Israel concerned Europe may quit boycott against Hamas

In the UK and International media today, the Guardian and the Times report on a document that shows how the UK Foreign Office successfully fought to keep secret any mention of Israel in the first draft of its Iraq weapons dossier in order not to damage Britain-Israel relations. The Guardian also carries a lead article on this finding. In addition, the paper runs an article by Middle East editor Ian Black on Israel's nuclear programme. In other news, BBC Online notes that Palestinian leader Yasser Abed Rabbo has said that the Palestinians should unilaterally declare a state if peace talks with Israel fail. The Financial Times reports on Egyptian involvement concerning the Rafah border crossing with Gaza. In other news, several papers note that Chelsea football manager and former Israeli national coach Avram Grant has been sent dozens of anti-Semitic emails and letters, including death threats, since becoming the manager.

In the Israeli press, all papers note that IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi addressed an officers' graduation ceremony yesterday and did not rule out the possibility of a war in the near future. Haaretz notes that Israel's ambassador to the EU, Ran Koriel, has warned the Foreign Ministry that European countries may break the boycott with Hamas and start to recognise the terrorist organisation. The Haaretz website notes the Guardian report on the UK Foreign Office's success in managing to conceal Israel in the 2002 Iraq dossier. The Jerusalem Post and Ynetnews report that Israeli ambassador to the UN Dan Gillerman met yesterday with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to discuss the latest Iranian comments against Israel. Ki-moon called Iran's anti-Israel statements "intolerable and inexcusable". Ynetnews reports that residents of the southern town of Sderot affected by continuous rocket attacks from Gaza are moving their protest tent from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv in order to raise awareness of their plight across the country.

Back to top Previous article Next article