fbpx

Media Summary

Hezbollah leader Nasrallah makes rare public appearance

[ssba]

The situation in Syria continues to dominate Middle East coverage in the UK media today. The Times notes the return of US Ambassador Robert Ford to Syria. The Financial Times, Reuters and Sky News Online note a statement by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton calling for a transition from dictatorship to democracy in Syria. The Daily Telegraph notes that Syrian state media have pointed to the involvement of Turkish forces in clashes close to the border. In other items, the Guardian reports on a visit by Defence Minister Ehud Barak to the Golan Heights, and has a piece on Israel’s relations with the US. The Independent runs a piece suggesting that water shortages in the Mid-East may heighten tensions. The paper, along with the Financial Times and BBC Online, also reports a speech by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. BBC Online notes the death of an Islamic Jihad gunman in an IAF raid on Gaza. BBC Online also notes the expulsion of a Hamas member of the Palestinian parliament from Jerusalem, after the Israeli authorities found that he was residing there illegally. The Daily Mail notes a statement by a Saudi prince that his country may arm itself with nuclear weapons in response to a threat from ‘Iran and Israel.’

The print editions of Israel Hayom, the Jerusalem Post and Haaretz lead with former President Katzav’s scheduled entry to jail today. Haaretz has additional front-page pieces on a claim by former candidate for IDF Chief of Staff Yoav Galant that he was never asked his opinion on an attack on Iran during his service. The paper also has a statement by Attorney-General Yehuda Weinstein that proposals to restrict foreign government donations to Israeli NGOs are un-constitutional.

In the Israeli media, all papers report on the scheduled entry of former President Moshe Katzav to jail today, to begin a seven-year sentence after being convicted of rape. Haaretz, Ynetnews, Maariv and the Jerusalem Post report on the IAF strike on an Islamic Jihad cell in Gaza this morning. All papers report on a speech by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah yesterday. Ynetnews notes that the Quartet is to meet in Jerusalem next week. Ynetnews has an additional piece on US intentions to ease sanctions on Iran’s Central Bank so as to prevent a rise in oil prices. Israel Hayom notes rumours of imminent elections in Israel.