APN's daily news review from Israel

Monday November 3, 2014

Quote of the day:

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Front Page News:

Haaretz

• Sweep in the polls predicts defeat for Obama in mid-term elections
• Ministers approved: 10 years prison for throwing stones on cars
• [Main Photo: MK Moshe Feiglin leaving the Temple Mount after a visit surrounded by Border Police]
• (Former Olmert aide, Shula) Zaken's testimony today: "When I thought about testifying, Ehud told me to stop with the hysteria"
• Yaalon to choose chief of staff within two weeks; most of the senior officials will recommend Eizenkot
• About 1/3 of the Israelis leaving the country are Russian immigrants who were not recognized as Jews
• The police arrested a young woman who relieved herself (defecated) on the (Israeli) flag
• Journalist and author Shabtai Tevet passed away at age 89

• Likely: Eizenkot chief of staff
• Today: Zaken (testifies) against Olmert
• 12-year-old Menachem against America - Today US Supreme Court to rule in case of US citizen born in Jerusalem who demands his passport say he was born in 'Israel' (not in Jerusalem)
• The big money of (tycoon Yitzhak) Tshuva's evictees
• Getting lost - Daniel was an outstanding combat soldier in an elite unit until his soul began to collapse
• What awaits you at the Arts Festival opening tomorrow

• The oversight: Senior police officials received information about danger to life of Yehuda Glick
• Prime Minister scolded his ministers: "It's easy to ignite religious fire in Jerusalem, it's hard to put it out"
• "I am in a scary taxi" - The last call by (murdered woman) Shelly Dadon was released
• They closed the skies - Two hour sudden strike at Ben-Gurion Airport
• Talansky 2: Shula Zaken to go up to witness stand today; The recordings with Olmert are expected to be released

• Attorney General: Bill against 'Israel Hayom' is not legal - Shame to the rule of law - how can MKs pass an illegal law?
• Radically unreasonable // Haim Shine
• Livni's disgrace // Gonen Ginat
• Today: Everyone is waiting for Shula Zaken's (testimony against Olmert)
• Abu Mazen extended condolences to family of assassin; Anger in right-wing: "Contemptible"
• Everyone distancing themselves from Obama: US goes to polls tomorrow
• (Police commissioner) Danino: "There is no intifada in Jerusalem; We will fight the shooting of fireworks in E. Jerusalem"
• The recording revealed the last moments of Shelly Dadon: "I can't breathe"
• New life after the pesticide disaster: Gross family expecting another child

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News Summary:
A former aide of former prime minister Ehud Olmert testifies in court today - against him, the US Supreme Court rules today whether a US citizen born in Jerusalem can write 'Jerusalem' as his birthplace in his US passport and far right-wing Likud MK Moshe Feiglin defies Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and visits the Temple Mount despite the tension making top stories in today's Hebrew newspapers. Meanwhile, Netanyahu's cabinet approved a bill to harshly punish stone-throwers, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas sent a condolence letter to the family of the would-be assassin of right-wing activist Yehuda Glick [but the Israeli papers miss the point - OH] and over 100 Israeli security people write a letter to Netanyahu calling on him to make peace as Palestinian negotiators travel to the US to save peace talks.

While Feiglin was on the Temple Mount, Netanyahu blasted ministers and MKs who ignored his request not to make waves in E. Jerusalem. "It is very easy to ignite a religious fire but much harder to extinguish it," he said. Netanyahu also promised he would not change the status quo on the Temple Mount (meaning Jews will not be allowed to pray there despite right-wing pressure), but his cabinet backed a bill to jail stone-throwers up to 20 years, in an attempt to deter Palestinian youth throwing stones to express their protest and rage. [Note: Ultra-Orthodox and settlers have long thrown stones as a means of expressing protest - or in the case of settler youth - to harm Palestinians, but only now has such a bill been proposed to deter Palestinian stone-throwers and 'calm' the situation in Jerusalem. It is unclear whether this law will be applied to Jewish citizens. - OH]

The Hebrew papers expressed outrage that Abbas extended his condolences to the suspect, Muataz Hijazi, in the shooting of Yehuda Glick. In the letter, Abbas allgedly condemns the 'heinous crime committed by the murderous, terrorist gangs in the Israeli occupation army.' But the Israeli papers failed to explain that the Palestinians believe that Hijazi's killing was extrajudicial and that the Israeli police could have arrested him, rather than riddle his body with 20 bullets. See more in Sunday's News Nosh. - OH] 

**In letter to Netanyahu initiated by Major General (res.) Amnon Reshef, 105 retired and reservist officers and former Mossad chiefs called for broader negotiations with the entire region: "Lead - and we will stand behind you," Yedioth reporter Nechama Duek quoted them and interviewed some of them.

Meanwhile, Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat and Palestinian intelligence chief Majid Faraj are scheduled to meet with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry today in Washington in another attempt at saving the peace process before Palestinians take their case to the United Nations.

Quick Hits:

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Features:

Not the same mountain
How did the battle for the right for Jews to pray on the Temple Mount turn from the domain of eccentrics identifying with the radical right to an issue that has received the attention of ore and more politicians in Habayit Hayehudi, in Likud and even in Yesh Atid party? "The great sages of the last hundred years prohibited going up to the Temple Mount. The disengagement (from the Gaza Strip) was a turning point. The diplomatic freeze and the rise in terror created an atmosphere of 'there's nothing to lose' from advancing the Temple Mount idea," said Dr. Tomer Persico, religions researcher. (Arik Bender, Maariv's magazine supplement, pp. 4-5)
Man gets lost
He was an outstanding student with a disarming smile, a combat soldier in an elite unit. But the wounded soul of Daniel Minivitzky, 35,  found no rest. Operation Defensive Edge signalled the last breaking point: The painful memories from his draft military service rose again and did not leave him alone. Three weeks ago he left his house "for a few minutes to smoke" and since then has disappeared. "Just write us a note that you are okay," beg his parents. (Chen Kottas-Bar, Yedioth's '24 Hours' supplement, cover story)
Of Jerusalem and U.S. passports: Q&A
The Zivotofsky family will argue to the U.S. Supreme Court Monday that the State Dept. should register Israel as the place of birth of its son. What's the deal? (Haaretz)
Terror enablers join global elite at Brookings forums
Part 2 of a 4-Part Investigative Series: Brookings Sells Soul to Qatar's Terror Agenda. Well-known think tank the Brookings Institution introduces international leaders to -- and thus legitimizes -- unsavory figures like Muslim Brotherhood spiritual guide Yusuf al-Qaradawi and Rachid Ghannouchi, leader of Tunisia's Islamist Ennahda party. (Steven Emerson, Israel Hayom)
Searching high and low for Arab culture in the streets of Berlin
Although Turkish and Arabic are commonly heard as you walk around Berlin, it’s not so easy to find Arabic books, movies or CDs. You’ve got to dig really deep if you want to find the treasures. (Eyal Sagui Bizawe, Haaretz+)

Commentary/Analysis:

How the far-right changed the debate over the Temple Mount (Nir Hasson, Haaretz+) Plus, some talking points for the left.
Why are Israelis sleepwalking toward a one-state solution? (Sever Plocker, Yedioth/Ynet)  Avoidance of peace initiatives and delusional West Bank construction threaten Israel's existence as a Jewish and democratic state, yet the silent majority remains silent.
Netanyahu rooting for Republicans in U.S. midterm elections (Barak Ravid, Haaretz+) White House staffers don’t need the National Security Agency to guess what results the Israeli prime minister would like to wake up to on Wednesday morning.
Israel needs both US parties' support (Eytan Gilboa, Yedioth/Ynet) Those seeking to utilize a Republican-controlled Congress against Obama should remember that he still has important Israel-related decisions to make before the end of his term.
When relations with the US were at the peak (Uri Sevir, Maariv) 19 years have passed from the peak in our relations with the US administration until its lowest point today. Memorial Day for Rabin's murder is primarily a painful reminder of what could have been.
Cowardice is Netanyahu's least threatening characteristic (Iris Leal, Haaretz+) The prime minister's childish provocations are less threatening than the deplorable characteristics displayed by leaders past - love of self and dislike of the Israeli public, to name two.
Like Arabs, Israelis only understand force (Rafael Castro, Ynet) Political and diplomatic events of past 40 years suggest that Israeli Jews tend to make concessions under duress rather than thanks to diplomatic moves and goodwill gestures.
Yehuda Glick is not the story (Ran Adelist, Maariv) The struggle being waged by right-wing politicians for the sake of (Jewish) prayer on the Temple Mount is dangerous and unnecessary. It's too bad that from the fire they are igniting in Jerusalem, agreeable activists such as Yehuda Glick are getting burned.
Israel and the U.S. are playing in each other's political backyard (Moshe Arens, Haaretz+) Whereas in the past support for Israel came primarily from the Democratic camp, in recent years many Republicans, as well, have become staunch supporters of Israel.    
Netanyahu cannot depend on the Republicans alone for support (Amiel Ungar, Haaretz+) There is no permanent majority party and American support for Israel should not be captive to the electoral cycle.          
Will Obama become a lame duck? (Yoram Ettinger, Israel Hayom) The upcoming midterm elections will impact U.S.-Israel strategic cooperation, particularly the effectiveness of Obama's pressure on Israel.
A commemoration of Rabin without his legacy (Oudeh Basharat, Haaretz+) Rabin stood behind his decision to recognize the Palestinian people. Meanwhile, not a single prominent Arab figure spoke at the memorial on Saturday.
Don't give up the holiest place of all (Prof. Aryeh Eldad, Israel Hayom) The Arabs see Jewish willingness to resign sovereignty over the Temple Mount as a sign that we can be ousted from Israel like the Crusaders.
Al-Sisi's disengagement from Gaza (Smadar Perry, Yedioth/Ynet) Sight of vans loaded with furniture and suitcases, evacuees' grim faces and Egyptian soldiers' determination is reminiscent of images from not-so-distant past in Israel.
Iran's worrying moves in Western hemisphere (Ilan Berman, Israel Hayom) The Iranian presence in the Americas is clear, and the danger from it is present. We ignore the warning at our own peril.
Israelis have the right to know how the government spends public funds (Haaretz Editorial) Elected officials have a moral and professional duty to keep track of public expenditures, since they answer to the public and not the other way around.
Getting tough on terror – and the triggers of terror (Matthew Kalman, Haaretz+) Israel has the right and duty to respond to terrorism with the firmest hand necessary – but calming the combustible situation in Jerusalem requires far more than good policing.
A Kurdish state: A serious obstacle to ISIS threat (Dr. Kobi Michael, Israel Hayom) The creation of a Kurdish state could prompt the restructure of the region's architecture, as the old one falls apart.

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