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Media Summary

Hague calls for resumption of peace talks

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In the UK and international press today, the Independent and the Daily Telegraph reports that the Knesset Ethics Committee stripped Israeli Arab MK Hanin Zuabi of her parliamentary privileges due to her participation in the flotilla of ships that attempted to enter Gaza last year. The Financial Times notes that the Palestinians are looking to build and strengthen their national brand and promote it globally. In other news, Reuters reports that Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf was hospitalised because of a blood pressure problem, which delayed the swearing in of a new cabinet. The news wire also notes that further pressure is mounting on Syrian leader Bashar Assad as the Qatar embassy closed in Damascus and the EU considers tougher sanctions. BBC Online notes that an Israeli human rights group criticised the Israeli government for jailing Palestinian minors.

In the Israeli press, public protests over housing and rental costs continue to dominate the Israel media. The papers report that Norway yesterday upgraded its diplomatic relations with the Palestinian Authority and will most likely support the vote for a Palestinian statehood at the UN General Assembly in September. Haaretz reports that 60,000 Palestinians are expected to visit Israel as tourists by the end of 2011. Several papers note that Israel is preparing to intercept a French boat that plans to breach the Gaza blockade today. Haaretz and the Jerusalem Post note that former State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said yesterday that Israel is not expected to attack Iran’s nuclear sites in the near future. The papers note that the Knesset Ethics Committee yesterday decided to strip Israeli Arab MK Hanin Zuabi of her parliamentary privileges due to her involvement in the flotilla of ships that attempted to breach Gazan waters last year. Ynetnews reports that the European Union yesterday called for the resumption of direct peace talks before the Palestinian vote in September. The Jerusalem Post comments that the EU statement was vague on the call for direct talks due to disagreement among the foreign ministers on how to restart the talks.