Front Page News:

Haaretz

• Last dispute: Size of government and Education Ministry portfolio
• The day after tomorrow (Handing out coalition crumbs to Likud) // Yossi Verter
• (Education Minister Gideon Saar) Manager, not an educator (- Let's give Yesh Atid a chance) // Or Kashti
• Government of the million (W. Bank Jews) // Aluf Benn
• How the security cabinet will look // Amos Harel
• Plan in Treasury: Denial of eligibility of welfare allowances for families who don't work
• Only shelter in city for drug and alcohol addicts - closed to HIV carriers
• Two years later, in Fukushima, only cleaners remain
• In Israel like in the world: Women donate organs more than men

Yedioth Ahronoth

• The dismissal - This is what Netanyahu does to someone he does not want anymore (Knesset Speaker Rubi Rivlin)
• Night negotiations in effort to get to (coalition) agreement
• 10 things Yair Lapid does not need to do // Sever Plocker
• Barbara Streisand to perform in Israel
• This is what the teachers think of you - Storm at Kfar Saba high school: Students discovered which of them was a 'liar,' 'anti-social' and who 'had a thing with the boys.'
• Dark secrets - Igal Serena spoke with men receiving treatment against perversions

Maariv

• Outline for 'sharing the burden' agreed upon: Severe sanctions against draft-dodgers (Hebrew)
• 32 governments, 221 ministers, only 13 women
• Glass ceiling // Yael Dayan
• Netanyahu announced he would not support Reuven Rivlin for Speaker of Knesset (Hebrew)
• What do the industrialists and merchants think of new economic ministers Lapid and Bennet?
• Sinai: Jihad activists held test on missile with 45km range
• Holy bicycles - New trend in Mea Shearim: Bicycle trips for extreme groups in ultra-Orthodox neighborhood's alleys (Hebrew)
• Druze in Golan Heights torn between Assad and rebels (Hebrew)

Israel Hayom

• Last minute crisis? ...Negotiations in effort to solve draft and portfolio issues
• For first time since Rabin's murder: Shin Bet security of ministers to be cut, save millions of shekels
• They are returning! Kaveret (band) is back with us)
• Teachers gave nicknames to the students and by accident revealed them in an email

News Summary:
Local politics were the today's top stories with a last-minute coalition-forming crisis, tension in Likud over ministerial portfolios, the likely dismissal of the Speaker of the Knesset, and anger among the ultra-Orthodox.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu thought he would be signing a coalition agreement today, but last night he was holding an urgent meeting with Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid and Habayit Hayehudi leader Naftali Bennett in an effort to iron out three thorny issues: the ultra-Orthodox draft, who will be Education Minister and how many ministers the next government will have. According to some sources in Likud-Beiteinu, Lapid had reneged on the agreement regarding the ultra-Orthodox military draft. But Maariv writes that the draft issue was worked out and it was agreed that ultra-Orthodox youth who dodge the draft would face 'severe sanctions,' including losing monthly allowances and tax credits. The details are very close to the Plasner Committee Proposal for drafting the ultra-Orthodox, which Netanyahu opposed bitterly. Moreover, Maariv writes that it is the ultra-Orthodox pressuring Netanyahu not to let Yesh Atid have the Education Ministry portfolio because they fear that Yesh Atid will cut the budget money given to the yeshivas. (NRG Hebrew)

Israel Hayom writes that Netanyahu plans to convene the Likud faction on Tuesday and assign portfolios to his party members. But Yesh Atid is reportedly not satisfied with 24 ministers and wants to lower the number more now. That is causing even more tension among Likud members who are bickering over the few portfolios they will get to keep. Tensions were high among Likud members ahead of the decision on portfolios on Tuesday. Because of the crisis between the would-be coalition partners, many inside Likud were worried that they would be denied a seat at the cabinet table due to the uncertainties over Likud's share of ministers.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu announced yesterday he would not support Likud MK Rubi Rivlin for a third term as Knesset Speaker. Rivlin is considered an excellent Speaker, but some say that Netanyahu does not want him because he didn't do enough for the party (whatever that means - OH). Israel Hayom that Netanyahu wants Rivlin's position because of the shortage of ministerial positions available. Rivlin's associates say that "the Prime Minister will pay for his disloyalty."
 
The ultra-Orthodox are also angry, particularly at Netanyahu and Bennett. Their politicians did not even show up for the last government cabinet meeting held yesterday. Israel Hayom reports that ultra-Orthodox spiritual leaders are losing sleep over the fact their parties won't be in the coalition. Aryeh Deri blamed Netanyahu in a Facebook status: "...there are plenty of excuses ... but these excuses won't survive the stringent test of history. The sole blame lies and will lie with you. The result is that 2,000,000 people, all of whom are citizens of the second Israel, the Israel of the disadvantaged sectors ... all will remain without representation in the incoming government."
 

Quick Hits:

• Defendant in racism case: Son of a police woman - Indictment for price-tag acts was filed yesterday against Dor Oved. the son of a policewoman and a man working in security services. Oved, from Mevasseret Tsiyon, was caught while vandalizing Palestinian cars. He kicked a policeman and called him a 'Nazi.' Only six months ago, he was sentenced to two months in prison for other price-tag acts and threats against Peace Now activists. (Yedioth, p. 40) (NOTE: Blogger Richard Silverstein identifies his father as a Shin Bet agent.)
• Attacked Arab-Israeli woman: We'll die on this land - Nazareth woman who was spat on by Jewish teens tells Ynet incident not her first encounter with racism. (Ynet)
• Arab youth attacked female students from Yokneam - The Jewish female students were visiting the Arab town of Sakhnin as part of a co-existence exchange program. After the girls got on the bus to return home, stones were thrown at the bus. The principal of the Sakhnin school sent a letter apologizing for the "shameful incident." (Maariv, p. 16, NRG Hebrew)
• Tissue test requirement for Israelis living in Gaza goes back to court - The state is demanding three sisters who want to visit Israel to provide tissue samples, though testing can be inconclusive, says NGO representing them; Israeli judge: Request for genetic testing inappropriate in response to petition. (Haaretz)
• Muslims accuse Jerusalem cop of defiling Quran, threaten his life - Jerusalem Police reinforce entrances to Al-Aqsa mosque Friday fearing that an inflammatory website accusing a policeman of stepping on the Quran could cause riots. (Israel Hayom)
• (Arab) National Service recruiter denounced as 'traitor' - Arab woman who successfully enlisted 360 Arab youths to National Service subjected to harassment, social isolation by community. (Yedioth, p. 38/Ynet)
• Israeli Arabs more afraid than Jews of enemy attack, poll finds - The annual 'National Resilience' survey has been conducted since 2000. Most recently it was conducted in November during Operation Pillar of Defense, polling 2,000 respondents, including 400 Arabs. (Haaretz)
• Maj. Gen. stole Wii consoles from a civilian store and his rank was lowered - The officer was convicted of inappropriate conduct, his rank was lowered and he was given a suspended two-month prison sentence. (NRG Hebrew)
• Netanyahu to cut security details of government ministers - As it stands today, each Israeli government minister receives protection in his or her home, as well as round the clock bodyguard, requiring 12 to 15 bodyguards per minister. (Haaretz and Ynet)
• Yadlin: Senior US officials support Pollard's release - Former Military Intelligence chief Maj. Gen. (res.) Amos Yadlin signs petition to free jailed Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard • Says senior U.S. officials back notion sentence is "disproportionate." Over 125,000 people have signed petition to release Pollard. (Israel Hayom)
• Progressive U.S. pro-Israel group J Street claims Hagel fight as a victory - Conservatives denounce as spin claims made that Hagel's confirmation is a demonstration of the new-found influence of the progressive U.S. pro-Israel group. (Agencies, Haaretz)
• Gallup poll: Americans least favorable toward Iran - Nearly nine in 10 Americans have an unfavorable view of Iran, making it the worst rated country out of 22 asked about • Israel is "above water" -- although it is not at the top of the list, it engenders attitudes from Americans that are much more favorable than unfavorable, the survey found. (Israel Hayom)
• Israeli arrested in Sinai - Egyptian security forces in Taba arrest man who claims he was trying to get to gravesite of Rabbi Yaakov Abuhatzeira, immigrate to Morocco. (Ynet)
• French town fetes Palestinian planner of Israeli minister's assassination - The Bezons municipality grants honorary citizenship to Palestinian Majdi Rimawi, who is imprisoned in Israel for planning the assassination of an Israeli minister; says Rimawi's 'only crime is defending his city and homeland.' (Haaretz and Israel Hayom)
• Jordan's parliament chooses PM for 1st time - Abdullah Ensour, fromer liberal lawmaker known for gov't criticism becomes new PM as legislature rather than king chooses prime minister following reforms. (Agencies, Ynet)
• Report: Americans training Syria rebels in Jordan - Der Spiegel weekly says not clear whether those training Free Syrian Army members in use of anti-tank weaponry are soldiers or people working for private firms. (Agencies, Ynet)
• Jihadist groups test-fire long range rocket in central Sinai - The rocket, with a stated range of 45 kilometers (28 miles) is reportedly IDF ordnance scavenged by Bedouin and then sold to jihadi groups. Explosion leaves a 3 meter (10 feet) deep crater. Egyptian interior minister accuses opposition of hijacking civil protests for their political gain. (Israel Hayom)
• Ahmadinejad's embrace of Chavez's mother irks clerics - Islamic leaders slam decision of Iranian president to hug Elena Frias de Chavez, mother of late Venezuelan president, say hug was 'improper,' indicative of Ahmadinejad's 'deviance.' (Ynet)
• Report: Blast injures several people in south Iran - Explosion reportedly damages several cars, nearby buildings. Cause of blast unknown. (Agencies, Ynet)
• Muslim imams strongly condemn 'terrorism against Jews' - President Shimon Peres meets with 16 Muslim imams during France visit • "Life is more important than the Vatican, Mecca or Jerusalem," says Imam Chalghoumi. President tells imams that when the new Israeli government is sworn in, peace talks may resume. (Israel Hayom)

Features:

When the settler fell in love with Arabic music
A young settler from Paduel settlement, who studies at the Kinor David Yeshiva in Ateret settlement, fell in love with the culture and music of the neighbors on the other side of the fence. Eldad Katz, 18, studied the language within the framework of his preparations to serve in the Intelligence Corps and spent a lengthy period learning to play the oud. With time, he got his friends infected with the Arabic music bug and they formed the 'Tahrir Ensemble.' Katz's father, Rabbi Meir Katz, is the director of the pre-military academy in Paduel. (NRG Hebrew)
Where does the U.S. draw the line on drone strikes?
With the Obama administration's use of drone strikes on the rise again, questions arise as to his policy on using such weapons on American soil. In Israel, no such debate exists. (Haaretz)

Commentary/Analysis:
An Ode to Joy: President Obama has no peace plan! (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz) Most Israelis and Jews were relieved to hear that Obama has no intention of upsetting the status quo. After all, "We've never had it so good", as Golda Meir told Richard Nixon in 1973.
Searching the Mizrahi soul (Oudeh Basharat, Haaretz) Israel's Eastern Jewry deserves an enlightened leadership enhanced with universal humanistic values, not the leadership of Shas.
**Racism widespread in Israel (Smadar Shir, Yedioth/Ynet) Contrary to State's pioneers who saw Arab farmers as their allies, we are sowing racism and reaping hatred.
Israel's secular Zionist shtetl (Yitzhak Laor, Haaretz) Paradoxically, secular Zionism is returning to its Central European roots. It's a shtetl with a huge budget, and a synagogue where empty cliches are espoused.
Who do you think you are? (Gonen Ginat, Israel Hayom) The haredim say the nation will suffer an irreparable tear if they aren't included in the coalition. Excuse me?
Israel going for one million Jews in the West Bank (Aluf Benn, Haaretz) Despite his disappointing results at the ballot box, Netanyahu has successfully leveraged his negotiating position to create a right-wing government that is outwardly aggressive and inwardly nationalistic.
A feeling of utter destruction (Yehuda Shlezinger, Israel Hayom) The ultra-Orthodox are sitting shiva (mourning) now that their hopes of being invited to join the coalition have been dashed.
Yair Lapid's challenge (Haaretz Editorial) The Yesh Atid leader will be taking over the Finance Ministry in Israel's next government at a difficult time.
Israel's Lapid as the old Netanyahu (Lev Grinberg, Haaretz) The Yesh Atid leader has transformed the protest against inequality into an economic and moral blow to Israel's two poorest communities.
Obama, enough listening - it's time to act (Khaled Diab, Haaretz) Inaction on the Palestinian-Israeli front is not an option if Obama wants to avoid escalation and build his legacy. His first step should be to announce publicly that the discredited Oslo process will be abandoned, and to push referenda-led, incremental actions towards peace.
Speak up for Rivlin (Dan Margalit, Israel Hayom) Reuven Rivlin, the last representative of the Likud's liberal nationalist wing, deserves to remain Knesset speaker.
Jews will be even less of a priority for the next Pope (Karma Ben Johanan, Haaretz) Although committed to clearing Catholic doctrine of its anti-Jewish overtones, Pope Benedict XVI was no a radical philo-semite. And with the new Catholic demography, Judaism will no longer be the significant Other of Catholicism, but only one among others.

 

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