Eurozone of danger

The Islamic State’s influence continues to expand as all three Israeli papers put a warning on their respective front pages about the group’s next move: terror attacks against Israelis.

While Haaretz and Israel Hayom give the alert minimal space on their front pages, Yedioth Ahronoth puts the threat front and center. “Warning: Europe.” The paper reports on how the government’s counter-terror bureau has issued a warning to Israelis traveling in Western Europe that IS-trained fighters might try to attack Israeli or Jewish targets. While the warning doesn’t recommend canceling trips, it does urge travelers to be more vigilant.

As part of its two-page spread, the paper also talks to Israelis currently traveling in Europe for their perspective. “The pickpockets are scarier than the terrorists,” said traveler Tzipi Shabtai who is traveling in Barcelona. Manni, a traveller in Paris, told the paper, “In Israel it is a lot scarier, here it’s peaceful.”

Writing in Israel Hayom, Boaz Bismuth writes that unfortunately there’s no choice and “we have to be careful.” He writes, “Danger lurks in the corner. In every corner. The world prepares to attack Islamic State’s territory, but it also must be prepared to be attacked at home.” Bismuth writes while many Israelis will be traveling over the upcoming Jewish holidays, they need to be careful because IS has the same priorities as Hamas: Israelis are always the “preferred targets.”

Coincidentally or not, Haaretz has an article that may make travelers feel a bit reassured this holiday season: the Israeli SWAT team can now operate abroad. The elite police unit Yamam could previously only work within Israel’s borders (or in the West Bank if requested by the Shin Bet). The change comes in light of the rising terror threat from outside Israel’s borders. In addition, the unit will add an extra 100 members.

A new plan

Haaretz’s top story is about a government plan to relocate thousands of Palestinian Bedouin from the West Bank. The paper’s Amira Hass writes that over the past month the Civil Administration, the body in charge of the West Bank, published plans to remove the Bedouin around East Jerusalem and relocate them to a new town north of Jericho. The paper reports that the plan was created without consulting the Bedouin themselves. According to the submitted proposals, the reason for the move is the evolution of the Bedouin society from nomadic to a “modern society that earns its living by commerce, service, technical trades and more.”

Meanwhile, there is another plan being bandied about in the budget battle between Finance Minister Yair Lapid and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Yedioth reports that coalition chairman Yariv Levin told Lapid that there will be no movement on Lapid’s flagship bill to exempt first-time homebuyers from sales tax on their homes until there is a budget in place. The move, which Yedioth called “Likud’s version of all or nothing” upset Lapid, who threatened the coalition, saying, “Without that law there is no government.”

Netanyahu isn’t the only one attacking Lapid. Yedioth also reports that Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon thinks Lapid is out to get the defense establishment. “Lapid has an agenda to harm the defense budget,” Ya’alon said in private conversations. Ya’alon went farther, saying, “For a year and a half we’ve been fighting over the defense budget and Lapid has given billions to the Education, Health, and Social Affairs ministries – the three ministries with Yesh Atid ministers.”

Unified or broken up?

Israel Hayom reports on a rare showing of public discord in the Likud party, with rival events being held at the same time in different cities. One event was held in Petah Tikva and organized by Netanyahu, and most of the Likud Knesset members showed up. The competing event was by fired deputy defense minister Danny Danon and 300 people showed up, including one Knesset member, Moshe Feiglin. The paper reports that minister Silvan Shalom and Gideon Saar didn’t go to either party.

Yedioth also reported on the dueling rallies and commented that Netanyahu’s rally had an “election-like atmosphere,” while Danon’s felt like “it was out of steam.” Danon had organized his event first, but as the paper put it, “There was only one problem: the Likud chairman and prime minister preferred to hold a toast in a festive atmosphere with his supporters.” At his rally, Bibi said, “Likud has been chosen to lead Israel, and I believe we will continue to do so. This requires of us unity and responsibility.”

While Netanyahu and Danon aren’t meeting, Haaretz reports Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman is meeting with an old friend, but that’s not necessarily a good thing. While in Austria for diplomatic meetings, Liberman meet with Austrian businessman Martin Schlaff, who is wanted by the Israeli police for questioning about corruption charges. According to the paper, Schlaff is accused of being the controlling player behind the “$650,000 sent to a Cypriot shipping company that Liberman allegedly controlled.“ The case was against Liberman was closed due to a lack of evidence. Liberman’s office shrugged off the accusations, saying, “They’re good friends, so naturally they would meet when Liberman is in town.”