"The chilling thought that passes through my mind is what would happen if tefillin were burned at Teddy Stadium (in Jerusalem), or if they cut a Jew's sidelocks in Germany."--Maariv sports commentator Eyal Levi on the tearing up of a Quran by fans of Beitar Jerusalem soccer team at a game against an Arab team. (Maariv Sport/NRG Hebrew)
- Israeli forces kill one Palestinian, wound several others in Jenin clashes - Clashes erupt during Israeli operation to arrest wanted suspect in the West Bank city. Around 25 military vehicles arrived in the camp and fired live ammunition at Palestinians, injuring three people critically. Two people were shot in the stomach and one in the head. (Haaretz and Maan)
- Beitar Jerusalem soccer fans vandalized the Quran of the driver of the Sakhnin soccer team - We thought the charged encounter between the teams ended without incident, but group of fans from the capital made certain to violate the relative peace by damaging a symbol holy to Muslims - tearing up a Quran. Bnei Sakhnin team: "Cursed is the hand that hurt the holy books." (Maariv Sport/NRG Hebrew)
- Political sources say: US and Germany threatened and the IDF military colleges won't move over the Green Line - Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was forced to stop the construction of military colleges on Mt. Scopus in Jerusalem because the US and Germany threatened cancellation of cooperation if colleges move. "Our position regarding buildings that are over the Green Line are known," said high ranking German official. (Maariv, p. 4/NRG Hebrew)
- Jerusalem patriarch: Settlement construction 'hampers' peace - Top Roman Catholic cleric in Holy Land, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, delivers Christmas message, says Mideast peace efforts are being 'hampered' by Israeli settlement construction. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Israel government retaliating against violent Bedouin protests with harsh detention - Three weeks after demonstrations against resettlement turned violent, minors are still held under arrest in what some call an "unjustifiable act of revenge." (Haaretz+)
- Prominent Gaza psychiatrist, rights advocate, Dr. Eyad El-Sarraj, dies at 70 - Dr. Eyad El-Sarraj -- the founder of a Gaza-based mental health organization -- died at the age of 70 of cancer in an Israeli hospital. A critic of Palestinian as well as Israeli governmental policies, El-Sarraj was imprisoned four times by the Palestinian Authority, according to Al Jazeera. Both Hamas and Fatah paid tribute to him. (Maan)
- Pope's plans for Bethlehem Mass disappoint Israel - Catholic pontiff's truncated trip dashes hope of believers expecting papal-led Mass in Jerusalem. Israeli officials ask Vatican to reconsider holding service only in Bethlehem. (Yedioth, p. 6/Ynet)
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