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Media Summary

Lieberman poised for defence role as Blair tries to broker coalition deal

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The Telegraph online reports that Yisrael Beitenu leader Avigdor Lieberman is poised to become Israel’s Defence Minister following a dramatic day of political developments. Talks over expanding the coalition between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader, Zionist Union head Isaac Herzog, broke down. However, Netanyahu swiftly turned to Lieberman who appeared to accept an offer to join the government with his six Knesset members. Current Likud Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon, who had a sharp disagreement with Netanyahu this week over outspoken IDF officers, is rumoured to become Foreign Minister. The Telegraph online also notes reports in the Israeli media that former-Prime Minister Tony Blair was involved in attempting to broker a coalition agreement between Netanyahu and Herzog.

The Guardian says that a court case will soon begin in Israel, in which the state will attempt to compel the controversial pressure group Breaking the Silence (BtS) to reveal the identities of soldiers who make complaints to them about illegal behaviour in the military. BtS provides a platform for former-Israeli soldiers to anonymously provide testimony critical of IDF behaviour, which is widely published not only in Israel but also abroad. The group says that removing anonymity will seriously damage its work and be a blow to wider civil society.

The i reports that Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas has opened a new Palestinian national museum in the West Bank, which contains few artefacts after disagreements between the founding director and the museum’s board. At the ceremony, Abbas said that the museum demonstrates “we have been here and we are staying here.”

The Times includes an eyewitness report by Tom Coughlan from a “calm” but “war weary” Damascus. Meanwhile, the Independent online says that the Syrian army claims to have killed more than 200 ISIS fighters in a three-day assault on Deir ez-Zar in the east of the country.

The i also covers a stopover by US Secretary of State John Kerry in Cairo, the day after Egypt’s President al-Sisi surprisingly made an impassioned speech in support of reigniting Israel-Palestinian peace talks.

The Telegraph reports that the Labour Party has decided not to suspend an MEP who compared Israel’s actions in Gaza to those of the Nazis. Conservative MP Sir Eric Pickles sharply criticised the decision, saying “It is staggering how often Labour politicians casually reference the Nazis when discussing Israel.”

In the Israeli media, the headlines are filled with yesterday’s political drama, which looks to have thrown Avigdor Lieberman back into government as Defence Minister. It is the lead story dominating the front pages of Yediot Ahronot, Maariv, Haaretz and Israel Hayom, whose headline is simply “Upheaval.” Israel Radio news says that Likud and Yisrael Beitenu negotiating teams will continue to meet today in order to finalise the agreement to join the coalition.

There is plenty of commentary on yesterday’s events and what they mean for both the government and the country. On the front page of Yediot Ahronot, Nahum Barnea says that Netanyahu will now be “held hostage by Lieberman and (Jewish Home leader Naftali) Bennett.” He also wonders how a man with little military or security experience such as Lieberman will handle the role of Defence Minister and how he will be accepted by the defence establishment. In Maariv, Ben Caspit says that the bottom line is Netanyahu’s desire to remain safely in power. And so despite the international outrage which can be expected over Lieberman, “the main thing is that Netanyahu remains safe and confident.”

Meanwhile, Israel Radio news highlights a strong exchange of words between Zionist Camp leader Isaac Herzog and his predecessor, Shelly Yachimovich, who is thought to be mulling a leadership challenge. Both blamed each other for allowing Lieberman to join the government.