1. ISRAEL'S UN AMBASSADOR: FRANCE FAVORS TERRORISM – AGAINST ITS VICTIM.

The French worked to achieve a majority in favor of the UN resolution to establish a fact-finding body to investigate the Beit Hanoun incident.

2. ABU MAZEN MEETS WITH PM-DESIGNATE SHBAIR.

3. SUSPICION: PROGRAM FOR REHABILITATING THE NORTH WILL HURT ARAB SCHOOLS.

4 SDEROT FORESEES: PUPILS WILL NOT COME TO SCHOOL TODAY.

Reason: Many went to Eilat; six rockets fired over the weekend.

5. SPAIN: WE DID NOT COORDINATE PEACE INITIATIVE WITH ISRAEL FOR FEAR THAT ISRAEL WOULD TORPEDO IT.

HATZOFEH

1. Moratinos: We did not inform Israel in advance so that it would not torpedo the Moratinos.

MORATINOS INITIATIVE IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO EUROPEANS EITHER.

So it turns out from information arriving in Jerusalem.  Diplomatic sources in Israel assess that the chances of the European community adopting the Moratinos initiative are slim.

2. IDF GROUND FORCES ACTIVE IN NORTHERN GAZA STRIP.

Three IDF soldiers lightly wounded from anti-tank missile fired at structure.

3. LIEBERMAN: HAMAS LEADERSHIP SHOULD BE SENT TO HEAVEN.

MA’ARIV

1. Heightened tension between Olmert and Peretz.

OLMERT'S ADVISOR: PERETZ'S APPOINTMENT WAS A MISTAKE.

Eyal Arad, the man who negotiated with Amir Peretz prior to his appointment, admits in interview with NRG-Ma'ariv: He should not have been made Defense Minister.  We offered his an equal appointment at the Finance Ministry, but Peretz insisted.

2. DESPITE DENIALS: SECRET CONTACTS FOR INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE.

YEDIOT AHRONOT

1. Former US Secretary of State Baker met with Syrian Foreign Minister.

USA AND SYRIA CONDUCT SECRET NEGOTIATIONS.

Washington decided: We need assistance from Damascus in order to stabilize the situations in Iraq and Lebanon.

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SUMMARY OF EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS

Yediot Ahronot suggests that the idea that war was inevitable following the abduction of the two IDF soldiers on the northern border this past summer, "is spin, the goal of which is to pass the buck and exempt those who were genuinely responsible."  The editors believe that it is Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Amir Peretz and their Government colleagues who are responsible and who owe the public an explanation of the decision to go to war.  The paper suggests that the foregoing, "spin," is, "preparing the next spin: Instead of talking about how to prevent the next war, there is endless talk about the need to prepare the IDF for the next war."

Hatzofeh asserts that, "Just as Operation Defensive Shield halted terrorism in Judea and Samaria and did not allow rocket fire from Judea and Samaria into Israel, retaking control over the Gaza Strip will halt rocket fire at the Negev," and adds, "Everyone knows this; what is required is the courage to adopt it."

Yediot Ahronot, in its second editorial, says that the low public confidence in Defense Minister Amir Peretz and the fact that there is no mass call for his dismissal are signs of public despair.

Yediot Ahronot, in its third editorial, cites the anguished remarks of a bereaved father who lost his son this past summer in Lebanon: "For what did he lose his life?"

[Yael Gvirtz and Haggai Hoberman wrote today’s editorials in Yediot Ahronot and Hatzofeh, respectively.]