Israel News Daily 05/07/2008

In the UK and international media today, the Guardian notes that Iran has stalled its response to the latest package of incentives offered by the international community for Tehran to halt its uranium enrichment programme. The Daily Telegraph notes that the international community has pledged no more economic sanctions on Iran if it pursues uranium enrichment at the present levels. Several papers note that Israel's Vice Premier Haim Ramon has called for parts of Arab East Jerusalem to be cut off from the rest of the city following the bulldozer terror attack on Wednesday by an East Jerusalem citizen. The Daily Telegraph notes that more than 150 complaints were received by the BBC Ten O'Clock programme for showing the footage of the bulldozer terror attack in Jerusalem and of the terrorist being shot by Israeli security forces. BBC Online notes that a rocket was fired yesterday from Gaza into southern Israel marking the sixth rocket to be fired since the ceasefire began on 19 June. The Jewish Chronicle carries a piece on the London and Manchester solidarity rallies for Israel held last Sunday. The Economist carries a piece on the debate over the decision by the Israeli cabinet to accept the prisoner exchange deal with Hezbollah. The magazine also runs an article on Iran and the international rumours of a possible military strike against Tehran.

In the Israeli press, several papers note that a Qassam rocket was fired from Gaza into Israel yesterday marking the sixth occurrence of a rocket attack, since the ceasefire went into place on 19 June. In response, Israel closed the border crossings with Gaza. In other news, all papers note that Attorney General Menachem Mazuz announced yesterday that rulings made in the High Court of Justice over the years clarify that there are no constitutional barriers to demolishing the home of terrorists, but that local and international legal obstacles must be considered. Haaretz reports that commander of the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean, Admiral James Winnefeld, said in a recent article published that Iran is likely to launch ballistic missiles at Israel and that the US and NATO need to be prepared for such actions. Haaretz, Ynetnews and Kol Israel Radio note that Israel and Syria will commence a fourth round of indirect talks in Turkey later this month.

Iran remains a threat to Israel's very existence

Daily Telegraph, ()

"Amid the winks and nudges about a reduction of tension between America and Iran, it should not be forgotten that Tehran's policy, enunciated most forcefully by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is the destruction of Israel.

That is already apparent in Iranian support for Hamas and Hizbollah. Possession of nuclear weapons would give it a further edge.

While it is unlikely that Tehran would launch a direct atomic assault on the Jewish state, it would acquire greater leverage over its Arab neighbours as the undisputed hegemon in the Gulf, and could pass on nuclear know-how to its guerrilla proxies.

Until Iran accepts the existence of Israel and suspends uranium enrichment, any responsible government in Jerusalem must consider it an existential threat to the Jewish state.

The diplomatic chatter over the past few days has been about easing the confrontation between America and Iran through negotiation. Tehran has said nothing about stopping the gas centrifuges near Natanz, nor softened its hostility towards Israel.

A diplomatic solution would obviously be preferable to military action, which could convulse the Middle East and push the cost of oil through the roof - but not at any price.

Tehran may be counting on doing a deal with the present American administration before a new, unpredictable man enters the White House in January. Having made progress in nuclear talks with North Korea, George W. Bush may be hoping to do the same with Iran in the final months of his presidency.

However, what is convenient to Tehran and Washington could lead to the isolation of Israel and push it into unilateral military action that could quickly embroil the West in a wholesale conflagration, whether in southern Iraq or the Strait of Hormuz.

As an impetus for solving deep-seated strategic problems, an electoral timetable is suspect.

Looking back at the divisions over Iraq in 2003, it is essential that the six countries negotiating with Iran are united in insisting that Israel's security must not be jeopardised.

A deal over the head of the country most threatened by Iran would be both morally wrong and carry enormous political risks. In its essentials, Tehran remains inimical to Western interests.

That should not be forgotten in handling a regime that has persistently lied over its nuclear programme and, under Mr Ahmadinejad, has stepped up calls for Israel's destruction."

Iran gives mixed signals over nuclear (Guardian)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/04/iran.nuclear

Militants 'fire rocket' from Gaza (BBC Online)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7488240.stm

Syria and Israel agree to hold fresh talks (Ynetnews)

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3563770,00.html

U.S. admiral: Iran attack against Israel is 'likely' (Haaretz)

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/999009.html

Bulldozer attack: Cut off East Jerusalem, says Israeli minister (Guardian)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/04/israelandthepalestinians

Crossing the divide: Cooking with the enemy (Independent)

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/crossing-the-divide-cooking-with-the-enemy-860009.html

Israel Right demands Jerusalem wall (Times)

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article4264455.ece

America softens stance on Iran (Daily Telegraph)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/2242595/America-softens-stance-on-Iran%27s-nuclear-programme.html

Complaints over dead Palestinian clip (Daily Telegraph)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/2242663/Viewers-complain-about-BBC-footage-of-dead-Palestinian.html

Iran remains a threat to Israel (Daily Telegraph)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2008/07/04/dl0401.xml

Calls for crackdown on Jerusalem Arabs (Glasgow Herald)

http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/foreign/display.var.2378832.0.Calls_for_crackdown_on_Jerusalem_Arabs.php

Call to sever Jerusalem Arab area (BBC Online)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7488067.stm

Tehran returns to hard line on nuclear activity (Financial Times)

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/03385cca-4961-11dd-9a5f-000077b07658.html

Baby Saved After Bulldozer Attack (Sky News Online)

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Israel-Baby-Girl-Rescued-From-Car-Wreckage-After-Jerusalem-Bulldozer-Attack/Article/200807115021860?lpos=World%2BNews_5&lid=ARTICLE_15021860_Israel%253A%2BBaby%2BGirl%2BRescued%2BFrom%2BCar%2BWreckage%2BAfter%2BJerusalem%2BBulldozer%2BAttack

Thousands attend Israel's 60th celebrations (Jewish Chronicle)

http://thejc.com/articles/20087042954/sunshine-speeches-and-a-salute-solidarity

From triumph to torture (New Statesman)

http://www.newstatesman.com/middle-east/2008/07/pilger-mohammed-israel

A dubious trade (Economist)

http://www.economist.com/world/africa/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11670932

Dangerous games (Economist)

http://www.economist.com/world/africa/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11670939

Mazuz: Demolition of terrorists' homes is permitted by law (Haaretz)

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/998668.html

Israelis contributed to daring Colombian hostage rescue (Haaretz)

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/998838.html

Peres: There is no chance of peace with Palestinians (Haaretz)

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/998836.html

Palestinian PM proposes detailed Fatah-Hamas reconciliation deal (Haaretz)

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/999008.html

Olmert: Direct Israel-Syria peace talks needed 'very soon' (Haaretz)

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/998812.html

Qassam hits Negev, sixth since start of Gaza truce (Haaretz)

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/998735.html

Gov't officials: US fears Israel gearing up for Iran strike (Jerusalem Post)

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1214726206803&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Barak orders closure of Gaza crossings (Jerusalem Post)

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1214726205563&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Iran setting up 'passive defense' plan (Jerusalem Post)

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1214726208893&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

A-G: Destroying terrorists' homes legal (Jerusalem Post)

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1214726193691&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

A-G: Razing homes legal (Ynetnews)

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3563794,00.html

Israel to receive Hizbullah report on Ron Arad next week (Ynetnews)

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3563805,00.html

Israel closes Gaza crossings after Qassam hits Negev (Ynetnews)

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3563738,00.html

Olmert: We have to be tough on terror (Ynetnews)

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3563720,00.html

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (Jerusalem Post)

Surely there can be no excuse or explanation for this terrorist attack, or any terrorist attack for that matter. Any attempt to justify terrorism - including by hindering its condemnation - is disingenuous, counterproductive, and morally reprehensible.