Today’s Top Stories
1. Raising the stakes in its power struggle with Hamas, the Palestinian Authority notified Israel that it will no longer cover the costs of electricity that Israel provides to Gaza. Ynet explains:
Israel supplies the Gaza Strip with electricity through 10 power lines that produce 125 megawatts, about 30% of the electricity required in Gaza. The cost of electricity consumption in Gaza is estimated at NIS 40 million (around $11 million) a month—a sum which Israel deducts from the Palestinian Authority taxes.
If the PA refuses to cover Gaza’s electricity bill, payments can also be made through the international community or private entities.
2. BBC News reports that the UK Charity Commission, which registers and regulates British charities, will take a closer look at student unions supporting BDS. What’s the basis for the scrutiny?
Since 2010, students’ unions have become registered charities, meaning they have a legal duty to represent the interests of their members.
According to guidance, public comment should also be limited to matters that affect the welfare of the union’s members as students.
The BBC understands these issues have been raised with the Charity Commission, which is assessing them to determine if any regulatory action should be taken.
A Charity Commission spokesperson said concerns about links to the BDS Movement would be “assessed consistently” and, where appropriate, it would “take regulatory action”.
David Holdsworth, from the commission, said students’ unions must not be discriminatory towards students “of a particular faith or race”.
3. Israel fears new UNESCO resolution will contest its sovereignty over western Jerusalem, the Jerusalem Post reports.
Israel is concerned that the new draft, co-authored by Europe, will include the clause rejecting Israeli sovereignty over Western Jerusalem, a move which threatens to delegitimize the government of the Jewish state, according to diplomats.
Israel’s main governing bodies — its parliament, prime minister’s office, foreign ministry and supreme court — are all located in Israel’s capital city of Jerusalem.
They could not help noting that the cynicism of passing such a resolution on Israel’s Independence Day.
More on Israel’s efforts against the resolution at Ynet.
Join the fight for Israel’s fair coverage in the news
Israel and the Palestinians
• Israel reportedly struck an Iranian arms depot near Damascus International Airport early Thursday morning. More at Ynet.
• Israeli tanks destroyed a Hamas position along the Gaza border after soldiers doing routine security work came under fire this afternoon.
• President Donald Trump will reportedly recognize entire Jerusalem as Israel’s capital during a visit in late May.
• Hamas tackles fake news:
• Israeli intelligence minister to Reuters: Israel seeks an understanding with the US that Iran must be prevented from setting up a military presence in Syria.
Around the World
• Massachusetts Democrats are moving to kill a proposal for a state party committee to declare Israeli settlements illegal. Party officials said the proposal was unbalanced and would cost Democrats Jewish votes. Boston Globe coverage.
• Minnesota Legislature approves anti-BDS measure
• Critics slammed City University of New York for inviting Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour to give a commencement address, reports the JTA and Wall St. Journal (click via Twitter).
Sarsour made waves in March when she declared that there’s no room for Zionism in the feminist movement.
• A UK Liberal Democrat candidate was sacked over anti-Semitism allegations. In recent years, David Ward posted a blog comparing the treatment of Palestinians by “Jews” to the Holocaust, questioned the right of “apartheid Israel” to exist, and suggested he was ready to fire rockets at Israel from Gaza. Daily Telegraph coverage.
Commentary/Analysis
• Here’s what else I’m reading today . . .
– Raphael Ahren: Why Netanyahu gave Germany’s FM the Silence treatment
– Bassam Tawil: Palestinians: This is how we intimidate journalists
– Dr. Reuven Berko: Who’s afraid of Marwan Barghouti?
– Kobi Richter: In Mideast peace efforts, Israel must deal its own cards
– Teodora Coptil: EU-Israel relations: Trojan horses, snakes, ladders and boycotts
– Yossi Melman: North Korea and the Jewish question
Featured image: CC BY Robert Couse-Baker; light bulb CC0 Pixabay; money CC BY-NC-ND Bryan Jones; Sarsour CC BY Festival of Faiths;
For more, see yesterday’s Israel Daily News Stream and join the IDNS on Facebook.
Before you comment on this article, please remind yourself of our Comments Policy. Any comments deemed to be in breach of the policy will be removed at the editor’s discretion.
