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Media Summary

Iran reportedly sent food packages to Palestinian demonstrators

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The Guardian reports on the ongoing sewage issue in Gaza where 73 per cent of the Gaza Strip’s coastline is now dangerously polluted. The paper notes that the problem has been severely exacerbated by the refusal of the Palestinian Authority (PA) to pay for electricity to Gaza.

The Guardian also reports on plans by the Spanish Royal Academy to open a branch in Israel dedicated to the study and preservation of Judeo-Spanish, or Ladino. The language was spoken by the Jewish community in the Iberian peninsula before their expulsion in 1492, and continues to be spoken by many of their descendants today.

The Israeli media continues to dwell on the fate of Elor Azaria, the soldier who lost his appeal for shooting an incapacitated attacker in Hebron and discussions over whether he will receive a pardon. Yediot Ahronot follows the IDF line that there won’t be any deal. Haaretz states the condition of any future pardon must be the demonstration of genuine remorse. Maariv comments on the derogatory remarks made by Azaria’s lawyer towards the IDF Chief of Staff Eisenkot, writing, “He described Eisenkot, the man who has spent the past 40 years on the battlefield and always in the front line, as a ‘miserable soul’. Eisenkot, who was born in Tiberias to a family that immigrated to Israel from Morocco, was cited for his excellence in Golani boot camp, was injured by a bullet that penetrated his head while he was at the IDF’s Officers Training Academy and was a platoon commander in the 51st Battalion of the Golani Brigade in the Lebanon War, where he lost many of his good friends… we owe our restored security and the suppression of the second Intifada to people like Eisenkot.”

Yediot Ahronot and Israel Hayom feature prominent articles on today’s fast day with Jews commemorating the destruction of the temples in Jerusalem.   Thousands of worshippers are expected to visit the Western Wall plaza.

Israel Hayom reveals Iran sent food packages to support the Palestinian demonstrators during the recent disturbances in Jerusalem with the paper reporting that Palestinian politicians are furious over Iran’s intervention. According to a senior Palestinian official, “It’s clear to us that the government in Tehran, using its long arms, is behind that feeding operation. We’re talking about sums that run into millions of shekels, and the Iranians found that breach as a way of sending the message to the Palestinian public right under Israel’s nose that Iran is the one that is taking care of them. The flyer that was pasted onto every food package with Khamenei’s quote made it very clear who was behind the food packages.”

Israel Hayom also reports that Sheikh Ikrima Sabri, the former mufti of Jerusalem and the director of the Waqf (the Islamic endowment that administers the Temple Mount) yesterday wrote a post on social media accusing Israel of planting spying devices in al-Aqsa Mosque and electronic devices beneath the mosque whilst it was closed. Sabri wrote online that “‎a Waqf committee was formed to examine the damage that was done by Israel  during the closure. They have already spotted approximately 100 tiles  that were removed and reinstalled inside the mosque and in the offices  around al-Aqsa Mosque. We know what is lurking beneath those tiles.” ‎

Maariv reports that on Sunday the Jerusalem District Court handed down its ruling on a real estate dispute, and granted companies with ties to the Ateret Cohanim NGO – a right wing organisation – the legal rights to three large compounds that are situated in strategic locations in Jerusalem’s Old City which are currently populated by local Arab residents.