Olmert & Peres: ‘Israel Will Be Initiating New Moves To Advance Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process’ At Joint News Conference, Israeli Prime Minister Appears to Co-Opt Labor’s Approach To Two-State Solution Egyptian & Jordanian Foreign Ministers: ‘Arab World Is Ready For Peace With Israel In Return For Total Withdrawal To 1967 Lines’
Internal Politics
PERES LASTS LONGER
Israel’s New President Shimon Peres Pledges To Work For Unity Of All Israelis The Ninth State President Was Born In Poland In 1923 & Arrived In Israel At The Age Of Eleven IsraCast: President Peres Will Play A Greater Political Role Than Any Of His Predecessors Possibly Challenging Prime Minister Of The Day
SECOND THOUGHTS ON LEBANON WAR
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Signals Winograd Findings Will Not Force Him To Resign On Anniversary Of Second Lebanon War, Israeli Mood Now Seeks Security Leading To Peace Not Oslo Approach Former Defense Minister Amir Peretz: ‘Second Lebanon War Revealed IDF Was Not Ready For Major Ground War, Now It Is’
OLMERT’S CALCULATED RISKS
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert : ‘I’m Ready To Take Calculated Risk & Lift Some Israeli Checkpoints On the West Bank To Help Shore Up Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ ‘IDF Maneuvers ON Golan Heights Are Routine & Israel Has No Intention Of Attacking Syria’ Opposition Leader Bibi Netanyahu: ‘Talk Of Palestinian State Will Lead To Establishing Iranian State On Israel’s Borders’
BARAK IS BACK BIG-TIME
Ehud Barak: ‘I Pledge To Restore IDF’s Strength & Israel’s Deterrent Capability’ Laborites Voted For Barak Hoping His Experience Will Fill Leadership Vacuum Since Second Lebanon War On Becoming Defense Minister Barak’s First Mission May Be Finding An Answer To Rocketing Of Sderot
NEW BALL GAME IN LABOR
Ehud Barak Gains Momentum For June 12th Runoff in Labor Party Leadership Race Ami Ayalon Will Have To Spring Some Surprises To Overtake Barak Is Outgoing Leader Amir Peretz Now The King-maker Or Will His Supporters Now Go Their Own Way?
GENERAL BARAK OR ADMIRAL AYALON ?
Two Former Military Commanders Running Neck And Neck In Labor Party Leader Election Large Number Of Floating Voters Likely To Decide Whether A Winner Or Runoff Incumbent Leader Amir Peretz: ‘The Polls Are Wrong Again, Don ‘t Count Me Out’
HAMAS IN ISRAELI CROSSHAIRS
Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh: ‘We Make No Distinction Between Political & Military Leaders of Hamas’ ‘When Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh , the Palestinian Prime Minister, Calls For Israel’s Destruction, He Is A Terrorist Dressed In A Suit’ After Israeli Woman Was Killed By Qassam Rocket, Israel To Step Up Targeted Killing & Other Counter-Terror Strikes
HARD CHOICES ON GAZA
Senior IDF Officer: ‘Pinpoint Counter-Terror Strikes May Be More Cost-Effective Than Major Ground Operation Into Gaza’ Palestinians Launch More Qassam Rockets At Sderot Bringing This Week’s Total To Over One Hundred Is Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Hoping For Labor Party To Bail Him Out With New Defense Minister?
LIVNI, ARAB LEAGUE & GAZA
Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni: ‘Arab League Initiative Has Role To Play In Aiding Palestinians & Israel To Make Necessary Compromises’ ‘Palestinian State Must Solve Problem of Palestinian Refugees Like Israel Provided a Home for Jewish Refugees’