HEADLINES FROM THE IZRAELI HEBREW PRESS
HA’ARETZ
1. CREDITORS DECIDE: NOCHI DANKNER TO LOSE IDB
(…)
2. Lapid presses for progress in the negotiations
NETANYAHU: THERE WILL BE NO PEACE IF IRAN HAS NUCLEAR WEAPONS
MA’ARIV
1. US trying to effect breakthrough in diplomatic talks
PA OFFICIALS: KERRY POSTPONED UPCOMING PRISONER RELEASE IN ORDER TO PRESSURE ABU MAZEN
Palestinians claim that after they rejected outline presented by Kerry during his previous visit, they received statement that third phase of prisoner release would be postponed by one month. On the other hand, possibility of advancing last phase being considered. Goal: Bring sides to make significant diplomatic statement in January
YEDIOT AHRONOT
1. WATER PIPELINE TO GET UNDERWAY
First publication: Today – Israel, Jordan and the Palestinians to sign agreement on laying pipeline between Red Sea and Dead Sea. Goal: Water desalination and preventing Dead Sea from drying up.
YISRAEL HAYOM
1. (…)
DANKNER EN ROUTE TO LOSING IDB
(…)
2. GOC CENTRAL COMMAND NITZAN ALON ON ARRANGEMENT FOR JORDAN VALLEY: „EGG THAT HASN’T BEEN LAID”
Army position: Cannot concede IDF presence in the Jordan Valley, it is a strategic buffer. Netanyahu responds to Obama: If Iran goes nuclear, there will be no peace agreement with the Palestinians
WALLA!
1. 24 HOURS TO GO: WHO WILL REPRESENT ISRAEL AT MANDELA’S FUNERAL?
Ceremony in South Africa to be held tomorrow but it is unclear who Israel is sending. Netanyahu planned to fly but cancelled „due to costs,” which raised possibility that Peres will go. It could be that Knesset Speaker will go.
NANA10
1. MINISTER SHALOM ON TWO SEAS PIPELINE AGREEMENT: „HISTORIC MOVE THAT REALIZES HERZL’S DREAM.”
[Headlines for Walla! and Nana10 are from their websites as of 11:00.]
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SUMMARY OF OP-EDS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS
All three papers discuss reported tension in the coalition between Finance Minister Yair Lapid and Economy Minister Naftali Bennett ostensibly over the former’s desire to advance the peace process:
Ma’ariv urges its readers, „not to forget for a minute: The alliance between Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett was – beyond the sincere friendship that has developed between them – an alliance of interests,” and says that since Prime Minister Netanyahu, „did not want Bennett in the government,” and „Lapid, for his part, did not want [Shas leader Aryeh] Deri in the government,” the, „only way in which both Yesh Atid [led by Lapid] and Jewish Home [led by Bennett] could both be in the coalition was via an impressive iron-clad alliance…that compelled the Prime Minister to accept both of them.” The author believes that their mutual interests are still intact, Lapid’s recent statements about the peace process notwithstanding: „Lapid knows that there is no diplomatic breakthrough, nor will there be, but today it is convenient for him to present himself as a pursuer of peace.” The paper concludes that despite the fact that, „These are two parties with nothing in common…interests trump everything. At this moment, their mutual interest is to stay in the government and not leave the coalition, and thus it will apparently remain.”
Yediot Ahronot contends that, „There is no reason to start either celebrating or demonstrating in the streets: Bennett is not quitting, Lapid is not pressing and nothing of substance is really happening. Apparently, many months will pass before anyone has any sort of reason to leave the government.”
Yisrael Hayom asserts that Lapid and Bennett need each other too much, to keep each other in – and the ultra-orthodox out of – the government and suggests that the current tension is merely media hype.
