Media Summary
Palestinian Authority targets Israel through UNESCO
The Financial Times reports that Hamas has described the diplomatic and economic cordon imposed on Qatar by Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and Bahrain as an attack on Palestinians. Hamas spokesman Faqri Barhoum described the move as “an attempt to strangle Hamas, and to punish two million Palestinians in Gaza”. A Hamas activist expressed “appreciation and gratitude” to Qatar for being an “incubator for the Palestinian revolution”, as 150 women and children gathered in Gaza in front of a mosque and unfurled Qatari and Palestinian flags.
Maariv cites a report from the Palestinian Al-Quds newspaper that Hamas Political Bureau Deputy Director Moussa Abu Marzuk held a secret one-on-one meeting with Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah. According to the report, they discussed the political crises between the Gulf states and Qatar and the influence of this development on the armed Palestinian factions, mainly in the Gaza Strip. The paper suggests that the goal of the meeting was to create three fronts that would operate against Israel in parallel: From Syria, from Lebanon and from Gaza.
Yediot Ahronot reveals what they refer to as a “Security Cabinet revolution”. Prime Minister Netanyahu, having studied the highly critical Comptroller’s report into Operation Protective Edge, has now made new recommendations on the functioning of the security cabinet, the authority of ministers and the decision making process.
Haaretz reports on the revelations that the Israel Police has information that Prime Minister Netanyahu received favors from a businessman who has been implicated in a corruption investigation against him.
Israel Hayom reports that legislation is being prepared that would require the Knesset to reach a special majority of 80 members to partition Jerusalem.
Maariv and Israel Hayom report on the police raid on the publishers of the memoirs of former Prime Minister Olmert regarding concerns that it includes classified documents.
Haaretz features a prominent report that claims Arab women facing pressure from family members to get married are marrying men with severe mental health conditions.
Yediot Ahronot highlights the latest attempt by the Palestinian Authority to target Israel through international institutions, as they ask UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee to list the Old City of Hebron and the Tomb of the Patriarchs as a Palestinian world heritage site. The committee is due to convene on 1 July in Krakow, Poland.
Maariv also includes a report that Al Jazeera’s website posted a video clip attacking the Strategic Affairs Ministry’s 4IL campaign. The ministry is currently running an international ad campaign that directs people to its new site (www.4il.org.il), which provides tools to battle calls to boycott the State of Israel.