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HA’ARETZ
1. JERUSALEM MUNICIPALITY: GOVERNMENT DELAYING CONSTRUCTION IN PISGAT ZEEV AND HAR HOMA.
This is likely to indicate that West Bank construction limitations also apply to eastern Jerusalem. Even so, municipality still promoting extensive construction.
2. SHAS THREATENING: WE WILL QUIT IF NEGOTIATIONS UNDER FIRE CONTINUE.
3. BARAK: OBJECTIVE OF MILITARY ACTION – WEAKEN HAMAS RULE IN GAZA.
MAKOR RISHON/HATZOFEH
1. Lieberman: Israel paying millions to Hamas.
CHIEF-OF-STAFF: IDF READY FOR LARGE-SCALE ACTION IN GAZA.
In appeal to senior officers, Ashkenazi said: Nobody but us can defend home and country. Hamas refrains from firing at Israel for second day in a row.
2. ANOTHER CHIEF-OF-STAFF LEAVES.
Netanyahu's right hand man quits after 1.5 years.
MA’ARIV
1. Coalition in danger. Ultra-orthodox: We'll quit by Passover.
SHAS AGAINST LIVNI.
Senior party figures launch frontal assault on Foreign Minister: "Tzipi Livni setting fires for Olmert and is pushing us out of the Government."
2. SDEROT ON THE AYALON.
Yesterday: Sderot protest well felt in Greater TA area: Hundreds of residents blocked Ayalon highway and called: "We are not two countries." Residents went to evening protest rally opposite the Knesset.
3. NETANYAHU, SARAH AND THE ADVISER.
Likud sources claim: "Head of Bibi's staff dismissed because of Sarah." Netanyahu: "Cheap gossip."
YEDIOT AHRONOT
1. Tel Hashomer, intensive care: Israeli boy alongside Palestinian boy.
FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE KASSAM.
Two eight-year-old boys, wounded in their limbs, sedated and on respirators, lie five meters apart. Osher from Sderot was severely wounded, along with his brother Rami, by a Kassam designed to hit civilians. Muhammad from Gaza wounded by Israeli shell that was fired at terrorists and which struck him by mistake. (…).
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SUMMARY OF EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS
Yediot Ahronot asks, "Why now?" regarding Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's trip to Germany. The editors' answer that, "To Olmert's credit, it may be said that even in times of political turmoil he does not neglect Israel foreign relations…Olmert, in his visit, creates a positive precedent that Israel's foreign relations are not dependant only on the inclinations of its internal politics."
Ma'ariv labels criticism of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert while he is abroad on state business as, "cheap politics." But, the editors believe that, in spite of the rampant phenomenon of Israel populism, it is much easier to make allegations stick against a politician who is perceived as aloof to popular opinion and refuses to admit mistakes.
Makor Rishon-Hatzofeh protests the decision by Attorney General Meni Mazuz to allow adoption by same-sex couples. The editors contend that the welfare authorities, "still adhere to measurable criteria when filtering couples for adoption on the basis of financial stability, whereas those who cannot supply a father or mother… are perceived as suitable." |