Fair Assumption: No IDF In Palestine

"The working assumption is that when there will be a Palestinian state, the IDF will not be able to penetrate its sovereign territory at will." --Source tells Maariv how U.S. team looks for alternatives to present security situation. (NRG Hebrew)

• West Bank water shortage forcing Palestinians to lease land from settlers- Shortage of water and agricultural land in area leads local farmers into embarrassing predicament. (Haaretz)
• Hundreds of protesters against Bedouin resettlement clash with police; 18 arrested - Demonstrators protest Prawer outline to resettle Negev's Bedouins. Four people, including police officer sustain light injuries as protests turn violent. (Ynet and Maan)
• Israeli envoy: EU formed guidelines 'under the radar', broke promise to show us draft - David Walzer admits he did not anticipate the formulation and timing of the EU guidelines on settlements, but insists he and his staff not guilty of negligence. (Haaretz)
• Arab MKs fear electoral reform will push them out of Knesset - One after another, opposition MKs rise to the podium to deliver silent addresses to protest governability bill's impact on free speech. Measure would force smaller parties to run together or effectively disappear. Referendum Law inches closer to basic law status after plenum vote. (Israel Hayom)
• Journalists rally against Gaza crackdown - Palestinian journalists joined a sit-in strike near Ramallah on Thursday protesting a decision by the Hamas-run government in Gaza to close media offices of Ma’an Network, Al Arabiya and others. (Maan)
• IDF survey: Most Haredi soldiers believe their contribution to army is 'vital' - Research by IDF manpower directorate indicates that 75% of the Haredi conscripts are satisfied with their service and feel at home in the army. (Haaretz+)
• New Defense Ministry head: Must do more with less - Reserve General Dan Harel says at ceremony for changing of directors, ‘Situation will require all of to us to carry stretcher, to be more modest in how we act, look.' (Ynet)
• Thousands march in Jerusalem's Gay Pride Parade - Haredi man arrested after hurling stink bomb at marchers; parade to end with rally near Knesset. (Ynet)
• Incoming Chief Rabbi Lau says 'racist' basketball jibe was 'a joke' - New chief Ashkenazi rabbi was caught on tape using Hebrew word 'kushim,' a derogatory term for black people. In Israel Radio interview he calls his remark 'a joke that lost control.' (Haaretz+)

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