HEADLINES FROM THE HEBREW PRESS HAARETZ 1. SHARON TO DECLARE IN AQABA: PALESTINIAN STATE WILL HAVE TERRITORIAL CONTIGUITY. WILL PROMISE TO EVACUATE ILLEGAL OUTPOSTS; ARAB LEADERS IN SHARM PROMISED REAL STEPS AGAINST TERROR.
Bush: Israel must deal with settlements. Disagreement with Arab leaders at Sharm El Sheikh. Administration rejects demand to include Syria in map. IDF releases approximately 100 Palestinian prisoners. Kach youth establish two outposts; two have already been evacuated. 2. PARTIAL COUNT IN JERUSALEM: LUPOLIANSKI HAS SLIGHT EDGE OVER BARKAT. HATZOFEH 1. Bush makes it clear: I will press Sharon hard on evacuation of settlements. FAILURE AT SHARM, CONCERNS IN AQABA. Aqaba summit conference to begin at 10:30 this morning with participation of George Bush, Israeli Prime minister Sharon and Palestinian Prime Minister Abu Mazen. Bush promises Arab leaders: Israel will have to deal with settlements and carry out withdrawal that will enable Palestinian territorial contiguity. Concern and tension in Jerusalem: Sharon capitulated to Bush too quickly and failed in managing policy with US. Arab states refuse Bushs request to begin normalization with Israel. 2. LUPOLIANSKI LEADING IN JERUSALEM; LIKUD DEFEATED IN HAIFA. 3. THIS EVENING – RIGHT RETURNS TO DEMONSTRATE IN ZION SQUARE. 4. SHARON HAS, SO FAR, TRANSFERRED NIS 1.3 BILLION TO PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY – SOME TO TANZIM. 5. SECURITY OFFICIAL: INCREASE IN SCOPE OF TERROR ACTIVITY IN GAZA STRIP LAST WEEK. Palestinian security personnel working mainly to maintain public order, not prevent terror. 6. CAPITULATION HAS ALREADY BEGUN: SHARON RELEASED 100 PALESTINIAN PRISONERS YESTERDAY – INCLUDING TERRORIST WITH BLOOD ON HIS HANDS. MAARIV 1. Today in Aqaba: Historic attempt to end bloodshed. END OF VIOLENCE. NEW HOPE. This morning: After 2.5 years of terror and death, Bush, Sharon and Abu Mazen will convene summit that will – maybe – open new area in Middle East. PM expected to declare: I will evacuate outposts. Arafat to Maariv: I am not trying to bring about Abu Mazens downfall. 2. Dramatic night in Haifa and Jerusalem: Tight mayoral races. HAREDIM JUBILANT: JERUSALEM IS OURS. Supporters of Uri Lupolianski have already assured: Restaurants will remain open on Sabbath. (
). In Haifa: Exit poll predicts victory for YonahYahav. 3. NETANYAHU AND LIEBERMAN MEET SECRETLY. Discussed their common opposition to roadmap. 4. DOLLAR: NIS 4.37. YEDIOT AHRONOT 1. Sharon: We will agree to establishment of Palestinian state and evacuation of outposts. Abu Mazen: We will turn new page, we will end armed intifada. STARTING OVER. With cautious hope, under record number of attack warnings, trilateral summit will convene in Aqaba this morning: Bush, Sharon and Abu Mazen. Sharm summit: Moderate Arab leaders declared war on terror but did not mention normalization with Israel. 2. JERUSALEM IS HIS? Apparent after midnight: Uri Lupolianski will be Jerusalems first haredi mayor. (
). 3. HAIFA IS HIS? Apparent after midnight: Yahav (Shinui) won in Haifa. (
). ______________________________ SUMMARY OF EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS Hatzofeh calls on its readers to attend todays demonstration in Jerusalem against the road map. The paper supports Israel Prize winner Ephraim Kishon s comments in Maariv yesterday claiming that Arafat has succeeded in deceiving the world and that were it not for the September 11th 2000 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, Arafat would have been able to ride on the wave of anti-Semitism and succeed in destroying the State of Israel. The editors condemn Prime Minister Sharon for participating in a process whose entire purpose is the destruction of Israel. Yediot Ahronot says that, Millions of eyes will follow the meeting in Aqaba today between President Bush, King Abdullah Ariel Sharon and Abu Mazen. The editors hope that this meeting will indeed make history and bring peace between Israel and the Palestinians. The paper recognizes that Prime Minister Sharon has a difficult job ahead of him and quotes former Prime Minister Golda Meir who said, Whoever wants to be Prime Minister of Israel – deserves the job. Yediot Ahronot, in its second editorial, discusses the release of Ahmed Jbarah, known as the fridge bomber and says, He is the first prisoner who has been released with blood on his hands. The precedent is set. Now it is just a matter of time until they release others. The editors are astonished that this has been allowed to happen with no public outcry.
