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Today’s Top Stories
1. Mother of kidnapped teen to UN: more can be done
Rachel Frenkel, the mother of Naftali Frenkel, one of the three Israeli teens kidnapped by Hamas terrorists, appeared before the UN Human Rights Council to plead for more help finding the three boys. See the video below for her testimony:
2. UN Security Council fails to agree on language to condemn Israel for West Bank operations.
A bid by Arab representatives to the UN Security Council for a statement condemning Israel’s efforts to save its boys from Palestinian kidnappers failed over questions about language.
Diplomats said Jordan insisted that “deploring” wasn’t strong enough and U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power said the stronger language Jordan proposed went beyond the U.S. “strict red lines.” The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because the consultations were closed.
3. Cabinet votes to scale back West Bank operations.
The Times of Israel reports that the greater media scrutiny of the operation was a factor in the move:
The decision came amid raised concerns that the continued IDF crackdown during the Ramadan holiday would spark riots, and in light of increased international scrutiny and criticism of Operation Brother’s Keeper.
4. Australian Jews as Jihadists
5. HR Hosts Inaugural Rooftop Speaker Event
Rest O’ the Roundup
• Last of the known Syrian chemical weapons shipped out of the country to be destroyed. International body overseeing the process, however, warned that the chemical threat from Syria was not over entirely:
The organization, which is helping oversee Syria’s compliance with its chemical disarmament promises, stopped short of pronouncing Syria free of all chemical weapons. It said that verification work was not complete and reminded the Syrian authorities that they have not yet destroyed — as required — a dozen facilities used for making and mixing the munitions. A separate inquiry by the organization into suspected use of chlorine gas bombs in the conflict is also pending.
• Ever since the Australian government announced it would stop using the term “occupied” to describe eastern Jerusalem, it has been on the defensive against Arab officials threatening trade sanctions. But terminology matters when it comes to matters of peace, and an op-ed in the Sydney Morning Herald explains why:
Avoiding pejorative language acknowledges that competing narratives of the past exist and avoids taking sides so that those different descriptions can be resolved the only way they possibly can be – by direct negotiations between the two sides.
• Israeli Justice Ministry seeking to impose stiffer penalties for stone throwing.
For more, see yesterday’s Israel Daily News Stream.
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