News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) Speculation has risen that American gambling-casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson may bid again for the floundering Ma'ariv newspaper. The parent Ma'ariv Holdings company has held intensive talks with another Jewish billionaire, Len Blavatnik, but his represenatives left Israel afetr the last round of talks, which will resume after the Sukkot holiday, Globes reported.

Adelson's previous offer for the newspaper was rejected as inadequate by Ma'ariv chairman Ofer Nimrodi. Adelson then launched his own free Yisrael HaYom newspaper, which has become the third most popular Hebrew daily in the country. Analysts have noted that his buying Ma'ariv would represent a "revolution" in Israeli media. Adelson is known for staunchly nationalist views and has been linked with Likud chairman and Knesset Member Binyamin (Bibi) Netanyahu.