Media Summary
South Korean tanker detained by Iran freed after three months
BBC News, The Financial Times and Reuters report that the South Korean-flagged tanker detained in Iran since January has been released. The Hankuk Chemi and its captain were released after South Korea reportedly made progress in releasing $7bn (£5bn) worth of Iranian funds frozen in South Korean banks due to US sanctions. In February, 20 of the ship’s crew members were released after the South Korean Vice Foreign Minister visited Iran. Officials say that the captain and ship’s release today was unrelated to the frozen funds, though one unidentified official said South Korea has “expressed our firm willingness to resolve the funds issue”. The development comes amid ongoing talks over Iran’s nuclear activities, US sanctions and prospects of reviving the JCPOA nuclear deal.
The Telegraph reports on Israel’s vaccine passports and how the country’s programme could help the UK. The paper notes: “Rolled out incrementally since March 7, Israel’s Green Pass allows holders to show either a phone application or a certificate issued by the Ministry of Health showing that they have been vaccinated, recovered from the virus, or obtained a negative PCR test result within 48 hours of attending an event. Israel’s experience rolling out the scheme could prove illustrative as the UK government considers Covid passports as a way to reopen the economy, despite opposition over privacy, civil liberties and data protection concerns.”
Anshel Pfeffer writes for The Spectator about why vaccine passports are already redundant in Israel. As proof of vaccinations became a requirement for restaurants, bars and other outings, Pfeffer notes that one of the goals of the ‘green passes’ was to incentivise younger people to get vaccinated. He concludes: “Unlike in Britain, where the idea of vaccine passports is still anathema, Israelis are used to being required to carry identity cards with them wherever they go. If the government here was serious about vaccine passports, they could enforce them. But the green pass did its job as a way of encouraging people to get their vaccine. Nearly everyone took up the offer, infection rates have been steadily going down and Israel’s economy has been able to reopen. It’s now almost impossible to get a table in the better restaurants without a week’s advance reservation. A green pass won’t help you there.”
The Times reports on the ongoing coalition talks in Israel, with a focus on Yamina leader Naftali Bennett’s role as kingmaker. The paper notes: “Bennett is now pivotal. His Yamina party may have won only seven seats in the latest election, on March 23, but that is enough to make him a kingmaker — or even a king. Netanyahu, anxious to remain prime minister and to pass an immunity law that would halt his corruption trial, is finally prepared to offer Bennett what he always wanted: a senior cabinet post by his side, perhaps even deputy prime minister; to merge Yamina into Likud, with voting rights in its central committee; and to position Bennett as his likely heir.”
The Guardian reports that archaeologists have discovered an underground city named Aten near Luxor. Experts say this may be the largest ancient city found in Egypt and is one of the most important finds since Tutankhamun’s tomb. Archaeologists found jewellery, pottery vessels, amulets and more in this 3,000-year-old city.
Analysis from The Associated Press examines the ongoing shadow war between Israel and Iran in Mideast waters. The report notes, “The assault on the MV Saviz on Tuesday appears to have caused the most-extensive damage yet in this shadow war, seemingly between Iran and Israel — and one that could further escalate regional tensions. Attacks and counterattacks between the two nations could spin out of control.”
Reuters reports that it was a visit by Jordanian Prince Hamzah to relatives of deceased COVID-19 patients that triggered the crisis in Jordan’s monarchy over the weekend. Hamzah visited a hospital in the city of Salt just hours after King Abdullah was there, a move that senior officials said undermined the king and called it the “straw that broke the camel’s back”.
The papers report that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Yamina leader Naftali Bennett for two hours at the Prime Minister’s Residence last night. The Likud and Yamina issued a joint statement saying that the meeting was held in good spirits and a positive atmosphere, and that both men agreed to meet again. Haaretz notes that this is the first time Bennett was invited into the Prime Minister’s official residence, despite his long history with Netanyahu. All previous meetings between the two were held in the Prime Minister’s Office. Netanyahu also met earlier in the day with Religious Zionist Party leader Bezalel Smotrich, who issued a statement after the meeting saying that he and the prime minister had agreed to spare no effort to convince Bennett not to disband the national camp. According to Yediot Ahronot, Netanyahu was angry that the statement issued by Smotrich had not been coordinated with him, and in an unusual move, his political spokesperson released a statement that said explicitly: “The statement issued on Bezalel Smotrich’s behalf is incompatible with reality. This is the time for working together, not for public statements that do not contribute to the joint effort that we are making.” It is understood that during his meeting with Netanyahu, Smotrich repeated persistently his stance that he would not lend a hand to forming a full-on right-wing government supported by Mansour Abbas’s Islamist Raam party. According to Israel Hayom, as a “last resort” to avoid fifth elections, Netanyahu might be forced to agree to a rotation with Bennett, who could even go first as prime minister, with Netanyahu in the role of alternate prime minister. The position was created by a law that brought Benny Gantz into the current government.
All the Israeli media cover the government’s decision not to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) and not to recognise its authority to investigate Israel for alleged war crimes. Prime Minister Netanyahu held meetings to formulate Israel’s policy along with Defence Minister Benny Gantz, Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, Attorney General Mandelblit, and other ministers and senior security establishment officials. A decision was made to adopt the recommendations of the inter-ministerial team led by the National Security Council, which proposed not cooperating with the court but to send a letter making it clear that the court was acting without authority. Israel will argue that as a state of law, it can investigate itself. The letter will also state that Israel denies the allegation that it has committed war crimes and that it clarifies its unequivocal position, whereby the ICC does not have jurisdiction to begin an investigation into it. Israel’s position is that the court’s unwarranted intervention has no legal basis and is contrary to the goals that it was founded to achieve. Maariv quotes Labour Party leader Merav Michaeli, who wrote on Twitter, “Several months late, Netanyahu deigned to hold a meeting about the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Now his conduct is liable to exact a high price from IDF officers and soldiers. Netanyahu is putting Israel at risk; Netanyahu has to go.” Israel Hayom quotes Anne Hertzberg, legal adviser of NGO Monitor: “The political campaign to exploit the ICC for the demonisation of Israel has continued for 20 years, funded by the EU and European governments. Given that cooperation with the Court is most likely futile, the Israeli government should focus on persuading Europe and other Western governments of the need to end this abuse under the facade of international law.”