HAARETZ 1. BUSH: CONFIDENT THAT ABU MAZEN IS DEDICATED TO PEACE; POWELL TO VISIT MIDDLE EAST THIS WEEKEND.
Bush: I am considering inviting Abu Mazen to Washington. Opportunity to promote two state solution has been created. Approval of Abu Mazens government in Palestinian Authority pushed off to Wednesday. Opposition to his government in legislative council. US to pressure countries to cut ties with Arafat. US senior official: this is the time to strengthen Abu Mazen. 2. Defence: Security Prisoners continue to give orders to friends from Israeli prisons. TERROR LEADERS PLAN FOR KIDNAPPING SOLDIERS FROM PRISON. HATZOFEH 1. Tension in Palestinian Authority ahead of Abu Mazens appointment as Prime Minister. US AND ISRAEL WORKING TO PREVENT OFFICIAL MEETINGS WITH ARAFAT. Israel made clear to Japanese foreign minister, who is arriving today, that she must avoid meeting Arafat. US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, will begin visit to Middle East, this weekend. 2. EITAM AND NETANYAHU IN DECISIVE MEETING OVER ECONOMIC PLAN. 3. US SOURCES: ROAD MAP TO BE PUBLISHED THIS WEEK. MAARIV 1. (
). EXPERTS FEAR: WE WONT BE ABLE TO STOP EPIDEMIC. (
). YEDIOT AHRONOT 1. This week: Powell to leave for Middle East, road map to be published. SHARON TO BE INVITED TO EGYPT. Senior Egyptian official: Mubaraks emissary will arrive in Israel in a few days in order to coordinate date for the visit. Abu Mazen: I will not travel abroad for meetings if siege on Arafat is not lifted. 2. TODAY: SCHOOL AS USUAL; STRIKE POSSIBLY ON WEDNESDAY. ____________________________________________________________ SUMMARY OF EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS Hatzofeh comments that Muhammed Dahlans appointment as responsible for security affairs in the Palestinian Authority removed the final obstacle to establishing a Palestinian government headed by Abu Mazen, but argue that, whoever believes that from now on Arafat will remain in the shadows and will make do with a meaningless title, is mistaken. The editors say that Abu Mazens government will have to prove that it is committed to peace. The paper believes that despite the fact that the Prime Ministers office denied reports that Arafat had been given assurances of safe passage and the removal of other restrictions, these reports did not surface from nowhere. The editors criticize Egypt for making assurances, which the paper argues, were probably made with the approval of the Americans. The editors warn the US and the Egyptians that they are not entitled to make promises and initiate steps that affect Israel without her expressed agreement. Yediot Ahronot expresses hope that there has been a significant improvement in the countrys morale. Despite economic difficulties, the editors suggest that, it could just be that we are sick of being depressed.
