Today's Situation

GETTING CLEARER, September 12, 2007

Almost a week after the alleged incident in the skies of northern Syria, more and more details are starting to emerge about what actually happened.

On the eve of the Jewish New Year, all three of Israeli main Hebrew dailies lead their Wednesday editions with differing configurations of the various reports from foreign news sources regarding the incident.

Haaretz, for example, leads with a report from CNN, which claimed that the alleged Israeli attack targeted a delivery of arms intended for Hizbollah. According to the report, which was, of course, neither confirmed nor denied by Israeli sources, Israeli aircraft and perhaps even ground forces, which directed the planes to their target, took part in the operation.

CNN quoted American sources as saying that the air strike had targeted a weapons shipment from Syria to Hizbollah or from Iran to Hizbollah, passing through Syria.

Yedioth Ahronoth, meanwhile, says in its lead headline that North Korea described the alleged incident as "dangerous provocation."

This ties in with a report in the New York Times on Wednesday, which is widely cited by all of the newspapers' Internet sites on Wednesday, that Israel believes North Korea has been supplying Syria and Iran with nuclear materials. According to the report, a Washington defense official told the New York Times, 'the Israelis think North Korea is selling to Iran and Syria what little they have left.'

The official added that recent Israeli reconnaissance flights over Syria revealed possible nuclear installations that Israeli officials believe might have been supplied with material from North Korea.

Maariv, meanwhile, claims in its lead headline that 'the details are beginning to emerge,' but adds that Syria has denied the CNN report.

Elsewhere, Israel - as expected - opted not to respond to yesterday's Qassam attack on an army base close to Gaza in which several dozen new recruits were injured, at least one of them critically. Speaking on Tuesday, after a meeting with army leaders and political colleagues, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni insisted that Israel's response would focus on 'non-military measures,' such as the proposal discussed yesterday to cut off electricity and water supplies to Gaza every time there is an attack.

According to The Jerusalem Post, Olmert continues to oppose any wider operation in the Gaza Strip, since, he believes, this would play into Hamas' hands.

The attacks, meanwhile, continued unabated on Wednesday, with Israel Radio reporting that six rockets landed in the western Negev, without causing any damage or injuries.

On the diplomatic front, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters Tuesday that the participation of Saudi Arabia in the planned Middle East conference in the United States still is up in the air. "We're in touch with the Saudis, as well as others in the region, who have an interest in moving forward a peace between the Israelis and Palestinians," he told reporters. McCormack also denied a report in Haaretz which claimed that the conference will be held in Washington in November. 'We haven't issued invitations yet,' he said. 'I can't tell you where or when at this point.'

In the same report, Haaretz claims that the conference - wherever it is held - will provide a forum for joint and separate statements from participants, but will not afford them an opportunity to negotiate.

Finally, Army Radio reports that the IDF has imposed a complete closure on the West Bank and Gaza Strip for the duration of the Jewish New Year holiday weekend. It went into affect overnight Wednesday. Police also raised the level of alert. Israel Radio adds that the defense establishment has dozens of warnings of possible terrorist attacks, most of them general in nature. Thousands of police and volunteers will be deployed throughout the country over the holiday period - at recreational sites, near synagogues and other public places.

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