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Media Summary

03/06/2015

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The Independent i and the online edition of the Guardian both cover an interview given by US President Barack Obama to Israel’s Channel Two, which was broadcast yesterday evening. Obama defended the nascent nuclear deal with Iran and also said that the conditions demanded by Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a diplomatic solution with the Palestinian Authority (PA) are “unrealistic” and that without the prospect of a resumption of peace talks it would become increasingly difficult to defend Israel in international forums.

The Telegraph reports that a group of Israeli settlers, aided by funding from US activists, has purchased a disused hospital near Hebron. The report claims that the activists intend to establish a new settlement around the building and annex it to the Gush Etzion settlement bloc, which many assume will remain under Israeli sovereignty in any future peace deal.

The Independent i reports that an Israeli soldier, who violated IDF rules by eating a pork sandwich on base, will not face an 11-day spell in military prison. The army said that it had reviewed the case and decided to revoke the original sentence.

The Telegraph online covers a clash yesterday in the Gaza Strip in which Hamas forces shot dead an ISIS loyalist. The incident is part of a Hamas crackdown on ISIS activists in Gaza, who it is thought have been responsible for a series of recent explosions targeting Hamas facilities.

The Times and Telegraph both cover the latest International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report, which revealed that Iran has increased its uranium stock by 20 per cent during the last 18 months during negotiations with the international community over its nuclear programme.

Meanwhile, the Telegraph online covers comments made by Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani, who promised to back Syria’s President Assad “until the end of the road.” Iran and its Hezbollah proxy have closely supported Assad’s battle to remain in power during Syria’s civil war. In Syria itself, the online editions of the Guardian and Telegraph both report that the United States believes air support by Assad’s forces helped ISIS defeat opposition groups in a recent battle in Aleppo province.

In the Israeli media, Yediot Ahronot leads with a special Knesset session today to discuss the various campaigns to boycott Israel or exclude the country from international forums. Haaretz includes a report that Israeli intelligence assesses there will be an increase in Palestinian attempts to drive such campaigns. Meanwhile, Israel Hayom highlights a summit set to take place this weekend in Las Vegas among high-profile Jewish philanthropists to also discuss combatting efforts to boycott Israel.

President Obama’s interview on Channel Two, which was broadcast yesterday evening commands significant column inches in Maariv, Haaretz and is also covered prominently by Israel Radio news. Israel Hayom’s top story is what appeared to be a pre-emptive response to Obama’s comments from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who warned that the current nuclear agreement under discussion between Iran and the international community, will only bring Tehran closer to obtaining an atom bomb.

The top story in Maariv focuses on Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon’s plans to reform the real estate and banking markets. Among his proposals, Kahlon is apparently keen to introduce the concept of credit rating to Israel.