APN's daily news review from Israel
Sunday July 13, 2014
Quote of the day:
"It was fearful. I've never experienced such violence in Tel Aviv in a leftist
demonstration."
--Rotem Bin Nun, 38, said after right-wingers beat left-wingers protesting the military operation against Gaza.**
--Rotem Bin Nun, 38, said after right-wingers beat left-wingers protesting the military operation against Gaza.**
Front Page News:
Haaretz
- Heavy shooting on Israel; IDF prepares to evacuate neighborhoods in Gaza Strip
- Number of killed rises to 150 - Palestinian testimonies in Gaza: "We must stay together if the missile comes, we will all die
- Dozens of Arabs (and left-wingers) harassed in Jerusalem; Monument for Mohammed Abu Khdeir smashed again
- 23 Ukrainian soldiers killed in missile attacks
- HIV detected in blood of child they thought had been cured
- Vatican calls for a moment of peace during World Cup finals
- Shooting and sounding out the other side - Despite the contacts for a ceasefire, the military campaign is going up a notch....Palestinians: At least 150 killed since beginning of campaign
- At the starting line // Alex Fishman
- Don't stop // Yossi Yehoshua
- Hamas' weakness // Sever Plocker
- Legitimate enemy // A. B. Yehoshua
- IDF: We will turn Sajiyeh into Dahiyeh - The next stage of Operation Protective Edge will be to destroy Sajiyeh neighborhood to its foundations, as was done to the Hezbollah stronghold in the Second Lebanon War. IDF says most of rockets launched from Sajiyeh
- Shooting in the north, south and center
- Netanyahu's dilemma: Ceasefire or ground invasion
- Last night: At least 15 children killed in bombing of mosque and home in Tufah neighborhood in E. Gaza
- Bombing and preparing - Psychological war: Last night Hamas said at 21:00 it would shoot a heavy barrage on TLV. The rockets were intercepted. The political echelons to decide regarding ground invasion
- Israel raising the volume // Yoav Limor
- World leaders showing understanding // Boaz Bismuth
- Analysts at of nothing // Dror Eydar on TV presenters showing off
- Last night: Rockets launched at Western Galilee; IDF responded with artillery fire
- Beersheva: 86-year-old wounded from rocket hit on her house
Israel increased the attacks on the Gaza Strip as it prepared to enter its northern edge and at the same
time held contacts over a ceasefire, making top stories in Israeli newspapers today. In the meantime,
international pressure for a ceasefire is mounting. Nevertheless, Israel plans on destroying a neighborhood of Gaza
City from which rockets are launched.
Israel struck Hamas harder Saturday, possibly in an attempt to get Hamas to accept a ceasefire without all of Hamas' demands, write some commentators. The death toll on the Palestinian side rose to between 130-150, depending on which newspaper you read, with at least 15 killed yesterday from the bombing of a home and a mosque. Maariv devoted a large article on page 6 and 7 to the Palestinian casualties, the dire situation in the hospitals collapsing under the load with lack of supplies and electricity and Hamas' attempts at psychological warfare. Haaretz interviewed people inside Gaza for a front-page article. One woman said she tells her children to stay in one room before the Israeli strikes so that way, if a missile comes, they will all die together, and none will stay alone. Maan reported on a father and son who fled their home after the 'warning call' (mortar hit on house), but were killed outside and about two disabled women killed when an airstrike bombed a handicapped care facility Saturday morning. The papers also reported that two of the nephews of former Palestinian president in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, were killed by airstrikes over the weekend.
But Palestinian resistance factions continued to attack. According to Ynet, over 600 rockets fell inside Israel in total - 80 of them on Saturday - and over 140 have been intercepted so far. Maan noted that some of the attacks targeted military bases and military vehicles, not just civilian areas. Over the weekend, not only were a few rockets from Gaza shot towards Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem, but some Palestinian groups in Lebanon shot some Katyushas at the Western Galilee. A home in Beersheva was destroyed, a Tel Aviv synagogue was hit by shrapnel, and an Israeli man was seriously injured in a hit on an Ashdod gas station. Hamas also warned airlines that it was targeting Ben-Gurion Airport. And for the first time since the beginning of Israel's military offensive and, possibly for the first time ever, Hamas announced in advance the hour that it would make a major attack on Tel-Aviv. The announcement emptied the city of its nightlife. And, as promised, sirens were heard in Tel-Aviv at 9PM and Iron Dome intercepted the rockets. Haaretz has the best round up of Day 5 of Operation Protective Edge (no paywall).
GROUND INCURSION:
Until now, Israel has used the 'Knock on the roof' method to attack 200 homes where allegedly someone connected to Hamas or Islamic Jihad is living. (Ynet has a video that shows how this is done: The army fires a small mortar at the target to warn of the imminent attack and signal those inside to flee before hitting it with the full force of a bomb.) "And judging by Hamas and Islamic Jihad's responses, it appears this form of operations is effective," write Yoav Zitun and Ron Ben-Yishai, So now "the IDF has decided to do the same for entire areas used by terrorists."
The Ynet reporters are likely referring to the IDF plan to enter into northern Gaza. An Israeli official said Saturday that Israel plans on telling north Gaza residents to evacuate their homes ahead of a significant attack, in which the army plans to target areas from which long-range rockets are fired. Israel Hayom's Yoav Limor writes that another goal in telling residents to evacuate entire neighborhoods was to pressure the civilian population to pressure Hamas to stop firing rockets so that the population can return to their homes. Limor also writes that the IDF has information that Palestinian organizations in Lebanon have plans to launch more rockets in solidarity with Gaza and that the global Islamic Jihad organizations in Lebanon and Syria will also take advantage of the opportunity to create chaos. Limor writes that Israel hopes that by the end of the operation, the situation in the south will be like the situation in the north: eight years after Second Lebanon War, Hezbollah has rockets but it is deterred and is careful not to act.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Air Force Chief, Amir Eshel is trying to convince the security leadership that the air force can get the job done without a ground incursion. Ynet's military analyst Ron Ben-Yishai writes that "even amid the fight between senior government officials there is almost complete consensus that a ground operation in Gaza is necessary in order to deal a devastating blow to the infrastructure of terror." Nevertheless, the Prime Minister and Defense Minister agreed to let Eshel try to achieve the goals of destroying Hamas' rocket manufacturing capabilities and striking smuggling tunnels. Ben-Yishai writes that "Among its targets the IAF attacked a mosque in central Gaza that was being utilized as a rocket storage facility and military asset to Hamas." What he didn't write is that people were taking shelter in the mosque and were killed, including children. According to Israel Hayom's Limor, the level of success the air force has in targeting rocket launchers from the air will be a significant factor in the decision on whether a ground operation is necessary.
In addition, both Maariv and Yedioth say the IDF plans to implement a strategy 'that worked in Beirut': level a neighborhood. In the case of Beirut, it was the Hezbollah epicenter. In Gaza, the IDF says it's Sajiyeh neighborhood, from where the long-range missiles are being shot.
INT'L PRESSURE AND THE CEASEFIRE:
Meanwhile, the papers (with the exception of Israel Hayom) write that international pressure continues. After Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on the UN to demand an immediate Gaza ceasefIre, the UN Security Council did just that. (Last Thursday on Palestinian TV, Abbas condemned the ongoing rocket fire from Gaza on Israel and said it was preferable "to fight with wisdom and politics."
Sunday, the foreign ministers of the UK, US, France and Germany met on the sidelines of the Iran nuclear talks to discuss an international ceasefire push. On Monday, the Arab foreign ministers will meet at the Arab League for an "urgent" meeting to discuss Gaza. On Tuesday, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier is expected to visit Israel and discuss a cease-fire with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Abbas. Senior Israeli officials said they believe that during the week US Secretary of State John Kerry and the British and French foreign ministers will also arrive. Only the Netanyahu-supporting tabloid, Israel Hayom, wrote that "world leaders are beginning to understand' Israel's perspective, while the media continues to side with Gaza during Operation Protective Edge."
Over the weekend a draft of a ceasefire was already prepared and shown to both sides, write Yedioth and Ynet. According to Ynet, Egypt and probably Qatar wrote it. Egypt is doing the mediating and Qatar is 'softening Hamas with promises of money,' wrote Yedioth's Alex Fishman. Special envoy of the Middle East Quartet, Tony Blair, met over the weekend with Netanyahu and discussed the possibility of a truce. Afterward, Blair met with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi in Cairo, Haaretz reported. And although Khaled Meshaal asked Turkey to help internationally, Israel won't let Turkey get involved in the negotiations, because of its bad relations with the Turkish Prime Minister, wrote Fishman. Maariv writes that when US President Barack Obama called Netanyahu Thursday night for the first time since the operation began "...and offered to create a mediation mechanism that will bring about a calm," the US "entered the cobwebs of the contacts for a ceasefire." But Yedioth's Alex Fishman writes that the talk that Obama had with Netanyahu over the weekend did not include an actual offer of mediation. "The US President made contact to signal to Israel that the political time Israel has for the operation is running out," he wrote.
The two-part ceasefire draft - security and economic: (from Ynet's exellent Arab affairs reporter Elior Levy)
1. Israel releases all Hamas people it arrested during Operation Brother's Keeper (the operation to find the 3 kidnapped/killed yeshiva teens), including MPs and the 56 former prisoners it had released in the Shalit prisoner exchange.
2. Israel abides by the 2012 ceasefire agreement that eased the siege on Gaza, including the expansion of the fishing area off the coast of Gaza, which was recently reduced by the IDF, a reduction in the size of Israel's security perimeter on its border with Gaza, the admittance of building materials into Gaza and the easing of the blockade on the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt.
[Note: These are the two conditions Hamas made at the beginning of the operation - OH].
According to Yedioth's top military affairs commentator Alex Fishman and Ynet's Levy, Israel saw the draft, and said there is a basis for discussion over the 2012 understandings, but that it would not release anyone. Hamas gave the first positive sign Saturday morning that it would agree to the ceasefire, but only if the whole ceasefire is accepted. However, Israel has arrested more Hamas political people over the last few days.
Israel struck Hamas harder Saturday, possibly in an attempt to get Hamas to accept a ceasefire without all of Hamas' demands, write some commentators. The death toll on the Palestinian side rose to between 130-150, depending on which newspaper you read, with at least 15 killed yesterday from the bombing of a home and a mosque. Maariv devoted a large article on page 6 and 7 to the Palestinian casualties, the dire situation in the hospitals collapsing under the load with lack of supplies and electricity and Hamas' attempts at psychological warfare. Haaretz interviewed people inside Gaza for a front-page article. One woman said she tells her children to stay in one room before the Israeli strikes so that way, if a missile comes, they will all die together, and none will stay alone. Maan reported on a father and son who fled their home after the 'warning call' (mortar hit on house), but were killed outside and about two disabled women killed when an airstrike bombed a handicapped care facility Saturday morning. The papers also reported that two of the nephews of former Palestinian president in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, were killed by airstrikes over the weekend.
But Palestinian resistance factions continued to attack. According to Ynet, over 600 rockets fell inside Israel in total - 80 of them on Saturday - and over 140 have been intercepted so far. Maan noted that some of the attacks targeted military bases and military vehicles, not just civilian areas. Over the weekend, not only were a few rockets from Gaza shot towards Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem, but some Palestinian groups in Lebanon shot some Katyushas at the Western Galilee. A home in Beersheva was destroyed, a Tel Aviv synagogue was hit by shrapnel, and an Israeli man was seriously injured in a hit on an Ashdod gas station. Hamas also warned airlines that it was targeting Ben-Gurion Airport. And for the first time since the beginning of Israel's military offensive and, possibly for the first time ever, Hamas announced in advance the hour that it would make a major attack on Tel-Aviv. The announcement emptied the city of its nightlife. And, as promised, sirens were heard in Tel-Aviv at 9PM and Iron Dome intercepted the rockets. Haaretz has the best round up of Day 5 of Operation Protective Edge (no paywall).
GROUND INCURSION:
Until now, Israel has used the 'Knock on the roof' method to attack 200 homes where allegedly someone connected to Hamas or Islamic Jihad is living. (Ynet has a video that shows how this is done: The army fires a small mortar at the target to warn of the imminent attack and signal those inside to flee before hitting it with the full force of a bomb.) "And judging by Hamas and Islamic Jihad's responses, it appears this form of operations is effective," write Yoav Zitun and Ron Ben-Yishai, So now "the IDF has decided to do the same for entire areas used by terrorists."
The Ynet reporters are likely referring to the IDF plan to enter into northern Gaza. An Israeli official said Saturday that Israel plans on telling north Gaza residents to evacuate their homes ahead of a significant attack, in which the army plans to target areas from which long-range rockets are fired. Israel Hayom's Yoav Limor writes that another goal in telling residents to evacuate entire neighborhoods was to pressure the civilian population to pressure Hamas to stop firing rockets so that the population can return to their homes. Limor also writes that the IDF has information that Palestinian organizations in Lebanon have plans to launch more rockets in solidarity with Gaza and that the global Islamic Jihad organizations in Lebanon and Syria will also take advantage of the opportunity to create chaos. Limor writes that Israel hopes that by the end of the operation, the situation in the south will be like the situation in the north: eight years after Second Lebanon War, Hezbollah has rockets but it is deterred and is careful not to act.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Air Force Chief, Amir Eshel is trying to convince the security leadership that the air force can get the job done without a ground incursion. Ynet's military analyst Ron Ben-Yishai writes that "even amid the fight between senior government officials there is almost complete consensus that a ground operation in Gaza is necessary in order to deal a devastating blow to the infrastructure of terror." Nevertheless, the Prime Minister and Defense Minister agreed to let Eshel try to achieve the goals of destroying Hamas' rocket manufacturing capabilities and striking smuggling tunnels. Ben-Yishai writes that "Among its targets the IAF attacked a mosque in central Gaza that was being utilized as a rocket storage facility and military asset to Hamas." What he didn't write is that people were taking shelter in the mosque and were killed, including children. According to Israel Hayom's Limor, the level of success the air force has in targeting rocket launchers from the air will be a significant factor in the decision on whether a ground operation is necessary.
In addition, both Maariv and Yedioth say the IDF plans to implement a strategy 'that worked in Beirut': level a neighborhood. In the case of Beirut, it was the Hezbollah epicenter. In Gaza, the IDF says it's Sajiyeh neighborhood, from where the long-range missiles are being shot.
INT'L PRESSURE AND THE CEASEFIRE:
Meanwhile, the papers (with the exception of Israel Hayom) write that international pressure continues. After Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on the UN to demand an immediate Gaza ceasefIre, the UN Security Council did just that. (Last Thursday on Palestinian TV, Abbas condemned the ongoing rocket fire from Gaza on Israel and said it was preferable "to fight with wisdom and politics."
Sunday, the foreign ministers of the UK, US, France and Germany met on the sidelines of the Iran nuclear talks to discuss an international ceasefire push. On Monday, the Arab foreign ministers will meet at the Arab League for an "urgent" meeting to discuss Gaza. On Tuesday, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier is expected to visit Israel and discuss a cease-fire with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Abbas. Senior Israeli officials said they believe that during the week US Secretary of State John Kerry and the British and French foreign ministers will also arrive. Only the Netanyahu-supporting tabloid, Israel Hayom, wrote that "world leaders are beginning to understand' Israel's perspective, while the media continues to side with Gaza during Operation Protective Edge."
Over the weekend a draft of a ceasefire was already prepared and shown to both sides, write Yedioth and Ynet. According to Ynet, Egypt and probably Qatar wrote it. Egypt is doing the mediating and Qatar is 'softening Hamas with promises of money,' wrote Yedioth's Alex Fishman. Special envoy of the Middle East Quartet, Tony Blair, met over the weekend with Netanyahu and discussed the possibility of a truce. Afterward, Blair met with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi in Cairo, Haaretz reported. And although Khaled Meshaal asked Turkey to help internationally, Israel won't let Turkey get involved in the negotiations, because of its bad relations with the Turkish Prime Minister, wrote Fishman. Maariv writes that when US President Barack Obama called Netanyahu Thursday night for the first time since the operation began "...and offered to create a mediation mechanism that will bring about a calm," the US "entered the cobwebs of the contacts for a ceasefire." But Yedioth's Alex Fishman writes that the talk that Obama had with Netanyahu over the weekend did not include an actual offer of mediation. "The US President made contact to signal to Israel that the political time Israel has for the operation is running out," he wrote.
The two-part ceasefire draft - security and economic: (from Ynet's exellent Arab affairs reporter Elior Levy)
1. Israel releases all Hamas people it arrested during Operation Brother's Keeper (the operation to find the 3 kidnapped/killed yeshiva teens), including MPs and the 56 former prisoners it had released in the Shalit prisoner exchange.
2. Israel abides by the 2012 ceasefire agreement that eased the siege on Gaza, including the expansion of the fishing area off the coast of Gaza, which was recently reduced by the IDF, a reduction in the size of Israel's security perimeter on its border with Gaza, the admittance of building materials into Gaza and the easing of the blockade on the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt.
[Note: These are the two conditions Hamas made at the beginning of the operation - OH].
According to Yedioth's top military affairs commentator Alex Fishman and Ynet's Levy, Israel saw the draft, and said there is a basis for discussion over the 2012 understandings, but that it would not release anyone. Hamas gave the first positive sign Saturday morning that it would agree to the ceasefire, but only if the whole ceasefire is accepted. However, Israel has arrested more Hamas political people over the last few days.
Quick Hits:
- Angry Palestinians clash with Israeli forces across West Bank - Fierce clashes broke out across the West Bank late Friday and early Saturday between Israeli troops and young Palestinian men protesting the ongoing military offensive against the Gaza Strip. (Maan)
- 20 injured in clashes in (E.) Jerusalem village during Gaza solidarity march - Clashes broke out after Palestinians marched in support of the people in Gaza Friday. Israeli forces fired stun grenades and rubber-coated steel bullets at them injuring 20. (Maan)
- 75% of Gaza City without electricity after lines damaged by strikes - The two main electricity supply lines coming from Israel were damaged Friday. (Maan)
- Israel targets civilian facilities in deadly Gaza assault - Palestinian civilians and civilian facilities are being targeted repeatedly by Israeli airstrikes across the coastal enclave including residential buildings, sports clubs and parks. (Maan)
- WHO appeals for $60 million to avoid 'collapse' of Gaza health services - UN organization cites shortage of medical supplies and outstanding debt as serious threats to Gaza hospitals. In Gaza, the health ministry has only 10 days of fuel reserves for hospitals during frequent power cuts, it said. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Egypt army sends aid to Gaza Strip - Over 2,500 boxes of medical supplies and 9,000 packages of nutritional supplements were among the aid. (Maan)
- Palestinian succumbs to injuries sustained in Thursday attacks - Nasser Rabah Samama, a Palestinian injured in an attack on Gaza's al-Zaytoun area on Thursday, died Friday. (Maan)
- **Right-wingers attack leftists in Tel Aviv (at anti-war) demonstration - Demonstrators attacked with clubs after rocket siren sounded; one man rushed to hospital; Police make no arrests. (Haaretz+ and Maariv)
- Monument to murdered Palestinian teen vandalized for second time - Renewed reports of attacks on Arabs in Jerusalem, with groups of extremists roaming the capital chanting ‘Death to the Arabs’ (Haaretz+)
- Shas rabbi: Jewish avengers subject to 'din rodef' - Ultra-Orthodox party's new spiritual leader says traditional Jewish law which calls for killing of a person 'pursuing' another person applies to murderers of 16-year-old Mohammed Abu Khdeir. (Ynet)
- Israel approves 800 evacuation requests for foreign passports holders in Gaza - The Israeli coordinator of government activities in the territories approved 800 requests to evacuate from the Gaza Strip Palestinians holding American, Romanian, Swedish, Norwegian, British, Turkish and Australian passports. (Maan)
- Iron Dome hailed as 'more popular than hummus' - International press praises Iron Dome defense system for its effectiveness in preventing civilian deaths. BusinessWeek writes that while Iron Dome is "amazing," it also means that Israel receives less sympathy from the world than it should. (Israel Hayom)
- Popular Turkish singer causes outrage with anti-Semitic Gaza tweets - Yildiz Tilbe pressured to apologize after writing 'If God allows, it will be again Muslims who will bring the end of those Jews.' (Agencies, Ynet)
- Pearl Jam frontman against Israel: "They are dropping bombs on children" - The band performed in England and Eddie Vedder spoke out against those looking for a reason for the killing and for taking over of other people's lands (in the W. Bank). The organizer bringing the band to Israel wrote to Vedder: "Your true face has been exposed. Please do not come here." (Maariv and JPost)
- Two major Palestinian West Bank cities hit by rockets fired from Gaza - One rocket hits Hamas-controlled Hebron, two rockets hit Bethlehem, and Israeli Gush Etzion, IDF confirms. (Ynet)
- Children of new immigrants to Israel: We're scared, but hoping for the best - New immigrant absorption centers and Jewish Agency create programming for children, bring in professionals to help families deal with the stress of the rocket fire. New immigrant: "We came to Israel to live here, so we'll manage and hope for the best." (Israel Hayom)
- For Palestinian-Americans, a summer vacation at wartime - Like their Jewish compatriots, U.S.-Palestinians spend summers with relatives in the West Bank or Israel, getting in touch with their roots, and seeing the conflict and the occupation up close. (Haaretz+)
- Thousands protest Gaza strikes in London, Paris - Demonstrators crowd streets outside Israeli Embassy, French Foreign Ministry, call for end to Israeli 'massacre' in the Gaza Strip. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Pope urges truce during World Cup Argentina-Germany final - Pope Francis, known to be an avid soccer fan, asks adherents worldwide to pause to remember those stricken by "wars and unrest." FIFA refuses request for moment of silence at Maracana Stadium. Pope promises not to pray for Argentinean team. (Agencies, Israel Hayom)
- Interfaith leaders call for end to 'cycle of violence' - President-elect Rivlin, Chief Rabbi Lau meet with religious figures to issue joint plea to 'prevent further harm to innocent lives.' (Ynet)
- Business as usual at Ben Gurion Airport - Takeoff and landing routes have been altered as a result of Operation Protective Edge. (Globes)
- Gaza rockets thwart Neil Young concert in Israel - Canadian rock legend forced to cancel Thursday's Tel Aviv performance due to IDF operation in Gaza and ongoing rocket fire from Strip. (Ynet)
- Israel's tourist industry takes its own hit - As rockets from Gaza keep falling, hotels and airlines are reporting growing trend of cancellations. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- Rocket alert song in Israel goes viral - Song developed by Joint Distribution Committee in 2008 for children of Sderot proves as relevant as ever in wake of barrage of Hamas rockets. (Haaretz+)
- IDF ranked as world's 11th most powerful army - The Global Firepower Index ranks Israel ahead of Australia, Italy and Canada. (Globes)
- Israel ranked 32nd most risky place for business - Zurich Insurance has ranked business risks in what they define as emerging markets. (Globes)
- Saudi and Egyptian media (Arab) media lash out at Hamas, calls it ‘guilty of massacre’ - At the same time, there is a widespread assumption in the Arab press that Israel was taking advantage of the situation in the Arab world and the lack of interest in the Palestinian issue to carry out its actions in Gaza. (Ynet)
- Rouhani to Muslim leaders: Stop Zionist crimes in Gaza - Hassan Rouhani says dire lack of medical supplies in Gaza the result of "cruel siege." Calls current air offensive in Gaza an echo of "the sad tragedy of the Palestinian nation." Urges all "interested parties" to push for legal action against Israel. (Israel Hayom)
- Chris Christie: Obama not firm enough against Hamas - 'Israel is not sure that they have America's full support,' says New Jersey governor, who is considering a 2016 presidential bid. 'And that's a real failure of this presidency.' (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Palestinians injured by live bullets in Kafr Qaddum - Hundreds of residents participated in a weekly protest in the village calling for the re-opening of the village’s main street, which was closed in 2000. The five were shot with rifles with silencers. (Maan)
- Palestinian Authority: Palestinian driver hits 2 settlers, kills 1 - Palestinian security forces told Ma’an that a Palestinian driver hit two Israeli settlers with his car killing one immediately, while the other sustained severe injuries. (Maan)
- U.S. imposes sanctions against Hezbollah-affiliated consumer electronics company - According to the U.S. Treasury, Stars Group Holding secretly bought electronics in North America and Europe to help Hezbollah conduct surveillance operations in Israel. (Agencies, Haaretz)
Commentary/Analysis:
Who needs a peace deal when Israel has Iron Dome? (Jack Khoury, Haaretz+) Why wrack our brains thinking about deep, fundamental questions? And what are
the Palestinians griping about?
Take care of missiles, not Hamas (Zvi Hauser, Yedioth/Ynet) The problem in Gaza should be redefined: Israel needs to get the missiles out of Hamas hands, not remove the Hamas leadership.
It's time for Israel to seek a cease-fire in Gaza (Haaretz Editorial) Israel should declare that it achieved its aim of punishing Hamas, before tragic surprises strike on either side.
Talk of peace always leads to war (Ruthie Blum, Israel Hayom) The real reason for the current "cycle of violence" is the phony peace process that the U.S. spent months trying to broker.
Israel's international credit to pound Gaza is running out (Barak Ravid, Haaretz+) World pressure on Israel to reach a cease-fire is mounting, will rise even more if a ground offensive is launched. If Netanyahu is interested in calm, he would do better to initiate a stop to hostilities, and not just wait for an offer.
Why do wars break out? (Sever Plocker, Yedioth/Ynet) Complexity of bloody conflict between two national-religious-ideological movements cannot be simplified down to economic considerations.
Gaza crisis will exact price from Israel in spirit, if not in blood (Amir Oren, Haaretz+) All Netanyahu is offering Israel is wasted time in ever-recurring rounds of warfare and lulls, while the other side is getting stronger and stronger.
Beware the hornets' nest (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) Operation Protective Edge is forging ahead on full throttle, and the complexities of a ground incursion should be avoided unless it proves absolutely necessary.
Otherwise, what’s the point? (Adam R. Bronfman, Times of Israel) The opposition his father, Edgar Bronfman, expressed about the settlements has never before rung so true.
Israel's real purpose in Gaza operation? To kill Arabs (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) Since the first Lebanon war over 30 years ago, Israel's main strategy has been killing Arabs. The current atrocious war in Gaza is no different.
A new kind of ground operation in Gaza (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) The IDF has learned from bitter experience, but sending troops into the Strip will be neither a picnic nor a walk in the park.
Stop the rockets, stop the settlements (Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie, Haaretz+) The conflict with Hamas over Gaza could be long and ugly. American progressive Jews should push for a settlement freeze to make international support for Israel in these days much stronger.
Target every last terrorist (Zvika Fogel, Israel Hayom) When it comes to the Hamas terror state, the political echelon and the military one must suffer the same fate.
Focusing on a victory picture, at any price (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) Hamas’ inability to achieve a triumphant image in the latest conflict with Israel will affect any cease-fire talks and prolong the bloodshed.
Implementing the master plan for East Jerusalem (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) Israel’s undeclared goal is to expel the residents of East Jerusalem from the city, or at least to limit their number and weaken them as a national community.
The search for an Israel-Hamas mediator (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) Reports of a possibly Egypt-brokered mediation to end the Gaza crisis abound, but with Hamas and Israel focused on strikes and rockets, diplomacy doesn't really stand a chance.
Eliminating the Palestinians as a political entity (Yitzhak Laor, Haaretz+) The government is intent on destroying every political entity in the West Bank and turning the Palestinians into a marginalized, fragmented people.
Building is the answer to terrorism (Prof. Aviezri Fraenkel, Israel Hayom) After learning of the brutal murder of these three boys, we must show initiative, momentous development and life -- in place of blood, flourishing settlement.
The countdown to the end of Netanyahu's premiership has begun (Yoel Marcus, Haaretz+) What was Netanyahu thinking, that Hamas in Gaza would sit quietly while the IDF was seen every night destroying its admirers and members?
Apologies overdue and overdone (David M. Weinberg, Israel Hayom) Here are some apologies that the Palestinians, the misguided Israeli Left and the international community should have made, but didn't.
Caution, another Cast Lead lies ahead (Friday Haaretz Editorial) The first few days of Operation Protective Edge indicate that Israel hasn’t learned anything from previous instances of mass killing.
An asymmetrical conflict (Emily Amrousi, Israel Hayom) The Left has made a sacred cause of finding the symmetry between the two sides of the conflict.
Gaza vs. Israel: The never-ending rematch (Emily L. Hauser, Haaretz+) I do not for one moment doubt Israel’s right to self-defense. But this isn't the first time Israel has pounded Hamas, and judging by the record, more destruction in Gaza won’t bring Israel more security.
Who is the Trojan horse here? (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) The Israeli Left accuses Israel of committing atrocities, but they are frightfully forgiving when it comes to our neighbors.
Ground forces not rushing in where angels fear to tread (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Despite the convoy of tanks heading south, infantry amassing near Gaza border, Israel is in no hurry for operation's ground phase.
Time for a (social) ceasefire (Yehuda Kurtzer, Times of Israel) The upcoming Jewish fast day is a time to stop gorging on toxic cyber discourse
Stop the rockets, stop the settlements (Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie, Haaretz+) The conflict with Hamas over Gaza could be long and ugly. American progressive Jews should push for a settlement freeze to make international support for Israel in these days much stronger.
Israel's Iron Dome changes the face of battle (Aron Heller, AP, Ynet) Hamas fired hundreds of rockets into Israel, but beyond some discomfort, they caused no casualties and little damage; meanwhile, IDF receives eighth battery for system.
Gaza operation churns on, but end of PM's coalition closing in fast (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) No one in Netanyahu’s close circle believes this government will last more than another year, 18 months tops. And the premier himself sees no cause for optimism down the line.
Meanwhile, at the neighbors (Norman Bailey, Globes) Israel's spat with Hamas is far from the most significant thing happening in the region.
Is Netanyahu already looking beyond Gaza to Iran? (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) Israel’s top brass have no answer to the simple question, how will we know that we have won?
The dark side of Iron Dome (Thane Rosenbaum, Times of Israel) As Israelis sit back and watch their defense system triumph over Hamas rockets, they may neglect making peace.
Gimme Shelter / The Promised Podcast (Ilene Prusher, Haaretz) Ilene, Noah and special guest Miriam Herschlag discuss: Whether we have lost the moral high-ground; whether we can still plan for peace in our bomb shelters; and whether the social protests of three years ago had any effect.
Response to American friends (Rabbi Daniel Landes, Times of Israel) Our destiny is neither that of becoming the victim, nor becoming victimizer.
Snapshot: Revenge via iPhone (Tal Niv, Haaretz+) Three wildly different images reflect recent tragic events in Israel.
Gaza diary: Israelis are completely misled about what's going on (Abeer Ayyoub in Gaza, Haaretz+)
I haven’t slept for a second as the explosions have surrounded our home, yet the international community seems to be paying no attention to us.
Questions of legal warfare (Ido Rosenzweig, Times of Israel) What international humanitarian law has to say about the asymmetrical conflict between Israel and Gaza
War of words: Tinker, tailor, terrorist, freedom fighter
Events of recent weeks have reignited the discussion over just what constitutes 'terror.' Sometimes the moral distinctions become blurry, but terror does have a definition. (Gideon Aran, Haaretz+)
Take care of missiles, not Hamas (Zvi Hauser, Yedioth/Ynet) The problem in Gaza should be redefined: Israel needs to get the missiles out of Hamas hands, not remove the Hamas leadership.
It's time for Israel to seek a cease-fire in Gaza (Haaretz Editorial) Israel should declare that it achieved its aim of punishing Hamas, before tragic surprises strike on either side.
Talk of peace always leads to war (Ruthie Blum, Israel Hayom) The real reason for the current "cycle of violence" is the phony peace process that the U.S. spent months trying to broker.
Israel's international credit to pound Gaza is running out (Barak Ravid, Haaretz+) World pressure on Israel to reach a cease-fire is mounting, will rise even more if a ground offensive is launched. If Netanyahu is interested in calm, he would do better to initiate a stop to hostilities, and not just wait for an offer.
Why do wars break out? (Sever Plocker, Yedioth/Ynet) Complexity of bloody conflict between two national-religious-ideological movements cannot be simplified down to economic considerations.
Gaza crisis will exact price from Israel in spirit, if not in blood (Amir Oren, Haaretz+) All Netanyahu is offering Israel is wasted time in ever-recurring rounds of warfare and lulls, while the other side is getting stronger and stronger.
Beware the hornets' nest (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) Operation Protective Edge is forging ahead on full throttle, and the complexities of a ground incursion should be avoided unless it proves absolutely necessary.
Otherwise, what’s the point? (Adam R. Bronfman, Times of Israel) The opposition his father, Edgar Bronfman, expressed about the settlements has never before rung so true.
Israel's real purpose in Gaza operation? To kill Arabs (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) Since the first Lebanon war over 30 years ago, Israel's main strategy has been killing Arabs. The current atrocious war in Gaza is no different.
A new kind of ground operation in Gaza (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) The IDF has learned from bitter experience, but sending troops into the Strip will be neither a picnic nor a walk in the park.
Stop the rockets, stop the settlements (Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie, Haaretz+) The conflict with Hamas over Gaza could be long and ugly. American progressive Jews should push for a settlement freeze to make international support for Israel in these days much stronger.
Target every last terrorist (Zvika Fogel, Israel Hayom) When it comes to the Hamas terror state, the political echelon and the military one must suffer the same fate.
Focusing on a victory picture, at any price (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) Hamas’ inability to achieve a triumphant image in the latest conflict with Israel will affect any cease-fire talks and prolong the bloodshed.
Implementing the master plan for East Jerusalem (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) Israel’s undeclared goal is to expel the residents of East Jerusalem from the city, or at least to limit their number and weaken them as a national community.
The search for an Israel-Hamas mediator (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) Reports of a possibly Egypt-brokered mediation to end the Gaza crisis abound, but with Hamas and Israel focused on strikes and rockets, diplomacy doesn't really stand a chance.
Eliminating the Palestinians as a political entity (Yitzhak Laor, Haaretz+) The government is intent on destroying every political entity in the West Bank and turning the Palestinians into a marginalized, fragmented people.
Building is the answer to terrorism (Prof. Aviezri Fraenkel, Israel Hayom) After learning of the brutal murder of these three boys, we must show initiative, momentous development and life -- in place of blood, flourishing settlement.
The countdown to the end of Netanyahu's premiership has begun (Yoel Marcus, Haaretz+) What was Netanyahu thinking, that Hamas in Gaza would sit quietly while the IDF was seen every night destroying its admirers and members?
Apologies overdue and overdone (David M. Weinberg, Israel Hayom) Here are some apologies that the Palestinians, the misguided Israeli Left and the international community should have made, but didn't.
Caution, another Cast Lead lies ahead (Friday Haaretz Editorial) The first few days of Operation Protective Edge indicate that Israel hasn’t learned anything from previous instances of mass killing.
An asymmetrical conflict (Emily Amrousi, Israel Hayom) The Left has made a sacred cause of finding the symmetry between the two sides of the conflict.
Gaza vs. Israel: The never-ending rematch (Emily L. Hauser, Haaretz+) I do not for one moment doubt Israel’s right to self-defense. But this isn't the first time Israel has pounded Hamas, and judging by the record, more destruction in Gaza won’t bring Israel more security.
Who is the Trojan horse here? (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) The Israeli Left accuses Israel of committing atrocities, but they are frightfully forgiving when it comes to our neighbors.
Ground forces not rushing in where angels fear to tread (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Despite the convoy of tanks heading south, infantry amassing near Gaza border, Israel is in no hurry for operation's ground phase.
Time for a (social) ceasefire (Yehuda Kurtzer, Times of Israel) The upcoming Jewish fast day is a time to stop gorging on toxic cyber discourse
Stop the rockets, stop the settlements (Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie, Haaretz+) The conflict with Hamas over Gaza could be long and ugly. American progressive Jews should push for a settlement freeze to make international support for Israel in these days much stronger.
Israel's Iron Dome changes the face of battle (Aron Heller, AP, Ynet) Hamas fired hundreds of rockets into Israel, but beyond some discomfort, they caused no casualties and little damage; meanwhile, IDF receives eighth battery for system.
Gaza operation churns on, but end of PM's coalition closing in fast (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) No one in Netanyahu’s close circle believes this government will last more than another year, 18 months tops. And the premier himself sees no cause for optimism down the line.
Meanwhile, at the neighbors (Norman Bailey, Globes) Israel's spat with Hamas is far from the most significant thing happening in the region.
Is Netanyahu already looking beyond Gaza to Iran? (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) Israel’s top brass have no answer to the simple question, how will we know that we have won?
The dark side of Iron Dome (Thane Rosenbaum, Times of Israel) As Israelis sit back and watch their defense system triumph over Hamas rockets, they may neglect making peace.
Gimme Shelter / The Promised Podcast (Ilene Prusher, Haaretz) Ilene, Noah and special guest Miriam Herschlag discuss: Whether we have lost the moral high-ground; whether we can still plan for peace in our bomb shelters; and whether the social protests of three years ago had any effect.
Response to American friends (Rabbi Daniel Landes, Times of Israel) Our destiny is neither that of becoming the victim, nor becoming victimizer.
Snapshot: Revenge via iPhone (Tal Niv, Haaretz+) Three wildly different images reflect recent tragic events in Israel.
Gaza diary: Israelis are completely misled about what's going on (Abeer Ayyoub in Gaza, Haaretz+)
I haven’t slept for a second as the explosions have surrounded our home, yet the international community seems to be paying no attention to us.
Questions of legal warfare (Ido Rosenzweig, Times of Israel) What international humanitarian law has to say about the asymmetrical conflict between Israel and Gaza
War of words: Tinker, tailor, terrorist, freedom fighter
Events of recent weeks have reignited the discussion over just what constitutes 'terror.' Sometimes the moral distinctions become blurry, but terror does have a definition. (Gideon Aran, Haaretz+)
Interviews:
Israel Defense Prize winner Moti Shefer: Iron Dome is a bluff
Shefer: "Actually, all the explosions you see in the sky are self explosions. No Iron Dome missile has ever collided with a single rocket." Brig. Gen. (res.) Daniel Gold, who initiated Iron Dome: All interceptions are recorded and documented. (Globes)
Shefer: "Actually, all the explosions you see in the sky are self explosions. No Iron Dome missile has ever collided with a single rocket." Brig. Gen. (res.) Daniel Gold, who initiated Iron Dome: All interceptions are recorded and documented. (Globes)
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.