Today’s Top Stories
1. What impact would Britain’s potential exit from the European Union have on the Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts? Analysts talking to The Media Line were divided.
Pollsters say the outcome of tomorrow’s referendum is too close to call.
2. According to reports coming out of Syria picked up by the Times of London, Russia is dropping thermite bombs on residential areas of Aleppo, in violation of international conventions. Can you imagine the outrage if Israel did this?
Photographs have also shown what experts believe to be a thermobaric bomb, the most powerful explosive apart from a nuclear weapon, being detonated next to urban areas, with potentially devastating effects for civilians.
Video footage has emerged showing the glowing showers of what is thought to be thermite raining down on a rebel-held suburb in the west of the city and starting huge fires . . .
Thermite bombs are incendiary weapons that burn at extremely high temperatures and are difficult to extinguish. Like phosphorus, thermite causes severe and often fatal burns.
#Russia's thermite and thermobaric bombs rain upon #Aleppo – where is the political will to stop these atrocities? https://t.co/sToQmQqpOt
— Jack Losh (@jacklosh) June 22, 2016
3. Syrian rebels affiliated with Islamic State claim Israel launched an air strike on their position in southern Syria. Lebanese reports suggest Israel targeted a missile system captured by Islamists from the Syrian military. Israel never confirms or denies these reports.
Join the fight for Israel’s fair coverage in the news
Israel and the Palestinians
• EU officials asked visiting President Reuven Rivlin to meet with Mahmoud Abbas, but no get-together has been scheduled, according to the Times of Israel. Rivlin is scheduled to address the European Parliament today; Abbas will address the parliament tomorrow.
Rivlin also visited visited NATO headquarters in Brussels and met with Belgium’s Prime Minister, Charles Michel.
• New red alert for tunnel digging into Israel.
• Lockheed-Martin will today unveil the first of Israel’s new F-35 stealth fighter jets (named in Hebrew “Adir,” or “mighty.” Israel’s the first country outside the US to get this new toy.
• Tweet of the day from Ofir Gendelman:
Abbas gave the Saudi king a copy of the "Palestine Post" as a present. Didn't he know that it was a Zionist paper? pic.twitter.com/vCmxTrRbTJ
— Ofir Gendelman (@ofirgendelman) June 22, 2016
• The PA scheduled municipal elections for October 8. Maan News says it’s not clear if balloting will include Gaza.
The last local elections that were held in 2012, which did not include the Gaza Strip, were mired in allegations of corruption and political intimidation by Fatah officials and resulted in Hamas boycotting the elections.
Around the World
• Iranian navy announces 20 military drills over coming months.
• Swastikas in London stoke fears of anti-Semitism.
Commentary/Analysis
• Here’s what else I’m reading today . . .
– Yaakov Katz: Money is not what makes the US-Israel aid deal important
– Gil Troy: Palestinian terror appeasers
– Jonathan Russo: An end-of-semester report card for BDS-supporting students
– Gilad Sharon: Who needs the Saudi Peace plan?
– Kenneth Bandler: Looming Presbyterian assault on Israel
– Emmanuel Navon: The Israeli case against Brexit
– Judith Bergman: UN makes peace with yoga
Featured image: CC BY Stylianos Mystakidis with additions by HonestReporting;
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