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. According to Arab media reports, Hezbollah has a series of Lebanese front companies dealing in counterfeit medicine. The Jerusalem Post picked up on the story:
This international business in counterfeit medicine “facilitates the group’s terrorist operations,” the report stated, and includes Iranian citizens.
The group exploits the free trade zone in the Gulf and in Europe to run its business.
Hezbollah also steals drugs from shipments of drugs donated to African countries, sources quoted by the paper said.
And check out this related video:
2. Israeli Neturei Karta member indicted on espionage charges: The Jerusalem resident visited the Iranian embassy in Berlin, offered to provide info and even “murder a Zionist.” YNet coverage.
3. Times of Israel: Foreign Ministry employees are suspending their work sanctions after agreeing to mediation. Visas and passport will be issued to the public and consular services will resume today. That’s good news for eight Canadian soldiers who completed their peacekeeping duties — they were stuck in Israel because their replacements couldn’t get their visas processed.
Meanwhile, Israel HaYom obtained a copy of a letter signed by 103 of Israel’s 109 ambassadors and consuls sent to the Prime Minister’s office and Finance Ministry.
Israel and the Palestinians
• Is anyone really surprised by this headline?
Israelis, Palestinians argue over which issues come up first
• The Israeli-Arab businessmen who tried to open a branch of an Israeli clothing store in Ramallah gave up on the endeavor in the face of anti-normalization protests. The Jerusalem Post notes that the Fox clothing store would’ve created around 150 jobs.
• Ahmed Feteha (Wall St. Journal, via Google News) wants to know: Where’s the PA’s democratic accountability?
• For commentary/analysis, see Orly Azoulay, David Ignatius, Reuven Berko, Jeffrey Goldberg, Daniel Nisman, Robert Danin, Khaled Abu Toameh, Reuters, the Financial Times (via Google News), Lee Smith, Damien McElroy, and cartoonist Kevin Kallagher of The Economist.
- Leo Leiderman tapped as next Bank of Israel governor.
- Lebanon’s president talks about controlling Hezbollah’s arms.
- Lawyer seeks to bring Israel to the Hague for unlawful death of Jesus.
