Date: Wed, 19 May 2004 13:17:44 +0200 HEADLINES FROM THE HEBREW PRESS HAARETZ 1. SHARON PLANNING TO HAVE GOVERNMENT APPROVE DISENGAGEMENT NEXT WEEK; 20 PALESTINIANS KILLED IN RAFIAH. 2. SAKHNIN CELEBRATING WITH THE CUP: NOW, THEY WONT REMEMBER US JUST ON LAND DAY. 3. IDF PLAN: ARMORING DOZENS OF APCS AGAINST ANTI-TANK FIRE. 4. STATE PROSECUTORS OFFICE: REGISTRATION OF ISRAELI NATIONALITY ON ID CARDS UNDERMINES STATE. HATZOFEH 1. IDF tightens grip on Rafiah, 18 terrorists eliminated during action. Chief-of-Staff says: OPERATION WILL CONTINUE UNTIL ACTION IS EXHAUSTED. IDF forces advancing slowly in order to strike mortal blow at terror infrastructure. High Court of Justice rejects appeal against destruction of Rafiah homes. Increasing global calls to halt action. 2. HISTORY IN ISRAELI SPORT – FOR FIRST TIME, ARAB TEAM WINS STATE CUP IN SOCCER. MAARIV 1. FOREIGN FORCE IN GAZA. Among the principles security establishment is formulating for improved disengagement plan: Stationing of international observers in Gaza Strip after IDF withdrawal. Sharon considering presenting his plan on Sunday. 2. DETERMINED TO MOVE FORWARD. Operation Rainbow changes gear. Nati team, which lost six of its soldiers, returns to Gaza Strip. 3. CONGRATULATIONS SAKHNIN! They came to Ramat Gan and made history. Bnei Sakhnin players defeated Hapoel Haifa 4-1 to win State Cup in soccer.
YEDIOT AHRONOT 1. CONGRATULATIONS! Historic achievement for Israeli Arabs: Bnei Sakhnin defeated Hapoel Haifa yesterday to win State Cup in soccer. Arab MKs: This is celebration for coexistence, a dream come true. Sharon: We will build a stadium in Sakhnin. 2. IDF IN RAFIAH: SLOWLY AND CAUTIOUSLY. Senior IDF officers: We will act without getting caught in combat in built-up areas. 20 Palestinians killed on operations first day. ______________________________ SUMMARY OF EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS Both papers comment on the ongoing IDF operation in Rafiah: Hatzofeh commends the operations and says that, It is long overdue, and asserts that, It was necessary from the moment that the first Kassam rocket was fired at Israeli communities. The editors argue that international condemnation would be widespread no matter what the IDF takes. The paper claims that, It would be a big mistake to transfer the Philadelphia corridor to [Egyptian] control. Yediot Ahronot calls on the entire country, no matter what their political beliefs, to pray for the soldiers currently operating in Rafiah but asks, What is the Prime Minister thinking? What does the Defense Minister say? How does the Chief-of-Staff explain
what IDF soldiers are doing in a place that is meant to be evacuated? Yediot Ahronot, in its second editorial, says that Jerusalem is not the same as when it was conquered 37 years ago and that today it is a, city of terrorist activity
tension, poverty and far from being the place that the Jewish people longed for. Yediot Ahronot, in its third editorial, comments that soldiers and their work often go unrecognized and unappreciated. BPI.
