APN's daily news review from Israel
Wednesday November 19, 2014
Quote of the day:
Unity cannot be a reason to "lend a hand to a government which only adds fuel to the fire, blocking
every way to put an end to the hostility and violence."
--Meretz Chairwoman MK Zehava Gal-On explains why she refused Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's offer to join a national unity government.**
--Meretz Chairwoman MK Zehava Gal-On explains why she refused Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's offer to join a national unity government.**
Front Page News:
Haaretz
- Five killed in terror attack at synagogue in Jerusalem
- Characteristics of a religious war // Amos Harel
- Always the same trick // Yossi Verter
- Why are the Palestinians silent // Amira Hass
- Doing PR on the blood // Barak Ravid
- The reality is refusing orders // Nir Hasson
- Shin Bet chief contradicted Netanyahu's words: "Abbas is not encouraging terror and is not interested in doing so"
- Knesset trying to formulate compromise that will allow 0% VAT (on homes of fierst time buyers) to pass
- Despite freezing of summons to Holot detention facility, asylum seekers are required to prove they have family in Israel in order to renew their visas
- Transgender pupil left without a school
- Living together // Salman Masalha
Yedioth Ahronoth
- In the middle of prayer - Murderous terror in Jerusalem synagogue: 5 killed and 8 wounded
- This is how it begins // Nahum Barnea
- Bitter security // Sima Kadmon
- Stabbing in the heart // Hanoch Daum
- In the name of G-d // Yoaz Hendel
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- Massacre at prayer
- The painful truth // Ben Caspit
- Separation plan // Alon Ben-David
- Enough of the embarrassment // Kalman Libskind
- On the bleeding street // Sarah Beck
- Wanted: Leadership // Elizear Merom
- System collapse // Ran Adelist
- Go back to dialogue // Yossi Melman
- We can't let hatred destroy the coexistence // President Reuven (Ruvi) Rivlin
- Netanyahu called for unity, opposition parties responded with a no
- Senior security official: "We need to consider putting IDF in Jerusalem"
- Prime Minister delaying choosing of chief of staff, summoned candidates again
Israel Hayom
- In a tallit and tefillin - 07:01, Jerusalem: 25 orphans on one street; 4 rabbis and a policeman were murdered
- Hand with a prayerbook, hand with a weapon // Emily Amrousi
- A military company to Jerusalem // Dan Margalit
- Act using your head // Yoav Limor
- The conflict is religious // Boaz Bismuth
- 12-year-old crawled and was saved: Mordechai's father was severely wounded in attack; His son showed resourcefulness and escaped
- Fury in the political establishment: "Talk with the murderers in the language they understand; they are thirsty for blood"
- Hamas congratulates: "The attack at the synagogue - revenge for the 'murder' of the Palestinian bus driver
- "Foreign press": Distorted coverage by CNN and the world - unclear who is murderer and who is victim
News Summary:
A Palestinian terror attack at a Jerusalem synagogue filled the Hebrew papers today with stories from the scene, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's action plans and suggestions by commentators and analysts for the future. Meanwhile, the Hebrew papers missed reports of vigilante attacks on Arabs in and around the capital.
Netanyahu gave a number of directives to improve security in Jerusalem and prevent future lone-wolf Palestinian attacks after two killers killed four Jewish worshippers and a Druze policeman at a synagogue in the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Har Nof in the capital. The killers were Palestinians from Jabal Mukaber neighborhood of E. Jerusalem. Now there is talk of putting up checkpoints at entrances to Arab neighborhoods, increasing police presence, and recruiting civil guard volunteers. There is even discussion of deploying military in the capital. One senior security official told Maariv: "Maybe it's time to put the IDF Jerusalem." The unnamed official said that making a strategic decision to put military forces in the capital will give [Jewish - OH] citizens security and will deter attackers.
After the attack, violent clashes broke out in E. Jerusalem as Palestinians rioted when Israeli police forces entered Jabel Mukaber neighborhood and arrested 11 relatives of the attackers, who were cousins. The papers failed to report on the vigilante attacks on Arabs that also took place yesterday (see Quick Hits).
In west Jerusalem, a right-wing rally began marching through the capital shouting 'death to Arabs.' Some 300 people joined a protest of far-right groups Lehava and Otzma Leyisrael, but were blocked by police at the top of Jaffa St.
Three Americans-Israeli citizens and one British-Israeli were killed in the synagogue attack. A Druze traffic policeman who was among the first police to show up to the site, was shot in the head and died hours later.
Abbas condemned the attack saying civilians and religious sites should never be targeted. Arab MKs also condemned the attack. However, Netanyahu said a Palestinian blood libel led to the attack, again accusing Abbas and Hamas of incitement. He slammed world leaders demanding them to be outraged and also ordered the demolishing of homes of two other attackers. However, it leaked that Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen said Abbas does not preach violence and does not want terrorism. Speaking to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Cohen also warned against turning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict into a religious one. Leader of the far-right Habayit Hayehudi party, Economy Minister Naftali Bennett, said Abbas was one of the biggest Palestinian terrorists.
The attack came the day after the release of a Hamas video
threatening acts of revenge for the death of Arab Egged bus driver, Yusuf Hassan al-Ramouni, who was found hanged in his bus in Jerusalem on Sunday. An official Israeli autopsy report said there was no foul play, but members of the Arab sector and al-Ramouni's family refused to believe he committed suicide and said he was murdered. The Palestinian pathologist representing the family said there were things on the body inconsistent with suicide.
Palestinian factions praised the Jerusalem synagogue attack, reported Maariv and Maan, and family members of the attackers reportedly celebrated the attack, calling the attackers heroes. However, Haaretz+ interviewed an uncle of the killers who said, "We didn’t expect two quiet guys like them would do something like this." He said they acted of their own accord. Hours later, at the site of the terror attack, Haaretz+ noted there were no calls for revenge - just grief. Ynet provided haunting accounts of the seven-minutes of terror.
A Palestinian terror attack at a Jerusalem synagogue filled the Hebrew papers today with stories from the scene, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's action plans and suggestions by commentators and analysts for the future. Meanwhile, the Hebrew papers missed reports of vigilante attacks on Arabs in and around the capital.
Netanyahu gave a number of directives to improve security in Jerusalem and prevent future lone-wolf Palestinian attacks after two killers killed four Jewish worshippers and a Druze policeman at a synagogue in the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Har Nof in the capital. The killers were Palestinians from Jabal Mukaber neighborhood of E. Jerusalem. Now there is talk of putting up checkpoints at entrances to Arab neighborhoods, increasing police presence, and recruiting civil guard volunteers. There is even discussion of deploying military in the capital. One senior security official told Maariv: "Maybe it's time to put the IDF Jerusalem." The unnamed official said that making a strategic decision to put military forces in the capital will give [Jewish - OH] citizens security and will deter attackers.
After the attack, violent clashes broke out in E. Jerusalem as Palestinians rioted when Israeli police forces entered Jabel Mukaber neighborhood and arrested 11 relatives of the attackers, who were cousins. The papers failed to report on the vigilante attacks on Arabs that also took place yesterday (see Quick Hits).
In west Jerusalem, a right-wing rally began marching through the capital shouting 'death to Arabs.' Some 300 people joined a protest of far-right groups Lehava and Otzma Leyisrael, but were blocked by police at the top of Jaffa St.
Three Americans-Israeli citizens and one British-Israeli were killed in the synagogue attack. A Druze traffic policeman who was among the first police to show up to the site, was shot in the head and died hours later.
Abbas condemned the attack saying civilians and religious sites should never be targeted. Arab MKs also condemned the attack. However, Netanyahu said a Palestinian blood libel led to the attack, again accusing Abbas and Hamas of incitement. He slammed world leaders demanding them to be outraged and also ordered the demolishing of homes of two other attackers. However, it leaked that Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen said Abbas does not preach violence and does not want terrorism. Speaking to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Cohen also warned against turning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict into a religious one. Leader of the far-right Habayit Hayehudi party, Economy Minister Naftali Bennett, said Abbas was one of the biggest Palestinian terrorists.
The attack came the day after the release of a Hamas video
threatening acts of revenge for the death of Arab Egged bus driver, Yusuf Hassan al-Ramouni, who was found hanged in his bus in Jerusalem on Sunday. An official Israeli autopsy report said there was no foul play, but members of the Arab sector and al-Ramouni's family refused to believe he committed suicide and said he was murdered. The Palestinian pathologist representing the family said there were things on the body inconsistent with suicide.
Palestinian factions praised the Jerusalem synagogue attack, reported Maariv and Maan, and family members of the attackers reportedly celebrated the attack, calling the attackers heroes. However, Haaretz+ interviewed an uncle of the killers who said, "We didn’t expect two quiet guys like them would do something like this." He said they acted of their own accord. Hours later, at the site of the terror attack, Haaretz+ noted there were no calls for revenge - just grief. Ynet provided haunting accounts of the seven-minutes of terror.
Quick Hits:
- Palestinian stabbed by Israelis in northern Jerusalem - Fadi Jalal Radwan, 22, was attacked and stabbed by four Israelis while walking in the town of Kafr Aqab. Israeli police said circumstances of the incident are unclear. (Maan)
- Arab reported he was attacked by three youth at Safra Square (in Jerusalem) - An Arab youth reported that three young men attacked him and cut him in the leg with a cutter at Safra Square in Jerusalem. MDA teams took him to Hadassah Hospital. Circumstances of the incident are unclear. (Ynet Hebrew)
- Settler shoots, seriously injures Palestinian teen near Ramallah - Ibrahim Mahmoud, 16, was shot with a live bullet after a settler demonstration east of Ramallah. He was hospitalized with serious injuries. (Maan)
- Settlers attack Palestinian school near Nablus - Clashes broke out near Nablus on Tuesday after settlers attacked a Palestinian school in the village of Urif. Afterward, six Palestinians were injured by rubber-coated steel bullets after Israeli forces intervened in the clashes. (Maan)
- Israel closes Bethlehem village for settler march - Israeli forces shut Beit Iskariya village due to a nearby march by settlers following an earlier attack on a Jerusalem synagogue. Settlers in the area also tried to attack passing Palestinian vehicles, said the mayor. (Maan)
- Israeli settlers smash Palestinian vehicles near Nablus - Several Israeli settlers smashed Palestinian vehicles after they threw rocks at them on the road between Nablus and Ramallah near al-Lubban al-Sharqiya road. (Maan)
- New Palestinian video encourages vehicular attacks - Palestinian incitement continues with new animation video in which singer warns Zionists to flee before an 'angry vehicle' comes to take them to their graves. (Ynet)
- Israeli forces shut down main road to Ramallah near al-Ram - As a result, hundreds of vehicles were lined up in bumper-to-bumper traffic in both directions. (Maan)
- ** Netanyahu invited all 'Zionist' parties to join coalition - Labor and Meretz reject prime minister's call for national unity in wake of Jerusalem synagogue attack. Opposition leader and Labor chairman MK Isaac Herzog refused the offer, saying that unity is important, but "the Labor party will not be part of a government whose policy doesn't give security and hope to Israeli citizens." (Haaretz+)
- Hunger-striking prisoner pauses strike after release date set - Raed Musa briefly suspended his 60-day hunger strike Tuesday after an Israeli court in Ofer ordered the prisoner to be released on Dec. 12. (Maan)
- In wake of terror attacks: Dollar jumps - The US currency reached a two-year climax: 3.84 shekels to a dollar. Already it has strengthened 13% over the shekel since Operation Protective Edge. (Yedioth, Finance supplement, cover)
- Spanish parliament passes watered down motion on eventual recognition of Palestine - Motion calls on Spanish government to recognize Palestine, similar to earlier resolutions in Sweden, Britain and Ireland; French parliament to vote on similar gesture later in November. (Agencies, Haaretz and Ynet)
- Left-wing Jewish group slams JNF for ‘land theft and ethnic cleansing’ - Melbourne-based Australian Jewish Democratic Society launches website asking, 'What is the Jewish National Fund really doing with your money?' (Haaretz+)
- Israeli hospitals see rise in suicide attempts - New immigrants, divorced and older people are at a higher risk of committing suicide in Israel, according to data presented by mental health association. (Ynet)
- Report: Anti-Semitic incidents in Italy tripled during Israel's Gaza op - The vast majority of this summer's anti-Semitic incidents in Italy – 17 total – were triggered by Israel’s fighting in Gaza, according to the report. (Haaretz+)
- Middle East Updates / Suspected U.S. strikes hit Syrian Al-Qaida-held town - Ten dead in Egypt following exchange of fire in Sinai; Egyptian woman dies of bird flu, second death in two days; U.S. disputes U.A.E.'s terrorist designation of two U.S. groups. (Haaretz)
Commentary/Analysis:
Netanyahu and his ministers are endangering the public (Haaretz Editorial) Is ending the cycle of violence between Israelis and Palestinians one
of the prime minister's primary goals? If so, it's hard to understand his ongoing incitement against Mahmoud
Abbas.
The 10 quiet years are behind us (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth/Ynet) From one isolated incident to another, we've got ourselves an intifada on our hands, which is threatening to be as fatal as the two previous ones, both for us and for them. There are no winners here – only victims.
Pull ourselves together and return to negotiations (Yossi Melman, Maariv) Prohibition of importing fireworks, demolition of houses or mass arrests have failed in the past and will fail in the future. The answer lies in meeting and trying to find a long term solution. The greatest danger is that the conflict with the Palestinians will turn from a territorial-political conflict into a religious war.
Beware the moderates: Hypocrites are more dangerous than extremists (Sefi Rachlevsky, Haaretz+) Israel can either become mired in racist apocalyptic messianism, or once again be a humane and rational country with borders.
How to prevent the next terror attack (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) It's not easy to deter terrorists like those who carried out the deadly attack at Kehilat Yaakov synagogue, so Israel must act to contain the threat by all means available to its defense establishment.
Checkpoints will divide Jerusalem (Alon Ben-David, Maariv) Checkpoints in Arab neighborhoods, weapon licenses for Jews in the city, and decisions about initiating raids in Arab neighborhoods, appear like moves meant to take care of the sense of security, but not of security.
For some leaders of Israel's extreme right, dancing on the blood is not enough (Ravit Hecht, Haaretz+) In the depths of this despair, it’s even possible to believe that there’s a deep, secret alliance between the Palestinian terrorists and Israel’s extreme right.
President special column: "It's not possible to let hatred sabotage partnership" (President Reuven Rivlin, Maariv) I went to pay my last respects. I was hoping to comfort and be comforted. But I did not stand there alone, standing with me was the people of Israel, crying and in pain. Despite the severe shake-up, Jerusalem will not come out with calls for hatred of the Other.
The Jewish nation-state bill: A law fit for the new Israel (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) The racist bill, if it passes, will only dress the loathsome practices of the last generation in a clean white suit.
A stable prime minister but no governability (Yoaz Hendel, Yedioth/Ynet) If government is incapable of making decisions and passing basic laws, State of Israel should just be run by an appointed committee.
As terror escalates, Israelis and Palestinians are racing to the abyss (Ravit Hecht, Haaretz+) Even those center and leftist Israeli Jews who remain two-state supporters must acknowledge how far Palestinian violence has deferred chances for a Palestinian state.
Behind the silent reaction of the Palestinian street (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) In private conversations, even those who support killing Israelis seem embarrassed by an attack on civilians at prayer; they don't speak out because they share the anger that led to the murder.
Life in the shadow of Hebron's cave (Elyakim Haetzni, Yedioth/Ynet) While Hebron's Arabs may associate with Kiryat Arba's Jews, they will tell you that when they regain control over the cave, the Jews will be out.
Wave of Palestinian terror starting to resemble a religious war (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) And leaders on both sides are just fanning the fires of hate with their inflammatory comments that are really doing nobody any good.
The hard truth (Ben Caspit, Maariv) Netanyahu's statements on his directives for action (following the terror attack) hide the truth that he is afraid to say to the face of the nation. And the truth is this: There won't be any (Israeli) attack operations. There is not much to do when faced with this kind of murderous terror. There is no "terrorist infrastructure" to destroy, no "snake heads" to decapitate. These perfectly ordinary Palestinians, brainwashed and full of hatred, incited and hysterical, that take the car, or ax, or a butcher knife, or gun, and go kill Jews. Also: The real danger is that the wave of terrorism will turn into a real religious war and would also lead to an attack on the Temple Mount. I wonder what the prime minister would order to do after that.
After Jerusalem attack, Netanyahu hopes 'PR porn' will win support abroad (Barak Ravid, Haaretz+) Instead of accusing the international media of supporting terrorism, perhaps it would behoove the government to examine themselves first.
Radical alliance fueling renewed bloodbath (Tami Arad, Yedioth/Ynet) A handful of provocateurs on one side and a handful of incited murderers on the other side are dragging the Israeli and Palestinian leaderships by the power of destructive inertia.
Massacre in Jerusalem proves: Eliminate terrorism or go to elections (Kalman Libskind, Maariv) Embarrassment and confusion on the part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is constantly sending incomprehensible and contradictory political messages about his views and how to fight for them. If Abbas supports attacks, violence and incitement, as posited by Netanyahu, there is nothing to talk about with him.
A lesson for Israel from Turkey's still-boiling melting pot (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) The bitter controversy over the need for the Turkish government to apologize for a massacre of citizens 76 years ago offers Israel a cautionary tale.
Attack on worshipers in synagogue sets deadly precedent (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) Tuesday's terror attack represents a new type of perpetrator – East Jerusalem residents who know their targets well.
A war crime in Jerusalem (Bradley Burston, Haaretz+) Thanks to the maniacal designs of extremists, none of us, Arab or Jew, are civilians any longer.
Paving the way for Islamic State in Israel (Ruthie Blum, Israel Hayom) The current wave of Palestinian terrorism is the culmination of decades of revisionist history regarding the Temple Mount.
Livni’s 'Jewish nation-state' bill: Softer, but still exclusionary (Aeyal Gross, Haaretz+) The justice minister's nation-state legislation still strengthens the state’s identification with one group only.
An explosion waiting to happen in Abu Snan (Yaron London, Yedioth/Ynet) The juxtaposition of patriotic Druze minority and a Muslim majority in this Galilee town, coupled with a turbulent local history, makes for a tempestuous situation.
The massacre in Jerusalem and my fading hopes for a happy ending (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) Israelis and Palestinians persist in going to hell through a bottomless pit and both sides won’t rest until the fire consumes us all.
Despite the terror, we immigrants to Israel would never go back (Rabbi Yehoshua Looks , Haaretz+) We left our countries of birth and our families abroad to live in the Jewish holy land. But today something was taken from us that we never expected to lose.
The 10 quiet years are behind us (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth/Ynet) From one isolated incident to another, we've got ourselves an intifada on our hands, which is threatening to be as fatal as the two previous ones, both for us and for them. There are no winners here – only victims.
Pull ourselves together and return to negotiations (Yossi Melman, Maariv) Prohibition of importing fireworks, demolition of houses or mass arrests have failed in the past and will fail in the future. The answer lies in meeting and trying to find a long term solution. The greatest danger is that the conflict with the Palestinians will turn from a territorial-political conflict into a religious war.
Beware the moderates: Hypocrites are more dangerous than extremists (Sefi Rachlevsky, Haaretz+) Israel can either become mired in racist apocalyptic messianism, or once again be a humane and rational country with borders.
How to prevent the next terror attack (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) It's not easy to deter terrorists like those who carried out the deadly attack at Kehilat Yaakov synagogue, so Israel must act to contain the threat by all means available to its defense establishment.
Checkpoints will divide Jerusalem (Alon Ben-David, Maariv) Checkpoints in Arab neighborhoods, weapon licenses for Jews in the city, and decisions about initiating raids in Arab neighborhoods, appear like moves meant to take care of the sense of security, but not of security.
For some leaders of Israel's extreme right, dancing on the blood is not enough (Ravit Hecht, Haaretz+) In the depths of this despair, it’s even possible to believe that there’s a deep, secret alliance between the Palestinian terrorists and Israel’s extreme right.
President special column: "It's not possible to let hatred sabotage partnership" (President Reuven Rivlin, Maariv) I went to pay my last respects. I was hoping to comfort and be comforted. But I did not stand there alone, standing with me was the people of Israel, crying and in pain. Despite the severe shake-up, Jerusalem will not come out with calls for hatred of the Other.
The Jewish nation-state bill: A law fit for the new Israel (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) The racist bill, if it passes, will only dress the loathsome practices of the last generation in a clean white suit.
A stable prime minister but no governability (Yoaz Hendel, Yedioth/Ynet) If government is incapable of making decisions and passing basic laws, State of Israel should just be run by an appointed committee.
As terror escalates, Israelis and Palestinians are racing to the abyss (Ravit Hecht, Haaretz+) Even those center and leftist Israeli Jews who remain two-state supporters must acknowledge how far Palestinian violence has deferred chances for a Palestinian state.
Behind the silent reaction of the Palestinian street (Amira Hass, Haaretz+) In private conversations, even those who support killing Israelis seem embarrassed by an attack on civilians at prayer; they don't speak out because they share the anger that led to the murder.
Life in the shadow of Hebron's cave (Elyakim Haetzni, Yedioth/Ynet) While Hebron's Arabs may associate with Kiryat Arba's Jews, they will tell you that when they regain control over the cave, the Jews will be out.
Wave of Palestinian terror starting to resemble a religious war (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) And leaders on both sides are just fanning the fires of hate with their inflammatory comments that are really doing nobody any good.
The hard truth (Ben Caspit, Maariv) Netanyahu's statements on his directives for action (following the terror attack) hide the truth that he is afraid to say to the face of the nation. And the truth is this: There won't be any (Israeli) attack operations. There is not much to do when faced with this kind of murderous terror. There is no "terrorist infrastructure" to destroy, no "snake heads" to decapitate. These perfectly ordinary Palestinians, brainwashed and full of hatred, incited and hysterical, that take the car, or ax, or a butcher knife, or gun, and go kill Jews. Also: The real danger is that the wave of terrorism will turn into a real religious war and would also lead to an attack on the Temple Mount. I wonder what the prime minister would order to do after that.
After Jerusalem attack, Netanyahu hopes 'PR porn' will win support abroad (Barak Ravid, Haaretz+) Instead of accusing the international media of supporting terrorism, perhaps it would behoove the government to examine themselves first.
Radical alliance fueling renewed bloodbath (Tami Arad, Yedioth/Ynet) A handful of provocateurs on one side and a handful of incited murderers on the other side are dragging the Israeli and Palestinian leaderships by the power of destructive inertia.
Massacre in Jerusalem proves: Eliminate terrorism or go to elections (Kalman Libskind, Maariv) Embarrassment and confusion on the part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is constantly sending incomprehensible and contradictory political messages about his views and how to fight for them. If Abbas supports attacks, violence and incitement, as posited by Netanyahu, there is nothing to talk about with him.
A lesson for Israel from Turkey's still-boiling melting pot (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) The bitter controversy over the need for the Turkish government to apologize for a massacre of citizens 76 years ago offers Israel a cautionary tale.
Attack on worshipers in synagogue sets deadly precedent (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) Tuesday's terror attack represents a new type of perpetrator – East Jerusalem residents who know their targets well.
A war crime in Jerusalem (Bradley Burston, Haaretz+) Thanks to the maniacal designs of extremists, none of us, Arab or Jew, are civilians any longer.
Paving the way for Islamic State in Israel (Ruthie Blum, Israel Hayom) The current wave of Palestinian terrorism is the culmination of decades of revisionist history regarding the Temple Mount.
Livni’s 'Jewish nation-state' bill: Softer, but still exclusionary (Aeyal Gross, Haaretz+) The justice minister's nation-state legislation still strengthens the state’s identification with one group only.
An explosion waiting to happen in Abu Snan (Yaron London, Yedioth/Ynet) The juxtaposition of patriotic Druze minority and a Muslim majority in this Galilee town, coupled with a turbulent local history, makes for a tempestuous situation.
The massacre in Jerusalem and my fading hopes for a happy ending (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) Israelis and Palestinians persist in going to hell through a bottomless pit and both sides won’t rest until the fire consumes us all.
Despite the terror, we immigrants to Israel would never go back (Rabbi Yehoshua Looks , Haaretz+) We left our countries of birth and our families abroad to live in the Jewish holy land. But today something was taken from us that we never expected to lose.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.