9,11,2003 HAARETZ 1. SHARON ASSESSES: SMALL MAJORITY EXPECTED IN TODAYS VOTE TO APPROVE PRISONER SWAP. Nasrallah: If Samir Kuntar is not released there will be no deal. 2. TWELVE PALESTINIANS, INCLUDING TWO CHILDREN KILLED IN TERRITORIES. Arafat and Abu Ala agree: Chairman to remain in control of security organizations. 3. ARAFAT TRANSFERS $100,000 TO SUHA EVERY MONTH. Investigation by 60 Minutes: Money is taken from Palestinian Authority aid funds and transferred to Paris. HATZOFEH 1. Prime Minister will try to gain government majority to approve prisoner swap deal. DECISIVE MOMENT. Cabinet meeting to open today at 0900, in which ministers will have to decide whether to carry out deal. Government approval expected by majority of single vote. Sheikh Nasrallah: If murderer of Haran family in Nahariya is not released there will be no deal. If government approves deal Hizballah preparing to carry out swap this week. Navigator Ron Arads daughter, Yuval, in letter to Prime Minister: I dont know how you can sleep at night when you are about to initiate a decision that contravenes the education you received. 2. HISTADRUT AND TREASURY RETURNING TO NEGOTIATING TABLE. Labor Court obtained compromise between two sides on Friday. Order preventing Histadrut from calling strike rescinded. 3. IDF FORCES KILL NINE TERRORISTS IN GAZA STRIP OPERATIONS. Nablus and Jenin: IDF continuing with operations to capture terrorists preparing attacks.
MAARIV 1. Government to vote today on deal with Hizballah. PAINFUL DECISION. Situation last night: 11 opposed, 10 in favor and 2 undecided. Mofaz expressed strong opposition to deal over weekend, but eventually decided to support it. Nasrallah threatening to halt everything if Samir Kuntar, murderer of Haran family, is not released. YEDIOT AHRONOT 1. Remedia panic: Use of companys soy-based formula banned. CONCERN: 2 BABIES DIED FROM MYSTERIOUS ILLNESS. (
). 2. Ministers to decide today whether or not to carry out prisoner swap deal. FATEFUL DECISION IN GOVERNMENT. Even if government approves deal, crisis with Hizballah expected demanding release of Haran family murderer. ______________________________ SUMMARY OF EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS Both papers discuss todays Cabinet vote on a prisoner exchange deal with Hizballah: Hatzofeh declares that, Those who hold to one position or the other, for or against the deal, must admit that it is not a choice between good or bad, between black and white but it is a difficult and harsh choice: It does not matter how they decide, victims will remain in the field. The editors assert that, Most arguments tend toward ruling out the deal, but this is not an easy decision, and admits that, The arguments of those in favor of it are also worthy. Yediot Ahronot suggests that, Even if the tragic dimension of the deal obliges wavering ministers to make their decision with a broken heart, they must vote today with a whole heart. __________ Yediot Ahronot, in its second editorial, condemns what it perceives to be the governments and the security establishments lax response to incidents in which Jews are alleged to have uprooted dozens of Palestinian olive trees in Samaria. Hatzofeh, in its second editorial, criticizes the Histadrut for apparently still believing that a general strike would be in its interests. BPI.
