APN's daily news review from Israel
Wednesday November 12, 2014
Quote of the day:
"Netanyahu’s threatening finger isn’t pointed at the right-wing “price tag” vandals, or at the rioters
who attacked soldiers and policemen in the West Bank settlement of Yitzhar, or even at Yigal Amir, the man who
assassinated former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin."
--Haaretz Middle East analyst Zvi Bar'el is outraged by the Israeli Prime Minister's threat to revoke the citizenship of Arab citizens of Israel.**
--Haaretz Middle East analyst Zvi Bar'el is outraged by the Israeli Prime Minister's threat to revoke the citizenship of Arab citizens of Israel.**
Front Page News:
Haaretz
- Clashes across the West Bank; Netanyahu: We will harshen the punishment against terror
- Senior Palestinian official: It is in the Palestinian Authority's interest to rein in the riots before the petition to the UN
- Listen to Abbas' message, not to his declarations // Amira Hass
- House manager who got in trouble with Sarah Netanyahu demands to reveal videos from Prime Minister's residence
- From kindergarten to high school: A new subject for Jewish studies at schools
- Suspect in the (1998) murder of Noah Eyal was arrested because of a DNA sample
- In contradiction to (former interior minister Gideon) Saar: Businesses in Tel-aviv will be allowed to operate on Sabbath
- The real Netanyahu // Haaretz Editorial
Yedioth Ahronoth
- Goal: Prevent escalation - Israeli operation plan: Pinpoint steps to thwart terror wave
- World threat // Ben-Dror Yemini
- Alliance of radicals // Tami Arad
- Sleeping with a murderer - Suspect found in brutal 1998 rape and murder; His wife says if it's true she will divorce him
- Non-stop - Open on Shabbat: Orders to close mini-markets in Tel-Aviv that are open on Saturday were cancelled by court
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links)
- We are scared - Civilians across Israel speak in the midst of a wave of terror
- Netanyahu: "We will demolish the homes of terrorists"
- In IDF they are blaming Shin Bet: "It is spreading lies, besmirching and telling (false) stories" - Day after broadcast investigation on 'Uvda' program in which Shin Bet officials said again they had warned the IDF in January about a campaign in Gaza a war has begun between the two bodies
- Security establishment source warns: It's possible that terror organizations will renew rocket fire from Gaza Strip
- The Israeli woman who is fighting against ISIS in Syria - Gila Rozenberg, 31, an immigrant from Canada who served in the IDF and served four years in a US prison for fraud
Israel Hayom
- The escalation - and the preparation - PM: "We are in a campaign on incitement and terror"
- Due to the DNA, suspect arrested in murder of Noah Eyal
- Buying over the Internet? From now tax exemption up to $500
- MKs - Don't shame yourselves and the rule of law over the law of shutting mouths (bill to ban freebie newspapers such as Israel Hayom)
- Another revolution: Mini-markets in Tel-Aviv can stay open on Shabbat
- Negligence at Hadassah: Doctor without experience treated woman giving birth - and she is now handicapped
News Summary:
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas continued to exchange blame yesterday for the tension and violence that is only increasing in the West Bank with Netanyahu announcing harsher measures against Palestinians and Israeli Arabs who take part in 'terror' (i.e. stone and Molotov cocktail throwing ) and Abbas reiterating that the Palestinians would submit their UN resolution for an end to the Israeli occupation. Meanwhile, a young Palestinian man was killed in clashes and Israeli universities fear a 'Middle East' boycott.
The Israeli security cabinet held a three-hour meeting on the recent escalation of violence. Netanyahu afterward said, "I call on the Arab citizens of Israel – do not let yourself get dragged into incitement. You are citizens with equal rights and equal duties, and the first duty of every citizen is to respect the law." [Israeli Arabs are far from being equal citizens in Israel and the statement is strange after Netanyahu previously said he would revoke their Israeli citizenship for the violence - something that was not even suggested regarding the murderer of prime minister Yitzhak Rabin - OH] For the second day running, the Maariv magazine cover story was about Israeli Arab citizens, who want both an end to the violence but also for the Israeli leadership to "stop agitating the streets. We are not terrorists."
Abbas accused Netanyahu of starting a religious war and he accused Hamas of bombing Fatah officials' homes in Gaza, which Hamas denied. And from his Israeli jail cell, PLO leader Marwan Barghouti called to 'strengthen the resistance,' [but did not say in what way - OH]. Abbas will meet with US Secretary of State John Kerry in Amman on Thursday to discuss the tension. Kerry will also meet with King Abdullah to discuss the regional problems.
While demonstrations calmed down in Arab Israeli villages, there were violent clashes Tuesday between Palestinians and Israeli forces in some 30 West Bank villages, mainly in the area of Bethlehem and Hebron. A Palestinian youth who, according to the army, was holding an improvised weapon, was shot and killed by IDF soldiers in the Al-Arub refugee camp. In Maariv and Yedioth the killing of Mohammed Jabara, 21, got a separate news item. In Israel Hayom, his death was mentioned in a line in the middle of an article titled, 'IDF sent hundreds of additional combat soldiers to Judea and Samaria.' In addition, a Palestinian man was severely injured by IDF fire during a raid of a Ramallah-area apartment.
The papers write that their is no indication that the wave of violence will turn into an all-out Intifada, nevertheless Israeli security officials are concerned. Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said Israel needs to prepare for violence, but that this is not an Intifada. (Maariv) Security sources told reporters that Gaza militants may fire rockets at Israel in 'solidarity' with West Bank. Haaretz+ reported that the West Bank tensions threaten coordination between Israel and the Palestinian Authority on Gaza.
Yedioth reported that heads of universities in Israel are concerned that US universities will boycott Israeli universities in the field of Middle Eastern studies as a result of the present security situation. Such a suggestion is expected to be accepted at the annual MESA conference on Middle East studies.
Maariv reported that British Ambassador to Israel Matthew Gould said, "I oppose a boycott of products from Israel," but that it is the right of British citizens to know whether products come from Israel, a settlement or the Palestinian Authority."
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas continued to exchange blame yesterday for the tension and violence that is only increasing in the West Bank with Netanyahu announcing harsher measures against Palestinians and Israeli Arabs who take part in 'terror' (i.e. stone and Molotov cocktail throwing ) and Abbas reiterating that the Palestinians would submit their UN resolution for an end to the Israeli occupation. Meanwhile, a young Palestinian man was killed in clashes and Israeli universities fear a 'Middle East' boycott.
The Israeli security cabinet held a three-hour meeting on the recent escalation of violence. Netanyahu afterward said, "I call on the Arab citizens of Israel – do not let yourself get dragged into incitement. You are citizens with equal rights and equal duties, and the first duty of every citizen is to respect the law." [Israeli Arabs are far from being equal citizens in Israel and the statement is strange after Netanyahu previously said he would revoke their Israeli citizenship for the violence - something that was not even suggested regarding the murderer of prime minister Yitzhak Rabin - OH] For the second day running, the Maariv magazine cover story was about Israeli Arab citizens, who want both an end to the violence but also for the Israeli leadership to "stop agitating the streets. We are not terrorists."
Abbas accused Netanyahu of starting a religious war and he accused Hamas of bombing Fatah officials' homes in Gaza, which Hamas denied. And from his Israeli jail cell, PLO leader Marwan Barghouti called to 'strengthen the resistance,' [but did not say in what way - OH]. Abbas will meet with US Secretary of State John Kerry in Amman on Thursday to discuss the tension. Kerry will also meet with King Abdullah to discuss the regional problems.
While demonstrations calmed down in Arab Israeli villages, there were violent clashes Tuesday between Palestinians and Israeli forces in some 30 West Bank villages, mainly in the area of Bethlehem and Hebron. A Palestinian youth who, according to the army, was holding an improvised weapon, was shot and killed by IDF soldiers in the Al-Arub refugee camp. In Maariv and Yedioth the killing of Mohammed Jabara, 21, got a separate news item. In Israel Hayom, his death was mentioned in a line in the middle of an article titled, 'IDF sent hundreds of additional combat soldiers to Judea and Samaria.' In addition, a Palestinian man was severely injured by IDF fire during a raid of a Ramallah-area apartment.
The papers write that their is no indication that the wave of violence will turn into an all-out Intifada, nevertheless Israeli security officials are concerned. Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said Israel needs to prepare for violence, but that this is not an Intifada. (Maariv) Security sources told reporters that Gaza militants may fire rockets at Israel in 'solidarity' with West Bank. Haaretz+ reported that the West Bank tensions threaten coordination between Israel and the Palestinian Authority on Gaza.
Yedioth reported that heads of universities in Israel are concerned that US universities will boycott Israeli universities in the field of Middle Eastern studies as a result of the present security situation. Such a suggestion is expected to be accepted at the annual MESA conference on Middle East studies.
Maariv reported that British Ambassador to Israel Matthew Gould said, "I oppose a boycott of products from Israel," but that it is the right of British citizens to know whether products come from Israel, a settlement or the Palestinian Authority."
Quick Hits:
- Thousands of Palestinians commemorate 10th anniversary of Arafat's death - Ceremony at Muqata in Ramallah is first in series of commemorations; Abbas blasts Israel at ceremony; events in Gaza cancelled after Fatah members' homes bombed. (Ynet)
- Israeli settlers accost Palestinian officers near Nablus - Dozens of Israeli settlers from the Yitzhar settlement in southern Nablus forcedseveral Palestinian security officers to stop their cars and then attempted to assault the officers at the entrance of the settlement. (Maan)
- Settlers damage Palestinian property in West Bank, Jerusalem - Israeli settlers smashed equipment belonging to three stone crushing plants in the Nablus district and right-wingers punctured the tires of several vehicles belonging to Palestinians and sprayed anti-Arab graffiti in Beit Safafa, in E. Jerusalem. (Maan)
- Israel prevents goods shipment to Gaza following blasts - A shipment of diesel fuel and 300 truckloads of goods for trade, agricultural, transportation, and aid sectors were prevented from entering following deadly blasts on the Palestinian side of the crossing, an official said. (Maan)
- Education Ministry’s new baby: ‘Jewish-Israeli culture’ - Some pluralistic organizations say they haven’t even heard about the program, and the teachers colleges haven’t been officially notified. (Haaretz+)
- Turkey to Israel: Stop attacks on Jerusalem - Turkish PM Davutoğlu says Turkey will work to protect Jerusalem from Israel's brutal attacks, as Kerry announces visit to Jordan in bid to calm tensions. (Ynet)
- More Israelis killed by terror in past month than last two years - Six Israelis murdered by terrorism in the past month compared to five in the past two years, 100 Israelis have been wounded by wave of terrorism in past month. (Ynet)
- Family and friends bid disbelieving goodbye to terror victim Dalia Lemkus - 'Bye Dalia, Bye Dalia,' wails Brenda Lemkus, barely able to catch her breath as the first shovel of rock and sand are piled on the lifeless body of her daughter, killed by a Palestinian terrorist the day before. (Haaretz)
- Brother of terror victim: You looked out for others, but not for yourself - More than thousand people attend Almog Shiloni's funeral on Mount Herzl; father of Alon Shvut victim Dalia Lemkus: She was killed because she was a Jew living in Israel. (Ynet)
- Temple Mount activist Yehuda Glick regains consciousness - Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein receives phone call from Glick, who was shot by a Palestinian last month; Glick now breathing without the help of a respirator. (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
- Interest in aliyah spikes post-Operation Protective Edge - Data suggest a record number of would-be Israelis currently living in North America have started filling out the necessary paperwork. Aliyah facilitators say they handled 62% more aliyah applications compared to last summer. (Israel Hayom)
- Netanyahu warns US Jews of Iranian nuclear threa - In address to Jewish Federations assembly, Israeli leader says Tehran wants sanctions lifted without dismantling atomic weapons program. (Agencies, Ynet)
- U.S. envoy: Time for Iran nuclear deal running out - Meanwhile, Russia sounded optimistic messages over the talks, after signing an agreement Tuesday to build two nuclear electric power stations in Iran. (Haaretz+)
- Hezbollah blames Israel for killing of five nuclear engineers in Syria - One of the scientists was Iranian; Hezbollah suspects Syrian rebels working for Israel carried out the attack. (Haaretz)
- Israel recognizes 'Aramaics' as separate ethnic group - Population registry adds classification; Christian sect was previously labeled 'Arab'; move causes controversy as some accuse government of trying to split Arab population. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Israel lifts exemption on personal-import duty to $500 from $325 - But imported items that cost $75 or more will still be subject to value-added tax. (Haaretz+)
- El Al crew briefly 'lost control' of plane in August incident, investigation shows - Transportation Min. inquiry notes crew mistakes as plane landed at Ben-Gurion airport; calls for review of training procedures. (Haaretz+)
Commentary/Analysis:
***In Netanyahu's eyes, Israeli Arab citizenship is conditional on behavior (Zvi
Bar'el, Haaretz+) There’s nothing like throwing rhetorical mud to smear an entire sector of the
population and threatening it with a bared blade.
Terror can be defeated, but what comes afterwards? (Yoaz Hendel, Yedioth/Ynet) An intifada is good for the right's electoral power, but bad for its ideology. After every round of violence, Israel loses territory and is dragged into an even more violent entanglement.
Israel's center-left politicians must fight for a liberal Western democracy (Ravit Hecht, Haaretz+) What’s happening in Jerusalem shows that in the face of the messianic-nationalist tide it’s not enough to plug holes with fingers that serve up appeals.
The country is in a deep crisis and the solution does not lie with the Left (Uri Savir, Maariv) Israel is in an emergency situation and needs new leadership. In light of the tiny chance that the left takes power, salvation will need to come from the right-wing which sobers up and moves to the center.
Israel's government and security forces are losing control (Alex Fishman, Yedioth/Ynet) Palestinian and Israeli Arab incitement, loss of fear, feelings of deprivation and admiration for the Islamic State are the engines of violence leading us to a third intifada.
A mutation of the Hannibal procedure has made its way to Jerusalem (Carolina Landsmann, Haaretz+) The violence will only increase until despair replaces hope. But what does the current Israeli government care about hope?
Be calm or be decisive (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) Israel has no alternative. No real choice. Force will do the talking, and that is a shame.
Change the battle doctrine against the Palestinians (Sarah Beck, Maariv) Traveling between Beersheba and Jerusalem I was stopped three times by stone-throwing. How do we prevent this? The violent people need to start to fear.
Beware of losing control (Yoav Limor, Israel Hayom) It is up to the Palestinian Authority and Israel both to make sure the current volatile situation does not spiral out of control.
Netanyahu is exposing his nationalist face to the public (Haaretz Editorial) After the prime minister's string of statements over the past week, it seems he has decided to take off the statesmanlike mask he has donned for the past few years.
A responsible adult in the room (Dr. Limor Samimian-Darash, Israel Hayom) As tensions boil over between Jews and Arabs, Netanyahu has thankfully refused to bow to the extortions and rhetoric.
Palestinian terrorists fit a certain profile (Elior Levy, Ynet) Young, single and acting independently - the spate of recent attacks were almost all carried out by a certain type.
'Atmosphere attacks' are not born out of thin air (Nadav Shragai, Israel Hayom) The volatile atmosphere of the past few months illustrates the fundamental Palestinian hatred for everything Jewish and Israeli.
Why Russia can never substitute for America as Israel's closest ally (Azriel Bermant, Haaretz+) A lesser-scrutinized factor in rising U.S.-Israel tensions, alongside critical disagreements on Iran and the Palestinians, are Israeli government suggestions of a ‘repivot’ towards Russia.
The fight for our right to live (Dr. Haim Shine, Israel Hayom) This is war, and we have no choice but to win, if we want to live.
Palestinians are not yet ready for an uprising (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) Too many social forces fear a direct clash of the people against Israel’s right-wing government. But the general rage might still prevail.
Terror can be defeated, but what comes afterwards? (Yoaz Hendel, Yedioth/Ynet) An intifada is good for the right's electoral power, but bad for its ideology. After every round of violence, Israel loses territory and is dragged into an even more violent entanglement.
Israel's center-left politicians must fight for a liberal Western democracy (Ravit Hecht, Haaretz+) What’s happening in Jerusalem shows that in the face of the messianic-nationalist tide it’s not enough to plug holes with fingers that serve up appeals.
The country is in a deep crisis and the solution does not lie with the Left (Uri Savir, Maariv) Israel is in an emergency situation and needs new leadership. In light of the tiny chance that the left takes power, salvation will need to come from the right-wing which sobers up and moves to the center.
Israel's government and security forces are losing control (Alex Fishman, Yedioth/Ynet) Palestinian and Israeli Arab incitement, loss of fear, feelings of deprivation and admiration for the Islamic State are the engines of violence leading us to a third intifada.
A mutation of the Hannibal procedure has made its way to Jerusalem (Carolina Landsmann, Haaretz+) The violence will only increase until despair replaces hope. But what does the current Israeli government care about hope?
Be calm or be decisive (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) Israel has no alternative. No real choice. Force will do the talking, and that is a shame.
Change the battle doctrine against the Palestinians (Sarah Beck, Maariv) Traveling between Beersheba and Jerusalem I was stopped three times by stone-throwing. How do we prevent this? The violent people need to start to fear.
Beware of losing control (Yoav Limor, Israel Hayom) It is up to the Palestinian Authority and Israel both to make sure the current volatile situation does not spiral out of control.
Netanyahu is exposing his nationalist face to the public (Haaretz Editorial) After the prime minister's string of statements over the past week, it seems he has decided to take off the statesmanlike mask he has donned for the past few years.
A responsible adult in the room (Dr. Limor Samimian-Darash, Israel Hayom) As tensions boil over between Jews and Arabs, Netanyahu has thankfully refused to bow to the extortions and rhetoric.
Palestinian terrorists fit a certain profile (Elior Levy, Ynet) Young, single and acting independently - the spate of recent attacks were almost all carried out by a certain type.
'Atmosphere attacks' are not born out of thin air (Nadav Shragai, Israel Hayom) The volatile atmosphere of the past few months illustrates the fundamental Palestinian hatred for everything Jewish and Israeli.
Why Russia can never substitute for America as Israel's closest ally (Azriel Bermant, Haaretz+) A lesser-scrutinized factor in rising U.S.-Israel tensions, alongside critical disagreements on Iran and the Palestinians, are Israeli government suggestions of a ‘repivot’ towards Russia.
The fight for our right to live (Dr. Haim Shine, Israel Hayom) This is war, and we have no choice but to win, if we want to live.
Palestinians are not yet ready for an uprising (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) Too many social forces fear a direct clash of the people against Israel’s right-wing government. But the general rage might still prevail.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.