Front Page News:

Haaretz

• Olmert: Netanyahu wasted billions of shekels on delusions
• Habayit Hayehudi illegally calling for support from state-funded yeshivas and pre-military academies
• Rabbi (Ovadia) Yosef had mild stroke, Shas to focus on his health in its election broadcasts
• US Secretary of Treasury: Failed Wall St. manager who opposes regulation
• France makes air campaign against Islamist rebels in Mali
• Americans with Jewish roots: We were humiliated in an El Al check and our belongings were not returned
• 'Homeland' and 'Lincoln' at head of bets for the Golden Globes ceremony

Yedioth Ahronoth

• After elections: Diplomatic attack - European Union preparing an ambush for Israel: Plan to renew negotiations with the Palestinians, that will be presented immediately after the establishment of a government and the swearing-in of Obama
• Rabbi Ovadia (Yosef) suffered mild strike
• 9 days to Elections 2013 - Poll: How many mandates are the undecided voters worth? Which party is most popular among new immigrants? Where did the votes of Kadima voters go? Who is the surprise star among the young?
• The snow and the traffic jams to the Mt. Hermon ski site
• Summit of fear - From a band of young Tel-Avivis to the top of the horror film industry in the US
• Poker face - Wave of rumors about mysterious press conference Mark Zuckerberg planned

Maariv

• After midnight: Preparations for evacuating outpost in E-1 - After the High Court made an injunction against the eviction of the tents erected by Palestinians and left-wing activists, the Attorney General said: The move is necessary for security reasons (Hebrew)
• Legal circus // Amnon Lord
• Nine days to elections: Prime Minister can sleep quietly // Shalom Yerushalmi
• Teaching crisis: Who is teaching math to the children of Israel? Only 1/3 of elementary school teachers have been trained to do so (Hebrew)
• The ruling in the biggest environmental case of the country - The claim against Ramat Hovev was rejected: 67 plaintiffs to pay 150,000 shekels each (Hebrew)
• Revolution in IDF: Those with ADD can serve in combat units (Hebrew)
• Night prayer for the health of Rabbi Ovadia (Yosef) (Hebrew)

Israel Hayom

• "Olmert's statements - irresponsible and lawless" - Anger at Olmert, who said 11 billion shekels wasted on preparing for an attack on Iran
• State: Security need to evict Palestinians from E-1
• Rabbi Ovadia Yosef suffered very mild stroke
• Traffic jams and fun (to Mt. Hermon)
• The experts did not believe it either: IBM's mega computer learned slang and did not stop cursing
• Following new rules by Instagram - Number of people uploading photos halved
• President of France opened military campaign against Al-Qaeda in Mali
• The big winner at the ceremony for the Israeli TV prizes: The series "Arab Labor"

News Summary:
Israel moves to evict Palestinians from E-1 tent outpost, former prime minister Ehud Olmert slams Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for wasting 11 billion shekels (almost $3 billion) on a plan to attack Iran and the spiritual leader of Shas, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, suffers a mild stroke making top stories in today's Hebrew papers. Meanwhile, Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Ya'alon says the Palestinian President is the same as Hamas and the Israeli centrist parties try to get out the indifferent voters.

On Friday, the Palestinians erected a tent city on privately owned Palestinian land in E-1, the ultra-sensitive piece of land between E. Jerusalem and Maaleh Adumim. Their goal was to protest settlement construction. But on Saturday, the Israeli police blocked off the area and then evicted the Palestinians and left-wing activists in the middle of the night. This was despite the temporary injunction issued by the High Court meant to prevent the State from ejecting the Palestinian activists and giving the Palestinians five days before a court hearing. The Attorney General claimed that the Palestinians' presence was a security risk. He did not say to whom or what. The Palestinians had set up some 30 tents including a medical tent with doctors and nurses, a library tent and a media tent.

In an interview on Israel's Channel 2, former prime minister Ehud Olmert slammed Netanyahu for spending 11 billion shekels on 'delusions' - that is a plan to attack Iran. Olmert also backed ex-Shin Bet chief Yuval Diskin for criticizing Netanyahu's conduct. Olmert said he believes these operations against Iran "will never be carried out, because 2012 was the decisive year. Throughout last year they scared the entire world, but in the end nothing was done." Olmert added that cuts can and must be made to Israel's defense budget but that no one dares to address the issue in an election period, Haaretz reported. Olmert also reiterated his support for Kadima Chairman Shaul Mofaz and said that "Mofaz was elected to head Kadima since the party had been shattered," referring to the period under Tzipi Livni's leadership.
 
"There is no need at the moment for a Palestinian state next to the State of Israel," Minister of Strategic Affairs Moshe Yaalon said at a get-together for residents of the Darom Sharon Regional Council, Israel Hayom reported. "There is an entity in Gaza, which I don't care if it calls itself the United Islamic Republic, and the Palestinian Authority can call itself the Palestinian Empire." Yaalon accused Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of refusing to come to the negotiating table. "There are those who market Abu Mazen as a moderate leader, but his goals are the same as the goals of Hamas," Maariv quoted Yaalon as saying. (NRG Hebrew) The Palestinian Authority was furious with Yaalon's statements. "These are serious threats against Abu Mazen, which are equivalent to the threats the government of Israel made against Yasser Arafat," said chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, who also said Israel's statements sound like a "broken record."
The Palestinians were not alone. Labor and Hatnuah parties also slammed Yaalon's statements. "It is vital for Israel's security to achieve a diplomatic solution and it's possible," said Hatnuah.

The 'center-left' is making a last ditch effort to raise its voter rates. Labor, Hatnua and Yesh Atid have opened campaigns to get the indifferent voters out to the polling stations, Maariv reported. (NRG Hebrew)  [It's not clear which is the 'left' party here as Labor Chairwoman Shelly Yachimovich has already said the Labor party is not left-wing. - OH] The goal is to try to match the high rate of voters among the settler and ultra-Orthodox communities, who are far right-wing. There are some 21 Knesset seats available still from voters who are indifferent or undecided, a Yedioth poll found.

 

Quick Hits:

• Palestinian killed by IDF gunfire near Hebron - Troops shoot Palestinian who attempts to breach security fence near Meitar Crossing; youth was on his way to Israel for work, Palestinian sources say. (Ynet)
• Hamas: IDF soldiers kill Palestinian along Gaza border - IDF spokesman says soldiers opened fire after dozens of Palestinians approached the border fence in northern Gaza; victim identified as 21-year-old Anwar Al-Mamlouk, who was reportedly studying for an exam. (Haaretz and Ynet)
• Snow game turned into nationalist attack - Two ultra-Orthodox claim they were attacked by Arabs who called out 'Itbah al-Yahud' (kill the Jews), beat and kicked them, threw their yarmulkehs on the ground and stepped on them. (Maariv, p. 3/NRG Hebrew Video)
• Report: (Arab) Israeli nabbed in Egypt asks for 'political asylum' - Cairo paper says Israeli-Arab detained after infiltrating Taba crossing; man says he's 'persecuted by Israeli government.' He previously spent six months in Lebanese jail. (Ynet)
• After Knesset election, austerity budget looms - Analysts say Knesset will have to cut 14-15 billion shekels in spending in next budget. Standard & Poor's: Israel's A credit rating and stable outlook are safe. Israeli economy grew estimated 3.3% in 2012; is expected to grow by around 3% in 2013. (Israel Hayom)
• Deficit for 2012 balloons to twice as large as initially forecast - Lower tax revenue than expected and higher expenses at root of 39 billion shekel deficit • Defense Ministry spent 3.4 percent more than previous year. Government issues bonds, sells lands to finance deficit. (Israel Hayom)
• Report: Hamas test fires improved long-range missiles - Palestinian media sources say Hamas' military wing recently conducted test launch of two rockets with range of dozens of kilometers. Rockets made in Gaza with Iranian know-how. (Israel Hayom)
• With eye on terror attacks, IDF closes Negev's Route 10 - The IDF Southern Command says that even after construction of the new border fence with Egypt, terrorists and smugglers can still enter Israel from the Sinai, and threats remain. (Haaretz)
• Cypriot president visits Lebanon to discuss natural gas - Lebanon intends to publish a tender to search for gas in the country's economic waters, similar to a tender published by Cyprus several months ago. (Agencies, Haaretz)
• Egyptian court accepts Mubarak appeal, orders retrial - Ousted president, former interior minister to be retried over killings of protesters in 2011 uprising. (Agencies, Ynet)
• Russia rejects Assad exit as precondition for Syria deal - U.S. insists the Syrian president must step down in order to end the civil war. Russia is Assad's main backer during 22-month-old crisis, blocking resolutions aimed to push him from power. (Agencies, Haaretz)
• U.S. objects to planned release of Lebanese terrorist who killed U.S., Israeli diplomats - French appeals court grants release to George Ibrahim Abdallah, imprisoned for his role in the 1982 murders of the U.S. military attaché in Paris an sraeli diplomat, and the attempted murder of the U.S. Consul General in Strasbourg in 1984. (Agencies, Haaretz)
• Spain seizes valves bound for Iran - Interior Ministry says police intercepted truck loaded with materials destined for use in Islamic Republic's nuclear program; two employees of company with commercial links to Iranian firms arrested. (Agencies, Ynet)

Election Quickees:

• Habayit Hayehudi issues illegal call for support from state-funded yeshivas - Party effort to enlist religious organizations to make calls and man computer stations is considered a political donation, which corporations and NPOs are prohibited by law from making. (Haaretz)
• "Feiglins calls for disobeying orders are in opposition to those of the Prime Minister" - Likud candidate for Knesset, Moshe Feiglin, told Channel 2 on Friday that in regards to orders to evacuate settlements "there are laws that it is obligatory to refuse." Likud-Beiteinu was quick to distance itself from Feiglin's words.(Israel Hayom, p. 7)
• Labor chair Yacimovich to answer Haaretz readers' questions in real time - As part of a series of virtual meetings with senior Israeli politicians in the run-up to the January 22 election, Shelly Yacimovich and Balad MK Hanin Zuabi will be answering Haaretz readers' questions on Sunday. (Haaretz)
• Yachimovich: Polls show Likud losing votes - Nearing elections see parties' leaders courting votes. Labor chair urges Left, Center to rally behind her; Kadima's Mofaz says parties should aspire to form unity government. (Ynet)

Features:
U.S. couple with Jewish roots didn't expect El Al's inquisition
While flying to Israel recently, Rebecca and Rafiq were treated with intrusive suspicion and lost a computer and iPad. (Haaretz)
Jews and Muslims brave weight-loss challenge together
Slim Peace Groups, a non-profit organization established in Israel five years ago, has a dual goal: to promote healthy eating and living habits, and at the same time bring together women from different religious background who would otherwise never have met. (Haaretz)
Lod, Lod, glorious Lod. There's nothing quite like it
A new documentary puts the neglected city in the spotlight, focusing on two extended Arab families. The Jewish-Israeli director shares experiences from the field. (Haaretz)

Commentary/Analysis:

Netanyahu, Barak spent NIS 11 bil. on preparations for Iran strike that never happened (Aluf Benn, Haaretz) The issue raised by Ehud Olmert should be at the forefront of this election campaign: Can and should Israel bear the enormous defense budget that has grown to unprecedented levels during Netanyahu's term?
Israel must not interfere in U.S. domestic decisions (Haaretz Editorial) Israel must not be drawn into this entanglement. It must not be seen as wanting Obama to fail, or as instigating an American-Iranian war.
White House changed the rules (Eitan Haber, Yedioth/Ynet) By picking Hagel, President Obama telling Israel he will not allow it to launch solo attack on Iran. 
Chutzpah for the course (Gideon Levy, Haaretz) The two films nominated for Oscars were made despite Israel, not because of Israel.
Hand that rocks the intifada (Zakaria Sada, Ynet) West Bank resident says Palestinians can no longer ignore attacks by extremist settlers.
Don't wag the dog (Amir Oren, Haaretz) For two generations Americans have been daring to ask themselves - recently more vociferously - whether Israel is an asset or a liability.
Israel: wary, not bullheaded (David M. Weinberg, Israel Hayom) Israelis are wary of Palestinian statehood (for good reason), but they are not bullheaded or callously defiant. They are hawkish and realistic, not wildly "annexationist."
Authority, subordination and responsibility (Reuven Pedatzur, Haaretz) The framework defining the relations between the commander of the army and the government, prime minister and defense minister, is unclear and subject to interpretation.
Let the games begin: Talks of joining Netanyahu-led coalition begin even as center-left tries to coordinate positions (Yossi Verter, Haaretz) The foreplay of coalition talks began this week, as the trio of center-left party leaders met to supposedly form a united bloc. Meanwhile, it's interesting to ponder how many votes for registered Likudniks Benjamin Netanyahu will lose to Habayit Hayehudi.
Israeli extremists' victory (Randa Haider, Yedioth/Ynet and Al-Nahar) Arab journalist says rightist victory in elections will exact heavy price from Israelis, Palestinians.
After a global tour, pinkwashing comes home (Aeyal Gross, Haaretz) While LGBT rights have entered the Israeli mainstream, local LGBT activists should be wary of associating themselves with politicians who support the oppression of other groups.
It's all about image (Mati Tuchfeld, Israel Hayom) Livni said she wanted to bring the Center-Left together, but in the process she divided the camp more, sparking Shelly Yachimovich's and Yair Lapid's ire. Likud-Beytenu are trying to hold on to Russian-speaking voters and young voters.
Election time in Israel: Yearning for Ariel Sharon (Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie, Haaretz) If Israel fails to decide about the big issues during this election period, issues that Ariel Sharon had to the courage to face, then this small and vulnerable country, caught in the crossfire of history, will be overwhelmed by historical processes that will not wait.
Mideast conflict's wallet (Eldad Beck, Yedioth/Ynet) European governments funding Palestinian annihilation campaign against State of Israel.
Let the games begin: Talks of joining Netanyahu-led coalition begin even as center-left tries to coordinate positions (Yossi Verter, Haaretz) The foreplay of coalition talks began this week, as the trio of center-left party leaders met to supposedly form a united bloc. Meanwhile, it's interesting to ponder how many votes for registered Likudniks Benjamin Netanyahu will lose to Habayit Hayehudi.
In defense of NGOs' right to meddle (Elie Friedman, Haaretz) NGO Monitor's Gerald Steinberg accuses the EU of meddling in Israel's internal affairs. But these EU-funded NGOs are simply sticking to the goal of a negotiated settlement that Netanyahu himself declared in his Bar Ilan speech, but which for him just remained words, not deeds.  
Wanted: Anchor (Amnon Lord, Maariv/NRG Hebrew) Lord warns against the trend in which many voters who support Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may be inclined to vote for the Habayit Hayehudi, and not Likud, on the two-fold assumption that it will be Benjamin Netanyahu who will certainly form the next government and that he needs a strong anchor on the right, i.e Habayit Hayehudi. "Strengthening the right that is to the right of the Likud will not strengthen the State of Israel; it will only fragment the public support that Benjamin Netanyahu will need...Another myth views a purely right-wing government as a source of national strength. But the weaker the Likud is - for example, from 35 seats to 30 seats or less - the greater its dependence on the right-wing blocking majority," some members of which may be too extreme for comfort. Lord suggests that, "National responsibility requires a government the composition of which is based on a large Likud, with at least 40 seats, to the right of which is the Jewish Home and to the left of which is a centrist party - preferably Yair Lapid or Labor." Lord warns that a solely right-wing government with a relatively smaller Likud will be, "weak and unstable," and predicts, "A government with a factional composition such as the extreme right-wing would like to see will break up within two years, and its lack of stability will both harm deterrence and invite attack. It will also cause many voters to reach the necessary conclusion - The Right is neither capable of governing nor knows how to do so."
 

Interviews: 

**Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi talk Jerusalem, recipes and passports
The best-selling authors and leading London chefs have brought Jerusalem's cuisine to the world, but are left with a bitter aftertaste about Israel. (Haaretz)
'It's all about experience'
Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Ya'alon cannot envision a scenario in which Benjamin Netanyahu doesn't put together the next coalition. He is sharply critical of rivals' claims that they are ready to immediately inherit the mantle. Will Ya'alon have a difficult time sleeping at night knowing that Shelly Yachimovich is prime minister? "Yes, and so will she." (Israel Hayom)

 

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