Hamas: Palestinian unity must include armed factions
Hamas says it will oppose the dismantling of its military wing as part of any deal with the Fatah-controlled Palestinian Authority, the Times of Israel reports.
Egypt is currently attempting to broker a unity deal following a number of years with distinct and competing Palestinian entities controlling the West Bank and Gaza.
Netanyahu: Only Israelis will determine country’s interest
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has stepped directly into the row with US president Barack Obama by saying that only Israelis will define what is in the country’s best interest, Yediot Aharonot reports.
“Only the Israeli people will determine who best represents the State of Israel’s vital interests,” Netanyahu said Wednesday.
The statement follows reported closed door comments by Obama that Israel “doesn’t know what its own best interests are.”
Likud hit by row with US
The row between Israeli and US leaders Binyamin Netanyahu and Barack Obama is apparently having an adverse effect on the Netanyahu’s Likud party, the Jerusalem Post reports.
A poll taken following the publication of the row shows the Likud losing three seats over the period, largely at the expense of the Tzipi Livni Hatenuah movement. Support for other parties remains largely unmoved.
Elections take place in Israel on January 22. |
