APN's daily news review from Israel

Sunday July 20, 2014
 

Quote of the day:

"They are not to blame for the situation."
--Israeli doctors at Sheba Hospital perform life-saving surgery on Palestinian baby, while sirens go off.**

Front Page News:

Haaretz

• Five soldiers and some 100 Palestinians killed in battles in Gaza
• The battle over the tunnels // Amos Harel
• The blunders of a disconnected (Palestinian) leadership // Amira Hass
• From neighborhood feud to global conflict // Zvi Bar'el
• You don't win by accumulating points // Amir Oren
• They believe Netanyahu // Barak Ravid
• With all due respect to the hasbara (PR) // Chemi Shalev
• One dead and numerous wounded from rocket near Dimona; High Court to rule on petition to protect Bedouin villages
• Senior AIDS researcher among dead in Malaysian plane crash in Ukraine
• After not achieving an agreement: Nuclear attacks between Iran and West extended by 4 months

• Protective Edge Day 13 - The tunnels hunt
• They paid with their lives, two IDF soldiers, three soldiers and a civilian killed over weekend of fighting
• The ground exam // Nahum Barnea
• Race against time // Alex Fishman
• Weaken? Overthrow! // Sever Plocker
• Blow to Hamas // Yossi Yehoshua

• The terrorists came out from the tunnels and opened lethal fire
• Changing the reality // Ben Caspit
• Strengthening the deterrence // MK Tzachi Hanegbi
• The stick and the carrot // Amos Yadlin
• Serious doubts // Eliezar (Cheney) Merom
• Painful reminder // Or Heller
• Assymetrical war // Yossi Melman
• Rocket fire: Resident of Bedouin villages area killed in direct hit, his daughter severely injured
• Arab Israeli protest: MK Hanin Zouebi acted wildly at demonstration in Haifa - and was handcuffed

• Expanding the operation against the enemy's tunnels
• Fallen of the campaign: Reserve soldier and two soldiers killed in battles since opening of ground action in Operation Protective Edge
• "There are no protective concrete blocks, Oudeh never had a chance"
• Hamas tunnels - strategic target // Yoav Limor
• Goal: Ceasefire and weakened Hamas rule // Dan Margalit
• Hamas won't become moderate; we need to fight it // Prof. Eyal Zisser
• In Europe: Hatred of Israel goes to the streets // Boaz Bismuth
• Netanyahu: Until now, appropriate considerations // Haim Shine
• Arguments later, this is the time for unity // Nadav Shragai
• You bought tickets for a vacation  and were called up to reserve - Do you get compensation? Questions and answers
• "Itamar survived Operation Cast Lead, and was killed in a plane that crashed in Ukraine"
• During conversation between Obama and PM, siren heard
• Also over weekend: Heavy barrages towards communities in south and in Gush Dan (Tel-Aviv area)
• MK Zouebi rioted at demonstration against the Gaza operation - and was handcuffed; Hamas: "She's a patriot"

The deaths of five Israeli soldiers in the first days of the ground invasion into the Gaza Strip and hunt for the tunnels that lead from Gaza into Israel were today's top stories in the Hebrew newspapers.

Only on Page 12 was 'the Palestinian side reported on in Yedioth and Maariv. Maariv's Yasser Ukabi gave a proper report citing the high casualties, although it quoted Gaza medical services using the word 'claimed.' Yedioth ran an article by an Italian journalist in Gaza, Mauricio Molinari, who wrote in a military-like report 'explained' that tanks and Apache helicopters were part of Israel's military tactics "to expose the tunnels." The only numbers he provided on the Palestinian side were of militants:  the "15 Hamas activists, who were protecting the tunnels, were killed by Israeli forces, and 13 others were detained and transferred to the Shin Bet for interrogations." The only quote he offered from a Palestinian was of one living in a neighborhood not being bombarded, who was unaware of all the military action in the areas being bombarded. No mention of deaths of civilians. Israel Hayom had no article about the situation of the Palestinians in Gaza.

Meanwhile, Western governments gave their support to Israel, while in the streets of Europe - and in Haifa and Tel-Aviv, there were protests against Israel's military operation. The UN Security Council held an emergency debate on the Gaza crisis Friday at Jordan's behest 24 hours after IDF sends ground troops into Gaza and the Palestinian UN ambassador is threatened to go to the UN and international courts if the attack on Gaza did not end. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon arrived in the region Saturday. And France's Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Saturday after talks in Egypt and Jordan. "Sadly I can say that the call for a ceasefire has not been heard, and on the contrary, there's a risk of more civilian casualties that worries us," said Fabius after the meeting.
  
Israeli commentators and analysts argued in the papers about whether to just weaken Hamas with a 'heavy blow' or to take over the Gaza Strip. Some suggested Israel offer Gazans a better life - one of Hamas' main demands for a ceasefire, although the details of Hamas' demands are not detailed in the newspapers.  [See Commentary/Analysis below] The Israeli security-cabinet met last night, after which Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz said Israel might actually take over the Gaza Strip. Steinitz said the decision was based on the assessment that Hamas was not ready for a cease-fire.
  
However, that appears to be false, Hamas simply is not ready to accept the Egyptian ceasefire that Egypt consulted Israel about, but not Hamas. Indeed, Hamas called the Egyptian cease-fire proposal a 'surrender' to Israel. Today, Ban Ki-Moon was set to meet with Abbas in Qatar and Abbas was also due to hold talks with Mashaal, the first time that Hamas named Abbas as involved in the talks. Hamas had earlier slammed Abbas for his support of the pro-Israel Egyptian ceasefire draft.
 
And when, on Saturday, Egypt announced it had no intention of revising its initiative,Hamas rejected Cairo by releasing its own initiative, backed by Qatar and Turkey, Ynet reported. The Qatari newspaper al-Arabi al-Jadeed detailed the proposal that was similar to the one made public earlier this week, however, later reports claimed that Qatar had back tracked from its initial position, and is now backing a new Egyptian proposal. The paper reported that the initiative was based on "Palestinian consensus," and was passed by Qatar to US Secretary of State John Kerry to pass on to Israel. Israel, however, denied having received such a document.
 
The papers noted that Egypt invited Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal to Egypt for talks, [which raises the question, why wasn't he invited for the negotiations that supposedly were supposed to take place indirectly with the Israelis last week - OH], but there was little discussion of where this was going except by Ynet's excellent Arab Affairs reporter, Elior Levy, who also revealed that Egypt was preparing a new ceasefire initiative, despite its earlier announcement that it would not revise its previous proposal. The initiative reportedly includes ensuring Israel’s security through cooperation with international parties while at the same time relieving the siege of Gaza, one of Hamas' top demands. Ynet quoted Hamas senior official in Cairo, Mousa Abu Marzook, who said Hamas had no choice but to continue fighting at the moment: "We want to achieve something for the Palestinian people in Gaza. We don't want to go back to square one."
  
Haaretz has an excellent review of live updates of Day 12 of Operation Protective Edge, with no paywall.

Quick Hits:

• Man killed in rocket strike on Negev Bedouin community - 32-year-old Auda al-Wadj is second civilian killed since start of Gaza operation; four of his family members wounded; lack of protection for Negev Bedouin reached High Court last Thursday. (Haaretz)
• Obama says U.S. supports Israel's military operation against Hamas - U.S. President Barack Obama spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, and emphasized U.S. support for Israel's military efforts against Hamas.
• (Haaretz)
• Obama, Cameron discuss Gaza situation on phone - Leaders reiterate support Friday for Israel's right to 'proportionate action to defend itself from the barrage of rocket attacks from Gaza.' (Haaretz) 
• Clashes in Haifa over Gaza operation, 30 arrested - Activists claim police acted brutally and assaulted Knesset members and other protesters; police say demonstrators attacked officers. (Haaretz) 
• Pro-Palestinian protesters rally across EU - Boy killed in Kashmir after Indian forces shoot at anti-Israel rally; defying Hollande, thousands protest in Paris, French cities, as well as in London. (Agencies, Ynet)
• Anti-Semitic slogans chanted at Berlin protest against Israel's Gaza operation - Jewish group files complaint after protesters shout 'Jews, Jews, cowardly pigs, come out and fight!'; separate rally held by Palestinians, Israelis and Germans. (Haaretz)
• Defying ban on demonstration, pro-Palestinians burn Israeli flags in Paris - 3,000 protesters take to streets of French capital; police on alert for more clashes at planned rally and possible showdown with Jewish Defense League. (Haaretz) 
• Israel evacuating diplomats' families from Turkey, following attacks on consulate, embassy - Lieberman orders reduction of diplomatic representation, following violent demonstrations that targeted Israeli consulate, embassy. (Haaretz) 
• Erdogan: Israel 'surpassed Hitler in barbarism' - Meanwhile, Venezuela condemns Israeli 'genocide' and 'extermination' in Gaza, in latest round of international condemnations. (Ynet) 
• Israel's ties with Turkey fray in wake of Gaza conflict - Israelis are warned not to travel to Turkey and diplomats' families are sent home as bilateral relations plunge. (Haaretz)
• Backstreet Boys, Paul Anka postpone Israel concerts - American boy band and veteran Canadian singer call off planned shows due to Israeli operation in Gaza, but promise to reschedule. (Yedioth/Ynet) 
• **Israeli surgeons treat Palestinian girl while under fire from Gaza - Siren sounds as doctors perform emergency surgery on Palestinian infant suffering from birth defects. "Our responsibility is to the children, regardless of where they are from," says one senior physician. "They are not to blame for the situation." (Israel Hayom)
• NBC sends reporter back to Gaza after sudden exit - Ayman Mohyeldin disappeared after tweeting that he had played soccer with some of the boys killed on the Gaza beach; CNN reporter Diana Magnay reassigned to Russia after calling Israelis threatening to burn her car 'scum.' (Agencies, Ynet) 
• Israeli businesses see sales slump due to Gaza conflict - Owner of one clothing store chain warns that state will also have to compensate stores in the center, not just those in south. (Haaretz)
• Citing safety concerns, Korea's largest airline cancels Tel Aviv flights - Other airlines offer heavily discounted deals to counter wave of cancellations, with prices slashed by as much as 50 percent. Korean Air has announced that the decision not to fly aircraft to and from Israel stems from the entrance to the IDF ground invasion and from the downing of the Malaysian plane in Ukraine. (Maariv and Israel Hayom)
• Gaza conflict has cost Israeli government $585 million after 12 days’ fighting - Defense officials are appraising the Finance Ministry of costs as the fighting progresses every one or two days, unlike previous operations. (Haaretz)
• Israeli/Gaza friendship survives cross-border violence - During the latest escalation in violence, Roni Keidar and Maha Mehana have been in constant touch over the phone, sharing worries and fears, as well as hopes that dialogue might someday replace rockets and missiles. (Agencies, Israel Hayom) 
• Twitter gaffe: Bar Refaeli quotes the wrong Lincoln -She attempted to convey a message of peace amid Israel-Gaza fighting, but Israel's top model made an embarrassing attribution error. (Haaretz)

In Other News:

• Jerusalem police arrest hundreds of Palestinian demonstrators (following Abu Khdeir murder) - Among the 224 arrested are 61 minors and eight members of the Abu Khdeir family, angering the family. (Haaretz)
• Arab teen burned alive by Jews recognized as terror victim - Muhammed Abu Khdeir, 16, was abducted, beaten, and set on fire. One adult from settlement and two teenagers indicted in the Jerusalem District Court. Attorney-General Yehuda Weinstein: Brutal act goes against basic human morality. (Israel Hayom) 
• Jerusalem: A city suffering from post trauma - The delicate coexistence of Jews and Arabs in the capital was put to the test when riots erupted following the murder of an Arab teen. "Demons were let loose, and we need to work hard to put them back", says municipal adviser on Arab affairs. (Nadav Shragai, Israel Hayom)
• Iran, powers extend talks after missing nuclear deal deadline - Talks extended for four months; Tehran to be able to access $2.8 billion of frozen cash, but US warns most sanctions remain in place. (Agencies, Ynet) 

Commentary/Analysis:

Israel Defense Forces: the moral army? (Michael Mitchell, Haaretz) Despite real efforts to protect lives, the Israeli military’s actions in Gaza seem to violate secular and Jewish ethical principles. 
After years of neglect, Israel forced to address tunnel issue (Amir Oren, Haaretz) Israel should grant a generous civilian concession to Hamas for a cease-fire, finish destroying the tunnels and get out of Gaza.
Mowing the grass in Gaza, and beyond (David M. Weinberg, Israel Hayom) A Palestinian "state," as in "two-state solution," is both a misnomer and an anachronism. Get used to it. 
Avoiding complacency (Or Heller, Maariv) The limited mission of destroying the terrorist tunnels is advancing faster than initially estimated by the IDF. In cases like this, the danger lies in getting entangled, and the army is well aware of that.
Hamas wages a lonely war, giving Israel the opportunity to boost Abbas' standing (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz) By meeting some of Hamas’ demands, Israel can empower the Palestinian president and prevent the next round of warfare. 
Place Hamas in a vise (Yoav Limor, Israel Hayom) While the IDF was not ordered to topple Hamas' regime in Gaza, the ground operation and Egypt's actions mean to force Hamas into a cease-fire. 
To end it or go deeper: that is the question (Gen. (res.) Eliezar Cheney, Maariv) On the one hand, the IDF has the upper hand in terms of technology and quality fighters. But the kidnapping of the (yeshiva) boys and not finding the kidnappers proves that the terrorist organizations have new ways of dealing. The military campaign is important because the silence that was created, with outbreaks from time to time, give a false sense of a long-term solution. At this stage of the operation, Israel faces difficult decisions: a ceasefire agreement would require concessions to Hamas and bring peace for a short time that could be broken again at a time Hamas chooses - unless it were accompanied by a significant diplomatic move. The cabinet will have to decide soon.
Gaza: A terrorist state or an enemy state? (A. B. Yehoshua, Yedioth/Ynet) Israel should regard Hamas as a legitimate enemy in order to reach either an agreement or a head-to-head war. 
Israel-Gaza fighting: From neighborhood feud to global conflict (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz) Iran has found a foothold in the Gaza crisis, and thanks to Islamic Jihad it may yet play an important part in ending the crisis.
Putting things into perspective (Yoram Ettinger, Israel Hayom) To formulate a realistic Middle East policy, the West needs to view the Palestinian issue with the right perspective. 
It is time to change course regarding Gaza (Journalist Udi Segal, Maariv) The bottom line is that there is no solution to the problem of Gaza. The government should initiate a program after which Israel would recognize the Gaza Strip as an independent political entity. At worst, it will give legitimacy for military actions. At best it might still work.
The failures of Abbas' leadership (Amira Hass, Haaretz) Much of Hamas’ confidence comes from the Palestinian public, who see it standing up bravely for the national cause while Mahmoud Abbas plays the diplomatic supplicant. 
Israel hopes its troops and Egypt’s diplomacy will combine to quell Hamas (Amos Harel, Haaretz) It’s no secret that Jerusalem doesn’t want a full occupation of Gaza, but with boots on the ground, the situation could deteriorate. 
The next stage (Former Military Intel chief Amos Yadlin and former heads of IDF Strategic planning Shlomo Brom and Udi Dekel, Maariv) Why did Hamas refuse the Egyptian ceasefire draft, what are the significant advantages of an IDF ground operation, and how it is possible to win through offering easing things for Gazan citizens, while simultaneously tightening the pressure on the military wing. Israel needs to hit with a stick in one hand so that the Hamas heads understand that the circle is closing on them and with the other hand offer a carrot in the image of a package of benefits for Gaza.
Israel bashers, let's talk about proportion (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) UN gave its full support to forces operating on its behalf, despite mass killing of civilians. So where do anti-Israel activists get the chutzpah to talk about 'genocide' and 'war crimes'?
Strive for real contact (Ben Caspit, Maariv) Hamas will not surrender, so the only way to suppress it is to hit it so hard in the heart of Gaza that it will beg for a ceasefire. This will only happen if the IDF appears at the threshold of a tunnel where Hamas military wing commander Muhammad Deif and his friends are tucked in...Netanyahu. Do not be afraid. If you need to shake the IDF, shake the IDF. If you need to change conceptions and perceptions, do it. No to the occupation of Gaza, no to appointing a military governor, no to toppling Hamas. We will not determine what crazy will control the Palestinians. Yes to landing a hard, creative, daring, blow on the heart of Hamas. Not on the hills of Gaza and not on the outskirts of Gaza. On Gaza. When Gaza was trembling, pick up the phone and call (former chief of staff Gabi) Ashkenazi, Bibi, and ask him about "Operation Cast Lead". He'll tell you that Gaza was shaking, that the rumble of tank engines was heard on the main street, thatwe were close, so close, to giving the Hamas the coup de grace blow, and we didn't do it because of political cowardice of a few politicians.
It's OK to think differently (Emily Amrousi, Israel Hayom) We are allowed to pity the children of Gaza and also to ask tough questions about the effect of the disengagement on Israel's security. 
Netanyahu wanted to attack Iran, but got stuck in Gaza instead (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz) Hamas hasn't metamorphosed into an existential threat to Israel, but there's no way to ignore it, either.
Hamas' punishment: The plagues of Egypt (Reuven Berko, Israel Hayom) Hamas leaders made a grave mistake this week: they rejected Egypt's cease-fire proposal, spitting in the face of the one powerful nation on which they are completely dependent. But Israel must ensure that Hamas, though weakened, remains on the scene. 
Egypt trying to harm Hamas with ceasefire (Yasmine Saleh, Reuters, Ynet) By not including Hamas in ceasefire negotiations, Egyptians trying to continue crackdown on Muslim Brotherhood allies.
Operation Protective Edge advances with no exit strategy (Amos Harel, Haaretz) Hamas shows no signs of breaking, its spokesmen seemingly swept away by its very success in holding out and refocusing Arab and international attention.
On commanders and God (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) When Givati Brigade commander Col. Ofer Winter mentioned God in his operational order, he was representing the people, not God. 
Innocent Gazan civilians are responsible for their fate too (Yaron London, Yedioth/Ynet) Gazans who claim to be victims of their rulers should have rebelled against those building missile bases under their homes. Because they have failed to do so, they will have to pay a price.
World leaders believe Netanyahu. For now (Barak Ravid, Haaretz) The main reason Israel has received such broad support internationally for its Gaza operation is that unlike in the past, the world’s leaders believe the prime minister.
Missing: An Israeli foreign minister (Uzi Baram, Haaretz) Nowhere in the world except Israel is there a foreign minister who every single day undermines the status of his or her country in the family of nations.  
Maternal cognitive dissonance (Ruthie Blum, Israel Hayom) It is one thing to be convinced that a ground incursion is the way to go. It is quite another to cheer when one's own child is taking part in it.

 

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