The BBC publishes a piece on tensions between Israel and the Palestinians, saying they “are on the rise once more, with hopes of peace and a two-state solution as far away as ever”. 

Reuters publishes a piece on Esther Paran, a Holocaust survivor who protested in Tel Aviv at government plans to overhaul the country’s judicial system: “she was pushed in a wheelchair by an aide… She did not bang on drums or yell along with the crowd. But she understands more than most about the vulnerability of democracy. Paran, 79, is one of roughly 147,000 Holocaust survivors still alive in Israel.”

Reuters further reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that normalising relations with Saudi Arabia would be a “giant leap” towards ending the Arab-Israeli conflict. “We want normalsation and peace with Saudi Arabia. We view that as perhaps a giant leap towards ending the Arab-Israeli conflict,” Netanyahu said, speaking during a meeting in Jerusalem with U.S. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.

The Guardian reports that China’s foreign minister told his Israeli and Palestinian counterparts his country is ready to help facilitate peace talks, state media reported. The separate phone calls between Chinese foreign minister, Qin Gang, and the Israeli and Palestinian top diplomats comes amid recent moves by Beijing to position itself as a regional mediator.

There is wide Israeli media coverage of both the latest developments in the compromise negotiations over judicial reform and the variety of current thinking within the Likud on the correct strategy to pursue. Maariv describes yesterday’s negotiation sessions, between representatives of the Likud, National Unity, and Yesh Atid factions, as “fruitful”. Kan Radio, meanwhile, reports that negotiators yesterday reached agreement on the principle that the Supreme Court would not have the authority to strike down existing or newly passed Basic Laws (laws having quasi-constitutional status). Passage of these would henceforth require four Knesset readings and a supermajority vote in the final reading.

Walla News’ Tal Shalev covers the divergent positions of two groups within the Likud. The first, affiliated with MK Ariel Kellner and the party’s now-defunct Jewish Leadership faction, has been trying to gather support for the convening of the Likud Central Committee for a vote on pressing ahead with the reforms should the compromise talks fail to reach a consensus solution. In contrast, a second group, which Shalev suggests has broad grassroots Likud support, sent a public letter urging the party to “capitalise on this opportunity and to pass a viable judicial reform through broad agreement, coalition and opposition, that will strengthen the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state for generations to come.” The letter was signed by representatives from, amongst others, Likud’s Hillel Forum, the Likud Liberals, the New Likudniks, the Democratic Group, and the Free Likudniks.

Various outlets cover concerns over the politicisation of upcoming Memorial Day ceremonies. Yediot Ahronot reports that hundreds of bereaved relatives have made calls urging politicians to prevent potential protests by staying away from ceremonies. “This isn’t the place, and there is no need for politicians. We are in such a turbulent period that is filled with disagreement,” said Rachel Peleg, the sister of Yitzhak Mevorach, who was killed in the Yom Kippur War. Maj. Gen. (res.) Emanuel Sakal, a retired commander of IDF field units whose son Yoav died during the First Lebanon War, said: “We’ve seen the disgraceful behaviour in the Knesset… the awful statements [made there]. I don’t think these people add any dignity to this day; therefore, it would be preferable for them to stay home.” Kan Radio and Army Radio report Defence Minister Yoav Gallant rejecting an appeal by the Public Committee for the Memorialisation of Fallen Soldiers calling on government ministers who did not serve in the military not to attend the ceremonies. He suggested to a bereaved relative that she attend a ceremony on the day prior to Memorial Day if she did not want to attend the same ceremony as a minister. Meanwhile, leaders of most of the protest groups have agreed with the sentiment that ceremonies must not be politicised, though others have affirmed that “wherever there are politicians, there will be protests.”

Similar concerns are reported over upcoming Independence Day celebrations. Ynet reports that Transportation Minister Miri Regev, who is organising this year’s main event in Jerusalem, has promised a “zero tolerance” policy toward “provocations”. She said: “I accept and respect the demonstrations, but the right to demonstrate is not a right to anarchy and to disturb others.” Netanyahu is set to attend the customary torch-lighting ceremony, but will not deliver a speech, as is usual. Instead, a short pre-recorded video of him will be played at the beginning of the event. Haaretz also reports that Regev has ordered that the dress rehearsal be broadcast on tv, rather than the event itself, to prevent any protests being seen by a national audience. The paper notes that the ubiquity of mobile phone recordings and their speedy uploading online limits the effectiveness of such a move.

Haaretz details Netanyahu’s speech at yesterday’s Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony at Yad Vashem. Calls to destroy the Jewish people did not end with the defeat of the Nazis, he said, and “come from the horror regime in Tehran nowadays… That’s why we’re fighting against any [Iranian] nuclear deal.” Referencing the UAE’s recent pioneering decision to institute Holocaust education, Netanyahu welcomed the fact that “Muslim kids in Dubai are learning about the Holocaust against the Jewish people.” President Isaac Herzog also spoke at the ceremony, while Gallant and Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar attended a separate ceremony at the International Institute for Holocaust studies, Massuah, at the Tel Yitzhak kibbutz.

Israel Hayom covers Foreign Minister Eli Cohen’s visit to Azerbaijan. Arriving yesterday, Cohen will meet today with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov. The two countries enjoy close relations – a fact made public by the Azeris recently, following a tradition of opacity – based partly on shared concerns over Azerbaijan’s neighbour Iran. Security cooperation between Baku and Jerusalem is extensive, while Azerbaijan last week expelled the Iranian ambassador in response to an attack on its embassy in Tehran. Commercial ties are also strong, with reports suggesting that around half of Israel’s oil purchases come from Azerbaijan. Cohen travelled to Baku with a delegation of business representatives from 20 Israeli companies in the fields of cyber and defence, homeland security, water management and agriculture, and is expected to sign a series of agreements formalising or deepening cooperation on investments, education and the environment. Cohen also promised that Israel would act to stimulate tourism to Azerbaijan, saying: “I’d advise every Israeli to visit. Antisemitism is all but non-existent here.” On leaving Baku today, Cohen will travel to another Iranian neighbour, Turkmenistan, where he will inaugurate a permanent Israeli embassy in the capital Ashgabat. He will also meet with President Serdar Berdimuhamedow, Foreign Minister Raşit Meredow, and Agriculture Minister Allanur Altyyev.

Maariv reports heightened security being afforded Tel Aviv District Police Commander Cmdr. Amihai Eshed following an increase in threats made against him online, apparently in response to a recent report in Haaretz about statements that Eshed made in an address this week to officers under his command referring to the judicial reforms. Eshed is reported to have said to officers, in remarks interpreted as being in reference to National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir: “You are the people who are standing at the head of protecting the public, and you are the ones [demanding a] response to the insult against the book of laws by the criminal, the terrorist and the man threatening the spirit of Israeli democracy.”