News Nosh 06.03.14

APN's daily news review from Israel
Tuesday June 03, 2014

Note: News Nosh will be off tomorrow for Shavuot holiday.

Quote of the day:
"Netanyahu's opposition to the unity government is an excuse meant to thwart diplomatic negotiations..."
-Meretz Chairwoman MK Zahava Gal-On calls on Israeli Prime Minister to reach out to new Palestinian unity government.**


Front Page News:
Haaretz
Yedioth Ahronoth
Maariv This Week (links in Hebrew)
Israel Hayom

News Summary:
Today's top story in the Hebrew papers was Israel's fury over the US decision to work with the new Palestinian unity government. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister is pushing to approve force-feeding Palestinian prisoners on hunger-strike and two Israeli right-wing politicians surprise with talk of diplomacy with Arab countries.
 
Israel is 'furious' at and 'deeply disappointed' with the US, which within hours of the swearing in of the new technocrat temporary Palestinian unity government, announced it would be working with it and continuing to provide economic aid. US Secretary of State John Kerry called Netanyahu to tell him the US' intention and the State Department spokeswoman said the new government does not include members of Hamas and that the US would continue disbursing aid to the Palestinian Authority, but will monitor its policies. 
 
Israel was completely caught off guard by the US support, reported Ynet. One senior diplomatic source admitted the Israeli cabinet did not discuss the possibility that the US would act this quickly, that they expected a separate dialogue to continue between Washington and Abbas, and a separation in the peace process between Fatah and Hamas. "The fact that the US recognized the new government so quickly is a surprise. It's a blow to Israel and it is bad for Israel's image," he stressed.
 
 
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas promised that the new government would recognize Israel. He also said that one of its objectives is to facilitate that the next elections take place in 6 months.
 
However, Israel will be working to foil that. Netanyahu told MKs that Israel won't allow the PA to conduct elections in East Jerusalem. 'Several Knesset members present at the meeting said that Netanyahu cited “the lessons of the past” as the reason for the change in Israel’s policy on this issue. During the PA’s parliamentary election in 2006, Israel allowed campaigning in East Jerusalem and also let the PA open polling booths there,' Haaretz+ reported.
   
**At a special security cabinet meeting after the government was sworn-in, Netanyahu also said the unity agreement made Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas directly responsible for terror from Gaza. Netanyahu reaffirmed refusal to negotiate with the new Palestinian government that he said 'includes' Hamas. Leader of the far-right-wing Habayit Hayehudi party, Naftali Bennett, called the new government 'terrorists in suits,' but the majority of the government urged caution. And Meretz leader MK Zahava Gal-On called on Netanyahu "to see the Palestinian reconciliation government as an opportunity to arrive at a diplomatic agreement and not to make an automatic response that is contrary to Israel's vital interests." In an ad in Haaretz, the grassroots Israeli peace organization, Gush Shalom, congratulated the Palestinian People "On the end of the split which was harmful to them and to us. The Palestinian Unity government could and should be our partner for peace."
 
Pro-Israelis groups slammed the US over its support. Ynet's Washington correspondent wrote that "Prime Minister Netanyahu is using Israel's ambassador to the US, pro-Israeli groups and congressmen from across the aisle to fight the White House..." Some senior US legislators have already questioned aid to the new government. Reactions of some US Jews have ranged from calling on Obama administration to cut off all funds to Palestinians to measuring new government according to its actions, wrote Haaretz+. 
  
The 17-member Palestinian unity government was sworn-in in a brief ceremony in Ramallah overcoming a last minute threat from Hamas that the Ministry of Prisoner Affairs not be dissolved, reported Ynet'sElior Levy. Maan revealed something interesting: Palestinian officials said this week that the US could withdraw funding from the Palestinian Authority if the ministry were not dissolved. [The question remains why did the US want the ministry dissolved - OH] Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah said the ministry would be replaced by a committee.
 
And while the five-week hunger strike of Palestinians detained in Israeli jails without charges or trial have - many for years - has not made headlines in the Hebrew papers, with the exception of Haaretz+, it does seem to be worrying Netanyahu, who is now working to get Knesset approval for them to be force-fed. Over 75 of some 125 in jail without charges have been hospitalized and human rights groups have appeaed to the EU, Haaretz+ reported. The Israeli Medical Association warned force-feeding could be regarded as "torture."  
 
Palestinians across the West Bank have been making solidarity protests and general strikes to bring attention to the plight of the detainees. Maan reported that dozens of Arab students at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem demonstrated in support of the hunger-strikers Sunday. 
And the city of Jenin plans to strike today and Wednesday.
 
On a separate subject, Maariv reported that Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman surprised when he hinted at secret contacts with Arab countries in the Persian Gulf. Speaking to students at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya he said: "The Arab world has to pass through a psychological barrier. There will be a different reality if we can fly directly from Tel Aviv to Saudi Arabia, Qatar or Kuwait."
 
And Speaker of the Knesset Yuli Edelstein suggested cooperation with Arab Parliaments, Maariv reported. Speaking with the President of the German parliament, he said, "Why not cooperate with the parliaments of our neighbors, such as Jordanian, Palestinian and Moroccan?"


Quick Hits:
  • Palestinian terrorist shot dead at Tapuach Junction - Three days after a Palestinian suicide bomber is apprehended at a junction near Nablus, a Palestinian gunman arrives at the same site and opens fire on Israeli soldiers, lightly wounding a Border Policeman. Soldiers return fire, killing the terrorist. (Israel Hayom and Haaretz)
  • Family of man killed by Israeli forces at Tapuach Jct. denies he shot at police - Family of Alaa Muhammad Awad Audah, 30, from Huwwara, said Alaa arrived at checkpoint to receive shipment of cell phones for his store. To avoid traffic, Audah decided to cross the checkpoint by foot to retrieve his package, while his taxi driver waited nearby. Soldiers shot and killed him as he approached the checkpoint. (Maan and Maariv)
  • Israeli report to UN on arms sales conceals much more than it reveals - Voluntary filing cites sales of 12 mortar-firing systems in 2011 - when arms sales totaled $5.5 billion. (Haaretz+)
  • Passed on first reading: Terrorists will not get social security insurance - The bill submitted by MKs Levine, Tamno-Shata and Stern states that a (Arab citizen of Israel or Jerusalem resident) terrorist released in a prisoner exchange will not receive various benefits such as maternity allowance, old age allowance or a car loan. (Maariv
  • Israeli forces demolish East Jerusalem structures - Israeli forces escorted bulldozers to the town of Hizma, where they destroyed a car wash owned by Faris Salah Addin and confiscated refrigerators from a store in the town, as well as sealing a number of commercial properties. In Silwan neighborhood of E. Jerusalem, forces demolished horse barns. (Maan
  • Israeli forces demolish Palestinian house near Bethlehem - The house in the village of Wadi Rahhal told Ma’an consisted of one room, a kitchen and a bathroom. The owner, Majed Abu Srour, said he built it without a (Israeli) permit. Abu Srour is the director of liaison office at the Palestinian side of the Allenby Bridge crossing between the West Bank and Jordan. (Maan
  • IDF responds to attacks from Syria, Gaza - IDF fire artillery at Syria after mortar lands in Golan Heights; IAF responds to Gaza rocket fire, targeting Gaza terror sites. (Ynet
  • Court backs Haifa U suspension of Arab student groups for Nakba protest - Hadash, Balad, Sons of the Village banned from political activity until end of semester. (Haaretz+)
  • The Israeli-Arab attorney who can't find an apartment in Tel Aviv - 'There are a lot of Arabs who want to integrate, but we need openness on both sides,’ says Rayek Khoury. (Haaretz+)
  • Veteran U.S. academic association votes on resolution criticizing Israel - Resolution calls on the U.S. State Department to 'contest Israel’s denials of entry to the West Bank by American academics.' (Haaretz+)
  • MKs prepare to cross party lines in vote for president - Both Shelly Yacimovich (Labor) and Ilan Gilon (Meretz) intend voting for Reuven Rivlin, while Benjamin Ben Eliezer is hoping for Yisrael Beiteinu support. (Haaretz+)
  • U.S. experts propose Israel Bonds issue to finance low-cost housing - New York group hoping to sell the Israeli government on the idea; it would be first issue for a specific purpose. (Haaretz+) 
  • Indian businessmen pledge grants for Israelis to study Hindi - Celebrating World Hindi Day, businessmen from diamond exchange will help support travel expenses of outstanding students to go to India. (Haaretz)
  • CEOs welcome select students to special Birthright program - Birthright Israel Excel brings elite students from North America to Israel's leading companies for an intensive internship and mentoring program. They will take on leadership roles when they return to the U.S., says Taglit-Birthright Israel CEO Gidi Mark. (Israel Hayom)
  • Israeli arrested in Cyprus for alleged organ trafficking - Foreign Ministry confirms resident of southern Israel has been arrested in Cyprus in connection with organ trafficking. Man suspected of luring young women to Cyprus, harvesting organs for wealthy clients. The surgeries may have been done in Turkey. (Israel Hayom)
  • Israeli surgeons share expertise in Kazakhstan - Doctors perform surgeries involving minimally invasive laparoscopy and provide master classes for local physicians. (Haaretz)
  • Israeli film raises interest in Iraq - 'Farewell Baghdad,' which documents activity of Jewish underground in Iraqi capital, set to be screened in Arab country this month – if politics doesn’t get in the way. (Yedioth/Ynet)
  • 'Egyptian Jon Stewart' Bassem Youssef says show pulled off air - The comedian tells news conference the Saudi-owned station was put under more pressure 'than it could handle.' (Agencies, Haaretz)
  • Polls open in Syria's presidential vote - Syria's first multi-candidate election in more than 40 years gets underway, amid devastating three-year civil war. Incumbent President Bashar Assad is expected to win a third seven-year term. Polls open only in areas under government control. (Agencies, Israel Hayom)


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