Media Summary
20/07/2015
The Telegraph online reports that Israel’s Shin Bet security agency revealed yesterday that it has arrested five members of a Hamas cell in the West Bank who confessed to carrying out the deadly shooting of an Israeli man last month.
The Independent and Independent i both report from the Palestinian village of Khirbat Susiya in the West Bank after an Israeli court ordered that buildings which had been constructed without a permit can be demolished from today. The articles say that the UK government has taken a deep interest in the case, funding court proceedings and a master plan for the village which is to be presented to Israeli authorities.
The Financial Times online reports that the European Union is expected in the next few months to approve the separate labelling of Israeli goods produced in the West Bank.
In the Gaza Strip, the Times, Telegraph, Independent i and Metro all report that five car bombs exploded yesterday, targeting members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Two people were slightly wounded. Some of the reports suggest that an ISIS-affiliate is responsible for the violence, as the group continues to challenge Hamas’s authority in the Gaza Strip.
The Times covers comments made by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei over the weekend, who said that despite the nuclear deal agreed last week, Iran will still oppose the “arrogant” United States and will continue to support allies such as Hezbollah and President Assad in Syria. Both the Times and Independent report that US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter is visiting Israel in an attempt to reassure leaders over the nuclear agreement. He will then travel to Saudi Arabia, which also opposes the deal. The Times says that Western business leaders are already arriving in Iran in order to advance business opportunities with sanctions set to be lifted.
The Guardian online covers comments made by Prime Minister David Cameron on the US network NBC yesterday, during which he said that the UK should “step up and do more” to stop ISIS in Syria. In a separate item, the Guardian online also reports that nine US-led air strikes were carried out in Syria targeting ISIS over the weekend.
In the Israeli media, the top story in Yediot Ahronot, which is also covered prominently in Maariv is the Shin Bet’s announcement that it has arrested a Hamas cell responsible for the murder of Malachi Rosenfeld, who was shot last month in the West Bank. The coverage focuses on the identity of the cell’s leader, who was released as part of the deal to free kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in 2011.
Meanwhile, both Maariv and Israel Hayom lead with today’s vote at the United Nations Security Council, which is expected to approve last week’s nuclear deal agreed between Iran and the P5+1 powers (US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany). Israel Radio news says that Germany’s Vice Chancellor has said during a visit to Tehran that improved economic ties between the two countries rest in part on Iran’s recognition of Israel’s right to exist.
The lead item in Haaretz, also covered prominently by Yediot Ahronot, is comments made yesterday by opposition leader Isaac Herzog, who rejected any suggestion that he is laying the foundations to join the coalition, by supporting Prime Minister Netanyahu’s opposition to the nuclear deal. Herzog yesterday said that Netanyahu’s government has failed and should be replaced.
Israel Radio news notes that US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter will meet his Israeli counterpart Moshe Ya’alon today and Prime Minister Netanyahu tomorrow during his visit. Carter is said to have told reporters that the military option remains on the table to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.