1. IN EXCEPTIONAL STEP, VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN ISSUES SHARP CONDEMNATION AGAINST SHUAFAT RIDGE CONSTRUCTION
Joe Biden's first day in the country started with smiling meetings, but with the statement regarding authorization to build 1,600 apartments in Jerusalem, the atmosphere turned to embarrassment and anger. During dinner with Netanyahu, Biden announced: "This is a blow to [our] trust and complicates the negotiations." Netanyahu: "I did not know."
MA’ARIV
1. THE SHAME
It's happening again: With pathetic timing, absurdly, during the visit of US Vice President Joe Biden, the Interior Ministry authorizes the construction of 1,600 apartment units in eastern Jerusalem, over the Green Line. Biden hastened to issue a sharp condemnation, and the White House demanded clarifications from Israel.
2. YIGAL ALON'S ESPIONAGE SECRETS
IDF censor halted publication of book on the late Palmach commander, which relates to his defense views. Copies already printed have become commodity in demand.
YEDIOT AHRONOT
1. US: Israel pulled a fast one on us.
VISIT CRISIS
At the height of US Vice President's visit, Interior Ministry announced eastern Jerusalem construction. US replied in rage: Israel is undermining our support. Minister Yishai: I did not intend to sabotage the visit, but it is necessary to understand that there is no freeze in Jerusalem.
YISRAEL HAYOM
1. US Vice President condemns expanded construction in Jerusalem – and the timing.
"THERE WAS NO INTENTION TO EMBARRASS BIDEN."
Paradoxically, while Biden was distributing smiles and promises – district committee issued authorization to build 1,600 apartments in Ramat Shlomo neighborhood. Results: Guest issued harsh condemnation. PM's Bureau remarks: Woeful timing. Interior Minister's confidants: Had he known, he would have delayed decision.
WALLA!
1. ARAB FOREIGN MINISTERS: WE WILL CANCEL INDIRECT NEGOTIATIONS WITH ISRAEL
According to reports from the Palestinian Authority, due to Israeli announcement on the construction of new housing units in eastern Jerusalem, a number of foreign ministers have informed George Mitchell: Agreement on indirect negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority "is no longer valid."
NANA10
1. YISHAI: "BUILDING APPROVAL – AUTOMATIC PROCESS, WE ARE SORRY FOR THE ANGUISH"
After decision to approve construction of 1,600 housing units in eastern Jerusalem roused US anger, Interior Minister provided explanations. "Regional committees authorize [construction] plans weekly, without updating me," Yishai clarified. Minister Barak's confidants: "This harms negotiations."
[Headlines for Walla! and Nana10 are from their websites as of 12:30]
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SUMMARY OF OP-EDS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS
Yediot Ahronot notes that photographer Spencer Tunick has said he would like to stage one of his photographs of hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of nude people – which he claims are an act of, "eroticism and humanity" – in Tel Aviv's Rabin Square. The author says that, "If Tunick indeed comes to the square and if Tel Avivians answer his challenge, perhaps we will also merit an act of humanity that will clothe in spirit and eroticism the square that has – for years – symbolized death and division."
Haaretz writes: "The United States made it clear that the Netanyahu government is obligated only to the agreements signed by Israel and the Palestinians and to the road map, which the Sharon government ratified. From a formal, legal standpoint, the Netanyahu government is indeed not obligated by its predecessors' positions, nor by understandings reached with the Palestinians that did not ripen into agreements. However, Netanyahu's demand that the talks begin "from square one" - as is implied by the phrase "without preconditions" - and ignore all prior talks puts the process at risk of failure, or at least of unnecessary complications. If Netanyahu really wants to implement a two-state solution, he must take advantage of previous understandings in order to translate this vague formula into a permanent-status agreement as soon as possible - because time is not on the side of either Israel's interests or those of its Palestinian partners."
Ma'ariv comments on US Vice President Joe Biden's visit to Israel and says that, "He came here to try and rehabilitate the chemistry between the White House and Jerusalem, to dispel the suspicions, to create some kind of good relations, perhaps a new start. And what happened? Within 15 minutes, we lost him too." The author refers to the Interior Ministry statement regarding a tender for new housing neighborhoods in the eastern Jerusalem neighborhood of Ramat Shlomo and asserts that, "I believe the Prime Minister's people, who swear that he did not know about the tenders. This is even worse than the possibility that he did know."
Yisrael Hayom contrasts last Saturday's left-wing demonstration in Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood with this past Tuesday's memorial ceremony for the late Yigal Allon and reflects: "There used to be a Left here, pioneering and fighting, that that mainly dealt with the aspirations of the Jewish People, whose rights to its Land was never in doubt, which extended its hand in peace out of a confidence in the justice of its diplomatic and political claims…What is left of it, or rather, of those who bear its name in vain? It is difficult to find a Zionist Left, even though rumor has it that there are many such people among us. Its representation has been taken over by the radical fringe, for whom Zionism is a synonym for 'extreme Right', for whom land is a Palestinian value and settlement a pretext to disparage Israel abroad." The author reminds his readers that it was Yigal Allon who defined Zionism as, "The national liberation movement for a people that was exiled from its historic homeland," and believes that, "Those who still represent something on the Zionist Israeli Left, over which Yigal Allon's spirit hovers, is the sane wing of the Labor Party under the leadership of Ehud Barak." The paper regrets that, "The prevailing opinion on the Left is that all the region's ills originate with Israel. No peace? Our fault. There is war? Israel's fault. Terrorism? It is because of us. Ahmadinejad? He's just an excuse for Netanyahu to 'do nothing."
The Jerusalem Post comments on the recent spate of anti-Semitic incidents in Spain, and asks: "This flurry of attacks on Israel has caused us to pause and ask, What is happening on the Iberian peninsula and what can we do to combat it?" And concludes: "Even the best public diplomacy will not eradicate ingrained Spanish anti-Semitism. That's a challenge for Spain to meet."
[Yael Gvirtz, Ben Caspit and Dror Eidar wrote today’s articles in Yediot Ahronot, Ma'ariv, and Yisrael Hayom, respectively.] 
