HEADLINES FROM THE IZRAELI HEBREW PRESS
HA’ARETZ
1. NETANYAHU ORDERS TO CONTINUE PREPARING FOR ATTACK ON IRAN
Senior IDF sources: NIS 10 billion to be invested this year in preparations for attack despite negotiations with Tehran. Russia threatening to harm talks due to Crimea crisis.
2. In wake of criticism
US WAS OUTRAGED AND YAALON HASTENED TO APOLOGIZE AGAIN
3. Rival versions between IDF and neighbors of the deceased.
IDF KILLS 15-YEAR-OLD PALESTINIAN IN SOUTHERN HEBRON HILLS
YEDIOT AHRONOT
1. Former Chief-of-Staff Ashkenazi’s confidants questioned and arrested.
UNDER ARREST
(…)
2. US ON YAALON: SCHEMING, INSULTING AND SCOFFING
Following storm aroused by DM’s harsh criticism of US weakness around the world: Yaalon apologized last night. „We are dumbfounded,” Americans said earlier.
YISRAEL HAYOM
1. (…)
APPARENT: ASHKENAZI TO BE QUESTIONED UNDER CAUTION
(…)
2. YAALON TO US: I APOLOGIZE, AGAIN
After Kerry’s demand, he clarified: „I did not intend to harm.”
WALLA!
1. YAALON APOLOGIZES TO HAGEL: „I DID NOT INTEND TO HARM”
Following telephone conversation between Netanyahu and Kerry during which the latter protested against defiant remarks against US policy around the world, DM made it clear: „There was no defiance or criticism in my remarks.”
NANA10
1. YAALON APOLOGIZES TO US DEFENSE SECRETARY
DM spoke with his American counterpart, Chuck Hagel, after agreeing with PM Netanyahu to calm things down.
[Headlines from Walla! and Nana10 are from their websites as of 10:15. There was no print edition of Ma’ariv today.]
SUMMARY OF OP-EDS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS
Yediot Ahronot discusses the controversy over Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon’s recent remarks regarding US foreign policy and Israel-US relations. The author says, „Only if the minister knows what apparently nobody else in the world knows, namely that Israel is the greatest major power in the world, that it does not need any other country either militarily or diplomatically, that contrary to what is commonly believed, it does not rest on the US’s shoulders but the opposite, and that the real dependence is that of the American administration on the Israeli government – only thus can one explain the Defense Minister’s irresponsible conduct.” The author urges Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to call Defense Minister Yaalon to order and says, „Netanyahu needs to personally apologize to the Americans no less than he apologized this week to the Jordanians for the killing of the judge,” and adds, „Our relations with Washington are no less important than our relations with Amman.”
Yisrael Hayom analyzes Tuesday’s incident on the Syrian border and asserts, „Israel is not a top issue for the warring sides in Syria. The regime is so busy fighting for its survival and has no interest in becoming enmeshed in a head-on clash with Israel, which could lead to its collapse. Hezbollah also understands the dangers of being dragged into war with Israel, which would be liable to hurt not only its assets in Lebanon, but also its chances of winning – along with Bashar Assad – the battle in Syria. The rebels, for their part, are entirely caught up in the war with Assad.” The author says, however, that, „The problem is that the Syrian regime no longer controls the border area with Israel,” and believes that incidents are unavoidable given the existing chaos on the other side of the line. The paper reminds its readers that, „The Israeli-Syrian border is no longer Israel’s quietest border as it has been over the previous 40 years.”
BreuerPress
