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Media Summary

Cameron and Corbyn clash over anti-semitism at PMQs

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The Times, Telegraph, Daily Mail, Daily Express, i, Evening Standard, New Day, Metro, Sun and Daily Star all cover yesterday’s heated exchange at Prime Minister’s Questions over the allegations of anti-Semitism within the Labour Party. Prime Minister David Cameron repeatedly asked Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn to withdraw a comment he once made in which he described officials from the terror groups Hamas and Hezbollah as “friends.” Corbyn clarified that he does not agree with these organisations, but did not withdraw the comment.

The Independent online reports that the United States and Russia have negotiated a 48-hour ceasefire in the Syrian city of Aleppo, where recent fighting has killed scores of civilians and threatened an exodus of residents. The ceasefire applies to Syrian government forces and moderate rebel fighters. However, the Telegraph online says that the international watchdog, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has warned that there is “worrying” evidence ISIS is developing chemical weapons in Syria and Iraq.

In Egypt, the Financial Times online reports that the country’s journalists’ union is demanding a presidential apology over the arrest of two journalists from inside the union’s headquarters in Cairo, which they say is illegal. Meanwhile, the Guardian online says that a political activist has been sentenced to six months imprisonment by an Egyptian court for “insulting the judiciary.”

In the Israeli media, the top stories in Maariv, Israel Hayom and Yediot Ahronot all concern Holocaust Memorial Day, which is marked in Israel today. Official ceremonies took place yesterday evening to signal the beginning of the commemoration and this morning at 10am (Israel time), sirens across the country will bring Israel to a standstill in remembrance. Yediot Ahronot’s front page headline simply declares: “From generation to generation,” while Israel Hayom highlights a quote from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech at the central state ceremony last night, in which he said: “Anti-Semitism Did Not Die in the Bunker with Hitler.”

The top story in Maariv, which is also covered prominently by Yediot Ahronot, Israel Hayom and Haaretz, is comments made in a speech last night at a Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony by IDF Deputy Chief of Staff Yair Golan. He said that some of the processes in 1930s Germany are evident in Israel today, “After all, there is nothing simpler and easier than hating the foreigner, there is nothing easier and simpler than arousing fears and intimidating, there is nothing easier and simpler than becoming bestial, forgoing principles and becoming smug.” Israel Radio news says that Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett is among those who condemned Golan’s comments, asking him to rectify them before they are pounced on by Holocaust-denier and haters of Israel. However, Zionist Union head Isaac Herzog called Golan a “‎courageous commander” and added “The crazies who will now start screaming against him should know: this is what morality and responsibility sound like.”

The other major item, which is the top story in Haaretz and also covered heavily in Yediot Ahronot, Maariv and Israel Hayom is yesterday’s skirmishes between Israeli troops and Hamas on and around the Gaza border. Hamas shelled Israeli soldiers on at least six occasions, as they were reportedly searching for Hamas underground tunnels. Israel responded with tank fire and air strikes on Hamas positions within the Gaza Strip. There have been no reported casualties or injuries on either side. Israel Radio news reports this morning that Hamas claims Egypt has brokered a truce between the two sides. Meanwhile, writing in Israel Hayom, Yoav Limor predicts a “hot summer” ahead in the Gaza region.