News Summary:
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu names a new Shin Bet chief, his wife says she’ll appeal a court decision that declared she abused her employees at the official residence, and a famous actor accused of sexual harassment takes a break making top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers. In diplomatic affairs, Ukraine says it may prosecute a Shas MK who visited Crimea, Netanyahu's office says there is progress on reconciliation talks with Turkey, while Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon makes a new condition, and Channel 2 reports that efforts are being made to arrange a meeting next month between Netanyahu and US President Barack Obama in order to consolidate the principles for a military aid package. 

In Palestinian-Israeli violence-related stories, a court rejected a police request to extend a restraining order barring left-wing activists Ezra Nawi and Guy Butavia from the West Bank an Israeli soldier from the Kfir Brigade who filmed himself attacking a Palestinian detainee, who was also electrocuted, was sentenced to seven months in jail and two 14-year-old Arab Israeli girls from Ramle were charged with attempted murder for a stabbing attack on an Israeli private security guard after failing to find Israeli soldiers to stab. In an interview with Israel’s State Channel 1 Arabic, suspended Balad MK Basel Ghattas that the killing of Israelis by Palestinians is “neither criminal or delinquent, but are rather acts done "in the heat of the struggle against the oppressive occupation.” Ghattas added later: “I do not justify murder by each side, and what was said in the interview was that people were killed in the framework of the conflict and the occupation.” (Maariv) Meanwhile, Likud MK Tzachi Hanegbi told 103FM that there was no connection between Palestinian violence and the lack of a diplomatic initiative and negotiations with the Palestinians. The UN human rights investigator for Gaza and the West Bank accused Israeli security forces of using excessive force against Palestinians and called on Israel to investigate cases and to prosecute Palestinians being held in jail or release them all, including children. One Palestinian journalist is on the 80th day of a hunger strike, demanding to be charged and tried or freed from prison. Israeli forces reportedly raided a section of a jail and assaulted minors and forces also shot and injured three Palestinian teens northwest of Jerusalem. Maan reported that a far-right Israeli extremist was reportedly detained after threatening the life of Joint List Chairman, MK Ayman Odeh and Israel denied a European Parliament delegation access to Gaza.


Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.