Settlements, Not Science

"I couldn't represent Israel now."
--Former Israeli ambassador to the UN, Gabriella Shalev, says Israeli Prime Minister's attacks against US administration are going to boomerang.

• As academic year begins, BGU politics department gears up to fight closure - This academic year could be the last for Ben-Gurion University's controversial Department of Politics and Government after subcommittee of the Council for Higher Education decided not to allow new students to enroll. (Haaretz+)
• Girl joins haredi sect, parents arrested - Court issues restraining order against parents who try to forcibly get their daughter to leave 'Taliban women', return home with them. (Ynet)
• Fatah fares poorly in West Bank elections, despite Hamas boycott - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas suffers a blow in local elections, as Fatah rebels beat faction's official candidates in three cities. Just under 55 percent voted and renegades won more council seats than those officially endorsed by Fatah. (Haaretz+ and Israel Hayom)
• Jews, Protestants spar over Israel military aid - U.S. Jewish leaders lash out after mainline Protestant churches pen letter to U.S. Congress suggesting end to military aid to Israel. (Haaretz+)
• Senior Israeli scientist: "There is always money for yeshivas and settlements, but for research there isn't" - Israel on the way out of a European study program: The government not intending to transfer the annual amount of 700 million shekels. Significance: Death strike to scientific collaboration. (Yedioth finance supplement, p. 4)
• Ben-Zvi buying Maariv after all - For NIS 80 million, Ben-Zvi gets the newspaper, the NRG news website, the various magazines that Maariv publishes; Dismissals loom at Arkia, Polar is melting down. (Haaretz+)

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