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Media Summary

01/07/2015

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The Guardian and the online edition of the Telegraph both report that the nuclear talks between Iran and the P5+1 powers (US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany) have been extended by a week, as issues remain unresolved in negotiating a long-term agreement over Tehran’s nuclear development. Reports say that the two sides will look to conclude a deal by 9 July, with US Congress permitted to take two months, rather than one to review a deal if it is agreed on 10 July or thereafter, potentially holding up its implementation.

The Guardian online covers comments made yesterday by US President Barack Obama, who reiterated that the United States will walk away from a bad deal, which is not compliant with the framework agreed in April and does not prevent Iran’s nuclear armament. The Financial Times says that at the same time as negotiating with Iran, Washington is looking to mend ties with Gulf states who have expressed concern over the nascent deal. On Monday, US military aid to Bahrain was restored. The Independent i suggests that an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report will be published today detailing that Iran has reduced its uranium stock in compliance with a 2013 agreement.

The Financial Times reports on political opposition towards Israel’s government over a deal agreed with the two principle investors in the country’s natural gas industry. The government was forced to postpone a vote on granting it the power to conclude the agreement, after it failed to muster a Knesset majority. Opponents have accused the government of selling the country’s natural resources to tycoons.

The Times covers a report in Israel, which claims that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was twice secretively taken to hospital for tests on an enlarged prostate, although he remains in good health.

The Financial Times covers an agreement between mobile giant Orange and its Israeli affiliate Partner, which uses the Orange brand domestically. The two companies have agreed terms for ending the licensing agreement between them, seemingly paving the way to end their relationship which was seriously strained when the Orange CEO recently appeared to indicate he favours removing the company from Israel for political reasons.

The Independent i and the online edition of the Guardian both report that a mural by a Palestinian artist depicting the rainbow flag of the LGBT movement, has been whitewashed from Israel’s security barrier by Palestinians.

The Guardian online covers a video clip released by ISIS in Syria, in which the group threatened to overrun Israel and overthrow Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

In the Israeli media, the top story in Yediot Ahronot and Maariv, which is also covered prominently in Haaretz and Israel Hayom is the death yesterday of 26-year-old Malachi Moshe Rosenfeld, who was critically wounded when gunmen opened fire on a car he was travelling in through the West Bank on Monday evening. Three others were also wounded in the attack. It was the latest in a number of terror attacks in the West Bank and Jerusalem and security officials are apparently divided over whether this is a coordinated campaign or not. Writing in Yediot Ahronot, Yossi Yehoshua says, “The recent wave of terror attacks, which has claimed two people’s lives in less than two weeks, finds the security establishment powerless and clueless.”

The top item in Haaretz and Israel Hayom is the publication yesterday of the proposed gas deal agreed between the government and the two primary investors in Israel’s natural gas industry. The details were revealed at a press conference by Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz. Commentators in all dailies deliberate over the deal. Meanwhile, Yediot Ahronot and Maariv highlight that State Comptroller Yosef Shapira has asked the government to hold off on finalising the deal until he has issued a report on the matter.