1. SMOKY BAY.
Gigantic fire at Acre metals factory, a mere 200 meters from residents' homes, trapped thousands in their homes and led to closure of section of Highway 4.
2. For Shalit.
WORSENING OF SECURITY PRISONERS' CONDITIONS: MINISTERS WILL DECIDE.
Today: Ministerial Committee on Legislation to consider law that will finally end "summer camp" in prisons as long as Gilad Shalit rots in captivity.
3. EMANUEL IN ISRAEL.
White House Chief-of-Staff Rahm Emanuel arrives in Israel to celebrate his son's bar mitzvah – and is vacationing in Eilat.
YEDIOT AHRONOT
1. Israel, in reassuring messages: We are not planning a war.
EXERCISE THAT IS MAKING HEZBOLLAH NERVOUS.
Alert in Lebanon ahead of major home front exercise that starts today. Wednesday: Siren and entry into shelters exercise. Who is Nasrallah's guest of honor? Noam Chomsky.
YISRAEL HAYOM
1. Giant exercise starts today – sirens during the week.
SCENARIO: HUNDREDS OF ROCKETS AGAINST THE HOME FRONT.
In framework of "Turning Point 4", attack on military bases, chemical weapons attack and massive casualty events to be simulated. Exercise to be held in 68 local council areas and is expected to last a week. Concern in Arab world; Hezbollah on alert. Union of Local Authorities: Good that there is an exercise, but shortage of gas masks and shelters must also be dealt with.
2. NAVY AND COMMANDOS PREPARED TO BLOCK FLOTILLA TO THE GAZA STRIP.
Three "Break the Gaza Blockade" ships have already sailed from Turkey. On board: Balad MK Hanin Zoabi. Protest flotilla of Israeli boats leave Herzliya.
WALLA!
1. SENIOR IDF OFFICER: NO RISK IN OPENING OF HIGHWAY 443.
Despite settlers' warnings, IDF prepared for opening of Highway 443 to Palestinian traffic. Central Command emphasizes: "We would be pleased if highway would remain closed but we will know how to give security response."
2. LARGEST-EVER HOME FRONT EXERCISE GETS UNDERWAY THIS MORNING.
"Turning Point 4" is name of exercise in the framework of which most local authorities will practice emergency situations. One scenario entails assault by missiles fired by Syria, Hezbollah and even Hamas.
3. OUTPOST ESTABLISHED NEAR NEW PALESTINIAN CITY.
Establishment of new Palestinian city Rawabi in Benjamin area enraging settlers, who have set up outpost near the site.
NANA10
1. HOME FRONT EXERCISE UNDERWAY – SIRENS ON WEDNESDAY MORNING.
Exercise will simulate firing of thousands of missiles and rockets from Syria, Lebanon and Gaza.
2. MINISTERS TO DISCUSS STIFFENING OF HAMAS PRISONERS' CONDITIONS.
Ministerial Committee on Legislation to discuss "Shalit Law" that will prevent visits to Hamas prisoners, except by attorneys and the Red Cross.
[Headlines for Walla! and Nana10 are from their websites as of 11:10. The print edition of Ha'aretz was unavailable today.]
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SUMMARY OF OP-EDS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS
Yediot Ahronot laments that, "A decade since the withdrawal from Lebanon, one war, two kidnappings and one small guerrilla organization, which became one large guerrilla power – it seems to me that there is no one in Israel willing to look back, do some soul searching, and say that we made a mistake."
Ma'ariv protests that, "The State of Israel yelps to world leaders requesting help in the release of [kidnapped soldier] Gilad Shalit – but allows senior Hamas figure Muhammad Abu Tir to go free."
Yisrael Hayom asks, "What's the point of boycotts and ostracisms?" Author Yossi Beilin points out that, "I am one of the stars of [Noam] Chomsky's book. He is convinced that I initiated Oslo in order to continue the occupation by other means. On an unrelated note, preventing his entrance was a mistake."
Nana10! Sums-up the Iran-Turkey-Brazil nuclear agreement by saying that, "History is full of futile attempts to create alternative agendas to that of the major powers." The author notes that, Brazil, with Turkey at its side, "are not the first developing countries that have dared to believe, perhaps disillusioned, that they have the power to lead the world."
The Jerusalem Post reflects on the atrocious human rights situation in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, and notes that "An iron curtain of a strict theocracy is slowly descending on Gaza, but many human rights proponents still prefer to depict it as the embattled bastion of freedom fighters." The editor adds: "Both foreign governments and NGOs, in their inaction, are signaling to Hamas that domestic oppression by its tyrannical regime is tolerable so far as the international community is concerned."
Haaretz opposes the extension of the term in office of Shmuel Hollander, who has been civil service commissioner for 14 years and whose performance has been the focus of very critical reports by the state comptroller. The editor calls on Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein to intervene, and to "thwart the extension of Hollander's term and not leave this task to petitioners to the High Court of Justice."
[Yoaz Hendel, Micki Goldwasser, Yossi Beilin and Prof. Eyal Zisser wrote today’s articles in Yediot Ahronot, Ma'ariv and Yisrael Hayom, respectively.]
