HEADLINES FROM THE IZRAELI HEBREW PRESS
HA’ARETZ
1. US AND RUSSIA AGREE SYRIA IS TO BE DISARMED OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS
(…) Today: Kerry to present agreement to Netanyahu
2. US EXPERTS: ISRAEL FROZE PRODUCTION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS NINE YEARS AGO
MA’ARIV
1. ATTACK ON SYRIA CANCELLED; ASSAD WILL BE REQUIRED TO DISMANTLE CHEMICAL WEAPONS WITHIN APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR
(…) Today: Kerry in Israel
2. PRESIDENT-ELECT OF OLYMPIC COMMITTEE HEADS ORGANIZATION THAT PROMOTES BOYCOTT OF ISRAELI PRODUCTS IN GERMANY
Thomas Bach heads Ghorfa, which issues certificates for products that are „free” of components produced in Israel – and not just in Judea and Samaria. At the London Olympics, he opposed a minute of silence for those murdered in Munich.
YEDIOT AHRONOT
1. (…)
SYRIAN CHEMICAL WEAPONS TO BE DESTROYED WITHIN ONE YEAR
(…)
YISRAEL HAYOM
1. (…)
THE CHEMICAL DEAL
(…) Kerry to meet with PM this morning and will update him on the agreement regarding Syria
WALLA!
1. AFTER THE SYRIAN COMPROMISE: KERRY ARRIVES TO UPDATE NETANYAHU
American Secy. of State arriving this morning for a few hours in order to update the PM on compromise that is due to destroy Syrian chemical weapons stocks. The two will also discuss the negotiations with the Palestinians
NANA10
1. NETANYAHU: „UNDERSTANDINGS ON DISARMING SYRIA WITH CHEMICAL WEAPONS TO BE TESTED BY REALITY”
[Headlines for Walla! and Nana10 are from their websites as of 12:05.]
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SUMMARY OF OP-EDS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS
All three papers discuss the Russian-US agreement regarding Syria’s chemical weapons:
Ma’ariv analyzes the agreement and asks: „And what of Israel? The assessments in Israel on the eve of Yom Kippur were that disarming Syria of non-conventional weapons is a great achievement, if indeed it occurs. On the optimistic side, it is possible to see that the tangible threat of an attack can lead to results, and that perhaps this will lead to results in the future regarding Iran as well. The less optimistic assess that America’s overall conduct broadcasts a weakness that can only encourage Iran to continue with its nuclear program based on the assumption that the US will always find a reason not to attack.”
Yediot Ahronot says, „The agreement between Russia and the US that was signed yesterday in Geneva is good news for Israel. The two superpowers have agreed to get rid of one of the main threats that has been hovering over our heads for the past three decades.” However, the author asks, „How could anyone be sure that Assad will have shown the inspectors all of the weapons at his disposal?” Moreover, the paper doubts whether the Russians will ever approve the use of force or even sanctions or that the Americans will attack Syria should, say, the inspectors be refused entry to a particular installation. The author also doubts that, given the conditions inside Syria, it will be very difficult to ensure the inspectors’ safety and cites expert opinions that actually destroying Syria’s stock of chemical weapons could take at least two years. The author declares: „The bottom line is that even if dismantling Syria’s arsenal of chemical weapons doesn’t take place as planned, from Israel’s point-of-view, this is very positive progress,” and concludes, „Who loses from the agreement? First and foremost, the citizens of Syria do. Assad and his cohorts are continuing to perpetrate appalling war crimes and are not being held accountable. 120,000 Syrians have already been slaughtered and no one is stopping the horror.”
Yisrael Hayom notes that, „Today, John Kerry will arrive in Jerusalem to explain to Benjamin Netanyahu the nature of the agreement. He should thank the Prime Minister for coming to President Obama’s aid in his difficult time on Capitol Hill. Obama owes him something, but it is not clear if he will be counted among those who make good on their debts.” The author says that if the agreement is carried out as planned, „Israel’s strategic situation will greatly improve and the axis of evil that leads from Tehran through Damascus to Beirut with backing from Moscow will be weakened.” However, the author cautions that, „The slaughter in our northern neighbor will not end.”
