Front Page News:

Haaretz

• Netanyahu at beginning of coalition talks: Calls for national unity government
• US report: Israel attacked the convoy in Syria near the research center
• Lapid celebrated his election achievement
• Severely critical report: Failures in police supervision over security of educational institutions
• State working with right-wing organization in removal of Palestinian family from Sheikh Jarah (neighborhood in Jerusalem)
• Clashes between army and Palestinians who tried to set-up outpost on village lands near Nablus
• Ed Koch, mayor who was a symbol of New York, died
• Superbowl night: $3.8 million for 1/2 minute ad

Yedioth Ahronoth

• Catch 61 - Netanyahu begins coalition negotiations today when he has in his hand only a narrow government of 61 mandates. In order to include Lapid (Yesh Atid), he'll likely have to give up on Shas
• Yair and the band - While President Peres gave Netanyahu the mandate to form the government, Yair Lapid and his party members celebrated their election success
• Likud does not have enough ministry portfolios? Be ambassadors
• The attack in Syria: First photos
• The monkey and the bluff - Not clear that Iran launched a monkey to space
• Bar Mazal (Lucky man) - Bar Refaeli and the nerd are the craze in America
• Forgotten in the hallway - Phenomenon: Discrimination of elderly in hospitals

Maariv

• Sunday Times: Israel considering establishing security zone in Syria (Hebrew)
• Peres give Netanyahu the mandate to form the government (Hebrew)
• 48 new Knesset members to pass crash course on Knesset procedures (Hebrew)
• Yehadut Hatorah vs. Habayit Hayehudi: If you don't support us on the draft issue, we won't support you over evacuation of (settlement) communities
• Lapid's victory party - Lapid on stage with guitar playing Beatles' songs (Hebrew)
• Ammonium container, extreme scenario and the worrying result (Hebrew)

Israel Hayom

• Coalition work
• Testimony from Syria
• (Iranian) Stealth aircraft? Or deception
• Without fear: Despite the tension - hikers filled the north
• 2 killed in attack on the US embassy in Ankara; Left-wing organization took responsibility
• Now it's official: US Secretary of State John Kerry; Expected to arrive in Israel this month

News Summary:
The President tasks the Prime Minister with forming the next government, new information emerges about the attack on Syria and Yair Lapid celebrates his Knesset achievement with a guitar on stage making top stories in today's Israeli papers. Meanwhile, Israel plans a 'security zone' inside Syria, according to a UK Sunday Times article translated to Hebrew in Maariv, and violence erupts at a new Palestinian outpost near Nablus, and settlers are involved.

After receiving the mandate from President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu stressed the importance of forming as broad a government as possible. No surprise there, he has a very narrow government of 61 mandates (out of 120) if he only includes the right-wing parties. Yedioth called it 'Catch 61' because to form a wider government, such as with Yair Lapid's Yesh Atid party, he will likely have to give up the support of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party over the military draft issue. Meretz Chairwoman MK Zahava Gal-On reacted saying, "The prime minister's call is indicative of the difficulties plaguing the coalition talks" and she insisted that the Left will be used as the government's "fig leaf." Netanyahu also said the focus of the next government will be the 'Iranian threat' and he pledged Israel's 33rd government will be committed to peace. 

The Likud faces another problem: it will not have as many ministry portfolios to give to its senior members in the new government, because the party has fewer mandates and because of the demand by the Yesh Atid party for a smaller government. Now it is considering offering its senior politicians to be ambassadors abroad instead, Yedioth reports. They are not excited about it. Moreover, Netanyahu is considering another plan by which he will ask Deputy Prime Minister Silvan Shalom to run for President, rather than give him one of the senior ministries. Shalom was not excited about this idea and called it, "nonsense," Yedioth writes.

Coalition negotiations schedule (Yedioth)
Today:
13:30            - Yesh Atid (Yair Lapid)
15:00            - Habayit Hayehudi
16:30             - Shas
Monday:
13:30            - Yehadut Hatorah
15:00            - Hatnuah (Tzipi Livni)
16:30            - Kadima (Shaul Mofaz)
Tuesday:
16:00            - First session of 19th Knesset and swearing-in of 120 members
March 2nd:
End of 28 days Netanyahu has to form coalition government. He can ask for another 14 days extension
March 16th:
End of extension period. If Netanyahu did not succeed until now to form a government, within three days, President chooses another MK to try
 
A US intelligence official told Time Magazine that Israel targeted multiple targets in the recent attack on Syria and that the White House gave Israel the 'green light' to carry out more such attacks in the future. The officials said Israel targeted the military complex and the convoy leaving it with surface-to-air missiles. Syrian TV aired footage purporting to show the research center that was the target of the alleged Israeli strike. Turkey has implied that there was an agreement between Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Israel over the attack. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu asked, "Why didn't Assad even throw a pebble at Israeli jets when they flew over his palace?" Meanwhile, the Syrian opposition leader has met with Russia Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, signaling its readiness to talk with Damascus.

Maariv ran a Sunday Times article by Israeli journalist Uzi Mahnaimi, who writes that Israel is planning to establish another security zone - this time 16km inside Syria. [It had one in south Lebanon and has one inside the Gaza Strip - OH] The IDF presented a plan to Netanyahu by which it would deploy two infantry battalions and one tank brigade across the border. Mahnaimi also writes that Israel is likely to attack an Iranian intelligence base established in Dera'a, some 11 kilometers from the border. (NRG Hebrew)

Palestinian activists set up their third outpost over the weekend in what Israeli Army radio is now calling, 'Tentifada.' What is certain is that the Palestinians set up tents, the IDF took them down, settlers were there, and there was violence. But beyond that, the details differ from Israeli newspaper to newspaper. Haaretz has the most extensive report with the Palestinian version of events. The Palestinian outpost, 'Al-Manatir,' was erected on the land of Burin village, south of Nablus, near the Jewish outpost of Givat Ronen [which Israel Hayom refers to as a 'neighborhood' of Har Bracha settlement - OH]. "Palestinians say the confrontations started when IDF soldiers arrived on the scene together with settlers from the nearby settlements Yitzhar and Bracha," writes Haaretz's settler affairs' correspondent, Chaim Levinson. An activist told him settlers sparked the clashes when they took control of a caravan inside the village, from which Palestinian youth threw stones at soldiers and settlers. While Yedioth did not report on the event, its website, Ynet, interviewed Palestinian activist spokesperson Abir Copti, who said that settlers at the scene started hurling stones at the activists until IDF troops arrived and dispersed the riots. Ynet explained that the reason some 200 Palestinians erected the outpost was as part of their battle against Jewish settlements. Wael Faqih, one of the activists, told Ynet that the settlements were "eating away at the land of the West Bank and the village of Burin is the clearest example of that." The number of Palestinians arrested differed from article to article. Moreover, there were reports that \ settlers uprooted 100 olive trees shot a 16-year old in his leg and that 20 people suffered tear gas inhalation. There are also reports that a mosque was set alight as a result of tear gas and that it has since been put out." Haaretz wrote that happened in Burin, while Israel Hayom quoted Army Radio saying it happened in separate clashes at a junction near the [extremist -OH] Yizhar settlement. One settler in possession of two saws was also arrested, but the settlers claim they neither cut down trees or shot any Palestinians. Maariv writes that this is the fourth outpost and that the Samaria settler council said 'extremist left-wing activists' were seen documenting the clashes and riots with the soldiers and the Border Police, "while giving instructions to the rioters."
 

Quick Hits:

• **Yair Lapid: We are going to change the country - In a speech at Yesh Atid party's celebration, Lapid said, "Just when citizens felt the country is being taken from their hands we proved the strength of normalcy." Lapid played guitar on stage during the celebration. (Maariv/NRG Hebrew and Haaretz)
• Israeli right-wing groups use 'right of return' to evict Arabs from East Jerusalem - The Shamasna family of Sheikh Jarrah is one of several Palestinian families to have been evicted in recent years using a similar method. (Haaretz)
• Israel dismantles Bedouin tent communities in West Bank, leaving residents to face the elements - The Israeli authorities intend to dismantle the communities and concentrate the Bedouin, against their will, in two permanent neighborhoods near Jericho. (Haaretz)
• Muslim soccer players at Beitar Jerusalem met with spitting and insults - 150 fans arrive at team's training ground to protest the signing on of two new players, Gibril Kadiyev and Zaur Sadayev, who were eventually forced to leave the area under police escort. (Haaretz)
• Habayit Hayehudi MKs, rabbis disagree over Lapid draft proposal - Several prominent rabbis who are associated with the party are worried that party leader Naftali Bennett is closely coordinating his positions with Yair Lapid, who they believe has taken the issue of the haredi military draft "to the extreme." (Israel Hayom)
• Israeli right-wing groups use 'right of return' to evict Arabs from East Jerusalem - The Shamasna family of Sheikh Jarrah is one of several Palestinian families to have been evicted in recent years using a similar method. (Haaretz)
• A soft landing, as new MKs get orientation day at Knesset - Unlike previous Knesset orientations, media outlets were only allowed to stay for the Knesset speaker's speech and the tour of the building • Knesset source: If there were television cameras around, the new MKs would hesitate to ask questions that might make them look bad. (Israel Hayom)
• Tourist stays in TA fall 25% after Gaza op - Operation Pillar of Defense's impact felt particularly in Eilat as about half of winter season's charter flights cancelled. (Ynet)
• Turkey: U.S. Embassy bomber was convicted of terrorism in 1997 - Forty-year-old leftist militant who killed himself and a security guard in Ankara spent five years in prison but was released after being diagnosed with brain disorder. (Agencies, Haaretz)
• Legendary NYC mayor Koch dies, Monday funeral set - The three-term New York mayor, "Saturday Night Live" host and Muppets actor dies of congestive heart failure at 88. Proudly Jewish, Koch was outspoken supporter of Israel. Koch is eulogized by the political echelon, including President Barack Obama. (Israel Hayom)
• World's luckiest geek kisses Bar Refaeli - New Super Bowl commercial for GoDaddy.com shows why Israeli supermodel needn't utter a single word to sell a product. (Ynet)
• Biden: U.S. prepared to hold direct talks with Iran only if regime 'is serious' - American vice president says Tehran must prove it is negotiating in good faith; 'our policy is not containment - it is to prevent Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon.' (Agencies, Haaretz)
• U.S. calls Iran's plan to upgrade uranium work 'provocative step' - White House warns such a step would be in further violation of United Nations resolutions against Tehran's nuclear program. (Agencies, Haaretz)
• Ahmadinejad to make first visit to Egypt by Iranian president since 1979 - Iranian leader to arrive in Cairo for a summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation; Tehran broke off relations with Egyptin 1980, a year after Iran's revolution and Egypt's peace agreement with Israel. (Agencies, Haaretz)
• Ahmadinejad unveils new Iranian-made fighter jet - Unconfirmed report by Iran's state TV claims new aircraft uses stealth technology to evade radar. (Agencies, Haaretz)
• Report: White House rebuffed Clinton-Petraeus plan to arm Syrian rebels - The White House rejected the proposal over concerns it could draw the United States into the Syrian conflict and the arms could fall into the wrong hands. (Agencies, Haaretz)
• Kerry likely to visit Israel, Egypt in first trip as secretary of state - After being sworn in as the top U.S. diplomat, CNN reports that Kerry plans to tour the Middle East in the coming weeks. (Agencies, Haaretz)

Commentary/Analysis:

A warning signal from the UN (Haaretz Editorial) The UN's 'built-in bias' against Israel must not serve as yet another excuse for a policy, which at least half of all Israelis oppose.
Not your suckers anymore (Izhar Oplatka, Ynet) Civil war possible if haredim refuse to accept changes demanded by younger generation.
Blowing hot and cold: Israel's divided reaction to the Arab Spring (Lior Lehrs, Haaretz) Netanyahu's government has a negative, one-dimensional view of the Arab Spring. But Israelis need a deeper and more serious understanding of these critical regional changes, and to start getting to know the new key players: political Islamic leaders, and how a dialogue with them might emerge.
In rejecting Arab MK, Yair Lapid also rejects Jewish values (Dmitry Shumsky, Haaretz) For many Israelis, Yair Lapid's rejection of Hanin Zuabi is affirmation of the state's commitment to a Jewish majority, but exclusion of the Arab minority goes against the history of Jews, who have so often been the 'other.'
The clinging detective (Amir Oren, Haaretz) Justice Ministry sources are saying, for the sake of balance, that the public service commissioner could conduct an investigation against Barak's two assistants.
Window is closing (Dov Weisglass, Yedioth/Ynet) Israel's failure to resume negotiations with moderate Palestinian leadership bolsters extremists.
Israel does as it pleases (Gideon Levy, Haaretz) Until now it's worked. Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Sudan and, of course, the Palestinians wiped the saliva, said it was rain and restrained themselves, because they are weak and Israel is strong.
Around the Knesset in 88 days (Mati Tuchfeld, Israel Hayom) With 88 MKs-elect eying a seat at the table, Netanyahu's task could turn out to be even simpler than in 2009.
Rational War (Dr. Chilo Rosenberg, Maariv/NRG Hebrew) discusses recent events in Syria and/or Lebanon and declares, "Whether the reports are true or not, official Israel must show restraint and not be dragged into bombastic declarations that are liable to entangle it." Regarding a possible Syrian response, the author says, "Israel must pay attention that Assad does not try to unify the ranks against the common enemy of all the factions fighting in Syria," and cautions that, "Assad is liable to be tempted and think that it is possible to break the siege on him by action against Israel that would lead to a limited war." The paper urges Israel to be prepared for such an eventuality, especially if Iran tries to push Damascus in that direction.
Israel right to say 'Enough!' to grotesquely biased UNHRC inquiry (Nachman Shai, Haaretz) It is appalling and hypocritical in the extreme that the unrepresentative, undemocratic UN Human Rights Council dares call for sanctions against Israel, even as it routinely and conveniently ignore the grossest human rights violations of many of its member states. 
Yair Lapid as foreign minister - His credibility - his art (Baruch Leshem, Yedioth) Leshem recalls Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid's recent remark that he sees himself as a candidate for prime minister in the next elections and asserts that the ministerial portfolio he opts for now could greatly affect his chances to win the premiership. The author reminds his readers that, "The only politician who was elected Prime Minister from the post as Finance Minister was Levy Eshkol in the 1960's," and points out that, "Netanyahu, who served as Finance minister in Sharon's government, lost to Olmert in the 2006 elections." The paper says that if Lapid is serious about his future intentions, he should opt for the Foreign Ministry, "to which Lapid's qualities are better suited."
On this, Lapid must insist (Haaretz Editorial) If Yair Lapid aspires to influence the country, he must insist on receiving the ministries with the greatest influence over the lives of Israel's citizens: the justice and interior portfolios.
Help the survivors (UK Ambassador Matthew Gould, Israel Hayom) Survivors' community centers are a way to calm their greatest fear: that people will cease to believe that the Holocaust actually happened.
If Ariel Sharon had spoken (Yoel Marcus, Haaretz) The real test for Yair Lapid's Yesh Atid is to prove that he is not a puppet; his 19 seats are a power base if he uses them correctly, particularly at the center of the decision making on issues affecting Israelis' lives.
Learn from Israel (Talal Salman, Lebanese daily As-Safir, translated and published in Yedioth/Ynet) Lebanese journalist says Israel's 'melting pot policy' made it strongest Mideast country.
The man who broke the code (Yossi Sarid, Haaretz) 'Israeliness' needs an authentic representative whose character encompasses all its good traits; it needs the 'beautiful Israeli' - and beautiful he must be. 
Clinton's resignation ­is Netanyahu's missed opportunity (Barak Ravid, Haaretz) The prime minister has lost an important partner in Washington with the departure of Hillary Rodham Clinton, as no U.S. secretary of state has known Israel and the Israelis as well as Clinton.
New status quo needed (Yizhar Hess, Ynet) Hasty agreement between Ben-Gurion, haredim has caused endless tragedy and trouble.
The Iranian charade (Aharon Lapidot, Israel Hayom) Iran's announcement of a domestically manufactured stealth bomber appears to be nothing more than propaganda. 

 

Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.