Eye on the Enemy: US Keeping a close eye on the Iranian drill, Lieberman Excludes Soon Peace
Walla news portal - Moti Bassok
The execution of two flagship recommendations made by Trajtenberg committee - free education for the ages 3-4 and the long school day for the ages 3-9 in the budget of 2012- are unlikely to be applied. The reason for this doubt: a decision is expected to be issued by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, scheduled to be published in the coming weeks, which states that the "defense" budget for 2012 (and each of the four years thereafter), won't be cut by NIS 3 billion.
The Finance Ministry estimates, based on the discussions held with the Prime Minister in recent weeks, that Netanyahu withdrew his earlier decision to cut the "defense" budget by NIS 3 billion over the next five years (2012-2016), and that he is delaying the public announcement for various reasons. The reduction was supposed to save the necessary funds to carry out the recommendations of Trajtenberg Committee in education. The Finance Ministry is not intending to provide alternative sources of funding for the education reforms, such as an across-the-board cut in government ministries.
The ministry recently stated that without the reduction in the security budget, the plans Trajtenberg Commission recommended in education, at a total cost of NIS 22.35 billion over five years, will be canceled, postponed or will be made only partial in the absence of funds. Cancellation / postponement / reduction will be undertaken in 2012, primarily on the Commission's flagship programs, which will cost more - compulsory education for the ages of 3-4 and a long school day for the ages of 3-9.
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U.S.: Keeping a close eye on the Iranian drill
"Israel Defense" - Arie Egozi
The Americans want prove that Tehran issued several statements on the development of advanced military capabilities, as well as on the purchase of systems from other nations. According to the data in Iran, warplanes are involved in the drill, submarines, unmanned aircraft and other units. It should be noted that in the United States, as in "Israel", doubt the accuracy of the Iranian statements on the development of advanced military systems such as fighter planes or drones. In general, it is about improving the different programs or systems which are "just for show."
In the same context, the Iranian military exercise lasts about ten days, in which the navy forces will simulate scenarios for war with enemy ships. The drill will extend to thousands of kilometers in the Gulf until the Strait of Hormuz. Sources in the United States said that Washington kept pace with the drill and its range size in order to prevent errors that may lead to fire between U.S. and Iranian forces. Moreover, the Americans are keeping an eye on the Iranian drill through their ships, spy planes as well as drones. Americans in particular, are analyzing the relationship between the various formations as they are trying to get footage info by satellites and other monitoring devices. "
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Lieberman : Peace? Not anytime soon
Channel 7 - Uzi Baruch
"To continue to insist on a path that failed for 15 years will not lead anywhere and unfortunately today we are already on the same path for 18 years, in the same dead end, and worse than this - with desperation and frustration that continue to grow," Lieberman said at a conference of Foreign Ministry delegation heads.
"What needs to be clear to everyone is that this is not an effort by the Palestinians to reach peace but rather an effort by them to create facts on the ground and internationalize the conflict - that is, [they say] 'no' at any cost to direct negotiations and [strive to negotiate] only through international institutes and forums. The key words in the relations with the PA should be "conflict management" and not "conflict solution", he explained. "Whoever says that in the coming years, we can reach peace with the Palestinians is wrong and misleads others."
Lieberman stressed that no territorial concession will solve the core issues of security, Jerusalem and refugees. "The only thing that will change here if we return to the 67 borders is that the Kassam and Grad fire will not just emanate from Gaza toward the southern communities but also from Kalkilya to Gush Dan."
Lieberman blasted (Abu Mazen) for meeting the sadistic "terrorist" who took part in the murder of Ofir Rachum.
"Abu Mazen's true face could be seen last week when he went all the way to Turkey in order to honor and meet with the "terrorist" Amna Muna... This is Abu Mazen. This is the path he believes in and that is why he avoids sitting down with "Israel" to negotiate."
Source: Hebrew Newspapers, Translated by moqawama.org
