1 sept 2019
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PM slams Channel 12 for airing HBO show on violent events of summer 2014, calling the network 'anti-Semitic' and asking Israelis to boycott it; Rivlin appears to rap prime minister for comments, saying Israelis should show unity
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came under fire Sunday for his attacks on an Israeli television channel that aired a controversial HBO show about the events of summer 2014, when three Israeli teens were kidnapped and murdered by members of the Hamas terror group and three settlers kidnapped, tortured and murdered a Palestinian teen in retaliation. Netanyahu took aim at Channel 12 for airing "Our Boys" in a Facebook post Friday evening, calling it a "propaganda channel" and "anti-Semitic," and calling on Israelis to boycott the network. "The Keshet (Channel 12) propaganda channel has created an anti-Semitic series called 'Our Boys,' which is distributed world-wide and smears the good name of the State of Israel," Netanyahu wrote in his post. "I am not surprised by Channel 12 smearing Israel's good name with lies, since I'm used to them smearing my name daily. The show "Our Boys" devotes only a few minutes of cold archive footage to the murder of the three boys. "Immediately thereafter and throughout the entire series, the whole plot detaches itself from their shocking murder story and focuses on one case - the murder of the Arab boy in Jerusalem, a shocking but rare case. |
"Since the series aired last month, many of you have contacted me and asked what could be done. I made a clear recommendation: Don't watch Channel 12. They benefit from ratings".
The prime minister faced widespread backlash online, with social media users berating him for his accusations, even liking him to the pro-Palestinian BDS movement, which calls for the boycott of Israel.
One Twitter user wrote: "This is it folks: Netanyahu has endorsed BDS. He wants no one to watch the Israeli HBO series Our Boys." The writer went on to quote from Netanyahu's Facebook post: "This is the real answer in a democracy, the freedom to choose what to watch".
Another user took problem with the use of the term anti-Semitic: "Do we now just call anything we don't like anti-Semitic?! This is CRAZY, and so irresponsible and sadly not really a departure from the new normal."
President Revuven Rivlin also appeared to criticize the prime minister's comments, urging Israeli unity in the face of extreme statements.
"Do not believe in incitement, in denial," Rivlin said, according to the Jerusalem Post. "Do not listen to the voices which are eager to radicalize the discourse, right or left. Take responsibility for our 'unity' because only this 'unity' is the guarantee of our strength and is the best guarantee of our security."
Netanyahu's criticism came a week after Channel 12 published transcripts from a state witness in one of the criminal investigations into the prime minister, known as Case 4000, in which he is accused of bribery, fraud and breach of trust for allegedly promoting regulations worth hundreds of millions of dollars to Bezeq and its then-majority shareholder Shaul Elovitch. In return, the prime minister allegedly received favorable coverage on Walla! News, which is owned by Bezeq.
The Likud party appealed to the Central Elections Committee to prevent media outlets from publishing transcripts from Netanyahu's investigations, but Supreme Court Justice Neal Hendel, the interim head of the committee, rejected the request until a hearing is held this week.
Netanyahu also took aim at Channel 12 in a live stream on his Facebook page Saturday evening, mocking a Yedioth Ahronoth report from that the channel's legal correspondent Guy Peleg had been assigned a bodyguard due to threats he received after publishing the transcripts from the witness, former director general of the Communications Ministry Shlomo Filber.
"Guy Peleg is a puppet," said Netanyahu in the live stream. "Who pulls the strings? First, the two Avis. Avi Weiss, CEO of Channel 12's news company, and Avi Nir, CEO of Keshet Media Group, which owns Channel 12.
"They should be ashamed of themselves and the poor (Israeli billionaires) Drorit Wertheim and Yitzhak Tshuva supporting them.
"Stop with the lies with the fake bodyguards you hired for your reporter. You probably hired (Blue and White leader and main opposition contender) Benny Gantz's fake bodyguard".
Channel 12 declined to respond.
The prime minister faced widespread backlash online, with social media users berating him for his accusations, even liking him to the pro-Palestinian BDS movement, which calls for the boycott of Israel.
One Twitter user wrote: "This is it folks: Netanyahu has endorsed BDS. He wants no one to watch the Israeli HBO series Our Boys." The writer went on to quote from Netanyahu's Facebook post: "This is the real answer in a democracy, the freedom to choose what to watch".
Another user took problem with the use of the term anti-Semitic: "Do we now just call anything we don't like anti-Semitic?! This is CRAZY, and so irresponsible and sadly not really a departure from the new normal."
President Revuven Rivlin also appeared to criticize the prime minister's comments, urging Israeli unity in the face of extreme statements.
"Do not believe in incitement, in denial," Rivlin said, according to the Jerusalem Post. "Do not listen to the voices which are eager to radicalize the discourse, right or left. Take responsibility for our 'unity' because only this 'unity' is the guarantee of our strength and is the best guarantee of our security."
Netanyahu's criticism came a week after Channel 12 published transcripts from a state witness in one of the criminal investigations into the prime minister, known as Case 4000, in which he is accused of bribery, fraud and breach of trust for allegedly promoting regulations worth hundreds of millions of dollars to Bezeq and its then-majority shareholder Shaul Elovitch. In return, the prime minister allegedly received favorable coverage on Walla! News, which is owned by Bezeq.
The Likud party appealed to the Central Elections Committee to prevent media outlets from publishing transcripts from Netanyahu's investigations, but Supreme Court Justice Neal Hendel, the interim head of the committee, rejected the request until a hearing is held this week.
Netanyahu also took aim at Channel 12 in a live stream on his Facebook page Saturday evening, mocking a Yedioth Ahronoth report from that the channel's legal correspondent Guy Peleg had been assigned a bodyguard due to threats he received after publishing the transcripts from the witness, former director general of the Communications Ministry Shlomo Filber.
"Guy Peleg is a puppet," said Netanyahu in the live stream. "Who pulls the strings? First, the two Avis. Avi Weiss, CEO of Channel 12's news company, and Avi Nir, CEO of Keshet Media Group, which owns Channel 12.
"They should be ashamed of themselves and the poor (Israeli billionaires) Drorit Wertheim and Yitzhak Tshuva supporting them.
"Stop with the lies with the fake bodyguards you hired for your reporter. You probably hired (Blue and White leader and main opposition contender) Benny Gantz's fake bodyguard".
Channel 12 declined to respond.
29 aug 2019
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Zehut Chairman Moshe Feiglin
The ruling Likud joins forces with Moshe Feiglin's party ahead of September elections that would see the Zehut leader becoming a minister in the sphere of either economics of welfare in the Netanyahu government
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Zehut Chairman Moshe Feiglin officially announced Thursday they will run together in the upcoming elections under a special agreement. The deal apparently includes promotion of legislation on imports of medical marijuana and promises the Zionist party leader would become a minister in the sphere of economics or social welfare in the Netanyahu government.
Feiglin hasn't left Zehut as was reported earlier but rather joined his faction to the Likud.
The 57-year-old, an ultranationalist libertarian with a criminal record who left Likud to establish his own fringe party based on promises to legalize marijuana, has gathered a strong following among cannabis proponents during the run-up to the last elections.
“We are embarking on a joint path to promote values of personal freedom and free economy," said the prime minister during a press conference at Maccabiah Village in Ramat Gan.
"The root of the proposal which Moshe presented me, and with which I absolutely agree with is to open the (medical cannabis) market for import," Netanyahu said, before addressing Feiglin directly, "I see you as a minister in my government, these are not just words, I really mean it."
Feiglin then took the stage, emphasizing the issue of marijuana legalization for recreational use would be “a life-saving revolution."
“There is also great news for the free and private market, the cost of living - especially for small business owners in Israel - would be lowered,” he said. “For two years, any new business, with a turnover of up to NIS 2 million, will not pay income tax until it has made enough to offset its establishment.”
The ruling Likud joins forces with Moshe Feiglin's party ahead of September elections that would see the Zehut leader becoming a minister in the sphere of either economics of welfare in the Netanyahu government
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Zehut Chairman Moshe Feiglin officially announced Thursday they will run together in the upcoming elections under a special agreement. The deal apparently includes promotion of legislation on imports of medical marijuana and promises the Zionist party leader would become a minister in the sphere of economics or social welfare in the Netanyahu government.
Feiglin hasn't left Zehut as was reported earlier but rather joined his faction to the Likud.
The 57-year-old, an ultranationalist libertarian with a criminal record who left Likud to establish his own fringe party based on promises to legalize marijuana, has gathered a strong following among cannabis proponents during the run-up to the last elections.
“We are embarking on a joint path to promote values of personal freedom and free economy," said the prime minister during a press conference at Maccabiah Village in Ramat Gan.
"The root of the proposal which Moshe presented me, and with which I absolutely agree with is to open the (medical cannabis) market for import," Netanyahu said, before addressing Feiglin directly, "I see you as a minister in my government, these are not just words, I really mean it."
Feiglin then took the stage, emphasizing the issue of marijuana legalization for recreational use would be “a life-saving revolution."
“There is also great news for the free and private market, the cost of living - especially for small business owners in Israel - would be lowered,” he said. “For two years, any new business, with a turnover of up to NIS 2 million, will not pay income tax until it has made enough to offset its establishment.”
Yisrael Katz, David Ben Basat and Ambassador Marlene Inemwin Moses
Oceania island of Nauru, which numbers only 10,000 citizens, regularly votes in favor of Israel at UN; move follows negotiations conducted by PM Netanyahu and FM Katz
The tiny Pacific island of Nauru has become the latest country to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, following in the footsteps of a number of countries, with the U.S. at their head.
The declaration came after diplomatic negotiations by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz and the Nauruan embassy in Israel, with the help of the honorary consul of Nauru in Israel, David Ben Basat.
The government is soon to approve plans to help relocate several embassies and foreign government agencies to Jerusalem, Nauru's mission included.
Nauru is a small island country with just 10,000 citizens some 4,500 km from Australia, but has seat at the United Nations and a right to vote at the forum just like China and the U.S.
The tiny island is one of Israel's most dedicated allies and regularly supports Israel at UN votes despite pressure from Arab countries.
Nauru's UN ambassador, Marlene Inemwin Moses recently attended a dinner in Israel thrown in her honor by Ben Basat. Foreign Minister Katz, who was also present, asked the ambassador what could be done to help with Nauru's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Inemwin said she'd consult woth then-president Waqa.
After a few days, Moses said that Waqa had instructed her to publish a letter stating Nauru officially recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
Waqa visited Israel two years ago, and stated that Israel is always in his heart. He also claimed that Nauru has only a handful of embassies around the world, but its Foreign Ministry would not rule out an embassy in Israel as well.
After the U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, both Australia and the Czech Republic followed suit, while Guatemala moved its existing embassy to the capital.
Katz has vowed to continue to "strengthen Jerusalem's international status," saying Israel intends to take action to encourage more countries to recognize Jerusalem as the capital and move their embassies there.
Honduras is also to open a diplomatic mission in Jerusalem on Sunday, which is supposed to turn into an embassy at a later date.
Oceania island of Nauru, which numbers only 10,000 citizens, regularly votes in favor of Israel at UN; move follows negotiations conducted by PM Netanyahu and FM Katz
The tiny Pacific island of Nauru has become the latest country to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, following in the footsteps of a number of countries, with the U.S. at their head.
The declaration came after diplomatic negotiations by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz and the Nauruan embassy in Israel, with the help of the honorary consul of Nauru in Israel, David Ben Basat.
The government is soon to approve plans to help relocate several embassies and foreign government agencies to Jerusalem, Nauru's mission included.
Nauru is a small island country with just 10,000 citizens some 4,500 km from Australia, but has seat at the United Nations and a right to vote at the forum just like China and the U.S.
The tiny island is one of Israel's most dedicated allies and regularly supports Israel at UN votes despite pressure from Arab countries.
Nauru's UN ambassador, Marlene Inemwin Moses recently attended a dinner in Israel thrown in her honor by Ben Basat. Foreign Minister Katz, who was also present, asked the ambassador what could be done to help with Nauru's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Inemwin said she'd consult woth then-president Waqa.
After a few days, Moses said that Waqa had instructed her to publish a letter stating Nauru officially recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
Waqa visited Israel two years ago, and stated that Israel is always in his heart. He also claimed that Nauru has only a handful of embassies around the world, but its Foreign Ministry would not rule out an embassy in Israel as well.
After the U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, both Australia and the Czech Republic followed suit, while Guatemala moved its existing embassy to the capital.
Katz has vowed to continue to "strengthen Jerusalem's international status," saying Israel intends to take action to encourage more countries to recognize Jerusalem as the capital and move their embassies there.
Honduras is also to open a diplomatic mission in Jerusalem on Sunday, which is supposed to turn into an embassy at a later date.
28 aug 2019
A London-based pro-Israel newspaper suffered embarrassment this week as The Jewish Chronicle newspaper published a public apology and agreed to pay damages to a pro-Palestine charity after falsely accusing it of supporting terrorism.
The Palestinian Relief and Development Fund, also known as Interpal, is a British-charity which provides relief and development aid to Palestinian refugees in occupied Palestine, Lebanon and Jordan.
The Israel-supporting paper published the apology on Friday over an article it released in March 2019 titled: “Corbyn spoke at conference calling for release of terrorists”.
"We accept that neither Interpal, nor its Trustees, have ever been involved with or provided support for terrorist activity of any kind. We apologize unreservedly to the Trustees for any distress caused.”
"Following the apology, Interpal's reputation has now been rescued but this story has raised new questions about The Jewish Chronicle, who seem to have form in libelling and defaming British Muslim organisations and pro-Palestine activists. The language used in these articles can create negative consequences for those targeted."
Another example took place in January 2014, when the paper apologized and paid substantial damages to British relief agency, Human Appeal International, after falsely accusing it of supporting suicide bombings.
I also met with Marc Wadsworth, a life-long anti-racism activist who complained to the press regulator IPSO about The Jewish Chronicle’s choice of words in an article published in 2018. The article allegedly used misleading terms to describe an exchange between Wadsworth and pro-Israel Labour MP Ruth Smeeth.
Wadsworth went on to explain the abuse he received following the articles release.
The JC eventually agreed to change the wording of the Wadsworth article but allegedly refused to allow him a chance to clear his name with a follow up article. So for affected pro-Palestine activists like Wadsworth an apology or word change can not fix all of the damages.
The Palestinian Relief and Development Fund, also known as Interpal, is a British-charity which provides relief and development aid to Palestinian refugees in occupied Palestine, Lebanon and Jordan.
The Israel-supporting paper published the apology on Friday over an article it released in March 2019 titled: “Corbyn spoke at conference calling for release of terrorists”.
"We accept that neither Interpal, nor its Trustees, have ever been involved with or provided support for terrorist activity of any kind. We apologize unreservedly to the Trustees for any distress caused.”
"Following the apology, Interpal's reputation has now been rescued but this story has raised new questions about The Jewish Chronicle, who seem to have form in libelling and defaming British Muslim organisations and pro-Palestine activists. The language used in these articles can create negative consequences for those targeted."
Another example took place in January 2014, when the paper apologized and paid substantial damages to British relief agency, Human Appeal International, after falsely accusing it of supporting suicide bombings.
I also met with Marc Wadsworth, a life-long anti-racism activist who complained to the press regulator IPSO about The Jewish Chronicle’s choice of words in an article published in 2018. The article allegedly used misleading terms to describe an exchange between Wadsworth and pro-Israel Labour MP Ruth Smeeth.
Wadsworth went on to explain the abuse he received following the articles release.
The JC eventually agreed to change the wording of the Wadsworth article but allegedly refused to allow him a chance to clear his name with a follow up article. So for affected pro-Palestine activists like Wadsworth an apology or word change can not fix all of the damages.
Some 327 people were treated by mental health services this summer across communities bordering the Hamas-controlled enclave due to trauma caused by recent security incidents
At least 327 people received treatment from mental health services across communities bordering the Gaza Strip this summer due to post-traumatic stress disorder caused by the surge in border violence.
According to data received by Ynet's sister publication Yedioth Ahronoth, these numbers stem from another terror-ridden summer that saw hundreds of rockets being fired toward the area from the Hamas-controlled enclave, incendiary balloons scorching the local fields, violent March of Return demonstrations along the security fence, as well as several infiltration attempts.
This summer there have been at least 12 rounds of cross border fighting between Israel and the Palestinian factions in the Strip.
The most recent escalation saw at least three rockets fired at the southern city of Sderot where some 4,000 people, who were attending a music festival, had been forced to look for shelter in panic as rocket alert sirens wailed.
As a result of the incident at least 99 civilians required treatment by mental health services due trauma sustained during the event and ten others had been treated for shock at the Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon.
Most common PTSD symptoms reported by the patients include sleep deprivation, emotional distress as well as burnout among those working in the emergency services.
Director of the Israel Trauma Coalition Talia Levanon said she is concerned about the effects of security events on the children starting the school year next week.
"The children of communities bordering the Gaza Strip had a significantly different summer than the rest of Israeli children," said Levanon. "These recent events on the border with the Gaza Strip are certainly not helping with the upcoming return to school".
At least 327 people received treatment from mental health services across communities bordering the Gaza Strip this summer due to post-traumatic stress disorder caused by the surge in border violence.
According to data received by Ynet's sister publication Yedioth Ahronoth, these numbers stem from another terror-ridden summer that saw hundreds of rockets being fired toward the area from the Hamas-controlled enclave, incendiary balloons scorching the local fields, violent March of Return demonstrations along the security fence, as well as several infiltration attempts.
This summer there have been at least 12 rounds of cross border fighting between Israel and the Palestinian factions in the Strip.
The most recent escalation saw at least three rockets fired at the southern city of Sderot where some 4,000 people, who were attending a music festival, had been forced to look for shelter in panic as rocket alert sirens wailed.
As a result of the incident at least 99 civilians required treatment by mental health services due trauma sustained during the event and ten others had been treated for shock at the Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon.
Most common PTSD symptoms reported by the patients include sleep deprivation, emotional distress as well as burnout among those working in the emergency services.
Director of the Israel Trauma Coalition Talia Levanon said she is concerned about the effects of security events on the children starting the school year next week.
"The children of communities bordering the Gaza Strip had a significantly different summer than the rest of Israeli children," said Levanon. "These recent events on the border with the Gaza Strip are certainly not helping with the upcoming return to school".
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