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Media Summary

Cabinet approves recommendations for social reform, doctors’ dispute continues

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The main item of Israel related coverage in the UK media today is the rioting in Cairo over the weekend, in which 24 people have been killed. The Guardian, Daily Telegraph, Times, Independent, Reuters and BBC Online report on the clashes between protestors and security forces. In other items, the Daily Telegraph and Scotsman report on possible increased unrest in Syria following the killing of a Kurdish leader. The Independent has an article on the Free Syrian Army, a military organization pledged to bringing down the Assad regime in Syria. Reuters notes a statement by the Syrian regime warning world governments not to recognise the new Syrian National Council. The Financial Times has a letter on the Palestinian bid for statehood. The paper also has a piece on gas finds in the eastern Mediterranean, noting Israel’s role in this. The Daily Telegraph has a piece critical of Israeli policy toward Gaza.

Over the weekend, the firing by Syrian security forces on a funeral procession of a prominent Kurdish activist was the main item of Israel-related coverage. The Independent on Sunday, Financial Times and Reuters had this story. In other items, the Observer, Reuters and Sky News Online on Sunday reported the desecration of Muslim graves in Jaffa. The Observer noted use of the Internet by the Syrian opposition to expose ‘spies’ and had an additional piece on Islam and alcohol. BBC Online noted the arrest by Israel of Palestinians suspected of involvement in the recent murder of two Israelis near Hebron. Sky News and the Guardian on Saturday, meanwhile, noted remarks by Russian President Medvedev calling on Syrian President Bashar Assad to reform or stand down. The Guardian had an additional piece criticising Britain’s recent decision to prohibit the issuing of an arrest warrant regarding former Israeli minister Tzipi Livni. The Daily Star Sunday noted that Islamist terrorists have warned that they are set to target Israeli athletes ahead of next summer’s London Olympics. The Independent on Saturday had an article by Robert Fisk on his recent visit to Jerusalem.

The Jerusalem Post, Haaretz and Israel Hayom print editions today lead with the passing of the Trajtenberg report by the Israeli Cabinet, and its implications. Israel Hayom also has a front-page report on the possible resignations of a large number of junior doctors in Israel today.

In the Israeli media today, all papers focus on the approval by the Israeli Cabinet of the recommendations of the Trajtenberg committee on socioeconomic change in Israel. Ynetnews reports on the Israeli defence establishment’s opposition to any cut in the defence budget. All papers also have pieces on the violence in Egypt. Haaretz, Ynetnews and the Jerusalem Post note the vandalizing of Muslim religious sites in Jaffa over the weekend. Israel Hayom notes that the Quartet is set to invite Israel and the Palestinian Authority to recommence direct negotiations. Maariv reports that hundreds of junior doctors are set to resign this morning, after negotiations with the Treasury to improve their conditions collapsed.