Israel and the Middle East News Update Wednesday, July 29 Headlines: ● TLV Protest Turns into Violence Between Demonstrators ● Netanyahu Stops Initiative to Oust Coalition Chairman ● PM at Northern Border: I Wouldn't Advise Anyone to Test Us ● An IDF Balancing Act on the Israel-Lebanon Border ● Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Makes Unannounced Visit ● Netanyahu, Pompeo Put Peace Plan Back on the Table ● World Bank Grants Palestinians $30m in Welfare Aid ● Armenian FM: Demands Halt to Weapon Sales to Azerbaijan Commentary: ● Yedioth Ahronoth: “This Time It’s You, Netanyahu” - By Ben-Dror Yemini ● Ma’ariv: “Suddenly It’s All of Us Together” - By Ben Caspit S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace 1725 I St NW Suite 300, Washington, DC 20006 The Hon. Robert Wexler, President News Excerpts July 29, 2020 Jerusalem Post TLV Protest Turns into Violence Between Demonstrators Hundreds of people gathered in Tel Aviv to protest police brutality and Public Security Minister Amir Ohana's attempts to prevent protests from taking place outside of the Prime Minister's Official Residence. The protest was organized by the Black Flag movement, whose members chose Ohana's residence in Tel Aviv as the location for the protest. At some stage, according to the protestors, Far-right activists from "La Familia" infiltrated the crowd with the alleged intention of harassing the demonstrators, which later turned violent. Oz, an eyewitness at the scene, said to N12 that "I was there, and I saw the group slowly approaching us. They wore black bandanas, and I knew something was about to happen. We were subjected to violence. I ran after them, yelled at them and asked police for help, but they did not budge. It's dangerous to be a protester in Israel." See also ‘‘Should Netanyahu Worry Over Violent Protests Against Him?’’ (Al-Monitor) Arutz Sheva Netanyahu Stops Initiative to Oust Coalition Chairman A number of Likud MKs agreed to join an unprecedented initiative to remove MK Miki Zohar as head of the Likud faction and as coalition chairman. The move caused an uproar, following which Netanyahu spoke with MK Shlomo Karhi, who led the initiative, and asked him to stop the move. The initiative to remove Zohar came together in the wake of Zohar's decision to remove MK Yifat Shasha-Biton as chairwoman of the Coronavirus Committee and to impose sanctions on other members of the faction. Earlier, Netanyahu gave full backing to Zohar in the face of attacks by Likud MKs. "Without discipline, the Likud cannot govern, and especially not during the coronavirus crisis," He tweeted following the move. After Netanyahu stopped the process to oust him, MK Zohar claimed that the media publications regarding the initiative to remove him were “Fake News”. Ynet News PM at Northern Border: I Wouldn't Advise Anyone to Test Us Prime Minister Netanyahu toured Israel's border with Lebanon in the wake of a failed, alleged Hezbollah attack and said he wouldn't "advise anyone to test us." "I do not suggest anyone try testing the IDF or the State of Israel, we are determined to defend ourselves" he said from the Northern Command's headquarters. "Yesterday's operation was important and prevented an infiltration into our territory Everything that is happening right now is the result of an Iranian attempt to establish itself in our region." He added that Hassan Nasrallah is serving the Iranian interests at the expense of the Lebanese people, who have been staging protests over the past few months over the dire financial situation in the country. See also ‘‘Jerusalem Asses Hezbollah to Launch New Attack in Next 48 Hours’’ (I24 News) 2 Ynet News An IDF Balancing Act on the Israel-Lebanon Border IDF troops along the Lebanon border remained on high alert for the fifth day in a row and one day after an attempted infiltration across the frontier by militants from the Hezbollah terror group. Increased deployment of troops to the area has continued, but forces are positioning themselves further away from the border to avoid being targeted by Hezbollah fighters believed to still be in the Har Dov area, where Monday's infiltration occurred. In one incident observed from the Israeli side of the border, two Lebanese cars drove up to the security fence - which appeared deserted by IDF soldiers. The IDF’s current strategy is to avoid confrontation. If there had been any threat from the occupants of the cars, who were under constant observation by forces, they would have been answered with fire. See also ‘‘Israel, Hezbollah Playing War Game, but Avoid Real Conflagration’’ (Al-Monitor) Arutz Sheva Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff MaKes Unannounced Visit The chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff met with senior defense officials in Israel during a short and unannounced visit there amid rising tensions in the region. Army Gen. Mark Milley discussed “regional security challenges” with Israeli military’s chief of staff, Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi, and Defense Minister Benny Gantz, among others, The Associated Press reported. Milley also spoke by videoconference from the base with Prime Minister Netanyahu. His visit came at a time of Israel’s escalating tension with Iran, cross-border incidents with Lebanon and airstrikes on Syria blamed on Israel. Gantz said in a statement released after the meeting that he emphasized to Milley “the need to continue the pressure on Iran and its proxies that threaten regional and global stability,” according to AP. Israel reportedly was Milley’s only stop on the overseas trip. The meeting took place at an Air Force base in southern Israel. See also ‘‘Iran Holds Annual Gulf Drill Amid Rising Tensions with US’’ (Jerusalem Post) Jerusalem Post Netanyahu, Pompeo Put Peace Plan BacK on the Table After weeks of silence on President Trump’s peace plan, Prime Minister Netanyahu and Secretary of State Pompeo put it back on the agenda in their remarks at an event hosted to launch of a new Knesset caucus, led by Likud MK Sharren Haskel. The caucus works with 42 caucuses in legislatures on six continents. MKs from seven parties joined the caucus that emphasizes the importance of strengthening Christian support for Israel. However, they notably did not mention any timeline for Israel to apply sovereignty to parts of Judea and Samaria as the plan allows. Listing the Trump administration’s accomplishments in the US-Israel relationship, Pompeo said: “We championed the President’s vision for peace. It’s the best and most realistic path forward to end the bloodshed between Israel and the Palestinian people and achieve enduring security, freedom and prosperity for both sides.” Netanyahu said in a letter read at the event that the Trump plan “has the potential to overcome past failures by offering the Palestinians the path of peace and reconciliation.” 3 Israel Hayom World BanK Grants Palestinians $30m in Welfare Aid The World Bank approved a $30 million grant to the Palestinian Authority in an effort to help the cash-strapped government stay afloat. The funds have been earmarked for the creation of jobs and other welfare projects seeking to help the Palestinian population in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.The Palestinian economy in both territories has been crippled by the coronavirus pandemic. Kanthan Shankar, the World Bank's regional director for the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, said that the global pandemic poses "an unprecedented challenge with grave implications for the already struggling Palestinian economy. "Fighting poverty and unemployment is a top priority for the World Bank," he added. "This grant seeks to mitigate the [pandemic's] impact on [Palestinian] households by creating employment alternatives." See also ‘‘$30 Million Grant to Protect Palestinian Livelihoods in the West Bank’’ (The World Bank) Jerusalem Post Armenian FM: Demands Halt to Weapon Sales to Azerbaijan Israeli weapons sold to Azerbaijan are used to target Armenian civilian infrastructure and arms sales between the country should be stopped immediately, Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan said in an interview in the midst of the ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan, that while Israeli-Armenian relations have improved in recent years – the Armenian president was in Israel in January – Israel’s continued supply of advanced weaponry to Azerbaijan remains an outstanding issue for the countries. Azerbaijan and Armenia - neighboring countries and former Soviet republics - have long been at odds over Azerbaijan’s breakaway, mainly ethnic Armenian region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Russia, which has a military base in Armenia, has urged the two sides to cease fire and show restraint. Turning to Israel’s persistent refusal to recognize the Armenian genocide, Mnatsakanyan said: “Recognition of the Armenian Genocide by a nation who survived the horrors of the Holocaust is a moral issue. It’s on your conscience. I know that many Jews - public personalities, intellectuals and ordinary people - strongly share this point of view. However, it is up to the authorities of Israel to recognize the Armenian Genocide or refrain from doing it. It’s not only about Armenia but Israel as well.” 4 Yedioth Ahronoth – July 29, 2020 This Time It’s You, Netanyahu By Ben-Dror Yemini ● Dear Mr. Prime Minister. I’ve become a frightened citizen these past few weeks. It’s an unpleasant sensation. For years I’ve written that even though I didn’t vote for you, you nevertheless had several achievements to your credit. I also wrote that some of your arguments [against your detractors] were justified. Actually, I wrote some of those very same arguments myself, regardless of you. I supported an override clause, and I supported the French bill [postponing prosecution of a prime minister until after his term in office is over].