News Nosh 10.20.14

APN's daily news review from Israel
Monday October 20, 2014

Quote of the day:
“For a young Israeli man looking to express his manhood and maturity the path is open for combat service (in the IDF). There he can prove his courage and abilities and gain social recognition. For the young Muslim man, whether he is in Israel, Belgium or Yemen, this possibility does not exist.”
--Maariv military affairs analyst Alon Ben-David explains why a highly talented Muslim Israeli doctor, who was liked and appreciated by his colleagues, joined ISIS.**



Front Page News:
Haaretz
Yedioth Ahronoth
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
Israel Hayom

News Summary:
The arrival in Israel of the wounded trekkers, the news of an Israeli Arab doctor who died after joining the ranks of ISIS and the anger of the right-wing after an Arab MK said Israeli pilots were worse than ISIS fighters were the top stories in the Hebrew newspapers today. But also in the news were harsh comments by Israeli President Ruvi Rivlin about Israeli society in the wake of the high tension between Arabs and Jews.
 
Tension between Arabs and Jews on the ground in Israel and in East and west Jerusalem as well as in the Knesset was already high before Arab MK Hanin Zouebi (Balad) compared Israeli pilots with ISIS fighters. Referring to those who bomb and kill innocent Palestinians, Zouebi said that an Israeli air force “is no less a terrorist than one who beheads others with a knife. And those [Israeli soldiers] who take pictures with corpses, laughing with Palestinian corpses, I do not think they are any less terrorists than the ones who behead. They kill more than a knife kills.” The right-wing was furious and called on her to be ousted from the Knesset and possibly from the country. Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman called her party ‘terrorist.’
 
Speaking of ISIS, it was reported that a ‘devoted’ doctor doing his internship at the Barzilay hospital died in Syria fighting in the ranks of ISIS. Othman Abdul-Kiyan’s supervisor spoke highly of him, describing him as ‘a doctor that any department head would want to continue with.’ The Arab Israeli from a Bedouin village in the Negev was considered a kind, gentle and highly intelligent doctor who treated his patients and colleagues with respect. Maariv military affairs reporter Alon Ben-David writes [probably the best – OH] explanation for ISIS’ popularity among educated Arabs and why it would be even attractive to an Arab Israeli who has good relations with Jews. (See Analysis/Commentary below.)

Referring to the record tension between Arabs and Jews, President Reuven Rivlin said Sunday that Israel society was ‘sick.’ Speaking a conference Sunday titled "From Hatred of the Stranger to Acceptance of the Other," on the escalation of tensions between Jews and Arabs, Rivlin wondered aloud whether Jews and Arabs had abandoned the secret of dialogue. With regard to Jews he said: “I’m not asking if they’ve forgotten how to be Jews, but if they’ve forgotten how to be decent human beings. Have they forgotten how to converse?” He said that "tensions between Jews and Arabs in this country have reached record heights and the relationship between the two sides is at a new low...The time has come to admit that Israeli society is sick and we must treat this disease."

In the spirit of that tension, Israel’s Deputy Education Minister wrote a controversial Facebook post equating Palestinian statehood aspirations with ISIS goals and Muslim Brits with ISIS members. Avi Wortzman posted a photo of three Muslim British young women wearing headscarves and I love London shirts and wrote: “keep on enjoying the Islamic State [group], they are developing nicely with you, they really feel at home.” The Facebook post came in response to the British Parliament's vote in favour of recognizing a Palestinian state.He also wrote: “On the day they seek to recognize a Palestinian state whose capital is London, and that is not as far off as it seems, we will also consider supporting it.” Readers responded angrily: “What would you say if instead of three Muslim women there were three women wearing a [Jewish head covering] and someone wrote something like that?”


Quick Hits:
  • Poll: 75% of Israeli Jews oppose Palestinian state on '67 lines - New survey shows 76.2% oppose creation of Palestinian state if Jerusalem is divided. (Haaretz)
  • Rivlin: "Jerusalem must never be held hostage by any cause" - Speaking at a dedication ceremony for late Yitzhak Shamir, President Reuven (Ruvi) Rivlin addressed a wave of violence by Arabs on the Temple Mount and against the light rail in Jerusalem and the reprisals by Jews and the entry of settlers in the dead of night to homes in the (Arab) Silwan neighborhood, saying that "Jerusalem must never be held hostage by one group or another…This violence, that’s sliding towards terrorism, must be stopped, and strictly enforced by the security forces, even by using a heavy hand against rioters, Arabs or Jews." (Maariv)
  • Abbas threatens legal action to stop settlers from attacking Al-Aqsa - Earlier, Palestinian president called on Palestinians to defend mosque area using `any means.' (Haaretz)
  • 'Im Tirtzu' presents: Grades on Zionism for MKS - The right-wing organization establishes a 'Zionist-democratic guard,' which will follow the activities of the MKs in the various Knesset committees with the goal of exposing 'anti-Zionist phenomena of left-wing organizations in the Knesset.' Maariv Op-Ed writer Ronen Shuval, one of initiators: "We will give opposition to the organizations (supported by) the New Israel Fund." (Maariv)
  • Israel 'deeply concerned' over emerging Iran nuclear deal - With Nov. 24 deadline approaching for final nuclear agreement between world powers and Iran, PM Benjamin Netanyahu warns against deal that would leave Iran as a nuclear threshold state. Iran poses a greater threat than Islamic State, says Netanyahu. (Israel Hayom)
  • Israel delegation anticipates tough questioning by UN rights panel - Human Rights Committee has invited Israel, as signatory to international convention on civil rights, to address claims of rights violations. (Ynet)
  • IDF troops patrol Gaza border in unprotected vehicles: 'We feel like sitting ducks' - Soldiers sent to patrol the border in jeeps completely exposed to gunfire, snipers and anti-tank missiles are worried for their safety, say calm following Gaza operation created over-confidence. (Ynet
  • False rocket sirens sound in Israel's south - Sirens triggered by malfunction, IDF officer says. This is the third time this month that a siren erroneously goes off in communities near the Gaza border. (Haaretz
  • U.S. denies claim FBI withheld info on missing Israeli soldier in Gaza war - Accusation reported in Israel Hayom comes from rightist American researcher Steven Emerson, considered close to Jewish-American casino magnate (and publisher of Israel Hayom) Sheldon Adelson. (Haaretz and Israel Hayom)
  • Hamas leader's daughter received medical treatment in Israel - Ismail Haniyeh's daughter was admitted to a Tel Aviv hospital after she suffered complications from a routine procedure. (Haaretz and Israel Hayom)
  • Israeli NGO joins efforts to aid refugees from Islamic State fighting in Iraq - IsraAID distributes emergency supplies to Christians and Yazidis fleeing fighting with Islamic State. (Haaretz)
  • Suspect to be charged in murder of school principal (of Arab town of) Taibeh - Police: 'We got full cooperation [from residents] during the investigation ... without anyone refusing to help.’ (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
  • Israel's rich and powerful mingle at rooftop party - A government minister, a Knesset member and the police chief celebrated the new Jewish year with businessman Eli Elezra. But they deny that they discussed politics. 'Politicians are allowed to have friends, too.' (Haaretz+) 
  • Tamar to supply Israeli gas to Egyptian market - The Tamar partners have signed an MOU with Egypt's Dolphinus Holdings for supplying gas surplus to Israeli requirements. (Globes English)
  • Key to cybersecurity lies in global coordination, U.S. expert says - Governments need more power at the expense of business and civil society groups, says Christopher Painter. (Haaretz+)


Features:
The Israel Defense Forces’ own little startup company
As fighting raged in Gaza this summer, Yiftah – a small, low-profile army unit – was developing battlefield technology on the fly and delivering it to troops, sometimes within hours. (Haaretz+)
Palestinian cinema comes of age with ‘Eyes of a Thief’
It was to be expected that Palestine’s 2015 Oscar nominee would draw angry responses in Israel, since its plot revolves around a terror attack. But why did it annoy some Palestinians who saw it? (Eyal Sagui Bizawe, Haaretz+) 

Commentary/Analysis:
Otherwise Occupied / The commandment to expel (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) Israel excels at camouflaging the expulsion of Palestinians via various mechanisms. Here is an inventory of the various methods. 
British MPs' recognition of Palestine is a pro-Israel move (Sever Plocker, Yedioth/Ynet) As one-state idea sinks into Palestinian and international consciousness, any recognition of a sovereign Palestinian state is in Israel's best interest.
The two-state solution lives (Oudeh Basharat, Haaretz+) Someone once asked the poet Antar Ibn Shaddad, the bravest of the brave, the meaning of courage. He replied that courage meant holding on for one more hour. 
IDF chief is telling the truth about Hamas (Eitan Haber, Yedioth/Ynet) In his remark about terror group's 'courageous actions,' Benny Gantz put an end to Israel's national sport in the past generation: Lying to ourselves.
Keep calm and Kerry on (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom)
Kerry's statement was outrageous, but it must not serve as another election prop in the insipid campaign for the 20th Knesset.
Religious Zionists could offer a new approach to peace (Miron Izakson, Haaretz+) Impetus for the stalled peace process between Israel and the Palestinians could come from a surprising quarter: the religious-Zionist community.
Israeli academia is not accepting of the other (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) When academic conference is held under banner of 'Accepting the Other,' but only has Ashkenazi participants, it's not rejection - it's a disgrace.
**A radical Islamic organization is looking for educated and bored young men (Alon Ben-David, Maariv) ISIS is not looking for poor and oppressed Muslims, but rather the members of the elite. It is not an organization of the backward and narrow-minded. This organization is very aware of itself and the image it wants to project. For young Israeli men looking to express their manhood and maturity the path is open for combat service (in the IDF). There he can prove his courage and abilities and gain social recognition. For the young Muslim man, whether he is in Israel, Belgium or Yemen, this possibility does not exist. ISIS offers them an attractive combination of action, masculinity, sex with the sponsorship of religion and the recognition of those who fight for the sake of what seems to them a noble cause. And, yes, also a license to cut off heads. Fortunately, in Israel, there are few Muslims who have been seduced so far by the message of the organization.
Sometimes, emigrating from Israel is enriching (Neta Alexander, Haaretz+) Discussions about emigration from Israel too often resemble the discourse about divorce: Any parting is perceived as a tragedy, even if the couple’s relationship was stifling and made them miserable.
From 'Milky' to Nepal (Avishay Shpitzberg, Israel Hayom)
The next time we compare supermarket prices, we won't see the bill for the rescue teams this country sends to help our loved ones in need overseas. 
Kerry's comments serving radical propaganda (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) US secretary of state is caught in the post-colonialist conception which blames Israel for all the troubles of the world.  
Netanyahu's non-democratic Jewish State of Israel (S. Daniel Abraham, Haaretz+) Within its current borders, Israel is not a Jewish state. But the vast majority of Israeli Jews want to live in a Jewish state; most Jews worldwide want Israel to remain a Jewish state. Is Netanyahu listening at all?
It seems that Israel is preparing for war and not for a political settlement (Uri Sevir, Maariv) The 2015 budget approved by the government favors the rich, the settlers and the army, but it’s bad for senior citizens, residents of the periphery and school children. It will lead to increased international isolation of Israel, reduction of international investment and more boycotts. It is a budget led by the brothers Bibi (Netanyahu), Yair (Lapid) and Naftali (Bennett), inspired by the Marx Brothers: “These are my principles. If you don’t like them, I have others.” 
Israeli citizens fighting for Islamic State: a small, yet worrying trend (Jack Khoury, Haaretz+) While their families shun exposure, the phenomenon has sparked debate throughout Arab society in Israel. 
Iran remains the threat in the Middle East (Prof. Efraim Inbar, Israel Hayom) The gullible West continues to appease Iran while the "threat" of ISIS serves as a welcome diversion.
Brazen Hezbollah renews operations along Israel border (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Israel must reexamine the prevailing assumption that Hezbollah is still deterred by the IDF following the 2006 war and is not interested in a confrontation.
Interviews: 
David Brooks: Gaza war proved my son was right to serve in IDF
NYT columnist-writer talks about his eldest son's decision to become a 'lone soldier' in Israel, and being liberals' 'favorite conservative.' (Interviewed by Hila Weisberg in Haaretz+)


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