Nov. 25 Headlines
Sunday
HA'ARETZ
1. US: ATTACK ON SYRIA MADE INVITING THEM POSSIBLE.
US administrators explain that weakening of Syria paved way to change of stance. Olmert and Bush to discuss halting Iranian nuclear program.
2. JOINT DECLARATION: ABU MAZEN ANNOUNCES FAILURE OF ATTEMPT TO ARRIVE AT JOINT DOCUMENT, BUT TEAM MEETINGS TO CONTINUE IN US.
3. ARAB STATES ARE COMING: ARAB LEAGUE FOREIGN MINISTERS DECIDE TO COME TO ANNAPOLIS, BUT NOT CLEAR IF SYRIA WILL JOIN.
4. OPPOSITION: HAMAS ANNOUNCES THAT IT IS SHOCKED BY ARAB LEAGUE DECISION. ALSO ISRAELI RIGHT IS PREPARING TO DEMONSTRATE.
MA’ARIV
1. WAITING FOR THE SYRIANS.
Arab League already decided to join Annapolis. Today Syria will decide whether to join summit. But diplomatic source in Jerusalem elucidates: "Who cares if they don't show, no one needs them".
2. THE GROUND SHOOK (AGAIN).
First earthquake in coastal plain in 30 years: Three days after Dead Sea earthquake, Israel struck by quake in the center.
YEDIOT AHRONOT
1. Olmert: I leave for Annapolis with hope and with caution.
THE LOW EXPECTATIONS SUMMIT.
15 Arab countries, including Lebanon and Saudi Arabia: We will come to Annapolis. Saudi Foreign Minister: I won't shake Israeli hands. Syria will announce today if it will join.
2. AND THE GROUND SHOOK AGAIN.
Twice in one week: Light earthquakes. Experts: No link between events.
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SUMMARY OF EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS
Both papers discuss the Annapolis meeting:
Yediot Ahronot suggests that the parties will do little more than go through the motions at Annapolis and believes that both Israel and the Arabs will continue a long tradition of mere posturing in an effort to win points in Washington and in European capitals. The editors caution that, "Two peoples, the Israeli and the Palestinian, are currently learning the hard way that a corrupt culture of governance is grave and frustrating. If, heaven forbid, this conference ends in a noisy fiasco (and with us the noise is that of exploding bombs), we will be compelled to learn with our flesh that a corrupt culture of governance is also dangerous."
Haaretz discusses the problems associated with inter-party primary elections that decide the party's Knesset slate. Clearly, states the editor, a party that wishes to maintain a democratic lifestyle cannot determine its slate by secret meetings. Therefore, instead of returning to the archaic system of ranking committees, it would be preferable for each party to set up a committee to correct errors.
The Jerusalem Post discusses the case of the vigilante policemen who decided to thwart criminals that were threatening their families. The wider anxieties of both officers and the citizenry they are sworn to protect are confirmed by statistics. The editor concludes that while vigilante policemen must of course be prosecuted, public support for them and the circumstances that led to their unacceptable actions must not be ignored.
Ma'ariv declares that, 'No anti-missile system, such as that sought by the Defense Minister, will protect Israel," and adds that, "It is much cheaper and more effective to prevent the missiles by talking."
[Ya'akov (Jackie) Levy and Gad Shomron wrote today’s articles in Yediot Ahronot and Ma'ariv, respectively.]
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