APN's daily news review from Israel
Wednesday October 01, 2014
Quote of the day:
"During the military operation, several monkeys, a lion, a fox and a peacock were killed and the
surviving animals suffer severe trauma from the deafening explosions."
--Head veterinarian of the Bisan Zoo in Gaza says lack of food and damaged cages also contributed to the decision to transfer a lion and lioness to a Jordanian zoo yesterday.**
--Head veterinarian of the Bisan Zoo in Gaza says lack of food and damaged cages also contributed to the decision to transfer a lion and lioness to a Jordanian zoo yesterday.**
Front Page News:
Haaretz
- Silwan settlement (enclave) expanding: Dozens grabbed houses in (Arab) neighborhood
- Netanyahu to meet today with Obama and try to focus on Iran instead of the Palestinians
- (Bat-Yam mayor) Lihiani sentenced to six months community service
- Light punishment, problematic message // Ido Baum
- Despite the order (not to): Israel again summoned asylum seekers to Holot (detention facility); Netanyahu: They are migrant workers, we will deal with the High Court ruling
- Suspicion: Rappelling worker who fell from building in Petach Tikva was murdered for nationalist motives
- Petition to State Comptroller: Expand the probe into Lieberman, the trip to Vienna was not his only wrongful trip
- The world population of wildlife has shrunk by half in 40 years
- Israeli discovery could aid in fertility problems
Yedioth Ahronoth
- "I listened to Golda (Meir)'s nonsense, but what was I supposed to tell her? It wasn't my role" - 41 years after Yom Kippur War: Military Intel chief, Eli Zaira, in rare interview
- Suspicion: Terror at the construction site
- Lihiani's shame - Court ruled community service, but forbade him from public roles for 7 years
- "Ruvi calls me a hero" - President's wife, Nehama Rivlin, speaks for first time about lung disease that forces her to move around with oxygen tank
- Legendary Tel-Aviv mayor, Shlomo Lahat, fighting for his life
- Billionaire who was raised in Pardes-Katz negotiating for acquiring Hapoel Tel-Aviv
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links)
- "From the beginning they claimed it was a terror attack" - Police suspect that Natanel Arami was murdered
- "It's not ISIS, it's Hamas" - Day after showing photo of rocket launcher near children playing in Gaza Strip, Netanyahu shows another photo, this time of an execution in Gaza
- Mr. Israel // Rabbi Kanon, New York
- Obama and the mistakes // Eliezear (Cheney) Merom
- Take care of the gatekeepers // Kalman Libskind
- Six months community service for Lihiani
- Concern: Another police commander will resign - because of relationship with a policewoman
Israel Hayom
- "This is how we eliminated the kidnappers" - Anti-terror unit fighers (Yamam) who eliminated the kidnappers of the three (yeshiva) teens tell about the daring operation
- Netanyahu will tell Obama: Don't ease up on Iran in order for it to fight ISIS
- Suspicion: Terrorist cut the ropes and murdered Netanel
- (Public Security Minister) Aharonovitch hinted: Next Police Commissioner - from outside the police
- Lihiani: Without prison sentence, but with moral turpitude for 7 years
- Legendary Tel-Aviv mayor, Shlomo Lahat, in critical condition
News Summary:
Suspicions that nationalist motives were behind the fall of a Jewish laborer to his death, the light sentence of a corrupt mayor and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's meeting with US President Barack Obama this evening were top stories in the Hebrew papers today. Meanwhile, only Haaretz and Ynet reported on the simultaneously takeover by settlers of 25 Palestinian homes yesterday.
Netanyahu will try to convince Obama that Iran is a bigger threat than ISIS and that the US should not be lenient with Iran in exchange for it fighting against ISIS, write the papers. Netanyahu will try to avoid the Palestinian issue, as well, but Obama is expected to focus on the Palestinian issue with Netanyahu. Haaretz's Barak Ravid writes that neither side is interested in a public confrontation: the US has congressional elections next month and the Israeli government wants continued US support against the Palestinian Authority's UN resolution for a deadline to the occupation, as well as its support in the nuclear negotiations between Iran and the West. Iran rejected Netanyahu’s ‘baseless allegations’ that it is a nuclear threat and said the speech aimed to justify "crimes the regime recently committed against Palestinian civilians."
In a strategic move by far right-wing Elad organization, which raises money from Jews in the US and elsewhere, to buy Arab homes over the Green Line, dozens of young settlers accompanied by police officers and privately hired security guards entered 25 apartments in seven buildings in the Silwan neighborhood of East Jerusalem, next to the Old City, making it the biggest single move of Jews in Silwan in decades. Around 90 Jewish settler families, totaling 500 people, live in Silwan protected by Israeli police among some 50,000 Palestinians. Ynet also reported on another incident of Palestinians throwing rocks in E. Jerusalem, this time at a pre-school playground in a settlement enclave in the adjacent Mt. of Olives neighborhood, but makes no mention anywhere in the article on why.
Suspicions that nationalist motives were behind the fall of a Jewish laborer to his death, the light sentence of a corrupt mayor and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's meeting with US President Barack Obama this evening were top stories in the Hebrew papers today. Meanwhile, only Haaretz and Ynet reported on the simultaneously takeover by settlers of 25 Palestinian homes yesterday.
Netanyahu will try to convince Obama that Iran is a bigger threat than ISIS and that the US should not be lenient with Iran in exchange for it fighting against ISIS, write the papers. Netanyahu will try to avoid the Palestinian issue, as well, but Obama is expected to focus on the Palestinian issue with Netanyahu. Haaretz's Barak Ravid writes that neither side is interested in a public confrontation: the US has congressional elections next month and the Israeli government wants continued US support against the Palestinian Authority's UN resolution for a deadline to the occupation, as well as its support in the nuclear negotiations between Iran and the West. Iran rejected Netanyahu’s ‘baseless allegations’ that it is a nuclear threat and said the speech aimed to justify "crimes the regime recently committed against Palestinian civilians."
In a strategic move by far right-wing Elad organization, which raises money from Jews in the US and elsewhere, to buy Arab homes over the Green Line, dozens of young settlers accompanied by police officers and privately hired security guards entered 25 apartments in seven buildings in the Silwan neighborhood of East Jerusalem, next to the Old City, making it the biggest single move of Jews in Silwan in decades. Around 90 Jewish settler families, totaling 500 people, live in Silwan protected by Israeli police among some 50,000 Palestinians. Ynet also reported on another incident of Palestinians throwing rocks in E. Jerusalem, this time at a pre-school playground in a settlement enclave in the adjacent Mt. of Olives neighborhood, but makes no mention anywhere in the article on why.
Quick Hits:
- Poll: 24% of Jewish Israelis boycott Arab businesses - Survey finds 51% of respondents would boycott businesses that employ people who criticize the Israeli army, Globes reports. (Haaretz and Globes)
- Minister Ya'alon: Hamas still retains 20 percent of rockets, mortars - Defense minister adds that destruction of 7,000 Gaza homes will be deterrent to Hezbollah. (Haaretz+ and Israel Hayom)
- Ya'alon reiterates: Israel chose not to topple Hamas during Gaza op - After Netanyahu says 'ISIS is Hamas and Hamas is ISIS,' Ya'alon says it would have been wrong to dislodge Hamas' hold on Gaza; while IDF representative to indirect Gaza talks said: There was a dynamic of deterioration, we failed to understand Hamas. (Ynet)
- Hamas says prisoner swap deal to be signed with Israel soon - Hamas official Mushir al-Masri posted on Facebook that a deal to release top Hamas officials and operatives arrested during Operation Brother's Keeper in exchange for the remains of fallen Israeli soldiers is in the works. Israel has not commented. (Israel Hayom)
- Israel Police suspect rappelling worker was killed in act of terror - Authorities believe Palestinian workers may have cut rope of Netanel Arami, who was hanging by the 11th floor of a building, sending him to his death. (Haaretz+ and Israel Hayom)
- Israeli army: Progress made in probe of fatal Nakba Day shootings - Bullet that allegedly killed Palestinian teen was handed over to Israeli investigators after months of requests. (Haaretz+)
- B’Tselem cleared to employ national service volunteers, despite objections - No grounds exist to prevent human rights organization from using volunteers, rules deputy attorney general. (Haaretz+)
- Israeli Muslims to tone down Eid celebrations on Yom Kippur - This year, the Jewish fast and holiest day of the calendar coincides with Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha, which marks Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Ishmael. (Ynet)
- **Israel helps transfer lions from stricken Gaza zoo to Jordan - The Bisan City Zoo in Gaza did not escape the destruction from the IDF's attacks during Protective Edge. Very few animals managed to survive, among them two lions and lioness, who are currently in a state of trauma and fatigue. (Ynet)
- Jordan finds Israeli spying devices, explosives from 1969 - Hashemite Kingdom spent past year and a half removing equipment buried there during War of Attrition, asks Israel to help with explosives hidden in populated area. (Ynet)
- Gaza war deals blow to Israel's tourism industry - Israel's thriving tourism industry, which had been on pace for record-breaking year, takes serious hit from Operation Protective Edge, with millions of dollars in losses. Tourism Minister Uzi Landau: Despite perception, Israel is a very safe country. (Israel Hayom)
- "They aren't letting us see a mental health officer" - "Commanders in the Brigade are delaying requests for psychological help," say Givati Brigade fighters who fought in Operation Protective Edge. IDF Spokesman: "In light of the recent events (3 suicides of Givati soldiers), IDF commanders are acting to prevent suicides." (Yedioth, p. 18)
- Lancet editor visits Israel following uproar over Gaza war 'massacre' letter - Dr. Richard Horton's letter, published by the British medical journal during summer conflict, was signed by several dozen Western physicians. (JTA, Haaretz)
- Palestinian official likens Netanyahu to ISIS leader - Chief Negotiator Erekat slams PM after UN speech; 'He supports terrorist settlers who kill, destroy, burn mosques, and churches'. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Netanyahu: IS beheads people, while Hamas shoots them - Prime ministers shows members of Jewish Federation photo of Hamas executing Palestinians; 'Hamas executed dozens of Palestinians just to impose fear and force the population of Gaza into submission.' (Ynet)
- Islamic State militant in Vice interview: We won't stop until we crucify Netanyahu - Vice News founder interviews person believed to be Canadian-born Abu Usamah Somali, said to have joined militant forces in Syria last April. (Haaretz)
- WATCH: Iraqi TV satire features Satan and his Jewish bride giving birth to Islamic State - Producers reshoot program after trailer implying U.S., Gulf states involvement in formation of Islamic State causes controversy. Jewish character, however, stays on. (Haaretz)
- Iranian filmmakers call for nuclear deal with West - There is no deal that is worse than 'no deal,' Iranian filmmakers say, call for end to decade-long impasse over Iran's nuclear program. (Agencies, Haaretz)
Commentary/Analysis:
Netanyahu's message of unending war (Haaretz Editorial) The prime minister has no vision besides the continued occupation, the
settlements and the 'fight against radical Islam.'
Will Cairo suspend Israeli-Palestinian talks? (Smadar Perry, Yedioth/Ynet) With fresh exchange of accusations between Netanyahu and Abbas, how can Egyptians bring about a solution acceptable to all parties involved – in Jerusalem, in Ramallah and in Gaza?
Welcome to post-peace-era Israel (Carolina Landsmann, Haaretz+) Many have stopped believing in direct negotiations as the channel to a solution based on the two-state principle. Those who espouse the idea of dividing the land suddenly seem like dinosaurs at the natural history museum.
Netanyahu's shifting gimmicks (Sima Kadmon, Yedioth/Ynet) When one looks at him standing at the UN General Assembly podium, year after year, it seems that if he only could, Israel's prime minister would be willing to stand there forever, saying the same words, with new props.
Why Abbas screamed (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) We tend to scream when people aren’t listening to us. Israelis are experts at not listening.
A regional (peace) arrangement? Don't believe the declarattions (Tal Schneider, Maariv) In Israel, there are those who buy the words of Netanyahu, Lieberman and Lapid, and enjoy the new music of (their talk about a) political solution that includes all of the Middle East. But this is a collection of hollow statements, not a political horizon.
Mohammed is dead (Omer Shatz, Haaretz+) The effort to erase the name Mohammed actually fits in quite well, as do the failure and the minor commotion that followed. Because we didn’t erase the children’s names, but rather the lives of the children themselves.
Turkey's Islamic State conundrum (Dr. Ronen Yitzhak, Israel Hayom) Its refusal to join the coalition against ISIS, while frustrating to the West, is not without merit.
Changing Israel’s 'Where’s the fire?' policy (Eli Podeh, Haaretz+) The current conflagration in the Mideast offers Israel the opportunity to take the initiative and bring about change with other elements in the region.
Israel is no longer the center of the Mideast story (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Netanyahu's claim that Israel is the primary target of radical Islam ignores the historic battle unfolding in the region, in which the country's role is marginal.
Abbas' UNGA speech (Elliott Abrams, Israel Hayom) A speech that merely expresses anger and frustration is unlikely to help Abbas, Fatah, the PA, or Palestinians in general.
The real lesson of Amira Hass' ejection from a Palestinian university (Matthew Kalman, Haaretz+) How Palestinian universities like Birzeit are intellectually straitjacketing their students.
Seeing is believing (Zalman Shoval, Israel Hayom) At long last, a U.S. president is saying that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not the root of all the regions problems.
Will Cairo suspend Israeli-Palestinian talks? (Smadar Perry, Yedioth/Ynet) With fresh exchange of accusations between Netanyahu and Abbas, how can Egyptians bring about a solution acceptable to all parties involved – in Jerusalem, in Ramallah and in Gaza?
Welcome to post-peace-era Israel (Carolina Landsmann, Haaretz+) Many have stopped believing in direct negotiations as the channel to a solution based on the two-state principle. Those who espouse the idea of dividing the land suddenly seem like dinosaurs at the natural history museum.
Netanyahu's shifting gimmicks (Sima Kadmon, Yedioth/Ynet) When one looks at him standing at the UN General Assembly podium, year after year, it seems that if he only could, Israel's prime minister would be willing to stand there forever, saying the same words, with new props.
Why Abbas screamed (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) We tend to scream when people aren’t listening to us. Israelis are experts at not listening.
A regional (peace) arrangement? Don't believe the declarattions (Tal Schneider, Maariv) In Israel, there are those who buy the words of Netanyahu, Lieberman and Lapid, and enjoy the new music of (their talk about a) political solution that includes all of the Middle East. But this is a collection of hollow statements, not a political horizon.
Mohammed is dead (Omer Shatz, Haaretz+) The effort to erase the name Mohammed actually fits in quite well, as do the failure and the minor commotion that followed. Because we didn’t erase the children’s names, but rather the lives of the children themselves.
Turkey's Islamic State conundrum (Dr. Ronen Yitzhak, Israel Hayom) Its refusal to join the coalition against ISIS, while frustrating to the West, is not without merit.
Changing Israel’s 'Where’s the fire?' policy (Eli Podeh, Haaretz+) The current conflagration in the Mideast offers Israel the opportunity to take the initiative and bring about change with other elements in the region.
Israel is no longer the center of the Mideast story (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Netanyahu's claim that Israel is the primary target of radical Islam ignores the historic battle unfolding in the region, in which the country's role is marginal.
Abbas' UNGA speech (Elliott Abrams, Israel Hayom) A speech that merely expresses anger and frustration is unlikely to help Abbas, Fatah, the PA, or Palestinians in general.
The real lesson of Amira Hass' ejection from a Palestinian university (Matthew Kalman, Haaretz+) How Palestinian universities like Birzeit are intellectually straitjacketing their students.
Seeing is believing (Zalman Shoval, Israel Hayom) At long last, a U.S. president is saying that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not the root of all the regions problems.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.