HEADLINES FROM THE IZRAELI HEBREW PRESSBY BREUERPRESS
HA’ARETZ
1. SHARP CRISIS IN THE TALKS: KERRY CANCELS HIS VISIT TODAY
In the morning, Kerry and Netanyahu were close to a deal to extend the negotiations that would include Pollard’s release. Abbas heard about a construction tender in Gilo and announced that he was appealing to international institutions
2. PISA TESTS: ISRAEL HAS LARGEST GAPS BETWEEN PUPILS AMONG OECD MEMBER STATES
YEDIOT AHRONOT
1. After 29 years in prison: Jonathan Pollard, who was convicted of espionage, is likely to be released and celebrate Passover in Israel
DEAL IN CRISIS
Israel formulated understanding with the US on freeing 426 terrorists, partially freezing construction and receiving Pollard in return, and on extending the negotiations with the Palestinians. But last night Abu Mazen presented new demands and Kerry was obliged to cancel his visit
YISRAEL HAYOM
1. (…)
BATTLE OVER POLLARD DEAL
Main controversy: „Restraining” construction. Likud: Deputy ministers threatening to resign. Jewish Home: Considering. Kerry: Cancelled arrival after Abu Mazen signed appeals to international organizations. Pollard: Rejected parole board hearing. Heading toward a deal or an explosion?
WALLA!
1. US ATTACKING: „ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIANS CAN GET ALONG BY THEMSELVES.”
White House has yet to officially announce failure of the negotiations but senior sources are expressing growing impatience toward the sides. (…)
2. KERRY CANCELS ARRIVAL IN REGION; NO AGREEMENT TO RELEASE POLLARD
American Secy. of State will not go to Ramallah tomorrow as planned. (…)
NANA10
1. POLLARD COMMITTEE SPOKESMAN: ‘JONATHAN WILL AGREE TO THE DEAL; IT IS PART OF A LARGER AGREEMENT”
(…)
2. THIS MORNING: SECURITY FORCES DEMOLISH FOUR ILLEGAL STRUCTURES IN YITZHAR
[Headlines from Walla! and Nana10 are from their websites as of 11:00. There was no print edition of Ma’ariv today.]
SUMMARY OF OP-EDS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS
Both papers comment on the putative deal regarding Jonathan Pollard:
Yediot Ahronot asserts, „This is a deal that lacks all meaning. If indeed a deal is formulated in which spy Jonathan Pollard is freed in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, some of them abominable murderers, the freezing of several construction tenders in the settlements and the continuation of the illusion called ‘the peace negotiations’ until 2015, there will be no victors, only losers, medium losers and big losers.” The author suggests, „Only President Barack Obama will be able to look on this deal with any degree of satisfaction,” and adds, „This time, a rupture in the talks will be considered an American failure because Kerry has invested prestige, energy and considerable diplomatic capital in the process.” The paper says that the deal, „is morally reprehensible vis-à-vis the bereaved families whose world has been destroyed, vis-a-vis Israelis who still think that Benjamin Netanyahu is a man of principle and a fearless and uncompromising fighter against terrorism (remember – he released 1,027 prisoners for Shalit), and vis-a-vis Secy. of State John Kerry who is deluding himself that there is a diplomatic process which he is guiding. And lastly, the deal is also reprehensible vis-à-vis the Palestinians themselves who are likely to feel deceived that a ‘diplomatic process’ – without any chance or future – has been forced on them in exchange for nothing of tangible significance.”
Yisrael Hayom analyzes the coalition and notes, „The Right is threatening to quit if it [the deal] is approved; the Left is threatening to quit if it is torpedoed and the diplomatic negotiations are halted,” and adds, „Unless one of the sides shows flexibility and a willingness to compromise, it seems that it will be very difficult to maintain the coalition intact.” The author asserts that releasing Pollard in exchange for, „the release of terrorists and hundreds of Arab criminals, „is not a deal; it is blackmail.”
