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Media Summary

Supreme court blocks natural gas deal

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The Financial Times online reports that Israel’s Supreme Court has blocked the agreement between Israel’s government and primary investors in developing the country’s huge natural gas resources. The agreement has been criticised by some Israeli politicians as overly favourable to the investors. The court has given a year to revise the deal. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others insist that further delays to the already protracted process will do serious harm to Israel’s energy industry.

The Independent online says that Palestinian Authority (PA) leaders have called on the United Nations (UN) to investigate an incident last week in Hebron, in which a Palestinian who attempted to stab soldiers was shot and incapacitated. Minutes later a soldier was caught on camera apparently shooting the assailant dead. The incident has sparked sharp public debate in Israel. The army has arrested the soldier and is conducting an investigation.

The Guardian, Independent i and the online edition of the Daily Mail all report that Dani Dayan has been appointed as Israel’s new Consul General to New York. Dayan, who is a former high-profile leader of Israeli communities in the West Bank, had originally been appointed as Israel’s Ambassador to Brazil seven months ago. However, Brazil’s government refused to accept the appointment, due to Dayan’s close links to the settler community.

The Times says that Jeffrey Goldberg will soon publish an article in the Atlantic revealing US President Obama’s views on world leaders. Apparently, he regards Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu as a “fountain of condescension” and is the “world leader who consistently frustrates Obama the most.”

The Telegraph online reports that Israeli pathologists have completed a report on the death of a British woman in the southern resort of Eilat, following a delay of several months. They concluded that she died of natural causes, due to a rare stomach condition. Her family, who have been critical of the police investigation are reportedly sceptical of the report.

The Financial Times includes a feature on Israeli tech companies which are looking to integrate ultra-Orthodox workers into their workforce, despite the potential cultural barriers.

The online editions of the Independent, Daily Mail, Daily Express and Daily Mirror all cover a Sky News report that Turkish authorities are combating an ISIS plan in its advanced stages to attack Jewish children in the country. Meanwhile, Israel has told all citizens to leave Turkey as soon as possible. Three Israelis were killed in a bomb attack in Istanbul earlier this month.

City AM and the online edition of the Daily Mail report that a senior Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander has pledged to continue the country’s ballistic missile programme. Iran has conducted several recent missile tests, which violate UN resolutions, prompting new US sanctions. Meanwhile, the Independent online says plans are being made for Prince Charles to conduct an official visit to Iran.

In the Israeli media, the aftermath of last week’s shooting in Hebron continues. Maariv reports that the prosecution may ask for the charge against the soldier to be altered from murder to causing death by negligence. Meanwhile, Haaretz highlights comments made on the issue yesterday by Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon, who said that the soldier is certainly not a hero, although he has been staunchly defended in some quarters, and asked “What do you want, a bestial army that has lost its moral backbone?”

Meanwhile, a major item in Yediot Ahronot, Haaretz and Israel Radio news is a vote in the Knesset yesterday in which the so-called “Suspension bill” was passed in a first reading by 59 to 53 votes. The bill would enable the Knesset, with a special majority, under certain circumstances to suspend a Knesset member. The legislative initiative came after three Arab MKs caused uproar after they visited the families of Palestinian terrorists killed while attacking Israelis and observed a moment of silence in their memory. However, there are suggestions that even if the bill passes second and third readings, it could be ruled unlawful.

Israel Hayom and Israel Radio news both prominently report that news that Israel’s counter-terrorism bureau has advised Israelis to leave Turkey as soon as possible, due to a growing threat particularly from ISIS.