HEADLINES FROM THE IZRAELI HEBREW PRESS
HA’ARETZ
1. GOVERNMENT ADVANCING LAW TO RECOGNIZE SAME-SEX COUPLES
Memorandum on „partnership” law, which has been distributed by the Justice Ministry, would provide legal status for all couples in Israel. Livni: Coordinating with Deputy Religious Affairs Minister. Jewish Home: No agreement reached.
2. AMIDROR: FAILURE OF NEGOTIATIONS WILL INCREASE BOYCOTT AND ISOLATION
MA’ARIV
1. Diplomatic struggle against the nuclear project
FOREIGN MINISTRY’S GOAL: STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH IRAN’S NEIGHBORS
In framework of unique conference held last week in Georgia, ways were considered on how to deepen ties with countries adjacent to the Islamic Republic, including Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Goal: Become influential player in the region and press Tehran
YEDIOT AHRONOT
1. Government approves reduction of rabbinate’s monopoly
EASING UP ON CONVERSION
According to draft law approved yesterday, any city rabbi will be able to establish conversion institute and sign certificate confirming change of religion. Those wishing to become Jewish will be able to choose to convert with rabbis known to be less stringent
YISRAEL HAYOM
1. „IT WAS CLEAR THAT WE WOULD CONTINUE TO BUILD DURING THE NEGOTIATIONS”
PM said yesterday after giving green light to marketing of land for 1,700 residential units in Judea and Samaria, and Jerusalem. „Root of the conflict – Palestinian refusal to recognize a Jewish state.” PA threatens: „Construction will lead to failure of the negotiations.” Kerry: „I believe that we will see progress in the talks.”
WALLA!
1. IDF INVESTIGATION: HAMAS PLANNED TO ABDUCT SOLDIERS DURING TUNNEL EXPLOSION
When bomb exploded in tunnel near Kisufim, there were three additional explosions designed to „imprison” soldiers. Hamas lookouts were identified waiting for the opportunity to abduct soldiers. Six soldiers wounded in incident.
NANA10
1. SUSPECTED FRAUD IN BEIT SHEMESH: „PAYMENT FOR NOT VOTING”
[Headlines for Walla! and Nana10 are from their websites as of 11:45.]
______________________________
SUMMARY OF OP-EDS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS
Ma’ariv notes that today is the anniversary of the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, according to the civil calendar, and claims that, „Israel is perhaps the only country in the world in which it is possible to evaluate historic diplomatic decisions in terms of mathematical laws. After almost 66 years since the founding of the state, there is an unchanging paradox here. A right-wing prime minister can make peace and win the support of most of the public. A left-wing prime minister can go to war and win an almost automatic majority. But if this political absurdity is upset, a national tragedy occurs. Yitzhak Rabin paid with his life for this anomaly.” The author believes that, „Today, Benjamin Netanyahu, the leader of the right, can make a historic peace agreement with the Palestinians and the Arab world and win the support of the public,” and predicts, „The entire center and left will line up alongside him and perhaps parts of the right as well.” The paper concludes, „Netanyahu needs just deep faith and a lot of daring. Does he have it?”
Yediot Ahronot suggests that there have been no leaks from the peace talks with the Palestinians because, „Nobody believes that anything will come from these talks and few are showing much interest in them.” The author writes: „Netanyahu is convinced that he is riding the horse. Obama needs him. Soon he will go to Congress in order to persuade its members to ease the sanctions on Iran. Netanyahu could enlist Israel’s friends in Congress for a bitter war against the President or, alternatively, he could express cautious reservations regarding the easements and allow the President to have his way. Several commentators previously thought about a deal of Busheir for Yitzhar: The Americans would bomb Busheir and we would evacuate Yitzhar. Even Netanyahu toyed with this for a time. The deal that Netanyahu is pushing today is Busheir plus Yitzhar: Israel will accept the existence of Busheir, and the Americans will not blame Israel for the existence of Yitzhar; the negotiations with Abu Mazen will end how they end, but Israel will not be punished. Nobody will discuss this deal openly, nobody will hold a ceremony for it on the White House lawn, but the way Netanyahu is going, we will yet reach this arrangement.”
Yisrael Hayom discusses the next of round of talks between Iran and the major powers, which is due to be held in Geneva later this week. The author says that the effectiveness of the sanctions regime will be seen not in Iran’s, „agreeing to negotiate, but in agreeing to stop its military nuclear program and provide credible guarantees that the agreement will not serve Iran as a ‘safe passage’ to a bomb.” The paper declares that until Iran makes its intentions clear, „The West must treat the statements and smiles with skepticism and demand a substantive change in policy backed by actions, and prepare for a scenario in which it will have to raise the price for Tehran’s foot-dragging.”
