APN's daily news review from Israel
Thursday September 04, 2014
Number of the day:
18.
--Percentage of the 4000 dunams Israel appropriated that are west of the separation barrier, which
means its meant to link Gush Etzion with Israel, said Peace Now.**
Front Page News:
Haaretz
- Ukrainian President agreed to ceasefire; Putin demands Kiev withdraw from eastern part of country
- Journalist who was beheaded - American who immigrated to Israel
- Limits to educational debate: Teacher can express opinion or criticize the government
- More fences, cameras and thorny bushes: State recruits the environment for policing
- Following Jordanian pressure, Netanyahu ordered dismantling of new bridge to Temple Mount
- TV personality and actor Menny Pe'er died at age 68
- Dangerous expropriation // Haaretz Editorial
Yedioth Ahronoth
- One of ours - Steven Joel Sotloff's Israeli friends watched the IS video horrified
- Kerry spoke with Netanyahu about cooperation against Islamic State
- "I am not afraid of death, it doesn't hurt" - Menny Pe'er, pioneer TV personality, passed away
- Humane and humble // Rivka Michaeli
- Friend, like a brother // Tuvia Tzafrir
- Instead of running away: (Singer) Hava Alberstein releases new children's album
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links)
- The secret identity of Steven Sotloff
- A journalist without a sin // Ilan Avitar of The Jerusalem Report
- Parting from a host - Menny Pe'er passed away
- Fear: Washington will allow the UN Security Council pass Abu Mazen's (peace) plan
Israel Hayom
- "Eliminate the barbarians"
- Lone journalist in hostile environment // Boaz Bismuth
- Weinstein: Whoever waves terror flags in Israel will be put on trial
- Israel to supply $15 billion worth of gas to Jordan
- Menny Pe'er, the TV host and actor, died
- Defense Ministry: Needs another 20 billion shekels; Lapid: If taxes are raised, I'll resign
News Summary:
The Israeli identity of Steven Sotloff and the actions by his friends to hide that was the top story along with the threat of the Islamic State, which Israel took some actions against yesterday. Meanwhile, Israel's appropriation of an enormous amount of land in the West Bank continues to make headlines in some of the papers. Maariv reported that Israel is now afraid that, in response, the US will allow the UN Security Council to approve Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' peace plan. And Maariv reported on the latest regarding Hamas and Fatah, with some surprise information from the Arab League Secretary General, Nabil Al-Arabi.
When Steven Sotloff's friends realized he was in danger, they immediately began erasing every mention of him in the Internet that was associated with Israel and his reporting from Israeli media outlets. [The article does not explain how it got Google, Twitter and Facebook to agree to erase the related articles, posts and Tweets. Sotloff, who immigrated to Israel in 2005 and did his Master's degree at the IDC in Herzliya, worked at a day camp, played on a local rugby team and had numerous friends who spoke to the media, including Mike Sapir. The US confirmed that he was indeed Israeli and US President Barack Obama said, Justice will be served.
After Sotloff's beheading, Israel officially outlawed the Islamic State, declaring it an an 'unauthorized organization,' which lays the legal groundwork for seizure of assets if local cells are discovered. And Attorney-General Yehuda Weinstein instructed law enforcement agencies in Israel to file criminal charges against any individuals waving Hamas, Hezbollah or Islamic State flags in public. [It's not clear if this is also true for the West Bank. - OH]
**Meanwhile, following Israel's appropriation of almost 1000 acres of West Bank land, there is concern in Jerusalem that Washington will not veto Abbas peace plan, which was revealed to the press yesterday. It is believed Abbas will bring the plan to the UN Security Council that calls for a Palestinian state with its capital in East Jerusalem and withdrawal from the West Bank within three years, Maariv's Ben Caspit reported. He noted that against the backdrop of the appropriation, the Jewish lobby [sic - pro-peace pro-Israel lobby] associated with the political left, J Street, called on the US government to change the terminology on settlements from "illegitimate", to "Illegal." "J-Street is considered by many experts in Jerusalem as a very close to the American government and is in some ways a covert government mouthpiece," wrote Caspit. and quoted an unnamed Israeli political source [ostensibly right wing - OH] Germany also joined the call against the appropriation saying it was a "violation of the law," Maariv reported. Peace Now said it was a land grab meant to link Israel with the West Bank and not just expand settlements, because 18% of the land is West of the separation barrier, Haaretz+ reported. The biggest West Bank land appropriation in 30 years could turn the Palestinian village of Wadi Fukin into an isolated enclave.
Maariv's Yasser Ukabi also reported that the Palestinian factions are ironing out details in Cairo over stationing Abbas' Presidential Guard at the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip and along the border between Egypt and Gaza. He also quoted from an interview with Arab League leader Nabil Al-Arabi, who told MBC Egypt that during Mohammed Morsi's term as Egyptian President, "In my opinion, Hamas already recognized Israel indirectly." And in an interview with Al-Arab Al-Jadid newspaper, Mashaal said it was hard to hear Abbas' criticism of Hamas, blaming it for the war, but Hamas would not go backward and would continue with the unity government.
The Israeli identity of Steven Sotloff and the actions by his friends to hide that was the top story along with the threat of the Islamic State, which Israel took some actions against yesterday. Meanwhile, Israel's appropriation of an enormous amount of land in the West Bank continues to make headlines in some of the papers. Maariv reported that Israel is now afraid that, in response, the US will allow the UN Security Council to approve Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' peace plan. And Maariv reported on the latest regarding Hamas and Fatah, with some surprise information from the Arab League Secretary General, Nabil Al-Arabi.
When Steven Sotloff's friends realized he was in danger, they immediately began erasing every mention of him in the Internet that was associated with Israel and his reporting from Israeli media outlets. [The article does not explain how it got Google, Twitter and Facebook to agree to erase the related articles, posts and Tweets. Sotloff, who immigrated to Israel in 2005 and did his Master's degree at the IDC in Herzliya, worked at a day camp, played on a local rugby team and had numerous friends who spoke to the media, including Mike Sapir. The US confirmed that he was indeed Israeli and US President Barack Obama said, Justice will be served.
After Sotloff's beheading, Israel officially outlawed the Islamic State, declaring it an an 'unauthorized organization,' which lays the legal groundwork for seizure of assets if local cells are discovered. And Attorney-General Yehuda Weinstein instructed law enforcement agencies in Israel to file criminal charges against any individuals waving Hamas, Hezbollah or Islamic State flags in public. [It's not clear if this is also true for the West Bank. - OH]
**Meanwhile, following Israel's appropriation of almost 1000 acres of West Bank land, there is concern in Jerusalem that Washington will not veto Abbas peace plan, which was revealed to the press yesterday. It is believed Abbas will bring the plan to the UN Security Council that calls for a Palestinian state with its capital in East Jerusalem and withdrawal from the West Bank within three years, Maariv's Ben Caspit reported. He noted that against the backdrop of the appropriation, the Jewish lobby [sic - pro-peace pro-Israel lobby] associated with the political left, J Street, called on the US government to change the terminology on settlements from "illegitimate", to "Illegal." "J-Street is considered by many experts in Jerusalem as a very close to the American government and is in some ways a covert government mouthpiece," wrote Caspit. and quoted an unnamed Israeli political source [ostensibly right wing - OH] Germany also joined the call against the appropriation saying it was a "violation of the law," Maariv reported. Peace Now said it was a land grab meant to link Israel with the West Bank and not just expand settlements, because 18% of the land is West of the separation barrier, Haaretz+ reported. The biggest West Bank land appropriation in 30 years could turn the Palestinian village of Wadi Fukin into an isolated enclave.
Maariv's Yasser Ukabi also reported that the Palestinian factions are ironing out details in Cairo over stationing Abbas' Presidential Guard at the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip and along the border between Egypt and Gaza. He also quoted from an interview with Arab League leader Nabil Al-Arabi, who told MBC Egypt that during Mohammed Morsi's term as Egyptian President, "In my opinion, Hamas already recognized Israel indirectly." And in an interview with Al-Arab Al-Jadid newspaper, Mashaal said it was hard to hear Abbas' criticism of Hamas, blaming it for the war, but Hamas would not go backward and would continue with the unity government.
Quick Hits:
- Education Min. booklet: 2005 Gaza disengagement 'accomplished nothing’ - New pamphlet by religious department also suggests former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon 'paid a heavy price’ for evacuating settlers from the Strip. (Haaretz+)
- PM orders removal of wooden ramp at Temple Mount, following pressure from Jordan - The structure was an unauthorized solution for non-Muslims entering the area, and the Jordanians complained. (Haaretz+ and Israel Hayom)
- Justice Minister's educational project - In honor of International Tolerance Day, senior officials of Justice Ministry will sit in classrooms across the country and lecture students against discrimination and racism. (Yedioth, p. 20)
- Haifa court ordered release of a ship that tried to sail to Gaza - The Finnish ship tried to break the naval blockade on the Gaza Strip in 2012. Court rejected state's request to confiscate the vessel, because of the long time it took the Ministry of Defense to make the request - 10 months after the incident - and that this was the first ever such request, "which show a change in policy" that was not made public prior. (Maariv)
- Jerusalem approves major housing plan for Arab neighborhood - Barkat overcomes years of opposition from right-wing, Haredi forces. (Haaretz+)
- Livni ruled: Transparency for the Jewish National Fund - Against its agreement, the JNF will be registered as an organization for the benefit of the public. Implications: It will be required to submit annual reports that will reveal its financial management. JNF fears: Jews abroad will reconsider donating. (Yedioth, p. 30)
- Israeli-Arab towns suffer from garbage hazards - School students are often the ones most directly exposed to the pollution caused by waste-burning. (Haaretz+)
- The girl from Ashekon who defeated the boycott on Israel - Following the Gaza operation, the Irish heavy metal band, Cruachan, considered cancelling its performance in Israel. But Shelly Davir, 14, convinced them to come. "We're coming because of our Israel fan," they announced. (Yedioth, p. 28)
- Top army official: Israel underestimated Gaza militants - Hamas militants 'were in pretty good shape', during period of conflict, but Israel did not see anything that 'surprised it' militarily, senior intelligence source says. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Israeli group files war crimes claim against Hamas' Meshal - Shurat HaDin Law Center says because Khaled Meshal is Jordanian, he can be tried over the executions of Palestinians without trial during the fighting between Israel and militants in Gaza. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- Israel shows evidence of rocket fire from Gaza schools - Evidence provided by IDF includes details of ranges and number of rockets fired by Hamas, photos showing how rocket launchers were hidden in graveyards and a school playground. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Fourth Dolphin-class submarine sailing to Israel - Navy chief announces latest German-built addition to sea corps, claims INS Tanin will 'dive deeper, farther, and longer' than previous subs. (Ynet)
- N.Y. governor Cuomo: Israel's fight is our fight - Ahead of gubernatorial election, Gov. Andrew Cuomo makes comment during meeting with several dozen Jewish leaders. (Haaretz)
- Jerusalem bombing suspect could lose US citizenship - Rasmieh Yousef Odeh received life sentence for supermarket bombing that killed two, but was released after 10 years in a prisoner swap. She was arrested in U.S. on immigration fraud charges for allegedly failing to disclose her conviction. (Agencies, Israel Hayom)
- Changes to Habayit Hayehudi charter angers many party members, MKs - Naftali Bennett, hoping to broaden the party's appeal before the next general election, has reportedly alienated his party's religious Zionist members. (Haaretz+)
- Officer allegedly beat soldier inside APC during Gaza op - Engineering trooper claims commander assaulted him for forgetting to don his flak jacket during maneuver inside the Strip. (Ynet)
- IDF grants special status to girlfriends of fallen soldiers - After Operation Protective Edge, where unmarried partners of fallen soldiers learned on loved one's death from media and relatives rather than the military, IDF revises policy. Girlfriends to receive official notification, special leave during shiva. (Israel Hayom)
- Turkey plans to send power-generating ship to Gaza - Shipbuilder says vessel could sail for the Strip within four months. (Haaretz)
- Report: Gaza authorities neutralize 5 tons of unexploded ordnance from war - Police engineers say ordnance came from Israeli attacks on Gaza during Israel-Hamas war. (Haaretz+)
- UN seeks help to free peacekeepers abducted in Syrian Golan - Security Council statement urges 'countries with influence' to pressure al-Qaeda-affiliated rebels to release Fijian forces captured on Heights. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Israeli hotels are among most expensive in world, report shows - The only three countries ahead of Israel are Monaco, Oman and Mauritius. (Haaretz+)
- Israel to sign 15-year natural gas supply deal with Jordan - Energy Minister Silvan Shalom says Israel will supply the gas from its Leviathan gas field. Deal estimated to be worth $15 billion. (Israel Hayom)
- Egypt's foreign minister calls for global effort against jihadist barbarism - Shoukri's remarks echo recent comments by U.S.'s Kerry and Saudi King Abdullah. (Haaretz)
Commentary/Analysis:
Grabbing and spitting: Israel's intolerable display of arrogance (Haaretz Editorial) The Israeli government is not allowed to jeopardize the country’s
security and international standing merely to appease its most extreme members.
Israel must look beyond the Islamic fanatics - at itself (Carolina Landsmann, Haaretz+) Those excluded from the West's copyrighted 'humaneness' by national or economic blockages - their wars are inhumane from the start.
What happened to the consensus around Gush Etzion? (Yoaz Hendel, Yedioth/Ynet) Annexation of Israeli settlement bloc requires organized construction plan, outlines and citizenship process for Palestinians living in area. Right now, we are seeing nothing but declarations.
ISIS is no existential threat to Israel (Amos Yadlin, Yedioth/Ynet) Despite trail of horrors it is leaving behind, jihadist group is operating hundreds of kilometers away from our border, and even if it were closer, it would unlikely be able to strike at Israeli residents.
Enough hysteria about European jihadists (Khaled Diab, Haaretz+) Punitive European measures against returning fighters are likely to be counter-productive - and endanger the multicultural life and rule of law that jihadist groups are so dedicated to destroying.
A job Americans don't want to do (Clifford D. May, Israel Hayom) If the U.S. won't act as global policeman, thugs will take over the neighborhood.
How to save the next Steven Sotloff (Matthew Kalman, Haaretz+) We all knew he was Jewish and held Israeli citizenship, but we kept quiet fearing his kidnappers might seize on these facts as an excuse to kill him.
Keeping them down: The U.S. Jewish establishment's selective principles on Palestine (Peter Beinart, Haaretz+) They prefer to see the Palestinians on their knees, negotiating from a position of abject weakness.
Jewish renegades attack their people, again (Isi Leibler, Israel Hayom) Today's Jewish renegades, who defame Israel, accuse it of war crimes and of Nazi-like behavior, are part of a long-standing tradition of perfidy.
The Palestinians must let the people choose new leaders (Jack Khoury, Haaretz+) The discord between Hamas and Fatah and the dependence on outsiders are eroding the Palestinians’ chances for achieving their national goals.
History likely to repeat itself (Gerald M. Steinberg, Israel Hayom) Israel would be wise to remember that whether or not it cooperates with the U.N.'s inquiry into Operation Protective Edge, the findings have already been determined.
Should Abbas’ peace talks deadline be the last chance for a two-state solution? (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) It is becoming increasingly hard to refute the argument that over the decades, the peace process has served as a cover for de-facto annexation and denial of Palestinian rights.
The government's great betrayal of Zionism (Dmitry Shumsky, Haaretz+) Israel-hatred in our times - which spills over occasionally into anti-Semitism - points indirectly at a fundamental failure in the fulfillment of Zionism.
A quiet intifada in Jerusalem (Nadav Shragai, Israel Hayom) While the media is focused on other issues, coexistence in Jerusalem is disintegrating and the city is beset by violence.
The downfall of Netanyahu the Second (Ari Shavit, Haaretz+) Benjamin Netanyahu is no gentleman. But to his credit, he’s not cynical like the new politicians and not savage like the new nationalists. He has a grain of statesmanship and a grain of responsibility, as well as proven talent.
It's time for a diagnosis: Israel's settlement disease is terminal (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) Now it's official: the settlements are a punishment. A collective one, of the sort considered a war crime under international law.
Warning bells on the Golan (Prof. Nissim Dana, Israel Hayom) Israel must take the initiative and build a joint front with the other "infidels" in the region to fight the rise of merciless gangs like ISIS -- and the sooner the better.
Being Steven Sotloff's editor (Ilene Prusher, Haaretz+) Not long before his kidnapping, the journalist beheaded by IS sent a note that seems hauntingly prescient: 'It's easy to feel invincible, even with death all around. It's like ... I'm not gonna die.'
Israel must look beyond the Islamic fanatics - at itself (Carolina Landsmann, Haaretz+) Those excluded from the West's copyrighted 'humaneness' by national or economic blockages - their wars are inhumane from the start.
What happened to the consensus around Gush Etzion? (Yoaz Hendel, Yedioth/Ynet) Annexation of Israeli settlement bloc requires organized construction plan, outlines and citizenship process for Palestinians living in area. Right now, we are seeing nothing but declarations.
ISIS is no existential threat to Israel (Amos Yadlin, Yedioth/Ynet) Despite trail of horrors it is leaving behind, jihadist group is operating hundreds of kilometers away from our border, and even if it were closer, it would unlikely be able to strike at Israeli residents.
Enough hysteria about European jihadists (Khaled Diab, Haaretz+) Punitive European measures against returning fighters are likely to be counter-productive - and endanger the multicultural life and rule of law that jihadist groups are so dedicated to destroying.
A job Americans don't want to do (Clifford D. May, Israel Hayom) If the U.S. won't act as global policeman, thugs will take over the neighborhood.
How to save the next Steven Sotloff (Matthew Kalman, Haaretz+) We all knew he was Jewish and held Israeli citizenship, but we kept quiet fearing his kidnappers might seize on these facts as an excuse to kill him.
Keeping them down: The U.S. Jewish establishment's selective principles on Palestine (Peter Beinart, Haaretz+) They prefer to see the Palestinians on their knees, negotiating from a position of abject weakness.
Jewish renegades attack their people, again (Isi Leibler, Israel Hayom) Today's Jewish renegades, who defame Israel, accuse it of war crimes and of Nazi-like behavior, are part of a long-standing tradition of perfidy.
The Palestinians must let the people choose new leaders (Jack Khoury, Haaretz+) The discord between Hamas and Fatah and the dependence on outsiders are eroding the Palestinians’ chances for achieving their national goals.
History likely to repeat itself (Gerald M. Steinberg, Israel Hayom) Israel would be wise to remember that whether or not it cooperates with the U.N.'s inquiry into Operation Protective Edge, the findings have already been determined.
Should Abbas’ peace talks deadline be the last chance for a two-state solution? (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) It is becoming increasingly hard to refute the argument that over the decades, the peace process has served as a cover for de-facto annexation and denial of Palestinian rights.
The government's great betrayal of Zionism (Dmitry Shumsky, Haaretz+) Israel-hatred in our times - which spills over occasionally into anti-Semitism - points indirectly at a fundamental failure in the fulfillment of Zionism.
A quiet intifada in Jerusalem (Nadav Shragai, Israel Hayom) While the media is focused on other issues, coexistence in Jerusalem is disintegrating and the city is beset by violence.
The downfall of Netanyahu the Second (Ari Shavit, Haaretz+) Benjamin Netanyahu is no gentleman. But to his credit, he’s not cynical like the new politicians and not savage like the new nationalists. He has a grain of statesmanship and a grain of responsibility, as well as proven talent.
It's time for a diagnosis: Israel's settlement disease is terminal (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) Now it's official: the settlements are a punishment. A collective one, of the sort considered a war crime under international law.
Warning bells on the Golan (Prof. Nissim Dana, Israel Hayom) Israel must take the initiative and build a joint front with the other "infidels" in the region to fight the rise of merciless gangs like ISIS -- and the sooner the better.
Being Steven Sotloff's editor (Ilene Prusher, Haaretz+) Not long before his kidnapping, the journalist beheaded by IS sent a note that seems hauntingly prescient: 'It's easy to feel invincible, even with death all around. It's like ... I'm not gonna die.'
Interviews:
Woman runs away from bad news
Singer Hava Alberstein has difficulty breathing. "What happened here between us [left-wing and right-wing, Jews and Arabs - OH], the evil that jumped out like snakes from under the rocks. What was inside of us, between us, was more frightening than the war in Gaza. The curses and insults that people said, it was no less frightening than the war." So she decided to run away. Not to London [reference to popular song "London is calling" - OH], but to the world of children's poems. (Interviewed by Danny Spector in Yedioth '24 Hours' supplement, cover)
"The calls, 'Touemah is a terrorist' only pushed me harder"
Salim Touemeh, the new star of Bnei-Lod soccer team, is preparing for his first season in the national league ("It won't be easy to play in front of 200 people") and speaks for the first time about racism in the stadium stands and the Maharan Radi affair ("If it continues, I expect from him that he'll leave Maccabi Tel-Aviv"). (Interviewed by Nadav Tzantzifer and Shosh Milo in Yedioth's 'Sports' supplement.)
Singer Hava Alberstein has difficulty breathing. "What happened here between us [left-wing and right-wing, Jews and Arabs - OH], the evil that jumped out like snakes from under the rocks. What was inside of us, between us, was more frightening than the war in Gaza. The curses and insults that people said, it was no less frightening than the war." So she decided to run away. Not to London [reference to popular song "London is calling" - OH], but to the world of children's poems. (Interviewed by Danny Spector in Yedioth '24 Hours' supplement, cover)
"The calls, 'Touemah is a terrorist' only pushed me harder"
Salim Touemeh, the new star of Bnei-Lod soccer team, is preparing for his first season in the national league ("It won't be easy to play in front of 200 people") and speaks for the first time about racism in the stadium stands and the Maharan Radi affair ("If it continues, I expect from him that he'll leave Maccabi Tel-Aviv"). (Interviewed by Nadav Tzantzifer and Shosh Milo in Yedioth's 'Sports' supplement.)
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.