Grasping at straws

In the wake of Wednesday’s riots in Tel Aviv against African immigrants, both politicians and papers are flailing about for a solution with nothing in sight.

Haaretz’s headline paraphrases Interior Minister Eli Yishai’s solution to hit mayor’s in the pocket (their own pocket, not the city’s) if they employ African workers. Besides Yishai’s plan to punish municipalities that hire African labor, Haaretz’s coverage of the situation includes three other articles including a feature titled, “This story is not black and white,” which interviews immigrants and long time residents of south Tel Aviv to show the complexity of the issue.

Israel Hayom’s headline focuses on another part of Eli Yishay’s plan, “New infiltrators will be imprisoned for 3 years.” Inside the article describes how 3,000 infiltrators have already been arrested and deportations will begin next week. There is also another article in the coverage which describes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President’s Shimon Peres rejections of xenophobia and violence. “Xenophobia goes against the basis of Judaism,” Peres says in a statement.

Yedioth Ahronoth’s coverage was a variety of short articles under the banner, “Not black and white.” With pictures of the destruction from the other night’s riot, Yedioth went to south Tel Aviv and interviewed refugees who told the paper, “We know that there are also good Israelis.” The paper also includes two short opinion pieces, including one from Oscar Oliebia who is a refugee from the Congo. Oliebia, a legal refugee who has been in Israel for over 18 years writes, “Politicians came to our neighborhood…and brought hate. I’m offended. I –who during the second Lebanon War went to Haifa to volunteer – need to have politicians come and tell me that I am a disease?”

Maariv has perhaps the most depressing headline of the major newspapers, “Neighborhoods without hope” (a play on the name of the neighborhood where the riots took place – Neighborhood of hope). Inside, the paper laments the riots with the article “Looting and disgrace,” in which reporter Yuval Goren interviews people on both sides of the riot in the hours afterward. “Now they’re the victims? I do not feel sorry for one Eritrean,” one local resident told the paper.

Violence continues…

All the papers also covered the shocking story of a brutal murder in Be’er Sheva. Prison guard Hanoch Yaso is accused of stabbing his wife to death and then decapitating her while their children were locked in another room in the apartment. Magen David Adom was called to the scene by Yaso himself and claimed that both he and his wife were going to commit suicide. Yedioth quotes Yaso in its headline that also provides a motive for the murder, “I thought she was cheating on me.” The court has extended his reprimand for another 11 days until charges can be filed.

Maariv reports on two murders reported yesterday, including a 34 year-old man who was shot in Beit She’an yesterday next door to a police station. The police are investigating but have not made any arrests. A Rishon Letzion man was murdered yesterday morning after being shot in the entrance to his building. Rishon police are still investigating and no arrests have been made.

Last month’s tragedy at Mount Herzl may be a step closer to criminal prosecution. Yedioth Ahronoth reports that police recommend that at least four people be indicted for involuntary manslaughter. The charges stem from the incident where a light fixture on stage crashed down and killed an IDF officer during rehearsals for an Independence Day performance. The senseless tragedy caused outrage and an investigation that found widespread negligence at the company contracted to build the stage.

Israel Hayom reports on the heartbreaking story of Rachel Attias, the sole survivor of the car accident that claimed her family earlier this week. Yesterday she was released from the hospital in the care of her aunt and uncle who described her returning home. “I was so excited to see her sitting on her bed again, in her room. Her friends from school came and decorated it so beautifully,” her uncle told the paper. Also included in the coverage was an article and pictures of letters from first graders to Rachel wishing her well.

G Unit

While the commotion over the Tal law has died down a bit, Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger may have stirred it up again. Israel Hayom reports that while speaking at a military ceremony yesterday the rabbi said, “We have seen that when there are less students [of Torah] more soldiers are killed.” In addition to that statement the rabbi also said that he wanted to create a division in the army responsible for prayer. “Like there is an air force or armored unit, I think there should be a God Unit that protects us from above.”

In other religious news, Haaretz reports that the investigation against the authors of the religious book, “The King’s Torah,” will be closed and no charges are likely be brought. The book stirred controversy over its justification about if and when Jews could kill non-Jews during war and peace time. Many thought that the book was inciting racism and hatred. Attorney General Weinstien is expected to close the investigation because the text does not explicitly state “Palestinian” or “Arab” in the text and in accordance with the criminal code, this case of freedom of expression is not illegal.

Madonna arrives today in Israel to kick off her world tour next week in Ramat Gan. Only Maariv seems really excited by the visit, giving a half of page to the Material Girl, who will be joined in Israel by her friends George Clooney, Sasha Baron Cohen, Natalie Portman and Conan O’Brien. O’Brien will also be covering the tour kickoff for his TV show in America.

In the opinion pages, Maariv’s Ben Caspit rallies against Likud’s Miri Regev and her faction within Israel’s strongest party. Caspit writes that even though Danny Dannon, Miri Regev and others were protesting against the immigrants, other Likud politicians understood the problem. “Dan Meridor told me yesterday that politicians need to demonstrate against the government, not against these infiltrators,” writes Caspit. But he does credit Regev with a correct diagnosis of cancer, just not in the correct place. “Cancer is rampant…the body of the Likud. Metastasis of hatred and fervor spread it quickly, violently, and there is no cure.” He concludes his piece by agreeing that a solution needs to be found, but that solution is not rioting and attacking others. “That is not our way,” he writes, “But try telling that to Miri Regev.”