"Poor Secretary of State (John) Kerry, exhausting his energies in this region."--Maariv commentator Dr. Chelo Rozenberg on the statement by Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon that the Netanyahu government opposes a two-state solution.
- Official figures show spike in settlement construction - Central Bureau of Statistics' document detailing overall construction starts reveals West Bank building at highest relative spike since last year compared to other regions. (Agencies, Ynet)
- U.K. to probe JNF's anti-discrimination law compliance after complaints by BDS activists - British Charity Commission decided not to revoke Jewish National Fund U.K.'s charity status after Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign accused it of role in ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, but has referred case for further investigation. (Haaretz+)
- Finance Ministry: 2012 defense budget hit a new record - Newly released data says 2012 defense budget, which was set at NIS 55.8 billion, ballooned up to NIS 66.4 billion. Wages make up 34.3% of IDF's budget. Military says data unfounded, "ignores streamlining processes conducted in 2011 and 2012." (Israel Hayom)
- Mossad, Shin Bet chiefs to Netanyahu: Foreign Ministry strike hurting national security - Security chiefs urge PM to intervene and find a solution that will end the workers' strike, says senior official. (Haaretz+ and Israel Hayom)
- Netanyahu confirms: U.S. is working with Israel on cyber defense, Iranian attacks increasing - Iran ups cyber attacks on Israeli computers, prime minister told a workshop at Tel Aviv University. (Haaretz+ and Ynet)
- Knesset panel on Prisoner X: 'Serious systemic failure' in Mossad's handling, recruitment of Zygier - Inquiry committee examined what led up to the death of Ben Zygier in an Israeli prison cell in 2010, however, most of those involved in recruiting him to the Mossad are no longer in the Israeli intel agency. (Haaretz+)
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