1. CLINTON SHARPENS ULTIMATUM TO NETANYAHU: US EXPECTS ISRAEL'S ANSWER IN THE NEXT DAY.
In parallel to continuing diplomatic crisis between Israel and Washington, dozens of Palestinians arrested on day of riots in Jerusalem; 15 policemen injured.
MA’ARIV
1. Last night: Rocks thrown at bus in Jaffa; Kassam in northern Negev.
RIOTS IN JERUSALEM.
Anxiety in Israel: Will wave of Hamas and Islamic Movement-incited violence spread beyond capital today?
YEDIOT AHRONOT
1. Netanyahu negotiating with US in order to find compromise formula.
FIRE AND STONES.
Jaffa: Two buses stoned. Jerusalem: Clashes between Palestinians and police.
YISRAEL HAYOM
1. Stormy day in eastern Jerusalem, rocks thrown at bus in Jaffa.
"LOCALIZED INCIDENTS, NOT INTIFADA."
According to IDF and Police. IN US: Growing domestic criticism of Obama over attacks on Israel. White House reassures: Israel is a friend, possible to disagree. Clinton: Waiting for answers from Jerusalem.
2. "OBAMA WANTS LIVNI IN GOVERNMENT."
According to senior American analyst.
WALLA!
1. AFTER RIOTS: TEMPLE MOUNT OPENED TO VISITORS.
This morning: Police opened Temple Mount to visitors of all faiths even though 15 policemen and dozens of Palestinians were injured yesterday in Jerusalem clashes. IDF lifts closure that had been imposed on Judea and Samaria.
2. NETANYAHU AND BIDEN SPEAK IN EFFORT TO END CRISIS.
According to New York Times, PM and US VP spoke by phone last night in framework of efforts to end crisis between the two countries. No details given on content of talks.
3. REPORT: SHALIT NEGOTIATIONS TO BE RESUMED WITHIN TWO WEEKS.
According to Palestinian sources, following pressure from several countries, negotiations on release of captive soldier to be resumed in early April. Mediator to arrive in Gaza "soon" to receive Hamas's final answer to Israeli proposal.
NANA10
1. AFTER RIOTS: TEMPLE MOUNT OPENED TO VISITORS.
Disturbances continuing at several places in Samaria.
2. US WAITING FOR ANSWER; NETANYAHU CONVENES SEVEN-MEMBER FORUM.
Forum convenes against background of diplomatic crisis with Washington.
3. BANK OF ISRAEL GOVERNOR TO PM: AGREES TO ANOTHER TERM.
Stanley Fisher to continue after approval of Bank of Israel Law.
4. "NEGOTIATIONS ON SHALIT RELEASE TO RESUME IN APRIL."
Palestinian website reports that contacts will resume following pressure from Arab and European countries on Israel and Hamas.
[Headlines for Walla! and Nana10 are from their websites as of 12:15]
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SUMMARY OF OP-EDS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS
Four papers discuss the diplomatic crisis in US-Israel relations:
Yediot Aharonot contends that "There are many in the Democratic government who, in the past days, have been closely following the domestic political consequences in the US of the confrontation-turned-diplomatic crisis between the US and Israel. They are waiting to see …if Israel will attempt to attack the President from within. Since the Reagan days, support for Israel in Washington, and throughout the entire US, has been bipartisan (for different reasons). To play such a political game would be tantamount to playing with dynamite."
Yisrael Hayom notes that "It is interesting that after Bashar Assad ridiculed the American demand that Syria downgrade its relations with Iran, Obama did not view it as an insult."
The Jerusalem Post discusses the current diplomatic tension with the Unites States, and notes that "Netanyahu’s only option is to show flexibility without endangering his democratically elected government coalition and Israel’s most critical interests." The editor feels that "concrete efforts can be made to foster goodwill with the US while respecting both key Israeli needs and an Israeli public that brought this Likud-led government to power," and adds: "regardless of the reason, the Obama administration is going to great lengths to get across a clear message that Israel faces a fateful choice: either endanger relations with the US by building homes for Jews in the West Bank and east Jerusalem and by showing insincerity in declarations of support for a two-state solution, or bolster a partnership with the US by creating a climate conducive to negotiated progress with the Palestinians, the better to ensure an effective response to the Iranian threat."
Haaretz blames PM Netanyahu for instigating the current diplomatic crisis with the United States, and declares that "Instead of fanning the flames with irresponsible declarations about the continuation of construction in East Jerusalem, the prime minister would do well to say yes to the American demands. Stagnation in the diplomatic process, in the shadow of a deepening crisis with our greatest ally, is a strategic threat Israel can by no means afford."
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Ma'ariv cites Hamas's Ismail Haniyeh, who, at the height of yesterday's riots, called to his followers: "Do not fear war. Whether this will be a religious war or not, Jerusalem is Islamic.'" The author says that "The calls coming out of Gaza yesterday were unequivocal and were reminiscent of Rantisi's speeches at the height of the intifada: 'Terror attacks, now.' The present condition of terrorist cells will make it difficult for them to carry out the mission, but there is no doubt that they will try."
[Alon Pinkas, Isi Leibler and Amit Cohen wrote today’s articles in Yediot Aharonot,Yisrael Hayom and Ma'ariv, respectively.]
