APN's daily news review from Israel

Monday April 07, 2014
 

Quote of the day:

"This will put Shfaram and the rest of the communities on the map."
--Shfaram mayor Amin Anabtawi is thrilled that Israel will finally give his town and other Arab and Druze towns in Israel street names and house numbers and street signs.**

Front Page News:

Haaretz

• Lieberman: It's preferable to go to elections than to return to the Kerry framework
• When Lieberman says elections // Yossi Verter
• Without diplomatic hope, there won't be quiet // Amos Harel
• The Treasury is working to limit by law the salaries of bank and insurance company directors
• (Businessman) Akirov employed an associate of Olmert, even though he was convicted of bribery in the Holyland case
• Heads of academia against Education Minister: Your intervention is frightening
• Criticism of police following interrogation of famous over (smoking) grass

Yedioth Ahronoth

• The sad Passover of the needy
• Lieberman: In favor of the negotiations, but without being a 'fryer' (sucker)
• "I didn't buy drugs, I was interrogated because I'm famous" - Actress Keren Mor reveals she was called for questioning, I was in shock, they didn't find anything, I'm moving on
• Israelis now: more athletic, but fatter - Every third Israeli is overweight
• Lapid's plan: A salary above 3.5 million shekels a year will not be recognized for tax purposes
• Linda Hillel, an American from California, fell in love with Nazareth and leads special deep tours there

Maariv

• not published today

Israel Hayom

• Diplomatic complications,  political meddling - Lieberman surprised all: Prefers to go to elections rather than release more terrorists
• Let the common sense win: We need to extend negotiations // Dan Margalit
• Alternative coalition: No more than (Labor party chief) Herzog's wish // Mati Tuchfeld
• The terrorist won't give the lecture - After 350 students demonstrated, Tel-Aviv University was forced to cancel the lecture by Mohammed Kana'ana, who was convicted of contact with a foreign agent
• Initiative: Senior bank and insurance company directors salaries: up to 3.5 million shekels
• Internet surfers, beware: Today a cyber attack is expected on Israel
• Achievement: Israel Airport Authority one of top 20 in world

Peace Talk Highlights:
Israeli Foreign Minister Lieberman surprised everyone announcing he would prefer new elections over going back to the negotiating table with the Palestinians, making top story in today's Hebrew papers. Meanwhile, the meeting last night between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators went nowhere or went well - depending on which media outlet you read.
 
Speaking at the annual Jerusalem Post conference in New York, Lieberman said Sunday that Israel was not willing to surrender to 'Palestinian blackmail' and that there were three options on the table at this stage: 1. The Kerry “package deal,” including release of “terrorists,” which he opposes; 2. A new Israeli coalition, which he doesn’t view as realistic; and 3. New elections, which he prefers over the other two options. Lieberman also described international criticism of “every new house in the settlements” as hypocrisy and anti-Semitism, given the turmoil in the Middle East. The opposition said going to elections would be a good thing in order to get rid of the current bad government. Meretz leader Zehava Gal-On said Lieberman was " exposing the Israeli government's (attitude of) noncompliance" with its agreements. Opposition leader Isaac Herzog (Labor) welcomed the idea of new elections and said, "Lieberman has removed his mask and returned to his old role [of opposing peace negotiations - OH] and, in light of that, I expect (Finance Minister Yair) Lapid and (Justice Minister Tzipi) Livni to reach the obvious conclusion, and leave this coalition."
 
Following the meeting between Israeli chief negotiator Tzipi Livni, Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat and US envoy Martin Indyk, which ended around midnight, Yedioth's Itamar Eichner wrote that sources told him the meeting was "serious and good" and that the sides agreed to meet again. However, Maariv/NRG Hebrew's Asaf Gabor wrote that "a Palestinian source told Quds Press news agency that during the meeting, the Israelis continued to attack the Palestinians for petitioning the UN and made clear that they refuse to release the fourth round of "prisoners of Oslo." The Palestinian source stated that there was no progress in the talks. Ynet's Attila Somfalvi also wrote that the talks were stuck: "The way it's looking now, the talks as they were several weeks ago are no longer relevant. Last week's package deal (offered to the Palestinians) is now off the table and Israel is preparing to return to routine dealings with the Palestinians as they were before the negotiations started nine months ago," one official told him, adding, "As far as we're concerned, the coordination on the ground with the different security forces continues, but the peace process is no longer relevant."
 
Nevertheless, Israeli officials also told Ynet that Israel was still waiting to see what move the US made following US President Barack Obama's meeting with Secretary of State John Kerry.
 
At the Sunday cabinet meeting Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu threatened that the Palestinians' actions will be reciprocated by Israel. "We are prepared to continue the talks, but not at any price," said Netanyahu. Israeli right-wing ministers slammed the Palestinians, saying, "Abbas is spitting in our faces." 

But a Palestinian official told Haaretz that if Israel kept to its original commitment to make the fourth prisoner release, it would save the talks from breaking down altogether. Abbas also pledged to send Erekat to Washington with a new plan to revive the negotiations if Israel freed the prisoners. However, the Palestinians have added new conditions, including reopening the Palestinian offices in Jerusalem and freezing settlement construction, even if only partial and tacit — with no public declarations and no new tenders, writes Haaretz's Jack Khoury,
 
Meanwhile, the Palestinan Authority is planning to file a complaint with the International Telecommunication Union against the telecom sanctions Israel imposed as a punishment for petitioning to join UN organizations, Maan reported.
 

Quick Hits:

• Watch: Israeli sniper shoots Palestinian cameraman at Ofer Prison protest - Doctors may be forced to remove the liver and kidneys of Mohammed Basman Yasin, a volunteer cameraman for the Israeli human rights organization B'tselem, after Israeli security forces shot him while he was filming a protest, according to Israeli website 972.  (MaanVIDEO)
• Senior IDF commander's jeep vandalized in West Bank settlement - This is the second time that Samaria Brigade Commander Yoav Yarom's tires were slashed in Yitzhar. (Haaretz and Ynet) 
• Palestinians throw firebombs at Border Police jeep near Nablus, soldiers open fire - Youth who threw Molotov cocktail ignored calls to stop and was shot in the legs, writes Ynet. Israeli forces shot a man several times and critically injured him after a Molotov cocktail was thrown, writes Maan. (Ynet and Maan) 
• Pro-Palestinian hackers vow new cyberattack on Israel for Monday - AnonymousOpIsrael chooses anniversary of last major strike to 'hack, deface, hijack the Israeli Cyberspace by any means necessary.' (Haaretz) 
• Court tells state to recognize (Palestinian) Al-Quds University medical graduates - Health Ministry refused to recognize qualifications because Al-Quds has East Jerusalem campus. (Haaretz)
• Christians: Israel violates Palestinian religious freedoms each Easter - A group of Palestinian Christians from E. Jerusalem signed a statement complaining of denial of access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre during the Easter holidays by Israel and called on Christians to make attempts to attend Easter celebrations in Jerusalem despite the countless restrictions. The US State Department made similar observations in 2012. (Maan) 
• Jenin truck drivers strike against new Israeli delivery rules - More than 120 truck drivers went on strike for two hours at al-Jalameh crossing in the northern West Bank in protest against a recent Israeli decision to allow Israeli trucks to deliver goods directly into the West Bank. (Maan) 
• 4 Molotov cocktails thrown at Jerusalem dance club near Hebrew University - Police detains three Arab youths suspected of being involved in the attack; no injuries or damage reported. (Haaretz and Ynet)
• Shurat Hadin to file lawsuits over Palestinian war crimes - The Israel Law Center seeks to file complaints at the International Criminal Court against senior Hamas, Fatah officials for encouraging and aiding terrorism against Israelis. Shurat Hadin director: Indictments are a means to deter Palestinians from ICC. (Israel Hayom)
• Ex-Palestinian prisoner teaches Hebrew and tolerance - Esmat Mansour, who helped 3 older teens stab an Israeli man to death in 1993, was freed in August 2013 in the first of the prisoner releases. (Agencies, Ynet)
• Tel Aviv University cancels lecture by Palestinian terror aide - Convicted terrorist Mohammad Kana'neh will not give Land Day lecture at university conference, due to 'concern for public order'; 'Justice has prevailed', say student groups who protested Kana'neh's participation. (Ynet)
• University heads 'forget' to invite Ariel to conference -
• Although Ariel University received government approval, it is left off the guest list at Committee of University Heads conference. Committee has not yet accepted the need to abide by Council for Higher Education and the government, says Ariel University. (Israel Hayom)
• Former MK Said Nafa convicted of visiting enemy state - The Balad lawmaker visited Syria in 2007 and met with deputy director general of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. (Haaretz and Israel Hayom)
• First women joining Palestinian commando unit in West Bank - With gender barriers falling and unemployment rising, women seek adventure, paycheck in elite security forces. (Agencies, Haaretz)
• **King Abdullah St. corner of Prophet Mohammed - Gov't budgeted 5.5 million shekels to give street names and address numbers to homes and businesses in 51 Arab/Druze communities in national priority areas of Galilee and Negev. Budget finished after two towns and another 5.5 million was allocated. Goal is to complete task in 4 years.  (Yedioth, p. 24) 
• Jerusalem Post owner wins court approval to buy Maariv - The $1.15 million sale to Eli Azuri would make him the ailing daily’s fifth owner in three years. The paper's website, NRG, was bought along with Makor Rishon newspaper by right-wing US casino mogul Sheldon Adelson. (Haaretz and Globes)
• U.S. is top foreign investor in Israel, trailed by Cayman Islands - Foreign direct investment in Israel rose 14.5% to $74.4 billion in 2012; Israeli investments abroad were up 4.3% to total $73.9 billion. (Haaretz)
• Nasrallah: Hezbollah behind attack on IDF troops, Israel got the message - Hezbollah leader says March attack was response to Israeli strike on Lebanon-Syria border; claims Assad no longer in danger of falling. (Agencies, Ynet)
• First women joining Palestinian commando unit in West Bank - With gender barriers falling and unemployment rising, women seek adventure, paycheck in elite security forces. (Agencies, Haaretz)
• Nasrallah: Assad no longer in danger of falling - Hezbollah leader says the rebel campaign is motivated by a desire to change the regimes support for the Palestinians and Hezbollah. (Haaretz)
• The Israeli military turns to nature protection - Having accepted responsibility for environmental damage, the IDF - aided by private donations - is cleaning up its act. (Haaretz)
• Iran says expert-level nuclear talks have been 'useful' - "All technical issues needing deeper experts' studies ... are being addressed at the latest round of talks," says Iranian negotiator. In surprisingly optimistic assessment, U.S. official expresses hope that comprehensive pact could be reached in July. (Agencies, Israel Hayom)
• Thomas Friedman: Sheldon Adelson helping Iran destroy Israel - New York Times columnist says American Jewish billionaire and GOP donor responsible for 'poisoning our democracy and Israel’s today.' (Haaretz)

Commentary/Analysis:

Kerry, go away and let us be ourselves (Avirama Golan, Haaretz) Just leave us alone, Mr. Kerry, and let our true colors shine. If we see them in time, perhaps there will still be a chance to change them.
Abbas, let us buy your UN ticket (Minister Naftali Bennett, Israel Hayom) Israel and independent organizations must submit a lawsuit to The Hague against the Palestinian leadership for war crimes -- the killing of innocent civilians and incitement to terror.
The quietly ticking time bomb on Israel’s doorstep (Amos Harel, Haaretz) If Israel remains stubborn and refuses to resume talks it will embark on a course that could result in a renewal of terrorism in Israeli cities.
Moscow and Ramallah: The new alliance (Sever Plocker, Yedioth/Ynet) Palestinians may soon be the ones to threaten US (and Israel) by inviting Russia to the negotiating table as a partner and mediator.
Kerry finally got it: 'Peace process' was a farce (Moshe Arens, Haaretz) It was clear to all but Kerry, Livni and some on Israel's left that any unlikely agreement would only lead to further Palestinian terrorism.
No pity for the disappointed diplomat (Reuven Kaminer, Maan) The US was complicit in making the settler-right minority look and act like the majority, thus destroying any chance for serious negotiations. The settlers reigned supreme and Kerry kept on ignoring the real reasons for the political paralysis.It was only a matter of time until it was clear to all that the chance for any sort of compromise was going to go up in smoke.
Palestinian blackmail (Prof. Efraim Inbar, Israel Hayom) The Palestinian threats to go to the U.N. and international organizations are empty. 
Limpid left, take note: Abbas is our only hope (Oudeh Basharat, Haaretz) Neither Palestinians nor sane Israelis can afford to give up on Abbas, who has exposed the Israeli policy of refusal.
US 'peace' can't replace security (Prof. Ron Breiman, Israel Hayom) The era of the Pax Americana is over. Israel must steel itself to protect its own interests and refuse to blindly follow U.S. dictates that call on us to hand over the heart of the state and endanger millions of Jews. 
Israel must change the structure of the peace process (Ami Ayalon, Yedioth/Ynet) New Israeli initiative should be based on independent steps, alongside willingness to continue negotiations. 
A Palestinian state with temporary borders (Yossi Beilin, Israel Hayom) Kerry should change direction and be satisfied with less than what he sought at the outset of the current peace talks. 
In the spirit of the commander (Eitan Haber, Yedioth) "A former senior Shin Bet official, the kind that knows the secrets of the organization, told me that in nine out of ten instances of Jews in Judea and Samaria going wild, the Shin Bet knows who did the reprehensible acts...The idea that 'Price-Tag' actions against Palestinians and IDF commanders severely damage the State of Israel and settlement in Judea and Samaria is contemptuously rejected by the perpetrators and those who are close to them...(because)...they see themselves as modern-day sicarii, who know better than anyone what is good for the State of Israel." Haber calls on the government and the security forces to crack down on those who perpetrate 'Price-Tag' actions and make clear to them, "the spirit of law and democracy in Israel."
Pollard saga pollutes American Jewish identity (By Sara Hirschhorn, Haaretz) We need to escape the 'Pollard logic' which equates American Jewish Zionism with defending Israel at any cost - with the true traitors being those that criticize Israel.
Never forget? What the Holocaust doesn't tell us about Rwanda (William Collins Donahue, Haaretz) The Kigali memorial museum links the Holocaust and the Rwandan genocide in a macabre genealogy of mass murder. But is this a valid or helpful comparison?
Bush on Middle East peace (Elliott Abrams, Israel Hayom) We have abandoned the president's goal -- a Palestinian democracy based on tolerance and liberty.
Lieberman shows Netanyahu, Livni and Lapid: What I say goes (Yossi Verter, Haaretz) All of a sudden, the foreign minister put an option on the table that no one says out loud: elections. In doing so he told his buddies, the coalition will rise or fall at my will.

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