HEADLINES FROM THE HEBREW PRESS
HA’ARETZ
1. ESCALATION IN SOUTH: OVER 110 ROCKETS FIRED AT ISRAEL; 15 PALESTINIANS KILLED IN GAZA
Incidents started with elimination of PRC Secretary-General who was planning terrorist attack. Iron Dome intercepts 28 missiles. 207,000 pupils to stay home.
MA’ARIV
1. ONE MILLION ISRAELIS UNDER FIRE
Over 100 rockets launched at southern communities over the weekend. Escalation started when PRC Secretary-General was eliminated in Gaza. Impressive results for Iron Dome missile defense system. 200,000 pupils to stay home today.
2. FIFTEEN PALESTINIANS KILLED IN GAZA
Report: Hamas delegation leaves for Cairo to discuss escalation.
YEDIOT AHRONOT
1. Escalation in the south: 120 rockets fired from Gaza at Israel over the weekend. Iron Dome’s success: Intercepts 28 of 31 launches at civilian populations.
DEFENSIVE SHIELD
Elimination of PRC Secretary-General in Gaza leads to massive barrage on south, and over 1million residents spent Shabbat in protective areas. Last night: Hamas asked Egypt to work toward ceasefire. But Israel not taking any chances: Classes will not be held today in most of the region.
2. WEDNESDAY: EXERCISE SIMULATING ROCKET ATTACK ON TEL AVIV
Concern: Terrorist organizations could launch Fajr-5<en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fajr-5> at up to 70 km. range.
YISRAEL HAYOM
1. Following escalation: Over 200,000 pupils will not go to class today. Iron Dome succeeded in intercepting 90% of rockets under its defensive range.
GRAD DESTROYERS
Purim under fire: Southern residents return to the shelters. About 100 rockets launched from Gaza in response to elimination of PRC Secretary-General. Eight wounded, one critically. Air Force responds by hitting launch cells. Jerusalem confirms: Hamas has requested ceasefire.
WALLA!
1. COORDINATOR OF GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES IN THE TERRITORIES: CROSSINGS TO GAZA WILL REMAIN OPEN
2. IDF: INVESTIGATING PALESTINIAN REPORT THAT 13 YEAR-OLD WAS KILLED IN ATTACKS ON GAZA
3. FIRE ON THE SOUTH CONTINUES THIS MORNING; 200,000 PUPILS TO STAY HOME
NANA10
1. NINE ROCKETS FIRED ON THE SOUTH: CLASSES CANCELLED FROM BE’ER SHEVA TO YAVNE
2. TARGET OF IDF ATTACKS: MISSILES CAPABLE OF REACHING GREATER TEL AVIV AREA
IAF attacked Gaza launching sites of heavy rockets capable of reaching Greater Tel Aviv area.
[Headlines for Walla! and Nana10 are from their websites as of 10:00]
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SUMMARY OF OP-EDS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS
All three papers discuss the escalation in the south<www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Hamas+war+against+Israel/Israel_under_fire-March_2012.htm> following the recent elimination of PRC commander Zahir Kaisi<www.idfblog.com/2012/03/10/popular-resistance-committee>:
Yediot Ahronot believes that, „This was a planned escalation.” The author notes that the Iron Dome system successfully intercepted nearly all the missiles that were launched at populated areas,” and adds that, „Were it not for Iron Dome, the IDF would be deep inside Gaza, with dozens of casualties on both sides.” The paper says that the decision to eliminate Kaisi was taken in light of the fact that a decision not to eliminate a similar PRC cell resulted in the August 2011 terrorist attack that left eight Israelis dead<www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Hamas+war+against+Israel/Terror_attacks_Eilat_18-Aug-2011.htm>. The author says that Israel has now thrown Hamas on the horns of a dilemma: „As Hamas seeks to portray itself as a pragmatic political body vis-à-vis the world, does it have the power and the will to rein in the firing by Islamic Jihad that is threatening its hegemony in the Gaza Strip?” The paper cautions that, „If the firing continues past a pre-determined point, the green light will be given for a ground operation.”
Ma’ariv asserts that, „Israel decided to take the initiative,” in response to a major terrorist attack that was being planned by the PRC and praises the IDF for the accuracy of both the Iron Dome system and its strikes on the Gaza Strip, as well as for the precision of Kaisi’s elimination. The author criticizes the decision not to completely smash Hamas and its cohorts during Operation Cast Lead and adds that, „We are currently eating its rotten fruit and will continue to do so until we understand that nobody will clean out Gaza for us, that rockets do not rust, but are launched, and that terrorism
– unfortunately – understands only one language.”
Yisrael Hayom says that Gaza-based terrorists responded as expected to Kaisi’s elimination and adds that Israel has clearly had the upper hand in the fighting thus far, thanks to thorough preparations and the Iron Dome system. The author believes that Israeli decision-makers must decide how far to push the current round given that heavily populated areas beyond Ashdod could come under fire.
BreuerPress-info