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Media Summary

Israeli scientists test Coronavirus vaccine

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Reuters reports that Israel has begun testing a COVID-19 vaccine prototype on rodents at its bio-chemical defence laboratory, a source said on Tuesday. 

The Telegraph and the Financial Times report that Britain, France and Germany have for the first time used a complex financial system that bypasses US sanctions to send medical aid to Iran, raising hopes of salvaging the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. The Guardian reports that the Trump administration has ignored appeals to waive Iranian sanctions and has instead intensified punitive measures against the regime as part of its ‘maximum pressure’ campaign. The Independent reports that Bernie Sanders has led calls for the US to ease harsh sanctions imposed on Iran, as the nation reels from coronavirus, which has killed at least 2,600 Iranians.

The Times reports that Israeli police wearing masks raided synagogues in Jerusalem and other ultra-Orthodox areas yesterday which have flouted social distancing rules and become coronavirus hotspots.

The Financial Times and Reuters report that Dubai pledged financial assistance for state-owned Emirates as international airlines scrambled for government bailouts amid the global travel rout.

The Associated Press and Reuters report that a senior Saudi official urged more than 1 million Muslims intending to perform the hajj to delay making plans this year in comments suggesting the pilgrimage could be cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Times reports that five Taliban prisoners released from Guantanamo Bay in a contentious swap played a key role in helping President Trump to strike the Afghan peace deal.

Reuters reports that top US officials have for now put aside a proposal for an alliance with Saudi Arabia to manage the global oil market, according to three sources with knowledge of the matter, an idea one said came from White House national security advisers.

The Times reports that a pipeline carrying gas from Iran to Turkey has been turned off after an explosion, which the authorities in Tehran have blamed it on an attack by the PKK, the Kurdish separatist group.

Reuters reports that global crude oil prices slid further on Wednesday, following their biggest-ever quarterly and monthly losses, as a bigger-than-expected rise in U.S. inventories and a widening rift within OPEC heightened oversupply fears.

The Guardian reports that more than 130,000 Afghans have fled the coronavirus outbreak convulsing Iran to return home to Afghanistan, amid fears they are bringing new infections with them to the conflict-ridden and impoverished country.

The Independent reports that Tunisia has turned to robots to help enforce its nationwide lockdown measures as the country continues to battle the global Coronavirus pandemic.

In The Guardian, Timothy E Kaldas writes that Egypt’s disdain for transparency will backfire during the coronavirus crisis, as President Sisi’s tendency to crackdown on anyone who challenges the official line only fuels speculation the crisis has been mismanaged.

In The Independent, Ahmed Aboudouh writes that many in the Middle East believe the US is behind the coronavirus pandemic, demonstrating conspiracy theories are “spreading faster than the virus”.

The Israeli media report that 5,591 Israelis have tested positive for coronavirus and 21 have died, 97 are in serious condition and 76 are on ventilators. In the West Bank, 107 cases have been diagnosed and in Gaza 12 cases have been confirmed. Channel 12 News reports that Gaza cases could be significantly higher, with Israeli security officials expressing grave concern over the repercussions of an outbreak inside the Gaza Strip. Kan Radio News reports comments by National Security advisor Meir Ben-Shabbat that only after Passover and after all necessary preparatory work had been completed would Israel be able to return, slowly and gradually, to a new and completely different routine. Ynet reports that Israel has converted a missile production facility to mass produce ventilators. The initiative is a collaboration between the defence ministry, state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and medical device maker Inovytec.

Haaretz reports that Likud and Blue and White aim to finalise a coalition deal and expect a government to be formed by 6 April. Talks were delayed as Prime Minister Netanyahu went into self-quarantine and cancelled his meeting with Blue and White leader Benny Gantz.  The Justice Ministry is a major point of contention as Likud opposes the appointment of Blue and White MK Avi Nissenkorn and prefers Chili Tropper (also from Blue and White).  The role is crucial as Netanyahu’s criminal trial is due to start in May. The coalition deal is reported to include a clause that High Court Justices will be nominated only after agreement from both parties. Blue and White are also opposed to the return of Yuli Edelstein as Knesset Speaker and there is speculation that Blue and White will give up the Foreign Ministry in return for the job of Speaker. Netanyahu is reported to want to apply Israeli sovereignty to West Bank settlements as soon as the US approves the move, but Gantz wants the government to focus on managing the coronavirus crisis in its first six months, postponing other issues to a later date.

All the Israeli media report that last night Syrian air defences intercepted an Israeli missile attack over the western province of Homs. According to Syrian State television the air defence system shot down “hostile targets,” fired by Israeli jets that were in Lebanon’s airspace, over Beirut. The Lebanese pro-Hezbollah Al Mayadeen channel reported that the attack was aimed at “military sites east of Homs.” No injuries have so far been reported.  The UK based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that: “the Israeli Air Force has launched an attack on Shayrat airfield with more than eight missiles.” There has been no comment from Israel officials.