News Nosh 06.20.14

APN's daily news review from Israel
Friday June 20, 2014

Quote of the day:
"One cannot recall such measures being taken in other local authorities which have suffered terror attacks."
 --Peace Now Secretary General reacts to government decision in wake of kidnapping to transfer millions of shekels to settlements without any designation of objectives.**


Front Page News:
Haaretz
Yedioth Ahronoth
  • A night in the city of terror - Yedioth reporter with Duvdevan Unit fighters in chase for youths' kidnappers
  • Captain Dr. Shani, the first female doctor in IDF history to serve in a special combat unit, participated in Duvdevan's operation last night: "For me it is a news challenge"
  • Nightmare in children's room - Man allegedly kidnapped 5-year-old girl from her bed in Pardes Hanna and (sexually) assaulted her
  • Mundial: England on way out
  • There is a partner // Nahum Barnea
  • Silence // Sima Kadmon
  • Rolling operation // Alex Fishman
  • Harvest season // Meir Shalev
  • Operation Cast Distress // Yoaz Hendel
  • March of folly // Ben-Dror Yemini
  • Bibi, the commander in chief // Igal Sarna
  • At the focal point of the blunder // Nehama Dweik
  • Three mothers // Sivan Rahav-Meir
  • At our home // Hanoch Daum
Maariv Weekend (Hebrew links)
Israel Hayom
  • "Don't break, even if they come back" - Exceptional and brave statement by Rachel Frankel, mother of Naftali; She believes "the children will come back," but told children praying at the Wailing Wall for their return (to accept the reality if they don't)
  • Not breaking, praying // Emily Amrousi
  • With our forces, in the Hamas stronghold in Ramallah
  • Holyland: Lupolianski - 6 years prison
  • Surprising gaps: Where is it best to trade-in your car? We checked
  • On the verge of being dismissed from the Mundial: England lost to Uruguay
  • Jump to holiday - Some half million children in middle and high school begin their summer holiday today
  • Kidnapped a 5-year-old from her bed - and sexually assaulted her

News Summary:
**The Israeli military operation to find the three kidnapped youth and to harm the Hamas movement enters its eighth day today and the Hebrew newspapers and Israeli officials have little new information to share. Haaretz+ revealed that in the wake of the kidnapping, the government stands to approve transferring five million shekels for unspecified use, with more funds to follow, to settlements - due to the 'security situation.' Maariv led with the threat by Hamas to ignite a third intifada: "We are capable of igniting a third Intifada which is an irrevocable right that will go off when more pressure is exerted on the Palestinian people," Hamas official Salah Bardawil said during a solidarity rally for the director of al-Aqsa TV network, who was detained in Ramallah on Wednesday. The papers also reported that Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said that if Israel realizes its threat of expelling Hamas heads from the West Bank to Gaza, Israel would be "opening the gates of hell." Abu Zuhri also called the continuation of the security coordination between the Palestinian Authority and Israel a crime that violated the unity government agreement.
  
Meanwhile, Israeli news websites reported this morning that a 13-year-old Palestinian boy was killed by IDF fire early this morning - making him the second Palestinian killed since the start of Operation Brothers' Keeper. Local sources told Ma'an that Mahmoud Jihad Muhammad Dudeen was struck by live bullets to the chest after clashes erupted early Friday morning during a raid on homes in the southern West Bank village of Dura. 

As of today, some 320 Palestinians have been detained (of them 240 connected in some way to Hamas), 1200 homes have been searched and 'operations' were made against some 30 Hamas institutions, Maariv reported. [Ironically, an Israeli court sentenced yesterday 29 of those detained to administrative detention - detention without charges. The kidnapping took place during the hunger-strike of Palestinian administrative detainees protesting their administrative detention. Today the 125 hunger-strikers entered the 58th day of their protest. Most of them are in hospital.]
 
Ynet quoted an IDF officer, who told his soldiers in a briefing: "There is increasing friction compared to activities from previous nights...We fired at two people throwing explosives in the Jenin refugee camp and we hit them back. There has also been some friction in the Bethlehem area." Another military source told Maariv that "The longer the operation continues - so the desire of terror groups or independent terror activists to carry out attacks against Israelis will rise.

Kidnapping Quick Hits:
  • Palestinian families bear brunt as Israel hunts teens - "They kicked in the doors at 7:30 a.m and told us to get out," Umm Omar Izrayqat said, describing the moment when troops raided her home. "I took my four children. We didn't even have time to get ready properly, so I put these dirty clothes on and left," she said. (AFP, Maan)
  • Hate graffiti against (Arab) MK Zouebi - Hate graffiti with the words "Price tag", Death to the Arabs" were found sprayed on an Arab school in Haifa yesterday. Words against MK Hanin Zouebi, who said she did not think the kidnappers were "terrorists" were partially burned after someone tried to burn the wall with the graffiti. Police believe it was work of right-wing activists who arrived from outside the city. (Maariv, p. 4)
  • Israeli ambassador: Europe supports kidnapping children - The Israeli ambassador to Italy Naor Gilon on Thursday attacked the European Union for supporting the Palestinian government of national unity in light of the disappearance of three Israeli youths last week, accusing them of supporting "kidnapping." (Maan)
  • Mother of kidnapped boy: I believe they'll return, but if not, remain strong - Families meet with President Peres who promises to speak with Obama, congressional leaders about fighting terror funding nations, says "terror is a global problem, not just an Israeli one." (Ynet)
  • Kiryat Arba chief rabbi: 'Anti-Jewish' legislation was a cause for kidnappings - Revered religious leader writes on Facebook that another reason was 'constant drive to hand over parts of the land of Israel to terrorists.' (Haaretz+) 
  • Diskin takes to Twitter to disparage Rabbi's remarks - Former Shin Bet chief says Rabbi Lior inciting crazy ideas, extremism by saying abductions are punishment from God. (Ynet)
  • Israeli forces open fire on vehicle in Bethlehem, hit confirmed - Israeli forces opened fire on a vehicle in Bethlehem on Thursday night after it attempted to "run over" soldiers, the military said in a statement. (Maan)
  • U.S. Ambassador to Israel visits family of kidnapped teen - Naftali Fraenkel, one of three teenagers who went missing in the West Bank a week ago, is a dual American-Israeli citizen. (JTA, Haaretz)
  • US Jews rally in support of kidnapped teens - Hundreds of Israelis, pro-Israel supporters gather outside DC embassy to call for immediate release of Naftali, Gil-Ad, and Eyal. (Ynet)  
  • Israeli forces close western entrance to Beit Jala [also used by Israelis visiting Bethlehem - OH] - A Ma'an reporter said that Israeli forces closed the road outside of Israel's DCO as part of large-scale efforts across the West Bank to locate three missing Israelis. (Maan)
  • Abduction triggers SOS emergency app - In wake of kidnapping affair, United Hatzalah launches emergency alert app; with one swipe of phone, users can send GPS coordinates, notify family members they are in danger. (Ynet)


Quick Hits:
  • World Medical Association to Netanyahu: Reconsider force feeding law - In a letter, WMA call practice of force feeding hunger-striking prisoners 'tantamount to torture.' (Haaretz+)
  • IAF hit Gaza targets after rockets slam into southern Israel - For third time this week, rockets hit Israel, this time causing damage to structure. (Ynet)
  • Israeli demolitions leave 7 families homeless near Bethlehem - Two Israeli bulldozers, escorted by Israeli police, raided the town of Al-Khadr and demolished three properties leaving six families homeless. Meanwhile, Israeli forces demolished four buildings and two animal sheds south of Hebron because they had allegedly been built without a permit. (Maan)
  • Five Hamas members die as Gaza tunnel collapses - Hamas official says men had embarked on a 'military mission' near the Israeli border. (Agencies, Haaretz)
  • Australia FM tells Muslim envoys: Our Palestinian policy hasn't changed - Despite declaring East Jerusalem not occupied, FM says Australia stance consistent with UN resolutions and reaffirms commitment to two-state solution. (Haaretz)
  •  PA disappointed as Israeli elected vice-head of UN committee (on decolonization) -  The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed "deep disappointment" on Thursday after an Israeli was elected as vice-head of the UN's fourth committee, also known as the Special Political and Decolonization Committee. (Maan)
  • Israel bars U.K. charity from West Bank over alleged ties to Hamas - Defense Minister Ya'alon signs edict, commenting that Islamic Relief Worldwide's chapters, including those in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, were run by Hamas members. (Haaretz)
  • Former Shin Bet head Avraham Shalom dies, aged 86 - War of Independence veteran who headed the Shin Bet during the Bus 300 affair, captured Holocaust architect Adolf Eichmann and supported peace. (Ynet
  • West Bank Palestinians pirating Israeli satellite to watch World Cup - Commentary might be in Hebrew - but keeping up with the latest matches in Brazil comes at a fraction of the cost. (Haaretz)
  • Jerusalem court sentences woman to 40 months - The Jerusalem central court sentenced Alia al-Sheikh Ali Abbasi, 49 and a mother of six, from Silwan, to 40 months in prison for attempting to stab an Israeli soldier in 2012. (Maan)
  • (Former Jerusalem mayor) Lupolianski sentenced to 6 years in Holyland affair - Former Jerusalem mayor and cancer patient receives same sentence as Ehud Olmert in bribery case. (Ynet)
  • Israeli government scales down plan to woo European Jews - The campaign, had it been approved in its original form, would have effectively stripped the Jewish Agency of its remaining role in promoting immigration. (Haaretz+)
  • Bethlehem festival draws thousands to its Old City - The Bet Lahem Live festival kicked off on Thursday night along Bethlehem's historic Star Street, launching four days of music, theater, and open-air shopping and dining in the heart of the holy city's old town. (Maan+PHOTOS)


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