Today's Situation

TALKING, NOT TALKING, September 21, 2007

On the eve of Yom Kippur, Israel Radio reports that more than 2,000 police officers were deployed throughout Jerusalem Friday to secure Jewish prayers at the Western Wall and Moslem prayers on the Temple Mount.

The main Israeli dailies are split over what the most important story of the day is: while Maariv believes that an interview with Defense Minister Ehud Barak deserves top billing on its front page, Yedioth Ahronoth leads with a comment from Chief of Staff Gab Ashkenazi, who said that the army is on highest alert on the border with Syria, to ensure that there are no surprises during Yom Kippur.

In its lead headline, Haaretz reports on a difference of opinion between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Ehud Barak, over the ability of the Palestinian Authority to deliver on a peace deal with Israel. According to the report, Olmert believes that Abbas is a viable partner for peace talks, while his defense minister says that the Palestinian leader is unable to deliver an agreement.

The paper also reports that Olmert told members of his Kadima party that he will free more Palestinian prisoners as part of gestures toward Abbas. Olmert said he would present the cabinet on Sunday with a proposal to release prisoners who do not have blood on their hands. The prime minister did not state how many would be freed.

Israel Radio reports on a story in published Friday in the London-based Arabic language newspaper al-Sharq al-Awsat, in which it is claimed that Israeli officials have reached out to Hamas with a proposal to conduct direct talks. According to the report, Norwegian officials would act as mediators at the talks aimed at reaching a truce between the two parties. Israeli officials, however, told the radio that the government has rejected request by Hamas to renew talks. The request by Hamas comes after several days of IDF counter-terrorism operations in Gaza, the radio stated.

On the last day of her visit to the region, meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told reporters that she rejects setting a timetable for steps towards the establishment of a Palestinian state. Abbas has been demanding that Israel commit itself to a tight schedule for withdrawing from the West Bank and turning over the area to the PA. 'I think a timeline isn't wise at this point,' she said while en route to Washington. 'We'll see if one is helpful later, but it isn't wise at this point.'

Finally, the electronic media report Friday that Israel shared intelligence with U.S. President George W. Bush this summer indicating that Syria was getting help from North Korea on a nuclear facility, according to The Washington Post.

According to the report, the White House was deeply troubled by Israel's assertion that North Korea was assisting Syria's nuclear ambition, but opted against an immediate response because of concern over negotiations on Pyongyang's nuclear program, the Post reported, citing U.S. government sources.

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