1. BERLUSCONI: SETTLEMENT POLICY A MISTAKE. ISRAEL MUST RETURM GOLAN HEIGHTS
In Ha'aretz interview before his trip to Israel, Italian Prime Minister refers to his friendship with Netanyahu, to the Iranian reactor and to his involvement in sex and corruption scandals that have taken his country by storm.
2. ONE OF HAMAS'S FOUNDERS AND THE HEAD OF ITS IRANIAN ARMS SMUGGLING OPERATIONS – ELIMINATED IN DUBAI
Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, among those who murdered IDF soldiers Avi Sasportas and Ilan Sa'adon 21 years ago, found dead in his hotel room. Dubai police: Murders, four European passport holders, left behind incriminating evidence. Hamas: We will take revenge against Israel abroad.
MA’ARIV
1. Hamas: "Mossad agents assassinated missile smuggling commander"
ELIMINATION IN DUBAI
Account closed - Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, Hamas' chief missile supplier, head of smuggling operations and man behind the convoy attacked in Sudan, found dead in hotel room. Blood-stained hands: Al-Mabhouh has been wanted in Israel since 1989 for the kidnapping and murders of IDF soldiers Avi Sasportas and Ilan Sa'adon. Vengeful intentions – Hamas threatens to react "from within or outside of Palestine" and accuses: "Mossad agents infiltrated UAE with Minister [Uzi] Landau's entourage."
2. CONCERN: IRAN LIABLE TO ATTACK IN RESPONSE TO PRESSURE
Tension and apprehension in Washington and Jerusalem over consequences of expected sanctions against Teheran.
YEDIOT AHRONOT
1. American army to position missile batteries in the Gulf
US AND IRAN: DIRECT CONFRONTATION
Washington: These are defensive missiles, also intended to calm Israel so that it will not attack.
2. THE LONG ARM
Mahmoud al-Mabhouh was a leading figure in Hamas terrorism network – since murder of IDF soldiers Sasportas and Sa'adon and up to weapons smuggling to Gaza Strip. World convinced: Israel responsible for elimination.
YISRAEL HAYOM
1. US DEPLOYS ANTI-MISSILE ROCKETS IN GULF
Tension with Iran increases ahead of sanctions. New York Times: [Barack] Administration deployed missile boats and batteries in the Persian Gulf. Iran: If we're attacked, we will obliterate Tel Aviv.
2. Senior Hamas figure, responsible for smuggling weapons from Iran to Gaza ,eliminated in Dubai.
"MOSSAD'S ARM"
Mahmoud al-Mabhouh perpetrated kidnapping and murders of IDF soldiers Sasportas and Sa'adon. Sunday Times: "Israeli agents caught him in his hotel and injected him with substance which caused heart attack." Hamas: "We will avenge; we can attack Israelis abroad."
3. ISRAEL: "NO" TO GOLDSTONE
Reply to UN contradicts report's allegations. Investigative committee not yet decided upon.
WALLA!
1. "ASSASINS POISONED HIM AND COPIED DOCUMENTS."
According to The Times, team responsible for eliminating senior Hamas figure, Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, in Dubai, a week and a half ago, injected him with heart attack-causing substance. It also copied documents in his possession and left a 'do not disturb' sign on his door.
2. REPORT: CIA DIRECTOR SECRETLY VISITED ISRAEL
According to web site Politico report, CIA Director Leon Panetta visited Israel and spoke with senior figures on the political situation in wake of Iran armament efforts.
NANA10
1. SENIOR HAMAS FIGURE: "WE WILL ACT WISELY. WE WILL NOT ATTACK SENIOR ISRAELIS ABROAD"
In contrast to combative declarations by other leadership figures, Osama Hamdan pledged that, "We will not harm Palestinian interests in order to avenge al-Mabhouh elimination."
2. "SHALIT DEAL FOILED BECAUSE OF NINE PRISONERS"
Senior Hamas figure told Al-Hayat that Israel refused to release nine sentenced to life imprisonment.
[Headlines for Walla! and Nana10 are from their websites as of 09:30]
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SUMMARY OF OP-EDS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS
Two papers discuss the recent killing in Dubai of senior Hamas terrorist Mahmoud al-Mabhouh:
Yediot Ahronot acknowledges that, "Israel will never admit complicity in the elimination of Mahmoud Mabhouh and it has no reason to take responsibility," but nevertheless believes that Israelis traveling to certain countries will be called upon to take extra precautions in light of Hamas's threat to perpetrate revenge attacks on Israeli targets abroad.
Yisrael Hayom notes that Hamas has accused Israel of killing Mabhouh in revenge for the 1989 abductions and murders of IDF soldiers Ilan Saadon and Avi Sasportas but asserts that, "It is doubtful that revenge was the main motive. While it is always good to close accounts, it is much better to achieve two more important goals – preventive action and deterrence." The author reminds his readers that, "In his current role in the top Hamas leadership, Mabhouh was a main player in the smuggling of weapons to Gaza," and suggests that his death will reverberate among the Hamas leadership in Damascus.
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Ma'ariv says that, "The Right loves to present the existential threat against Israel, both because it believes in it, and because the apparent threat strengthens its public image." The author cautions that, "Fences and anti-missile defenses are relevant only in museums. People are smarter than stupid fences and walls, and intercept systems. People driven by hatred, and mainly a sense of justice, can turn any technology into a gigantic garbage can. They have no value if we do not talk to ourselves and to our enemies."
Nana10 refers to Minister Yossi Peled's recent comment on the inevitability of another war with Hezbollah. The author avers that, "Hezbollah, an organization that is not a state, is armed to the hilt and caught in a web of loyalties to Iran and Syria," and adds that, "As long as this is the situation, nobody can absolutely rule out the possibility that war will break out." However, the paper believes that, "Israel must deal with the reality on its northern border by deeds, not words, even if some of these deeds are carried out quietly, and, mainly, by building up its military strength, among other preparations."
The Jerusalem Post discusses the widespread, albeit illegal, use of cellphones in Israeli prisons, and their role in criminal activities of some of the inmates. The editor comments that "In a way, cellphones allow inmates to walk through bolted doors and bound over prison barriers. Their current widespread availability behind bars can make mockery of incarceration."
Haaretz claims that the document Israel submitted on Friday as a response to the UN secretary general following the Goldstone report "cannot be seen as sufficient, not only to satisfy the world, but first and foremost to get to the truth," and asserts that "until a state commission of inquiry is established, suspicions will continue to haunt Israel and trouble any of its citizens who want to know what happened in Gaza."
[Alex Fishman, Haim Asa, Yoav Limor and Prof. Eyal Zisser wrote today’s articles in Yediot Ahronot, Ma'ariv, Yisrael Hayom and Nana10, respectively.]
