HAARETZ 27.o8.2oo3 1. Sharon-Kern affair: Document obtained by Haaretz reveals new suspicions. GILAD SHARON RETURNED MONEY THAT HE RECEIVED FROM KERN BY TRANSFERRING MYSTERIOUS ADDITIONAL MONEY FROM AUSTRIAN BANK. (
). 2. THIRD ELIMINATION ATTEMPT THIS WEEK: MILITANTS ESCAPED. 3. TAMI ARAD ON POW/MIA NEGOTIATIONS: ISRAEL IS GIVING UP ON RON. 4. IAEA: SIGNS THAT IRAN HAS ENRICHED URANIUM. HATZOFEH 1. ASSESSMENTS IN ISRAEL: EXCHANGE DEAL WITH HIZBALLAH WITHIN A WEEK.
Yesterday, reports circulated to the effect that an intermediate deal is expected in which Elhanan Tannenbaum will be returned in exchange for Sheikh Obeid, and in next stage, bodies of three IDF soldiers will be exchanged for Hizballah terrorists and terrorists buried in Israel. Tami Arad outraged: From State of Israels point-of-view, Ron is irrelevant. 2. BUSH ADMINISTRATION HOLDING CONTACTS TO BYPASS ARAFAT. Communication between US envoy John Wolf and Saeb Erekat supported by Abu Mazen. 3. IDF HELICOPTERS FIRE ON SENIOR HAMAS MILITANTS CAR BUT HE SUCCEEDED IN ESCAPING. 4. POLICE ANTI-TERROR UNIT EXTRACTED FROM HOSPITAL MAN WHO DISPATCHED ROSH HAAYIN SUICIDE TERRORIST. 5. SECURITY SOURCE: TUNNELS THAT PALESTINIANS SEALED IN RAFIAH WERE OLD AND INACTIVE. IDF gave PA security services information on 10 active tunnels on Israeli-Egyptian border and they ignored the information. MAARIV 1. ISRAEL: NASRALLAH TRYING TO PLAY WITH US. Assessment in Jerusalem: Reports of done deal and release of prisoners without information on Ron Arad psychological warfare. 2. EXTRACTED FROM NABLUS HOSPITAL. In sophisticated operation, police anti-terror unit plainclothesmen infiltrated Palestinian hospital in heart of city and wheeled out bed of man who planned Rosh Haayin suicide attack. YEDIOT AHRONOT 1. Wife of captive navigator: They have decided to give up on Ron. CRY OF TAMI ARAD. Outraged at Ilan Biran, head negotiator with Hizballah. DM: We have not given up on Ron. ______________________________ SUMMARY OF EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS Yediot Ahronot, in its second editorial, dismisses the view which supports exiling Arafat on the premise that this would likely result in the Palestinians forgetting him, and his becoming irrelevant. The editors believe that Arafat
will again become a leader with worldly standing
No Palestinian not Dahlan and not Rajoub would breach his instructions. The paper says that while Arafat remain in the Mukata, we know exactly who visits him, but adds that, If he wanders in Tunisia, Libya, Yemen, well have to work very hard to know what hes doing and what his intentions are and we wont always know. Hatzofeh argues that, We have learned that Lebanon and Syria are unable to dictate to Hizballah which is the real ruler in Lebanon how to behave. The editors call for direct and open talks between Israel and the Hizballah and urge that, If the negotiations are serious, Israel must be generous in her release of Hizballah prisoners, since The length and breadth of the border is sown with short- and long- range Katyushas and an extra terrorist will not change that. In regards to Palestinian prisoners, the paper argues that those that are released must be deported, and concludes that if Hizballah make good on its threat to kidnap more soldiers, There must be an unprecedented response from the IDF. Yediot Ahronot discusses Israelis desire to travel the world, and their ability to reach all areas of the world however dangerous they may be. Yediot Ahronot, in its third editorial, comments on the possibility that betting on horse races will soon come to Israel, and argues that it will be a corrupt enterprise.
