News Update - December 24

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http://www.centerpeace.org ** Israel and the Middle East News Update ------------------------------------------------------------ ** Thursday, December 24 ------------------------------------------------------------ Click here for a printer-friendly version. (http://centerpeace.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/December-24.pdf) Headlines: * PM Blasts ‘Shocking Tape’ of Wedding Feting Duma Murders * Shin Bet on Torture Allegations: Interrogations Prevent Attacks * Three Israelis Wounded in Two West Bank Attacks * Two Israelis Killed Outside Old City Walls, One Seriously Injured * Israeli Arabs Charged with Planning Terror Attacks at Golani Junction * Senior Israeli Official Calls Out PA for Honoring Samir Kuntar * Violent Clashes Between IDF and Palestinians in West Bank * Syrian Government Ready to Join UN Talks to End Conflict Commentary: * Yedioth Ahronoth: “A Nation Put to the Test” - By Yoaz Hendel, Journalist and Head of Institute for Zionist Strategy * Now Lebanon: “Hezbollah Fears Beyond the Killing of Samir Kuntar” - By Hanin Ghaddar, Editor, Now Lebanon; Nonresident Fellow, Atlantic Council ** Times of Israel ------------------------------------------------------------ ** PM Blasts 'Shocking’ Tape of Wedding Feting Duma Murders (http://www.timesofisrael.com/pm-blasts-shocking-tape-of-wedding-goers-feting-duma-murders/) ------------------------------------------------------------ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday night denounced a “shocking” video clip showing far-right extremists celebrating the killings of the Dawabsheh family, joining dozens of other politicians and public figures coming out against the taped incident. Politicians from both sides of the political aisle strongly condemned the clip showing revelers at the Jerusalem celebration waving knives, rifles, pistols and a Molotov cocktail during the wedding. Amid the festivities, a photo of the Dawabsheh baby who was burned to death in the firebombing is shown being repeatedly stabbed. See also, “Video Celebrating Palestinian Baby's Death Inflames Israel Debate on Jewish Violence” (Reuters) (http://www.trust.org/item/20151224081106-wjl6r) See also, “Radical Jews at Wedding Stabbing Photo of Dawabsheh Baby” (Ha'aretz) (http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.693528) ** Ha'aretz ------------------------------------------------------------ ** Shin Bet on Torture Allegations: Interrogations Prevent Attacks (http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.693680) ------------------------------------------------------------ Shin Bet alluded to the use of violent interrogation methods on the Jewish youths suspected of the Duma arson-murder in a rare statement issued on Thursday. At the same time, Shin Bet denied allegations of sexually harassing or degrading the detainees. The current investigation involves "uncovering plans for future attacks," the Shin Bet said. "With that in mind and in coordination with the judicial system, the group has been investigated according to established and professional judicial criteria for forestalling dangerous attacks in the future." See also, “Police Open Probe into Wedding Video Cheering Duma Murders” (Times of Israel) (http://www.timesofisrael.com/police-open-probe-into-wedding-video-celebrating-duma-murders/) ** Ha'aretz ------------------------------------------------------------ ** Three Israelis Wounded in Two West Bank Attacks (http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.690074) ------------------------------------------------------------ Two Israeli soldiers were lightly wounded in an apparent car-ramming attack north of the Ofra settlement in the West Bank on Friday afternoon. The driver was shot and killed. The soldiers were treated at the scene and then evacuated to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem. An hour earlier, 20-year-old Israeli soldier was stabbed during clashes between security forces and Palestinians in the West Bank village of Kfar Abboud, near the settlement of Halamish. He was rushed to Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer with moderate to serious wounds. ** Ma'ariv ------------------------------------------------------------ ** Two Israelis Killed Outside Old City Walls, One Seriously Injured ------------------------------------------------------------ Two Israeli civilians were killed and a third was seriously injured yesterday in a stabbing attack outside the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem. Two assailants from East Jerusalem reportedly drew knives on the promenade outside Jaffa Gate and began to stab passers-by. Two border policewomen who were stationed nearby rushed to the scene and shot the assailants with pistols. One of the assailants died immediately and the other died a short time afterwards in hospital. One of the victims, Ofer Ben-Ari, who saw the attack and tried to ward off the assailants, was struck by one of the bullets fired by the Border Policewomen. He died a few hours later from his injuries. See also, “By the Numbers: Death Toll in Terror Wave Rises to 24” (Arutz Sheva) (http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/205390) ** Ynet News ------------------------------------------------------------ ** Israeli Arabs Charged w/ Planning Attack at Golani Junction (http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4743933,00.html) ------------------------------------------------------------ Two relatives, Mohammed Hassan and Ahmad Saida, were charged Thursday morning with supporting the Islamic State and planning a terror attack at the Golani Junction in the Galilee. Hassan, 20, is a resident of the village Reineh, while Saida, 23, is a resident of the town Shibli–Umm al-Ghanam, both in the Galilee region. The two defendants traveled to Turkey last May where they met with an ISIS operative and tried to enter Syria. When they arrived at the border and met refugees who told them of the horrors happening in Syria, they changed their minds and returned to Israel. ** Algemeiner ------------------------------------------------------------ ** Senior Israeli Official Calls Out PA for Honoring Samir Kuntar (http://www.algemeiner.com/2015/12/23/senior-israeli-official-palestinians-putting-cold-blooded-child-killer-on-pedestal-shows-they-have-yet-to-exorcise-terrorism-from-within/) ------------------------------------------------------------ A senior Israeli government official blasted the Palestinian Authority for honoring assassinated Hezbollah arch-terrorist Samir Kuntar in Ramallah on Tuesday. “When leading members of the PA put a cold-blooded killer of children on a pedestal and portray him as a hero, they are demonstrating before the world that they have yet to exorcise terrorism from within,” the official told The Algemeiner on Wednesday evening, mere hours after a stabbing attack (http://www.algemeiner.com/2015/12/23/3-israelis-critically-wounded-in-palestinian-stabbing-attack-in-jerusalem/) left two Israelis dead and another critically wounded. “We see this also in their justification for the ongoing terror attacks against Israeli civilians, which today alone exacted a heavy price.” ** Times of Israel ------------------------------------------------------------ ** Violent Clashes Between IDF and Palestinians in West Bank (http://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/violent-mob-assaults-idf-soldiers-in-qalandiya/) ------------------------------------------------------------ During IDF activity in the Qalandiya refugee camp, in which soldiers came to arrest suspects in a shooting attack, the forces were assaulted by a violent mob, the army says. The troops were shot at and had an explosive device, Molotov cocktails, and rocks thrown at them, the IDF says. “In response to the immediate danger, the force fired toward the gunmen. Hits were confirmed,” an IDF spokeswoman says. During the scuffle, one soldier, approximately 20 years old, was lightly injured when he was struck in the head by rocks thrown at the troops, the Magen David Adom rescue service says. ** Reuters ------------------------------------------------------------ ** Syrian Government Ready to Join UN Talks to End Conflict ------------------------------------------------------------ A close adviser to Syrian President Bashar al Assad said on Wednesday Damascus was ready to join U.N.-sponsored peace talks with its position bolstered by both Russian backing and the West's retreat from a hardline anti-Assad approach. Bouthaina Shaaban said her government approved of U.N. resolutions passed last week endorsing an international road map for a Syria peace process, a rare display of unity among global powers on a conflict that has killed more than 250,000 people. "We accept these resolutions," she told Beirut-based al Mayadeen television in the first official Syrian remarks on the matter. See also, “Syrian FM Says Damascus Ready to Enter Geneva Peace Talks” (Times of Israel) (http://www.timesofisrael.com/syrian-fm-says-damascus-ready-to-enter-geneva-peace-talks/) See also, “Syria Says Ready to Participate in Geneva Peace” (Ynet News) (http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4743699,00.html) ** Yedioth Ahronoth – December 24, 2015 ------------------------------------------------------------ ** A Nation Put to the Test ------------------------------------------------------------ By Yoaz Hendel Anyone who wants to see what insanity looks like and has a strong stomach ought to watch the video from the wedding. Young Jewish men who look like members of Hamas screaming and stabbing the picture of a murdered baby. There is no difference between them and the Muslim lunatics around us. The only difference is us—Israel’s ability to fight those phenomena without balking. The war on Palestinian terrorism has been part of our lives for the past 100 years. There isn’t anyone here who hasn’t paid a personal price; there isn’t anyone who isn’t troubled by that terrorism. Two Israelis were murdered yesterday. Tomorrow they’ll try again. This is a tenacious war. The last thing the security forces need is to have to deal with Jewish terrorism on top of that. Regrettably, there isn’t any other choice. The damage that is caused by Jewish terrorism and its supporters is enormous, not only to the morality but to the very foundations of our commonwealth. The problematic part of this story is that the defense minister actually needed to play a recording in order to persuade the public leaders in Judea and Samaria that the extreme right wing poses a risk to them and the State of Israel. For far too long the right wing has played down its own problems. It preferred not to deal with them. That was a fateful error. They have become the fire that is now threatening to burn everything down. It isn’t soul-searching that is needed over every Jewish Ku Klux Klan video nor do we need to engage in political sparring. What is needed is a tenacious fight against the post-Zionist right wing, and for a clear line to be drawn between it and all the rest. I write that without hesitation. It no longer pains me to do so. They have no part in the things I believe in. That is not what any Judaism I know looks like; that is not what the Zionist movement that brought my family here looks like. They aren’t my partners in either the standing army or the reserves; they aren’t going to defend me in the next war and they aren’t going to be happy along with me when the Israeli team wins a game. Several positive processes have nevertheless begun in the midst of all that chaos. Clear lines now separate between the stately [i.e., those who are committed to the political Zionist agenda] and those who pose a danger. Political leaders have begun to take responsibility. The first person on the right to dare to open his mouth was Naftali Bennett. It is my impression that Bennett has recently undergone a change. He recognizes the strategic damage posed by the zealots, the damage that they are doing to the religious Zionist camp. Perhaps he has built up enough courage to show the responsibility that goes hand in hand with leadership. Bennett spoke out in support of the GSS without stammering. Two hours later the prime minister mustered the courage to follow in his footsteps. One need only look at the comments on Bennett’s Facebook page to realize that the celebrants at that crazed wedding are representatives of a broader phenomenon. Phenomena of that kind exist everyplace in the world. Regrettably, in that sense, we are a people like every other people. The test of a nation is its ability to combat that. Dr. Yoaz Hendel is head of the Institute for Zionist Strategy, a journalist for Yedioth Ahronoth, and military commentator for several major media stations. ** Now Lebanon – December 23, 2015 ------------------------------------------------------------ ** Hezbollah’s Fears Beyond the Killing of Samir Kuntar ------------------------------------------------------------ By Hanin Ghaddar The assassination of Samir Kuntar earlier this week was a major slap on the face for Hezbollah and Iran — not because Kuntar is dead but because their support base in Lebanon and the region now understand their complicated alliance with Russia. Accordingly, Iran’s increasing vulnerability in Syria will be gradually exposed and this will further shake any remaining trust Shiites in the region have for Iran and Hezbollah. This week, Shiites — mainly in Lebanon — face the bitter fact that Russia allowed Israel to assassinate Kuntar. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah’s speech (https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/NewsReports/566401-nasrallah-israeli-missiles-killed-samir-kuntar) following Kuntar’s funeral was beyond lame. He spoke about Kuntar for four cold minutes before proceeding to lash out for over 20 minutes about Shiites in Nigeria and the US sanctions against the Party of God. Nasrallah is actually more concerned about three issues. First, U.S. sanctions against Hezbollah were recently increased. Some economic analysts in Lebanon say that the purpose of these sanctions is to make sure Hezbollah does not receive much-needed money after the sanctions against Iran are lifted, and Hezbollah’s Sayyed is certainly concerned about that prospect. Without money to pay for social services, fighters and their families, he and his party are doomed. Today, pro-Hezbollah papers and media leaked news that entailed a clear threat to the banks in Lebanon. Second, Hezbollah is more crippled than ever with the new and complicated alliances over Syria and Iraq. Nasrallah already knows that retaliation against Israel that could start another war is out of the question, yet some kind of retaliation is needed — something like the one following Jihad Mughniyeh’s assassination last year. But the Iran deal, followed by the new alliance between Russia and Iran on Syria, and the ongoing coordination between Russia and Israel, of which Kuntar’s assassination is an example, makes any Hezbollah retaliation far more complicated. The third issue is Russia’s role in Syria. The Iranian and Hezbollah leaderships know that Russia cannot be trusted: its priority is to save Assad’s regime, not to protect Iran’s interests. In fact, what Iran wants in Syria differs (https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/commentary/566128-tehran-and-moscow-a-shaky-alliance) substantially from what Russia wants, but the support base wasn’t aware of these discrepancies. Kuntar’s death has exposed the ugly truth about Russia’s coordination with Israel and how serious it is when it comes to targeting Hezbollah’s commanders and assets. Hezbollah cannot retaliate and now the support base understands this ugly truth. For these supporters, Iran is supposed to stand above all. Iran is not in Syria to make compromises over its authority and control, and it is certainly not supposed to accept an ally coordinating with an enemy. The assassination of Samir Kuntar revealed two things to the Shiite support base: that Iran is actually weak and is compromising in Syria, and that the region has moved beyond the Israeli/Arab conflict, and Hezbollah now has different priorities. For Hezbollah, the most unsettling part of this military coordination between Russia and Israel is that it allows Israel to fly freely over Syria as long as it coordinates with Russia. Also, Russia knows the logistic and military details of Hezbollah and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards in Syria. It’s extremely worrying to Hezbollah that Russia is sharing these details with Israel under this arrangement. Meanwhile, Iran is not benefiting from the Russian intervention. Rather, it is jeopardizing its plans both on military and diplomatic levels, which will eventually jeopardize its ambitions in the region. As far as Russia is concerned, Iran, its interests, and its commanders can go to hell. Russia is in Syria for Russia, not for Iran. When Iran and the US signed the deal earlier this year, it was sold to the Shiite support base as a victory. ‘We brought the US to the table,’ they said. ‘We still have our nuclear program,’ they stated. ‘We will never be America’s allies.’ It wasn’t easy to satisfy everybody, but at least Iran didn’t lose in this deal. With the Russian intervention in Syria, however, Iran is actually losing territory, control and future prospects. It will be extremely hard to sell this one. Hanin Ghaddar is the managing editor of NOW and a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council. ============================================================ S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace 633 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20004 For comments, please contact us at ** [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) . ** www.centerpeace.org (http://www.centerpeace.org) 2015 S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace, All rights reserved. YOU ARE RECEIVING THIS EMAIL BECAUSE YOU SIGNED UP FOR OUR NEWS UPDATES. ** unsubscribe from this list (http://centerpeace.us7.list-manage2.com/unsubscribe?u=232a4a45176fccacab865e520&id=929d521884&e=a7f9100a75&c=440937f385) ** update subscription preferences (http://centerpeace.us7.list-manage1.com/profile?u=232a4a45176fccacab865e520&id=929d521884&e=a7f9100a75)