1. DEPITE CRISIS WITH WASHINGTON, NETANYAHU DECLARES: "WE WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD IN JERUSALEM"
Nighttime contacts between Prime Minister's Bureau and envoy Mitchell's office in attempt to allow his visit to Israel today, despite the rift. US said that it is awaiting official response to demands set by Clinton as condition for rehabilitating relations.
2. AFTER FIVE YEARS OF CONFLICT, IDF DECLARES BI'LIN AND NA'ALIN CLOSED MILITARY ZONES.
IDF Spokesperson: Order is intended to avoid violent disturbances. While doing so, Israel agreed to reinvestigate incident in which an American demonstrator was fatally wounded by police fire in Na'alin one year ago.
MA’ARIV
1. HIGHEST ALERT
Hamas leadership, from Gaza to Damascus, united yesterday in joint call in attempt to goad Palestinian masses into attending 'Day of Rage' demonstrations against Jerusalem construction. 3,000 police stationed in capitol for concern of riots.
YEDIOT AHRONOT
1. Netanyahu announced yesterday morning: We will continue building in eastern Jerusalem. Housing Minister, last night: We will publish tenders for thousands of housing units this year. And despite all this, PM turned to White House: Interested in meeting Vice President again next week.
NETANYAHU REQUESTS RECONCILIATION MEETING
Today in Jerusalem: High alert due to 'Day of Rage' declared by Palestinians
YISRAEL HAYOM
1. After Hurva synagogue dedication: Palestinians intensifying incitement
NETANYAHU: THERE WILL BE NO FREEZE IN JERUSALEM
Unclear whether envoy Mitchell will arrive for beginning of proximity talks.
2. EFFORTS TO RELEASE CHANNEL 10 CORRESPONDENT HELD IN EGYPT
Yotam Peled tried to infiltrate from Sinai.
WALLA!
1. DOZENS OF PALESTINIANS INJURED IN CLASHES
Palestinians reporting that 30 people have been injured during confrontations between youths and security forces in Day of Rage riots. Approximately 2,500 police stationed in capital due to Islamic organization's intention of bringing thousands of its supporters to the city. Holder of Jerusalem portfolio in Palestinian Authority: "Events are reminiscent of the outbreak of the intifada."
2. IN SHADOW OF CRISIS: MITCHELL POSTPONES VISIT
US Embassy announces that Middle East envoy will not arrive in Israel as planned. Senior administration official: "Our relations with Israel are undergoing a test." Netanyahu: "We will continue to build in Jerusalem and in settlements."
NANA10
1. OFFICIAL: ENVOY MITCHELL CANCELLS VISIT TO ISRAEL
US Embassy announcement made against backdrop of crisis between the two countries.
2. CONFRONTATIONS IN EASTERN JERUSALEM: PALESTINIANS THROWING ROCKS
Violent confrontations break out in several locations in the capital between Palestinians and security forces. Palestinians report 35 injured and five arrested.
[Headlines for Walla! and Nana10 are from their websites as of 10:30]
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SUMMARY OF OP-EDS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS
All papers comment on various aspects of the current controversy over the state of Israeli-US relations:
Yediot Ahronot declares that, "I don't buy for a second the American outrage. For years, the Americans have allowed us to pull the wool over their eyes, just as Israeli governments have allowed the settlers, whether Eli Yishai or Nir Barkat. There is nothing hidden in the Holy Land and nothing hidden from the Americans in the Holy Land. If they wanted to shoot, they would shoot, not talk. In the meantime they are talking. In the meantime, it is easy for everyone to wave our hands as if we were really conducting. It is easy for everyone to celebrate the 'declaration of two states for two peoples as an alternative to a solution' celebration. And why not? Who needs a real orchestra? That would require the investment of time, money, effort, frustration and a willingness to risk criticism. It is simpler to put in the old, scratchy tape and wave our hands. Pretend, pretend, everything is pretend."
Ma'ariv says that, "Even our close friends and admirers find it hard to understand us sometimes. Let us forget about those who question the Jewish state's right to exist. They are lost. They are obsessed. There are many others. They are for us. But even they do not understand why Israel insists on Jewish construction in the heart of Arab neighborhoods and why Israel finds it difficult to take down isolated outposts, which we promised to take down, which creates the impression of fraud."
Yisrael Hayom believes that, "The American approach rests on a faulty Western view that does not understand the place of Jerusalem in the Israeli experience," and adds that, "In historic terms, Jerusalem is the tangible symbol of the Jewish people's raison d'etre. Harming Jewish sovereignty over it is seen as a war on Jewish existence." The author suggests that Western observers who rely solely on the mainstream Israeli media might be misled regarding the depth of the consensus on Jerusalem and asks, "Can the [Obama] administration offer anything new, given Abu Mazen's rejection of what Olmert offered?"
Nana10 suspects that, "When the proximity talks begin between Israel and the Palestinians, American pressure on Israel will increase and this is liable to lead to unnecessary tension between the two countries. But Israel must not neglect the US or take its friendship lightly. Coordination between the two allies is crucial vis-ŕ-vis the Iranian threat and additional threats in the diplomatic arena that are no less dangerous regarding Syria and Hezbollah. Therefore, even if it is just posturing or useless moves that will not bring real peace, Israel must do almost anything to placate the US, especially coordinating its moves and positions with it. Construction in eastern Jerusalem can wait for better days but dealing with the Iranian nuclear threat cannot."
Walla! says that, "The time has come for the Israeli Left to stop being shocked at the extreme actions of the Prime Minister who appointed Liberman and Yishai as senior ministers, and start creating a genuine alternative." The author believes that, "Netanyahu has given voters exactly what they wanted from him: A right-wing government that will not allow the Turks to trample on our national honor and which will prove to the US Vice President who really runs the show in eastern Jerusalem, a nationalist government that believes in settling throughout Judea and Samaria and which does not believe that we have a partner on the Palestinian side. The people wanted, the people received. If anybody has something better to offer, now is the time."
[Aviad Kleinberg, Ben-Dror Yemini, Dror Eidar, Prof. Eyal Zisser and Roi Katz wrote today’s articles in Yediot Ahronot, Ma'ariv, Yisrael Hayom, Nana10 and Walla!, respectively.]
