Israeli Public Radio: Israeli is relieved over the failure of the French peace initiative. Israeli politicians are satisfied with the American administration's refusal of the French initiative. The initiative aimed to convene an Israeli-Palestinian peace conference. Once U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton rejected the initiative, Israel was not obliged to eliminate the initiative on its own. An Israeli official said such a conference could not be achieved without U.S. approval and great support from Israel. He added that Israel was very hesitant about the French initiative but didn't want to close the door. He said Israel would participate if Washington gave some assurances. At the same context, Danny Ayalon, Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister, welcomed the American opposition. Paris has declared its attention to gather Israel and Palestine around the negotiation table this summer despite the American reservation. French Prime Minister Alain Juppe said Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has approved the initiative and they are waiting for the Israeli response. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will go to Rome next week to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East. Netanyahu will show his reservations about the French initiative to the Italian Prime Minister. U.S. President Barack Obama announced during press conference yesterday that there is an agreement between Washington and Berlin to avoid any Palestinian efforts toward U.N. recognition of a Palestinian State. Juppe stressed after a meeting with Clinton last night that continuing the negotiation is the only way to prevent the Palestinians from getting recognition of their independent state at the United Nations in September. Yediot Aharonot: Israel: Syria is responsible for demonstrations commemorating the 6 Days' War. The Israeli government charged the Syrian government of full responsibility for the demonstrations on the Israeli-Syrian borders last Sunday through a letter to Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary General and chair of the Security Council. The letter said Syria was responsible because it did nothing to prevent demonstrators from reaching the border. The demonstrations caused the death of more than 20 people by the Israeli army. Israeli Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations, Haim Faksiman, said what happened on Sunday came as a result of the Syrian government's attempt to draw attention to what is happening in Syria. Faksiman warned the Syrian government from repeating such actions, which may escalate tensions in the region. Maariv: Eyal Gebai, Netanyahu's office manager, resigned from his post because of disagreements with the office of the Israeli government. Gebai told Netanyahu of his decision to resign, but Netanyahu postponed the decision until his return from Rome. Netanyahu may announce Gebai's resignation after he returns from Rome. Maariv newspaper said Haim Cheney, director of the office of the Israeli Ministry of Finance, is one of the candidates for the position. Ha'aretz: 77 % of Israelis oppose withdrawal to borders 67 A poll published by the Israeli Haaretz newspaper said around 77 percent of Israelis disagree with Israeli withdrawal to the borders of 1967, even if such a step would bring peace with Palestine. The poll showed that nearly 85 percent of Israelis support agreement on a united Jerusalem under Israeli control. 75 percent reject transferring Al-Aqsa Mosque to the Palestinian control, even if the Wailing Wall would be under Israeli control. In contrast, 52 percent of Israelis support putting Al-Aqsa under international supervision and keeping the Wailing Wall under Israeli supervision. Regarding holy places such as Rachel's Dome and the Patriarchs, 65 percent of respondents said they refuse to hand such sites over to the Palestinians.
