APN's daily news review from Israel
Monday May 26, 2014
Quote of the day:
"Time after time, it turns out that the settlers’ claims of purchase, which always happen at the last
minute, are based on forged documents. Despite this, the government allows these claims to hold up
enforcing the law, and prevent the evacuation of illegal structures built on private land.”
----Yesh Din organization attorneys Michael Sfard and Shlomi Zacharia slam the government after police discover that the Amona outpost is built entirely on private Palestinian land.**
----Yesh Din organization attorneys Michael Sfard and Shlomi Zacharia slam the government after police discover that the Amona outpost is built entirely on private Palestinian land.**
Front Page News:
Haaretz
- Francis: Two-state solution must become reality
- Pro-West billionaire Petro Poroshenko won elections in Ukraine
- European Union elections: Le Penn won in France, win for neo-Nazis in Germany
- Netanyahu acting to make northern branch of Islamic Movement illegal
- Two of the killed in Brussels were Israeli
- High Court prohibited giving living stipends to yeshiva students
- Committee report: Independence of the administration of the academia will be anchored in law, influence of Education Minister will be decreased
- Gymnast Alex Shatilov won bronze medal at European championships
Yedioth Ahronoth
- The murderer from Brussels - Security services examined whether this was an assassination of someone who worked in the past in 'the Prime Minister's Office,' but found no connection
- The holy balance - Pope Francis declared at the opening of his visit to Israel that it has a right to live in peace and security and took care to note that the Palestinians have a right to a sovereign state. Embarrassment at reception at airport: Half of the government ministers were absent
- How much are you worth - Study by Economy Ministry reveals severe discrimination towards women in job market
Maariv (Hebrew links)
- Shock and dismay in Brussels - Police released video of terrorist holding Kalachnikov inside the museum. Prime Minister's Office: No connection between couple and their work as civil servants
- "Wishing for a two-state solution" - Pope in Israel
Israel Hayom
- In cold blood - Hunt in Brussels - Belgian police ask: Help us to find the terrorist
- Pope in Israel: Splendor, glory and diplomatic declarations
- Living stipends for yeshiva students to be cancelled
- Success for radical right-wing in European parliament elections
- Recommendation: Business transactions in cash - only up to 7,500 shekels
- (Actress) Yael Bar-Zohar caught driving under the influence of alcohol
News Summary:
The killing of an Israeli couple at the Jewish Museum in Brussels and the Pope's calls for peace and a Palestinian state from Bethlehem were top stories today in the Hebrew papers.
Pope Francis said in Bethlehem that Israel has a right to recognition and to live in peace and security and the Palestinians have a right to sovereignty and freedom of movement, the papers noted. He said the prolonged Israel-Palestinian conflict had become unacceptable. And at the end of an open-air mass, he invited the Israeli and Palestinian presidents to pray for peace at the Vatican. They both accepted. [This is a slap in the face to Netanyahu, who has boycotted meetings with the Palestinians following the failure of the peace talks. Last week he almost fired Justice Minister Tzipi Livni for meeting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. -OH] Abbas called on him to support the Palestinian struggle. (Abbas' speech here.) The pope also took an unplanned stop to pray at the controversial West Bank separation barrier that Israel built, where 'Free Palestine' and 'Bethlehem look like Warsaw Ghetto' was scrawled. The image, noted the papers, will likely become the most symbolic of his trip here. In Israel, the pope condemned the terror attack in Brussels on Saturday, in which three people were killed - two of them Israelis and veering off a prepared text, called it a "criminal act of anti-Semitic hatred." He said both sides needed to make sacrifices to create two states, with internationally recognized borders, for the good of their own people. Only half of the Israeli government's ministers showed up for the reception at Ben-Gurion Airport. [This may have been a response of some to the pope's statements supporting a two-state solution. -OH] None of the ministers of the far-right-wing Habayit Hayehudi party were among those who welcomed the pope. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Israel was an island of tolerance for Christians in the region. But just hours before Francis' arrival in Jerusalem, Israel police arrested 26 Jewish extremists protesting Sunday at a site to Christians and Jews on Mount Zion. Two police were lightly injured. One of the protesters was a religious soldier who pointed his gun at the police. Maariv reported, that a Turkish TV crew left Israel in protest at the security check at Ben-Gurion Airport, where the Pope was to land on his way from Bethlehem. The crew had to go through a rigorous security check at Ben-Gurion Airport, which included removing their pants, which they refused. One of the journalists told the Israeli security guard: "Only we are checked this way." The crew was offered to pass through a bodyscanner, but refused and left the country.
The killing of an Israeli couple at the Jewish Museum in Brussels and the Pope's calls for peace and a Palestinian state from Bethlehem were top stories today in the Hebrew papers.
Pope Francis said in Bethlehem that Israel has a right to recognition and to live in peace and security and the Palestinians have a right to sovereignty and freedom of movement, the papers noted. He said the prolonged Israel-Palestinian conflict had become unacceptable. And at the end of an open-air mass, he invited the Israeli and Palestinian presidents to pray for peace at the Vatican. They both accepted. [This is a slap in the face to Netanyahu, who has boycotted meetings with the Palestinians following the failure of the peace talks. Last week he almost fired Justice Minister Tzipi Livni for meeting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. -OH] Abbas called on him to support the Palestinian struggle. (Abbas' speech here.) The pope also took an unplanned stop to pray at the controversial West Bank separation barrier that Israel built, where 'Free Palestine' and 'Bethlehem look like Warsaw Ghetto' was scrawled. The image, noted the papers, will likely become the most symbolic of his trip here. In Israel, the pope condemned the terror attack in Brussels on Saturday, in which three people were killed - two of them Israelis and veering off a prepared text, called it a "criminal act of anti-Semitic hatred." He said both sides needed to make sacrifices to create two states, with internationally recognized borders, for the good of their own people. Only half of the Israeli government's ministers showed up for the reception at Ben-Gurion Airport. [This may have been a response of some to the pope's statements supporting a two-state solution. -OH] None of the ministers of the far-right-wing Habayit Hayehudi party were among those who welcomed the pope. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Israel was an island of tolerance for Christians in the region. But just hours before Francis' arrival in Jerusalem, Israel police arrested 26 Jewish extremists protesting Sunday at a site to Christians and Jews on Mount Zion. Two police were lightly injured. One of the protesters was a religious soldier who pointed his gun at the police. Maariv reported, that a Turkish TV crew left Israel in protest at the security check at Ben-Gurion Airport, where the Pope was to land on his way from Bethlehem. The crew had to go through a rigorous security check at Ben-Gurion Airport, which included removing their pants, which they refused. One of the journalists told the Israeli security guard: "Only we are checked this way." The crew was offered to pass through a bodyscanner, but refused and left the country.
Quick Hits:
- **Police discover that entire Amona outpost was built on Palestinian land - The Amana settler organization's construction subsidiary, Al-Watan, filed forged documents attesting to a legal purchase of privately-owned Palestinian land where Amona outpost was established, the police discover. Forty families live in Amona. (Haaretz+)
- Likud MK Levine and Habayit Hayehudi MK Struck will submit 10 bills to annex settlements in Judea and Samaria - The heads of the Land of Israel lobby in the Knesset said this was a response to Netanyahu's remarks, when he said unilateral steps should be considered following the failure of negotiations with the Palestinians. The settlement blocs in question are the Jordan Valley, Ariel bloc, the heart of Samaria bloc, the Modi'in bloc, Menasheh bloc, central Benjamin bloc, Gush Etzion, Hebron bloc, Maaleh Adumim, and West Samaria. (Maariv)
- Israel's top general in West Bank warns: Power blackouts will lead to violence - Israel Electric Corporation threatening to cut power twice a day to different parts of the West Bank, over $458 million debt. (Haaretz+)
- Draft bill: NGOs with foreign funding to be defined 'foreign agents' - Right-wing MKs say organizations operate with a lack of transparency, Israeli public does not benefit from their activity. Peace Now Secretary General Yariv Oppenheimer said the "draft bill is full of lies and distortions, and has no resemblance to the situation in the United States or in any other democratic country. The entire purpose of the proposal is to incite and delegitimize the peace camp." (Haaretz+)
- Controversial (left-wing) teacher fired due to budget cuts - Adam Verete was called to disciplinary hearings earlier this year for allegedly criticizing the army in class. (Haaretz+)
- FIFA chief to hear Palestinian call for Israel's expulsion - Sepp Blatter will also meet with Netanyahu. (Haaretz)
- Palestinian Prisoners' Society: 47 Palestinian prisoners join hunger strike - The prisoners are refusing meals in solidarity with over 150 other prisoners, who are demanding Israel stop imprisoning Palestinians without charge or trial in a policy known as "administrative detention." (Maan)
- Israeli forces level land, issue confiscation notices in Salfit - As Israeli forces leveled lands in Kafr al-Dif village, locals were informed that some 3,000 dunams (750 acres) of Palestinian land were slated for confiscation. (Maan)
- Nativity Church deportees send appeal to pope - Letter described suffering of 39 Palestinian activists from Bethlehem area who were deported in 2002 after hiding out at the Nativity Church for 40 days. Thirteen were exiled to Europe and 26 others to the Gaza Strip. (Maan)
- Lebanese cardinal makes rare Jerusalem visit with Pope - Abbas honors Lebanese cardinal head of the Maronite Catholic Church, who accompanied pope. Lebanese media have blasted the cardinal's plans to visit Jerusalem. On Sunday, the al-Akhbar newspaper wrote that "by coming here, he is forgiving the Zionists for the crimes they committed." (Ynet)
- Pope and Orthodox patriarch meet in historic prayer for unity - Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I and Pope Francis hold joint prayer in Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The meeting has been billed as the main reason for the pope's three-day trip to the Middle East, which ends on Monday. (Ynet)
- Netanyahu wants to outlaw the northern branch of the Islamic Movement - PM thinks the group should be treated like the Jewish extremist Kach movement, but Justice Ministry opposes plan. (Haaretz+)
- Cabinet creates two panels on Haredi, Arab integration - The two populations are poor, under-educated, under-employed - and growing fast. Ayman Seif, the director of the economic development authority, will be the only Arab member of the Arab integration committee. (Haaretz+)
- Fitch affirms Israel's A credit rating, says outlook positive - International credit rating agency says Israel's "fiscal consolidation remains on track" but notes "geopolitical risk is a constraint on Israel's rating." (Israel Hayom)
- Israel uses photo of Korean missiles in scare tweet about Hezbollah threat - IDF: 'Illustrative photo does not detract from gravity of threat posed by Hezbollah's armament.' (Haaretz+)
- Lebanese destroy model tank to mark Israeli withdrawal - Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah warns Europe against global jihadist threat of radical fighters returning from Syria. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Egypt's Sissi seeks ties with US on his terms - Egypt's likely next president says Cairo's ties with Washington to improve after next week's elections. Middle East analyst says U.S. "is leaving the door half open." Some $680 million in U.S. military aid to Egypt still under question. (Agencies, Israel Hayom)
- Egyptian media fall into line behind Sissi on eve of presidential election - 'He really doesn't have to give orders. It is enough for him to wink or even flutter his eyelashes and he will find us all in his service,' writes columnist in rare dissent. (Agencies, Haaretz+)
Features:
Brick by brick: deconstructing the use of Palestinian labor
At curator Dor Guez’s exhibition at the Beit Hagefen Art Gallery in Haifa, 'Foreigners Among Us' deals with the complex status of Palestinian workers in Israel. There’s only one gripe - it should have been held 20 years ago. (Haaretz+)
'I am a lone soldier, but I feel at home in Israel'
A year ago, Ron Abukrat had never been to Israel and did not speak Hebrew. On Thursday he was sworn in to the IDF at a ceremony at the Western Wall. He says he is full of pride to have the privilege of contributing to Israel's defense. (Israel Hayom)
In one random hitchhiker, the story of the Palestinians
On a journey from Ramallah to the Hashmonaim checkpoint, one man reveals the grim reality that is routine for most. (Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
At curator Dor Guez’s exhibition at the Beit Hagefen Art Gallery in Haifa, 'Foreigners Among Us' deals with the complex status of Palestinian workers in Israel. There’s only one gripe - it should have been held 20 years ago. (Haaretz+)
'I am a lone soldier, but I feel at home in Israel'
A year ago, Ron Abukrat had never been to Israel and did not speak Hebrew. On Thursday he was sworn in to the IDF at a ceremony at the Western Wall. He says he is full of pride to have the privilege of contributing to Israel's defense. (Israel Hayom)
In one random hitchhiker, the story of the Palestinians
On a journey from Ramallah to the Hashmonaim checkpoint, one man reveals the grim reality that is routine for most. (Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
Papal propaganda poker: I’ll see your grave and raise you a wall (Matthew
Kalman, Haaretz+) The Israelis were a nose ahead in the political graphics war until they handed
the Palestinians a propaganda gift in the shape of the separation barrier.
What I'd like to hear from the pope (David M. Weinberg, Israel Hayom) It is time to ask the Palestinians to recognize Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people.
Pope's Mideast visit filled with precedents (Menachem Gantz, Ynet) By visiting Bethlehem before Jerusalem, Francis is giving PA the status of an actual state. Yet unlike his predecessors, he will visit Herzl's grave in show of support for Zionism.
The blessing of tolerance (Emily Amrousi, Israel Hayom) God teaches us to be tolerant of other religions, and during the pope's visit there are those among us who need to remember this.
A little cleansing here, a little expulsion there (Oudeh Basharat, Haaretz+) The protocols of the heroes of the Israelis army, as they discuss how to expel Palestinians from their land, give any anti-Semite true fodder.
The blessing of tolerance (Emily Amrousi, Israel Hayom) God teaches us to be tolerant of other religions, and during the pope's visit there are those among us who need to remember this.
The industry of lies in action (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth) A video segment showing a crying Palestinian child makes 'progressive' journalists write that Israelis are Nazis; a bonfire near an orchard turns into a pogrom against Palestinians.
Don't dismantle the security fence (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) Bennett's proposal to annex parts of Judea and Samaria would be disastrous for Israel.
Supreme Court has dealt blow to freedom of speech (Haaretz Editorial) Artists have received a castrating message to the effect that anyone who identifies as a subject or a muse of a work is liable to block its publication.
Netanyahu is fighting for his political life, but he also needs to know how to fight (Ben Caspit, Maariv) Bibi's concerns and knowing that after the next elections there will be almost no parties that will suggest him to the president (to form the next government), making him cram every possible mistake into one week. And: It's time to separate the budget of the Ministry of Defense from the IDF budget. Fats have to be cut from the first, there are none in the second.
Why Israel is shifting eastward (Moshe Arens, Haaretz+) Europe's stagnation, legacy of anti-Semitism, and constant condemnation of Israeli policies set it apart from East Asia.
How did Jerusalem Day become the holiday only of religious Zionism? (Kalman Libskind, Maariv) The liberation of the Old City during the Six Day War united the people. Why today has the secular public become apathetic, and what is the connection to the occupation?... In order to disconnect further the 'extremists' who continued to talk about Israel in terms of love and of holiness, many from the peace camp went through a complex psychological process of disengagement. The desire to throw themselves as far as possible. When (far right-wing activist and politician) Geula Cohen spoke lovingly of Hebron, they developed a loathing for the place. When the national camp or religious camp connected to Jerusalem and danced at the Wailing Wall with the Israeli flag and asked to go to the Temple Mount, (the peace camp) barricaded themselves in Tel Aviv and lowered the flag so that no one would suspect that they are similar to these fascists...
Jerusalem, the city joined apart (Yoaz Hendel, Yedioth/Ynet) After pope's visit ends, Jerusalem Day celebrations will begin, but gaps between west and east will remain huge.
Our presence in Jerusalem is a legacy since the resurrection (Christian Palestinian organizations, Maan) The following is a letter sent on Friday by a number of Christian Palestinian organizations to Eastern Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I on the occasion of his visit to occupied East Jerusalem.
What I'd like to hear from the pope (David M. Weinberg, Israel Hayom) It is time to ask the Palestinians to recognize Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people.
Pope's Mideast visit filled with precedents (Menachem Gantz, Ynet) By visiting Bethlehem before Jerusalem, Francis is giving PA the status of an actual state. Yet unlike his predecessors, he will visit Herzl's grave in show of support for Zionism.
The blessing of tolerance (Emily Amrousi, Israel Hayom) God teaches us to be tolerant of other religions, and during the pope's visit there are those among us who need to remember this.
A little cleansing here, a little expulsion there (Oudeh Basharat, Haaretz+) The protocols of the heroes of the Israelis army, as they discuss how to expel Palestinians from their land, give any anti-Semite true fodder.
The blessing of tolerance (Emily Amrousi, Israel Hayom) God teaches us to be tolerant of other religions, and during the pope's visit there are those among us who need to remember this.
The industry of lies in action (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth) A video segment showing a crying Palestinian child makes 'progressive' journalists write that Israelis are Nazis; a bonfire near an orchard turns into a pogrom against Palestinians.
Don't dismantle the security fence (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) Bennett's proposal to annex parts of Judea and Samaria would be disastrous for Israel.
Supreme Court has dealt blow to freedom of speech (Haaretz Editorial) Artists have received a castrating message to the effect that anyone who identifies as a subject or a muse of a work is liable to block its publication.
Netanyahu is fighting for his political life, but he also needs to know how to fight (Ben Caspit, Maariv) Bibi's concerns and knowing that after the next elections there will be almost no parties that will suggest him to the president (to form the next government), making him cram every possible mistake into one week. And: It's time to separate the budget of the Ministry of Defense from the IDF budget. Fats have to be cut from the first, there are none in the second.
Why Israel is shifting eastward (Moshe Arens, Haaretz+) Europe's stagnation, legacy of anti-Semitism, and constant condemnation of Israeli policies set it apart from East Asia.
How did Jerusalem Day become the holiday only of religious Zionism? (Kalman Libskind, Maariv) The liberation of the Old City during the Six Day War united the people. Why today has the secular public become apathetic, and what is the connection to the occupation?... In order to disconnect further the 'extremists' who continued to talk about Israel in terms of love and of holiness, many from the peace camp went through a complex psychological process of disengagement. The desire to throw themselves as far as possible. When (far right-wing activist and politician) Geula Cohen spoke lovingly of Hebron, they developed a loathing for the place. When the national camp or religious camp connected to Jerusalem and danced at the Wailing Wall with the Israeli flag and asked to go to the Temple Mount, (the peace camp) barricaded themselves in Tel Aviv and lowered the flag so that no one would suspect that they are similar to these fascists...
Jerusalem, the city joined apart (Yoaz Hendel, Yedioth/Ynet) After pope's visit ends, Jerusalem Day celebrations will begin, but gaps between west and east will remain huge.
Our presence in Jerusalem is a legacy since the resurrection (Christian Palestinian organizations, Maan) The following is a letter sent on Friday by a number of Christian Palestinian organizations to Eastern Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I on the occasion of his visit to occupied East Jerusalem.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.