fbpx

Media Summary

Netanyahu says credible military option essential to stop nuclear Iran

[ssba]

The main item of Israel related coverage in the UK media today is the claim by Iran to have discovered the killers of an Iranian scientist, and the ‘confession’ by the killers that they were working for Israel. In other items, the Guardian has an optimistic assessment of the effect sanctions are having on Iran and notes an extended sentence given to a leader of protests against the Separation Barrier. The paper also runs an article on Prime Minister Netanyahu’s decision to reveal details of his salary and has a piece suggesting that Israel is ‘careening toward self-destruction’ and that the US should develop ties with Turkey. The Daily Telegraph notes that an Israeli Arab stands accused of ‘rape by deception’ after he allegedly misled Israeli women into believing he was Jewish. The paper also quotes a remark by Netanyahu that the Palestinians are ‘walking away’ from peace. The Financial Times has additional pieces on the strategy of Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad for the achievement of Palestinian statehood, and a dispute in Israel over involvement in the construction of a new Palestinian city, Rawabi, in the West Bank. The Independent reports on US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to Yemen. Reuters and BBC Online note the killing of an Islamic Jihad member by Israeli aircraft in Gaza. 

In the Israeli media, all papers note an Israeli air strike on targets in Gaza yesterday. Haaretz speaks to a senior officer in the IDF’s Home Front Command. The paper also notes increased defence ties between South Korea and Israel, and has a piece on an Israeli blacklist of 163 charities suspected of supporting terrorism. The paper also interviews Likud minister Dan Meridor, who opposed the bill to probe the funding of NGOs.The Jerusalem Post and Ynetnews report on Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu’s annual address to the foreign press yesterday. The Jerusalem Post also quotes Palestinian Chief Negotiator Saeb Erekat who said that he intends to reiterate in Washington the Palestinian Authority’s current refusal to return to direct talks. Ynetnews has an additional piece on the possible failure of Saudi-Syrian talks to resolve the current crisis in Lebanon. Maariv has a piece detailing plans for the Mavi Marmara to take part in another convoy to Gaza in May.