HAARETZ 1. PM: I HAVE SET POLICY AND YOU WILL BE OBLIGED TO ACCEPT IT; SETTLERS: HE IS LEADING TOWARDS CIVIL WAR. Despite PMs opposition, Likud Knesset fwill try to mobilize majority today for referendum; apparent Knesset majority against referendum. 2. PM ORDERS INCREASE IN COMPENSATION TO EVACUEES. 3. JERURASLEM RABBIS APOLOGIZE TO ARMENIAN COMMUNITY LEADERS OVER SPITTING INCIDENT. 4. DEMANDS IN LIKUD FOR END TO QUESTIONNAIRE ON POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS. HATZOFEH 1. Sharon: I will not go to referendum, I have mandate to act. SETTLERS: WE MET ALOOF PM. This was dialogue of the deaf, but we will continue to act to pressure the political establishment in order to prevent civil war, thus Yesha leaders summarized their meeting with PM. Sharon offers carrot: Compensation to be increased. Referendum idea gaining momentum among Likud Knesset fand political establishment. Knesset Speaker calls for elections. 2. MOFAZ: IDF USING UNIQUE MEASURES IN GAZA STRIP. MAARIV 1. Harsh meeting between PM and Yesha leaders. SHARON: I WILL NOT CAPITULATE TO RABBIS THREATS. Sharon thumbed his nose at us – thus Yesha council leaders described their meeting on issue of disengagement plan. Settlers: We met aloof PM. Sharon: I have mandate from the people, there is no reason for referendum.
YEDIOT AHRONOT 1. Sharons Bureau: Settlers came to put on show. Settlers: Sharon is on Prozac. He is completely aloof. HEAD TO HEAD. Settlers: 14 years ago, you stood on dunes and encouraged us to establish communities. You abandoned us. Sharon: True, that was then. Things have changed. You cannot understand pressure being put on me. Settlers: Soldier told us that thousands will refuse orders. You are leading towards split in people and maybe we will slide towards civil war. Sharon: Threats are greatest danger. Mission of all of us is to calm things down. Everyone must struggle against refusal. Dont forget that tomorrow there might be refuseniks from other side. Settlers: There are thousands for whom order to evacuate communities is like eating pork. If there is chance that referendum could prevent this – you owe it to the people. Sharon: I oppose referendum. Begin didnt say in elections that he was about to return Sinai. Shamir didnt say that he intended to go to Madrid Conference. Netanyahu didnt say that he intended to evacuate Hebron. Referendum could lead us toward slide to questions on Shabbat rights, status of rabbinate, kashrut, draft of haredim, etc. in which majority could enforce its opinions without taking minority into account. Settlers: We feel that blood of residents of Sderot is redder. Residents of Gush Katif have taken thousands of shells – and IDF didnt respond. Sharon: That is serious remark. We provide security for all. Settlers: Go to elections. Sharon: I have mandate from the people to do what I am doing, and elections wont change anything. Disengagement will happen and no Jews will remain in Gaza. ______________________________ SUMMARY OF EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS Yediot Ahronot accuses, the settlers, of ignoring the rules of democracy and of arrogantly anointing themselves as, the people. The editors assert: Those who want their pain to be recognized must be attentive to the pain of others. Those who seek respect for their struggle must recognize the legitimacy of other opinions. Hatzofeh notes that IDF Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Moshe Yaalon has exonerated the regiment commander who was accused of confirming the kill of a mortally wounded Palestinian girl in Rafiah, and strongly criticizes the media for rushing to trumpet the regimental commanders presumed guilt. Yediot Ahronot, in its second editorial, criticizes Education Minister Limor Livnat for not inviting Israels recent Nobel laureates in chemistry to comment on the beginning of the universities academic year yesterday. BPI-info
