1. OLMERT CONFIDANT ARRESTED ON SUSPICION OF INVOLVEMENT IN SEVERE CORRUPTION AFFAIR
On Tuesday, police arrested attorney Uri Messer and five additional suspects. Court: This is one of the worst corruption cases the country has ever known." Former PM Olmert, who is abroad, delays his return to Israel.
2. REPORT: PRESIDENT OBAMA CONSIDERING PRESENTING ISRAEL AND PALESTINIANS WITH CAMP DAVID-BASED PEACE PLAN; NETANYAHU OPPOSES THE INITIATIVE
3. CHIEF SENSOR: SILENCING SECURITY AFFAIR DAMAGES ISRAEL.
Today: At Ha'aretz request, State Prosecutor's Office expected to allow some details from affair to be published.
MA’ARIV
1. Court: One of Israel's worst-ever corruption cases.
STINKS FROM THE HEAD.
2. TODAY: "SECURITY AFFAIR" TO BE PARTIALLY REVEALED.
YEDIOT AHRONOT
1. How Jerusalem's ugliest building project was approved.
MAJOR CORRUPTION CASE.
Olmert, abroad: "I will return next week."
2. SECURITY CASE TO BE PARTIALLY REVEALED TODAY
YISRAEL HAYOM
1. Judge: "One of the worst corruption cases in the history of the state."
MEGA-CORRUPTION.
2. TODAY: SOME DETAILS OF GAGGED SECURITY AFFAIR TO BE ALLOWED FOR PUBLICATION
WALLA!
1. Olmert's attorney:
"HOLYLAND AFFAIR WILL END WITHOUT ANYTHING"
2. ISRAEL UPGRADES 170 TURKISH ARMY TANKS.
Despite crisis in bilateral relations and recent aggressive remarks by Turkey, two countries recently celebrated delivery of last of 170 tanks to Turkish army. Project worth $700 million.
NANA10
1. ATTORNEY-GENERAL WEINSTEIN TO BE PRECLUDED FROM DEALING WITH HOLYLAND AFFAIR.
2. TODAY: DETAILS FROM SECURITY CASE LIKELY TO BE ALLOWED FOR PUBLICATION.
State Prosecutor's Office to ask court to reduce gag order.
3. REPORT FROM LEBANON: MITCHELL POSTPONED VISIT TO ISRAEL.
Reason: Washington has yet to receive Israeli answer.
4. "MIDDLE EAST DETERIORATION STEMS FROM JERUSALEM CONSTRUCTION."
Hezbollah accuses Israel and warns against regional deterioration.
[Headlines for Walla! and Nana10 are from their websites as of 10:00]
______________________________
SUMMARY OF OP-EDS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS
Two newspapers discuss the brusque communiqué issued by Minister of Defense Ehud Barak, which stated that IDF Chief-of-Staff Gabi Ashkenazi's four-year term would not be extended:
The Jerusalem Post feels that "The public slight was redundant, excessive and damaging. If Barak wished to make himself look strong, he achieved quite the opposite. He came off as petty and cantankerous." The editor states that "This is just about the most irresponsible portrayal one could possibly muster of Israel’s No. 1 soldier, particularly when this habitually beleaguered country faces existential challenges, perhaps equaling those which existed at its birth in 1948," and adds: "If anyone should be going home after all this, it is the minister and not the general."
Haaretz criticizes Minister of Defense Barak for his brusque handling of the statement that Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi would end his term as planned, in 2011, after serving four years, and notes that "Squabbles at the top of the defense establishment weaken the public's confidence that its security is in good hands."
============================
Yediot Aharonot remarks that "In the past months Israel and Syria have been in a state of heightened tensions. The fact that public statements have been few does not necessarily reflect its magnitude." The author notes that "Syria and Iran are supporting radical terrorist organizations almost flagrantly. Weapons are developed in Iran and are tested in the presence of the organizations' representatives. Manufacturing takes place in Syria, and from there the weapons are transported by various means to Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. Moreover, there is serious concern that Syria will supply Hezbollah with weapons which would tip the present balance of power, its supply to Hezbollah would constitute a real threat to Israel…The American concern is Hezbollah's temptation to use these weapons against Israel's in a revenge attack for what they see as Mossad operations against them, or that Israel's concern over these weapons, that they disturb the power equilibrium, might lead it to launch a pre-emptive operation."
Ma'ariv posits that "A sustainable Palestinian state requires territory larger than Judea and Samaria. The Palestinians have two possibilities of expansion: West to Israel or east to Jordan." The author opines that "King Abdullah is playing with fire. Either way you look at it, Jordan is (part of) a Palestinian state,"
Yisrael Hayom assesses the projected proximity talks: "The sides' opening stances do not presage quick accord, but it will be an important opportunity for an official debate of the conflict's core issues between a Right government and the Palestinian leadership."
[Ronen Bergman, Arel Segal and Yossi Beilin wrote today’s articles in Yediot Aharonot, Ma'ariv, and Yisrael Hayom, respectively.]
