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Media Summary

28/07/2015

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The fallout from the nuclear deal agreed earlier this month between Iran and the P5+1 (US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany) continues. Writing in the Guardian, European Union (EU) foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini, who played a key role in the talks, argues that the agreement shows the need for “cooperation over confrontation” in order to create a new chapter in the Middle East.

The Telegraph says that Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister has suggested that the United States and Iran could cooperate over combatting terror in the future, if the nuclear deal is implemented. Meanwhile, the Independent reports that newspaper editors in Iran have been ordered by the country’s Supreme National Security Council to provide positive coverage of the nuclear deal. The Telegraph says that oil giants Shell, BP and Total are expected to aggressively pursue business opportunities in Iran with sanctions likely to be lifted.

The Times and Telegraph both cover comments made by Republican hopeful for the presidential nomination Mike Huckabee, who strongly condemned the nuclear accord, saying that it brings Israel “to the door of the oven.”

The Guardian online reports an incident yesterday in Qalandiya, in the West Bank near Ramallah, in which a 20-year-old Palestinian died during an attempted IDF arrest. The Israeli army says that they pursued the wanted man, who ran on to a roof before falling off and dying. Palestinians claim he was shot dead by Israeli troops.

The online editions of the Guardian and Times both say that the United States and Turkey have agreed to a buffer zone in northern Syria, which would help Syrian rebels who oppose both the Assad regime and ISIS. However, Kurds claim that the zone, which lies between two Kurdish areas, is designed by Turkey to prevent a viable, contiguous Kurdish state.

In the Israeli media, the overnight news which is covered by Israel Radio this morning is clashes between security forces and protestors from the settler community who are attempting to prevent the impending demolition of two buildings in the Beit El settlement of the West Bank. The High Court recently ruled that the property was registered to Palestinians and the building did not have the correct permits. Around 30 demonstrators are thought to have been arrested during last night’s incident.

The top story in Israel Hayom, which is also covered prominently in Yediot Ahronot and Maariv is yesterday’s purchase by Israeli pharmaceutical giant Teva of Irish company Allergan generics for £26 billion. It is the largest acquisition ever made by an Israeli company and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it confirmed Israel’s status as an “economic superpower.”

Meanwhile, Maariv leads with the surprising news that Deputy Health Minister, Yaakov Litzman, who is a member of the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism Party, has approved plans to make medical marijuana available in pharmacies. The marijuana “revolution” is also covered by Yediot Ahronot and Israel Hayom.

Israel Radio news reports that the government’s controversial deal with the principle investors in Israel’s natural gas industry will finally be brought before the cabinet and Knesset tomorrow.