HA'ARETZ
1. 150 ACADEMIC LECTURERS JOIN CULTURAL BOYCOTT OF ARIEL CITIZENS
In a publicized declaration, the lecturers announced that they would not take
part in any cultural activity in the West Bank. At the same time, a number of
writers and intellectuals signed declaration of support for performers who
refuse to appear in Ariel. A.B. Yehoshua: Boycott has to do with the place,
not the people.
2. PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU TO DEPART TODAY FOR WASHINGTON SUMMIT ON
LAUNCHING DIRECT PEACE TALKS.
MA’ARIV
1. Document affair
ASHKENAZI'S VERSION
(...).
YEDIOT AHRONOT
1. Disclosure: The summit before the Washington summit.
SECRET SUMMIT IN JORDAN: BARAK AND ABU MAZEN
Defense Minister flew the night before last to private home in Amman.
YISRAEL HAYOM
1. C-O-S's version: Lt.-Gen. Ashkenazi presents his side of document affair to
IDF commanders.
"I DID NOT KNOW, I DID NOT APPROVE"
(...).
2. NETANYAHU: DON'T WORRY, NO ONE HAS TO TEACH ME TO LOVE THE COUNTRY
PM departs this morning for Washington summit. US: Starting to lower
expectations.
WALLA!
1. MINISTER BARAK AND ABU MAZEN MEET SECRETLY IN JORDAN
Moment before launch of renewed direct negotiation with Israel, DM Barak met
in Jordan with PA Chmn. Abu Mazen. In the meeting, in which the Coordinator
of Government Activities in the Territories also participated, the sides
discussed the diplomatic process.
NANA10
1. BEFORE WASHINGTON SUMMIT: BARAK MEETS SECRETLY WITH ABU MAZEN IN JORDAN
DM, who met with Jordanian King on Sunday, used his visit to Jordan for
another meeting. Barak and Abu Mazen met in a private home in Amman and
discussed security arrangements in the West Bank ahead of Thursday's direct
talks.
2. WHITE HOUSE: IT WILL TAKE TIME TO RESOLVE ISSUES WHICH HAVE PREVENTED PEACE
FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS
On eve of Washington summit meeting, White House Spokesman says that both
Israelis and Palestinians are serious about their intentions for comprehensive
peace, but we will have to wait for all of the issues to be resolved. In
contrast, US State Department Spokesman assessed that it is possible to
conclude negotiations within a year.
_______________________________
SUMMARY OF OP-EDS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS
Yediot Ahronot comments on the upcoming start of US-brokered
direct negotiations and suggests that, "As with Nixon, the Obama
administration believes that resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would
balance other failures in the region. Therefore," the author adds, "even
though the chances of securing an agreement within a year are low, Obama will
make a great effort and will use everything he has in order to achieve an
agreement and, through it, build an Israeli-Arab strategic alignment to
counter the opposing radical axis." The paper avers that, "The Israeli
Government needs to at least understand Obama's motives and try – as much as
possible – to take them into consideration."
Ma'ariv criticizes the recent announcement by over 30 performing
artists that they would refuse to appear at the dedication of the new cultural
center in the Samarian community of Ariel and says that their decision merely,
"provides ammunition to artists from around the world who refuse to set foot
in the Holy Land for political reasons." The author urges the aforesaid
Israeli artists, "to act like composer Daniel Barenboim, Leonard Cohen or many
other artists. See fit to appear at the cultural center in Ariel and, if it
is really important to you, put on shows in Ramallah or Nablus as well."
Yisrael Hayom admits that, "It is true that international law
bars an occupying state from settling civilians in areas that have been
occupied," but asserts that, "According to international law, the territories
are not occupied." The author reminds his readers that no country enjoyed
recognized sovereignty over Judea and Samaria prior to 1967 and he claims that
this stemmed from Jordan's illegal and internationally unrecognized occupation
of the areas in 1948. The paper cites
the 1922 League of Nations decision establishing the
"Mandate for Palestine" as declaring that, "the Land of Israel
will be designated for the re-establishment of the Jewish national home."
