ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION

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SUBJECT: ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION


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SUBJECTS COVERED IN THIS REPORT:
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1. Mideast


2. Iran

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Key stories in the media:
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Ha'aretz reported that according to security sources Prime Minster
Ehud Olmert has approved a change of route in the separation barrier
east of the Green Line in the area of Modi'in Ilit. This change
will take in the settlements of Nili and Na'aleh and will create two
Palestinian enclaves containing about 20,000 people.

Ha'aretz quoted foreign news agencies as reporting that the US is
demanding that its allies in Europe increase their economic pressure
on Iran beyond the sanctions accepted last month in the UN Security
Council. The agencies reported that the American call is being
resisted both in Europe and in Russia.

Ha'aretz reported that the IDF intends to strike against Islamic
Jihdad in response to Monday's terror attack in Eilat but, decided
to otherwise maintain its cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.

Maariv cited Minister of Defense Amir Peretz as saying in a meeting
with Eilat's mayor that he ordered the IDF to enhance its activity
in Eilat and its surroundings and that the issue of building a fence
between Israel and Egypt will be discussed soon in the security
establishment.

Ha'aretz reported GOC Central Command Maj. Gen. Yair Naveh signed a
series of orders meant to step up the battle against illegal
outposts. The orders were signed at the instruction of Minister of
Defense Amir Peretz. According to the paper the orders include
amendment of the Jordanian law, which forbidds construction without
permit in the West Bank and consider it a criminal offense.

All media reported that former justice minister Haim Ramon was
convicted in his sexual harassment trial on Wednesday.

Yediot cited a report written by Foreign Ministry analysts
indicating that opposition against Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad in Iran is growing due to growing fear of a possible
military attack against its nuclear devices and economic sanctions.

The Jerusalem Post reported that Egypt is trying to persuade the
Palestinians to form an army that is shared by all Palestinian
factions in an attempt to solve the crisis in the PA.

Leading media quoted Qatar Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani as
saying to Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres that Israel should talk
with Hamas.

All media reported that President Moshe Katzav has moved out of the
President's Residence for the period that he is unable to fulfill
his duties. The media also reported that Knesset discussions on
whether to oust President Katzav will begin in two weeks and will
last up to six weeks. The process can begin after the Knesset House
Committee has unanimously approved the procedure.

Maariv reported that during Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres's
visit to Qatar, Qatar Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani called
upon Israeli students to come to study at the education complex in
his capital, Doha. The paper noted that Qatar boasts several
branches of leading universities and academic institutions from the
United States that are attended by students from 22 countries.

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1. Mideast:
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Summary:
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The independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz editorialized (01/31): "The
Israel-Egypt border is porous, for the use of both terrorists and
criminals, and no Israeli community is immune to attack -- either by
Katyusha rockets or by suicide bombers. Nonetheless, this does not
mean that the hastily reached conclusion, that it is necessary to
invest billions of shekels in a border fence, with sophisticated
electronic equipment, from Eilat to Kerem Shalom, a total of 240
kilometers across desert and mountainous terrain, should be
adopted."

The conservative, Independent Jerusalem Post editorialized (01/31):
"As expensive as a Sinai border fence would be to build, we suspect
that, as was the case with other such projects, all involved will
consider the money well spent once it is built."

Block Quotes:
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I. "Pointless Fence"

The independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz editorialized (01/31): "The
suicide bombing in Eilat on Monday was a painful reminder of a
reality that has been pushed to the periphery of public debate. The
three murdered citizens join the long list of victims of the
confrontation with Israel that the Palestinians began in September
2000.... The Israel-Egypt border is porous, for the use of both
terrorists and criminals, and no Israeli community is immune to
attack -- either by Katyusha rockets or by suicide bombers.
Nonetheless, this does not mean that the hastily reached conclusion,
that it is necessary to invest billions of shekels in a border
fence, with sophisticated electronic equipment, from Eilat to Kerem
Shalom, a total of 240 kilometers across desert and mountainous
terrain, should be adopted.... Even if the fence is completely
successful, it will only divert the perpetrators of attacks in
different directions, either over (rockets) or under (tunnels) the
fence.... Overall, the Israeli security services have managed to
limit the number of both attacks and casualties. They employ the
proper tactics, and the proof of this is the decreasing frequency of
the attacks. This does not mean that the Palestinians and Egypt --
either directly or indirectly -- have no responsibility for the
bombing in Eilat. The divided Palestinian government is not trying
to prevent attacks.... Egypt does not insist on exercising its
sovereignty over its territory or along its borders, neither that
with the Gaza Strip nor that with Israel. A diplomatic effort to
demand from these parties to assume their responsibility, in
addition to maintaining the intelligence and military efforts to
prevent attacks will be more useful than the illusion of a costly
fence."

II. "Fence the Border"

The conservative, Independent Jerusalem Post editorialized (01/31):
"As expensive as a Sinai border fence would be to build, we suspect
that, as was the case with other such projects, all involved will
consider the money well spent once it is built. This particular
fence, moreover, would serve multiple purposes. The border with
Egypt is not only an entry way for terrorists; it is a source of
rampant smuggling of goods, weapons and people.... The Egyptian
border is the primary conduit for weapons and terrorists moving from
Gaza to the West Bank -- where the security fence is also
incomplete. As expensive as it is, then, the 'Hourglass' plan
should be funded and implemented. If, as the name implies, we all
know it is a matter of time, many lives might be saved and much good
achieved if that time is sooner rather than later."

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2. Iran:
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Summary:
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Washington based correspondent Shmuel Rosner opined in the mass
circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot (01/31): "The urgent appeals
of Arab rulers to Washington testify that leaders in Riyadh, Cairo
and Dubai understand perfectly well a simple, agreed fact: without
an American determination there will be no worthy half-back to face
the Iranians."

Block Quotes:
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"A Need for A Worthy Half-Back"

Washington based correspondent Shmuel Rosner opined in the mass
circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot (01/31): "Bush is captured in
the pliers of American public opinion that suspects that he intends
to act in Iran as he did in Iraq and Middle Eastern opinion that
examines every sign of American weakness.... The Americans recognize
that time is short and that so far they haven't succeeded in
cracking the Iranian wall of refusal. Thus, the Europeans ... are
moving too slowly, too slack in order to produce results....
Regarding Iran, the US also falls into the trap that describes its
situation in the 21st century. On the one hand its allies are
requesting that it does not act alone and take into considerations
their interests and opinion. On the other hand it is obvious to
everyone that eventually the responsibility for the outcome, would
be written first of all to the debit of the United States. The
urgent appeals of Arab rulers to Washington testify that leaders in
Riyadh, Cairo and Dubai understand perfectly well a simple, agreed
fact: without an American determination there will be no worthy
half-back to face the Iranians."
JONES