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Media Summary

11/08/2014

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A new 72-hour ceasefire, which came into effect in Israel and Gaza at midnight, is the main regional story in the FT, Telegraph, Guardian, Independent, Times, Mail, Express, Mirror, Independent  i and Metro. The FT quotes Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum, saying, “We will not give up on any of our demands.” The Telegraph reports that the new ceasefire came after Israel refused to negotiate while under fire.

The Guardian links the new ceasefire to early attempts at reconstruction in Gaza, and notes that many Palestinians are not returning home until the conflict is over, instead choosing to stay in UN shelters.

The Times covers the opposition within the Israeli Government to repeated brief ceasefires, including sceptical comments by Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman.

The Independent’s Donald Macintyre interviews Hamas official Mushir al-Masri at Shifa Hospital, and reports on their demands for a seaport and a lifting of the closure of Gaza’s borders, possibly under Palestinian Authority control. Another piece in the Independent reports on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s call for “stamina” in southern Israel, implying that the rocket fire there might continue. The same piece speaks to Israeli families who returned to their homes during last week’s ceasefire but are now trying to leave for safer areas again.

The Times has a report on the impact of the conflict on pregnant women and children in Gaza.

The Guardian reports on support for Israel in the USA, noting that the core relationship between the two governments remains strong despite US Administration criticism of Israel. The FT covers a trial in New York, where victims of terrorism are suing Jordan’s Arab Bank for facilitating money transfers to Hamas and Islamic Jihad which was allegedly used in terrorist attacks from 2001-2004.

The FT reports a split in Britain’s coalition over arms sales to Israel, with Liberal Democrats complaining that Prime Minister David Cameron and Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond had not suspended all export licenses. The report also quotes the Sunday Times interview with Baroness Warsi, and notes that she “hinted that she believed the party’s Middle East policy was being influenced by wealthy donors.”

The Guardian prints several letters on the conflict, mainly focused on the Tricycle Theatre’s decision to cancel the Jewish Film Festival’s booking unless it rejected Israeli sponsorship.

Robert Fisk’s column in the Independent criticises Israel’s Ambassadors to the USA and Ireland, and attacks Canadian politicians for supporting Israel. Leon McKinstry in the Express discusses the rise of violent Islamism, expressed as both support for Hamas and ISIS, in the UK.

A comment piece by Owen Jones in the Guardian attacks both those who defend and justify antisemitism in the pro-Palestinian movements and those who overuse the term, but focuses on the rise in antisemitism in Europe. In the Independent, Yasmin Alibhai-Brown claims that she didn’t join the large Palestine march on Saturday for fear of being labelled an antisemite, and defends the Tricycle Theatre. Libby Purves in the Telegraph also defends the Tricycle and criticises those voices who condemned it.

Peter McKay’s column in the Mail notes rumours that Penelope Cruz sand Javier Bardem will be “blacklisted” for their Gaza comments, and speculates that the rumours are themselves a PR stunt.

Israeli media also reports the new 72-hour ceasefire. Under the plaintive headline “Maybe this time?” Israel Hayom hopes for the success of the new ceasefire and negotiations.

In Yediot Ahronot, Alex Fishman damps down hopes for success in Cairo, noting that Hamas is isolated but not backing down.

Maariv reports that Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon are blocking another round of warfare in Gaza, despite mounting pressure in the Cabinet. In the same paper, Ben Caspit writes of the current conflict that “no one knows how to finish it, and no one knows how to continue it.”

Makor Rishon reports that Moshe Ya’alon has confirmed that Hamas has the body of fallen soldier Oron Shaul and that Israel Is making efforts to recover it.

Haaretz reports that ten Jewish suspects will be charged with violence against Arab residents of Jerusalem.