APN's daily news review from Israel
Wednesday October 23, 2019 

Numbers of the Day:

In 2018, more than 20,000 Palestinians paid almost half a billion shekels ($140 million) to brokers and Israeli companies and employers to receive a permit to work in Israel - between one-third and one-half of their potential earning power in Israel.
--A recent study by the Bank of Israel estimates that around one-third of West Bank workers in Israel must pay much of their earnings in order to work.*

Front Page:

Haaretz

• Senior sources in army and police: The submission to the settlers created an atmosphere in which everything is permissible
• In the security establishment, they recommend opening a police point in Yitzhar in order to create deterrence and the possibility for fast response
• Today, Rivlin will give Gantz the mandate for forming a government
• The ceasefire in Syria ended: Putin and Erdogan agreed on a continued operation against the Kurds
• The fear that ISIS will take advantage of the US withdrawal from Syria is gradually materializing // NYT
• Division in the ultra-Orthodox community in Israel: Hundreds of members of Gur sect left to a new community
• In the WhatsApp era, it’s no longer possible to market the rabbis as holy // Anshel Pfeffer
• Number of Arab students doubled in a decade, but the gaps are still great
• Haifa Municipality advertised a children’s play with gender separation (of audience) - and retracted
• The future of free press // Sami Peretz writes that Netanyahu corruption Cases 2000 and 4000 are critical
• Tradition, not coercion // Alexander Yaakobson on religion and state

Yedioth Ahronoth

• Special: This is how the life of hilltop youth near Yitzhar settlement looks at the rioters' outpost
• No one heard - Murder of Maria Tal, who asked to be protected from her husband (Hebrew)
• Gantz’s plan: Likud first (Hebrew)
• Battle of the dish - The legendary ‘Hummous Khalil’ in Ramleh is going out to battle against the hummous joint at Bilu junction, which ‘adopted’ its name (Hebrew)
• They surfed into a romance - Coach of Israel national Windsurfing team, Pierre Loquet, fired because of his romantic relationship with Olympic hope, Katy Spychakov, who is 17 years younger (Hebrew)

Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)

• The mandate passes to Gantz: “Always optimistic”
• The abuse of the baby in Ashkelon - Efforts to stabilize the infant, who, according to suspicions, was attacked by the Palestinian boyfriend of her mother: His attorney: “He slipped and fell on her”
• Shamgar was laid to rest: “Architect of Israeli law”
• Parting from Arik Hoenig: “A symbol of joy of life”

Israel Hayom

• “The 55-person bloc of the right-wing is still stable” - The mandate transfers to the other side: Tonight, Rivlin will impose on Gants the forming of the government
• Gantz will connect with the religious (parties)? Don’t count on it // Yehuda Schlezinger
• The Kahol-Lavan method: Pretend stateliness // Eitan Orkibi
• The incident in Avivim: Guidelines were not enforced, only luck prevented deaths
• Exclusive: Because of discrimination at health clinics: Ilan could pay with his life
• Rabbis present: A modesty pamphlet for IDF soldiers
• Cost of the boycott on Israel: Iran was suspended from judo competitions
• Putin and Erdogan agreed: The Turkish operation will continue in a strip 30 kilometers from the border

Top News Summary:
Rioting West Bank settlers a dying baby (the 21-year-old Palestinian boyfriend of the baby’s mother is suspected of abuse) and the transfer of the mandate to Kahol-Lavan leader Benny Gantz to form a government were today’s top stories in the Hebrew newspapers.

The army has extended for one month the order of a closed military zone over Yitzhar settlement (Maariv) following a row of violent riots against Israeli soldiers by hilltop youth in an outpost near Yitzhar over the last few days, which resulted in the light injury of a soldier. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu condemned the settler violence after an IDF soldier was injured. Haaretz revealed that officials in the security establishment were critical of Israel's military policy in the West Bank, which they say gives in to the dictates of settlement leaders 'to benefit the Jewish population' rather than be dictated by security considerations, thereby encouraging violence against Israeli soldiers. However, Yedioth’s settlement correspondent, Elisha Ben-Kimon, provided a understanding report from the outpost itself, describing the fears of small children and largely ignoring the source of the violence. (See Features section below.) On Sunday, Yedioth’s diplomatic and military correspondents reported that the Shin Bet, IDF and the Israeli police agreed on a joint effort 'to counter this grave phenomenon' of settler violence against soldiers. Maariv reported today that former commander of Judea and Samaria Division, Maj. Gen. Noam Tibon, called the rioting settlers ‘terrorists.’ “Whoever attacks a soldier is a terrorist,” he said adding that "This is a violent group in which there are terrorists.” The wave of violence began Sunday when a Yitzhar settler attacked Golani Brigade patrol commander, Lt. Col. Ayub Kayuf, [who is either Arab-Israeli or Druze-Israeli - OH], a couple days after Golani military police arrested a youth from Yitzhar on suspicion of setting a fire in the valley between the hills of the settlement and the nearby Palestinian town of Huwwara. [It would be interesting to know if the settler would have attacked a Lt. Col. had he been Jewish. - OH]

Elections 2019 News and Quickees:
Today, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin tasks Gantz with forming the government after Netanyahu returned the mandate earlier this week. Gantz will have 28 days to try to establish a governing coalition after Netanyahu failed. According to the political correspondents, Gantz's first phone call is the Likud party with the goal of forming a minority government and himself at the helm, because he does not believe it possible to form a government without the Likud. At the same time, writes Yedioth’s (Hebrew) Yuval Karni, Kahol-Lavan predicts that there won’t be a breakthrough in coalition negotiations between the parties, as Netanyahu does not intend to relinquish the right-wing ultra-Orthodox bloc or his demand to be the first in rotation to lead. “At the same time, Gantz is expected to meet with all Knesset factions except for the Balad, and keep - at least outwardly - his strongest card against the Likud on a low flame: a minority government.

• Third Israeli Election? Here's the Political Calendar as Gantz Tries to Form a Government - Rivlin will hand Gantz the task within three days, but what happens if he succeeds – or fails? Is there a possible third candidate for prime minister?And when will the decision come on indicting Netanyahu? (Haaretz+)
• Channel 13 News poll: 46% of the public prefers Gantz to lead before Netanyahu in case of unity - A new poll gives 34 mandates for Kahol-Lavan compared to 33 for Likud, with 56 to each of the blocs. Only 40% think Netanyahu should serve first in the event of unity. (Maariv)
• Liberman: Netanyahu doesn't want unity government, 'hostage' of ultra-Orthodox - Yisrael Beytenu leader says prime minister abused his position to advance his own agenda, willing to drag country to third round of elections to suit his 'own personal motives.’ (Maariv and Ynet)
• Arab Parties Are Readying to Back Gantz — but Will He Invite Them to the Negotiating Table? - Joint List leaders and members are saying that they would support a Gantz government from the opposition. But they have their apprehensions. (Haaretz+)

Quick Hits:

• Palestinian wounded by firebomb thrown at Israeli police in flashpoint Jerusalem neighborhood - Police arrested eight people suspected of participating in clashes with security forces in Isawiyah. (Haaretz+)
• With Coffins and Convoys, Low Turnout at Israeli Arab Protest Against Police Inaction - Arab political organization says it plans to take complaints about police handling of violence in Arab community to United Nations. (Haaretz+)
• As Israeli Arab community rocked by murders, Islamic leaders join anti-violence battle — at a price - Arab community violence made headlines in recent weeks as Israeli Arabs have taken to the streets over what they claim has been police inaction. (Haaretz+)
• Fix the West Bank fence, local leaders urge Netanyahu - Heads of regional councils plead with PM to repair breaches in West Bank security barrier, warning it is no longer effective in preventing terror attacks, say appeals to the military have gone unanswered. (Yedioth/Ynet)
• After the suicide of a combat soldier: IDF will examine the way it recruits undercover agents -The IDF reported that the head of the ACA and the chief military attorney had appointed a team of experts to conduct a systemic examination of the issue. This comes in the shadow of the trial of two Military Police intel coordinators accused of negligence after a soldier they recruited to report on his comrades committed suicide. (Maariv, p. 9 and Channel 13 News Hebrew)
• Secular parents outraged: First grade textbook has "religious content" - Parents claim that a textbook called "Reading and Learning with Pleasure" contains "unrelated" content. In one of the pages, the son explains to his mother that "one must study Torah starting in kindergarten.“ (Maariv)
• Israeli, Jewish leaders eulogize former chief justice Shamgar - “[He] had an important role in shaping the foundation of Israeli jurisprudence, including legal policy in Judea and Samaria,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says in the wake of the death of 94-year-old jurist, who retired in 1995. Shamgar, who helped shape the character of the Israeli legal system and laid the cornerstones of Israeli law, passed away on Friday at 94. (Haaretz+ and Israel Hayom)
• IDF probe into Hezbollah missile attack finds soldiers violated orders - Military investigation into Sept. 1 incident concludes troops traveling through a restricted area near the Israel-Lebanon border against directives narrowly escaped with their lives. IDF chief to rule on whether any of the officers involved will be subject to disciplinary action. (Israel Hayom)
• Rabbi stops Electric Corp. from fixing power cut on Jewish holiday - 'We were held hostage,' says local resident after Elad religious municipality left without lights, air conditioning and hot food for 11 hours as rabbi prevents emergency crew dispatched to mend outage from entering the city during Simchat Torah. (Ynet)
• After 50 years, Zubin Mehta bids farewell to Israel Philharmonic with final concert - Iconic conductor chooses Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 to celebrate his final performance as music director. (Haaretz+)
• Israeli delegation at Bahrain conference on Mideast stability - Israeli security analyst: Attendance at two-day summit alongside Saudi Arabia, UAE is part of an effort by Jerusalem to strengthen its ties with Arab states also concerned about Iran threat. (Ynet and Israel Hayom)
• Journalists against Palestinian President Abbas and the PA: Court will discuss blocking Palestinian websites - The Palestinian Prosecutor's Office blocked 59 websites and Facebook pages in the West Bank, that were critical of Mahmoud Abbas, including pages belonging to the Balad party from the Joint List. (Maariv)
• Palestinian who converted to Judaism arrested, badly beaten by PA forces - The 50-year-old man, who appears to be a grandson of a Palestinian who helped save Jews during 1929 Hebron massacre, has been held for the past 2 weeks on pretext of assaulting his brother; meanwhile, the man says his siblings mercilessly beat him, while PA police gave him burns on his arms and legs. (Yedioth/Ynet and JPost)
• Al-Quds report: Hamas fears targeted killings by Israel, ups security - Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad fear that Israel will take advantage of the chaos caused by wave of protests in Lebanon to target some of their senior members who are based in Hezbollah-controlled territory. (Israel Hayom)
• Trump congratulates Netanyahu on 70th birthday: 'You're great' - U.S. president praises PM in official letter, citing their strong fellowship and saying close ties between countries 'have never been more productive.’ (Yedioth/Ynet and Maariv and Israel Hayom)
• 'All Options on the Table': Warren, Buttigieg Say Expanded Israeli Occupation in West Bank Could Lead to U.S. Aid Cuts - Though unlikely that Netanyahu will fulfill promise of annexing parts of West Bank, presidential contenders say imperiling two-state solution could have consequences. (Haaretz+ and Israel Hayom)
• Joe Lieberman's New Job: Lobbying for Israel Aerospace Industries - Unable to sell to China or the Arab world, Israeli companies are buying and lobbying their way into expanded activities in the U.S. (Haaretz+)
• Iran Banned Indefinitely From International Judo Federation for Boycotting Israelis - Federation says Iran pressured Saeid Mollaei not to fight Sagi Muki ■ Mollaei has since defected to Germany. (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
• As truce deadline nears, Putin, Erdogan meet in Syria - Talks between Russian and Turkish presidents likely to be crucial in determining arrangements along Syrian-Turkish border, where Ankara demands a long "safe zone" cleared of Kurdish fighters. (Agencies, Ynet)
• Pompeo: Trump 'fully prepared' to use military against Turkey if necessary - The secretary of state said the president wouldn't hesitate to use force against its NATO ally, which would destroy the 70-year-old intergovernmental alliance, if the Turks continue the offensive against the Kurds in Syria despite the ceasefire. (i24NEWS, Ynet)
• Turkey to Get YPG-free 'Safe Zone' in Syria Following Erdogan, Putin Agreement - Russian, Syrian troops to replace American, Kurdish presence ■ YPG to be forced out 30 km from Turkish border ■ Turkey says no need for new operation at this stage. (Agencies, Ynet)

Features:

No man's land (at West Bank settler outpost)
Three kilometers separate the settlement of Yitzhar from the "Komi Uri" hill, but residents say the conceptual distance is much greater. • On the other hand, there are residents who claim that the IDF soldiers are also guilty of the situation. on the hill, where not only young boys but also families, say Aviha and Ariel Danino: "Our girl cries after arrests made by soldiers.”
The simmering tension following the violent events of the last few days in the Yitzhar area has no real sign at the entrance of the settlement. There are no Border Police jeeps waiting with means for dispersing demonstrations. Neither are “Givonim” - hilltop youth - masked youth throwing stones throwing stones at them. Instead, you can see a mother and daughter stepping on the gas on an ATV, a group of toddlers walking on the sidewalk, and youth practice shooting paint balls.
One can be alarmed for a moment by the sight of the boys holding the paintball guns, storming the mountains, but in the locality they explain that this is just an organized activity for the youth of YIzthar. Playing on another day off. A person who is unfamiliar with the locality and enters it for the first time may still think he was wrong in the address and did not come to the locality that made the headlines. But silence is deceptively quiet. We found the tension above - for the dirt paths leading to the hills surrounding the settlement and in particular to the "Komi Ori" outpost, also known as the “Srugah“ (hill), which has been the focus of recent events. It started just a week ago - then a minor in Yitzhar was arrested by a Golani fighter officer after he was suspected of taking part in the arson. The settlers claimed the arrest was illegal and violent. Last Friday, while in the midst of a military exercise in the locality, the Jeep of  Brigadier General, Lieutenant-General Ayoub Kayyuf, encountered a resident of Yitzhar who cursed and pushed him. A few hours later, he was arrested on suspicion of assault. On Saturday night, when tensions came to a boil, about 30 hill boys from the outpost threw stones at the force of fighters and even wounded an IDF soldier. The attack provoked a wave of condemnation, even among right-wingers and residents of Yitzhar itself, but the violence continued with attacks and clashes by outpost residents and border fighters stationed there.
Such a confrontation also happened yesterday, when Border Police fighters read the decree stating that the hill would be considered as a closed military zone for a month. Contrary to reports in recent days, the outpost is not only made up of boys, but also families. For example, we met Ariel (24) and Aviha (21) Danino yesterday, parents of a baby. "The residents here lived in peace with the army for a long time, unfortunately because of violent and unexplained behavior by an officer who was here we reached at a place we did not want to reach," Ariel argues, referring to the minor's arrest. The settlers claim the arrest was violent and illegal. "My daughter cries quite a few times after arrests made by the soldiers here. Occasionally, soldiers come up and make an arrest which is an emotional event for my girl. She cries really from any such incident," her father says. There are seven families in Kumi Uri. Ariel and her father came there a year ago. Yesterday, the Civil Administration issued demolition orders and work stoppages to some of the homes on the site, which again angered residents. "The IDF, the police and the Shin Bet know that the incident that took place here has nothing to do with families and they still decide to take collective punishment unfairly," Ariel blames. Samaria Council leader Yossi Dagan also said similar things: "The state needs to strengthen the Yitzhar community and not make collective punishments," he said. The Danino couple live not far from the Zarog family. The family's father, Neria, received a three-month restraining order from Samaria last month, subject to a hearing. As part of the order, he was also forbidden to contact another 16 of his friends. In Yitzhar, they launched a protest that included demonstrations in front of the home of Central Command Commander Nadav Padan. The restraining order was signed, but Zarug is still around and at the same time a campaign is underway in Samaria to cancel the order against him. There is no quiet moment on Sruga hill. From the hills we return to the settlement of Yitzhar, the home of secretary Yehiel Klein. A Golani fighter himself in the past, 12th Battalion, and now the owner of a sewing company. Together with others, he led the settlement to cope with recent events. "We were clear from the first moment that the incident of the harming of the soldier should be condemned," he says. "We have had discussions about how far to go with the condemnation and whether a settlement notice is needed in which we will detail the actions we intend to do.
After I transferred the message within the community, I received criticism from everywhere. Some said we shouldn't elaborate too much, just condemn and that's it. Some argued that we don’t need to surrender and lower our heads because the conduct of the soldiers here was also part of it. Everything is here. Because it's Yitzhar - it's diverse.” (Elisha Ben-Kimon, Yedioth Hebrew, p.1)
*Exploitation and Profiteering: Palestinians Forced to Pay a Fortune to Work in Israel
The illegal trade in permits cost 20,000 workers $140 million last year, each paying up to around $700 each. The profits go to brokers and employers. (Amira Hass, Haaretz+)

Commentary/Analysis:

National Reserve for Wild Weeds (Haaretz Editorial) With or without a government, it’s clear to everyone just who is in charge in the occupied territories – the settlers. They act violently toward Palestinians on a regular basis, and every so often toward soldiers as well. With regard to the former, the Israeli public and its elected representatives have been utterly apathetic. When the army is attacked, in contrast, a momentary outcry erupts, but it soon dies down.
Violent Jewish Settlers Won't Be Easily Deterred — Even With Increased Israeli Security Presence (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) A series of attacks at Yitzhar settlement prompted condemnations, but the phenomenon isn't new ■ Defense establishment recommends opening a police station there, a move that Netanyahu isn't likely to pass.
Rewarding the Israeli Attackers in the Settlements (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) It’s a system – violence carried out with the army’s full backing and with the aim of expanding, on a daily basis, the area from which Palestinians are driven out.
Who Needs the Strategic Affairs Ministry? (Yael Patir, Haaretz+) The expected change of government is an excellent opportunity to reassess the function of and need for the Ministry of Strategic Affairs and Public Diplomacy. The combination of public diplomacy and strategy was tailored to Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan as a kind of compensation for the unattractiveness of the Public Security Ministry, which Erdan initially rejected. During Erdan’s time at the ministry alongside Sima Vaknin-Gil, until recently its director general, two parallel processes took place: While the budget of the Strategic Affairs Ministry grew and grew, the budget of the Foreign Affairs Ministry shrank considerably. On the one hand a political Foreign Ministry was set up, and on the other, Israeli diplomats’ ability to act effectively was neutered.
The patent of the Deal of the Century: Kushner fails to market his own plan (Shlomo Shamir, Maariv) President Trump's adviser and son-in-law does not realize that every postponement of the peace plan guarantees its failure. For the upcoming visit he added a new cherry - a meeting with Benny Gantz.
One Netanyahu and 19 Years of Incitement (Niva Lanir, Haaretz+) Not long before Rosh Hashanah I saw the movie “Incitement,” which describes the events before the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin and the night of the murder itself. A bit later I watched the 10 episodes of the TV series “Our Boys,” set in the summer of 2014. The background is the kidnapping-murder of three Jewish teenagers from the West Bank, but the story focuses on the revenge killing – the kidnapping and burning of teenager Mohammed Abu Khdeir from East Jerusalem by three young Jews, as well as their arrest and trial. Benjamin Netanyahu called the series anti-Semitic and said TV production company Keshet “slanders me on a daily basis.” The prime minister presumably watched the series. As for me, one comment: 19 years between one murder and the other. The threads of incitement connecting the two. And one Netanyahu.
On military might and moral power (David M. Weinberg, Israel Hayom) Israel’s national security and its national decency are closely linked: When Israel is strong socially and spiritually it earns the respect of friends and successfully deters its foes.
Israel’s Next Political Murder? Read the Writing on the Wall (Uri Misgav, Haaretz+) The victim would be a jurist, a journalist or a senior politician from the parties that oppose the continuation of the Netanyahu regime.
Netanyahu, the media and the fate of Israeli democracy (Caroline B. Glick, Israel Hayom) From Oslo to London to Sydney to Washington, courts and senior jurists hold that it is impermissible to criminalize or even set limits on relations between politicians and the media.
The End of Israel’s Free Press (Sami Peretz, Haaretz+) Many people hope the prime minister will emerge innocent of the suspicions against him. Supporters of Arnon Mozes, the publisher of Yedioth Ahronoth, and of Shaul Elovitch, Walla’s former publisher, want their innocence proven as well. But if these wishes come true and the legal proceedings don’t bring about the conviction of any of those involved, we can declare the end of Israel’s free press.
A new and pervasive world order (Tsur Shezaf, Yedioth/Ynet) A dark specter clouds the Middle East, central Asia, Europe and America with current events in Syria; when morality and liberalism disintegrate, autocratic forces of nationalism and religion rise.
Religious Indoctrination’s Great Failure (Avner Inbar, Haaretz+) After just the three first pages in my son’s new textbook “Moledet, Hevra Ve’ezrahut” (Homeland, Society and Citizenship), he is introduced to Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook. The goal is to make the religious Zionist worldview and values the backdrop from which young secular Israelis can develop their national identity and cultural taste and loosen their ties to the world of values of their families, and particularly to make them forget the general and national sources of inspiration on which our own culture is based. The effort is instead to expose them to another culture that, wonder of wonders, serves the exceptional political theology of religious Zionism.
‘Our Boys’ missed an opportunity to be a truly important series (Eness Elias, Haaretz+) Focusing more on the murderers’ psychological motivations than on the nationalist and ethnic conflicts prevents the series from making a pointed political statement.
Justice Meir Shamgar’s Legacy (Sunday Haaretz Editorial) Former Supreme Court President Meir Shamgar, who died Friday at the age of 94, represented a complex worldview that incorporated the many tensions in Israeli society. He supported Israel as a Jewish state while also standing up for its liberal-democratic character. Shamgar had a commitment to Israel’s security, but also to minority and human rights.
Forefather of the ‘Administered Territories’ (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) Israel’s 1967 occupation owes a very large debt to former Supreme Court President Meir Shamgar, who died on Friday. Were it not for his contribution, the occupation may not have lasted so long. Were it not for the stamp of approval that he bestowed, this crime may have been long ago eradicated. Were it not for Shamgar and the Israeli Supreme Court, the world would also have recognized the occupation’s moral rot. It’s no wonder that so many Israelis from across the political spectrum have accorded Shamgar such respect.
When Netanyahu talks about the Iranian threat - lower the volume on the TV (Ran Edelist, Maariv) The seven years the prime minister has spent in a vain attempt to topple Syrian President Assad and drive the Iranians out of his country ended in joint failure and mutual betrayal.
Israel's situation has worsened under Netanyahu (Daniel Friedmann, Yedioth/Ynet) Tehran is a clear and credible threat, which has only increased under the PM; there were no Iranians in Syria when he took office, now there are; when he started his tenure, the Gaza leadership was weak, now it has missiles to strike Tel Aviv.
Withdrawal from Syria will be remembered as the height of Trumpism (Shlomo Shamir, Maariv) President Trump has decided to withdraw from Syria in a tweet on Twitter, a move that has made it clear to Americans and the free world that he is not the right man, not in the right place and worse, not at the right time.
Iran is getting stronger, so what will Israel do about it? (Eitan Ben Eliyahu, Yedioth/Ynet) The constant state of flux in the Mideast has reached new heights, and so Israel must choose whether to stay on its the current course, or change some of the foreign policies it has adhered to until now.
The threat of sanctions worked (Prof. Abraham Ben-Zvi, Israel Hayom) US President Donald Trump's desire to minimize US military involvement in arenas he deems to be of secondary or marginal importance, among them Afghanistan and Syria, was and remains a central pillar of his foreign policy.
One should hope that Israel was involved in the Iranian tanker strike (Prof. Arieh Eldad, Maariv) The Iranian tanker was hit by two missiles not far from the city of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and the Iranians accuse Israel of doing it. Even if we weren't involved - we don't need to feel bad for being blamed.
Recep, Baby, Don’t Be a Tough Guy, OK? (Rogel Alpher, Haaretz+) The letter that Donald Trump sent to Recep Tayyip Erdogan underwent biased editing by elements of the Deep State within the State Department before it was sent. Below is the original letter in its entirety:

Elections 2019 Commentary/Analysis:

Gantz’s Mission Is to Mend the Wounds Netanyahu Left (Haaretz Editorial) Even though it’s very likely that Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit will decide to prosecute Netanyahu, we must not forget that the damage Netanyahu has caused the state and Israeli society. Netanyahu’s tenure was characterized by incitement and a policy of divide and rule, and everyone was considered a legitimate target for his fulminations: Israel’s Arab citizens, the left and its leaders, civil society organizations, the courts, the state prosecution, the media, academia, the police and the president of the state. Netanyahu made personal attacks on police officers, prosecutors and journalists. He made false accusations against Israel’s Arab citizens and allowed their blood to be shed.
Mandelblit is the true kingmaker (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth/Ynet) The attorney general should make a decision as quickly as possible about whether to proceed with indictments against Netanyahu, so that a new government can be formed with or without the current prime minister.
Long After Netanyahu’s Gone, Likud and the Right Will Suffer From Post-Cult Trauma Syndrome (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) The Israeli prime minister didn’t invent the right’s disdain for democracy and rule of law – he only exploited it.
Netanyahu seeks to scupper Gantz after his own failure to form coalition (Moran Azulay, Yedioth/Ynet) Likud officials consider the possibility of a minority government led by the Blue and White leader a nightmare scenario aimed only at removing the prime minister from office and not establishing a solid long-term coalition.
Gantz's mission impossible and Netanyahu's Cinderella moment (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) Benny Gantz's chances of forming a government in the coming 28 days are slim, perhaps even slimmer than those Netanyahu had.
What will Gantz do when he receives the mandate? Everything, and nothing (Ben Caspit, Maariv) Netanyahu is counting on Gantz's stateliness and on the assumption that the IDF’s 20th Chief of Staff will find it difficult to come to terms with dragging the country into election for the third time and will make the necessary compromises.
Giving up on forming government, Netanyahu is at lowest ebb in years – but don't count him out just yet (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) Gantz's chances of securing a coalition after Netanyahu capitulated may seem slim, but Israel has entered uncharted waters and suddenly everything is possible.
A façade of governability (Dr. Eitan Orkibi, Israel Hayom) The Right has been consistent in its principles, whereas the Left – poised to move into power for the first time in a decade – is held together by nothing more than anti-Netanyahu sentiment.
Israel Needs a Permanent Transitional Government (B. Michael, Haaretz+) Under a transitional government, it will be hard for the country to go to war (it has no public support, and hearings on the petitions that will be filed in the High Court of Justice will drag on until the war has become pointless). It won’t be able to pass stupid, wicked laws (there’s no herd-mentality coalition that will approve any abomination). It won’t be able to appoint moles and cronies to public positions, who will then remain there for years (it’s illegal). It also won’t be able to appoint more judges from among the community of hilltop-youth jurists and their abettors (that’s also illegal). 

Interviews:

When You’re Palestinian, American and Jewish, Life — Like Your Art — Is Complicated
Jordan Nassar grew up in New York, where he internalized his Palestinian ancestors’ dream of returning to the homeland. With a new exhibition in Tel Aviv, the artist explains why he feels part Israeli and won’t advocate for either side of the conflict. (Interviewed by Joy Bernard in Haaretz+)

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