Front Page News:

Haaretz

• Weinstein expected to announce today closure of central case against Lieberman
• Border Police force killed Palestinian who assaulted policeman with fake gun in Hebron
• Precedent ruling: Employer must respect desire of employee who does not want to retire
• Police to soften indictments against some social justice activists and drop the others
• Ease in nurses' strike, but no progress in negotiations
• Disconnect between Pelephone management and its striking employees

Yedioth Ahronoth

• Border Policewoman eliminated terrorist
• The big case will be closed, but Lieberman is likely to resign

Maariv

• Right-wing party leader makes coalition demands - Bennet: "Remove Interior Ministry and Housing Ministry from Shas' hands" (Hebrew)
• Attorney General expected to announce closure of central case against Lieberman (Hebrew)
• "I understood I had to shoot" - Border Policewoman shot dead a Palestinian terrorist who tried to attack a soldier near the Cave of the Patriarchs (Hebrew)
• Loyal to the (nurses' strike) goal - Member of exceptions committee tells her father who is close to blindness: I will postpone your surgery because of the strike"
• Against all odds: 12 years ago Ariel Yarad was mortally wounded by a mortar in a Gaza settlement. This week he celebrate his bar-mitzvah
• Morris Samadja, father of Olympic medalist Oren, achieved a rare level in Judo at the age of 80
• History with a click: 2000-year-old version of the Ten Commandments and rare documents were put on the Internet

Israel Hayom

• Today: Decision in Lieberman case
• Likud-Beiteinu - 39, Livni with Peretz: 9
• "I understood there was life-threatening danger - and I shot the terrorist"
• Born 12.12.12 at 12:00
• The craze over the apple: Yesterday at midnight - iPhone 5 made aliyah
• Report: Assad forces shot Scud missiles at the rebels

News Summary:
A Border Policewoman shoots dead a Palestinian with a fake gun as violent incidents in the West Bank continue and the Attorney General is expected to close the main case against Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman making top news in today's Hebrew papers. The European Union is none too pleased about the foreign minister's statements against the EU and Israeli leaders take their side. And Yedioth reports on Israeli ambassadors dealing with a 'wave of anti-Semitism' - which is mainly anti-Israeli.

A border policeman shot dead a Palestinian youth who carried a fake gun. Most of the papers wrote that the soldier was attacked. Yedioth interviewed the Border Policewoman who killed him. She said that a fellow soldier asked him for his ID at the checkpoint and after he handed it over, a quarrel broke out between them. Then the youth pointed the gun at the soldier. She saw that and instantly shot him with three bullets 'till he was neutralized.' However, she told Israel Hayom that she saw him jump at her colleague while holding a gun. So she left the room she was in and took a few seconds to aim so as not to harm the other soldier. All the papers referred to 16-year-old Mohammed Ziad Salima as 'the youth,' except Yedioth which referred to him as 'the terrorist.' Yedioth reported it was his 17th birthday yesterday. His father was injured and hospitalized in clashes that took place afterwards. His brother was arrested from their home. Clashes broke out after his death, but only Maariv interviewed Palestinians in Hebron for their reaction. They were angry, saying the IDF killed a boy, not a terrorist. Some said the IDF soldiers were trigger-happy. One said, "This is a boy who had hearing problems. He held a toy in hand and didn't hear the soldiers yelling at him to move away." Yedioth reported from a Maan report that a Palestinian doctor living adjacent said initially he was prevented from attending the boy and only when riots and stone-throwing began did he succeed in getting to the body. Israel said the body was taken to hospital, but Palestinian medics said they were not allowed to take the body to hospital by late last night.


The papers discussed all say there has been a 'rise in Palestinian violence' (i.e. stone-throwing and Molotov cocktails) in the last month and they discuss whether this was leading to the start of a Third Intifada. Yedioth's article was titled: The fear: Third Intifada. The articles point to the incident yesterday in Hebron, the two incidents in the last week where Israeli soldiers were filmed fleeing (Hebron and Qaddum), and to a demonstration in Naalin on Wednesday in which residents threw stones and Molotov cocktails on an IDF jeep, which momentarily catches fire. (Only Ynet notes that several hours before the Naalin incident settlers were caught after setting fire to a car in the nearby village of Shakba.) The youth was the third Palestinian killed by the IDF in the past month. All three were killed in Hebron. Maariv writes the killing of the youth "was the climax of the wave of violence that began exactly a month ago with the elimination of the Hamas Chief of Staff, Ahmed Jabari, and the opening of Operation Pillar of Choice, writes Maariv. Ynet and Maariv report that the defense establishment believes that the understanding that the UN statehood status upgrade made no difference to their daily lives is the cause for the surge in violence." (NRG Hebrew) Haaretz writes that the wave started before Operation Pillar of Cloud in Gaza, but reached a peak during the operation and that even since the end of the Gaza fighting there have been daily occurrences of stone throwing and Molotov cocktails on main roads. Moreover, writes Haaretz, soldiers in the West Bank believe the Palestinians are being more daring in the level of disturbances and demonstrations. But senior IDF officers told Haaretz the Central Command does not feel there has been a strategic change.

The European Union expressed 'dismay' with Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman's comparison of EU's policy toward Israel and the behavior of Europe during the Holocaust, calling it inappropriate and offensive to Europeans, Haaretz reported. That did not stop Lieberman from making another offensive statement yesterday, Yedioth reported. "I feel that all the commitments to Israel's security is empty of content and when the moment of truth arrives many of the leaders of the world will be willing to sacrifice Israel without blinking in order to appease the radical Islam and to assure themselves quiet," he said in a speech at a conference of 'The Jerusalem Post Diplomatic Club.' He even compared the situation to the promises given to Czechoslovakia in 1938, saying: "Europe would abandon Israel just like Czechoslovakia, which was abandoned to the Nazis." The three Israeli party leaders Lieberman attacked two days ago criticized his comments against the EU. Meretz party chair woman Zahava Gal-On wrote EU's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton called Lieberman's attack on the EU politically motivated, Haaretz reported. Labor party chairwoman Shelly Yachimovich 'made an unprecedented attack against the Foreign Minister,' wrote Maariv. She said Lieberman was a corrupt and dangerous man and she called his statement that "the EU sees our destruction as a given" a "cheapening of the Holocaust" adding that "his bellicose words take over the agenda." (NRG Hebrew) Tzipi Livni also called his remarks, "cheapening of the Holocaust," Yedioth reported.
 
Meanwhile, 'Israeli ambassadors in Europe are dealing with a wave of anti-Semitism,' writes Yedioth, but only writes about two ambassadors. The article says that "Following a string of anti-Semitic incidents, the ambassador in Denmark recommended Israelis hide signs of their Judaism and not talk in Hebrew loudly." In Spain, there was a call for a boycott on Israeli-made toys. [It appears that Yedioth has confused anti-Israeli with anti-Semitic - OH.] The paper writes that there were 'attacks on Israeli embassies during Operation Pillar of Cloud,' but refers only to an attack on the embassy in Copenhagen. The article then reports that 'anti-Israeli activists" have been going to Imaginarium toy stores in Spain and putting "Children murderers" stickers on toys imported from Israel. Israel has asked its supporters in Spain to buy those toys from Imaginarium for Christmas. The embassy will ask the Spanish Foreign Ministry to prevent the organizations behind the boycott from getting governmental aid.
 

Quick Hits:

• Polish minister refuses to meet Israeli envoy over West Bank controversy - After Israel's Civil Administration destroyed Palestinian cisterns repaired by a Polish group, criticism of Israel increases in Polish media. (Haaretz)
• King Abdullah: Israelis, Palestinians to meet in Jordan - Al-Hayat newspaper reports Jordan's King Abdullah II endorses resumption of peace process under US' auspices; slams Egypt's Morsi for marginalizing Amman. (Ynet)
• **High Court raps Housing Ministry over private security for Jewish homes in East Jerusalem - Palestinians residing near Jewish enclaves E. Jerusalem petitioned the High Court against some 350 private security guards hired by Israel for more than 20 years. The petitioners said guards violated basic rights of Palestinians living nearby and "endangering life and limb." They argued that the guards, who are armed, act as a private police force, patrolling and standing watch, and that they lack both proper supervision and authority. (Haaretz)
• IDF seeks to clarify rules of engagement - Military aims to meet soldiers' demand for clear guidelines for engaging rioters in West Bank, following troops' complaints that their 'hands are tied.' (Ynet)
• Soldier, who is resident of [extremist settlement] Yitzhar: I won't follow rules of engagement - Yochai Maayan, who went AWOL from draft service a month ago, uploaded a video to Youtube in which he declares if he is assaulted by a crowd of Palestinians he will open fire. (NRG Hebrew VIDEO)
• Israel green agency backs Palestinian farmers on West Bank wall - A letter of support from the Nature and Parks Authority was part of a petition heard by the High Court to order the ministry to reroute the planned barrier away from Battir village, south of Jerusalem. (Agencies, Haaretz)
• 2 men sentenced to hard labor for selling land to Israel - A Palestinian court sentenced two men from Bethlehem to 10 years hard labor for selling land near the settlement of Beitar Illit to Israeli settlers. (Maan)
• 'Non-Orthodox Diaspora Jews do not feel wanted in Israel' - Following a trip to the U.S., Rabbi Yuval Cherlow, one of Israel's most prominent Zionist Orthodox rabbis: Many non-Orthodox Diaspora Jews do not want to identify with Israel "because of the occupation, the racism, the control of another people by force." He suggests a re-examination of the line between Halachic rulings and state policies. (Israel Hayom)
• Supreme Court to deliberate Olmert corruption case in July - Court to review Olmert's nearly complete acquittal and light sentence in corruption cases. Ruling might force Olmert to stay away from politics for at least seven years. (Israel Hayom)
• Jew denied access to Temple Mount wins damages - Court orders police to pay archeologist Yitzhak Zweig damages after he was denied access to Jerusalem plaza for five months. (Ynet)
• Professionals downplay Israel's ranking in int'l math tests - Israeli education professionals say dramatic bump in achievements of Israeli school kids in international tests may stem form exclusion of ultra-Orthodox, special education pupils. (Ynet)
• German expert turns down Israeli post in protest at decision to bar leftist professor from symposium - Professor Susanne Enderwitz also notes that she is uncomfortable about Israeli's decision to build 3,000 new housing units and expand settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. (Haaretz)
• Israeli NGOs petition High Court to close Tnuva slaughterhouse after TV expose - Expose showed alleged acts that would constitute violations of the Cruelty to Animals Law, of slaughtering regulations and of international slaughterhouse standards. (Haaretz)
• Australia's new beef with Israel - A senior veterinarian calls treatment of the cattle at Tnuva's slaughterhouse a severe case of animal cruelty and a violation of standards to which Israel had vowed to comply. (Israel Hayom)
• Armed with glasses - Studies found IDF soldiers suffer 20x more eye injuries than soldiers in other Western armies. IDF decided to buy them protective glasses like those of US army. (Yedioth, p. 17)
• The 'Tavor' conquers the IDF - Young reserve soldiers called to serve in Operation Pillar of Cloud received the long-used M-16s, which they weren't familiar with. Now all the reserve forces will be trained to use the advanced 'Tavor' assault rifle. (Maariv, p. 10)
• Fatah: Israeli soldiers occupy home near Nablus - Israeli soldiers took over the home of Ismail Khamis al-Fakhouri in Huwwara village on Sunday. [The village is on road 60 that leads to Nablus and to the settlements of Itamar and Elon Moreh and to an Israeli army base. -OH] (Maan)
• Gaza's tunnels rebound from Israeli offensive - Palestinians work around the clock to rebuild network of underground smuggling tunnels severely hit during Operation Pillar of Defense. (Agencies, Ynet)
• Today: Green flags return to Judea and Samaria, Hamas holds 'victory' rally in Shchem - For the first time since it took over Gaza in 2006 [sic - 2007 - OH], Hamas will hold an open mass rally in Shchem/Nablus. Hamas turned to the spokesman of the Palestinian security forces requesting to hold the event for its 25th anniversary. Palestinian forces to secure the event. (Maariv, p. 3)
• Watch: Gaza kids simulate rocket launch - Video posted online shows group of Palestinian kids 'firing' mortar shell while following all stages of protocol. (Ynet)
• Report: Jordan urges tourists not to perform Jewish rites - The ministry urged tourism agencies to notify their Israeli counterparts that Israeli visitors should not perform Jewish rites or wear religious clothing, following complaints by citizens and restaurant owners. (Maan)
• Sport in the Arab world / Syrian youth rise from the ruins - As Syria succeeds in judo, Palestinian motorcycle racer wins recognition for his nation.  (Haaretz)
• Former prisoner returns to Iraq after 35 years - Ali al-Bayati joined the Palestinian resistance in the 1970s and was arrested in 1979. He returned to Iraq this week for a conference to support Palestinian prisoners and met his sister for the first time in 35 years, after finally being granted Iraqi citizenship. (Maan)
• Report: Assad firing Scuds at rebel forces - US official says intelligence reports suggest Syrian president's forces are using short-range, surface-to-surface missiles against insurgents. (Ynet)

Election Quickees:

• Election committee bans far-right party's campaign ad for being racist - Head of Israel's Central Election Committee says ad campaign for the (far) right-wing 'Power to Israel' party (led by Aryeh Eldad and Michael Ben-Ari) is 'meant to degrade a single group in the State of Israel - The Arab population.' Meretz welcomed the unusual decision by Judge Eliyakim Rubinstein. (Haaretz and Yedioth, p. 6)
• Bennet: Take the Housing Ministry from the ultra-Orthodox - (Far-right-wing Habayit Hayehudi party chairman) Naftali Bennet is preparing for the day after elections. He blames the PM for the housing problems and promises a right-wing defense minister and explains that the Interior and Housing ministries must be in his party's hands. (NRG Hebrew)
• "10 shekels for every voter" - Camera filmed deal in which a candidate of Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu party, Leon Litansky, tells people they'll get paid for every person they bring to vote for the party. The Elections Committee is investigating. (Yedioth, p. 6)

Commentary/Analysis:

In praise of disengaging (Haaretz Editorial) Wise commanders who must choose between shooting at civilians or retreating know there is no point in pursuing the mission. 
The IDF's legacy of flight (Israel Harel, Haaretz) It is the 'commander's spirit,' circa 2012 that has terrorists fire thousands of rockets at Israel, and is what will lead us to the next intifada.
Our withdrawing boys - Wars and cameras (Yonatan Yavin, Yedioth) The pictures of our brave soldiers escaping an angry mob was, indeed, unpleasant to see...But as it appears, the alternative to the embarrassing withdrawal was to open fire hysterically without any control into the mass of people, an act which would have brought us nothing less than Joseph's Tomb 2, maybe Intifada 3. The withdrawal of the soldiers, if you didn't "Like" it on YouTube, was a good decision in light of the circumstances on the ground and the situation in general. Maybe it wasn't the best decision, but it wasn't the worst. The worst was to put them in that situation from the beginning without proper back up...
An IDF soldier's honorable retreat (Gideon Levy, Haaretz) Palestinian cameras documented IDF soldiers fleeing for their lives in Hebron and Kadum, the Israeli machismo, wounded and shamed, but a healthy society should actually have been proud. 
IDF restraint policy backfires (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) Young Palestinians drawing inspiration from videos showing IDF soldiers running away from rioters. 
The Palestinian Authority is losing control (Amir Rappaport, Maariv) The way that Operation Pillar of Cloud ended strengthened Hamas and weakened Fatah, and led to pressure from the street on the Palestinian security forces to be more like Hamas. 
In Lieberman case, rule of law failed (Ari Shavit, Haaretz) Yehuda Weinstein decided to close the Avigdor Lieberman case with a heavy heart - he has no illusions about the foreign minister's affairs.
The bloc is blocked (Yael Paz-Melamed, Maariv) Those challenging the government must turn to their ideological base and make courageous criticisms of the right-wing. Enough of the groveling attempts to win over the center....
Time to sanctify people, not land (Khaled Diab, Haaretz) Two challenging years residing in Jerusalem has taught me that everything is political and politics is everywhere. But resolving the conflict requires us to push back from the over-politicization of both Israelis and Palestinians - to cherish the human nuances that are in danger of being lost. 
He deserves it (Ben-Dror Yemini, Maariv) Prof. Dan Avnon tried to incite against the Jewish state and was boycotted because he's Israeli. Suddenly he understood there is no personal exceptions for a groveling academic....(Note: See yesterday's News Nosh Quick Hits for story on boycott.)
Morning-after sickness (Niva Lanir, Haaretz) It is not only the split that is causing trouble for the center-left but also, and perhaps even more so, the lack of leadership in that bloc or the leadership which appeared too late.
Shavit's Afrikaners (Dror Eydar, Israel Hayom) Fatah and Hamas don't need their own writers, they have Haaretz.
An evening of affluence and influence with the Jewish wizards of Wall Street (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz) A UJA dinner in New York with the titans of American finance is either an inspiring evening of selfless philanthropy or an updated Protocols of the Elders of Zion, depending on your point of view.

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