Today’s Top Stories
1. In rare move, Russian jets reportedly intercepted Israeli planes over Lebanon. An unspecified number of Sukhoi Su-34 jets are said to have challenged and forced away a pair of IAF F-16s in the skies over northern Lebanon’s coastal city of Tripoli. There was no confirmation of the incident from Israel or Russia.
Jerusalem and Moscow have a hotline specifically avoid such conflicts.
2. It looks like Israel’s air strikes are starting to drive a wedge between Damascus and Tehran. According to an Arab report picked up the by the Jersualem Post, the Syrian Air Force is no longer allowing Iran to store ammunition or host Iran-allied personnel on its air bases.
Citing a source in the Syrian army, the report stated that this is the first step in a process leading to a Syrian demand that Iranian backed-forces leave Syria.
The report goes on to claim that the Syrian regime is experiencing panic since Israel attacked Syrian Air Force sites used by Iranian-backed forces.
3. Mahmoud Abbas was discharged from the hospital today following a bout with pneumonia and an ear infection. The 83-year-old Palestinian leader walked out of the Istishari Arab Hospital unassisted and told reporters he would return to work tomorrow.
Israel and the Palestinians
• Israel to issue its own report on the Gaza riots, won’t collaborate with UN Human Rights Council per Israeli media reports.
• I love Joniversity‘s response to this idiotic Daily Express update on Gaza.
• The IDF found a Gaza drone intact and laden with explosives in the northern Negev last week. Haaretz explains:
The military is currently examining why the drone was flown into Israel and whether it was supposed to target soldiers stationed nearby. The Israel Defense Forces believe that the drone may have fallen for an unknown reason prior to reaching its destination, where it was supposed to land and explode.
Another option the military is looking into is that whoever operated the drone from within the Gaza Strip failed to land it and set it off according to plan.
• No World Cup for Hamas prisoners.
• Ever since the US embassy move, there’s been a surge of ugly antisemitic cartoons in the Arab press.
Window Into Israel
• Israel will grant humanitarian status to 300 Sudanese asylum seekers. The Times of Israel explains:
Approximately 1,100 Sudanese previously obtained the A5 humanitarian visa, which enables its holders to obtain drivers licenses, travel documents,and work permits. The humanitarian visa is a step below refugee status. Israel has recognized just 10 Eritreans and one Sudanese as refugees.
• Attorney General’s ultimatum to Sara Netanyahu and her lawyers: Reach a settlement with prosecutors by the end of the week or I indict the PM’s wife. More at Ynet and the Times of Israel.
• Leaked letter: Chief Rabbinate blacklisted dozens US Orthodox rabbis.
Around the World
• An Algerian blogger has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for interviewing an Israeli. AFP reports that Merzoug Touati, 30, has been held in custody ever since he posted on Facebook an interview with an official from Israel’s Foreign Ministry.
Amnesty International denounced “trumped-up espionage charges” that could have brought the death penalty on Touati while Reporters Without Borders slammed the Algerian judge’s sentence as “disproportionate and unjustified.”
• Can you imagine the headlines if Israel did this?
Commentary/Analysis
• Here’s what else I’m reading today . . .
– Brendan O’Neill: The ugly trade in Palestinian pain
– Yoav Limor: Hamas prepares for all scenarios
– Sever Plocker: Looking back, Gaza pullout was a mistake
– Herb Keinon: Why the month of May did not see an all-out Mideast explosion
– Amb. Alan Baker: Did Israel use “disproportionate force” to protect the Gaza fence?
Featured image: CC BY John Henderson; F-16 CC BY-NC Israeli Defense Forces;
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.
