Today’s Top Stories
1. Hamas blocks a group of orphans from visiting Israel on a trip promoting peace. The group’s spokesman said the move was necessary to “protect the culture of our children and our people” from normalizing relations with Israel. The fathers of the kids, ages 5-12, had been killed during the Gaza war.
The children, some of them with families with strong links to Hamas, had been cleared to go on the special visit by the IDF over a week ago and were set to visit an Israeli safari, tour the Bediun town of Rahat, and even meet Palestinian President Abbas in Ramallah. They were also scheduled to tour the Israeli communities which live near the Gaza border.
2. Egypt and other Arab states ban Hollywood biblical film, Exodus.
“It is a Zionist film,” Egyptian culture minister, Gaber Asfour, said. “It gives a Zionist view of history and contains historical inaccuracies and that’s why we have decided to ban it.” The Guardian’s coverage of the issue is a fine example of cultural relativism. Would the paper have been so matter-of-fact about the story if it were Israel banning a story that celebrates Egyptians?
3. A New York Times op-ed presents the upcoming elections as a referendum on the “Jewish State” question under discussion before elections were called, though the author takes a clear stand against the measure:
The notion of a Jewish state is ultimately political poison for the Jewish Diaspora, and specifically for American Jews. If Israel is seen as a Jewish state, then the implication exists that some or all of America’s seven million Jewish Americans “belong” in Israel. They do not. They belong in the United States, and they’re not going anywhere.
Israel and the Palestinians
• Eleven year old injured in Palestinian firebomb. She remains in serious condition.
• Israel rescues baby that collapsed along border between West Bank and Jordan.
• UK politician Baroness Warsi comes out publicly in favor of the UK recognizing a Palestinian state “because “quiet” diplomacy has failed to persuade Israel to meaningfully pursue a two-state solution,” The Independent reports.
• Evidence of ISIS in Gaza? Palestinian artists and writers report receiving threats from Islamists for “insulting Islam.”
For more, see Thursday’s Israel Daily News Stream and join the IDNS on Facebook.
