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 כ"ז באלול תשע"ז / Monday, Sep. 18 '17 Subscribe to this Daily Israel Report -http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Subscribe Headlines
1. 'Don't ever compare settlements to terror - terrorism is murder'by David Rosenberg US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman blasted President Obama this week, attacking the 44th president over his administration’s comparison of Israeli housing projects to murderous terror attacks and the decision to withhold America’s veto at the United Nations Security Council on a key vote against Israel following Donald Trump’s election. “During the eight years of Obama’s presidency, there was a very one-sided view of the conflict,” Friedman told Israel Hayom in an interview published Sunday night. “[The Obama administration] drew a parallel between the settlements and terrorism. I want to make it clear again: the settlements are definitely a very important subject and merit debate, but terrorism is murder.” President Obama, Friedman continues, revealed his “true face” towards Israel when he instructed the US delegation to the UN to withhold its veto during a vote on an anti-Israel resolution at the UN Security Council last December. “Obama revealed his true face to Israel last December when, at the very end of his presidency when he was already a lame duck president and had no political responsibility, one of his last moves was the decision to withhold the veto from the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334.” Nor is this the first time Friedman has openly expressed criticism of the former president since becoming ambassador, calling the 2015 Iran nuclear deal “an absolute betrayal of Israel”. “I thought it was an absolute betrayal of Israel by the Obama administration, as sharp a betrayal as any president I think has ever inflicted upon Israel,” Friedman told The Jerusalem Post recently. In the Post interview, Friedman also ripped the Obama administration over its comparison of Israeli construction in Judea and Samaria with Arab terror attacks. “I understand that 'settlements' are an issue, and I don’t have the slightest problem with people wanting to discuss settlements in the context of peace negotiations, but settlements and terrorism do not belong in the same sentence. Not the same paragraph, not the same report, because the killing of innocent life, of innocent civilian life, is so much more abhorrent and repugnant and inconsistent with a peace process than the building of apartments.” Speaking with Israel Hayom, which will release the full interview with Friedman on Wednesday, the ambassador said ties between the US and Israel were strong but complex; comparing the relationship to that of two family members. “The deep and complex relationship between Israel and the US is akin to that of two members of the same family.” Amid rumors that US National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster clashed with a delegation of Israeli officials last month – a claim denied by both White House and Israeli embassy officials in Washington – Friedman stated that American security officials tend to be staunch supporters of the Jewish state. “I spend a lot of time with senior US security officials, and they love Israel.” “They understand Israel, and Israel understands them. One of the deepest bonds the two countries share is based on security.” Turning to negotiations aimed at a final status agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Friedman denied his support for Israel and family ties – including a daughter who recently immigrated to Israel – would impair him from serving as an honest broker. “I will never try to argue that the Palestinian people haven’t suffered dearly, and I hope that on the Palestinian side they won’t try to make the argument that our pain and our hope, that of the Jewish people, are not real as well. The point is not to try to argue that one side is right and the other side is wrong.” Friedman also addressed Israel’s relationship with American Jewry, fretting that public spats over Israel’s conversion law and the Reform Movement’s demands for alterations to the status quo at the Western Wall Plaza could potentially harm the historic relationship between Israel and the largest Diaspora community. “[These] are issues that need to be handled quietly and respectfully. It’s not simple, but they have to be dealt with. I don’t think that everyone in Israel understands just how important the American Jewish community is and how an incredibly important source of political and economic support for Israel it is.” “The way Israel relates to the American Jewish community will to a large extend determine the ability of the community to survive in the next generation. If two or three million Jews feel that they’re being pushed away by Israel, that will negatively impact the ability of the community to maintain its strength.” 2. Misquoting Rabbi Kanievsky caused Shabbat desecrationby Tzvi Lev Last week, reports surfaced that prominent haredi rabbi Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky ruled that traveling on the Sabbath was permitted according to Jewish law for residents seeking to flee Hurricane Irma. The report was based on a video in which the rabbi says that the storm is dangerous and that Jews living in its path should leave. "The storm is coming to Miami, and it is very dangerous. There are those from our community wanting to know if they should stay or leave Should Jews living there leave?" a follower asked. Rabbi Kanievsky answered that "it is dangerous. Leave!" However, subsequent reports misquoted Rabbi Kanievsky as ruling that Jews living there should leave on the Sabbath itself, which he never actually said. The haredi Behadrei Haredim newspaper, who first published the video, clarified on Monday that "Rabbi Kanievsky was told of a great danger approaching Miami, and he told those who asked him to leave Miami for a safe place because of the danger. He never discussed specifically traveling on the Sabbath itself in order to escape the storm." Behadrei Haredim blasted the newspapers that published Rabbi Kanievsky's ostensible ruling, saying that "they have distorted Jewish religious practice and it is unclear how many Jews they [caused to desecrate Shabbat] in the wake of the erroneous publication. This is despite the fact that there is an accurate video document that shows and broadcasts exactly what was said." 3. Classified report: IDF isn't prepared to fight Syriaby Arutz Sheva Staff A special report from the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee warns of several lacks in the IDF's preparedness for war with Syria Channel 2 reported Monday morning. The report will soon be submitted to the Knesset. As a result of the report, a political war broke out between Committee members, after some of the report's authors laid responsibility for the issues on the Israeli government and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. The report is signed by Committee Chairman MK Avi Dichter (Likud) and MK Ofer Shelah (Yesh Atid). Likud MK Yoav Kisch refused to sign the report, partly because of its criticism of Netanyahu. Most of the report is extremely classified information, and only a small portion will be published. However, Security Cabinet members who read the entire report said it is "profound and wise". 4. 'Lowering the bar put Israel's security at risk'by Ido Ben Porat Forum for a Strong IDF (FSIDF) CEO Reserve Colonel Raz Sagi responded on Monday morning to an article claiming the IDF lowered its standards in order to allow for coed combat units. "The age of pretense has ended, and the IDF has turned equality into the measure for everything, and decided openly and officially to prefer it over operational competence," Sagi said. According to him, the high number of injuries in mixed combat units has not led people to understand that women should be drafted into units more appropriate for their physical abilities. Instead, it led to the IDF's decision to harm both men's and women's combat readiness. "It's time IDF commanders stop giving in to internal and external pressures, and understand that the efforts to integrate women into combat units have failed," Sagi said. "We need to stop prioritizing equality over security. Israel doesn't have the privilege of finding out how much we can change the army before it won't be an army anymore, because it harms Israel's security." On Monday morning, Yediot Aharonot reported that Brigadier General Mordechai Kahane decided to lower the standards for basic training. This included canceling wall climbing exercise, as well as one of the training marches. Both of these elements presented an obstacle for the female soldiers in mixed units. The report also noted that these changes went into effect over a month ago, after the IDF pondered ways to solve the various issues which had come up during the coed units' basic training. Previously, several complaints were submitted regarding the allowances made to female soldiers in the wall-climbing and marches. These leniences included allowing female soldiers to climb the wall using a pile of stones or a bench and carry less equipment. The decision was therefore made to provide male soldiers with the same leniencies, in order to avoid discrimination. "I did not see, either in Gaza or Lebanon, the need to climb a wall such as this," Yediot Aharonot quoted Kahane as saying. The article also noted that the US army does not provide leniencies for coed units, and women are expected to maintain the same standards as men. 5. 'I had a bad feeling watching those videos'by Tzvi Lev Police Commissioner Roni Alsheich condemned police brutality on Monday, as videos came to light documenting police officers using excessive force while breaking up a haredi anti-draft demonstration on Sunday. Videos showed police punching and kicking haredi demonstrators and throwing protestors to the ground unprovoked. One clip showed a police commander purposely breaking a demonstrator's glasses with no apparent provocation. "I had a bad feeling when I saw the videos yesterday," Alsheich said, and made it clear that the police handling of the rally was being examined. "The haredi Jewish [demonstrators] were also violent, but in the videos, I witnessed incidents in which the use of force by the policemen that was not justified," he added. Alsheich noted that police had transferred all of the relevant videos to the Police Internal Investigations Department (Mahash) for investigation, and promised that the officers would be prosecuted if found guilty. Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan, who oversees the police department, praised the decision to investigate the allegations on Monday, and said that police seemed out of control. "The video shows a loss of control [by police], use of unreasonable force. Unless the video has been completely altered, the officers involved will need to explain [their behavior] to the Police Internal Investigations Department” he said. Aryeh, 24, is a veteran of anti-draft rallies and said that the police violence was irregular in its scope. "They are always rough with us, but this was something else" he told Arutz Sheva. "I've never seen so many policemen drag innocent protesters and hit people." [youtube:2032958] 6. Northern Jerusalem to get its own Central Bus Stationby Chana Roberts The Transportation Ministry and Jerusalem municipality, together with the Moriah Jerusalem Development Corporation, began work on a new Central Bus Station for northern Jerusalem. The new station will be located at the Golda Commercial Center in the city's Ramot neighborhood. It will serve residents of Jerusalem's northern neighborhoods. With a passenger terminal and a large bus parking lo, the new station is expected to significantly relieve traffic at the entrance to the city. An underground passageway will allow for easy access to the new terminal, which will include eleven platforms and serve both intercity and local buses. Twenty dunams (five acres) will provide parking space for a total of 250 buses, most of which are currently parked at the entrance to Jerusalem. A green roof with large planters will be placed over the new parking lot. The entire project is estimated to cost 350 million shekels. Construction is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2018, with the parking lot reaching completion in 2020 and the terminal reaching completion in 2021. Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz (Likud) noted, that "constructing a new Central Bus Station in Jerusalem is another step in the the Ministry's transportation revolution. This is happening all over Israel, including in large metropolitan areas." "This is another joint project between the Transportation Ministry and the Jerusalem municipality. It will improve the accessibility of public transportation in northern Jerusalem, and improve residents' quality of life. In addition, travel time to various destinations will be significantly reduced." Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat said, "Jerusalem is growing, developing, and flourishing. We are working continuously to improve and strengthen the city's transportation system, for the sake of Jerusalem's residents. This project will significantly reduce traffic, especially in the city's northern neighborhoods, and it will make it easier to enter and exit the city. I thank the Transportation Minister for his dedication to Jerusalem and his willingness to work to develop and strengthen our city." Katz also noted that he is expanding the Jerusalem section of Highway 60, to the tune of 850 million shekels. The expansion includes an additional lane in each direction, as well as a lane intended solely for public transportation. Since this will allow for more commuters, additional housing units are being planned in the surrounding areas of Beit Shemesh, Beitar Illit, Tzur Hadassah, and others. 7. Minister: Police are going to have to explain their behaviorby David Rosenberg [youtube:2032958] Interior Security Minister Gilad Erdan (Likud) reaffirmed Monday morning that officers accused of using excessive force while breaking up a haredi anti-draft demonstration Sunday will be investigated, following the release of video recordings of apparent acts of police violence during the protest. On Sunday, hundreds of haredi anti-draft demonstrators gathered at a protest in the capital organized by the Eda Haharedit organization in response to a recent Supreme Court decision striking down changes to the draft law which extended deferments from army service for full-time yeshiva students through 2023. Activists accused officers sent to break up the demonstration of police brutality, claiming that nonviolent protesters were assaulted. After video footage of the police efforts to disperse protesters was released, Health Minister Yaakov Litzman (United Torah Judaism) slammed the officers for “excessive use of force”. “I strongly condemn the terrible violence used against the haredi demonstrators in Jerusalem,” said Litzman. “This was an excessive use of force that endangered life and is totally unacceptable. The police must rein in this kind of behavior immediately.” Shas MK Michael Malchieli accused the police officers of being “brutally violent” during the demonstration. “Maintaining order in the public sphere is very important. But there is a difference between that and being brutally violent towards people who, according to the video that was recorded, did nothing. This is an absolute scandal.” Following the release of the videos, a police spokesperson said that officers suspected of violence or use of excessive force would be investigated by the Police Internal Investigations Department (Mahash). On Monday, Erdan responded to the controversy, praising the police department for its decision to investigate officers involved in the incident. “The video shows a loss of control [by police], use of unreasonable force. Unless the video has been completely altered, the officers involved will need to explain [their behavior] to the Police Internal Investigations Department.” The police department acted appropriately yesterday by announcing on its own after the release of the videos that it was transferring the investigation of the [officers recorded in] the videos to the Police Internal Investigations Department.” [twittervideo:2032951] 8. All eyes on Trump's maiden UN speech Tuesdayby Tzvi Lev [twittervideo:2032966] Senior White House official Kellyanne Conway said that President Donald Trump will support America's allies and pressure its enemies in his debut address to the United Nations. Trump will make his first-ever speech at the UN on Tuesday. His highly-anticipated address to the General Assembly is considered to be the centerpiece of a slate of talks by world leaders this past week. Conway told Fox News that Trump will use the United Nation's platform to broadcast strength towards America's adversaries. "This country wants a leader who is tough on terrorism, that won't coddle them, that won't apologize for America around the world," she said, in a jab at former President Obama, who critics charged had apologized for the United States. "Trump will be promoting peace, he will be promoting prosperity, and he will be promoting sovereignty and accountability. Weaving throughout these three themes and goals will be the reaffirmation of America's global leadership," Conway added. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley echoed similar sentiments, saying at a White House briefing on Friday that Trump's speech will reward America's allies. "He slaps the right people, he hugs the right people and he comes out very strong in the end," she told reporters. “I think that he will make quite an impact." Trump had slammed the United Nations in the past as "a club for people to . . . have a good time", and campaigned on an 'America First' platform that shunned global multilateralism. Subscribe to this Daily Israel Report - http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Subscribe | |
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