Israel unmasked

Only two months ago, as America seemed poised to again enter the Middle Eastern fray (this time against Syria), Israel ramped up its gas mask distribution and civilians stood in lines for hours to get a kit before the bombs started falling.

Perhaps this is why the news is so jarring that the Defense Ministry is planning to ax production and distribution of gas masks to civilians.

Haaretz, running the story prominently above the fold, explains that decision is about both budget and diminishing threats. Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon believes that Israel faces a significantly reduced threat of chemical weapons attack now that Syria is in the process of destroying its chemical weapons.

That may be so, but the threat of a nuclear agreement between Iran and the West may only be increasing. As Secretary of State Kerry scrambles around the world trying to explain a possible deal, Israel Hayom’s front page carries the headline, “Israel – a deal? Only our terms,” continuing the recent animosity with America on the issue.

Israel Hayom reports that while Jerusalem “understands that a deal is only a matter of time, maybe even as soon as next week,” that’s not stopping Netanyahu from being proactive. Going on what the paper calls a “diplomatic blitz,” Bibi is trying to convince the world that three things must be agreed upon for the West to strike a “good deal” with Iran. They are: a total cessation of uranium enrichment and dismantling its centrifuges, handing over all uranium that has been enriched, and dismantling Iran’s plutonium reactor.

Maariv carries a hybrid article that updates its readers on Iran and on the spat between Netanyahu and Kerry. The Iranian government has agreed to allow UN inspectors into the Arak heavy water reactor. In addition to allowing access to inspectors, the Iranians announced that there are a total of 16 sites that have been designated as reactors or uranium enrichment facilities (though not all have been built yet).

Kerry and Netanyahu are still very publicly fighting, with Kerry on Monday stating, “Netanyahu needs to recognize that there is no agreement. The time to oppose it is when you see it.” Netanyahu, for his part, responded, “Before reducing the sanctions, obtain a good deal, not a bad deal.”

Yedioth Ahronoth went so far as to send reporter Eldad Beck to Iran for two weeks. In a promo for its weekend edition, where the full story will appear, the paper gives a full-page teaser to what Beck discovered while in “Rouhani’s Iran.” Beck visited the country five years ago and says since his last visit the country is almost “unrecognizable.” He describes being surprised at cafes packed with young people who are smoking and drinking wine or whiskey. Beck also reports that some things are still they same, including anti-Semitic movies still airing on state-run television.

The driving force behind the Iranian desire for an agreement is that sanctions are working and hurting the Iranian economy. “Where’s the money? Ask Khamenei,” reads the headline of an Israel Hayom article that reworks a Reuters investigation that reveals that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is the head of a corporation with revenues of $95 billion. The article qualifies that Khamenei isn’t actually involved in the daily operation of the business, but rather as supreme leader he is able to have the final say in all things in Iran, including business.

Return of the king

Avigdor Liberman has officially returned as foreign minister and according to Haaretz, the United States wants a fresh start with him. The paper recounts how Liberman and then secretary of state Hillary Clinton publicly clashed over freezing settlement activity. Clinton and Liberman didn’t get along and as a result, Israel’s top diplomat visited the United States only twice in three and a half years. However, the paper reports that Kerry expects to “work well” with the newly returned minister.

If Liberman visits the United States, one issue that will probably be raised is the case of convicted spy Jonathan Pollard. Maariv reports that veteran spy (and former politician) Rafi Eitan said there was an understanding with Washington that Pollard would serve only 10 years in prison. Eitan also told the paper that the Israeli government directed him to give evidence to the Americans that would help convict Pollard based on this agreement. However the agreement was voided by the courts and Pollard was sentenced to life in prison.

Prickly issues

A new agreement may be in the works between Tzipi Livni and Naftali Bennett to unite the rabbinate. “One rabbi for one nation,” reads the headline of the article, which explains the reasoning behind a draft of a new law that would eliminate the Ashkenazi and Sephardic chief rabbis and instead just have one chief rabbi of Israel. Livni said of the bill, “In Israel there is one prime minister, one president, one chief justice of the Supreme Court, one chief of staff, and now the time has come for one chief rabbi.”

Meanwhile, the beloved cactus known as “sabra” is also under attack. Israel Hayom reports that the cactus, with its prickly sweet fruit, has become a local symbol as how Israelis like to think of themselves – prickly on the outside, sweet on the inside. However the Jewish National Fund reports that South American aphids are attacking the plant and there isn’t enough pesticide to stop the infestation. Dr. David Brand, who heads the JNF project to save the cactus, admits that its an uphill battle but told the paper, “I hope that this time we will stop it.”