Daybreak: Israel Makes Offer For Shalit
Plus Polanski’s way out, Egypt’s hated wall, and more in the news
December 22, 2009
• 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 not to permit an intifada on his watch. [WSJ]
• A California appellate court rejected Roman Polanski’s request to dismiss his statutory rape charge, while suggesting that should he agree to be sentenced in absentia, he may ultimately avoid jail-time. [LAT]
• The New York Times profiles Women of the Wall, a feminist Orthodox group whose members, in acts of deliberate civil disobedience, wear tallit and carry the Torah at the Kotel in an effort to expand what women are allowed to do. [NYT]
• Egypt’s new underground barrier at the Gaza border—designed to preclude smuggling tunnels—has earned the title “wall of shame” and Egypt the enmity of much of the Arab world. [LAT]
• One report has it that the stolen (and since recovered) “Arbeit Macht Frei” sign from Auschwitz was destined for a private citizen in Sweden. [Ynet]
Marc Tracy is a staff writer at The New Republic, and was previously a staff writer at Tablet. He tweets @marcatracy.
