Today’s Top Stories
1. The IDF intercepted the Gaza-bound Mariane without incident. The Swedish-flagged ship is now being taken to Ashdod. The activists and journalists aboard will be deported. There were local angles for papers in Vancouver, New Zealand, and Sweden.
Two additional boats making their way to the Gaza coast turned back after the interception. It was not clear whether they were returning to their ports in Greece or if they planned to resume their sail to Gaza at a later time.
2. Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon acknowledged that Israel has been sending medical aid to Syrian rebels.
“We’ve assisted them under two conditions,” Ya’alon said of the Israeli medical aid to the Syrian rebels, some of whom are presumably fighting with al-Qaeda affiliate al-Nusra Front to topple Syrian President Bashar Assad. “That they don’t get too close to the border, and that they don’t touch the Druze.”
3. The UN Human Rights Council is now discussing the Schabas report in Geneva. Israel’s considering severing ties with the council, which is expected to vote on adopting the report later this week. More on the Geneva follies at YNet.
4. The NYT Balances the UN Human Rights Council: The New York Times tries to undermine the claim that the UNHRC is “obsessed” with Israel. The facts show otherwise.
Israel and the Palestinians
• Hamas leader confirms rumors of indirect talks with Israel.
• Israel agreed to release hunger-striking Palestinian prisoner Khader Adnan next month. Adnan, a leader of Islamic Jihad, stopped eating 56 days ago. No word on whether he’s expected to complete daylight fasting for the rest of Ramadan. According to the Jerusalem Post:
Khader Adnan’s strike had galvanized Palestinians behind a “battle of empty stomachs” against Israeli administrative detentions, and both sides had feared the threat of him dying could hurt a shaky Gaza truce or lead to an upsurge in violence.
If the release goes as planned, this will be the second time Adnan got out of jail free through a prolonged hunger strike. He was re-arrested last year in an Israeli sweep after three Israeli teenagers were abducted and killed last year.
• The president of Cyprus thinks inviting Benyamin Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas to address EU leaders in Brussels might spark some kind of progress in the peace process. The two would likely speak in separate visits. According to Haaretz, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades is currently feeling out European impressions.
• Hamas masses forces on Israeli border, trains for new round of fighting.
• Recently-appointed Foreign Minister director general Dore Gold visited Egypt to discuss regional issues. It’s the first time since 2011 that Israel has sent a director-general there. Last week, Egypt appointed a new ambassador to Israel.
• Hamas showed off for Iranian TV what it claims is a “new” 3.5 km terror tunnel stretching into Israel.
From the footage aired on the news network, it was not clear if the tunnel was in fact new or if the segment inside the tunnel was filmed before the 50-day conflict last summer and repackaged.
• YNet looks at ongoing Palestinian vandalism at the Mount of Olives cemetery.
• Palestinian terror continues to boil.
– Palestinian stabbed Israeli soldier near Rachel’s Tomb.
– Soldiers catch Palestinian with rifle trying to cross the security fence.
– 15-year-old Palestinian girl caught trying to smuggle rifle into Jerusalem.
– Israeli ambulance hit by gunfire in West Bank.
Around the World
• Worth reading: The BBC takes the pulse of Israeli attitudes towards Iran and the nuclear talks.
• Greece’s imploding finances will most likely not directly impact Israel. But as the fallout ripples through the international economy, indirect effects will reach the Jewish state.
• Hezbollah man pleads guilty in Cyprus bombing plot.
• Jewish institutions in Belgium will receive 4 million euros from the government to boost security.
• Amazon and eBay crack down on Confederate flags, but leave swastikas.
• Paris Jews to YNet: If you’re pro-Israel in France, you’re finished . . .
The young Jews we met paint a complex picture: They are more careful about displaying their Jewish identity, and fear anti-Semitic incidents and terror attacks. Some believe that immigration to Israel or the United States is the solution. Others believe that this would only reward the terrorists.
The increase in interest in Aliyah to Israel is clearly reflected in the statistics.
Commentary/Analysis
• Here’s what else I’m reading today . . .
– Dan Meridor: Could Israel partner with Arabs against Iran?
– Aharon Lapidot: Protective Edge: Soldiers under fire
– Yossi Beilin: Postponing Iran talks deadline – a very bad idea
– Ray Takeyh: The payoff for Iran
– Claudia Rosett: Nuclear bargains and State Dept. backlogs
– Michael Herzog: A dangerous deal that legitimizes Iran’s nuclear status (click via Google News)
• Last, but not least, Fisk’s being Fisk again.
Featured image: CC BY Terje Skjerdal via flickr with additions by HonestReporting; tunnel via YouTube/Alalam News; Paris CC BY-NC-ND flickr/nebojsa mladjenovic;
For more, see yesterday’s Israel Daily News Stream and join the IDNS on Facebook.
