Today’s Top Stories
1. Does Palestinian unity deal pave the way for ex-Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal to become president of the Palestinian Authority? Israel HaYom reports that the reconciliation agreement allows in principle for the possibility of Hamas joining the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the umbrella organization of Palestinian factions of which Fatah is the currently the leading member.
The paper adds that A) Mashaal’s presidential ambitions are well known within both Hamas and Fatah, B) he could exploit Mahmoud Abbas’ refusal to appoint a successor, and C) neither Israel nor Jordan would tolerate Hamas taking over the PA.
2. The UN Human Rights Council was accused of “blackmailing” Bezeq, Israel’s largest telecomm company, to cut services to West Bank settlements “or face a potential designation as a human rights abuser.” Around 30 businesses around the world have reportedly received similar letters, according to the Jerusalem Post.
Bezeq CEO Stella Handler posted on Facebook the UN letter along with a withering response, then removed it at the request of Israeli government officials. The Tazpit News Agency fills in the details of what both said.
Last year, the UNHRC voted to create a database blacklist “of all business enterprises [both Israeli and international] involved in the activities in the settlements, that would be updated once a year.”
3. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu arrived in Israel yesterday for discussions with Israeli officials on Syria and the expanding profile of Iran and its proxies there. More at the Jerusalem Post and Times of Israel.
Shoigu arrived hours after Israeli jets destroyed a Syrian anti-aircraft battery (Russian-made) near Damascus which had fired on them during a reconnaissance mission over Lebanese airspace.
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4. I’m seeing a spike in emails asking why I sometimes link to paywalled articles. That means it’s time to answer The 6 Questions About Paywalls You Were Afraid to Ask.
Israel and the Palestinians
• Israelis judokas are barred from competing under their flag at the Judo Grand Slam in Abu Dhabi.
The blue-and-white delegation to the final Grand Slam competition of the year is set to include 12 athletes, but Israel Judo Association chairman Moshe Ponte was informed by the organizers that they won’t be able to have the Israel flag on their judo uniform, as they do in every other event across the world. Instead of having ISR (Israel) by their names on the scoreboard and on their backs, they will have to take part in the contest as representatives of the IJF (International Judo Federation). The national anthem will also not be played, should an Israeli win a gold medal.
• Lebanon awarded gas and oil exploration licenses bordering Israeli waters, Globes reports.
Israel has not yet decided how to respond to this development, against the background of the border dispute between the two countries that has continued since Israel withdrew from its security zone in Lebanon in 2000.
More at Reuters.
• For first time in 15 years, Israel okays new homes for Hebron settlers. The 31 building permits issued are widely seen as a dig at UNESCO, which in July declared Hebron’s Old City to be an endangered Palestinian world heritage site.
• Intelligence Minister Israel Katz discussed the Trump administration’s new approach to the Iranian nuclear deal in a Washington Post Q+A.
• Worth reading: Daily Telegraph correspondent Raf Sanchez visits Syrians getting medical treatment in Israel.
Other Syrian women in the bright waiting room at Ziv hospital marveled that they were in Israel, a country they had always been told was an enemy of the Syrian people. “I never thought I would come here,” said one woman, whose daughter was in danger of losing her sight in one eye to an infection. “I was surprised that Israel wanted to help the Syrians. I never expected this in my life.”
• How many Palestinians die of embarrassment when this happens?
• Although Jerusalem and Havana don’t have diplomatic ties, an Israeli business delegation got tacit approval to visit Cuba to drum up trade:
Hayon also dismissed concerns over promoting business with a country whose leaders routinely and viciously attack Israel at every possible forum.
“Cuba is not listed as an enemy of Israel,” he said. “Business is the best bridge to diplomacy. Israeli firms can provide the Cuban people with many cost-effective solutions to improve the quality of life.”
Around the World
• Transport for London, the government body responsible for overseeing transportation in the London metropolitan area, is banning ads pushing Palestinian objections to the Balfour declaration. The Guardian reports:
TfL rejected the adverts because they “did not comply fully with our guidelines,” a spokesman said. Clause 2.3(h) refers to “images or messages which relate to matters of public controversy or sensitivity”. TfL also bans causes that are “party political” . . .
Organisers had hoped to see the adverts displayed at key underground stations and on buses in the run-up to the centenary of the first world war pledge on 2 November.
• After winning Austria’s elections, presumptive chancellor Sebastian Kurz told Israel HaYom that the far right Freedom Party would have to abide by a zero-tolerance policy on anti-Semitism before it can join his governing coalition.
• Germany’s Left Party withdraws anti-Israel initiative calling ‘to end occupation.’
• Halloween costume company removes Anne Frank outfit.
• Israelis are keeping an eye on two significant battles. US-backed forces ‘fully control’ Raqqa after liberating the capital city of Islamic State’s would-be caliphate.
Meanwhile, Iraqi government forces unexpectedly captured Kirkuk and major oil fields in a single day from Kurdish forces, who put up little resistance. Three weeks ago, the Iraqi Kurds voted to seek independence in a referendum opposed by Baghdad. Was Iran behind the Kurdish withdrawal?
Commentary/Analysis
• Plenty of commentary on yesterday’s Israel-Syria flare up:
– Anshel Pfeffer: Putin turning blind eye to Israeli attacks as long as Assad survives
– Ron Ben-Yishai: Neutralizing Syrian battery draws a new Israeli red line
– Prof. Eyal Zisser: Assad flexes his muscles
– Gili Cohen: Israel’s message to Russia sent in Syria, received in Tel Aviv
– Alex Fishman: Israel is done threatening Syria
• Here’s what else I’m reading today . . .
– Charles Bybelezer: Will Israel hold Abbas responsible for Hamas attacks?
– Dov Lieber: Veneer of positivity fades in Palestinian unity talks as tough issues surface
– Seth Frantzman: Israel and US should work with new UNESCO head, end opposition
– Colin Clarke: Taking stock of Hezbollah’s losses in Syria
– Ron Kampeas: What happens now with the Iran deal
– Dore Gold (video): There is a precedent for renegotiating flawed agreements
Featured image: CC BY Erich Ferdinand; Mashaal CC BY-SA HonestReporting.com, Wikimedia Commons/Trango; paywall CC BY-SA HonestReporting.com, flickr/Stephen Ferne, flickr/Tristan Bowler; jet CC BY-NC Israel Defense Forces; Underground CC BY-SA Julie, Dave & Family;
For more, see yesterday’s Israel Daily News Stream and join the IDNS on Facebook.
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