"But the person with the most influence on Netanyahu these days is Arthur Finkelstein, and Finkelstein says break right. So what if the world is furious about the decision to build thousands of apartments beyond the Green Line?"--Yedioth political affairs commentator Sima Kadmon writes about what's behind Netanyahu's latest political moves.
- South Africa's ruling party endorses BDS campaign against Israel - The ANC declared it was 'unapologetic in its view that the Palestinians are the victims and the oppressed in the conflict with Israel.' (Haaretz+)
- Left-wing Israeli activist acquitted of crime after calling IDF soldiers 'war criminals' - Ezra Nawi wins appeal after being convicted of insulting an IDF officer who asked him to leave a closed military zone in Hebron in 2009. (Haaretz+)
- Lieberman probably won't be able to be appointed minister in next government - Police began collecting testimonies from members of appointment committtee to see if they were pressured to appoint the ambassador in Latvia. Indictment likely next week. (Maariv, p. 5/NRG Hebrew)
- Human Rights Watch: IDF violated laws of war by attacking journalists in Gaza - Two Palestinian cameramen were killed and at least 10 media personnel were wounded during Operation Pillar of Defense; IDF has no comment on rights group's claim. (Haaretz+)
- Israel calls on U.N. Security Council to condemn rearming of Hezbollah - Israel's U.N. Ambassador Ron Prosor said in a letter to the 15-nation council that the buildup was in clear violation of a U.N. arms embargo. (Haaretz)
- Dozens petition to relinquish 'Jewish' status - Following in author Yoram Kaniuk's footsteps, dozens including journalist Yaron London appeal to Interior Ministry to be registered as 'irreligious.' (Ynet)
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