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Media Summary

US exploring options to protect Gulf shipping

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BBC News, The Guardian, Telegraph, Times, Financial Times and Reuters report that the US military has released a video showing Iran’s Revolutionary Guard “removing [an] unexploded limpet mine” from the side of the Kokuka Courageous ship eight hours after the Gulf of Oman incident. US officials also shared a photo of the Japanese tanker, apparently showing the unexploded mine before it was removed. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blamed Iran for the “unprovoked attacks” on Thursday, adding that the US made its assessment based on intelligence about the type of weapons used. But Iran dismissed the claim as “unfounded”. In a statement released on Friday, the Iranian mission to the UN said it condemned the allegation “in the strongest possible terms”. BBC News and The Guardian have both presented overviews of the Gulf of Oman incident.

Reuters reports that Israel’s top Supreme Court justice has claimed that Justice Minister Amir Ohana was putting the country on a course towards anarchy by suggesting that not all court rulings must be obeyed when security is at stake. The Supreme Court has been in the crosshairs of members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. They accuse it of a liberal tilt and excessive intervention in legislative matters.

Reuters reports that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has claimed that Iran has no intention of making nuclear weapons. Khamenei’s comment, a reiteration of Iran’s stance, comes at a time of increased US-Iranian tension. “Supreme Leader Khamenei made a comment that the country will not and should not make, hold or use nuclear weapons, and that it has no such intentions,” Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters in Tehran following a meeting with Khamenei.

Reuters reports that the US is discussing with its allies a variety of options on how to protect international shipping in the Gulf of Oman in the wake of the tanker attacks, senior Trump administration officials said on Thursday. Two officials, speaking to a small group of reporters on condition of anonymity, said the US wants to ensure the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and make sure international commerce is not disrupted.

Reuters reports that Iran has stated that it was responsible for maintaining the security of the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf, adding that blaming Tehran for attacks on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman was alarming. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said: “We are responsible for ensuring the security of the Strait and we have rescued the crew of those attacked tankers in the shortest possible time.”

The Guardian examines whether the Gulf of Oman incident will escalate US-Iran confrontation, arguing that the incident could yet turn out to presage a wider conflagration in the region, the devastating consequences of which could not be confined to Iran.

In The Guardian, Martin Chulov argues that the Gulf of Oman incident will inflame conflict between the US and Iran. Chulov maintains that if the attacks can be traced to Iran, the will of both sides faces a searching test in the coming days and weeks.

In The Financial Times, Andrew England, Najmeh Bozorgmehr, Monavar Khalaj and Simeon Kerr argue that the Gulf of Oman incident dashes hopes of US-Iran tensions easing and underscores the fragility and volatility of the situation in the region.

In The Times, Richard Spencer argues that the Iranian regime has delivered a ‘clear message’ through the Gulf of Oman incident that Iran will not bow to the Trump administration during re-negotiations of the JCPOA.

In The Guardian, Phillip Imman examines the impact that the Gulf of Oman incident could have on the global economy, demonstrating that the incident underlines the threat hanging over the Strait of Hormuz.

The Financial Times reports that tanker companies have sounded a warning about the danger to seaborne oil supplies from the Middle East that connects the world’s largest crude producers to the centres of demand in the West and Asia following the Gulf of Oman incident. They say that risks to shipping are as high as they have been in over a decade. Reuters reports that Saudi Arabia has claimed that it is committed to providing reliable oil supplies to global markets and has stepped up readiness to deal with any threats following the Gulf of Oman incident.

BBC News and Reuters reports that Yemen’s rebel Houthi movement launched five drones at a Saudi airport, two days after a similar assault at the same location injured 26 people. The drones targeted Abha airport and the nearby city Khamis Mushait, Saudi officials said in a statement. The officials did not report any casualties in the latest strike, and said the airport was running normally without any disruption to flights.

Reuters reports that Turkey will not back down from its decision to buy the Russian S-400 missile defence system despite US warnings that it will lead to Ankara’s exclusion from the F-35 fighter jet programme, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Thursday. “Turkey will not back down from its decision. Turkey bought the S-400, it is going to be delivered and stationed in Turkey.”

Jewish News reports that BICOM has published its new briefing entitled ‘Britain’s Iran Dilemma’ on Thursday. The briefing examines UK-Iran relations in historical context and concludes that the UK should remain in the Iran nuclear deal and address its flaws in close cooperation with the US, especially with regards to key nuclear and arms limitation provisions that expire in a few years’ time. Read the briefing here.

The Israeli media reports that a missile was fired at Sderot and hit a yeshiva. Kan Radio reports that the Israeli Air Force attacked Hamas targets in Gaza in response including military installations, one of which belonged to Hamas’s naval force. Palestinian sources did not report any injuries.

Maariv reports that residents of the Gaza periphery communities were enraged by yesterday’s ongoing ritual of incendiary balloons flying from the Gaza Strip. “We’ve been subjected to a bizarre endless ritual for a year and a half now,” said Eshkol Regional Council Chairman Gadi Yarkoni. “They send incendiary balloons that cause fires, the IDF employs punitive measures, they respond by opening fire—and then we find ourselves back in a 48-hour grinding round of escalating violence. There have been 11 such rounds to date, and they came to nothing. We cannot explain the policy and its justification to the residents because we don’t know what the policy is. It seems that the system isn’t working, we expect a dramatic change in this situation.” Residents counted 15 balloons yesterday, some of which contained explosives. Also during the day a suspicious object tied to a balloon was found in agricultural fields in a kibbutz in the Shaar Hanegev Regional Council. MK Alon Schuster (Blue and White), who is a member of Kibbutz Mefalsim in the Shaar Hanegev Regional Council, said: “I don’t know how many dollars Netanyahu will send Hamas this time in exchange for more quiet. What I do know is that the suspected criminal on Balfour Street would rather attend to his personal legal affairs than address the root of the problem of Hamas’s terrorism from the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu has abandoned the residents who live near the fence and is letting them be the State of Israel’s flak jacket.”

In Yediot Ahronoth, Yossi Yehoshua, writes that the Palestinian missile fire was not foreseen by Israeli officials, since Hamas’s demands have largely been met. According to Yehoshua, the Israeli response should be: “Fittingly severe, in order to restore deterrence. This is the only way that it will be possible to stay on track to a truce arrangement. Hamas understands the Israeli desire for calm, particularly on the part of the prime minister, who is in an election campaign again. For this reason, it is for all intents and purposes engaging in extortion.” He adds that Israeli officials believe that Hamas is not behind the fire, and the guiding hand may actually be Iranian. This is against the backdrop of growing tension in the Persian Gulf. Even if the Iranians are indeed behind the fire, this should be of no concern to Israel—and the response should be fittingly severe, in order to restore deterrence. This is the only way that it will be possible to stay on track to a truce arrangement. Hamas understands the Israeli desire for calm, particularly on the part of the Prime Minister, who is in an election campaign again. For this reason, it is for all intents and purposes engaging in extortion.

Yediot Ahronoth and Haaretz report statements by the new Justice Minister, Amir Ohana, who gave an interview to Channel 12 News journalist Amit Segal, in which he said there was no need to uphold the rulings of the Supreme Court. Supreme Court President Esther Hayut said: “We should view with severity the fact that a justice minister in the State of Israel, on the day of his swearing in, chooses to share with us an unprecedented and irresponsible legal worldview according to which not all rulings issued by the court have to be honoured”. Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit said: “In the State of Israel, as a Jewish and democratic state founded on the principle of the rule of law, the obligation to obey the ruling of the courts is a basic tenet that guarantees the protection of the rights of every citizen in the state. This is not an option that one can choose—it is an obligation upon every citizen and every governmental authority.” Mandelblit added that he would continue to act in full cooperation with the new justice minister and the government: “While ensuring a fertile and respectful dialogue,”

Ben-Dror Yemini writes in Yediot Ahronoth that: “The debate over judicial activism has been and remains a legitimate debate. It is possible to criticise court rulings. That is exactly what the judges themselves do, when they hear an appeal…But one thing constitutes crossing a red line—a declaration by an elected official that he will not honour a ruling. And when the person making the declaration is the justice minister – a black flag flies over the declaration.” He adds that: “This is the moment that the real national camp, not the one that poses as national but harms the national interests, should speak out.”

As Tel Aviv celebrates the Gay Pride parade, Haaretz reports that while the government does not permit gay marriage in Israel and is not meeting a promise to the High Court of Justice on adoptions by same-sex couples, Israeli cities are increasingly leading the fight for LGBT rights. Six cities — Modi’in, Ramat Gan, Rishon Letzion, Ramat Hasharon, Kfar Sava and Herzliya — have created an LGBTQ rights adviser this year. Tel Aviv, Haifa and Givatayim have had such positions for years. Tel Aviv and Haifa are considering some form of civil marriage for LGBTQ couples. Givatayim, Haifa and Modi’in are changing the wording of forms, replacing “Mother” and “Father” name fields with “Parent 1” and Parent 2.” It adds that last month, 40 mayors signed a statement committing their cities to act on behalf of the LGBTQ community, an initiative proposed by Tel Aviv. They called on all mayors to: “Conduct a process of dialogue and learning about the needs of the gay community in their towns, including all the different groups that compose it … To develop specific and tailored solutions for their needs; to create a space that enables and respects and to relate in an equal manner to every man and woman without relation to their sexual preferences and/or gender identity.”