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Media Summary

12/11/2015

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Telegraph, Guardian, Independent, Independent i, Sun, Mirror, Star, Standard and Metro, as well as the BBC and ITV, all report on the Palestinian boycott of Mayor of London Boris Johnson. Mr Johnson headed to the West Bank yesterday to continue his visit to the region, but two events with Palestinian groups were cancelled. The groups claimed Mr Johnson’s opposition to boycotts of Israel was unacceptable. ITV reported that a journalist covering Mr Johnson’s trip for the Jewish Chronicle was banned from covering an event at the Palestinian Women’s Business Forum because she was Israeli. The Telegraph’s leader praises Mr Johnson’s comments opposing boycotts of Israel and attacks the Palestinian groups who cancelled their meetings with the mayor.

The Times, Independent, Independent i, Telegraph and BBC report on the EU’s adoption of an interpretive note on labelling goods from the West Bank and Golan heights, in particular goods from Israeli settlements. The Times reports on the angry reaction by Israeli politicians and officials. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described it as labelling “the side being attacked by terror” while the guidelines were welcomed by the Palestinian Boycott Divestment and Sanctions Movement. The Telegraph notes that the EU guidelines are very similar to those already in force in the UK.

The Times quotes a poll into British Jewish attitudes conducted by Ipsos Mori which finds that 75% of British Jews support a two-state solution while 93% felt that Israel helped them form their identity.

The Guardian’s G2 reviews a new drama about the hijacking of a Sabena airlines flight on 8 May 1972. The hijackers forced the plane to land in Israel, and the plane was ultimately recaptured by commandoes including future Prime Ministers Ehud Barak and Benjamin Netanyahu. The Guardian piece interviews one of the hijackers, Theresa Halsa.

The Independent and Independent i report on a plan in Israel to change the law to lower the age at which criminals and terrorists can serve custodial sentences. This is in response to a few recent stabbing attacks where the attackers where below the age of 14.

The EU labelling decision leads Israel’s front pages, appearing in Yediot Ahronot, Maariv, Israel Hayom, Haaretz and the Jerusalem Post. The Post notes that the EU envoy to Israel was summoned to the Foreign Ministry. The Times of Israel quotes Israel opposition leader Isaac Herzog who termed the new guidelines “dangerous and detrimental.”

Haaretz reports that Israel’s opposition won a Knesset vote on social work funding yesterday. Haaretz and Israel Hayom discuss a report from Israel’s Shin Bet security service into the current wave of stabbing attacks. The report claims that the attacks are not being organised but are spontaneous and are largely driven by incitement and misinformation, such as rumours Israel is ‘demolishing’ the al-Aqsa mosque.

Several Israeli papers report on the planned demolition of a synagogue in Givat Ze’ev, a settlement north of Jerusalem, which the Supreme Court has ruled was built on Palestinian land. Haaretz notes that some Rabbis have told IDF soldiers and police to refuse to demolish the synagogue. Meanwhile, Arutz 7 reports calls by Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett to obey the law and follow orders to demolish the synagogue even if they are unpleasant.

Israel Hayom covers foreign media reports from Syria that the Israel Air Force may have struck a target near Damascus Airport.

Ynet reports this morning that a Palestinian man suspected of a stabbing attack nearly three weeks ago was arrested by the IDF in a hospital in Hebron. The suspect had been hidden in the hospital while recovering from wounds sustained while committing the attack. The suspect’s uncle was reportedly killed while attacking the arresting forces.