APN's daily news review from Israel
Tuesday September 09, 2014
Quote of the day:
"However, to date, this initiative has not received an official response from the governments of
Israel."
--Israeli former security officials and academics write letter calling on Prime Minister to embrace the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002, which, they write, has support of most Israelis and Palestinians.**
--Israeli former security officials and academics write letter calling on Prime Minister to embrace the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002, which, they write, has support of most Israelis and Palestinians.**
Front Page News:
Haaretz
- Transcripts reveal: This is how the chief of staff's bureau was run during the Harpaz affair - Ashkenazi: "Look, our weakness is that we have the paper. That's our problem." Weiner: "Okay, but you didn't take it out." Ashkenazi: "I didn't take out the paper."
- Obama plans three-year aerial attack against Islamic State
- The terrorist from Brussels planned mega-attack on Paris
- Court cancelled transfer of southern Wailing Wall to to Elad organization
- Clashes in Jerusalem: Tension following autopsy of Arab youth's corpse
- (Cult leader) Goel Ratzon convicted of sex crimes and acquitted of enslavement
Yedioth Ahronoth
- Israel aiding to destroy Islamic State
- India warns: Israelis are in the crosshairs
- The recordings (in the Harpaz affair) are released
- 50 schools with most values - No copying on exams, no drop-outs and most serve in IDF
- Nausea, congratulations: Another prince is on the way (in Britain)
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links)
- "The judges abandoned us wounded" - One of the former wives of (cult leader) Goel Ratzon
- In the crosshairs: Israelis in India
- (Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon) Bugi's man // Alon Ben-David on Yaalon's choice of Eizenkot as next chief of staff
- Harpaz affair: Transcripts revealed - Ashekenazi: "Our weakness is that we have the paper"; Weiner: "Apparently others have it as well. Including Boaz"
- Friday: (Commentator) Lior Dayan specially sent to Qatar
- In the part of mayor: Tel-Aviv mayor starred in Blaumilch Canal
Israel Hayom
- "Israeli intelligence on Islamic State - to the US and its allies"
- The madness of the cults: Goel Ratzon convicted of sex crimes; Suspects of 'Redemption cult' revealed: David 'The Best' Dabush and Gad Zarad
- Edge of the iceberg - Whispers and plots: Court allowed publishing of small amount of Ashkenazi recordings
- The kingdom awaits - birth of William and Kate's second child
- Fear in India: Al-Qaeda plans to harm Israelis during holiday
- Apple-mania reaches climax: New iPhone to be revealed today
News Summary:
Israelis are an Al-Qaeda target in India, Israel helps the US against the Islamic State and a cult leader is convicted making top stories in Hebrew newspapers today. Meanwhile, the Arab League declared its support for the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' UN bid for a deadline to end the occupation, Abbas and Shimon Peres called for peace at the World Economic Forum and a group of Israeli academia and security officials called on Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to adopt the Arab Peace Initiative.
The Israeli papers quoted a Reuters report, which quoted a 'Western diplomat,' who said that Israel is providing the US and its allies with aid in their fight against the Islamic State, including satellite imagery and names of Western citizens suspected of joining the rebels. After "scrubbed" of evidence of its Israeli origin, the information has often been shared by Washington with Arab and Turkish allies, said the diplomat.
India's Intelligence agency warned that terrorists with European passports could take revenge for Operation Protective Edge against Israelis during the High Holidays. India's Internal Security Minister ordered greater security measures for possible targets.
Arab foreign ministers have backed Abbas' UN bid for a deadline to the occupation, just before the Palestinian President presents his new diplomatic plan to the UN General Assembly later this month.
At the regional Middle East World Economic Forum held in Jordan, Abbas urged Israel to seek a two-state solution: 'The opportunity is still there for making this peace," he said. Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat called on former Israeli President Shimon Peres to convince Netanyahu to make peace with the Palestinians based on the pre-1967 borders. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry gave a speech to the forum calling on Israel and the Palestinians to continue the peace process through to the end and asked: “Do we want to live with a permanent intifada?”
**And, in a letter, a copy of which Maariv received, Israeli academia and security officials called on Netanyahu "to see the current crisis an opportunity to escape the cycle of violence against Hamas in Gaza and the impasse in the negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians." The letter states: "The Arab Peace Initiative was presented by the Saudi Crown Prince at the Arab League summit in Beirut in 2002, and was been adopted by all 22 of the Arab League states, which have since then ratified it quite a few times. Its principles are agreed upon by the majority of Israelis (and Palestinians), foremost, the end of the conflict with the Arab world in exchange for recognition of a Palestinian state with its capital in East Jerusalem and borders based on the '67 lines with agreed swaps, an agreed upon solution to the refugee issue, and security arrangements that ensure the safety of Israel. However, to date, this initiative has not received an official response from the governments of Israel." Signatories include: former Mossad official Yossi Alpher, Col. (res.) Shaul Arieli, Maj. Gen. (retired) Shlomo Gazit - the former head of military intelligence, Gershon Baskin, Galia Golan, Eli Podeh, Eti Livni, Ilan Baruch, Tzahi Gabai, Gabi Zohar, Shifra Sagi, Yoram Peri.
Israelis are an Al-Qaeda target in India, Israel helps the US against the Islamic State and a cult leader is convicted making top stories in Hebrew newspapers today. Meanwhile, the Arab League declared its support for the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' UN bid for a deadline to end the occupation, Abbas and Shimon Peres called for peace at the World Economic Forum and a group of Israeli academia and security officials called on Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to adopt the Arab Peace Initiative.
The Israeli papers quoted a Reuters report, which quoted a 'Western diplomat,' who said that Israel is providing the US and its allies with aid in their fight against the Islamic State, including satellite imagery and names of Western citizens suspected of joining the rebels. After "scrubbed" of evidence of its Israeli origin, the information has often been shared by Washington with Arab and Turkish allies, said the diplomat.
India's Intelligence agency warned that terrorists with European passports could take revenge for Operation Protective Edge against Israelis during the High Holidays. India's Internal Security Minister ordered greater security measures for possible targets.
Arab foreign ministers have backed Abbas' UN bid for a deadline to the occupation, just before the Palestinian President presents his new diplomatic plan to the UN General Assembly later this month.
At the regional Middle East World Economic Forum held in Jordan, Abbas urged Israel to seek a two-state solution: 'The opportunity is still there for making this peace," he said. Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat called on former Israeli President Shimon Peres to convince Netanyahu to make peace with the Palestinians based on the pre-1967 borders. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry gave a speech to the forum calling on Israel and the Palestinians to continue the peace process through to the end and asked: “Do we want to live with a permanent intifada?”
**And, in a letter, a copy of which Maariv received, Israeli academia and security officials called on Netanyahu "to see the current crisis an opportunity to escape the cycle of violence against Hamas in Gaza and the impasse in the negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians." The letter states: "The Arab Peace Initiative was presented by the Saudi Crown Prince at the Arab League summit in Beirut in 2002, and was been adopted by all 22 of the Arab League states, which have since then ratified it quite a few times. Its principles are agreed upon by the majority of Israelis (and Palestinians), foremost, the end of the conflict with the Arab world in exchange for recognition of a Palestinian state with its capital in East Jerusalem and borders based on the '67 lines with agreed swaps, an agreed upon solution to the refugee issue, and security arrangements that ensure the safety of Israel. However, to date, this initiative has not received an official response from the governments of Israel." Signatories include: former Mossad official Yossi Alpher, Col. (res.) Shaul Arieli, Maj. Gen. (retired) Shlomo Gazit - the former head of military intelligence, Gershon Baskin, Galia Golan, Eli Podeh, Eti Livni, Ilan Baruch, Tzahi Gabai, Gabi Zohar, Shifra Sagi, Yoram Peri.
Quick Hits:
- Autopsy carried out on Palestinian teen whose death sparked rioting in E. Jerusalem, clashes continued - Police brace for resumption of unrest that broke out after Muhammad Abd al-Majid Sunuqrut died of wounds sustained in clash with police last week. Police closed the roads to Isawiyah neighborhood. Resident: “That’s collective punishment. Half the children didn’t go to school today because of it.” (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
- Settlement receives from state almost double than developing town - Adva Center report confirms: Government support for settlements is at expense of periphery. Alfei Menashe settlement: 3,213 sh./resident; Yeruham: 1,892 sh./resident. Report found that settlement population grew 240% in 20 years. (Yedioth's 'Mamun' economic supplement and Haaretz+)
- Palestinian pharmacies boycotting Israeli medicines - "Why are you bying Israeli aspirin (akamol) for you and your children? Think of the children of Gaza," read signs at pharmacies in Hebron. Sharp drop in sales to West Bank since Operation Protective Edge. German official calls to stop exporting weapons to the Middle East. (Maariv)
- Top German officials question arms deals to Israel'Germany cannot provide weapons to areas of conflict or to dictators,' says Merkel's senior coalition partner, asking 'what about Israel?' as German sub joins IDF. (Yedioth/Ynet)
- Cardiff deputy lord mayor says Hamas fired `toy rockets' at Israel - Welsh businessman (and Israel's honorary consul) calls on legislator Ali Ahmed to resign or be dismissed. (Haaretz)
- British Jew forced to leave home after criticizing Israel's Gaza operation - The Orthodox Jewish man moved out after he was attacked by a mob of up to 30 people, his house was vandalized and his car was spray-painted. (JTA, Haaretz)
- Sign at entrance to shop in Istanbul: "No entry for Jewish dogs" - Jewish-Turkish newspaper, Shalom, reported that a shop in area where there are many Jewish-owned businesses put up the sign. Next to the words was a photo of Jews wearing yarmulkehs and tzitziot dancing around an Israeli tank. (Maariv, p. 25)
- Yale chaplain quits in wake of letter blaming Israel for rising anti-Semitism - Episcopal Church at Yale states Rev. Bruce Shipman resigned of his own initiative; Shipman apologized for letter in the Yale Daily. (JTA, Haaretz)
- Army accepts plea bargain for Bedouin doctors who left units during Gaza war - Community sought leniency for two brothers who left IDF units when Gaza op began; prosecutors agree to demotion, reduced jail term. (Haaretz+)
- Peres: "You can occupy Gaza, but what's next? Former President opened the conference of the Institute for Counter-Terrorism, saying that Abbas is a clear partner for peace: "Anyone who tries to cover that up and disparage against his remarks sins." Justice Minister Livni said: "Israel should lead a political initiative for an updated and courageous peace agreement." (Maariv)
- Naftali Bennett against the left-wingers: "I listen and can't believe. The left-wingers are living in the '90's" - Economy Minister spoke for the first time since Operation Protective Edge, telling conference at Institute for Counter-Terrorism at Herzliya Interdisciplinary Center and attacked supporters of a solution that allows the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank. (Maariv and Yedioth. p. 18)
- Report: Egypt offers Abbas a Palestinian state in Sinai - According to Army Radio report, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi offered Palestinian Authority 620 square miles of land adjacent to Gaza in exchange for relinquishing claims to 1967 borders. PA President Abbas reportedly rejects proposal. (Israel Hayom)
- Hamas: Abbas trying to 'destroy' unity deal - After After Abbas accused Hamas of having 'shadow government' in Gaza, Hamas fires back, slamming the Palestinian leader for trying "to destroy the reconciliation and play into the hands of the Americans and the Israelis." (Ynet)
- Court: Settler group can't run part of Western Wall compound - Previous decision to allow the Elad nonprofit group to manage the Robinson’s Arch section of the compound, slated to become a pluralistic prayer site, was overturned following opposition. (Haaretz+)
- The campaign to encourage immigration to Israel - How is Israel encouraging Jewish youth from north America, Russia and Ukraine to make aliya? For the first time it is making a direct campaign using funny video clip ads. Americans are told to grow hair on their chest and learn how to curse in Hebrew. The videos in Russian show youth at the beach and stress Israeli academia. (Yedioth, p. 36)
- Religious high schools overrepresented in ministry ranking - Education Ministry hands out bonuses to teachers at Israel's 208 most improved secondary schools. (Haaretz+)
- Soldier wounded by stray fire from Syria - IDF soldier on Golan Heights hit by cross-border fire, evacuated to hospital in northern Israel. (Ynet)
- Finance Ministry struggling to meet Defense Ministry budget demand for extra $3b - Finance Ministry can't make the math add up if Defense Ministry gets the record $22 billion it wants. (Haaretz+)
- Haredi enlistment into IDF up 39 percent - At least 1,972 ultra-Orthodox enlist, with over 800 serving in combat roles, but numbers still fall short of enlistment quotas stipulated as part of new draft law. (Ynet)
- Israel Police to crack down on shows of support for Islamic State - Public expression of support for jihadist group, including Facebook posts, will lead to criminal investigation, police chief Yohanan Danino says. (Haaretz+)
- Middle East Updates / Hagel: Obama must weigh consequences of long campaign against Islamic State - Syrian gov't airstrikes on Islamic State kill at least 60 civilians; U.S. mulls extended Islamic State campaign; Iranian news agency reports that Ayatollah Ali Khameini's 'routine' prostate operation was successful; Islamic State attacks town north of Baghdad, killing 17. (Haaretz)
- Muslim Brotherhood splinter group bids for peace with Egyptian regime - Former young members of outlawed organization apologize to Egyptian public for last year's violence in reconciliation proposal. Can their new plan for Egyptian unity work? (Haaretz+)
Features:
The war afterward
They suffer from depression, nightmares, inability to function and suicidal thoughts - long after the echos of the bombs stop and everyone around them went back to their daily routine. Thousands of Israelis with combat shock are still fighting the social stigma and their memories, which don't leave them, and are dreaming of rehab. Ben, 32, from center of country: "After Operation Defensive Shield (Dec. 2008) three years passed till I reached the state I'm in today, but it is never over. Operation Protective Edge raised a lof of anger in me, and I didn't sleep nights." (Ruti Zuaretz, Maariv Magazine)
Yankele the Ripper: Was Britain's most notorious serial killer a Jew?
Blood from scarf of one of his victims linked to Aaron Kosminski, a Polish-Jewish immigrant in London who was one of the original suspects. (Haaretz)
'If they had realized I was Jewish, they would have lynched me'
Claude Bloch, 62, a Jewish psychiatrist from Paris, decided to leave his life behind and immigrate to Israel. In a sharp letter to the French Interior Minister, a sort of 2014 version of 'J'accuse,' he explains his step: "I love, excuse me, I loved France with all my soul. So why leave? Because I have no other choice. Don't you hear the anger, the evil, the wave of anti-Semitism that is getting stronger and in the end will wash over us all like a tsunami?" The letter caused a storm among the Jews of Paris. (Yedioth's '24 Hours' supplement)
Poem of the week / A relationship with the land: It’s complicated
Salman Masalha, on tasting the salt of assault and a damned homeland. (Haaretz)
Commentary/Analysis:
They suffer from depression, nightmares, inability to function and suicidal thoughts - long after the echos of the bombs stop and everyone around them went back to their daily routine. Thousands of Israelis with combat shock are still fighting the social stigma and their memories, which don't leave them, and are dreaming of rehab. Ben, 32, from center of country: "After Operation Defensive Shield (Dec. 2008) three years passed till I reached the state I'm in today, but it is never over. Operation Protective Edge raised a lof of anger in me, and I didn't sleep nights." (Ruti Zuaretz, Maariv Magazine)
Yankele the Ripper: Was Britain's most notorious serial killer a Jew?
Blood from scarf of one of his victims linked to Aaron Kosminski, a Polish-Jewish immigrant in London who was one of the original suspects. (Haaretz)
'If they had realized I was Jewish, they would have lynched me'
Claude Bloch, 62, a Jewish psychiatrist from Paris, decided to leave his life behind and immigrate to Israel. In a sharp letter to the French Interior Minister, a sort of 2014 version of 'J'accuse,' he explains his step: "I love, excuse me, I loved France with all my soul. So why leave? Because I have no other choice. Don't you hear the anger, the evil, the wave of anti-Semitism that is getting stronger and in the end will wash over us all like a tsunami?" The letter caused a storm among the Jews of Paris. (Yedioth's '24 Hours' supplement)
Poem of the week / A relationship with the land: It’s complicated
Salman Masalha, on tasting the salt of assault and a damned homeland. (Haaretz)
Commentary/Analysis:
The Peace War of the West Bank (Uri Savir, Maariv) Without a political solution, when Israel is negotiating only with Hamas in Gaza
and building settlements in the West Bank, the wish of Netanyahu and his associates from the right-wing is
that there not be a pragmatic partner in the Palestinian Authority is a prophecy that will fulfill
itself.
The battle against Islamic State is pushing Iran closer to the 'Great Satan' (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) Tehran, which views Al-Qaida and the Islamic State as threats to itself and its Mideast allies, is in the same foxhole as Washington on the Iraq front.
We need new laws to fight ISIS (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) The radical Islamic world is testing the core principles that democracies once swore by.
Who really won the Gaza war? (Efraim Halevy, Yedioth/Ynet) In the Yom Kippur war, both sides' ability to claim victory paved the way to a peace agreement between Israel and Egypt. The outcome of Operation Protective Edge is different.
Despite the knocks, the nation-state will triumph (David Barzilai, Haaretz+) The brutal beheadings carried out by the Islamic State are new expressions of the struggle against the West, and symbolize an effort to 'decapitate' it.
Israel scoring own goal with land annexation (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) Instead of seizing the opportunity to create a new coalition against radical Islam, Israel is insisting on stealing the limelight and providing its enemies with further ammunition.
It's good to have someone to blame (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) A leftist report comparing government funds allocated to settlers and to residents of south presents a distorted picture.
The Islamic State will go as quickly as it came (Oudeh Basharat, Haaretz+) How a pumpkin plant grows: Within days it reaches the height of a palm tree, but within days it’s back on the ground. That was the fate of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, and that will be the Islamic State’s fate in Iraq and Syria.
Tunnel reconstruction is no surprise (Shimon Shiffer, Yedioth/Ynet) If Israel fails to act on the threats it made against Hamas, it will pay a heavy price, especially in the face of Hezbollah's 100,000 missiles in southern Lebanon.
Security does not trump welfare (Boaz Herman, Israel Hayom) Defense and security needs entail a strong homefront, as social resilience translates into national resilience.
Defense and security must come first (Dr. Gabi Avital, Israel Hayom) Given the threats Israel is facing, increasing the defense budget is necessary.
Raunchy and racist, Joan Rivers' humor was mortifyingly Jewish (Allison Kaplan Sommer, Haaretz+) Rivers may have been a show-business version of an elderly Jewish aunt who believes Israel is always right, but one couldn't help admiring her fierce loyalty and conviction.
The battle against Islamic State is pushing Iran closer to the 'Great Satan' (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz+) Tehran, which views Al-Qaida and the Islamic State as threats to itself and its Mideast allies, is in the same foxhole as Washington on the Iraq front.
We need new laws to fight ISIS (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) The radical Islamic world is testing the core principles that democracies once swore by.
Who really won the Gaza war? (Efraim Halevy, Yedioth/Ynet) In the Yom Kippur war, both sides' ability to claim victory paved the way to a peace agreement between Israel and Egypt. The outcome of Operation Protective Edge is different.
Despite the knocks, the nation-state will triumph (David Barzilai, Haaretz+) The brutal beheadings carried out by the Islamic State are new expressions of the struggle against the West, and symbolize an effort to 'decapitate' it.
Israel scoring own goal with land annexation (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) Instead of seizing the opportunity to create a new coalition against radical Islam, Israel is insisting on stealing the limelight and providing its enemies with further ammunition.
It's good to have someone to blame (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) A leftist report comparing government funds allocated to settlers and to residents of south presents a distorted picture.
The Islamic State will go as quickly as it came (Oudeh Basharat, Haaretz+) How a pumpkin plant grows: Within days it reaches the height of a palm tree, but within days it’s back on the ground. That was the fate of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, and that will be the Islamic State’s fate in Iraq and Syria.
Tunnel reconstruction is no surprise (Shimon Shiffer, Yedioth/Ynet) If Israel fails to act on the threats it made against Hamas, it will pay a heavy price, especially in the face of Hezbollah's 100,000 missiles in southern Lebanon.
Security does not trump welfare (Boaz Herman, Israel Hayom) Defense and security needs entail a strong homefront, as social resilience translates into national resilience.
Defense and security must come first (Dr. Gabi Avital, Israel Hayom) Given the threats Israel is facing, increasing the defense budget is necessary.
Raunchy and racist, Joan Rivers' humor was mortifyingly Jewish (Allison Kaplan Sommer, Haaretz+) Rivers may have been a show-business version of an elderly Jewish aunt who believes Israel is always right, but one couldn't help admiring her fierce loyalty and conviction.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.