Today's Situation

SURPRISES IN STORE, June 04, 2007

The relative lull in violence from and in the Gaza Strip has led to a slew of diplomatic and political headlines in the Israeli press on Monday.

On the day after it was announced that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert would convene his security cabinet on Wednesday to discuss the threat to Israel from Syria, Yedioth Ahronoth leads Monday with a report that Israel plans to seek U.S. approval for launching secret peace talks with Syria. Deputy Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz, who heads out to Washington this week for routine bilateral strategic talks, will raise the idea of new back-door negotiations between Jerusalem and Damascus. According to the newspaper, Mofaz plans to tell Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that Syria's demand for a return of the Golan Heights, and its recent build-up of forces near the territory, warrants asking what it would be willing to give Israel in exchange for a peaceful resolution.

Israeli officials neither confirmed nor denied the report, which comes amid rising fears of an armed confrontation on the Syrian front.

Speaking on Army Radio on Monday, Defense Minister Amir Peretz said, 'The military is prepared for any eventuality on the north, but at the same time, we should not rule out any call for peace by Syria.'

Maariv, meanwhile, leads on a promise by Olmert -apparently to Arab leaders with whom his has spoken recently -that he will surprise them. According to the report, Olmert has said in closed-door discussions that he has accepted the Saudi peace initiative -with the amended clause relating to Palestinian refugees -'something that none on my predecessors have done.'

The paper adds, however, that the real surprise could come from U.S. President George Bush, who may be planning to launch a new diplomatic initiative during his upcoming meeting with Olmert in Washington.

Both Maariv and Haaretz report that Bush may be planning to use the anniversary of June 24th speech, which he used five     years ago to launch the road map, to unveil an upgraded version of the Clinton Plan. Maariv's Ben Kaspit says that sources in Jerusalem are highly concerned that this new initiative -aimed at finalizing a permanent agreement between Israel and the Palestinians -will be detrimental to Israel.

According to Haaretz, Israeli officials are also set to tell the U.S. that the timetable laid out in the benchmark plan, which details actions for Israel and the Palestinian Authority to implement in the coming months. The document calls on Israel to remove many West Bank roadblocks and improve operations at Gaza's border crossings. The Palestinians were asked to halt rocket fire from Gaza and weapons smuggling into the Gaza Strip.

According to the paper, before Olmert leaves for Washington, Israel is expected to give its official response to the plan, which is expected to include a suggestion to extend the schedule for the plan, which was determined by U.S. security coordinator Major General Keith Dayton. The response also maintains that the lifting of roadblocks be subject to Israel's security considerations.

Haaretz's lead story, however, focuses on the possible renewal of ties between Iran and Egypt, which were severed in 1979. According to Zvi Bar'el, Egypt's Foreign Minister, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, is expected to meet with his Iranian counterpart, Manouchehr Mottaki, to discuss opening embassies in Tehran and Cairo.

In other news, Israel Radio carries Israeli reaction to an Amnesty International report, published Monday, to mark the 40th anniversary of the Six-Day War. The report called on Israel to dismantle West Bank settlements and roadblocks, and for Palestinians to end attacks on Israeli civilians. The report also calls on the international community to monitor both sides. According to the radio, Meretz MK Zahava Gal-On announced Monday that she will convene an urgent Knesset session regarding the report.

 'This so-called 'security fence,' which has nothing to do with security, represents the worst side of the occupation,' said Gal-On. 'This is an annexing fence. The hundreds of checkpoints and lack of free movement in the territories have turned Israel, on its 40th year of occupation, into a democracy for Jews only.'

On the political front, Peretz as expected announced Sunday that he was supporting Ami Ayalon in the run-off election for Labor leader next week. Speaking on Army Radio on Monday, Peretz insisted that 'there is no agreement' between himself and Ayalon -only an 'understanding.'

Peretz declared, 'I don't need agreements. I don't believe in political agreements. These are understandings. Within parties, matters must be based on trust and mutual appreciation.' Ayalon's rival, former PM Ehud Barak, accused Peretz and Ayalon of forming an 'unholy alliance.'

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