"Securing Israel’s future as a Jewish and democratic state requires diplomatic and political leadership, not legal maneuverings."--From letter signed by 40 American Jewish leaders and philanthropists to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu urging him not to adopt the recent Levy Committee report, which claims that settlements are legal.
- U.S. Jews to Netanyahu: Report urging state to legalize settlements will aid those seeking to delegitimize Israel - 40 U.S. Jewish leaders sign Israel Policy Forum letter urging prime minister to reject document produced by panel headed by former Supreme Court justice Edmond Levy. (Haaretz)
- PM sides with ultra-Orthodox: No draft at age 18 - Netanyahu blames Kadima 'zigzagging' for crisis in talks on universal recruitment law, says drastic measures would eventually lead to reduction in number of ultra-Orthodoxtroops. (Ynet)
- Estimation in Likud: Elections at the beginning of 2013 - Following the failure of the attempts to agree on a draft law, sources say Kadima will resign from the coalition within days. (Maariv, p. 6)
- Obama says 'failed' to push Mideast peace - In interview with ABC, US president says he feels he hasn’t been able to achieve desired progress in Israeli-Palestinian peace process. 'Parties have to want it as well,' he says. (Ynet)
- Saudis to give $100 million to Palestinians - Money will help alleviate budget crunch, pay public sector employees, says Palestinian Authority spokesperson. (Agencies, Ynet)
- 'HSBC ignored financial transactions to Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas' -Executives of HSBC Holdings Plc and its U.S. subsidiary are scheduled to testify Tuesday before a Senate panel about how the London-based banking behemoth, after years of run-ins with U.S. authorities over alleged anti-money laundering lapses, has cleaned up its act. (Israel Hayom)
For the full News from Israel.