HA’ARETZ

1. INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE ON ISRAEL TO CHANGE GAZA STRIP POLICY.

Senior diplomat warns: European states liable to break boycott of Hamas government.  USA: We will demand opening of crossings.

2. SHAS'S WAR ON HOMOSEXUALS.

MAKOR RISHON-HATZOFEH

1. IRANIAN OPPOSITION DISCLOSES NUCLEAR FACILITIES.

2. OLMERT TO OFFICER COURSE GRADUATES: "YOU ARE OUR DEFENSIVE SHIELD."

MA’ARIV

1. OLMERT SUGGESTED TO PERETZ THAT HE RETURN TO GOVERNMENT.

Former Defense Minister's confidants: PM offered him social portfolio.  Olmert's Bureau: Subject raised in meeting between the two, but did not reach implementation stage.

YEDIOT AHRONOT

1. Israel tensely following: Who will inherit Mughniyeh's master terrorist role?

NEXT IN LINE.

Following elimination of Hezbollah terrorist attack architect, Israel indicates five new terrorists.  Security sources estimate: On of them is already planning revenge attack.

2. MONOPOLY: ISRAEL WIPED OFF MAP.

Jerusalem appears as capitol without country.

3. GIVATI [BRIGADE] MUTINY ON GAZA BORDER.

Five fighters, furious over officers' treatment, abandoned base.

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SUMMARY OF EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS

Two papers discuss various issues regarding Hezbollah in the wake of the recent elimination of Imad Mughniyeh:

Yediot Ahronot suggests that Hezbollah Secy.-Gen. Hassan Nasrallah has been effectively constrained from responding as aggressively as he might like for several reasons.  The editors assert that, "Nasrallah knows that an attack on Israel will lead to a resumption of the war, and this time, even the destruction of his organization since Israel has learned many lessons from the previous conflict.  This time, it will go to war, not embark on an operation."  The paper ventures that – given the state of Lebanese politics – other factions in Lebanon, as well as the countries participating in UNIFIL, would blame him for any escalation, which would likely lead to calls to implement that section of UN Security Council Resolution #1559, which calls for Hezbollah to be disarmed.  The editors also believe that perpetrating terrorist attacks against Israeli and/or Jewish targets around the world would be problematic for similar reasons.  The paper criticizes the Israeli media for helping to sow fear – over Hezbollah's possible reaction to the Mughniyeh hit – and suggest that fear and panic are exactly what Nasrallah wants.

Ma'ariv refers to Hezbollah's ramified infrastructure and strong base of popular support among Lebanese Shiites and cautions that, "Eliminating Mughniyeh was a moral and emotional blow to Hezbollah but cannot silence such an organization, which rests on broad public support."  The editors add that, "It would be naïve to think that Shiites will rise up against Hezbollah and rebel against the hand that feeds it."

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