"You can count on our friendship with Israel if correct relations exist between us," George Simion, the head of the nationalist AUR party, says in an exclusive interview.

MK Eliyahu Revivo (Likud), who has sponsored the bill, has tried to have it come up for a vote in the Ministerial Committee on Legislation this coming Sunday, only to have it withdrawn after the defense minister warned it could exacerbate security matters.

Israel's consul is said to be in contact with authorities to "bring about the release of the Israeli citizen as soon as possible, safe and sound."

Gallant calls on public figures on both the Right and Left to keep politics out of the IDF. Retired IAF officers back reservists, including former Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz.

The US, which has called for the independence of the judiciary to be protected and urged Netanyahu to try to build consensus for his reform proposals, issues statement calling on Israel to respect the right to peacefully assemble.