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Media Summary

UK Labour Party leaders set to clash over boycott issue

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The Independent covers tension between Labour’s two most senior figures over the issue of whether to boycott Israel. Speaking at a Labour Party Friends of Israel lunch, deputy Leader Tom Watson said boycotts of Israeli goods that have been backed by Party leader Jeremy Corbyn are “morally wrong”. The article notes that Corbyn came under intense pressure during to the Labour leadership campaign to state his position on boycotts, following reports that he backed them.

The Daily Telegraph’s Con Coughlin argues that President-elect Donald Trump’s indicated foreign policy which could see him reject the Iranian nuclear deal would bring him closer to traditional allies who were displeased with President Obama’s approach, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Israel.

In Israeli media, the Times of Israel, Yediot Ahronot and Army Radio report on an Arab language media story that the Israeli Air force overnight struck a Syrian army compound in Damascus and a weapons convoy, which was travelling on the Beirut-Damascus highway, believed to be on its way to Hezbollah.

The Times of Israel, Israel Hayom and Yediot Ahronot continue to report on the controversy surrounding the Regulation Bill, including attempts by Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit to find a compromise to prevent potential scenes of conflict if the bill is approved. Yediot reports on coalition chairman MK David Bitan’s (Likud) suggestion that the Regulation Bill be presented to the Knesset in two different version, with one version without the clause that does not act retroactively to contradict the High Court Ruling that Amona should be demolished, in order to gain the support of Kulanu memberts.

Haaretz reports on the Regulation Bill’s bureaucratic path for today – through the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee and the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee in the morning, and to its first reading in the Knesset this afternoon. Yediot explains that the Security Cabinet will meet in parallel this morning to discuss the bill, which is expected to pass its first reading in the Knesset, regardless of the opinion of the Security Cabinet. Ma’ariv reports on the findings of a new report by Peace Now, which presents the practical ramifications that passing the Regulation Bill could have in terms of future settlement policy.

Ma’ariv reports on President Reuven Rivlin’s vocal opposition to the Muezzin Bill, which covers his meetings with faith leaders and with Kulanu Chairman Moshe Kahlon. The Bill will likely pass its first reading in the Knesset today, supported by PM Netanyahu and the Ministerial Committee of the Coalition.

The Times of Israel reports on the unanimous re-election of Mahmoud Abbas as party leader at the 7th Fatah Party congress taking place in Ramallah.