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. Benny Begin, the former Knesset member who drew up the Bedouin relocation plan, tossed out this bombshell:
“I wish to reiterate that in contradiction of what has been claimed during recent weeks, I never told a soul that the Bedouins agreed with my plan. The reason is simple: I didn’t say it because I couldn’t say it, I never presented them with the plan.”
He also had sharp words for protesters:
“Adopting the claims of 500 Bedouin protesters – who were joined by an additional 500 Arabs from the north taken to the protest by bus – who say they represent the entire Negev Bedouin population is a clear victory for agitators.”
2. Israel, the PA and Jordan will sign a major agreement to create a Red Sea-Dead Sea link. The move will provide more desalinated drinking water to the region and renew the shrinking Dead Sea. More at the Times of Israel.
3. All the Israeli papers picked up on an Iranian report that the Israeli and Saudi intelligence chiefs met on the sidelines of Geneva peace talks, discussing how to contain Iran. Jerusalem Post coverage suffices.
4. The Lancet: Injecting Politics Into Medicine: Medical journal’s look at Palestinian health causes aches and pains.
Israel and the Palestinians
• Roger Waters is on the warpath again. The former co-founder of Pink Floyd told CounterPunch:
The situation in Israel/ Palestine, with the occupation, the ethnic cleansing and the systematic racist apartheid Israeli regime is un acceptable . . . The parallels with what went on in the 30’s in Germany are so crushingly obvious that it doesn’t surprise me that the movement that both you and I are involved in is growing every day.
I’m mentioning this because his comments fall within the US State Department’s definition of anti-Semitism, as well as the EU’s working definition of anti-Semitism. So if you haven’t already done so, sign HonestReporting’s petition calling on news services to adopt these definitions and put an end to the demonization of Israel in the media.
• Bibi’s security detail strip searched another journalist. Haaretz reports:
“I was asked to strip in front of everyone,” said Muammar Awad, who carries a press card issued by Israel’s Government Press Office, works for the Chinese news agency Xinhua. “I took off all my clothes, including my socks and my pants, and was left in my underpants and undershirt.”
It’s not the first time this year guards needlessly strip searched a reporter. Journalists once threatened to boycott the Prime Minister over a spate of humiliating searches.
• Reuters looks at the impact of Egypt’s tunnel closures on Gaza’s economy.
• On a lighter note, ABC News has the backstory on a Palestinian spoof of Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Volvo commercial. Gaza comedian Mahmoud Zuiter poked fun at the strip’s energy crisis.
• For commentary/analysis, see Guy Bechor.
Rest O’ the Roundup
• The number of Palestinians and Israeli-Arabs fighting in Syria (for Assad) is on the rise.
Despite their relatively low numbers, the report found an increase in Palestinian fighters traveling to Syria, raising concern they may become radicalized on the battlefield and subsequently carry out attacks against their own governments — whether in Gaza or Israel — upon their return home.
• According to Arab media reports, a bunch of senior Sinai jihadi terrorists escaped to Gaza. YNet coverage.
• Hezbollah says it has nothing to do with media apology
(Image of Dead Sea via Flickr/L Church)
For more, see yesterday’s Israel Daily News Stream.
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