HEADLINES FROM THE IZRAELI PRESS
HA’ARETZ:1. STATE COMPTROLLER: EDUCATION SYSTEM PRIVATIZED, PARENTS PAYING
(…).
2. MILITARY POLICE CLOSE CASE ON INVESTIGATION OVER KILLING OF 21 SAMOUNI FAMILY MEMBERS DURING OPERATION CAST LEAD
MA’ARIV
1. YA’ALON: ELECTIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERATION IN IRANIAN ISSUE
„The forum dealing with this issue is level-headed and practical,” Strategic Affairs Minister clarifies. Sunday
– Netanyahu expected to announce agreed-upon election date.
YEDIOT AHRONOT
1. Livni leaves the Knesset and considers her next step.
LEAVING, NOT QUITTING
Livni’s confidants: After resigning from the Knesset, she is likely to run with Kadima rebels or join Yair Lapid. On Sunday, Netanyahu intends to announce date for elections, apparently in early September.
YISRAEL HAYOM
1. After the summer vacation and before the holidays
– that is the apparent target date for the elections.
„TO THE POLLS, NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 4”
PM expected to announce final date next week. One month after her Kadima defeat, Livni resigns from the Knesset. Her confidants not ruling out possibility that she will establish new party. (…).
2. „WAR CRIMES WERE NOT COMMITTED DURING OPERATION CAST LEAD INCIDENT”
Case closed: Former Givati Brigade commander, Col. Ilan Malka, will not stand trial for death of 21 family members in Gaza. „The serious accusations were disproved.”
WALLA!
1. TWO ROCKETS FIRED AT ISRAEL, IDF ATTACKS IN GAZA
NANA10
1. CASE CLOSED IN AFFAIR OF DEATHS OF 21 SAMOUNI FAMILY MEMBERS
During Operation Cast Lead, a number of shells were fired at the house which the family occupied, on instructions from the IDF. Twenty-one family members, including nine children were killed. Military Police and the Judge Advocate General opened investigation of the incident, but decided to close the case. „The investigation totally disproved all claims of intentional harm to civilians,” stated the Judge Advocate General.
[Headlines for Walla! and Nana10 are from their websites as of 10:50.] ______________________________
SUMMARY OF OP-EDS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS
All three papers discuss various issues related to politics and the widely-expected upcoming early elections:
Yediot Ahronot reflects on former Kadima Chairwoman Tzipi Livni’s resignation from the Knesset yesterday: „It is difficult to say that Livni’s bowing out was a surprise. It would have been curious had she gone against her heart and lined up behind a man whom she neither believes it nor esteems, and sold him to the public as the next prime minister. One can say many things about Livni
– about her performance as leader of the opposition, through her inability to hold the party, her cool and alienating attitude toward people and the political mistakes that she made. But about one thing there is no argument, and that is her courage, integrity and the way she clung to her principles.” The author adds, „Her departure yesterday is, first of all, a loss to those who want to a different kind of politician in the Knesset.”
Ma’ariv believes that Kadima Chairman Shaul Mofaz’s talk about unseating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is, „pathetic and presumptuous,” given that the former, „has yet to break past the 11-13 seats given him by the polls and has yet to show his mettle as leader of the opposition.” The author adds that Mofaz must also be concerned that his predecessor and rival Tzipi Livni may run on another list and take with her Kadima MKs and voters. The paper asserts that, „The coming elections will be held on the reasonable assumption that Netanyahu will also be the next prime minister… unless he does something stupid such as attack Iran,” and adds, „But he is not a fool, will not do so and will avoid complications stemming from other problematic issues such as the budget, the Tal Law, evacuating outposts, etc.” The author asserts that, „The dispute over a date for the elections says it all. Netanyahu wants elections soon, preferably in August or early September, in order to exploit his great advantage. Mofaz is talking about October, after the holidays, because beyond his pompous statements, he is still not ready for the contest, not for the premiership and maybe not even for the position of the second largest party in the Knesset.” The author wonders if former Mossad Director Yuval Diskin’s recent remarks against Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak are related to the coming elections.
Yisrael Hayom suggests that, „Holding early elections, especially at the pace that characterizes the State of Israel, in which elections are frequently held every two years and not every four-and-a-half, exacts a high price not just in terms of money, but also
– and perhaps mainly – in terms of human resources and vis-à-vis the other issues on Israeli society’s agenda.” The author asserts that elections mean that many pressing issues will not only be ignored for at least six months, but will be as cogent as ever when a new government is finally formed. The paper predicts yet another, „shaky coalition resting on eggshells.”
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