Media Summary
Labour activists compare Israel to Nazi Germany
BBC News Online, the Independent and the Guardian report on the shooting attack in the town of Har Adar. A Palestinian man opened fire at the entrance to the settlement killing three people and seriously injuring a fourth.
The Daily Mail reports that the UN envoy to the Mideast, Nickolay Mladenov, told the UN Security Council (UNSC) yesterday that Israel is not complying with a UNSC Resolution demanding a stop to all settlement activity and is instead expanding the settlements, making a two-state solution “increasingly unattainable”.
The Telegraph, Times and the Sun both report that Labour party activists compared Israel to Nazi Germany at a meeting during the Labour Party Conference in Brighton. At a fringe meeting entitled “Free Speech on Israel,” activists also called for the Jewish Labour Movement (JLM) and Labour Friends of Israel (LFI) to be “kicked out” of the party and said that Israel had committed “genocide” in Gaza. Wes Streeting, MP for Ilford North, accused the party leader Jeremy Corbyn of pursuing an “ostrich strategy” when it comes to antisemitism within the party.
BBC News Online reports that there has been a large turnout in the independence referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan and that while votes are still being counted, a large “yes” victory is expected.
Yediot Ahronot and Maariv continue prominent coverage of the elections in Germany, they quote an official from the Alternative für Deutschland party saying that “the Jews don’t need to worry”.
Maariv and Haaretz give significant coverage to the Kurdish referendum for independence.
Yediot Ahronot and Maariv continue to report the disability allowance protest calling for an increase in the allowance in line with the minimum wage. Yesterday the protesters blocked a major road junction and the police fined protesters for obstructing the road.
Yediot Ahronot leads with an exclusive picture of a crack in the natural gas pipeline that threatened to cut Israel’s electricity supply. The leak was discovered last week and alternative fuel was used to supply the electricity grid. However, the incident highlighted the concern that Israel is currently reliant on a single natural gas pipeline.
Maariv reports on a preliminary “defeat in the diplomatic battle against the Palestinians,” as the Palestinian Authority (PA) will tomorrow submit an application to join the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol). The paper cites three reasons that Israel is against them joining: “First, this will grant the PA legitimacy in another international organization. Second, if the PA is a member of Interpol, it will be able to issue international arrest warrants against IDF officers, which could be a severe diplomatic and legal blow to Israel. Third, there is concern that sensitive information regarding the war on terrorism could leak to the Palestinian Authority.”
Israel Hayom discusses the ceremony tomorrow in the Etzion Bloc marking the 50th anniversary of settlement in Judea and Samaria, the Jordan Valley and the Golan. The event will be attended by the Prime Minister, ministers and MKs. The paper also asks if Zionist Union and Yesh Atid MKs are boycotting the event. The paper also quotes NGO Peace Now, who say that “there is no reason to celebrate, the essence of the event undermines the two-state vision, and there is no justification for taking part. We call on all peace-seeking elected officials who support the two-state solution to refrain from honouring this inappropriate celebration with their presence”. Kan Radio News claims that Zionist Union and Yesh Atid MKs are not attending because their respective leaders were not invited to speak. Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid said that Haim Yelin will represent his party at the gathering and called the boycott report erroneous.
Maariv reports on efforts of a local football league, which includes teams from Jerusalem, the Etzion Bloc and Kiryat Arba, to include a team from the Palestinian village of Wadi al-Nis. The Palestinian team were initially happy to join, but the Palestinian Football Association did not approve their includion.