Jihadi dread in the Sinai

It’s been a busy past couple of days, and the Hebrew press struggles to fit in the slew of stories within the pages of Friday’s papers.

In Israel Hayom, the focus is on the ongoing battle between Islamic State-linked terrorists in the Sinai Peninsula and the Egyptian army, right across Israel’s southern border fence. The daily notes that for security reasons, the IDF has temporarily closed Highway 12 near the city of Eilat, while Egypt’s military at the same time claimed it had regained control of north Sinai and killed 120 jihadist fighters in the area.

Yedioth Ahronoth leads with a curtain raiser for a series of wide-ranging economic reforms which Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon aims to put up for votes in the Knesset next week. According to the paper, Kahlon’s plans include a drastic reduction in food prices as well as the introduction of a personal credit score for every Israeli citizen. The reforms also seek to curb the power of banks and shorten the waiting period to receive building permits.

Haaretz dedicates several articles and opinion pieces to last summer’s 50-day war between Israel and Gaza-based terrorist group Hamas, marking a year since Operation Protective Edge came to and end. Reporter Gili Cohen discusses the humanitarian concerns and ethical conundrums facing the IDF, and the Israeli Air Force in particular, in light of the death toll on the Palestinian side: 2,200, up to half of them combatants according to Israel.

According to Cohen, while Israel blames Hamas for all civilian deaths in the Strip since it set up operations in the heart of the civilian population and residential infrastructure, including mosques, hospitals and schools, the IDF has nevertheless resolved to come up with a more effective military strategy to defeat enemy combatants that at the same time will result in far less casualties in future confrontations.

During the 50 days of fighting, which began July 8, Israel launched more than 6,000 airstrikes against Gaza, while Hamas fired more than 4,500 rockets and mortar shells indiscriminately at Israel. Israel counted 73 deaths, including six civilians.

Meanwhile, Haaretz reporter Shirly Seidler records the rehabilitation process of Israel’s southern communities near the Gaza border, which were a main target of Hamas rocket attacks. Seidler notes that despite the war, over 500 Israelis have moved to the southern region in the past year, and many more have expressed an interest in doing so, following an extensive effort by local residents to bring visitors and tourists to the area.

Both Yedioth and Israel Hayom cover the case of alleged sexual assault by a prominent, as-of-yet-unnamed rabbi from the northern city of Safed, with each paper attempting to paint a picture of the suspected attacker based on personal testimonies and accounts. “The rabbi was a role model,” one former student tells Yedioth. “But now it is clear that was all bullshit aimed to hide who he really is.”

According to Israel Hayom, one of the women who issued a complaint against the rabbi claimed he threatened that her brothers would be killed should she decide to bring the allegations against him to light.

“For years, I approached rabbis and other officials in the community, but was repeatedly rejected,” the woman tells the paper, highlighting the religious figure’s elevated status in the city. Finally, after her complaints were ignored for 13 years, she turned to the police. “I feel that after years of fear and silence I have done the right thing,” the woman adds. “I call on other women like me, who fell victim to the rabbi’s actions, to file a complaint with police, not to fear and not to hesitate.”

Yedioth on its back page features an item on Israeli actress Gal Gadot, who was recently featured on the cover of Entertainment Weekly, ahead of the release of the much-anticipated “Batman vs. Superman” film.

Gadot, who plays Wonder Woman in the movie, stars alongside Ben Affleck, Amy Adams and Henry Cavill. Yedioth notes that a doll modeled on Gadot in her full armored Amazonian glory will soon be offered for sale at toy stores across the US.