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Media Summary

Court rules Palestinians can sue PA over torture allegations

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The Times reports on the IDF’s disclosure on Wednesday of the full extent of its humanitarian aid operations in Syria. It has delivered 360 tonnes of food and 450,000 litres of fuel across the border, as well as thousands of packages of baby formula. The paper notes that the IDF’s operation has strategic as well as humanitarian aspects, with some of the Syrians being treated in Israeli hospitals having been militants.

The Telegraph reports on the tense situation in Jerusalem, with tens of thousands of people expected to protest against the new security measures at the Temple Mount today.

The Times reports on the ruling by an Israeli court that 51 Palestinians can sue the Palestinian Authority (PA) for allegedly having detained and tortured them. The plaintiffs were accused of collaboration with Israel and arrested by PA officials. They claim that while under arrest they were subject to treatment that included beatings, suffering cigarette burns, being locked in sewage filled rooms, electric shocks, sexual abuse and being forced to watch executions. The court found that several of the men were arrested in East Jerusalem, an area where the PA has no jurisdiction, and that a number were Israeli citizens.

The Israeli media continues to be dominated by the tension in Jerusalem.  Israel Hayom quotes public affairs Minister Erdan, “we’ll take a firm hand against those inciting violence on the Temple Mount” while Haaretz relates to the casualties in clashes near the Temple Mount and the concern of large-scale clashes today.

Kan radio news reports the Shin Bet representatives are pressuring the political echelon to remove the metal detectors placed at the entry to the mount while Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan insists that they are vital to ensuring the security of the worshipers.

Israel Hayom reveals a joint Israeli-Jordanian committee with representatives from the Waqf will be formed to devise security arrangements for the Temple Mount that are acceptable to all sides.  High-ranking Jordanian officials confirmed this and said that a statement about its establishment would be made based on developments today in the course of Friday prayers on the Temple Mount.

Yediot Ahronot gives an account of a “sharp confrontation” that took place between President Rivlin and Prime Minister Netanyahu.  According to reports, Turkish President Erdogan asked to speak to Rivlin about the Temple Mount but the Foreign Ministry advised that it would be inappropriate to hold the conversation because Turkey is inciting the Israeli Arabs and the East Jerusalem Arabs. According to the paper, “Rivlin rejected this position on the grounds that it is unthinkable for Israel to reject a request from a president with whom we have a friendly relationship.

Haaretz reveals that Prime Minister Netanyahu met secretly with the Foreign Minister of United Arab Emirates in 2012 in his hotel room in New York.   The paper recounts, “After years of talking via intermediaries, Netanyahu and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan met discreetly following the former’s invitation, entering the hotel via an underground parking lot and special service elevator. UAE foreign minister made clear to Netanyahu there would be no warming of ties without progress with the Palestinians.”

 Maariv presents an election poll today showing relative depletion of Likud’s strength.  If elections were held, the Likud is expected to receive 24 seats (versus its current 30), followed by Yesh Atid with 22 seats, the Zionist Union with 19, the Jewish Home with 13 seats and the Joint List with 11. When asked about the submarine affair, 55% of respondents said they did not believe Prime Minister Netanyahu when he denied any involvement or knowledge of the affair.

Israel Hayom completes their coverage of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s latest visit to Europe. The paper quotes Hungarian Prime Minister Orban “I’m glad to turn over a new leaf in our relations with Israel.”