1. BARAK REQUESTS NEW DEBATE ON EXPULSION OF [ILLEGAL MIGRANT WORKERS' AND THEIR] CHILDREN

2. ISRAEL RAILROADS SPENT MILLIONS PLANNING NABLUS LINE

Despite the large investment and the fact that the planning of the section to Ariel has already been completed, the probability of the track being laid is zero.

MA’ARIV

1. Month to end of freeze

WAITING FOR DECISION

Exactly 31 days to the official end of the construction freeze in the territories: White House, Palestinian Authority and families stuck for months in caravans in the settlements are anxiously awaiting Prime Minister's decision.  Assessment: Netanyahu will renew building in blocs – but will not allow construction in isolated settlements.

2. GALANT'S APPOINTMENT DELAYED

In contradiction to original plans: Barak's decision on Galant's appointment to C-O-S will not be brought before the Cabinet for approval on Sunday.

YEDIOT AHRONOT

1. PM convened the forum of seven in secret discussion on construction freeze.

NETANYAHU CONSIDERING: "MINI-FREEZE"

One possibility: Continuing freeze only in isolated settlements, without announcing so.

YISRAEL HAYOM

1. "STAFF OF SCHOOLS THAT EXCEL WILL RECEIVE PAY INCREMENTS"

2. EU INTERVENES IN FAVOR OF BILIN DEMONSTRATORS

European Foreign Minister: Conviction of demonstrations' organizer – not legitimate.  Foreign Ministry: Do not intervene in legitimate legal process.

3. STORM IN WAKE OF BARAK'S DEMAND FOR ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION ON EXPULSION OF [ILLEGAL MIGRANT WORKERS' AND THEIR] CHILDREN

WALLA!

1. IDF ADVOCATE GENERAL: HAMAS WANTS TO DRAG US INTO CIVILIAN CASUALTIES

IDF Advocate General, Maj.-Gen Avichai Mendelblit testified before Turkel Commission.  He said that, "There is no such thing that in the C-O-S forum or in the Navy anyone would ever consider not acting in accordance to international law."

2. TURKISH DIPLOMATS: FLOTILLA – INCIDENT BETWEEN FRIENDS

3. CONSTRUCTION FREEZE ENDING, GROUND ONLY STARTING TO HEAT-UP

Exactly one month remains until the expiration date of the construction freeze in the territories and activists from both the left and the right are preparing fight for the [public's] conscience.

NANA10

1. PERES: "EXPULSION OF 400 FOREIGN WORKERS' CHILDREN – UNTHINKABLE"

These are Hebrew speaking children who feel Israeli.  In my opinion we should definitely allow them to stay in Israel."

2. MENDELBLIT: WITHOUT THE BLOCKADE – IDF CANNOT MONITOR SHIPS TO GAZA.

3. TURKEY TO US: FLOTILLA INCIDENT – "ROW BETWEEN FRIENDS"

[Headlines for Nana10 and Walla! are from their websites as of 12:20.]

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Summary of Editorials from the Hebrew Press

Yediot Aharonot opines that, "It is best to abandon allusions of negotiations and to begin preparation for another unilateral move in Judea and Samaria, because the alternative to partitioning the country is the end to Zionism."

 

Ma'ariv, reminding us that only one month remains on the construction freeze in the territories and notes that "A moment before the opening of direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians: Netanyahu, Abu Mazen and President Obama find themselves in the center of a diplomatic complexity." The author professes that a U-turn like the dramatic opening of negotiations and its implosion within less than a month could terminally bury the US Administration's reputation as the responsible adult who knows what he is doing."

 

Yisrael Hayom first notes an article by Mishari al-Zaidi in al-Sharq al-Awsat in which "he writes, with amazing honesty, on the Arab world's desire to sustain the Israel-Palestinian conflict." The paper then, in order to strengthen that point, takes note of Syrian President Bashar Assad's interview this past Saturday in which he said, "Israel would always remain his country's enemy. Always." Despite this, the author demonstrates his belief that both Israel and the Palestinians can overcome the circumstances to end the conflict. "We know how to solve it. When the leaders of the sides will present solution to their people, they will win a majority that will surprise them."

The Jerusalem Post comments on the Defense Minister's selection of Yoav Galant - the OC Southern Command who directly oversaw the operation in Gaza  last year - as the IDF next chief of staff: "Barak’s decision to name Galant on Sunday, almost immediately after the attorney-general ruled that the selection process could resume, underlined the defense minister’s strong preference for the 51-year-old general. There have been suggestions that this preference stems from what Barak sees as a stark contrast between the performances and attitudes of Ashkenazi and Galant as exemplified in Operation Cast Lead. Galant is said to be regarded by Barak as more outspoken and more confident - a military leader more in the defense minister’s own image."

Haaretz comments that "Catering to religious demands for gender segregation (allocating sex-segregated cars for ultra-Orthodox passengers) on the new Jerusalem light rail is a move in the wrong direction. Precisely because the light rail is a public service for the whole population, its passengers must not be forced to adapt themselves to the practices of one particular community.

[Gadi Taub, Ben Caspit and Yossi Beilin wrote today’s articles in Yediot Aharonot, Ma'ariv and Yisrael Hayom, respectively.]