APN's daily news review from Israel
Monday May 12, 2014
Quote of the day:
"I ask myself to what evil and dangerous depths will the hate yet descend, and if we will succeed at living
productive, peace-filled lives without hatred for the stranger. Holding on to these complicated emotions, I
begin the "chevruta" with Dr. Tibi."
--Dr. Ruchama Weiss shares insights from a Torah-studying session with Arab MK Ahmed Tibi.**
--Dr. Ruchama Weiss shares insights from a Torah-studying session with Arab MK Ahmed Tibi.**
Front Page News:
Haaretz
- Arabs and ultra-Orthodox won't get VAT exemption on apartments
- (Netanyahu) Fighting the presidency and democracy // Yossi Verter
- Shin Bet and police: We don't know whether the motive of the murder of Shelly Dadon was nationalist or criminal
- Ministers approved bill that would prevent pardoning terrorists
- Suspicion: Businessman transferred a million shekels to (former Olmert assistant) Zaken - Olmert questioned over funding of legal defense of his bureau chief
- Between tradition and avantguard: Who are the Muslim female hipsters
Yedioth Ahronoth
- Battle of the presidency - Most of Likud ministers oppose Netanyahu's initiative to end the institution of the presidency or postpone the date of the elections
- We have an obsession // Nahum Barnea
- We need a symbol // Yoaz Hendel
- IDF: We will turn off the engines - Debate over security budget heating up
- Compromise on the way for apartment without VAT - Those who did not serve in army will have to apartment worth up to 600,000 shekels
Maariv
- not published
Makor Rishon
- Ministerial committee approves bill preventing release of terrorists
- Former soldiers will receive preference in 0% VAT on apartments (Globes)
- Olmert questioned
- The visit began - Netanyahu began visit to Japan with goal of strengthening economic ties
Israel Hayom
- 0% VAT for apartments: The winners and the losers - the soldier's house
- The new plan - not a magic solution // Hezi Sternlicht
- Anti-Israel Hayom bill initiators - Do you want to express your opinion to MKs? These are their phone numbers and emails (MK Elazar Stern, MK Ariel Atias, MK Robert Eyaltov, MKEitan Cabel, MK Yoel Rezavozov, MK Ayelet Shaked)
- Reservists letter: No money for training, not prepared for war
- This is how your children's summer day camp will look
- The crisis at Hadassah: On the way to the doctors' revolt
- Holidays behind us, MKs returning: We will open a Knesset summer session
- Ministers approved bill: No pardon for terrorists
- Before the sentencing tomorrow: Olmert questioned again
News Summary:
A controversial bill and a divisive government tax benefit made top stories in the Hebrew papers today along with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's attempt to end the presidency and the heated battle over the defense budget as military reservists say they lack training. And Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid hinted at a possibility of resuming peace talks.
The Attorney General and the Finance Ministry have found a way around the legal dilemma of offering a tax exemption only to first-home buyers who served in the Israeli army: give a lesser exemption to others (i.e. Arabs and ultra-Orthodox). Those who did not serve in the military can get the exemption only on homes costing less than 600,000 shekels. Real estate experts told Yedioth that was a 'sham,' because there were no suitable apartments available for that price. Meretz party chief Zehava Gal-On called the program "clearly discriminatory."
Israeli ministers approved a bill prohibiting the release of 'heavyweight' prisoners.' The bill was aimed at preventing the pardon of convicted Palestinian and Arab Israeli prisoners as part of peace negotiations, but was promoted by lawmakers on both sides of the political spectrum. Habayit Hayehudi Chairman Naftali Bennett congratulated Israel for "turning a new leaf on the war on terror and with its moral responsibility regarding the families of terror victims."
Meanwhile, Finance Minister and Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid indicated that the peace process could resume, depending on what Palestinian unity government was formed. "We need to get the peace process back on track, and in that regard we will neither cease our efforts nor raise our arms in surrender," Lapid said. "In a few weeks, we will know what government [Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas] is putting together and then we'll decide how best to restart the peace process." Nevertheless, he said he won't quit the government over the peace talks failure.
A controversial bill and a divisive government tax benefit made top stories in the Hebrew papers today along with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's attempt to end the presidency and the heated battle over the defense budget as military reservists say they lack training. And Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid hinted at a possibility of resuming peace talks.
The Attorney General and the Finance Ministry have found a way around the legal dilemma of offering a tax exemption only to first-home buyers who served in the Israeli army: give a lesser exemption to others (i.e. Arabs and ultra-Orthodox). Those who did not serve in the military can get the exemption only on homes costing less than 600,000 shekels. Real estate experts told Yedioth that was a 'sham,' because there were no suitable apartments available for that price. Meretz party chief Zehava Gal-On called the program "clearly discriminatory."
Israeli ministers approved a bill prohibiting the release of 'heavyweight' prisoners.' The bill was aimed at preventing the pardon of convicted Palestinian and Arab Israeli prisoners as part of peace negotiations, but was promoted by lawmakers on both sides of the political spectrum. Habayit Hayehudi Chairman Naftali Bennett congratulated Israel for "turning a new leaf on the war on terror and with its moral responsibility regarding the families of terror victims."
Meanwhile, Finance Minister and Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid indicated that the peace process could resume, depending on what Palestinian unity government was formed. "We need to get the peace process back on track, and in that regard we will neither cease our efforts nor raise our arms in surrender," Lapid said. "In a few weeks, we will know what government [Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas] is putting together and then we'll decide how best to restart the peace process." Nevertheless, he said he won't quit the government over the peace talks failure.
Quick Hits:
- Israeli settlers 'kidnap' Palestinian child near Yatta for several hours - Israeli settlers from Havat Maon (outpost) "kidnapped" 6-year-old Mosab Kamel Mousa Robai from Tuwani village south of Hebron on Saturday evening before leaving him a few hours later in a forest. The child was found in "difficult" and deteriorating health condition and unable to speak. (Maan)
- Latin Patriarchate raps Israel over 'wave of extremist terror' - Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal says attacks are 'poisoning’ atmosphere before pope’s visit, questions government’s will to stop them. (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
- Israeli soldiers shoot Palestinian collecting stones near border in northern Gaza - The man was collecting small stones Sunday used to make concrete on the outskirts of Beit Hanoun near Erez crossing when Israeli forces opened fire at him. (Maan)
- Settler council files incitement complaint against Amos Oz over 'racist' jibe - Leader of Samaria council argues police can't ignore charge, draws parallel to Yitzhar resident who called for stoning soldiers. (Haaretz)
- Shin Bet thwarts Hamas funded attempt to kidnap soldier - Together with prison services, Shin Bet stops plan to kidnap soldier near Nablus; plan put together by group of security prisoners still in jail, who receive funding from Hamas, planed to execute kidnapping on release. (Ynet)
- Arabs, Haredim to be excluded from tax exemption on first home - Treasury says army, civilian service to be key criteria for relief from 18% VAT for first-time home buyers. (Haaretz+)
- Knesset panel approves bill barring discrimination against settlements - Bill prohibits Israeli businesses from discriminating against customers based on where they live. The draft law is aimed mainly at companies that refuse to deliver goods to or provide services in Jewish settlements in the West Bank, but it would also apply to remote locales within the Green Line, including Arab communities. (Haaretz+ and Israel Hayom)
- Decision due on bill allowing force-feeding of hunger strikers - The bill was drawn up following extensive hunger strikes by Palestinians that took place in 2012. (Haaretz+)
- Elkin, Levin to rotate as heads of key Knesset committee - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid reach deal on foreign affairs committee chairmanship, a position left vacant for half a year. Yesh Atid MK Ofer Shelah to get senior deputy minister position. (Israel Hayom)
- New: Reserve battalion of veterans of 'Duvdevean' unit, whose soldiers impersonate Palestinians - Three decades after the establishment of the elite unit to eradicate terrorism in Judea and Samaria (West Bank), a reserve battalion will be established of veterans of the unit. The fighters are considered experts in the (W. Bank) after having experiences in complex operations, in the territories. Some, dress like Palestinians, allowing IDF action in areas where there is no military presence, especially in centers of Palestinian cities. (NRG Hebrew)
- Hebron suffers landfill and water shortage, aggravated by Israel - Mayor Dawood Zaatari said Sunday the al-Minya landfill, which was built with World Bank funds to serve the Palestinian residents of the Bethlehem and Hebron regions, is still being used by Israeli settlers who dump their waste "at gunpoint." (Maan)
- IDF reservists warn PM: Disaster looming due to lack of training - Reserve commanders claim that soldiers haven't trained in over 3 years; IDF holding back on exercises due to monetary crisis. (Ynet and Israel Hayom)
- Israeli sub 'Leviathan' gets extreme makeover - Two years, 150 million shekels and 360,000 manpower hours have made the 15-year-old war vessel as good as new, if not better. (Ynet)
- 4 Palestinians detained crossing into Israel for work - Israeli forces detained four Palestinian teenagers from Jenin refugee camp while they were trying to enter Israel for work. (Maan)
- Cops catch 29 Palestinians crammed into one vehicle - Vehicle was making its way westwards from Jerusalem when it was stopped in the Modi'in area. (Ynet)
- Watch: Bethlehem village blockaded by Israeli forces - Locals in the village of Beit Fajjar south of Bethlehem told Ma'an on Tuesday that Israeli forces had shut the roads in and out of the village by constructing large earth mounds on them. (Maan)
- Palestine accepted to UN anti-corruption convention - The letter was sent to chief of the Palestinian Authority’s anti-corruption commission Rafiq Natsha, who said his committee would take certain moves to amend its laws and regulations so they can match the convention. (Maan)
- Families of Nativity Church deportees deliver letter to FM - On the 12th anniversary of their deportation from Bethlehem to the Gaza Strip and to European countries, families of Nativity Church deportees on Sunday urged the PA to exert serious efforts to bring them back to Bethlehem. (Maan)
- Newsweek reporter stands by Israeli spying allegation: Facts are facts - Jeff Stein says he is not out to besmirch Israel. (Haaretz)
- Still no indication if murder of Israeli woman was criminal or terror - A gag order on the investigation is in effect until the end of the month. (Haaretz+)
- Israel Electric sues Palestinians for $153 million in unpaid bills - Long period of quiet contacts to find a solution comes to an end. (Haaretz+)
- Palestinian Authority facing economic melt-down; 280,000 unemployed - As monetary aid from foreign Arab nations dries up and peace with Israel slips away, Palestinian leaders are faced with deepening economic crisis. (Ynet)
- Report: West Bank sees revival of mud houses in Palestinian villages - Facing concrete shortages and price hikes as well as demolitions, Palestinians turn to more traditional method of building homes. (Haaretz+)
- Fearing spillover from Syria war, IDF closes Golan border zone - Rebels in Syria have managed in the past to take over Quneitra crossing. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Israel warns India of imminent Al-Qaida threat - India Today reports that Israel has tipped of Indian intelligence community, which it says has reason to take warning seriously. (Haaretz)
- Khamenei orders Revolutionary Guards to mass-produce missiles - Khamenei calls limit on missile program 'stupid and idiotic' as atomic experts say Iran nuclear program appears to be slowing down, but notes that Iran is simply hiding activities better. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Nigeria accepts Israeli offer to help find abducted schoolgirls - Prime Minister's Office expresses 'shock' at abduction of 200 schoolgirls; no details given on nature of assistance. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Justin Timberlake: Give me some Israeli hummus - American pop star's list of demands for Tel Aviv concert includes platter of chickpea dip, selection of local beer and 24 glasses which must be either red or blue. (Ynet)
Features:
**Torah tag: Studying Torah with 'price tag' victims
Every time Jews commit acts of terror in the name of religion, I try to respond by studying Torah, an act based on love for all people created in God's image. This time I turned Knesset Member Dr. Ahmad Tibi, the public representative of Israel's Arabs. (Ynet)
Students painted green: Hamas getting stronger in Judea and Samaria (W. Bank)?
Fatah and Hamas signed a reconciliation agreement prior to the elections at Palestinian universities. However, a visit to Hebron and Bir Zeit shows: Hamas controls. (Asaf Gabor, NRG Hebrew+VIDEO)
Commentary/Analysis:
Every time Jews commit acts of terror in the name of religion, I try to respond by studying Torah, an act based on love for all people created in God's image. This time I turned Knesset Member Dr. Ahmad Tibi, the public representative of Israel's Arabs. (Ynet)
Students painted green: Hamas getting stronger in Judea and Samaria (W. Bank)?
Fatah and Hamas signed a reconciliation agreement prior to the elections at Palestinian universities. However, a visit to Hebron and Bir Zeit shows: Hamas controls. (Asaf Gabor, NRG Hebrew+VIDEO)
Commentary/Analysis:
Why do Israeli soldiers bully Palestinians? (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) The violent behavior of the soldier videotaped aiming his rifle at a Palestinian
teen, setting off a storm in the media, especially the social media — was not exceptional.
Two-state solution moving further from reality (Sever Plocker, Yedioth/Ynet) It's about time that Israel's political left woke up and started thinking seriously about other alternatives to 'two states for two people.'
2,000 years, in the blink of an eye (Oudeh Basharat, Haaretz+) Netanyahu is on a quixotic campaign to prove that Arabs have no roots here.
Abomination yes, terrorism no (Nadav Shragai, Israel Hayom) There is no symmetry between Arab terrorism and its victims, and "price-tag" attacks and the damage they cause.
Yes, there are Hebrew neo-Nazi groups (Amos Oz, Yedioth/Ynet) After sparking a row with his verbal attack on 'price tag' vandals, author Amos Oz explains why he stands behind his comments.
Stench tag (Yitzhak Laor, Haaretz+) Now Netanyahu is determined to enact legislation attesting to the ownership by the (entire) Jewish People of the State of Israel. Will the worldwide Jewish People also vote for our Knesset?
Newsweek report is just too unrealistic (Ronen Bergman, Yedioth/Ynet) Claim that Israel is favored by US when it comes to espionage matters doesn't carry much weight based on history of relations between two countries since Pollard affair.
Good news, bad news on 'price tag' attacks (Moshe Arens, Haaretz+) The hooligans carrying out 'price tag’ attacks - it doesn’t matter whether we call them terrorists or neo-Nazis - have the same aim as certain Arab politicians: to prevent the integration of Israeli Arabs into Israeli society.
We have an obsession (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth) Barnea discusses Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's reported desire to reconsider the institution of the presidency. Barnea notes that while Israel's first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, was determined to "minimize, as much as possible, the power of his rival [and Israel's first president, Chaim] Weizmann - three of the former's aides, who later became president, Yitzhak Ben-Zvi, Yitzhak Navon and Shimon Peres saw fit to turn the presidency into an active, influential, respected and loved institution." Navon writes that the presidency could be done away with without damaging Israel's democracy but, "not in the way chosen by Netanyahu. Netanyahu's colleagues in the Likud leadership explain that the possibility of MK Ruby Rivlin winning the election [for president] horrifies him. He is 'obsessed.' Since he cannot prevent Rivlin from submitting his candidacy, he is pushing for the cancellation of the office." Barnea commends Rivlin as "a worthy candidate" and declares that "If Netanyahu thinks otherwise, it is his right to cast his secret ballot in the Knesset in favor of somebody else." But the Prime Minister cannot change norms due to his aversion to a specific candidate or because he feels like it.
Presidential race pits Netanyahu against Israeli democracy (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) The prime minister is determined to keep Reuven Rivlin, whom he loathes, out of the President’s Residence.
Find another excuse (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) If the Americans wish to exclude Israel from the Visa Waiver Program, they should find a better reason than a made-up espionage claim.
As Assad prepares election victory speech, West faces dilemma (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) Upcoming vote in Syria may be a farce, but it would give Russia and Iran a formal reason to support Assad as a democratically-elected president.
Two-state solution moving further from reality (Sever Plocker, Yedioth/Ynet) It's about time that Israel's political left woke up and started thinking seriously about other alternatives to 'two states for two people.'
2,000 years, in the blink of an eye (Oudeh Basharat, Haaretz+) Netanyahu is on a quixotic campaign to prove that Arabs have no roots here.
Abomination yes, terrorism no (Nadav Shragai, Israel Hayom) There is no symmetry between Arab terrorism and its victims, and "price-tag" attacks and the damage they cause.
Yes, there are Hebrew neo-Nazi groups (Amos Oz, Yedioth/Ynet) After sparking a row with his verbal attack on 'price tag' vandals, author Amos Oz explains why he stands behind his comments.
Stench tag (Yitzhak Laor, Haaretz+) Now Netanyahu is determined to enact legislation attesting to the ownership by the (entire) Jewish People of the State of Israel. Will the worldwide Jewish People also vote for our Knesset?
Newsweek report is just too unrealistic (Ronen Bergman, Yedioth/Ynet) Claim that Israel is favored by US when it comes to espionage matters doesn't carry much weight based on history of relations between two countries since Pollard affair.
Good news, bad news on 'price tag' attacks (Moshe Arens, Haaretz+) The hooligans carrying out 'price tag’ attacks - it doesn’t matter whether we call them terrorists or neo-Nazis - have the same aim as certain Arab politicians: to prevent the integration of Israeli Arabs into Israeli society.
We have an obsession (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth) Barnea discusses Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's reported desire to reconsider the institution of the presidency. Barnea notes that while Israel's first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, was determined to "minimize, as much as possible, the power of his rival [and Israel's first president, Chaim] Weizmann - three of the former's aides, who later became president, Yitzhak Ben-Zvi, Yitzhak Navon and Shimon Peres saw fit to turn the presidency into an active, influential, respected and loved institution." Navon writes that the presidency could be done away with without damaging Israel's democracy but, "not in the way chosen by Netanyahu. Netanyahu's colleagues in the Likud leadership explain that the possibility of MK Ruby Rivlin winning the election [for president] horrifies him. He is 'obsessed.' Since he cannot prevent Rivlin from submitting his candidacy, he is pushing for the cancellation of the office." Barnea commends Rivlin as "a worthy candidate" and declares that "If Netanyahu thinks otherwise, it is his right to cast his secret ballot in the Knesset in favor of somebody else." But the Prime Minister cannot change norms due to his aversion to a specific candidate or because he feels like it.
Presidential race pits Netanyahu against Israeli democracy (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) The prime minister is determined to keep Reuven Rivlin, whom he loathes, out of the President’s Residence.
Find another excuse (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) If the Americans wish to exclude Israel from the Visa Waiver Program, they should find a better reason than a made-up espionage claim.
As Assad prepares election victory speech, West faces dilemma (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) Upcoming vote in Syria may be a farce, but it would give Russia and Iran a formal reason to support Assad as a democratically-elected president.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.