HA’ARETZ
1. IDF: WE WILL PREVENT INFILTRATION BY ALL MEANS.
Palestinians will try to hold mass demonstration in Gaza Strip on Hamas' orders; IDF likely to shoot at protesters' legs if they approach border.
2. OBAMA'S SENIOR AID TO HA'ARETZ: INCREASED US INVOLVEMENT NEEDED IN NEGOTIATIONS.
MAKOR RISHON-HATZOFEH
1. Hamas: Today at 10:00, human chain will spread around the [Gaza] Strip.
ISRAEL: WE WILL PREVENT INVASION, RESPONSIBILITY IS ON HAMAS.
Forces around the Gaza Strip will be reinforced in order to prevent crossing by Palestinians. Peak tension at Erez and Karni crossings. Soldiers ordered to shoot at demonstrators' legs. Police have also strengthened forces. Hamas: We will prevent border breach.
MA’ARIV
1. Gaza: Last preparation before march. Israel: High alert.
CONCERN: HAMAS WILL LOSE CONTROL.
Today: Tens of thousands of Palestinians, with women and children in the forefront, will march to Erez Crossing. Israel worried about violent attempt to break through fence. IDF clarifies: We will open fire on anyone who reaches border.
YEDIOT AHRONOT
1. Sharpshooters and cannon ready: Concern that the Palestinians will break through today from Gaza into Israel.
FENCE ALERT.
Throngs of Palestinians to march along fence. Artillery batteries equipped with some shells and riot dispersal equipment deployed. Senior officer: "Whoever reaches fence won't return alive."
2. EIGHTY YEARS OLD.
Tomorrow: Former Prime Minister [Ariel Sharon] turns 80. Following day: Son Omri goes to jail.
3. ISRAELI GOLD [MEDAL] DUE TO IRANIAN BOYCOTT.
Tae Kwon Do fighters Bat-El Gaterer and Amir Ben-For reach finals of prestigious Dutch tournament. Iranians refused to appear with them and Israelis were declared the winners.
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SUMMARY OF EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS
Ma'ariv suggests that, "Like its predecessor, the Second Durban Conference is expected to become a conference against Israel and the Jews." The editors predict that, "The Government will boycott it," but assert that the world's and Israel's brightest and most well-known Jews, "who certainly disagree among themselves on questions regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should come together in one city (Jerusalem or New York, for example) and give a fitting response, an undiplomatic but united cry, to 'Durban II', and perhaps convene an alternative Durban conference."
Makor Rishon-Hatzofeh discusses a recent rabbinical conference in Poland. The editors aver that, "There is no future for Judaism in Poland," and hope that this sentiment is shared both by Polish Jewish community leaders and the rabbis from Israel who attended the conference. The paper calls on Polish Jews to come to Israel.
The Jerusalem Post quotes the response of Abu Obedia, the spokesman of the Hamas' military wing, to reports that Israeli leaders are advocating direct contacts with Hamas as an antidote to the daily Kassam attacks on Sderot and its western Negev surroundings, in which he states that Hamas would continue to target civilians in Sderot and the surrounding settlements "in the framework of the ongoing battle against Zionist crimes and in order to deter the Zionist enemy", and unequivocally states that "There can be no dialogue with Hamas until they recognize Israel and disavow terrorism".
Haaretz discusses Israel's Abu Ghraib-like affair, the sadistic treatment of Palestinians by soldiers of the Kfir brigade, and under the headline "Something bad is happening to us", queries if a country used to 40 years of occupation, and of treating the Palestinians as inferiors, can be shocked by such behavior. The editor concludes by stating that "Perfectly ordinary people are capable of behaving like monsters when they receive a message from the top that it is permissible to abuse, beat, choke, burn, make people miserable and generally do anything that man's evil genius is capable of inventing to others who are under their control. Something bad is happening to us, they are saying in the Kfir Brigade. That "something" is the occupation."
Yediot Ahronot discusses today's planned demonstration in the Gaza Strip and suggests that, "Hamas loves the Palestinians, but not enough to prevent them from sacrificing their lives for a political objective." The editors review Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip and suggest that Defense Minister Ehud, "Barak believed that the civilians' suffering would turn into pressure on the Hamas Government to stop the firing; he was mistaken." The paper claims that the IDF is inclined to a harsher response today whereas the Israel Police – based on its experience with the anti-disengagement protests in the summer of 2005 – is inclined to a more, "calculating, sophisticated," approach. The editors support the latter approach but argue that the best way to defuse any crisis today would be for the Cabinet to announce that the blockade was a mistake and has been lifted, even though they doubt this will happen.
[Nahum Barnea and Yaakov Ahimeir wrote today’s articles in Yediot Ahronotand Ma'ariv, respectively.]
