1. REPORT: DUBAI ASSASSINS USED GERMAN PASSPORT THAT WAS ISSUED FOR ISRAELI CITIZEN.
Der Spiegel reports that German passport used by one of Al-Mabhouh's assassins was issued last summer for an Israeli named Michael Bodenheimer. Man by that name, father of twelve from Bnei Brak, said yesterday: I have no idea how this happened; it is not my passport.
2. FIVE YEARS OF BIL'IN PROTESTS; DOZENS OF DEMONSTRATORS BROKE THROUGH SEPARATION FENCE.
Police monitored vehicles en route to demonstration in attempt to prevent them from arriving.
MA’ARIV
1. BANK OF ISRAEL GOVERNOR RECRUITED FOR STRUGGLE AGAINST IRAN.
At peak of international effort to create coalition against Tehran: Israel dispatches Bank of Israel Governor, Prof. Stanley Fisher to China. Goal: Persuade Chinese of need for sanctions.
2. Dubai complications.
"THE HIT MAN" FROM BNEI BRAK.
Der Spiegel reveals: Passport of agent who answered to name of Michael Bodenheimer was not forged. But Michael Bodenheimer, head of yeshiva in Bnei Brak, insists: "It's not me."
3. RIGHT-WING OUTRAGED OVER NETANYAHU'S HERITAGE MAP.
Preservation plan that Government will approve at Tel Hai today does not include sites such as Rachel's Tomb and Tomb of the Patriarchs.
YEDIOT AHRONOT
1. Sunday Times: New revelations on Dubai hit.
"NETANYAHU TO ASSASSINS: THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL ARE COUNTING ON YOU, GOOD LUCK."
PM met assassins at Mossad HQ and was briefed. Cell trained in Tel Aviv hotel without informing management. Agent received German passport and gave Herzliya address.
YISRAEL HAYOM
1. Sunday Times: "People of Israel are counting on you," PM told assassins.
"NETANYAHU APPROVED HIT; MOSSAD PRACTICED OPERATION AT TA HOTEL."
According to newspaper, approval for operation given in early January at Mossad HQ, in presence of Mossad Director Meir Dagan and several of the assassins. Signs of electric shock found on Al-Mabhouh's body. Sunday Telegraph: Passports of six British citizens copied at Ben-Gurion International Airport passport control. FM Liberman to be asked, tomorrow in Brussels, to explain passports.
WALLA!
1. Dubai hit.
"NETANYAHU WISHED CELL GOOD LUCK."
Sunday Times reports that PM met several cell members in his office in early January and said: "The People of Israel are counting on you. Good luck." "Hit team's passports forged in Israel."
2. BLAIR OPTIMISTIC: "NEGOTIATIONS WILL RESUME SOON."
Quartet Middle East envoy Tony Blair hopes that Israeli-Palestinian peace talks will resume in coming weeks. "Israel and Palestinians interested in resuming negotiations; question is terms."
3. SYRIA TO PREVENT INSPECTORS FROM CHECKING NUCLEAR EVIDENCE.
After IAEA issued report from which arises suspicion that Syria developed nuclear project, Syrian FM announces that his country will deny inspectors free access but pointed out: We are committed to non-proliferation agreement.
NANA10
1. NETANYAHU TO HIT TEAM: "COUNTING ON YOU."
Sunday Times: PM approved Dubai hit.
2. BLAIR: I HOPE THAT MIDDLE EAST NEGOTIATIONS WILL RESUME SOON.
[Headlines for Walla! and Nana10 are from their websites as of 10:00]
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SUMMARY OF OP-EDS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS
Yediot Ahronot reflects that, "It will be the moment in which Government ministers hold their breath. Newspapers, books and perhaps even movies will describe it, over the years, as a historic moment. What will Netanyahu propose to do, or not do, on the matter of the Iran's nuclear bomb, the one that, at this very moment, is being built in the cellars of Nantaz?"
Ma'ariv notes that, "The Government of Israel will hold its weekly Cabinet meeting in the north. The ministers will come, be photographed, will make promises that will not be kept, and will return happy and content from their reception and the Galilee's beautiful scenery. The issues of withholding wages, the shortage of social workers and the other trivial matters will be dealt with on the next visit."
Yisrael Hayom relates that, "At this moment, the construction of the new Palestinian city Rawabi, north of Ramallah, is proceeding…Israel is not obstructing the progress of this important project. Israel has repeatedly declared that it views economic peace as an essential stage on the path to political peace. The benefit to Palestinians to be derived from economic cooperation is of great importance to the advancement of the diplomatic process. Improvement of living standards there will assist in lowering the value of violence, will encourage moderation, will allow the incremental building of confidence and will portend a horizon of hope." The author cautions, "But, for the Rawabi project, like many other projects that we are trying to advance, it takes two to tango. As long as the Palestinians have not taken the courageous strategic decision to maintain contacts with us in order to advance projects, which are intended to improve the Palestinian economy, we will continue to encounter obstacles."
The Jerusalem Post maintains that current available evidence shows that World War II-era Pope Pius XII did indeed betray the Jews during their darkest hours, and joins 18 top Catholic scholars who urge Pope Benedict XVI delay his canonization. The influential scholars reason that "with Vatican archives under lock and key, 'currently, existing research leads us to the view that Pope Pius XII did not issue a clearly worded statement, unconditionally condemning the wholesale slaughter and murder of European Jews."
Haaretz discusses the crumbling state of the country's public broadcasting system, and states that "The [Israel Broadcasting Authority] needs leadership that will fight for its place in the media market and draw viewers from the crass reality programs on commercial television." The editor notes that "The responsibility for rehabilitating the IBA falls on the prime minister," and adds that "The success of restructuring depends on his willingness to eschew political expediency and appoint professional and independent leaders to the IBA in the interest of saving public broadcasting."
[Eitan Haber, Natan Zahavi, and Minister Silvan Shalom, wrote today’s articles in Yediot Ahronot, Ma'ariv, and Yisrael Hayom, respectively.]
