HEADLINES FROM THE IZRAELI HEBREW PRESS
HA’ARETZ
1. THE CUT THAT NEVER WAS: DEFENSE BUDGET TO BE INCREASED IN 2014
Contrary to the government’s declarations, the defense establishment will receive hundreds of million shekels more than planned. Personnel expenditures to peak at 54% of the budget.
2. NETANYAHU ATTACKS US: „THERE ARE THINGS THAT FRIENDS DO NOT DO.”
3. PALESTINIAN STABS POLICEMAN IN WEST BANK, IS IN MODERATE-TO-SERIOUS CONDITION
MA’ARIV
1. ISRAEL’S NEW EQUATION: PROGRESS IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE PALESTINIANS IN EXCHANGE FOR POLLARD
Netanyahu expected to demand that Obama release Israeli spy as condition for signing framework agreement planned in Washington. 26 terrorists to be released next week, and under American pressure, Jerusalem will postpone announcement of construction in Judea and Samaria.
2. ISA DATA: SHARP RISE IN TERRORIST INCIDENTS SINCE RESUMPTION OF DIPLOMATIC NEGOTIATIONS
Policeman moderately wounded in stabbing attack north of Jerusalem. Security establishment prepared for escalation ahead of moment of decision for negotiations in April
YEDIOT AHRONOT
1. After the bomb on the bus: Palestinian stabs a policeman
TERRORISM RAISES ITS HEAD
Palestinian armed with a knife attacked policeman who was directing traffic at entrance to Adam settlement, stabbed him in the back and fled. Policeman moderately wounded
YISRAEL HAYOM
1. Day after explosion on the bus in Bat Yam, terrorism close to Jerusalem: Palestinian stabbed policeman in the back, almost in the heart, and fled
ISRAEL: EXTEND THE NEGOTIATIONS BY ONE YEAR
Even though Kerry, according to assessments, intends to reach outline for agreement next month – Israel is asking the US for a statement on the continuation of the negotiations for an additional year. Netanyahu responds to wiretapping affair: „There are things that must not be done.”
2. PM SETS CONDITION: RELEASE POLLARD
Assessment: Netanyahu seeking to link Pollard and diplomatic negotiations or release of murderers
WALLA!
1. POLICEMAN WHO WAS STABBED IN BINYAMIN [REGIONAL COUNCIL] AREA STILL HOSPITALIZED, SEDATED AND ON A RESPIRATOR
NANA10
1. BINYAMIN [REGIONAL COUNCIL AREA] POLICE COMMAND: „WE SEE AN ESCALATION IN SECURITY INCIDENTS’
[Headlines for Walla! and Nana10 are from their websites as of 11:10.]
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SUMMARY OF OP-EDS FROM THE IZRAELI HEBREW PRESS
All three papers discuss the situation in Judea and Samaria and/or the negotiations with the Palestinians:
Ma’ariv says, „Yesterday’s stabbing attack at Adam junction, a mere one day after the attempted terrorist attack on a bus in Bat Yam, and after two months of dozens of Jewish and Palestinian killed and wounded, does not attest to the outbreak of a third intifada,” and adds, „There is still a significant difference between the events of recent weeks and September 2000, which saw the outbreak of the second intifada: Over 13 years ago, the Palestinian Authority was controlled by Yasser Arafat, who ignited the intifada out of faith in the Palestinian struggle. The second intifada cost the Palestinian side (and the Israeli side) dearly and ended in a ringing failure vis-à-vis the public in the territories and Gaza. The pain still rings. According to all current IDF and ISA assessments, the Palestinian public and leadership are not interested in a third intifada. Moreover, intelligence cooperation between Israeli and Palestinian security forces has continued in recent days as if there was no terrorism.” The author suggests that the Palestinian Authority believes that rising, albeit low-intensity, violence serves a general Palestinian interest and adds that the fact that, „The diplomatic negotiations are – according to all opinions – going nowhere,” stokes an atmosphere of unrest that is conducive to violence. But the paper believes that the third phase of the prisoner release, which is scheduled for next week, will go forward.
Yediot Ahronot asserts, „The four Palestinians who have been in killed in clashes with the IDF recently are the hot wind that is fanning the flames of terrorism,” and ventures that, „If, up until last month, the level of violence in the West Bank was defined as three on a scale of one to ten, the current wave of terrorist attacks has raised it to five. It is still not an intifada because it is not a popular resistance that includes the Palestinian public; rather it is a fawda, anarchy in certain areas.” The author avers that, „In the Palestinian areas, the assumption is that the current negotiations with Israel have already failed. This frustration is leading to a sense of disgust with the Palestinian Authority and is encouraging vigilantism, which we call ‘the lone attacker syndrome.’ Despite the Kerry initiative, Israel and the Palestinians are entering a very tense period; therefore, the IDF should reconsider whether or not to increase the size of the forces currently stationed in the West Bank.”
Yisrael Hayom notes that US Secretary of State John Kerry is still pushing the negotiations and does not want to postpone the date for their projected conclusion in the spring of 2014. The paper accuses the Palestinians of digging in their heels and says, „Not only does Abu Mazen oppose even a partial presence on the [Jordan] River but he is demanding that the IDF withdrawal from the areas that will be allocated to Palestine be carried out within three years. Last night, Ehud Yaari said on Channel 2 that Abu Mazen is demanding all of eastern Jerusalem for himself. If this is for bargaining purposes, then the negotiations are still going on. But it this is an ultimate position, then the negotiations are doomed to a thunderous failure, soon.”
BreuerPress
