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Media Summary

04/09/2015

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Iran’s Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says that he supports an Iranian parliamentary vote on the nuclear deal with the P5+1. The Guardian reports that while the supreme leader has not publicly voiced his support or opposition for the deal, he said on state television: “parliament should not be sidelined on the nuclear deal issue.”

Hamas has waded into the battle for the leadership of the Labour Party and seems to be supporting Jeremy Corbyn for Labour leader. The Telegraph quotes Ghazi Hamad, Hamas’s deputy foreign minister, as saying that Corbyn has “very good sympathy and support for the Palestinian cause and the Palestinian struggle” and that he is “against the racist policy of Israel.” Hamad said that Mr Corbyn could be invited to visit the Gaza Strip if he is elected to lead the Labour Party.

The Telegraph reports that six members of the Multinational Force and Observer (MFO) peacekeepers were wounded on Thursday as a result of the detonation of two improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Four of the wounded soldiers were US military personnel. Islamist militants are suspected of responsibility for the attack, which would be an escalation from previous attacks that targeted the Egyptian military. Last month militants killed 16 Egyptian border guards.

Other than the migration crisis on Europe’s shores, the Syrian civil war is featuring prominently in today’s papers. Following yesterday’s reports that Russian forces are openly aiding President Bashar al-Assad in Syria, the Telegraph quotes White House press secretary Josh Earnest as saying: “We are aware of reports that Russia may have deployed military personnel and aircraft to Syria, and we are monitoring those reports quite closely.” He further said that any such aid and support is both “destabilising and counterproductive.”

Additionally, and as part of the previously reported covert efforts to target key Islamic State officials by US special forces and the CIA, the Times reports this morning that British agents and the SAS are collaborating with their American counterparts. Whether British forces conduct raids, as do their American colleagues, is unknown, but intelligence sharing and joint-compiling of target lists is apparently taking place.

Finally, the Telegraph tells of the first Western soldier to defect to ISIS. According to reports, a 26-year old member of the Dutch air force may have joined the terrorist organisation. The case is under investigation by Dutch authorities.

The flow of Middle Eastern refugees to Europe and the rising death toll feature heavily in the Israeli media. Haaretz, Yediot Ahronot, Maariv, Israel Hayom and the Jerusalem Post all cover developments as they unfold. Some outlets are also reporting that certain European countries, including Hungary and Bulgaria, have turned to Israel to seek advice and technical support for erecting border fences to stem the tide of immigrants and refugees trying to enter their territory.

Ynet, the Jerusalem Post and Haaretz report that five American tourists were nearly lynched yesterday in Hebron by a mob, only to be saved by a Palestinian resident who hid them in his home. The five were on their way to the Tomb of the Patriarchs when they took a wrong turn and wandered into the neighbourhood of Jabel Johar where they were subsequently firebombed and stoned by residents. IDF soldiers eventually arrived and evacuated the five.

Addressing Foreign Ministry employees yesterday, Prime Minister Netanyahu commented on recent developments relating to the Iran deal. “I have to say that an overwhelming majority of the American public sees eye-to-eye with Israel on the danger Iran poses,” said Netanyahu. He added: “It is important to appeal to the American public,” according to Haaretz’s Barak Ravid. The Times of Israel reported that three more US Senators have announced their support for the deal. Senators Cory Booker, Mark Warner and Heidi Heitkamp have all announced they will side with President Obama.

Israeli President Reuven (Ruvi) Rivlin met His Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican yesterday. The meeting is part of an official state visit to Italy and the Holy See, during which the President will also meet his Italian counterpart and be the guest of honour at a Jewish community event.

Also in the news, Prime Minister Netanyahu and Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon announced yesterday to lower the national VAT to 17 per cent and to cut the corporate tax rate to 25 per cent. “We can do this because billions have accumulated. They came from the citizens and we will return them to the citizens,” said Netanyahu.