HEADLINES FROM THE IZRAELI HEBREW PRESS
BreuerPress
HA’ARETZ
1. PALESTINIAN RECONCILIATION: FATAH AND HAMAS TO ESTABLISH UNITY GOVERNMENT
In response, Israel cancels negotiations meeting. Netanyahu: „Abbas has chosen Hamas and not peace.” Minutes after declaration, air forces attacks activist launching a rocket
2. TENS OF THOUSANDS UNDER THE POVERTY LINE
66% of Holocaust survivors living on less than NIS 3,000 a month, one-third of whom live alone
YEDIOT AHRONOT
1. Reconciliation in Gaza
ISRAEL OUTRAGED: „IT’S EITHER US OR HAMAS”
Netanyahu on Abu Mazen: Whoever chooses peace with Hamas does not want peace with us. Lapid to the Palestinians: You have reconciled with those who are sworn to destroy us. Rockets fired at the south after attempted elimination in Gaza
2. HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS DISGRACE: 50,000 LIVING IN POVERTY
Holocaust survivors welfare fund report: 193,000 survivors remain in Israel, approximately 1,000 pass away every month. Tens of thousands living on less than NIS 3,000 a month – one-third of them live alone
YISRAEL HAYOM
1. Today: Dramatic discussion in wake of internal Palestinian reconciliation
FOR CABINET DECISION: HALTING THE NEGOTIATIONS
Outrage in Israel over agreement between Fatah and Hamas. PM: „Abu Mazen has chosen Hamas and not peace.” US demands that Palestinians accept Quartet conditions: „Israel cannot be expected to negotiate with a government that does not recognize its right to exist.” Cabinet to discuss punitive measures and severing ties to the Palestinian Authority. Abu Mazen: „Reconciliation does not contradict peace”
2. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: BUY ISRAELI „AIR FORCE-ONE”
$70 million jet due to serve state leaders. Also recommended: Construction of common structure for PM’s office and residence
WALLA!
1. THIS MORNING: CABINET TO DISCUSS RESPONSE TO PALESTINIAN RECONCILIATION
Jerusalem considering whether or not to continue negotiations with the Palestinians due to reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas. Senior Hamas official: „We will not recognize Israel.”
NANA10
1. SECURITY CABINET CONVENING TO DISCUSS CONTINUATION OF NEGOTIATIONS
Severe crisis between Israel and the Palestinians over reconciliation agreement. US expresses disappointment but makes it clear: „We will accept any government that recognizes Israel.”
[Headlines from Walla! and Nana10 are from their websites as of 11:10.]
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SUMMARY OF OP-EDS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS
Both papers discuss the reconciliation agreement between Fatah and Hamas:
Yediot Ahronot says that Israel will be watching the US reaction to the agreement and cautions that, „Unless there is a marked American response, this will be the start of a diplomatic avalanche that will lead to Western recognition of Hamas.” The author notes that Jerusalem is calling on Washington, „not to cooperate with Hamas as long as it does not accept the Quartet’s three conditions: Recognition of Israel, recognition of the agreements that have been signed between it and the Palestinians and a renunciation of terrorism.” The paper notes that once Abu Mazen assumes the leadership of a unified Palestinian Authority government, Israel will hold him responsible for any firing from the Gaza Strip.
Yisrael Hayom asserts that, „One must regard the reconciliation agreement between Abu Mazen and Hamas with caution and suspicion,” because, „Similar agreements that they reached in the past were violated repeatedly.” The author avers that, „Hamas is coming to the wedding without any dowry. Syria and Iran have turned their backs on it due to its support for the anti-Assad rebels, and in Egypt Ismail Haniyeh and Khaled Mashaal are seen as dangerous enemies who are no different than their Muslim Brotherhood cohorts.” The paper claims that Hamas’s popularity in the Gaza Strip is very low due to its, „inability to ensure residents even a minimal standard of living,” and declares, „Hamas needs Abu Mazen like it needs air to breathe.” But the author also contends that, „Abu Mazen is coming to the wedding empty-handed,” and adds, „Nobody in the Arab world really supports him and he knows not to expect anything from the international community.” The paper believes that the collapse of the negotiations with Israel will lead to, „a demand on the Palestinian street to resume the struggle against Israel, which the experienced Abu Mazen knows is liable to end in disaster.” The author doubts whether, „Abu Mazen and the Hamas leadership will be able to overcome the burden of the past, especially the fundamental contradictions in their worldviews and long-range political interests,” and doubts whether any unity government will be able to survive.
