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Tuesday, Mar. 08 '16, Adar 28, 5776
HEADLINES:
1. REPORT: OBAMA TO USE UN TO DIVIDE JERUSALEM
2. SECOND ATTEMPTED STABBING ATTACK THIS MORNING
3. LEGENDARY TERRORIST: SWISS PURPOSELY TURNED BLIND EYE TO US
4. POLL: ISRAELIS FAVOR RIGHT-WING, RELIGIOUS PARTIES
5. HALF OF ISRAELI JEWS FAVOR EXPULSION OF ARABS FROM ISRAEL
6. IDF: WE CHANGED BEARD RULES TO MAKE IT AS DIFFICULT AS POSSIBLE
7. COURT SIDES WITH BEDOUIN SQUATTERS OVER JEWISH LANDOWNERS
8. WATCH: FEMALE TERRORIST CAUGHT WITH A KNIFE IN HER BAG
1. REPORT: OBAMA TO USE UN TO DIVIDE JERUSALEM
by David Rosenberg
With about 10 months left in office, President Barack Obama is considering unprecedented moves to implement a two-state solution, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
Senior US officials revealed that the President is looking to initiate a final negotiated settlement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority using United Nations Security Council resolutions, a step that would obligate not only Israel and the Palestinian Authority, but effectively determine the direction of US policy for the president's successor as well.
The report comes ahead of Vice President Joe Biden's visit to Israel on Tuesday, where he is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and senior Palestinian Authority officials.
On Monday, the Prime Minister's Office reported that Netanyahu's annual trip to the US, planned for later this month, had been cancelled. Israeli officials remarked that the cancellation was in part due to President Obama's refusal to schedule a meeting with the Prime Minister. Later on Monday, the White House issued a statement denying those claims, asserting that the president had in fact invited the Israeli leader to talks during his visit.
According to the plan described by senior US officials, Obama is considering reviving the dormant Middle East Quartet, a diplomatic body including the US, UN, EU, and Russia, to apply pressure to Israel and the Palestinian Authority to resume active negotiations.
The President is also considering use of a United Nations Security Council resolution to forcibly extract concessions from Israel and the PA. The US has until now vetoed any such resolutions, though Mr. Obama has in the past threatened to allow them to pass.
A Security Council resolution would be binding upon all parties, unlike General Assembly measures which are non-obligatory recommendations. Such a resolution would remain in force even after the president leaves office next January, effectively shaping the future of American policy in the region for Mr. Obama's successors.
The resolution would require Israel cease construction over the Green Line and would force Israel to recognize eastern Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine.
At the same time, the Palestinian Authority would be obliged to officially recognize Israel as a Jewish state and would be pressured to give up the long-standing demand for a right of return.
2. SECOND ATTEMPTED STABBING ATTACK THIS MORNING
by Kobi Finkler
Military police at the Qalandiya checkpoint arrested a Palestinian woman who intended to carry out a terror attack against Israelis.
She tried to smuggle a knife in her bag, but it was picked up by the X-ray machine. Under questioning, she admitted that she wanted to attack Jews.
Earlier this morning, another Arab woman was prevented from stabbing police officers in Jerusalem's Old City. In that instance, she was already approaching the officers with the knife in hand when they shot and killed her. No one else was harmed.
The Jerusalem district commander for the police said, "The quick and professional response by officers certainly prevented an attack on security forces and innocent civilians. The officers in Jerusalem are trained and have the skills to neutralize the threat, and we are continuing our increased measures to protect public safety."
Yesterday afternoon (Monday), a third terrorist was stopped at a checkpoint by Abu Dis. She raised suspicion as she approached the security guards. They called for her to stop and toss aside her bag, which was found to contain a large knife. She admitted to her intentions to stab the guards.
3. LEGENDARY TERRORIST: SWISS PURPOSELY TURNED BLIND EYE TO US
by Matt Wanderman
The legendary Marxist terrorist Carlos the Jackal gave an interview to a Swiss newspaper in which he explained that he was able to easily travel through Switzerland because of the supposedly-neutral country's "nonaggression pact" with the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO).
Carlos, whose real name is Ilich Ramírez Sánchez, spoke the Neue Zuercher Zeitung by phone from his French prison cell.
He specifically referred to his 1975 attack on OPEC's headquarters in Vienna, in which he killed three people and took 60 hostages. He explained that he chose to fly into Zurich and then enter Austria because Swiss authorities would not arrest PLO terrorists as long as they did not harm Swiss targets.
Sánchez says that he even saw a picture of himself on a wanted poster in the Zurich passport control booth yet he was still allowed to enter the country.
Reports of the secret agreement between Switzerland and the PLO first came to light in January. While the specific details of the deal will remain classified until 2020, it is believed that the Swiss government agreed to give diplomatic support to the Palestinians in exchange for assurances the PLO would not carry out terror attacks against Swiss targets.
4. POLL: ISRAELIS FAVOR RIGHT-WING, RELIGIOUS PARTIES
by David Rosenberg
Israeli Jews tend to identify with right-wing and religious parties, according to polling data released on Tuesday by the Pew Research Center.
Nearly half (48%) of all Israeli Jews said they felt closest to one of the three rightwing parties in the Knesset: the Likud (28%), Jewish Home (11%), and Yisrael Beytenu (9%).
Another 15% of Israeli Jews identified with haredi parties, including 12% who chose Shas, and 3% who identified with the United Torah Judaism party.
Only 16% identified with leftwing parties like Labor (10%), Meretz (4%) and HaTnua (2%), which in 2015 ran on a joint list with Labor.
A further 12% felt closest to centrist parties like Yesh Atid and the now-defunct Kadima party, while 9% chose none of the above.
In total, roughly 63% of Israel's Jews identify with religious or right-wing parties, compared to only 28% who felt closest to left-wing or center parties.
According to the data, political affiliation strongly correlates with religiosity. Nearly all haredi Jews identified with either Shas or United Torah Judaism, while 87% of national religious Jews favored religious or right-wing parties.
On the specific issue of building in Judea and Samaria, a plurality (42%) of Israeli Jews believe expanding the Jewish presence over the Green Line benefits Israel's security. Less than a third (30%) believe expanding Jewish communities in Jude and Samaria harms Israeli security, while 25% feel it neither helps nor hurts.
5. HALF OF ISRAELI JEWS FAVOR EXPULSION OF ARABS FROM ISRAEL
by David Rosenberg
The Pew Research Center released an explosive new study on religion and politics in Israel on Tuesday.
The study measured religious identification amongst Jews and political views among Israelis in general.
According to the Pew's polling data, a whopping 48% of Israeli Jews believe that Israel should expel or transfer Arabs from the country, versus 46% who opposed such measures.
A large majority of Israeli Jews (79%) are of the opinion that Israel should give preference to Jews over Arabs.
The study, which was conducted from 2014 to 2015, surveyed 5,000 Israelis. Its surprising results suggest a shift away from support for a two-state solution and coexistence, long favored by the Israeli political establishment, and towards the hardline views of slain MK Rabbi Meir Kahane.
Kahane, who established the Jewish Defense League in the United States and the Kach Party in Israel, advocated the transfer of Israeli Arabs out of the country and the annexation of Judea, Samaria, and Gaza. After winning a seat in the Knesset in 1984, the Kach Party was banned in 1988. Rabbi Kahane was assassinated in 1990 by an Al Qaeda-affiliated terror cell in New York City.
Jews in Israel are also highly skeptical of the Palestinian Authority's motives in peace negotiations. A mere 10% believed the Palestinian Authority is genuinely interested in peaceful relations with Israel
Israeli Arabs held an equally dim view of Israel's leadership, with only 20% saying they felt the Israeli government was sincere about pursuing peace. Israeli Arabs also increasingly believe a peaceful coexistence between Israel and a Palestinian state is impossible.
While 74% believed it was possible in 2013, that number dropped to 50% in the latest survey.
6. IDF: WE CHANGED BEARD RULES TO MAKE IT AS DIFFICULT AS POSSIBLE
by Hezki Ezra
The IDF's personnel directorate subcommittee, under the leadership of MK Yoav Kish (Likud) discussed tightening the restrictions on soldiers growing beards today (Tuesday).
The meeting saw a range of opinions on the charged issue. MK Kish proposed allowing a unified standard for all soldiers, including secular ones, while allowing religious soldiers the option to grow a beard in accordance with their worldview.
MK Menachem Eliezer Moses (UTJ) argued that the Military Rabbinate must be involved in the decision, while MK Ofer Shelah (Yesh Atid) said that the new rules should remain as they are.
During the course of the discussion, the head of the IDF's Personnel Directorate Branch revealed that, under the previous terms, no fewer than 25,000 shaving exemptions were given out. He claimed that the old system hurt the army's appearance and so new steps for receiving permission in order to make the process as lengthy as possible.
MK Shelah claimed that "the IDF's instructions on growing beards are not an attack on religious soldiers and don't affect their lifestyle. I checked the information with senior military officials, and soldiers whose religious identity includes growing a beard can continue growing it as before. The instructions are to renew the basic discipline, without which the army cannot function.
"The attacks on the IDF and on the Chief of Staff over this come from political reasons: This is a 'price tag' action against placing the Jewish Identity branch under the Personnel Directorate. Just as with the attacks on Lieutenant General Eizenkott over the rules of engagement, we have here a forceful attempt to show the army and the society who is in charge. Only the commanders will lead the IDF, according to their professional and ethical judgments, and not rabbis or those who act in the political system," he added.
MK Kish said that "If a religious soldier wants to grow a beard, there doesn't need to be a discussion about it here at all. As for secular soldiers, there must be clear criteria. Why prevent people from growing beards in any manner? Times change. If we can say that you're allowed to wear earrings, we can also allow beards."
When it was made clear that the new procedures have not yet been put into effect, MK Kish added, "We may meet again on this topic in another couple of months. It's important to understand that the environment has changed. Today, growing a beard is almost the standard. I expect that the IDF will adapt itself. The issue does not hurt the army's appearance according to the spirit of the times."
7. COURT SIDES WITH BEDOUIN SQUATTERS OVER JEWISH LANDOWNERS
by Reut Hadar
The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal by the organization Regavim dealing with the Negev village Bir Hadaj, hundreds of whose residents entered the nearby plot that was privately owned by Jews and built dozens of illegal buildings.
In 1995, after the government decided to create the Ramat Hovev industrial area, members of the 'Azazme tribe from Ramat Hovev moved to Ramat Negev council fields, and created illegal structures next to Kibbutz Revivim.
The temporary residence soon turned permanent, and in 1999 the government decided to whitewash the site and retroactively recognize it as a valid community. The state also invested millions of shekels in developing the area for housing, town planning and preparing the infrastructure for the residents.
Since then, and even though the Bedouin residents were offered temporary and legal solutions in the organized community, dozens of buildings continued to be built without permission on the private land owned by Jews. This land was located far from the community's master plan.
In 2013, Regavim and the landowners appealed to the Be'er Sheva district court, demanding that it instruct the state to destroy the illegal constructions and to prioritize the enforcement of the previous plan, because the land is privately owned.
The appellants emphasized that the state should accept its appeal because of the fundamental right to property and because the residents have no means to remove the invaders from their land.
The state disagreed and announced that it was conducting a "peaceful" dialogue on the dozens of homes in the form of evacuation-compensation. The court accepted the state's claim and rejected the petition.
The landowners and Regavim then appealed to the Supreme Court, asking the justices to set a clear deadline for the state to evacuate the invaders. During last week's discussion over the case, Regavim's lawyer stated that "This is a problem that the country has been dealing with for dozens of years without a clear success. We said that it would be proper to budget five years for the destruction. We aren't talking about a couple of days, but rather a period of time."
In sharp contrast to cases in which Jews are accused of illegally building on Palestinian land and the court directly ordered them evacuated, Chief Justice Miriam Naor declared that removing the Bedouins would severely disrupt their lives.
Justices Naor, Zylbertal and Mazuz decided to reject the landowner's request. Their laconic verdict avoided dealing with the petitioners' claims and was solely based on a technical clause in the Civil Procedure Regulations that allows them to reject an appeal without an explanation. They "sweetened" the bitter pill by not adding an additional fee to Regavim's legal costs, which have totaled tens of thousands of shekels over the course of the case.
Mazuz's recommendation in a similar case: Take the land from its owners
This controversial ruling joins a similar petition from only a few weeks ago. In early February, the Supreme Court examined another Regavim case about a community in the Negev where Jewish owners privately purchased the land about 85 years ago. Members of the Abu Queider tribe recently entered and began building illegally.
In that case, the government initially stated that it intends to evacuate the tribe members to the city of Rahat. However, Rahat has opposed such decisions for years, and some of the Abu Queider members also refused to abandoned the land they had invaded.
In his ruling, Justice Mazuz advised the state several times throughout the hearing that it should consider taking the land away from its Jewish owners and retroactively recognizing the illegal community in its place. "I understand the the state does not wish to accept the community's idea instead of its own. This is apparently the simplest option in some ways, to take away the private lands and to prepare the site."
8. WATCH: FEMALE TERRORIST CAUGHT WITH A KNIFE IN HER BAG
by Yoni Kempinski
A female Ara terrorist was arrested on Monday at the "Kiosk" checkpoint, located adjacent to the village of Abu Dis just to the east of Jerusalem.
Security cameras caught the tense stand off as Border Police officers got her to throw over her bag, in which they found a knife.
[video:2013240]
In catching the knife in her bag the officers prevented a stabbing attack, as she later admitted her intentions to launch an attack at the checkpoint.
The terrorist approached the checkpoint on foot while carrying a bag on her back, and in doing so raised the suspicions of the officers.
They called on her to stop and throw the bag over for them to check, all while maintaining a safe distance from her and securing the checkpoint.
Responding to their calls, the terrorist stopped and threw over her bag, in which a huge knife was found.
She was arrested, and in an initial investigation said that she wanted to conduct an attack against the security forces.
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