News Nosh 12.14.14


APN's daily news review from Israel
Sunday December 14, 2014

Quote of the day:
 "The study of plants for medicinal purposes was the prime goal, but the cooperation with the researchers from the Palestinian Authority and from the rest of the nations was no less important."
--President of Hadassah College, Professor Berthold Friedlander, remarks on the unusual cooperation between Israeli and Palestinian researchers in a three-year study on medicinal plants found in the land they share and says that peace will come from the academia.**


Front Page:
Haaretz
Yedioth Ahronoth
  • Elections 2015: Lieberman vs. NetanyahuEli Yishai on way out (of Shas)
  • Head to head in Habayit Hayehudi - effort to prevent division
  • Netanyahu summoned to meeting with Kerry: "The veto at the UN is not a given"
  • Eilat Ashkelon Pipeline Company to be dismantled? Treasury considering dismantling company
  • Shula Zaken under the belt - Speaks about romance with Dachner in embarrasing recordings she tried to erase
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
Israel Hayom
  • Anger in right-wing: “Lieberman will bring a left-wing government”
  • Drama in Shas: Eli Yishai on way out
  • Yishai’s political future depends on Ariel // Dan Margalit
  • Lieberman wants to be prime minister at any price // Mati Tuchfeld
  • “The terrorist shouted ‘Allah Akbar’ and threw burning liquid on us”
  • Today: Government expected to approve appointment of Gadi Eisenkott as chief of staff
  • “Zaken’s recording – long before she became a state witness”
  • Without hate – Facebook refuses to add a ‘don’t like’ button


News Summary:
On the elections front, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman surprises when he slams Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, but says he is willing to be in a coalition with him or with Labor party chief Isaac Herzog and Shas MK Eli Yishai leaves his party after 30 years and debates whether to unite with very far-right-wing MK Uri Ariel, who might break off from the far-right-wing Habayit Hayehudi party. On the diplomatic front, the US debates whether to veto two UN resolutions coming to the Security Council on Palestinian statehood and an end to the Israeli occupation and pressures the Palestinians not to break off security coordination with Israel following the death of the Palestinian Minister on Settlements Ziyad Abu Ein, making top stories in the Hebrew papers today. Meanwhile, Hamas condemned an attack near the French cultural center in Gaza City, revealing it appreciates the French offer for Palestinian statehood and a mentally unstable Palestinian threw acid on Israeli civilians in the West Bank, injuring seven.
 
US Secretary of State John Kerry has called on Netanyahu to meet him Monday in Rome in order to discuss the UN proposals to be voted on this month calling for an end to the Israeli occupation and the establishment of a Palestinian state within two years and whether the US will veto them or not. The papers stress that the US veto is not a given. Yedioth wrote that the US would like not to veto the proposals, but it’s afraid that Netanyahu will use that to help his election campaign by saying, ‘See, the whole world is against us.’ [It is unclear why the veto can’t also be used against him since it is a sign of the bad relations between him, his government and the US administration. – OH] Maariv writes that the US is considering accepting a ‘softened’ proposal recognizing a Palestinian state. Haaretz’s Jack Khoury writes that the Palestinians are working feverishly to formulate with the Europeans a single UN resolution instead of the separate French one and Jordanian one that the European and the Arab states can agree on.
  
An explosion went off near the French cultural center in Gaza City, which was not reported on in the Israeli media. A Hamas leader in Gaza, Ahmad Yousef, said Hamas condemned the attack. In his condemnation he revealed Hamas’ positive view towards the French UN proposal for two-states. “Why at this specific time at which France has a generous stand toward Palestine?” Yousef said. Meanwhile, Portugal’s parliament has called for recognition of a Palestinian state, the latest European parliament in a long list. 
 
The UN human rights chief called on Israel to probe Palestinian protesters' deaths. Zeid Raad al-Hussein said the death of the Palestinian Minister on Settlements Ziyad Abu Ein after a scuffle with Israeli Border Police, along with the serious wounding of a 14-year-old Palestinian boy reportedly shot by Israeli security forces the following day, should be properly investigated. He noted that in 2014 at least 50 Palestinians have died in incidents involving Israeli security forces in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, almost twice as many as the previous year.
  
Kerry offered condolences to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas over Abu Ein’s death and also reportedly pressured him not to stop security coordination with Israel, despite Palestinian declarations it was doing so following Abu Ein’s death. Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said that Israel did not need security coordination with the Palestinians anyway and said the Palestinian Authority threats to end it were 'idle talk.’ 
 
Indeed, on Friday, after a Palestinian man attacked and wounded six Israelis with acid in the West Bank, south of Jerusalem, a high ranking Israeli officer said the security coordination with the Palestinians was ongoing, Haaretz reported. Maariv reported that the attacker was previously hospitalized in a mental hospital in Bethlehem for mental problems he had after being previously jailed several times by Israel. His three sons, ages 19-23, were arrested last night by the IDF in their home along with his brother, Issa.

Quick Hits:
  • Soldier sends death threats to Meretz (Arab) MK Freij - 19-year-old lone soldier sends MK Frej Facebook messages: 'You must want a bullet between your eyes'; MK Frej: 'This is a dialogue of hate.' (Ynet and Times of Israel
  • Lieberman blames Abbas for Athens embassy shooting - Greek police may not have a lead, but hours after the attack the Foreign Ministry says it’s the result of Palestinian incitement. (Haaretz)
  • Palestinian crashes into IDF blockade, as tensions run high in Jerusalem - Palestinian suspected of attempting to run soldier over in West Bank after crashing into outpost. It is unclear whether this was an accident or an intended attack. (Ynet)
  • Gaza conflict tops Olympics, MH370 on Facebook - American social media network lists summer war between Israel, Palestinians as sixth in global Top 10 topics of 2014. (Ynet)
  • Israeli soldiers who operated Iron Dome now suffering from PTSD - Unlike the infantry, combat-support soldiers like the ones who operated the celebrated missile defense system are often not recognized by the IDF. (Haaretz+)
  • (Famous former hunger-striking) Prisoner released (again) after 5 months in Israeli administrative detention - Islamic Jihad member Khader Adnan launched one of the longest hunger strikes in Palestinian history in 2012 to protest his detention. He was finally released, but then re-detained in his Jenin village of Arraba on July 8, 2014. (Maan
  • For first time, Israel threatens to move hunger strikers to criminal sections of jails - Israeli prison service gave some 70 Palestinian hunger strikers until Sunday to suspend strike before moving them from jail sections designated for Palestinian prisoners to the Israeli criminal sections. The hunger-strikers are striking in solidarity with prisoner Nahar al-Saadi. (Maan
  • Dozens participate in Gaza solidarity protest for hunger striker - Sit-in protest held outside UN High Commissioner for Human Rights' office in Gaza Thursday, to express solidarity with Nahar al-Saadi, who has been on hunger strike for 22 days to protest being held in solitary confinement by Israeli authorities. (Maan)
  • Hamas launches test rockets towards the Mediterranean Sea - Gaza sources report Hamas' military wing continue work on rebuilding arsenal and restoring military capabilities after summer war. (Ynet
  • IDF chief orders probe into leak of classified Hamas infiltration video - Palestinian news agency uploaded leaked IDF documentation to YouTube. (Haaretz+)
  • Over 1,000 Palestinians clash with Israeli forces in Hebron Friday - A youth was shot in the foot after Israeli forces raided a schoolyard festival organized by Hamas, smashed the stage set up for the festival, and confiscated signs and flags meant to celebrate the 27th anniversary of the establishment of Hamas. Around 100,000 people took part in the celebrations in the Gaza Strip. (Maan
  • Activists raise Palestinian flag at checkpoint in Bethlehem - A Palestinian activist, Youssef Abu Maria, was injured Saturday as Israeli forces suppressed a march protesting the death of PA minister Ziad Abu Ein. Activists placed pictures of Abu Ein and Palestinian flags inside the checkpoint before being assaulted and beaten by Israeli soldiers. (Maan)
  • Upgraded Air Force bunker to be protected from nukes - New control stations will be streamlined, improving synchronization and coordination during wartime; renovations project is funded by the Pentagon. (Ynet
  • Israel allows cooking gas, diesel into Gaza - Israel allowed 120 tons of cooking gas and 250,000 liters of diesel into the Gaza Strip on Friday. Palestinians in Gaza require around 450-500 tons of cooking gas to meet their daily needs. (Maan
  • Gaza fisherman injured by Egyptian fire - An Egyptian surveillance site on the Egyptian-Palestinian border across from Rafah opened fire on fisherman Ali al-Bardawil. (Maan)
  • Mosque blaze was an electrical fire, not arson, firefighters say - Mosque in the village of Mughayer, close to Ramallah in the West Bank, contained no traces of flammable liquids or materials. (Haaretz)
  • 75 new security guards start work at Aqsa compound - Jordan's King Abdullah II had given instructions to increase the number of security guards at the compound. Ten women are among the 75 new guards. (Maan)
  • Israeli settlements squeezing Palestinian tourism, officials say - Palestinian tourism expert says $1.4 billion lost every year, as roads for settlers, border controls and administrative issues seriously hinder local industry. (Agencies, Ynet)
  • **Israeli-Palestinian study finds regional flowers help combat viruses - Three-year study conducted by Israeli, Palestinian, Spanish and Greek researchers examined various flowers and plants in Israel and found potential for use in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. (Ynet)
  • U.K. Islamic charity cleared of Hamas terror-funding claims - Israel and U.A.E. alleged that Islamic Relief funds were going to Hamas in the West Bank; audit finds no evidence to back claim, the Guardian reports. (Haaretz)


Features:
The Iron Woman of Jaffa
‘Hinnawi’ has long been a synonym for alcohol and good food. Behind the scenes of the (food store chain) empire of the Jaffa family, Rosette Hinawi pulls the strings: an Arab business woman who works in a hard male industry. “Co-existence begins in the kitchen,” she says ahead of a Christmas dinner being held today with the participation of influential Jewish and Arab women at her restaurant in Jaffa, ‘Rosette's Cafe Bistro.’ (Shir-Li Golan, Yedioth’s ’24 Hours’ supplement, pp. 8-9)


Commentary/Analysis:
Stop using the tax authority as a tool of the right (Haaretz Editorial) Decision of Israel Tax Authority to refuse third tax exemption application of Rabbis for Human Rights under Paragraph 48 smacks of politics, discrimination.
I'll vote, but who for? (Rafik Halabi, Yedioth/Ynet) The days of real political thought and debate are long gone, and all that is left are babbling celebrities and a worrying lack of knowledge.
The Israeli 'center,' aka the Israeli 'right' (Yossi Sarid, Haaretz+) The ‘consensus’ covers everyone like a warm blanket: Everyone goes together to an unnecessary war, everyone adds billions in spending for defense and the settlements.
Netanyahu's self-defeating matchmaking (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth/Ynet) Herzog and Livni, if the polls are to be believed, have created a force to be reckoned with; but their true tests are still ahead of them.
Time for the revolution (Yoel Marcus, Haaretz+) Booting Netanyahu from power is a national interest, and now it’s in the hands of Bougie and Tzipi.
The real extremists (Yoel Meltzer, Yedioth/Ynet) As so-called right-wing, nationalist, anti-democratic extremists are what majority of Israeli voters want, left's ongoing stinging attack is actually a scathing condemnation of voters themselves.
Israel, a make-believe democracy (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) The occupation and the defense budget are the elephants in the room that no candidate, not even Livni and Herzog, will touch.
Without white noise: It's time to talk about our real problems (Alon Mizrachi, Maariv) Only three issues need to stand in the center of the upcoming election: What Israel intends to do with the Arabs of Judea, Samaria and East Jerusalem, will there be a free market here, and how will politics stop being as a tool for personal advancement?
A hypocritical and manipulative Left (Dr. Haim Shine, Israel Hayom) The leftist media is conducting a re-education campaign, the likes of which was seen in the Soviet prison camps and Ceausescu's Romania. 
All eyes on the Palestinian street (Alex Fishman, Yedioth/Ynet) Palestinian minister's death during West Bank demonstration was particularly bad timing for both sides; the Palestinians have been enjoying global momentum, and Israel was hoping that attacks and demonstrations had wound down. Now everyone is anxiously watching Palestinian street, the deciding factor in whether area is again engulfed in flames.  
The nation that was erased and forgotten (Ehud Ein-Gil, Haaretz+) Is Israel a Jewish nation or a Hebrew nation? And what is the difference between the Jewish community and the Jewish people? A look at the Declaration of Independence offers clear and telling distinctions.
Pathological findings (Ruthie Blum, Israel Hayom) The endless cycle of Israeli capitulation for a negotiated settlement, alongside Palestinian aspirations for Western-sanctioned jihad, must be put to a halt. 
Israel-Palestinian security cooperation is crucial for Abbas' survival 
(Smadar Perry, Yedioth/Ynet) In the double game he is playing, the Palestinian president complains about Israel while owing the country a massive debt.
**Coexistence will actually come from the academia (Prof. Bertold Friedlander, Maariv) In the face of the wave of nationalist-inspired violence, a unique example of cooperation between Arab and Jewish students proves that there is another way...This week we present the results of  the "Bio-explore" research project that deals with the study of plants in the Mediterranean basin and is supported by the European Union. Project partners are our colleagues from a  research institution in Nablus, BERC, which is in the Palestinian Authority and also research institutions from Greece and Spain. Through a unique collaboration with researchers from the Palestinian Authority an Israeli-Palestinian dialogue was created in the world of research. Students from the Department of Biotechnology, Jews and Arabs together, researched day and night for a common goal. In contrast to the political reality in which there is a dispute over the territory of the country, during the joint study we investigated the potential medicinal properties of plants unique to this strip of land, each side with love, and its narrative and connection to the land that is the focus of the conflict... 
Sorry folks, Israel's Declaration of Independence made no mention of democracy (Yoram Shachar, Haaretz+) Records show that Israel was born as a Jewish state with some democratic traces. We can only hope that future generations make it a democratic state with Jewish traits.
Ignore the overheated rhetoric (David M. Weinberg, Israel Hayom) It must be said: Israel is stronger, more stable and saner than it may look over the next ‎‎100 days of campaigning.‎
Israel-Palestinian security cooperation is not in danger (Elior Levy, Ynet) Despite growing calls inside Palestinian Authority for an end to coordination after Ziad Abu Ein's death, arrangement at highest level is too advantageous to abandon.
Farewell ideology, it's election time (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) The Left has nothing to sell on the diplomatic front, except fantasies • Also, the Right must be wary of Avigdor Lieberman.
A moment of intimacy exposes MKs' true colors (Carolina Landsmann, Haaretz+) If the situation is really as grave as they've been telling us, then how in the world can our political rivals be so merrily yukking it up together?
 

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