(Israel Government Press Office)

Ma'ariv says: "Yesterday's stabbing attack at Adam junction, a mere one day after the attempted terrorist attack on a bus in Bat Yam, and after two months of dozens of Jewish and Palestinian killed and wounded, does not attest to the outbreak of a third intifada," and adds: "There is still a significant difference between the events of recent weeks and September 2000, which saw the outbreak of the second intifada: Over 13 years ago, the Palestinian Authority was controlled by Yasser Arafat, who ignited the intifada out of faith in the Palestinian struggle. The second intifada cost the Palestinian side (and the Israeli side) dearly and ended in a ringing failure vis-à-vis the public in the territories and Gaza. The pain still rings. According to all current IDF and ISA assessments, the Palestinian public and leadership are not interested in a third intifada. Moreover, intelligence cooperation between Israeli and Palestinian security forces has continued in recent days as if there was no terrorism." The author suggests that the Palestinian Authority believes that rising, albeit low-intensity, violence serves a general Palestinian interest and adds that the fact that "The diplomatic negotiations are – according to all opinions – going nowhere," stokes an atmosphere of unrest that is conducive to violence. But the paper believes that the third phase of the prisoner release, which is scheduled for next week, will go forward.

Yediot Aharonot asserts: "The four Palestinians who have been in killed in clashes with the IDF recently are the hot wind that is fanning the flames of terrorism," and ventures that "If, up until last month, the level of violence in the West Bank was defined as three on a scale of one to ten, the current wave of terrorist attacks has raised it to five. It is still not an intifada because it is not a popular resistance that includes the Palestinian public; rather it is a fawda, anarchy in certain areas." The author avers that "In the Palestinian areas, the assumption is that the current negotiations with Israel have already failed. This frustration is leading to a sense of disgust with the Palestinian Authority and is encouraging vigilantism, which we call 'the lone attacker syndrome.' Despite the Kerry initiative, Israel and the Palestinians are entering a very tense period; therefore, the IDF should reconsider whether or not to increase the size of the forces currently stationed in the West Bank."

Yisrael Hayom notes that US Secretary of State John Kerry is still pushing the negotiations and does not want to postpone the date for their projected conclusion in the spring of 2014. The paper accuses the Palestinians of digging in their heels and says: "Not only does Abu Mazen oppose even a partial presence on the [Jordan] River but he is demanding that the IDF withdrawal from the areas that will be allocated to Palestine be carried out within three years. Last night, Ehud Yaari said on Channel 2 that Abu Mazen is demanding all of eastern Jerusalem for himself. If this is for bargaining purposes, then the negotiations are still going on. But it this is an ultimate position, then the negotiations are doomed to a thunderous failure, soon."

The Jerusalem Post notes that “just as was the case in past waves of terrorism, peace negotiations seem to be a trigger for the recent rise in Palestinian violence,” and adds: “some in the PA have a vested interest in creating the impression that the Palestinians are on the verge of launching a third intifada if the present talks break down so as to put pressure on Israel.” The editor believes that the status quo with the Palestinians is untenable, “because it would mean the end of a Jewish and democratic Israel,” and concludes: “attempts to extricate ourselves from this status quo carry with them dangers that remind us of the not too distant past.”

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Haaretz comments on recent reports that the United States eavesdropped on Israeli prime ministers and defense ministers, and states that “cabinet members have been quick to jump on the bandwagon with loud cries to free [Jonathan] Pollard,” but feels that these declarations “could be working against the goal itself.” The editor states: “The effort should focus on obtaining a quiet understanding for his parole in November 2015. From that moment, the way could open up to a greater reduction of the sentence,” and concludes: “If one of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s predecessors once said restraint is strength, the hope is that Netanyahu will decide that in the case of Pollard, keeping quiet is the better part of wisdom.”