More in ‘Gilad Shalit’

• Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon argued that, whether or not the East Jerusalem announcement’s timing was unfortunate, Israeli development there is legitimate: “Jerusalem has always been out of the question.” Ladies and gentlemen, your second-ranking Israeli diplomat! [Haaretz]
• One day after endorsing the Goldstone Report, the E.U. parliament demanded that Hamas immediately release Gilad ...

• An Israeli delegation showed Chinese officials extensive intelligence on Iran’s nuclear weapons program. China is the final veto-possessing holdout when it comes to further Security Council sanctions. [Haaretz]
• Israel’s plans to landmark two Biblical sites in the West Bank led to further skirmishes, as well as the Israeli police entering al-Aqsa mosque in the ...

• Prime Minister Netanyahu met Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow to push for further Iran sanctions. [WP]
• Netanyahu also asked Medvedev to tell Hamas that his previous offer for kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit—a deal Hamas did not accept, leaving talks at an impasse—would not be improved upon. [Haaretz]
• Lebanese soldiers fired anti-aircraft guns ...

• New (ostensibly peaceful) rocket test-fires and official revelations demonstrated that Iran has developed sophisticated satellite technology. [WSJ]
• At least two barrels containing explosives washed ashore on Israel’s Mediterranean coast, prompting Israel to close beaches up there and launch airstrikes in Gaza. [WSJ]
• Hamas suspended the indirect negotiations over kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit in protest ...

• Iran has enriched uranium further but may lack the political will actually to develop weapons, U.S. Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair testified. [Reuters/Haaretz]
• Kosher food is hip, on the grounds that it’s better for the environment and safer. But is it, actually? [Slate]
• How Israel made friends with the (very) small island ...

What’s the latest on the biggest story in Israel (if not necessarily Israel’s biggest story)? Yesterday, the German mediator shuttled back into Gaza to convey Israel’s counteroffer to Hamas. While Israel has agreed to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for its abducted soldier, it is still reportedly balking on a few high-profile individuals. ...

• In an absolutely must-read op-ed, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach hints that he will run for public office should the Libyan Ambassador continue to be allowed to live next-door to him in Englewood, New Jersey. [JTA]
• The United States has urged Israel not to release Palestinian terrorist Marwan Barghouti as part of a swap for captured ...

• Israel would release 443 of the 450 prisoners Hamas requested in exchange for captured soldier Gilad Shalit, according to an Egyptian newspaper. Among the seven it wouldn’t are Marwan Barghouti and several Hamas officials. [Ynet]
• The Wall Street Journal has a nice update and introduction to the Shalit situation, and how it became the ...

• Israel confirmed its condition for releasing Palestinian prisoners in exchange for captured soldier Gilad Shalit: mass deportation. Hamas is considering it. [Ynet]
• In an exclusive interview, Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas vowed to begin talks with Israel in the event of even a quiet five-month construction freeze that includes East Jerusalem. He also pledged ...

• Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet will vote today to approve or reject a prisoner-swap deal for captured soldier Gilad Shalit. [WSJ]
• A memo leaked yesterday reveals Israeli army plans to demolish construction that took place in Israeli settlements during the current freeze, which could include evictions. [JTA]
• The “Arbeit Macht Frei” sign stolen from ...