Today’s Top Stories
1. Mahmoud Abbas signed the Rome Statute, requesting membership in the International Criminal Court. It paves the way for a possible war crimes probe of Israel by the International Criminal Court. The Israeli cabinet is meeting today to consider responses — presumably withholding tax transfers to the PA, rescinding Palestinian officials’ VIP travel permits, settlement activity, as well as legal steps to shield IDF personnel from possible ICC inquiries.
But take a deep breath before imaging the worst. The Jerusalem Post, in a must-read piece, explains the hoops the PA would have to go through to trigger real activity in The Hague. And the Washington Post points out something else:
The signing of the Rome Statute in itself does not have any legal effect until ratified by the Palestinian Authority, which could delay it indefinitely.
2. An Egyptian court ordered a new trial for three Al-Jazeera journalists sentenced to seven years in prison for supporting the Muslim Brotherhood and defaming Egypt.
The new trial should be seen in the context of Egyptian-Qatari rapprochement (Qatar’s royal family runs Al-Jazeera); it’s face-saving way to free the three. Just another case of Calvinball in Cairo.
3. Academia’s war on Israel continues. Watch for sparks to fly at the American Historical Association’s upcoming annual meeting. More at the Times of Israel.
4. The Israel Daily News Stream just finished its most successful year since its 2011 launch.
You gave the daily roundups nearly two million page views in 2014. You spent an average of 7-10 minutes perusing the news — a long time to hold anyone’s attention online. Throughout the year, you sent us much-appreciated feedback and encouragement.
So thank you for turning to HonestReporting.
Israel and the Palestinians
• Expecting more lone-wolf terror attacks in Jerusalem, Israel plans to put more than 1,100 additional cops on the street. Haaretz coverage.
• Palestinians lashed out at Nigeria, whose abstention killed their UNSC draft resolution. Nigerian media attributed the shifted support to Israel’s assistance in the African country’s war against Boko Haram.
• Truth is stranger than B-grade movies:
- Growing Jordan Valley Crocodile Threat Worries Israelis, Palestinians
- Rhinos escape from Ramat Gan safari
• Israeli president Ruby Rivlin made The Guardian‘s list of 2014 heroes.
Commentary/Analysis
• Unwittingly interviewing the brother of a dead terrorist? Oh no, Roger Cohen!
• For more commentary/analysis, see Boaz Bismuth (Yes, an Israeli victory), Barak Ravid (Enter the Palestinian “nuclear option”), Julian Borger (ICC membership could be a double-edged sword for Palestine), Norman Bailey (What Israel should resolve in 2015), and a New York Times staff-ed (The Palestinians’ desperation move).
Image: CC BY-NC-SA HonestReporting, flickr/Natasha Mileshina, flickr/Giulio Bernardi
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