HAARETZ 1. SHARON REFUSING TO DECLARE GOAL OF ENDING OCCUPATION IN AQABA. American emissaries gave draft to Sharons declaration.
Israel balking at making declaration on evacuating outposts. US interested in coordinating declarations by three leaders. Palestinians to Sharon: We cannot do an Altalena. Powell: US coordinators to arrive after Bushs visit. Palestinians: Difficulties in accepting Fatah agreement for hudna. 2. IMPLEMENTATION OF MAP BEGINS: FULL CLOSURE REMOVED. 3. MORE THAN HALF OF ADDITIONAL CUTS FROM DEFENSE BUDGET. 4. MACCABI TEL AVIV WINS CHAMPIONSHIP IN LEAGUES FINAL MINUTES. 5. Diaspora: Researchers Stop marketing 1948 Israel to young people. AMERICAN JEWISH YOUTH DISTANCING THEMSELVES FROM ISRAEL. HATZOFEH 1. Israel to release close to 100 administrative detainees. IDF operations in Arab towns in Judea and Samaria to be reduced. DESPITE CONTINUED TERROR ATTACKS CLOSURE LIFTED FROM JUDEA AND SAMARIA. Israeli Arab injured in shooting attack in Jordan Valley; terror attack thwarted in northern Samaria. IDF forces leave Jenin operations continue in Beit-Hanoun. Abu Mazen: In two or three weeks we will reach agreement with terror organizations. 2. SANCTIONS AT BEN-GURION, PORTS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICES EXPECTED BETWEEN 10:00-12:00. MAARIV 1. Hamas agrees to hudna. Abu Mazen and Sharon reach understandings. THREE-WEEK CEASEFIRE. Following Sharons meeting with Abu Mazen, Israel will avoid offensive in territories, as long as there are no terror attacks. Israel begins relief measures. Fear: Lone terrorist can wreck understandings. 2. LIEBERMAN: EVACUATING COMMUNITIES WILL LEAD TO CIVIL WAR. YEDIOT AHRONOT 1. Ahead of summit: Infiltration of three car bombs thwarted. Peak number of warnings for terror attacks this week. ON ALERT. Ahead of Aqaba summit, Sharon and Abu Mazen meet in warm atmosphere. Sharon: I will make painful and difficult concessions. Abu Mazen: I will not make empty promises. Dahlan: I give my word of honour Kassam missile attacks against Sderot to stop within a few days. Despite warnings: Closure lifted from territories. ______________________________ SUMMARY OF EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS Yediot Ahronot suggests that US President Bushs visit to the region this week, will not be a courtesy call. The editors admit that, From a historical pont-of-view, it is difficult to be optimistic regarding the success of a far-reaching diplomatic settlement, which is being completely dictated by a third party, but acknowledge that, At the moment, there is no alternative to the attempts of the worlds superpower to enforce its own rules on the sides. The paper draws an anlogy to the US-sponsored Good Friday accord in Northern Ireland and notes that while many problems in Ulster remain unsolved, the terrort has halted, and, The economic and social benefits are such that no side has a genuine interest in destroying them. Hatzofeh notes that, In the coming days, those to whom the Land of Israel is important, will return to the streets to fight for the homeland. The editors assert that, Sharon has stopped being the leader of the right and has become more left wing than Peace Now, and call for the Likud Central Committee to take against him. The paper hopes that this Wednesdays demonstration in Jerusalems Zion Square will send a message to the Likud leadership. Yediot Ahronot, in its third editorial, laments that relatively few Israelis are prepared to fulfill David Ben-Gurions dream and settle in the Negev. Yediot Ahronot, in its second editorial, reminds its readers that Jerusalem will hold municipal elections on Tuesday and wonders how the elections will affect religious-secular relations in the city.
