A7News: Lapid: I never spoke out against government while abroad

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Monday, Sep. 03 '18, כ"ג באלול תשע"ח



HEADLINES:
1. LAPID: I NEVER SPOKE OUT AGAINST GOVERNMENT WHILE ABROAD
2. EDUCATION MINISTER WARNS: TOO-STRONG LIKUD HARMFUL TO RIGHT
3. SHAKED CHOSEN AS ISRAEL'S MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSON
4. YAIR LAPID PENS LETTER TO LANA DEL REY
5. DEAL OF THE CENTURY WILL BE REALISTIC, FAIR, IMPLEMENTABLE
6. TRUMP OFFERED PALESTINIAN-JORDANIAN 'CONFEDERATION'
7. BELGIUM'S WAY OF DIVIDING JERUSALEM
8. REPORT: NETANYAHU CHANGED UNRWA POLICY UNILATERALLY


1. LAPID: I NEVER SPOKE OUT AGAINST GOVERNMENT WHILE ABROAD
by Hezki Baruch, Yoni Kempinski

[youtube:2046861]

Yesh Atid Chairman Yair Lapid on Monday morning spoke with Arutz Sheva about his party's stance, promising that Yesh Atid would win more Knesset seats in the next election than the leading Likud.

"You always need to do soul-searching, but there's no special reason to do soul-searching on this issue," Lapid told Arutz Sheva at the beginning of the interview. "We have to continue doing what we've been doing and what we believe in."

Lapid also said that claims his party zigzags are "fake news."

"I don't zigzag, that's just fake news," he said. "We are the most consistent party in Israel."

"We're part of the nationalist camp," he continued. "The division between 'them and us' eats away at Israeli society. Within the 'we,' I am in a centrist party. The issue in Israel is not right or left, but a leadership issue, and that's what we're trying to fix."

He also said that Yesh Atid is "trying to be the voice of sanity in a country that is not known for having a voice of sanity," and said his party are "moderate liberals."

"Israel's political system right now works for itself. Discussion centers around splits, and that's what you and I need to stop. I will know how to deal with security no less than this government does."

Laughing at Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's statement that the Likud party aims for 40 Knesset seats, Lapid said, "He's not going to have 40 Knesset seats, and he won't have 30, either. It's not going to happen. I sat in a Netanyahu government. Something has happened to him. You need to shake his hand and tell him, 'Thank you, but it's enough.'"

However, Lapid emphasized that even though the people he meets during international tours know he's Netanyahu's "biggest rival," he has "never attacked Netanyahu or the government" while abroad.

"As the British says (sic), it's not done," he said.

Lapid also noted that he is open to joining a coalition with any party, including the haredim.

"I don't rule anyone out," he said.

Regarding Israel's relationship with the US, Lapid noted that "seventy-some to eighty percent of American Jews are Democrats. We are losing the Democratic party."

"If for example, the Democratic party is going to win the House in the mid-term election, we're in deep trouble. Because we have now an Israeli government who is considered to be almost an affiliation (sic) of the Republican party.

"I think [US] President [Donald] Trump is a great supporter of Israel, I think the things he's done are [a] blessing: moving the embassy, cancelling the nuclear agreement with Iran... But we cannot ignore half the American public and we cannot ignore the majority of American Jews, because in the long term, this is disastrous."

Regarding a two-state solution, Lapid said, "I'm against a one-sided annexation. Are we going to annex Shechem (Nablus - ed.) and Ramallah? The settlement blocs need to remain in Israel's hands, and only then can we annex."

"The settlers don't need to worry about how I'll act as Prime Minister. We're not against them. My son just joined Ariel University, and you're the first one I'm telling that to."

Though Lapid is in favor of annexing settlement blocs, he has also clearly stated his willingness to sacrifice what he calls "isolated settlements."

Turning to Arutz Sheva's readers, Lapid said, "We need to have a year in which we don't break the country apart and point fingers at enemies. May we have a year of togetherness."


2. EDUCATION MINISTER WARNS: TOO-STRONG LIKUD HARMFUL TO RIGHT
by Arutz Sheva Staff

Education Minister Naftali Bennett on Monday morning warned that a too-strong Likud could destroy Israel's right.

Speaking in an interview with Hahadashot, Bennett said, "Forty Knesset seats for [Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin] Netanyahu means the elimination of the ideological right."

Recently, Netanyahu said the Likud's goal for the 2019 elections is 40 Knesset seats. Later, Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein (Likud) said his party could win 50 seats.

"Netanyahu doesn't want us in the next government," Bennett explained, noting that both in 2013 and 2015, his party only made it into the government because Netanyahu had no choice.

"The first time, we made a pact with [Yesh Atid Chairman Yair] Lapid. The second time, [Defense Minister Avigdor] Liberman (Yisrael Beytenu) was left out, and we were lucky. This time as well, he doesn't want us."



3. SHAKED CHOSEN AS ISRAEL'S MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSON
by Tzvi Lev

Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked's surge in popularity continued on Monday as she was named Israel's most influential person by 'The Marker', a widely- respected business daily.

The newspaper published three articles explaining its decision, which will appear on in it's Rosh Hashana edition. In explaining the move, The Marker pointed to her outsized influence on the Supreme Court, her consistent political success and the fact that she has appointed a third of all Israel's justices.

"In her natural ministerial field, the appointment of judges, Shaked succeeded phenomenally. During her term of office, six of the 15 Supreme Court justices were appointed, and the vast majority of them have a conservative and non-interventionist worldview," wrote The Marker legal analyst Dr. Ido Baum.

Shaked's popularity has been steadily rising since becoming Justice Minister in 2015 due to a rash of right-wing legislation she has promoted and her successful effort to install right-wing justices in the Supreme Court.

A survey publicized by the "Meet the Israeli Press" program last week shows that Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked (Jewish Home) is the Knesset's most popular minister. beating out party head Naftali Bennett and Prime Minister Netanyahu.

According to the survey, 57% of Israelis are satisfied with Shaked's performance, representing a 10% rise since January 2016.

Shaked was also selected by Forbes Israel in July as the most influential woman in the Jewish state for the second year in a row, citing the importance of her role as Justice Minister "in every major intersection in Israeli discourse."

A relative newcomer to Israeli politics, Shaked's meteoric rise has fueled speculation that she will jump to the rival Likud party in order to succeed Prime Minister Netanyahu, with a July poll showing that the Jewish Home party's second-in-command would lead the Likud to a 33-mandate win if new elections were held today.

In the wake of the survey, however, Shaked said explicitly that she had no intention of bolting the Jewish Home, and would only consider a run for Prime Minister after party chief Naftali Bennett had done so himself.

"Bennett and I work well together. He knows that I'm not going to surprise him like this or in any other fashion," said Shaked


4. YAIR LAPID PENS LETTER TO LANA DEL REY
by Yair Lapid

Dear Lana Del Rey,

You're sitting in New York after cancelling your performance in Israel because of pressure from Roger Waters and other vocal BDS activists. It's a shame, because you were lied to. You became another one in a series of people being used by Palestinian terrorist organizations without knowing the facts. Seeing as you've got some free time now maybe you should use it to learn about what's really happening here in Israel. Here is a list of facts they kept from you:

• Israel was founded as a shelter for Jews from across the world after hundreds of years of persecution and the murder of six million of our people.

• Since the day Israel was founded we have offered peace to our neighbors time and again, we offered coexistence and compromise with the Arabs who live here. Our offers were declined.

• Israel has made two peace treaties –with Jordan and with Egypt – and both times proved that for the sake of peace we are willing to pay a heavy price.

• Twice, in the year 2000 and 2008, Israel offered the Palestinians the opportunity to build a country of their own on over 90% of the land. Both times the Palestinians said no.

• In 2005, as part of the disengagement plan, Israel left Gaza with no demands. We took down the settlements and the army withdrew. Instead of using the opportunity to build a better life for themselves, the Palestinians used Gaza as a launching pad to fire over 15,000 rockets and mortars at Israel.

• Hamas, the terror organization which rules the Gaza Strip, governs it under strict Islamic law. The LGBT community are threatened with hanging (did Roger Waters tell you that? Maybe it's worth asking him?).

• We are the only country in the Middle East that genuinely protects the rights of women and the LGBT community.

• We have Arabs who serve as Supreme Court Justices, senior military officers, senior police officers, senior government officials and as doctors and professors. There are no positions that aren't open to them in Israel.

• In Israel we had a female Prime Minister, a female President of the Supreme Court and a female Maj. Gen in the military.

• In Israel you can sing what you want, say what you want and dress how you want. Just across the border, women don't even have the freedom to run a marathon or ride a motorbike.

• Israel is the start-up nation but doesn't keep its knowledge to itself. We share it with others to improve the world: From cyber capabilities to clean water to the fight against hunger.

• Israel's hospitals provide treatment to whoever needs, including Palestinians and refugees from the brutal war in Syria.

Lana, isn't it a shame to let the lies of others decide for you? You gave up on the opportunity to see the reality for yourself and to use music as a tool to connect and spread love.

Israel is a country under threat. Although we are strong and can protect our citizens from our enemies, the boycott movement spreads an incomprehensible amount of lies to disparage Israel in the world. They are trying to isolate us, to turn Israel into an illegitimate state. They don't seek peace, and despite what they might have told you, they don't support a two state solution. Their aim is the destruction of the State of Israel. The naivety of people like you amuses them. They are using you to harm Israel but do their best to hide behind the language of peace and love. The only way to fight their lies is to learn the truth.

Sincerely,

MK Yair Lapid


5. DEAL OF THE CENTURY WILL BE REALISTIC, FAIR, IMPLEMENTABLE
by Yoni Kempinski

The Trump administration refused to comment Sunday evening on reports that it had proposed a confederation of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Palestinian Authority as part of a final status agreement with Israel.

Earlier on Sunday, PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas told members of the left-wing Israeli group "Peace Now" that the Trump administration – including special envoy Jason Greenblatt and White House adviser Jared Kushner – had floated the idea of a confederation linking the Palestinian Authority and Kingdom of Jordan.

"They asked me if I believe in a federation with Jordan," Abbas said at the gathering, sources within Peace Now revealed. "I said, 'Yes, I support a triple confederation with Jordan and with Israel'. I asked if the Israelis would agree to the offer."

Special White House envoy Jason Greenblatt refused to confirm or deny the claim, telling Arutz Sheva that the Trump administration had "probed all relevant parties" with suggestions regarding a variety of "ideas and possibilities".

‎"Over the past 19 months we have probed all relevant parties about many ideas and possibilities. The plan, when released, will reflect ideas that we think are realistic, fair and implementable that will enhance the lives of the Israeli and Palestinian people. We will not discuss any specific ideas or private conversations that may or may not have been had with leaders in the region."

The Trump administration has vowed to release a new framework for renewed Middle East peace talks; what President Trump has dubbed the "Deal of the Century".

Unconfirmed reports by the PA-based Al Quds newspaper claimed last month that the deal would be unveiled in September.

The Jordanian government dismissed the proposal to form a confederation with the PA, saying that such an arrangement "isn't on the table".

Jordanian spokeswoman Jumana Ghunaimat said that the kingdom was not considering a confederation, and believes that only a two-state solution can solve the Israeli-Arab conflict.


6. TRUMP OFFERED PALESTINIAN-JORDANIAN 'CONFEDERATION'
by David Rosenberg

The Trump administration offered a plan to the Palestinian Authority for a final status agreement with Israel which would include the establishment of a "confederation" between the PA and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, PA chief Mahmoud Abbas claimed in talks with the left-wing Peace Now organization.

According to sources within Peace Now on Sunday, representatives of the Trump administration, including President Trump's son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner, and special envoy Jason Greenblatt, recently asked Abbas if he would accept a final status agreement which included a confederation between the Kingdom of Jordan and the Palestinian Authority.

During a meeting with Peace Now members on Sunday, Abbas claimed that he said he could accept the arrangement – provided the confederation also include Israel.

"They asked me if I believe in a federation with Jordan," Abbas said at the gathering. "I said, 'Yes, I support a triple confederation with Jordan and with Israel'. I asked if the Israelis would agree to the offer."

The meeting was attended by Peace Now chief Shaked Morag, Meretz MK Moshe 'Mossi' Raz, and Zionist Union MK Ksenia Svetlova, among others.

Abbas also claimed that under President Trump, the US had become hostile towards the Palestinian Authority, and had "shut down the peace process."

"The US wants to completely ruin UNRWA," Abbas added, referring to the Trump administration's recent announcement that it would cease all funding of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

The US first announced a cut $300 million from its annual contribution to the agency. On Friday, the administration said it would cease all financial support for the agency.

"Seventy-percent of the residents of the Gaza Strip are refugees," Abbas claimed during the meeting with Peace Now members. Most of them are dependent on UNRWA support. So President Trump says to stop funding UNRWA, but to give humanitarian aid to Gaza residents. How can you end aid to UNRWA on one hand, while on the other hand giving humanitarian aid to Palestinians?"

The 82-year-old PA leader said that President Trump had expressed his support for the establishment of a Palestinian state, which Trump said should be demilitarized and protected by the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance.

"I met with Trump four times," Abbas said. "He said that he favors the idea of a demilitarized [Palestinian] state, and that NATO would provide security."

Abbas said, however, that negotiations would not proceed with Israeli premier Binyamin Netanyahu in power.

"I have a problem with Netanyahu, not with the Likud," saying that the Israeli leader had refused overtures by Russia, Japan, the Netherlands, and Belgium for peace talks.

Abbas added that he is opposed to President Trump's yet-to-be-released plan for a final status agreement.


7. BELGIUM'S WAY OF DIVIDING JERUSALEM
by Arutz Sheva Staff

A Jerusalem family holding dual Israeli-Belgian citizenship was surprised last week when they received a letter from the Belgian consulate addressed to the mother as a resident of "Jerusalem," but to the children as residents of the "Palestinian territories."

Yediot Aharonot reported that the Tenzer family of the Pisgat Ze'ev neighborhood of Jerusalem received the letter regarding their voting rights ahead of elections in Belgium. While the mother, Annabelle Herciger Tenzer, received the letter to the address "Jerusalem," her children, Tehilla and Gilad (ages 24 and 26), who live with her in the same apartment, received letters addressed to the "Palestinian territories." Up until now, all letters the family received from the consulate were addressed to "Jerusalem."

According to the report, the family believes that the change stems from the US decision to transfer its embassy to Jerusalem - a move which was rejected by EU countries.

Alex Tenzer, the father of the family, told Yediot Aharonot, "Not only is Belgium dividing Jerusalem, they are also trying to separate between my children and my wife. We always lived in northern Jerusalem and we are part of Jerusalem. Up until now, we received all letters to the address 'Jerusalem.' I hope that this is not a change in the Belgian policy. I demand explanations and ask that new letters be sent, addressed to 'Jerusalem.'"


8. REPORT: NETANYAHU CHANGED UNRWA POLICY UNILATERALLY
by Gary Willig

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu changed the State of Israel's policy on UNRWA secretly and without conducting any consultations, News 10 reported Sunday evening.

Senior Israeli officials told News 10 that the government had been opposed to a complete cutting off of all funds to UNRWA just a few weeks ago. The IDF, COGAT, and the Shin Bet believed that such a move could lead to increased violence from Gaza and Judea and Samaria.

According to the report, Prime Minister Netanyahu unilaterally changed the government's policy without consulting the Security Cabinet several weeks ago when he instructed Israeli Ambassador to the US Ron Dermer to support the cutoff of funds to UNRWA to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The officials stated that they were caught off guard by the sudden change in policy. One official said: "None of us understood where this came from."

Netanyahu praised the US Administration's decision to cease all funding to UNRWA Sunday.

"They created a special institution 70 years ago - not to absorb the refugees, but to eternalize them. The United States did something very important when it stopped the money for UNRWA. It is finally starting to solve the problem. The refugee institution must be cancelled, the money must be taken to really help rehabilitate the refugees, whose number is much smaller than the number reported in UNRWA," Netanyahu said.

The US announced the move Friday.

"The Administration has carefully reviewed the issue and determined that the United States will not make additional contributions to UNRWA," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.

"When we made a U.S. contribution of $60 million in January, we made it clear that the United States was no longer willing to shoulder the very disproportionate share of the burden of UNRWA's costs that we had assumed for many years. Several countries, including Jordan, Egypt, Sweden, Qatar, and the UAE have shown leadership in addressing this problem, but the overall international response has not been sufficient," she added.

"Beyond the budget gap itself and failure to mobilize adequate and appropriate burden sharing, the fundamental business model and fiscal practices that have marked UNRWA for years - tied to UNRWA's endlessly and exponentially expanding community of entitled beneficiaries - is simply unsustainable and has been in crisis mode for many years. The United States will no longer commit further funding to this irredeemably flawed operation," the statement continued.

"We are very mindful of and deeply concerned regarding the impact upon innocent Palestinians, especially school children, of the failure of UNRWA and key members of the regional and international donor community to reform and reset the UNRWA way of doing business. These children are part of the future of the Middle East. Palestinians, wherever they live, deserve better than an endlessly crisis-driven service provision model. They deserve to be able to plan for the future."

The US donated $370 million to the agency in 2017 and $355 million in 2016.

UNRWA has been criticized for its connections to terrorist organizations, for the incitement in its schools, and for perpetuating and enlarging the Arab refugee issue for decades. During the 2014 counterterrorism Operation Protective Edge, Hamas rockets were discovered inside a school building run by UNRWA.

Likewise, explosives at a booby-trapped UNRWA clinic detonated, killing three IDF soldiers. Aside from the massive amounts of explosives hidden in the walls of the clinic, it was revealed that it stood on top of dozens of terror tunnels, showing how UNRWA is closely embedded with Hamas.

More recently, the director of UNRWA operations in Gaza expressed his support for the anti-Israel marches along the Israel-Gaza border and pledged that the organization's medical centers will provide care for "Palestinian refugees"" who might sustain injuries during them.




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