but this anti-Shiite axis is dangerous for us, entangling us. Behind A-Sissi’s bear hug are submarines, an Egyptian military presence developing in the Sinai desert, which has ceased to be fully demilitarized with Israel's consent, and also our hands are tied in the war against Hamas. The Egyptian threat seems to me serious and real, and certainly much closer. Ask the (Israeli) residents of the Gaza vicinity about the Iranian threat.
Why Israel Needs Meretz More Than Ever (Zehava Galon, Haaretz+) If the only issue you vote on is 'anyone but Bibi,' that’s what you’ll get: not Bibi - Israel needs much more than that.
Netanyahu and Erdogan Agree: Their Political Foes Are Traitors and Terrorists (Louis Fishman, Haaretz+) Both Turkey and Israel face elections, and both leaders are playing from the same ethno-nationalist political playbook. But in Turkey, the leftist opposition is still alive and kicking - even from jail.
*Saving Israeli Democracy (Haaretz Editorial) This is one of the most dramatic elections in the country’s history, it’s not an overstatement to say that what is at stake in the coming election is saving democracy in Israel.
Among all the stories, it is no longer clear what is truth and what is bluff that is meant to pass the election (Yitzhak Ben-Ner, Maariv) Why did Netanyahu agree to sell the submarines to Egypt? What is the meaning of Trump recognizing Israeli sovereignty in the Golan? And are the Iranians really behind the hacking of Gantz's cell phone?
There is a connection between approving the sale of the submarines to Egypt and the situation in the Gaza vicinity (Menachem Ben, Maariv) The connection between the advanced submarines that were approved [by Israel] for sale to Egypt and the intolerable situation in the Gaza vicinity may be based on the evil, invisible agreements between the prime minister and the Egyptian president. Netanyahu is acting towards the southern front with the restraint that the commentators praise, while in the face of Iran on the northern front, he is arrogant and has already brought about a direct and dangerous military clash with Tehran after a missile was fired at the Golan Heights. Perhaps this is the ostensibly dark consensus between Netanyahu and A-Sisi - the secret they tell the head of the National Security Council, not the heads of the IDF), whose basis is the alliance, cooperation with the Egyptian army (for the benefit of Egypt) and at the same time, an anti-Iranian operation that ostensibly serves the Sunni countries - again Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states. In the framework of Israel's alliance with the "friendly" Sunni world (which the monstrous ISIS was created from it), Israel allows Germany to sell advanced submarines to Sunni Egypt (whose Sunni Arab citizens hates us to death). Because what won’t we do against the supposed Iranian-Shiite threat in the service of the Saudi-American-Egyptian coalition? And if the German submarine company Thysenkrupp is benefiting in the meantime, what's wrong with that? So it is true that Iran is a serious threat to Israel, but it seems that two opposing forces operate in Iran: On the one hand, the extremist Revolutionary Guards, on the other hand, relatively enlightened and moderate forces, such as President Rohani and Foreign Minister Zarif, who even mentioned the Ahasuerus revolution in relation to the Jewish people in the Book of Esther and in another case, Cyrus the Great. That is to say, there are Ahasuerus and there are still Hamans in Persia today. We must not deal only with the masses and we must not sell ourselves to the American-Saudi interest and inflame the hatred of the Shi'ites in favor of our relations with the Sunni world, most of which still hate us today. So it is true that Netanyahu spoke with shining eyes of his regional vision as a way to bypass Abu Mazen, who is of course a great trouble for Israel, but this anti-Shiite axis is dangerous for us, entangling us. Behind A-Sissi’s bear hug are submarines, an Egyptian military presence developing in the Sinai desert, which has ceased to be fully demilitarized with Israel's consent, and also our hands are tied in the war against Hamas. The Egyptian threat seems to me serious and real, and certainly much closer. Ask the (Israeli) residents of the Gaza vicinity about the Iranian threat.
Why Israel Needs Meretz More Than Ever (Zehava Galon, Haaretz+) If the only issue you vote on is 'anyone but Bibi,' that’s what you’ll get: not Bibi - Israel needs much more than that.
Netanyahu and Erdogan Agree: Their Political Foes Are Traitors and Terrorists (Louis Fishman, Haaretz+) Both Turkey and Israel face elections, and both leaders are playing from the same ethno-nationalist political playbook. But in Turkey, the leftist opposition is still alive and kicking - even from jail.
Other Commentary/Analysis:
Golan in Israeli hands furthers US interests, too (Yoram Ettinger, Israel Hayom) Israel's retreat from the Golan Heights would have severely eroded its posture of deterrence, transforming the Jewish state from a national security asset (for the U.S.) to a national security liability.
Why Golan Recognition Can't Pave Way for Israel to Annex West Bank (Mordechai Kremnitzer, Haaretz+) There are two explanations for Israel's annexation talk. One is trivial, the other is cause for concern.
Golan decree is a diplomatic miracle (Shlomo Pyuterkovsky, Yedioth/Ynet) Let us not underestimate the significance of US recognition of land captured by Israel in war; Nasrallah is correct that it sets a precedent that can influence policy regarding the West Bank.
Jews must not be afraid to use their power (Alan M. Dershowitz, Israel Hayom) When I hear that Jews are too powerful, my response is, we are not powerful enough. If Jewish power and influence are used in the cause of peace and justice, there is nothing to be ashamed of.
The Egyptian Generals Trying to Douse the Flames Between Israel and Hamas (Jack Khoury, Haaretz+) While the Egyptian troika has played a major role in preventing war, some Palestinian Authority officials are unhappy with its dominant role.
Egypt is Israel and Hamas' reluctant mediator (Smadar Perry, Yedioth/Ynet) Sisi doesn't want to have anything to do with Hamas, whom he doesn't trust and hates for cozying up to the hated Muslim Brotherhood, but he wants quiet on his Gazan border, and accepts that there is no better alternative.
Despite ‘Quality Targets,’ Israeli Army Strikes in Gaza Have Little Real Effect (Yaniv Kubovich, Haaretz+) The IDF attacks defined targets, but the effort to enhance their quality in the eyes of the public creates gaps between the promises made by the politicians and the actions against Hamas in reality.
Israel's blessings and curses (Ruthie Blum, Israel Hayom) Most of the public is aware that Prime Minister Netanyahu is not to blame for the asymmetric warfare imposed on the Jewish state by immoral forces bent on its destruction.
It’s a Grave Mistake to Entrust American Evangelicals With Israel’s Future (Eric H. Yoffie, Haaretz+) Netanyahu thinks evangelicals are more reliable guarantors of U.S. support than liberal American Jews and fractious, inclusive groups like AIPAC. He’s wrong: the fury many U.S. Jews feel is directed against him, not Israel.
Something rotten in the police state (Meir Indor, Israel Hayom) The minister in charge of the police lacks authority and must contend with a police chief and senior officers who exploit their positions to intimidate their superiors and use taxpayer funds as they deem fit.
Two-state solution: U.S. Jews won't budge. Will it cost them their relationship with Israel? (Allison Kaplan Sommer, Haaretz+) Supporting two states was not always a given for American Jews. But once it became the preferred solution, while Israelis grew increasingly skeptical, it drove the two biggest Jewish communities in the world apart.
Golan in Israeli hands furthers US interests, too (Yoram Ettinger, Israel Hayom) Israel's retreat from the Golan Heights would have severely eroded its posture of deterrence, transforming the Jewish state from a national security asset (for the U.S.) to a national security liability.
Why Golan Recognition Can't Pave Way for Israel to Annex West Bank (Mordechai Kremnitzer, Haaretz+) There are two explanations for Israel's annexation talk. One is trivial, the other is cause for concern.
Golan decree is a diplomatic miracle (Shlomo Pyuterkovsky, Yedioth/Ynet) Let us not underestimate the significance of US recognition of land captured by Israel in war; Nasrallah is correct that it sets a precedent that can influence policy regarding the West Bank.
Jews must not be afraid to use their power (Alan M. Dershowitz, Israel Hayom) When I hear that Jews are too powerful, my response is, we are not powerful enough. If Jewish power and influence are used in the cause of peace and justice, there is nothing to be ashamed of.
The Egyptian Generals Trying to Douse the Flames Between Israel and Hamas (Jack Khoury, Haaretz+) While the Egyptian troika has played a major role in preventing war, some Palestinian Authority officials are unhappy with its dominant role.
Egypt is Israel and Hamas' reluctant mediator (Smadar Perry, Yedioth/Ynet) Sisi doesn't want to have anything to do with Hamas, whom he doesn't trust and hates for cozying up to the hated Muslim Brotherhood, but he wants quiet on his Gazan border, and accepts that there is no better alternative.
Despite ‘Quality Targets,’ Israeli Army Strikes in Gaza Have Little Real Effect (Yaniv Kubovich, Haaretz+) The IDF attacks defined targets, but the effort to enhance their quality in the eyes of the public creates gaps between the promises made by the politicians and the actions against Hamas in reality.
Israel's blessings and curses (Ruthie Blum, Israel Hayom) Most of the public is aware that Prime Minister Netanyahu is not to blame for the asymmetric warfare imposed on the Jewish state by immoral forces bent on its destruction.
It’s a Grave Mistake to Entrust American Evangelicals With Israel’s Future (Eric H. Yoffie, Haaretz+) Netanyahu thinks evangelicals are more reliable guarantors of U.S. support than liberal American Jews and fractious, inclusive groups like AIPAC. He’s wrong: the fury many U.S. Jews feel is directed against him, not Israel.
Something rotten in the police state (Meir Indor, Israel Hayom) The minister in charge of the police lacks authority and must contend with a police chief and senior officers who exploit their positions to intimidate their superiors and use taxpayer funds as they deem fit.
Two-state solution: U.S. Jews won't budge. Will it cost them their relationship with Israel? (Allison Kaplan Sommer, Haaretz+) Supporting two states was not always a given for American Jews. But once it became the preferred solution, while Israelis grew increasingly skeptical, it drove the two biggest Jewish communities in the world apart.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.