1. BRITISH PM ORDERS INQUIRY INTO FORGED PASSPORTS; ISRAELI AMBASSADOR TO LONDON INVITED FOR CLARIFICATION
Affair surrounding assassination of senior Hamas figure in Dubai turning into diplomatic crisis. Under increasing public pressure, UK PM Gordon Brown ordered Serious and Organized Crime Agency to clarify who forged passports of six British citizens. Israeli Ambassador in Dublin to also appear for clarification meeting.
2. US CONGRESSMEN: DISGRACE THAT ISRAELI GOVERNMENT IS BOYCOTTING US
Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon recommended that officials not meet with five legislators visiting Israel in framework of delegation from left-wing American Jewish lobby.
MA’ARIV
1. Britain and Ireland invite Israeli ambassadors for clarifications.
PASSPORTS AFFAIR: DIPLOMATIC CRISIS
Assassination of senior Hamas official Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh continues to become more complicated and is turning into diplomatic incident. Countries involved in investigation accuse Israel of stealing their nationals' identities.
YEDIOT AHRONOT
1. Clarification: Britain and Ireland summon Israeli ambassadors. Exposed: Mossad unit carried out assassination.
RESULTS TEST
It was not a screw-up but an impressive success: Bitter enemy Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh was eliminated and none of the operatives were caught. Exposure of agents is price worth paying.
YISRAEL HAYOM
1. The explanations: Israeli ambassadors to Britain and Ireland invited to foreign ministries in order to "give explanations." The investigations: British PM – Hurt our national honor, investigate affair "to the end."
DIPLOMATIC CRISIS
Israel maintaining ambiguity but European pressure is growing in wake of Dubai assassination and passports embarrassment. British Foreign Office source: Relations will enter deepfreeze.
2. PAUL KILEY: "I AM AFRAID FOR MY FAMILY IN ENGLAND"
Member of kibbutz Nahsholim, whose name was used by Dubai assassins, looking for answers – and not finding any.
WALLA!
1. Confidant of Meir Dagan makes it clear:
"MOSSAD DIRECTOR DOES NOT INTEND TO RESIGN"
Source close to Mossad Director Meir Dagan says that, "He sees no reason to resign his position following Dubai assassination and the fact that the operatives used Israelis' identities." Source added that neither does PM have any intention of firing him.
2. HAMAS REVEALS IDENTITY OF PALESTINIAN SUSPECTS IN ELIMINATION
War of versions between Hamas and PA over elimination of Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh. Senior Hamas source reveals identities of two Palestinians arrested in Dubai and claims that they work for PA services.
3. OUTRAGE IN BRITAIN: "RELATIONS WITH ISRAEL TO BE FROZEN"
Against background of use of British passports in operation to eliminate Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh, Israeli Ambassador in London invited for clarification and British administration source says that, "Bilateral relations in deepfreeze."
4. HAMAS: "WE WILL AVENGE AL-MABHOUH'S ELIMINATION SOON"
Today: Hamas military wing to hold memorial rally in Gaza for senior Hamas official eliminated in Dubai: "Decision about response to elimination has already been made – Israel must now wait for hour of truth."
5. NETANYAHU: "MINISTER ZEEVY'S MURDERER WILL NOT BE RELEASED"
NANA10
1. CONFIDAT OF MOSSAD DIRECTOR: "HE DOES NOT INTEND TO RESIGN"
In his words, PM will not fire him over Al-Mabhouh elimination affair.
2. DUBAI TO DISTRIBUTE FUGITIVES' FINGERPRINTS
Report: Country to transfer information on suspects in Al-Mabhouh elimination.
[Headlines for Walla! and Nana10 are from their websites as of 10:45]
______________________________
SUMMARY OF OP-EDS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS
Three papers discuss various aspects of the controversy over the recent elimination in Dubai of senior Hamas terrorist Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh:
Yediot Aharonot says that "Let us assume for a moment that Mossad personnel indeed executed arch-terrorist Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai." The author admits that he is happy that "We rid ourselves of a harsh and brutal enemy, Mr. Mabhouh, whose head we hunted for years, and suggests that the furor over any misuse of foreign passports, for which – he points out – there is ample precedent, will blow over soon. The paper concludes: "In the meantime, let Mr. Mabhouh rest and let us say 'Shalom' and 'Thank you' to the secret operatives."
Yisrael Hayom says that the ambiguity surrounding the affair "has tremendous advantages," and speculates that should the details of the operation never become fully known, "It is possible that even the countries whose passports were used will be able to leave the affair behind." The author believes that "The elimination of such a senior figure as Al-Mabhouh achieved a double objective: It stopped his activities and created a deterrent effect."
Haaretz finds fault with the operation, and states that "What initially seemed like a 'clean' operation turned out to be wracked by negligent mishaps." The editor declares: "Lessons must be learned for the future, and the findings must be exposed to the light of day."
=========================================
Ma'ariv comments on the nature of public leadership in Israel: "Olmert, Bibi, Barak, Livni and Mofaz – this depressing and worrying map of leadership raises the question of whether there is something wrong either with us or our system."
The Jerusalem Post comments on Bank Leumi's CEO Galia Maor's decision to withdraw her candidacy for her bank’s chairmanship, and states that the fact the nomination was thwarted by representatives from all corners of the civic, political and judicial arenas is "no mean feat and a glowing badge of honor for our society." The editor feels that "When something as basic as the barrier between the supervisory and managerial branches of a crucially important institution is threatened, the public’s representatives would have been grossly remiss not to protest. We can be proud of a system that did not allow the barrier to be knocked down."
[Eitan Haber, Nadav Haetzni and Uzi Eilam wrote today’s articles in Yediot Aharonot, Ma'ariv, and Yisrael Hayom, respectively.]
