HA’ARETZ
1. SECURITY SOURCES: ELECTRICITY PROBLEMS IN GAZA STRIP GREATER THAN WE EXPECTED.
Fuel supplies halted following closure of crossings by Israel. Security sources confirm: We misjudged the effect of the closure.
2. Ahead of Winograd report:
BOLTON: RESOLUTION #1701 NOT INFLUENCED BY GROUND OPERATION.
MA’ARIV
1. IN THE DARK.
Accusation in Gaza: Israel has stopped electricity in Gaza Strip. Security establishment claims: This is a Hamas show. Whole world saw children with candles last night.
2. WE ARE CRUMBLING.
Haim Cohen’s restaurant is empty. Osnat Naim’s events hall has not had one event in a month. The clothes in Aharon Hugi’s boutique are still in their boxes. Thus Kassams have destroyed livelihoods of Sderot business owners.
3. „WE WILL NOT COUNTENANCE A NUCLEAR IRAN.”
Rare remark by Chief-of-Staff Ashkenazi at Herzliya Conference yesterday.
YEDIOT AHRONOT
1. Dramatic decline in unemployment: Ashkelon – 8% in 2003, 4% in 2007. Mitzpe Ramon – 9.5% in 2003, 6% in 2007. Hatzor HaGalilit: 7.5% in 2003, 4.5% in 2007. Yeruham: 9% in 2003, 7% in 2007.
TURNAROUND IN UNEMPLOYMENT CITIES.
Major economic growth has finally reached periphery communities.
2. GAZA BY CANDLELIGHT.
Gazans spent last night without electricity. Israel says: We did not cut off, Hamas threw the switch.
3. Winograd report in nine days.
APPARENT: CRITICISM OF BARAK TOO.
In wake of hasty withdrawal from Lebanon. But main section of report will focus on war and Olmert. Former US Ambassador to UN: Ground was unnecessary.
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Both papers discuss Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah’s recent speech, in which he boasted that his organization held body parts of Israeli soldiers killed during the Second Lebanon War:
Yediot Ahronot says that the speech, „was exceptional in its wickedness. He occupies the middle ground between Dracula and Hannibal Lecter.” While the editors regret that Nasrallah survived the war, they believe that eliminating him now would be counter-productive. The paper recalls that that the elimination of his predecessor in 1992 led to the bombings in Buenos Aires in which over 130 people were killed, and notes that Defense Minister Ehud Barak – who rebuked ministers who, at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, called for Nasrallah’s elimination – was then the IDF Chief-of-Staff. The editors declare that, „Perhaps the time has come to use the ultimate weapon against Nasrallah’s speeches – ignore them.”
Ma’ariv scoffs at those Israelis who claim that Nasrallah is under pressure and believes that he is as strong as ever.
BreuerPress
