SUMMARY OF OP-EDS FROM THE IZRAELI HEBREW PRESS

 

1. HAMAS HQ FLEES DAMASCUS AND IS ABANDONING ASSAD

Iran threatens Mashal: If you turn your back on Syria, we will stop channeling money and weapons to Hamas. Some militants have reached the Gaza Strip.

 

2. NETANYAHU ENCOURAGED BY POLLS: ADVANCING LIKUD PRIMARIES

 

1. SYRIAN ARMY HOLDS SCUD MISSILE TESTS

Assad’s answer to international pressure: Large-scale military maneuvers. (…).

 

2. HULDAI ON INFILTRATORS: TA RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN ABANDONED

TA Mayor turns to Netanyahu with demand to hold urgent Cabinet discussion. Number of infiltrators passes 50,000.

 

3. NETANYAHU BRINGS FORWARD LIKUD PRIMARIES

PM in hint about Iran: Ben-Gurion knew how to make fateful decisions despite international pressure.

 

1. Netanyahu: Likud elections next month.

PRIMARIES QUICKSTEP

Last night: PM dropped political bomb and surprised Likud ministers when he announced party leadership elections on January 31^st. Minister Silvan Shalom: Illegal move. Assessment: Pressure will now increase on Tzipi Livni regarding Kadima primaries.

 

2. Netanyahu talked about Ben-Gurion but hinted at Iran:

„THERE IS A HEAVY PRICE FOR DECISIONS – AND A HEAVIER ONE FOR NOT DECIDING”

PM: Despite pressures from home and abroad, Ben-Gurion knew how to make tough decisions.

 

3. LAST NIGHT: LIGHT EARTHQUAKE FROM METULLA TO NAHARIYA

 

1. PM springs surprise: Elections for party chairman – in less than two months.

NETANYAHU BRINGING PRIMARIES FORWARD

PM proposes holding vote on January 31 – at same time as vote for party institutions. Justification: „Move will save money and unnecessary clashes.” Silvan Shalom opposes: „No reason to choose candidate two years in advance.” Feiglin already announced that he will run.

 

2. ASSAD IS CRUMBLING – AND THREATENING WITH MISSILES

War of threats in the Middle East. Syria practices launching Scud missiles – explicit threat against Israel and Turkey. (…). PM Netanyahu sends veiled threat at Tehran: „We must make brave decisions even if there are opponents.”

 

1. „EXPLOSION LEVELLED IRANIAN BASE – SIGNIFICANT DELAY TO MISSILE PROGRAM”

American and Israeli intelligence officials told The New York Times that the explosion at a base near Tehran three weeks ago was a severe blow to Iran’s long-range missile project and severely delayed it.

 

2. SUSPICION: 2 YOUNG WOMEN CARRIED „PRICETAG” ACTION AT IDF BASE

 

3. EARTHQUAKE FELT IN NORTHERN ISRAEL, NO REPORT OF CASUALTIES

Earthquake felt from north of Kiryat Shemona to Nahariya. No reports of damage or casualties. Epicenter in Hula Valley and the Sea of Galilee; strength – 3.8 on Richter Scale.

 

4. SHOW OF FORCE: SYRIA CARRIES OUT TEST OF SCUD-B MISSILES

Defense Minister Dawoud Rajha and senior officers attended exercise, in which 300mm and 600mm rockets were tested. (…).

 

1. REPORT: EXPLOSION AT BASE NEAR TEHRAN CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DELAY TO MISSILE PROGRAM

The New York Times reports that explosion three weeks ago leveled long-range missile testing base. (…).

 

2. SYRIA: „FIRING OF MISSILE DESIGNED TO TEST OUR READINESS FOR ANY AGGRESSION”

 

3. 3.8 EARTHQUAKE FELT IN NORTH

Earthquake felt mainly in Nahariya, Metulla, Kiryat Shemona and Tiberias. Epicenter in Hula Valley – Sea of Galilee area. No casualties.

 

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Yediot Ahronot asks, „Why do many of the ultra-orthodox not understand that the attempt to suppress women – suppress their voice, the way they look, their presence in public life – is liable to cause most of the Israeli public (including the religious and many ultra-orthodox) to go crazy? Because we did not tell them – in a loud and clear voice – that it is sacred to us. It is not just another small and aggravating abuse to which we have already become accustomed to. The State of Israel will not exist, cannot exist, must not exist – to the exclusion of women from public life. The ultra-orthodox must know that they are playing with fire. Women’s equality is sacred to Israel, and with what is sacred to Israel, no one can play with.”

 

Ma’ariv opines that, „With a clear hierarchy, an open ear to the public and waking up after years of being suppressed, there is no reason to be surprised by the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood.” The author wonders, „What does the current picture have in store for Israel? War and confrontation is not on the threshold, and the peace agreement is not expected to be abrogated. The new Egyptian regime will be under constraints, led by the need to take responsibility and feed over 85 million citizens and run a country.”

 

Yisrael Hayom offers two opposing viewpoints on the current debate over Israel’s democracy:

 

Likud MK Tzipi Hotovely contends that, „Israeli newspapers are warning that democracy is under attack. The truth is, there is something to it. If democracy is rule by the people, we are being exposed to more entities that are doing their utmost in order to harm the people’s ability to rule. We are witness to a well orchestrated campaign, the slogan of which, if we use the words of Yitzhak Ben-Aharon, is ‘We must switch the people.’ It started with a de-legitimization campaign in the media against a series of draft laws tabled in the Knesset. The fourth governing arm – the media – quickly categorized public representatives as sons of light and sons of darkness and stuck each draft law with a name based on its feelings towards it.”

 

Former Labor MK and Minister Uzi Baram says that, „There was no need to wait for what transpired at the ‘Saban Forum’ or to listen to Hillary Clinton regarding anti-democratic draft laws and about the strengthening of the radical rabbinate and the suppression of women in order to understand what is happening. The Americans passed through a similar, not-to-be-forgotten period. During this period, at the start of the 1950’s a Senate committee dealt with the struggle against the phenomena of ‘anti-Americanism’ in the media, literature, art and especially in theater and cinema. The committee was very popular during its tenure. It cast suspicion on many good people for allegedly forming Communist cells, and the atmosphere in America was that of a witch hunt. Senator McCarthy tugged on the most sensitive strings of his country’s public opinion in his attempt to combat Communism. Within two years of the committee’s work, Senator McCarthy became an object of ridicule. He was ultimately condemned by the same Senate that chose him.”