To provide greater exposure to primary Israeli news sources and opinions in order to become better informed on the issues, and to gain a better understanding of the wide range of perspectives that exist in Israeli society and politics. Issue 1009 • June 3, 2016 • 26 Iyar 5776 NEW DEFENSE MINISTER TAKES OFFICE, PLANS TO WORK ‘24/7’ Jerusalem Post has learned. (Israel Hayom 6/1/16) The US, which publicly has taken a wait-and-see approach to the French-led Newly appointed Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman sought to convey a summit, is considered to be the dominant actor, whose positions will go a message of unequivocal support to the General Staff Tuesday, telling the long way toward determining the outcome of the conference. officers that "the IDF and its commanders are the widest consensus in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – who has come out adamantly against society, and that is the military's greatest asset." the meeting – spoke out against it again Wednesday night at a graduation Speaking during his first General Staff meeting, held at Rabin Base, the IDF's ceremony at Bar-Ilan University’s medical school in Safed. headquarters in Tel Aviv, Lieberman said, "Israel is the only country in the “The way to peace does not go through international conferences that seek world were the phrase 'the people's army' is not a cliche but a reality. Even to impose agreements, make the Palestinians’ demands more extreme and now, the majority of fighting forces comprise reservists, meaning civilians. thereby make peace more remote,” he said. This is why the IDF's role in Israeli society is far more significant than the Instead, Netanyahu added, the way to peace is through direct negotiations roles played by other militaries, and its missions are far more diverse." without any preconditions. “This is the way it was when we reached peace Since its inception, the IDF "has been more than Israel's shield -- it is Israeli with Egypt and with Jordan, and this is the way it needs to be with the society's melting pot and its civilians roles are just as important as its military Palestinians,” he said. “If the countries gathered this week in Paris really want ones. This is why I see the IDF's primary mission in maintaining national to advance the peace, they should join my call to Abu Mazen [Palestinian resilience. No other body is as qualified as the IDF to shoulder the Authority President Mahmoud Abbas] to come to direct negotiations.” responsibility not only for the troops' operational competence, but for the Paris has indicated regarding previous initiatives it has floated over the past nation's resilience," Lieberman said. year that if after a specified amount of time negotiations do not produce He warned that "Israeli society cannot afford to wage elective wars. We will results, it would recognize a Palestinian state. wage war when there is no other choice, and we have to win them. We also Israel’s position is that this only hardens the Palestinian negotiating position, don't have the luxury of waging wars of attrition. Over all, in a democratic since they will have no incentive to genuinely negotiate if they know that if no society, matters of war and peace must express the will of the majority of the agreement is reached, they will get international recognition anyway. people -- not be decided upon by the narrow majority of one Knesset vote." Concluding his speech before the General Staff, Lieberman said, "I believe in PA PRESIDENT ABBAS: I’LL JUDGE LIEBERMAN’S ACTIONS, NOT HIS diplomatic pragmatism and military power. I come here with an open mind WORDS (Israel Hayom 6/1/16) and I plan to work 24/7. I would like to thank my predecessor, [Moshe] Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas commented Tuesday on Ya'alon, and while I disagreed with him many times, he has many credits and Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman's appointment as defense he contributed greatly to Israel's security. I plan of fully cooperating with Chief minister, saying he did not rule out resuming dialogue with Israel. of Staff Gadi Eizenkot and the General Staff, and I'm sure that together, we "I don't judge people by their political affiliation or their words, only by their will keep Israel safe and secure." Israel Report is a Student Publication of NEWEST MK YEHUDA GLICK GETS ARMED BODYGUARD (Arutz-7 INN.com 5/23/16) Daniel Zolty, Editor-in-Chief Yonatan Kurz, Moshe Davis, Alex Ostrin and Eli Levine, Editors On Monday the Knesset Guard Sergeant-at-Arms Brigadier General Yossi We are proud to be distributed by these institutions, though they do not necessarily support or condone Grif assigned a bodyguard to Israel’s newest MK, Temple Mount activist any of the material published: Rabbi Yehuda Glick, following threats upon his life. Anshei Chesed Cong., Boynton Beach, FL Hillel at California State University - Long Beach Bergen County High School of Jewish Studies Hillel at Columbia University Glick, who was shot and severely wounded in an assassination attempt in Boca Raton Synagogue, FL Hillel at Johns Hopkins University 2014, has been the subject of regular death threats by Arab terrorists. He will Carmel School, Hong Kong Hillel at Yale University Chabad of Oak Park, CA Hillel High School, Deal NJ be one of the few Knesset members to have protection by an armed guard. Cong. Agudath Achim, Bradley Beach, NJ Jewish Center of Teaneck, NJ Replacing out-going Likud MK and former Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon, Cong. Ahavas Achim, Highland Park, NJ Kehillas Bais Yehudah Tzvi, Cedarhurst, NY Cong. Ahavath Achim, Fairfield, CT Kemp Mill Synagogue, Silver Spring, MD Glick will be sworn in to the Knesset at a ceremony on Wednesday. Cong. Anshe Shalom, Jamaica Estates, NY Mizrachi Shul, Johannesburg, SA In light of a prohibition established by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu Cong. Beth Aaron, Teaneck, NJ North Shore Hebrew Academy HS, NY Cong. Beth Shalom, Monroe Twp, NJ Suburban Torah Center, Livingston, NJ against MKs visiting the Temple Mount, Glick will be unable to tour the Mount Cong. Bnai Yeshurun, Teaneck, NJ The Learning Shul, Columbia, SC during his tenure as a Knesset Member. He ascended the holy site one last Cong. Ohr Torah, Edison, NJ Woodsburgh, NY Minyan time on Monday before meeting with Netanyahu, who warned him not to set Cong. Rinat Yisrael, Teaneck, NJ Young Israel Bet Tefilah of Aberdeen, NJ Cong. Shomrei Torah, Fair Lawn, NJ Young Israel of Brookline, MA foot on the Temple Mount so long as he serves in the Knesset. Cong. Sons of Israel, Allentown, PA Young Israel of East Brunswick, NJ “This is the last time you do something like this to me,” Netanyahu told Glick. Cong. Zichron Mordechai, Teaneck, NJ Young Israel of Fort Lee, NJ Cong. Zichron R. M. Feinstein, Brooklyn, NY Young Israel of Hancock Park, CA Glick responded by saying that the visit had been coordinated with Internal Delray Orthodox Synagogue, Delray Beach, FL Young Israel of Holliswood, NY Security Minister Gilad Erdan. East Denver Orthodox Synagogue, CO Young Israel of Houston, TX Flatbush Park Jewish Center, Mill Basin, NY Young Israel of New Hyde Park, NY Harvard University Library Young Israel of North Woodmere, NY ISRAEL TALKING TO US IN EFFORTS TO IMPACT PARIS SUMMIT Hebrew Academy of Long Beach, NY Young Israel of New Rochelle, NY Hillel at Baruch College Young Israel of Sharon, MA (JPost 6/1/16) Hillel at Brandeis University YI Shomrai Emunah, Silver Spring, MD Israel’s efforts at affecting the results of Friday’s scheduled Middle East We encourage our readers to subscribe to our sources on the internet. For more information or to summit in Paris are focused on discussions with the Americans, The subscribe by e-mail, reach us at [email protected] 2 actions for peace," he said. Minister Avigdor Lieberman, and Bayit Yehudi head Naftali Bennett, will react Lieberman, who officially assumed office on Tuesday, said he remains to the new bill on the matter. committed to promoting dialogue with the Palestinians, as well as the two- state solution. PM COMMITED TO ‘FINDING A SOLUTION’ TO KOTEL PRAYER U.N. Mideast envoy Nikolay Mladenov on Tuesday welcomed Lieberman's DESPITE ‘DIFFICULTIES’ (JPost 6/1/16) statement, saying his remarks, as well as Prime Minister Benjamin Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains committed to the original plan Netanyahu's expressed support for the Arab peace initiative and for Egyptian for creating a pluralist prayer section at the southern end of the Western President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi's idea to promote a regional peace deal, Wall, leaders of the progressive Jewish movements said Wednesday. could facilitate significant moves in the Middle East. The Prime Minister’s Office said later that evening that Netanyahu “remains "These statements could facilitate the negotiations for a two-state solution, committed to finding a solution for prayer arrangements at the Kotel, and and reinforce the Egyptian president's remarks about going forward and made clear to the heads of the [Reform and Conservative] movements the developing the historic step Egypt took in favor of peace. The Quartet has great difficulties in implementing the government decision and that he is underscored in the past the importance an overall [regional] agreement in working on the issue.” resolving the [Israeli-Palestinian] conflict. This opportunity should not be The leaders of the Reform and Conservative movements as well as the missed and must be followed up with concrete action," Mladenov said. Women of the Wall organization said they felt “frustration” and Also on Tuesday, Lieberman's statements received favorable coverage in the “disappointment” at the stalled implementation of the deal.