HEADLINES FROM THE HEBREW PRESS 14,04,3

HEADLINES FROM THE HEBREW PRESS HA’ARETZ 1. BUSH ATTACKS SYRIA: HIDING SENIOR IRAQI OFFICIALS AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS. SECURITY ESTABLISHMENT: DISMANTLE SEALED ROOMS AND PUT AWAY GAS MASKS; (…).


2. SHARON: GOVERNMENT TO DISCUSS ‘ROADMAP’ SOON. 3. ARAFAT REJECTS ABU MAZEN’S MINISTERS: “SHOW MERCY FOR A FALLEN LEADER.” HATZOFEH 1. HIGH STATE OF ALERT CANCELLED. Decision made yesterday after assessment of situation in which it became clear that there is no threat of an Iraqi missile attack on Israel. Following decision, whoever has not already done so may leave their masks at home and dismantle sealed room. Reserve duty soldiers called up due to high level of alert released. (…). 2. NETANYAHU ACCUSES: HISTADRUT LEADING TO GENERAL STRIKE. 3. CRITICISM FROM RIGHT OVER SHARON’S STATEMENT THAT ISRAEL “IS PREPARED TO TAKE VERY PAINFUL STEPS.” 4. IDF TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR SEAM LINE. 5. PASSOVER IN SYNAGOGUES: PEOPLE CARRYING WEAPONS AND SECURITY GUARDS AT ENTRANCES. 6. TODAY: ELECTIONS FOR CHIEF RABBIS. MA’ARIV 1. Defense Minister to Ma’ariv: This is our list of demands from Assad. SYRIA: IF WE ARE ATTACKED, ISRAEL WILL ALSO BE HIT. Messages from Israel to Syria through US. Mofaz reveals Israel’s demands in festival interview to Ma’ariv: Expel Hizballah from southern Lebanon, disarm it, expel terror leaders from Damascus and block aid from Iran. Syrian Foreign Minister warns: Israel encouraging very dangerous game. US insists: Assad should cooperate. 2. High alert level ends. PARTING FROM OUR GAS MASKS. Home Front asks: Wrap masks in plastic bag and store in cupboard. 3. “FATAH WISHES YOU A HAPPY HOLIDAY” In letter to Meretz members. YEDIOT AHRONOT 1. Also in Israel: End of war, masks go back into the cupboard. BUSH AGAINST ASSAD. (…). 2. DUE TO CUTS: TEL AVIV SCHOOLS TO MOVE TO 5-DAY WEEK. 3. YIGAL AMEDI LIKUD CANDIDATE IN JERUSALEM. Upsets Roni Bar-On. ______________________________ EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS Hatzofeh discusses the recent spate of road accidents and reminds its readers that 11 people were killed in accidents over the weekend. The editors call on the Israel Police to step up its presence on the nation’s highways over the upcoming Passover holiday and urge Israeli drivers, “to honor the rules of the road out of their own free will, without being forced to do so by the police.” Yediot Ahronot refers to the widespread looting in many Iraqi cities and asserts, “Nobody can quickly ‘restore’ law and order to Baghdad: There was no law and order during 30 years of repression, only lunatic dictatorship, the price of which the nation is paying for.”