*Israel: Syria is training Hizballah members on anti-aircraft weapons (Al Ayyam)

*Syria: dead and wounded in Aleppo explosion; military operations in several locations; 37 dead (Al Ayyam)

*Jerusalem: Israeli occupation forces raid Al Tor neighborhood and carry out arrests (Al Ayyam)

*Recommendations of cabinet committee based on fact-finding report on Jaba’ accident (Al Ayyam)

*10,000 people bid Pope Shanouda farewell in an atmosphere of grief (Al Hayat Al Jadida)

*Cabinet discusses draft budget for ratifications (Al Hayat Al Jadida)

*Child injured by Israeli fire east of Rafah (Al Hayat Al Jadida)

*The president confirms importance of reinforcing culture of the law and respect for citizens’ dignity Al Hayat Al Jadida)

*Khatib: No indication from the government of decrease in salaries (Al Hayat Al Jadida)

*PA discusses improvement of customs procedures with Israel (Al Hayat Al Jadida)

*Settlers attack homes in Tul Rumeida (Al Hayat Al Jadida)

*Mossad endorses American analysis on Iranian nuclear aspirations (Al Hayat Al Jadida)

*Qardawi calls on Arabs to stand “in one trench” against Iran and Hizballah (Al Quds)

*Prisoner Hussam Khader: prisons and prisoners are at a boiling point; at brink of escalatory steps (Al Quds)

*Tunnel merchants in Gaza turn to real estate to launder their money (Al Quds)

*International Crisis Group: Israel must take practical steps to diffuse tension with its Arab minority (Al Quds)

Al-Quds: Brazil: a child lying down on a Syrian opposition flag during protest against President Bashaar Al Assad

Al-Ayyam:  Damascus: Woman cries over her sons, members of the free Syrian army who were killed in clashes with Assad forces near Idlib

Al-Hayat Al-Jadida: 1) Tens of thousands before the cathedral to bid goodbye to Pope Shanouda, whose body is shown in the inset; 2) The President during his meeting with political and national guidance group in Ramallah; 3) Rescue team inspects explosion site in Aleppo  

Jerusalem: Israeli occupation forces raided early yesterday a-Tour neighborhood and arrested seven Palestinian youths and minors by extensive force. Massive damages have been also incurred to the residents` properties.  
This morning, “al-Quds” marathon will be launched from the Damascus Gate with the participation of scores of runners who will be received by an official Palestinian delegation, including al-Quds governor Adnan al-Husseini, at Qalandia checkpoint. The runners will head afterwards to the “Muqata`a” compound where a press conference is scheduled near late president Yasser Arafat mausoleum.
Yousef Mkheimer, one of the organizers of the marathon, told “Voice of Palestine” that this event comes in response to the Israeli marathon that was held in occupied Jerusalem last Friday. He added that one of the banners of this Palestinian marathon is a call to boycott “Adidas” company that sponsored the Israeli Marathon.


The West Bank: Israeli occupation forces raided last night Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, and broke in several homes.
Early Monday, Israeli occupation forces arrested three Palestinians in Salfit and Silwad.

**Fatah`s Shtayyeh: there is not any kind of negotiations with the Israeli side; we cannot talk about modifying Paris agreement while the current political and security conditions persist in the Palestinian territories**
Muhammad Shtayyeh: Member of Fatah Central Committee.

Q: Would you confirm Israeli press reports about underway Palestinian-Israeli negotiations on modifying Paris Protocol?

There is not any kind of negotiations with the Israeli side. However, periodical meetings are held between a team from the Palestinian finance ministry and another one from the Israeli finance ministry to discuss tax leaks that happen in the Palestinian territories due to the tax clearance system that is monthly reviewed.

The core problem lies in that Israel has killed Paris economic agreement through its security measures and the imposition of closures on the Palestinian territories in addition to the siege on the Gaza strip. Since the economic agreement is integral to the political agreement, the economic problem we have been enduring is because we have no control over our crossings and borders. Therefore, we cannot talk about modifying Paris agreement while the current political and security conditions persist in the Palestinian territories.  

The total estimated tax leaks stand at $350 million. Having these tax leaks resolved would partially reduce the Palestinian budget deficit.  

Q: Few days ago, you told “Voice of Palestine” that the Palestinian leadership will decide soon about the resubmitting of the state membership application at the UN. Anything new on this regard?

We have a number of affairs that need to be finalized within 2012; first and foremost, is the president`s letter to the Israeli prime minister and afterwards approaching the UN to resubmit the Palestinian application. We also hope that the national reconciliation would be successfully finalized despite of major obstacles and the current internal state inside Hamas which has obstructed, in one way or another, the procession of the reconciliation.

Yes we are heading to the UN. This matter will certainly have ramifications but we are fully ready to take responsibility for the sake of maintaining the Palestinian compass adherent to the Palestinian national constants of ending the occupation, establishing the independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital and the Palestinian refugees` right to return.



**PA`s al-Maleki: Israel will find itself speaking alone during the donors` conference in Brussels**
Riad al-Maleki: Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Q: How would you comment on the Israeli claims about the PA not being ready for statehood and that the Palestinian economy is unstable?

Israel talks about difficulties the PA is facing when these difficulties have been in fact imposed by Israel itself. The reports issued by the World Bank, the IMF and other international organizations show that the PA economy has potential to develop have the Israeli occupation`s restrictions been removed. More reports by these organizations demonstrate the readiness of the PA institutions to move towards statehood.

In other words, Israel will find itself speaking alone amidst donors whose approaches are in compliance with these international reports.

The (Palestinian) fiscal condition is certainly difficult but the core problem lies in obstacles the Israeli occupation poses in the face of the Palestinian economy. The Palestinian side will thus be very ready to counter the Israeli claims that could be voiced during the conference.


** Fuel and cook gas crisis in Gaza still unresolved**
Mahmoud a-Shawa: head of the association to protect fuel.

The fuel crisis is very acute in the Gaza strip as well as in Egypt due to halt of work at the refineries and the strikes in the Egyptian public sector. The impact has been negative on the Gaza strip as only 15 percent of the total needed fuel supplies have been transferred into the Gaza strip. As a result, all vital sectors including industrial, agricultural and infrastructure sectors have been paralyzed.  

The current situation in Gaza in terms of negative impacts of fuel shortage is unprecedented. Therefore, we appeal to regional countries, to the world, to Ramallah government and to President Abu Mazen to interfere and save the life of one 1.7 million people.

The crisis is not limited to fuel as we also suffer from acute shortage of cook gas. The Israeli side is using this matter to impose stricter restrictions on the population of Gaza. Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) checkpoint through which cook gas is usually transferred has been closed down by the Israeli authorities for unjustified pretexts.  



** Today: rally at 1:00 pm in Ramallah marking the World Consumer`s Rights Day”
Salah Haniyyeh: Head of the Consumer Protection Association.

This rally is a continuation of the celebrations and activities that have been scheduled to mark the Palestinian Consumer Day dated on March 15.

Various activities have been included in this rally that will be launched at 1:00 pm today. High school pupils will be present in the streets to distribute pamphlets which raise the awareness of the dealers and the consumers. Also, several Palestinian factories will offer national products to consumers who will be present at “al-Manarah” square with the purpose of promoting Palestinian products.

In addition to artistic shows, speeches will be addressed by the Consumer Protection Association, Ramallah-alBeireh governor in addition to premier Salam Fayyad`s speech.  

Solution needed
Jordan Times Editorial (http://jordantimes.com/solution-needed)

Former Palestinian prime minister Ahmad Qureia is suggesting that the Palestinians and Israelis should now abandon the two-state solution in favour of one state.
Qureia believes this is right in view of the Israeli actions in the West Bank, particularly the unrelenting settlement activities that have rendered the two-state solution devoid of any meaning.
The decades-long Israeli colonisation of the Palestinian territories has all but preempted the two-state solution, which would give the Palestinians a tiny part of their ancestral land and East Jerusalem as their capital.
Qureia must have spoken out of frustration with the never-ending process of finding a way to bring the two sides together to talk about a mechanism to initiate, maybe, peace talks that could, perhaps, yield some result…
Yes, it is a convoluted, sterile, process that has led nowhere so far and that is often enough to frustrate even the most enthusiastic peace seeker.
But Qureia’s suggestion is not very realistic either. Neither Israelis nor most Palestinians are bound to accept it.
The one-state idea may invite the Israeli government to embark even more vigorously on policies that drive away the Palestinians — ethnic cleansing, in so many words — to preserve the “Jewishness” of Israel.
Besides, after a century or so of conflict between Jews and Arabs over Palestine, it will take quite a while to bury the hatchet, heal deep wounds and coexist in complete harmony, not to mention the cultural and religious differences that would have to be surmounted.
The two states, therefore, seems to be the only operational solution. It could, in the long run, evolve into some sort of confederation, which has all the positive features of one state and could be of benefit to all.
Whatever resolution, one has to be reached, for the conflict has been brewing for too long and the entire region suffers because of it.


The dangers of the situation in Gaza
By: Emad El Din Adeeb (http://www.asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=2&id=28907)

Amidst our preoccupation with the situations in Syria, Egypt, Yemen, Libya and Tunisia, the danger of the situation in Gaza seems to have slipped from our memory, even though the current scenario forewarns that a military explosion is likely to start in Gaza and end in southern Lebanon.
Without getting into the traditional maze as to who is responsible for the current escalation - Is it the Israeli occupation army against our unarmed people in Gaza? Or is it the Islamic Jihad troops that launched missiles at the Israeli settlements and cities? - it is certain that we are facing a highly volatile situation.
Because the situation is more dangerous than it appears on the surface, we must consider the following elements:
First, the reliable information that Israel is especially concerned about the Islamic Jihad militants in Gaza being in possession of Iranian-produced "Fajr 5" missiles, with a range of 110 kilometers, capable of reaching Tell Aviv. This can be seen as an extremely important military advancement for the resistance forces.
Second, the Israeli military intelligence service considers these missiles to represent some kind of proxy Iranian war against Israel, through its ally the Islamic Jihad movement. Such a confrontation is taking place at a time when Israel is seriously considering a military strike against selected Iranian targets to destroy its nuclear capabilities.
Third, Washington will not object to an Israeli strike against Hamas or Islamic Jihad targets provided that the range of the strike does not extend beyond what is required; meaning that the strike must not spread outside the desired range and provoke Iranian reactions in Iraq or Lebanon.
Fourth, Israel is deeply concerned about the recent meeting between Mousa Abu-Marzook, Deputy Commander of the Hamas movement, and Hassan Nasrallah, Secretary-General of Hezbollah, and also the visit which Mahmoud al-Zahar, a prominent leader of Hamas, paid to Tehran and the statements he made about the continuation of armed resistance against Israel.
All these factors are occurring at a time when the region is preoccupied with the Arab Spring states, and similarly, the West is preoccupied with its deplorable economies, presidential elections in France and Germany are imminent, and likewise Washington is absorbed in presidential election campaigning.
Experts believe that the current timing is highly favorable for a large-scale military operation.
What is going on in the mind of Netanyahu, his army and intelligence service? This is what the Israeli actions will reveal in the weeks to come.

“Hamas” between Turkey and Iran
By: Husam Kanafani (Al-Quds)

The visit by “Hamas” politburo chief Khaled Meshaal in Ankara at the same time Mahmoud a-Zahhar was present in Tehran has many indications about the new reality of the movement, which has particularly emerged during the Israeli aggression against the Gaza strip in which the “Izz a-Dein al-Qassam” Brigades, the military wing of “Hamas”, could not actively participate.
Even if officials of other resistance factions confirmed the support they received from “Hamas” and the government in Gaza, there is a fact that cannot be denied about the movement`s operatives preferring not to fight in compliance with a central decision that has been explained by “Hamas” officials as a pursuit not to turn the aggression into a broader war and considering that the movement is the ruling party.
Regardless of this explanation and the extent to which it is far from previous confrontations during which “Hamas” was also the ruling party, let us go back to the indications of the presence of Meshaal and a-Zahhar in two politically contrasting locations that convey the “interstitial” position this Islamic movement has chosen to place itself thereby constraining its political and field moves.
“Hamas” between Turkey and Iran is a reality that obliges playing in the intersecting area between the two parties without taking a final decision on either fully supporting this party or that party. In fact, this intersecting area is not worthless considering the Iranian and Turkish care about maintaining a channel of communication, cooperation and understanding on several files,; first and for most, is the Iranian nuclear file as Turkey is expected to host the upcoming round of international talks.
However, this understanding does not serve Hamas`s new reality considering the only file that preoccupies the world currently which is the Syrian file that poses a substantive dispute between Turkey and Iran. Consequently, there is no room for playing in the intersecting area at a stage in which the color grey is rejected.
“Hamas” has determined its stance with regard to the Syrian situation and that has been obvious in many statements by many movement’s officials, on top of whom, the prime minister in Gaza Ismail Haniyyeh, who said on “Twitter” what he did not say at “al-Azhar” mosque in Cairo.
Nevertheless, “Hamas” is seeking to maintain a thread of communication with the axis in which Damascus is a major player and to concurrently preserve formidable ties with the rising power in the region, Turkey.
Between caring about satisfying Turkey and its axis on the one hand, and Iran and its axis on the other, “Hamas” has now neither a taste nor a smell until determining on which of the two sides it would stand.

Three years since Netanyahu in office: burying the Palestinian file and preoccupying the world with Iran
By: Asa`ad Talhami (http://international.daralhayat.com/print/376142)

While “Kadima” opposition party is preoccupied in a fierce war over its leadership between Tzzipi Livni and Shaul Mofaz which foreshadows its collapse, and while renowned journalist Yaer Lapid, who has recently joint the political race to form a central party, has lost his charm and is stepping backward in public polls, the Israelis predict the current prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to remain in power for many more years, “in the absence of renowned leaders on the shelves”, a journalist wrote.
In the beginning of next month, the day that will mark three years since the return of Netanyahu and his “Likud" party to office, the government coalition seems to have a solid basis that neither an internal affair nor and external affair could threaten. The present government could be the first one since over 20 years that is capable of concluding its legal term, due in the end of this year, unless Netanyahu would take advantage of his broad popularity to announce on an earlier election in bid to win more parliamentary seats and hence be able of forging the government coalition he desires with the best terms.
The Israelis view Netanyahu as the most appropriate to assume the premiership as he almost has no entrant, particularly in light of the deep split inside the rival “Kadima” party that will witness next week primaries election that is expected to lead, and regardless of the identity of the winner, to the withdrawal of poles from the party thereby weakening the party and threatening its existence. Livni has already declared through her aides she would leave the party and probably retire from political life in case Mofaz would win the leadership of the party. Meanwhile, other poles in the party have been launching a fierce war against Livni and accuse her of weakening the party because of her rejection to join the government coalition, hinting they would also leave the party should Livni continues chairing it.
Observers do not rule out that the conflict between Livni and Mofaz would bring to a total collapse of the party that was founded by former prime minister Ariel Sharon when he was at the height of his popularity before over six years. Since he did not establish real institutions, “Kadima” party has appeared as a mere “gathering” of personalities from the “Likud” and the “Labor” party who sought parliamentary seats and high ranking posts without agreeing on one clean-cut program. The party has turned to be a “supermarket” of contrasting stances and view points on various affairs thereby hampering Livni`s mission of making this “assembly” a genuine political party.
Recent polls have shown that the votes which “Kadima” loses will shift to Yaer Lapid`s new party and the “Labor” party as well as to the “Likud” party that could regain a significant number of its supporters who followed Sharon in “Kadima”. The polls also confirm that the far-right and ultraorthodox religious parties will preserve the majority of Knesset seats and would even reinforce their power.
The prominent commentator in “Maariv” newspaper Ben Kaspit says: “the people of Israel are looking to the left and to the right but could not find any other alternative to Netanyahu`s orotund voice and his talent of fiery speech”. The writer does not rule out that Netanyahu`s ultimate goal of threatening Iran is “to ride the Iranian horse and run towards an imminent election…for internal reasons”. Other commentators agree with Kaspit by saying that regardless of whether Netanyahu (and his defense minister Ehud Barak) truly intends to wage a military offensive (despite of the opposition of security and intelligence services to the offensive), or play the “catch me” game, Netanyahu has succeeded in the Israelis` eyes in garnering the support of the USA and the West countries to impose more economic sanctions on Iran and to place this affair on top of their agenda while marginalizing the Palestinian file. The commentators point here at the fact that president Barack Obama disregarded the Palestinian affair during his recent meeting with Netanyahu two weeks ago and said only few words that have vanished amidst the chatters on Iran.
In spite of the political stalemate since three years between Israel and the PA, the Israelis are indifferent to this issue as they only care about two affairs: the security calm in their cities and the (general good) economic conditions. Since these two things are available, their satisfaction with their prime minister`s performance is the highest in the recent months.
In this context, Kaspit says that Netanyahu has “succeeded in the past two years to bury the Palestinian question and turn the Iranian file into the top issue on the global agenda and that is a significant, substantive and strategic achievement”. However, the commentator does not rule out that the real “external” goal behind Netanyahu’s threat to strike Iran would be “scaring the world and the USA from the Ayatollahs”.