News Nosh 8/26/20

by APN 08/26/20
Share

APN's daily news review from Israel - Wednesday August 26, 2020

You Must Be Kidding: 
"After it was discovered that this could lead to injuries, (IDF) forces worked to remove them from the area."
--IDF Spokespersons' Office declared that the military had no idea that planting boxes of stun grenades in a Palestinian village "in order to create desterrence" could harm people. One child was wounded. Soldiers neutralized the third box of explosives only after photos appeared on social media. **


Front Page:

Haaretz

Yedioth Ahronoth

  • These are the communities leading in passing matriculation exams (Druze town of Peki’in 98.7%, periphery town of Ofakim 47.4% ultra-Orthodox town Modiin EIlit 4.7%) (Hebrew)
  • Last night, near midnight: Security incident on Lebanon border
  • (Messi) wants to leave
  • Breaking silence - Friday paper: The former police commissioner Roni Alsheikh talks (Hebrew)

Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)

  • Gamzu insists: “It’s not logical to allow flights (for ultra-Orthodox celebrations) to Uman”
  • Last night: Security incident near Kibbutz Manara (on Lebanon border)
  • Leo Messi to Barcelona: I decided to leave
  • The rape in Eilat: The psychological state of the girl does not make a face-off with the suspects possible

Israel Hayom

  • “Israel and Sudan on the verge of an agreement”
  • Historic flight: On Monday, an Israeli-American flight to Abu Dhabi
  • Midnight: Suspicion of security incident on Lebanon border; Residents told to stay home
  • Lockdown during High Holidays? Gamzu: “With infection rates like this, it’s not off the table”
  • Exclusive - Laser Dome’ - First peek into the ‘Light Blade’ baloon interception system
  • Distance learning? The costs rise - Computer and private lessons, the costs in corona days jump
  • Chao, Barca - Messi and Barcelona, the end


Top News Summary:
Israel Hayom’s top story was positive news: Israel’s ensuing relations with Arab states (with front page photos of Pompeo and Sudan’s President and of Dubai’s most famous hotel and a caption telling Israelis that the first commercial flights start next week). Haaretz and Maariv, the most news-focused papers, led with the ‘Corona Czar’s’ threat to quit if his authority is harmed and that includes his order not to allow the thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews go to Uman for celebrations. The papers also reported that something happened on the border with Lebanon around midnight and Israeli residents in the area were instructed to stay indoors, while troops conducted searches.

And still in the background was the continuing exchange of violence in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas. The Qatari envoy is expected to arrive in Gaza tonight in an attempt to bring calm. Yesterday, four Palestinian Islamic Jihad members accidentally blew themselves up while trying to launch rockets into Israel. (Also Maariv.) And Israel has begun operating its 'Light Blade' laser system, which has intercepted nearly 100% of Hamas balloons in its sector.

A delegation of Israeli and US officials will fly together to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Monday to discuss cooperation. Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz spoke for the first time with his UAE counterpart. Meanwhile, Hamas accused the UAE spy agency of working with Israel to spy from inside the Gaza Strip. In Israel, the city of Petah Tikva decided to name a new basketball stadium named after the United Arab Emirates. (Maariv and PetachTikva) U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo left Israel and visited Sudan to “discuss Sudan's commitment to deepening the Sudan-Israel relationship,” Pompeo tweeted after his meeting with Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. ‘Israel Hayom’ reported that an official said that “Sudan will announce a normalization deal with Israel within weeks.” Hamdok told Pompeo that Sudan says can't normalize ties with Israel for now. While still in Jerusalem, Pompeo’s pre-recorded Republican Convention speech was broadcast, and he spoke about the “historic Israel-UAE peace deal” and the transfer of the US embassy to Israel. The campaign of Democratic candidate' for President, Joe Biden, called the recording of Pompeo's speech for Republican National Convention during an official Mideast tour “an abuse of taxpayer dollars.” Pompeo is now in Bahrain, where is expected to meet with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, who promoted the idea of ending the boycott of Israel by Arab nations. Meanwhile, Israel's Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi flew to Berlin for a series of meetings with EU foreign ministers, to speak about their stance on Iran. "We were disappointed to see the vote of E3 states [Britain, Germany and France] in the extension of the arms embargo on Iran in the Security Council," he said.
 

Quick Hits:

  • **Israeli Soldiers Placed Explosive Devices in West Bank Village for ‘Deterrence’ - Palestinian hurt after seven-year-old finds box containing stun grenades, which military says troops left at site where 'violent riots have regularly occurred.’ (Haaretz+)
  • Palestinian Arrested in Suspected Stabbing Attack Initially Thought to Be a Brawl - Emerging details in August 15 incident in central Israel indicate possible terrorist motives, authorities say. The incident took place at an apartment construction site where the victim had bought a unit. He had gone to the site to check on the progress of the construction. He recounted that his assailant had shouted at him in Arabic, which raised suspicions that the attack involved terrorist motives. (Haaretz+ and Israel Hayom)
  • Survey Finds Significant Gaps Between Children in Israel's Periphery and Its Center - Children from socioeconomic center lacking adequate material goods are much less happy than children who lack such things in the periphery, Dr. Daphna Gross-Manos of Tel Hai Academic College says. (Haaretz+)
  • Israel Must Increase Women's Representation in Policy-making, Deputy Attorney General Says - Raz Nizri reminds ministry officials that they are required to appoint women from a range of communities to public committees and ministry policy teams, especially 'during this challenging period.’ (Haaretz+)
  • Israeli Lawmakers Delay Enforcement of Law Criminalizing Use of Prostitute Services - Two-month delay would give police time to prepare properly for enforcing the law, including updating procedures and training officers. (Haaretz+)
  • Commander of Israel's war on coronavirus threatens to resign - Professor Ronni Gamzu discusses "disaster" at press briefing, says "no one can work like this." Nearly 2,000 new cases confirmed in 24 hours. Death toll reaches 867, 400 over the past month alone.. (Israel Hayom and Ynet)
  • Israel's Coronavirus Czar Warns Against Reopening Schools in 'Red' Cities - Ronni Gamzu repeats his recommendation to bar flights to Uman and notes that infection rates in Arab communities are steadily increasing. (Haaretz+)
  • Coronavirus Israel Live: Ukraine to Restrict Jewish Pilgrimage Upon Israel's Request - Gaza declares lockdown after first cases reported outside quarantine areas ■ Confirmed cases in Israel pass 100,000 ■ Coronavirus czar says 'has nothing to do in this position' without backing. (Haaretz)
  • PM denies role in Ukraine move to restrict Jewish pilgrimage - Netanyahu denies Ukraine president's claim he asked for restriction; Mayor of Uman Oleksandr Tsebriy says if necessary, he would set up roadblocks to ensure that 'outsiders' kept out of city though sources in Israel estimate 1,500 already at pilgrimage site. (Agencies, Ynet)
  • Privatization of Israel's Coronavirus Fight Leads to Questionable Contracts, Higher Prices - TheMarker investigation raises questions about key contracts, such as the one to run the Health Ministry's logistics center. (Haaretz+)
  • Woman sues Yair Netanyahu for insinuating she had an affair with Benny Gantz - Dana Cassidy demands NIS 500,000 from PM’s son, says he’s responsible for ‘mass, public sexual harassment’ after his posts about her ahead of March elections. (Maariv and Times of Israel)
  • Watch: Israel's Ofek 16 spy satellite shows us Syria - Satellite transmits images of World Heritage Site Palmyra, which was largely destroyed by the Islamic State. (Israel Hayom)


Top Commentary/Analysis:
Israelis' Shock at Police Violence at anti-Netanyahu Protests Is Quite Shocking (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) For a moment I thought I would begin by writing that I welcome every blow delivered by a Jewish police officer to a Jewish demonstrator on Jerusalem’s Balfour Street. But I changed my mind. Violent police – who are arousing such shock among the mainstream media these days – are situated on the same continuum as individual and gang rapists, sexual harassers, nursery school teachers who abuse toddlers and social media bullies. I changed my mind because in my search for a lead for this article, this literary stratagem (“I welcome every blow,” etc.) does not apply to all parts of that continuum. All those individuals are people with power and physical strength, who resort to violence in order to harm and cause pain to others – just because they can. To feel strong and superior, to scare and silence. And in order to enjoy themselves. Let’s not forget that dimension. Enjoyment and satisfaction are an important component in demonstrating superiority, in the act of causing pain to another person…
Netanyahu’s Latest Antics Are Yet Another Attempt to Loosen Restraints on His Power (Mordechai Kremnitzer, Haaretz+) Prime minister, in bid to command loyalty from senior officials, holding up the postponement of senior officials to the detriment of the country.
The launching of incendiary balloons: No country would allow such provocations in its sovereign space (Yossi Ahimeir, Maariv) Gaza has no remedy as long as the Hamas dictatorship suffocates it, but Israel does not have a Samson to bring down its gates. The degenerating Gaza will remain in darkness for many years to come.
Israel and Hamas Trade Restrained Blows, Awaiting Infusion of Qatari Cash (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Gaza-based group, dealing with economic fallout of pandemic, asking reasonable price for quiet – but it's not clear that's what Israel wants.
Europe is clinging to the Palestinians (Eldad Beck, Israel Hayom) If only the Europeans would drop their anti-Israel obsession, they might see the great benefits that can result from the Israel-UAE peace deal.
Netanyahu Only Understands Force (Haaretz Editorial) The most recent crisis of the “reconciliation government” ended Monday just two hours before the deadline for the Knesset’s dissolution, with the approval of the bill to extend by 120 days the deadline for passing the national budget. If there’s one, not necessarily surprising lesson in this for Benny Gantz, it’s that the only language Benjamin Netanyahu understands is that of force. There’s no hope that reconciliation will come of this government, since the relationship is based on total distrust. The prime minister has been in power for 11 consecutive years. Over time he has developed bad habits and adopted an authoritarian, corrupt and contentious governing culture. He breaks promises and agreements, lies to the public, lies to his political partners and in the past few years slanders his political rivals and even his partners. He is a prime minister who has no red lines, a populist leader who demonstrates zero statesmanship, and there’s no longer any point in trying to change him...
Netanyahu's Sophisticated Methods of Controlling Israeli Media (Ariana Melamed, Haaretz+) Once upon a time Israel's Channel 13 gave expression to a range of voices and opinions. It was a venue where creative people strove to create an alternative to other channels' fake patriotism or crass commercialism. As of Tuesday, that’s over. The last nail in the coffin of its politicization was hammered in by the cancelation of its only satirical show, called “Gav HaUma” (Literally "The back of the nation" in Hebrew). This coffin has been taking shape for years, since the cement baron Len Blavatnik, a friend of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, bought the network. Lest anyone has forgotten, it was Netanyahu who urged him to buy the company, which was losing money. Blavatnik has no other media investments in Israel, doesn’t live here and even told police investigators that he couldn’t care less about the local media. But Netanyahu does care, and how...
Arabs, leave the “Just not Bibi" camp (Jalal Ayoub, Ynet Hebrew) Arab society must break free from the bear hug of the progressive center-left. And accordingly, for its own benefit, it should break the monopoly of the Joint List…The conspicuous absence at the (anti-Netanyahu) Balfour demonstrations of Arab activists from the Joint List  reminded me of the disappearance of the Arab parties and their humiliating silence during the social protests in 2011, and their standing on the fence as if the cost of living does not harm Arab society either. (Joint List Chairman) Ayman Odeh's tweet that he "took a break from the Eid al-Adha celebrations“ to demonstrate at Balfour also did not address the difficult economic situation and did not include criticism of the government as a whole (arriving in Balfour is important "to overthrow Netanyahu and the racist and corrupt path he represents," Odeh wrote). In this tweet, Odeh once again elects his constituents in the “Just Not Bibi" camp, without addressing the responsibility and poor management of the two blocs in government over the corona crisis and the lack of leadership of its people regardless of racism and corruption…The Arab public has not yet to be admitted to the same house that the protesters are fighting for, so clinging to Netanyahu's removal through the same blind gamble that was expressed in support of Benny Gantz has proven to be a colossal mistake in the last election.
Netanyahu and Gantz Compromise on Key Issue, but a Clash Is All but Inevitable (Chaim Levinson, Haaretz+) While the prime minister's Likud party hopes to get more cabinet ministers involved in senior appointments, Gantz's Kahol Lavan fears the move will lead to weaker officials in key positions.
Naftali Bennett Can Be Israel’s Answer (Israel Harel, Israel Hayom) All the signs are there: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to hold an election. A (budget) trick here, a delay there, and an election is at the door – though now not in November, maybe in March. The goal: to prevent a rotation of the premiership. If Benny Gantz becomes prime minister as the rotation agreement stipulates, Netanyahu’s corruption trial will continue. And so even if Kahol Lavan gets down on its knees regarding the budget, there will be an election. Gantz and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi will be stripped of what’s left of their dignity, Kahol Lavan will crumble and Netanyahu can return with renewed vigor – that’s his plan and vision – to exclusive rule in a right-wing government.
Netanyahu and Mossad at war with Defense Ministry over UAE weapons deal (Alex Fishman, Yedioth/Ynet) Despite being labeled potential risk by senior officials in Israel's defense establishment, PM and intelligence agency are demanding nation's security industries be allowed to sell highly classified weapons to the Emirates.
Israel Needs to Get Over Its F-35 Anxiety (Zvi Bar’el, Haaretz+) The problem is that nobody knows how to quantify this military edge or specify verified, measured criteria for defining it. After all, national security isn’t determined by how many planes, tanks and submarines a country has. The F-35 jets Israel bought can’t protect it against an economic crisis; in fact, they may contribute to it. Nor are they equipped with an immune system that will protect us against the coronavirus. And above all, the presence of the world’s most sophisticated planes in the air force’s hangars can’t protect Israel from a corrupt government, rot in the civil service or a civil war.
In love with the enemy (Udi Etzion, Ynet Hebrew) Israeli weapons sold today to an ally may be used tomorrow against IDF soldiers. “History repeats itself. First as a tragedy and then as a farce," Karl Marx once wrote. But each of the veterans of the Israeli defense industry will be able to provide his own version of the statement.
Sudan: From helping terrorists to partnering with Israel (Amnon Lord, Israel Hayom) Ties with Israel would strengthen Sudan's position with the US. But it's a little hard for Khartoum to swallow the idea of full normalization with the Jewish state.
Iraq signals to the West. Maybe also to Israel (Smadar Perry, Yedioth Hebrew) Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kasimi makes it clear that he will have no problem improving relations with Jerusalem. It is precisely from the Israeli side, however, that they seek to cool his enthusiasm…Note the crowded flight schedule in May of the newly elected Iraqi Prime Minister, Mustafa al-Kasimi. Last month he visited Tehran, met with the all-powerful spiritual ruler, Ali Khamenei, and with Prime Minister Hassan Rouhani - who warned him harshly about President Donald Trump and American generals. A week later, he boarded the plane again and landed at the White House, with Trump. The meeting between them was extended and al-Qasimi was asked to add another day to his visit to meet with Democratic members of Congress, as well. He left a great impression and Trump was quick to label him the "smart guy." Next week he will make a foray to Amman, to a summit with King Abdullah and Egyptian President al-Sisi, and a few days later his most important meeting is planned: in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with King Salman and his son, the heir to the throne…Now that he has completed his inaugural meeting in Tehran, he has received from Trump not only a commitment to financial aid but also an extensive review of the moves between the Emirates and Israel. The White House is not offering him to join now: Iraq must first find a way to take down Iranian Revolutionary Guards agents. But al-Qasimi, it is important to note, is already in favor of the position of the Emirates, and is expected to land in Abu Dhabi soon as well. His Iraq is sending a clear signal that it is turning toward the West: it is not calling for the withdrawal of US forces, it is not opposing the normalization agreements with Israel. But in Iraq, as in Iraq, one bullet can destroy all plans. It is very easy to guess that al-Kasimi knows senior Israeli officials from his previous position as head of intelligence. It is safe to assume that he will be asked to voice his position on the Israeli issue at meetings in Amman and Riyadh. Although there will also be economic declarations and plans for cooperation, the Israeli issue, which is already annoying Iranian officials, is on the table. Therefore, al-Qasimi should now be even more careful about his life. Last month, Revolutionary Guardsmen shot senior Iraqi security official Hisham al-Hashimi, al-Qasimi's close friend, as he was leaving his home in Baghdad. It was a clear signal from Tehran: Do not be clever. Cameras filmed four masked men approaching Hashimi's car, opening fire and fleeing. The Iraqi prime minister is reportedly now surrounded by a thick belt of security guards, Iraqi and American. Al-Qasimi makes clear in his talks that he will not have a problem with improving relations with Israel. It is precisely from the Israeli side, however, that they seek to cool his enthusiasm: there is nothing burning as long as the Revolutionary Guards continue to demonstrate an alert presence in Iraq. At the same time, there is food for thought here: how the Sunni Muslim world is beginning to unite in the face of a reality we did not know. At once, Israel is no longer the enemy.
Biden can't have it both ways on Sarsour and anti-Semitism (Jonathan S. Tobin, Israel Hayom) After a spokesman distanced the Democrat from a prominent anti-Semite who spoke during their convention, others in the campaign apologized to her supporters.
 

Interviews:
The Alsheikh Report
Almost two years after he took off his blue uniform and ended his role as police commissioner, retired Chief of Staff Roni Alsheikh speaks for the first time. In an interview with Yedioth’s "7 Days" magazine supplement, which will be published in full this Friday, he talks about his turbulent tenure, which began with an unprecedented crisis in the police, but focused mainly on Netanyahu's investigations, which also put him in the cross-hairs. Will Netanyahu be convicted? "It all depends on whether he will be tried. Maybe there will be immunity, maybe there will be a government." The entanglement with the claim about 'powerful factors that are bothering Netanyahu's investigators'? "There were facts. Investigators were bothered. I know who is behind this." Interrogation tricks against (Nir) Hefetz (who became a state witness) and (Shaul) Elovitz (Netanyahu associate and one of accused)? "I didn’t know, but it all depends on the context.” (Interviewed by Nevo Ziv in Yedioth Hebrew)

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

Recent Entries