19.05.2003 HAARETZ 1. CLOSURE ON TERRITORIES FOLLOWING MURDER OF SEVEN ISRAELIS IN JERUSALEM ATTACK. HEBRON HAMAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THREE ATTACKS IN LAST TWO DAYS; SHARON POSTPONES DEPARTURE TO US.
2. The victims: Attack on Pisgat Zeev neighborhood bus. ON WAY TO POST OFFICE, PARKING LOT, KITCHEN AND CLEANING; MURDERED ON BUS ON WAY TO WORK. 3. STRIKE OVER; AGREEMENT ON WAGE CUTS AND DISMISSALS. 4. MAYOR OD UM AL-FAHM ALSO ARRESTED. HATZOFEH 1. Ministers demanded immediate expulsion of Arafat Sharon refused. TERROR IN JERUSALEM. Seven killed and 20 wounded in suicide attack on bus #6 at French Hill third attack within two days. Additional attack between Tekoa and Nokdim no injuries. Sharon convened special Cabinet meeting. Ministers criticized governments helplessness in face of terror. Mofaz outraged: Arafat should have been expelled two years ago. Jerusalem Police Chief Levy: ISA and Gidonim foiled bargaining attack in Jerusalem. ISA: All terrorists came from one neighborhood in Hebron. 2. SHARONS MEETING WITH ABU MAZEN FAILS. Israel offered to transfer responsibility over northern Gaza Strip to Palestinians Abu Mazen and his cohorts refused offer. 3. STRIKE OVER NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUING. MAARIV 1. Eight Israeli Arabs planned to hijack bus for bargaining purposes. TALKING UNDER FIRE. Terror onslaught continues: Seven murdered in attack at French Hill junction in Jerusalem. Arafat is doing everything in order to derail Abu Mazen. 2. COST OF STRIKE DAMAGES: 6 BILLION. 3. ARIK ZEEVI IS EUROPEAN CHAMPION. YEDIOT AHRONOT 1. Day of terror: Three terrorists in combined attack. SUICIDE ONSLAUGHT. One cell, with a similar method and common goal: Sow death. What began with Hebron attack Saturday night continued yesterday in Jerusalem: Terrorist disguised as religious Jew blew himself up on bus, killing seven. Third terrorist caused no casualties. Sharon postpones visit to US. Plan to hijack bus full of passengers to territories foiled. ______________________________ SUMMARY OF EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS Yediot Ahronot grieves for the loss of life in yesterdays terror attacks, saying, Our hearts are so heavy, that it is hard to concentrate, and bemoans the fact that the hope which has been placed in Abu Mazen for so many months has been destroyed so quickly and that we did not enjoy even, One moment of grace. The editors believe that Arafat, it seems, has also overcome him, and argue that It is enough for us to know that even if there are good Palestinians, the evil ones cast a large shadow over them. The paper points out the irony that while, At one time, a visit to the White House was considered a diplomatic achievement and no one would dream of canceling it due to a terror attack, today it is viewed as a prize for the Palestinians, who had succeeded, until that point, in doing that which was right in Uncle Georges eyes. The editors urge the reader not to believe those who claim that negotiations are in Israels interest and that they will help bring about an economic recovery, and argue that both the previous and current Prime Ministers have been unable to fulfill promises to end terror, pointing out that the advantage Hamas leaders in Gaza have over us is that They know where the next bus will blow up. Hatzofeh criticizes Western leaders for a lack of a serious response to last weeks terror attacks around the world. The editors argue that, This horrific terror will stop and be stopped quickly, only if the western world begins to think and behave exactly as the enemy facing it does. The paper says that, For every suicide terrorist, a car laden with explosives must be allowed to blow up amidst populations of Islamic extremists. When the price will be heavy there everything will stop in an instant. This is terrible and awful, it is immoral, it is inhuman, but the existing alternative is worse than all of them.
