APN's daily news review from Israel

Monday May 13, 2019

 

Quote of the day:
"There is nothing more revolting: Jews preaching to Germans on why they should close their doors and throw out the migrants."
—Commentator Nitzan Horowitz writes in an Op-Ed during a visit to Berlin.

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Front Page:

Haaretz

Yedioth Ahronoth

Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)

Israel Hayom

News Summary:
Even higher tension between US and Iran after the UAE said that four commercial vessels were targeted by ‘sabotage operations' near Iran, funny business by Israeli Prime Minister’s lawyers who refused to accept evidence material from Attorney General and blamed the delivery man, and Eurovision Week kicks off in Tel-Aviv making top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers.

The Hebrew newspapers didn’t believe for a minute the claim by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's lawyer that the courier didn’t leave at the attorney’s office the investigation materials for the three cases Netanyahu that is a suspect. Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit is considering what to do. May 10 was the final date set by Mendelblit to schedule the pre-indictment hearing, but Netanyahu’s legal team failed to do that. Meanwhile, Haaretz+ reported that Netanyahu is pushing for a law that will allow the Knesset and government ministers to ignore rulings of the High Court of Justice - such as a potential revocation of his immunity.

While Israel is doing its best this week to avoid any conflicts with the Palestinians during Eurovision Week (e.g. ‘understandings’ with Hamas for ceasefire), some Israelis are working to bring attention to the occupation.
On a big billboard, Breaking the Silence invited tourists in Israel to visit Hebron and 'see the full picture' of the occupation. And BDS activists held a rally outside the opening ceremony, calling the Tel-Aviv event 'whitewashing through arts.’ Maariv reported that Miri Regev wouldn’t be attending the Eurovision event because she wants to appear more of a leader for a better ministerial position in the government.

The Israeli analysts assumed that the reported blasts at vessels at the UAE port across from the Iranian coast were the work of Iran. Iran accused the US of ‘psychological warfare' in its sending of warships to the Persian Gulf and an Iranian military commander said, “If [the Americans] make a move we will hit them in the head.” Israeli minister and close Netanyahu ally, Yuval Steinitz, warned that Iran may attack Israel if the standoff between the US and Iran escalates. Iran also closed a reformist magazine calling for dialogue with the US. Oddly, however, Iran also announced it will reverse its long-standing boycott of its judokas playing against Israeli judokas.
 

Quick Hits:

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Features:
Sinwar, Haniyeh and Morsi: The surprising names on the Saudi newspaper's terror list
The Saudi newspaper ‘Makkah,’ which published the names of 40 senior Hamas and Arab leaders on its terrorist list, caused a great uproar. The list included names and pictures of 40 former and present senior officials in the Islamic world under the title, "40 International Terrorists Influenced by the Muslim Brotherhood." It was published against the backdrop of attempts by Saudi Arabia and Egypt to persuade the Trump administration to declare the largest political movement in the Arab world - the Muslim Brotherhood - a terrorist movement. This is after both Cairo and Riyadh outlawed the movement. The paper took the list from the American CEP website, which allegedly found an ideological connection between the Muslim Brotherhood and the terrorist organizations such as al-Qaeda, ISIS and al-Nusra. But it was received with real shock among large sections of the Arab and Muslim world. Commenters even pointed to the heir to the throne, the de facto ruler in Saudi Arabia, Muhammad bin Salman, as the person behind this publication…"We are telling those who are normalizing relations, who call the leaders of the resistance 'terrorists', that neither the United States nor Israel will be pleased with you," said Khalil al-Hayah, a senior Hamas figure. "They want to take your money to implement the American project in the region." A few hours after the publication of the article in the newspaper, the article was removed its official website. The paper also deleted the Twitter post that caused the storm. (Yasser Okbi, Maariv Magazine supplement, p. 7)
An M16 to the Face: Israel’s Violent Bureaucracy Against Palestinian Farmers
Only 13 of the 77 gates in the West Bank separation fence are open daily for Palestinian farmers. Soldiers decide who may reach his field – if they can understand the orders. (Amira Hass, Haaretz+)
Years of Gaza rocket strikes leave dark mark on the south's psyche
NGO dealing with post-trauma reports huge spike in calls to its helpline, especially in southern Israel; almost half of callers are discharged combat troops aged 21-34. (Rotem Elizera, Yedioth/Ynet)
Eurovision 2019: The top ten songs competing to win
A list of the top ten songs competing at Eurovision 2019, according to online bookmakers. (Haaretz)
Gaza skateboarders battle blockade and conservatism
Wearing a cap and looking more skater-bro than Muslim Brotherhood, 23-year-old Rajab Reefi says the newly completed park is an oasis from the stresses of Gazan life; building the facility meant the Italian Cultural Center in Gaza jumping through Israeli administrative hoops. (AFP, Ynet)
Jewish Cartoonist Eli Valley Sparks Angry Debate About anti-Semitism
His comics often employ Nazi imagery satirically and he’s explicit about the point: To him, Trump and his allies are modern-day Nazis, and their Jewish supporters are 'worse-than-kapos’. (JTA, Haaretz)
In Israel, members of Arab minority embrace Palestinian identity
Each year a gathering is held to commemorate the "Nakba," lamenting the Arab defeat in 1948 and the creation of Israel as many are increasingly confident in asserting identity. (Reuters, Ynet)

Commentary/Analysis:
Netanyahu’s Assault on Judiciary Will Lead to Rule Without Restraint (Mordechai Kremnitzer, Haaretz+) For those who seek unlimited power, neutralizing the High Court makes sense as it will rescue Netanyahu from the charges against him. This must be stopped.
The ongoing erosion of democratic institutions seems to us quite natural (Ben Caspit, Maariv)  Private estate: We do not need the torch-lighting ceremony to notice the acceleration of the monarchy process of the state, which was once a glorious parliamentary democracy. Nevertheless, the video evokes the nausea that was shown at the opening, from which it emerged that the vision of the state, the thinker and the first founder, the father of Zionism and the grandfather of our forefather Abraham, was the husband of the incumbent prime minister. This (Independence Day) ceremony is supposed to be the most refined essence of statehood. At times it appeared as if it were the (Netanyahu) couple's birthday, while it was the country that crashed the event. On IRAN: Prayer time: It is impossible to underestimate the drama now taking place on the explosive axis between Tehran and Washington. The Iranian announcement that the commitment to the nuclear agreement is being reduced was predicted by MI as a possibility of action by the ayatollahs in the middle of 2009. The announcement also includes the possibility of an Iranian return to uranium enrichment, proving (beyond the accuracy of Israeli military intel) the fact that Iran is indeed collapsing. The regime of the ayatollahs is on its knees. On the face of it, this is Binyamin Netanyahu's dream scenario. Only one question remains open: will the scenario continue to come true as a dream, or at some point break into a nightmare.
A threat to the government (Pinchas Fischler, Israel Hayom) It seems that in the Israel Police, they believe they can pick and choose the next commissioner and the next public security minister as they see fit. It's about time these officials were brought back down to earth.
Netanyahu tries to buy time, but can't avoid the court (Gidi Weitz, Haaretz+) The real question is what happens first: Will Netanyahu be protected from facing the law or will he be indicted?
Bibi’s Appetite for Power Is a Danger to the Economy (Sami Peretz, Haaretz+) Rumors are that Netanyahu wants to move the powerful budget division from the treasury to the Prime Minister’s Office.
It can be said that during Attorney General Mendelblit's term the State Prosecutor's Office was buried in a grave (Ben Caspit, Maariv) If nothing dramatic happens, the Attorney General will enter history as someone during whose days the Israeli prosecution was disbanded and the State Prosecutor's Office was ridiculed.
Nominate a State Comptroller Now (Raviv Drucker, Haaretz+) Shapira was not a strong comptroller, to say the least. But the comptroller’s weakness has actually highlighted the strength of the State Comptroller’s Office, which has produced significant reports throughout his tenure. There was the report on the factors responsible for the insane rise in apartment prices; the report on expenditures at the prime minister’s residences, which led to a police investigation; and the report on the Communications Ministry, particularly its oversight of Bezeq, which led to the so-called Bezeq-Walla case against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The fact that Netanyahu is trying to reach a consensus on who the next comptroller will be with MK Bezalel Smotrich (Union of Right-Wing Parties) shows what kind of comptroller he wants. After all, during the last Knesset, Smotrich aggressively pushed a bill that sought to undermine the comptroller’s power insofar as possible. The opposition, which is relatively homogenous, must find a candidate who could defeat Netanyahu’s candidate in a secret ballot.
Tensions in the Persian Gulf: The signs of war and its rattles do not necessarily herald the outbreak of war (Yossi Melman, Maariv) Israel's security establishment is closely monitoring all the scenarios, and the prevailing view is that war is not on the horizon. Perhaps the increasing tension will lead to Iran's return to negotiations.
*A New Israeli Hatred for Europe (Nitzan Horowitz, Haaretz+) Years of brainwashing by the media and a hefty dose of racism at home have gotten Israelis to embrace the positions of fascist movements across the Continent, creating a discourse of hatred of the liberal Europe that dares welcome migrants. There is nothing more revolting: Jews preaching to Germans on why they should close their doors and throw out the migrants.
The Core of Poverty (Haaretz Editorial) The alliance forged between Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party and the ultra-Orthodox parties is based on a situation that undermines interests and values about which Netanyahu often boasts – progress, technological development, entrepreneurship and global business development. The number of ultra-Orthodox students who are exempt from studying the core curriculum has grown steadily. The prime minister understands this very well, but has put his own political needs ahead of the broader public interest and the welfare of ultra-Orthodox youngsters.
UN officials: "The future of the Deal of the Century and its chances of being accepted don’t interest Trump" (Shlomo Shamir, Maariv) The president is behaving and reacting already like someone who started his election campaign, and knows that he is facing a very serious competitor. The peace plan is not included in his political agenda.
Palestinians Are Pulled From Their Homes 'Like Weeds' for Israeli Army Drills (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) On Sunday, when the smell of scorched meat from Israel Independence Day celebrations still loomed, again our armed boys showed up in Khirbet Humsa, a community of shepherds in the northeastern Jordan Valley. They needed to ensure that several dozen people in four compounds of the Palestinian community will obey orders to willingly expel themselves to clear room for Israel Defense Forces training exercises. And no, don’t worry. The Jewish residents of the nearby settlements of Roi and Beka’ot are not required to evacuate their private homes for the sake of military training exercises. The hand of fate, lacking any malicious intent, has determined that only Palestinians live, graze their flocks and eke out a living in firing zones. And therefore they are the only ones who have to pack up their meager belongings, their sheep and goats, their children and their water containers (because Israel doesn’t allow them to have connected water infrastructure) and leave. To where? That’s their problem.
There is no point in another occupation of Gaza if is followed by a withdrawal with our tail between our legs (Dr. Chaim Misgav, Maariv) We must internalize the fact that this evil place does not have a political-strategic solution. The only step that the State of Israel must take is the continuation of action. This has always been how Israel has acted.
The Left and the Elites Are Playing With Fire (Israel Cohen, Haaretz+) “When the burden increases, and the coffers empty, a more charismatic politician than [Yair] Lapid is liable to persuade the public that the solution to its distress is to violently suppress the Haredim, throw draft dodgers into prison and use armed soldiers to impose the study of core subjects,” Haaretz’s editor Aluff Benn wrote in a threatening Op-Ed. Had such remarks been uttered by a far-right politician in Austria, international protests and diplomatic denunciations would have been heard throughout Europe. But in Israel, it’s okay to say anything at all about the ultra-Orthodox. Columnist Nehemia Shtrasler also engages in incitement. One day we’ll see MK Yitzhak Vaknin (Shas) lighting a torch at the annual Independence Day ceremony, he wrote, “in honor of the cowardly ultra-Orthodox draft dodgers, who bravely send secular and religious Zionist Jews out to die for them, and for the glory of the State of Israel” (Haaretz in Hebrew, May 10). Shtrasler ignores the fact that quite a few ultra-Orthodox people have been asked to light torches in recognition of their volunteer work. But more importantly, I’m sorry to disappoint you, Benn and Shtrasler. Sometimes the threat is aimed at the ultra-Orthodox, sometimes at MK Bezalel Smotrich (Union of Right-Wing Parties), sometimes at Culture Minister Miri Regev, and we won’t even mention Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Yet this effort to intimidate everyone who thinks and acts differently than you do is destined to fail.
Iran’s dilemma (Yossi Kuperwasser, Israel Hayom) In Tehran, regime officials are worried that the pressure applied by the U.S. administration is meant to expedite regime change, not just curb Iran's nuclear and hegemonic ambitions in the region.
America must not back down against Iran (Emily B. Landau, Haaretz+) The U.S. is not initiating hostilities. It is not bullying Iran. It is responding to Tehran’s recent threats – and to years of lying and cheating about its nuclear capabilities. The aim of Trump's maximum pressure on Iran is negotiations, not war.
We Don’t Need a Palestinian Personality Cult (Odeh Bisharat, Haaretz+) It seems as if the harder Israel hits on the Palestinians, the more obtuse and self-confident Palestinian leaders become. This is also the case with Hamas in Gaza, with its suppression of the demonstrations there. In his time, Ghawwar, a Syrian comic figure, would say: The state beats me, I beat my wife, my wife beats the kids and they start fights with the other kids in the neighborhood. The wheel turns, and the people are ground up.
In Syria's 'Safe Spaces,' Tens of Thousands Are Held Hostage (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) Displaced Syrian civilians who were supposed to find refuge in the country's de-escalated areas are held hostages in the unsolved dispute between Russia, Syria and Turkey. And the world stands by.
 
 

Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.