Everything you need to know about today’s coverage of Israel and the Mideast. Join the Israel Daily News Stream on Facebook.
Today’s Top Stories
1. Jason Koutsoukis, the reporter linked to the Zygier case, says his home was burglarized the day after contacting the alleged Mossad man. YNet writes:
The Australian reporter said that at the time, he suspected that the Israel Security Agency was behind the break-in, but stressed that those were only his suspicions and that he had no proof of any kind to that effect.
2. What’s next for Stanley Fischer, who is stepping down as governor of the Bank of Israel? Washington officials are already talking about tapping Fischer for Federal Reserve Chairman. The Washington Post explains in-depth why that scenario’s not so far-fetched.
In this post-crisis era, the job of a central banker requires someone who is simultaneously a brilliant economist, regulator, diplomat and politician. Among Fed watchers, there is quiet, off-the-record talk that that person might be Fischer.
3. Iran’s top nuke scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh Mahabadi, was reportedly present for North Korea’s nuclear test. The Sunday Times writes:
He is in charge of developing a warhead small enough to fit on to one of the ballistic missiles developed by Iran from North Korean prototypes, the sources said. His trip may have been worth the risk because North Korea’s triumphant announcement of the blast hinted that it was a compact, powerful device . . .
Fakhrizadeh-Mahabadi has been identified as a “person involved in nuclear or ballistic missile activities” in UN security council documents and his assets are supposedly frozen.
While we’re on the subject of Iran and North Korea being best buddies, AP notes reports that North Korea appears to be upgrading one of its rocket launching sites with Iranian help.
4. Join HonestReporting’s Inside Israel Mission. Date: May 22-28, 2013. Israel’s #1 mission. Click for more information. Last few rooms remaining!
5. Soccer Hooligans: Egypt’s Vs. Israel’s. How apt is the Washington Post’s comparison between racist Beitar Jerusalem fans and Egyptian soccer hooligans trying to topple the Morsi regime?
Prisoner X: The Facts, the Fallout
• Australia to investigate Prisoner X affair, asks for Israeli answers. More at the Times of Israel.
• For more commentary and analysis, see Warren Reed (former Australian intelligence officer). Weighing in on the scandal’s media aspects are the Christian Science Monitor, New Statesman, and Israeli columnists Dan Margalit, Boaz Bizmuth, and Amit Lewinthal.
Israel and the Palestinians
• Maan News: Bulgaria raided a hotel hosting a visiting Hamas delegation. The Hamasniks were ordered to leave the country.
• Bad boys: Israel re-arrested a few Palestinians who were released in the Gilad Shalit prisoner swap. Haaretz writes:
Since the deal that liberated Shalit was signed in October 2011, the Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet security service have rearrested 14 of the prisoners released in the exchange. At the time five of them had been sentenced to between 24 and 38 years in prison. Now, they are slated to complete the remainder of their sentences from 16 to 28 years.
• An IDF sniper proverbially shot himself in the foot with this tasteless photo of a Palestinian child he posted on Instagram. The Times of Israel says Mor Ostrovski’s account on the photo-sharing site was closed after all the embarrassing attention.
• Veronique Chemla describes the latest round of legal action between Philippe Karsenty and Charles Enderlin over the Mohammed al-Dura video. See also a video of Karsenty updating the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. A verdict will be handed down on April 3, 2013.
- Israel treats injured Syrians for the first time.
- Hezbollah offers refuge to Alawite military officers. What’s in it for Hezbollah?
- Israel finalizes plans for railway alternative to Suez Canal
