Media Summary
Nationality bill passes preliminary reading
The Times reports that Israel’s public broadcaster has been shut down, with the nightly news show ending with only two hours notice. The new broadcaster, Kan, will be launched on Monday. The BBC reports that news presenter Geula Even was tearful as she announced that the show had been cancelled.
The Guardian reports on the story that British Jihadi Aine Lesley Davis has been convicted on terrorism charges in Turkey. The article notes that Davis was in contact with a Palestinian terror suspect, calling him 15 times and eventually moving in with him in Silivri, Turkey.
The i reports that Pizza Hut has withdrawn a Facebook advert that mocked the leader of the Palestinian hunger strike Marwan Barghouti.
The Israeli media speculates on the upcoming visit of US President Donald Trump, and the possibility that a three way summit will be convened with Prime Minister Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas.
Israel Hayom reports that the White House is still considering relocating the American Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. Earlier reports in the Israeli media had suggested that in June Trump would renew the Presidential waiver to the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act and postpone the decision by another six months. Also on the Trump visit, Haaretz reports that Prime Minister Netanyahu postponed a meeting of a planning committee for settlement construction until after the visit of President Trump in order to avoid friction with the U.S.
Maariv reports that the bill Israel as the Nation-State of the Jewish People, introduced by Likud MK Avi Dichter, passed in a preliminary reading. It was supported by 48 MKs, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposed by 41 MKs. Benny Begin of Likud, whose own shortened version of the bill is supported by some parties in the opposition, was absent from the vote.
Yediot Ahronoth reports that the Foreign Ministry has submitted a list of requests to American Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley which seek American support in several efforts to change the biased attitude towards Israel in the UN.
Haaretz reports that the PA is to stop providing medicines and baby formula to hospitals in the Gaza Strip.