22.12.2003 HAARETZ 1. DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN IDF INTELLIGENCE AND ISA: IS HAMAS HOLDING BACK FROM TERROR ATTACKS IN ISRAEL? 2. US HID SECRET NEGOTIATIONS WITH LIBYA FROM ISRAEL. US administration to Israel: You have nothing to fear on nuclear matter. 3. Refusniks: Following the pilots. 13 RESERVISTS IN GENERAL STAFF RECONNAISSANCE UNIT: WE WILL NO LONGER SUPPORT OPPRESSION IN TERRITORIES. 4. RELEASE OF KIDNAPPED ISRAELIS IN COLOMBIA EXPECTED TODAY. Five have already left kidnappers base.
HATZOFEH 1. Political establishment responds harshly to letter by 13 General Staff Reconnaissance Unit reservists. GENERAL STAFF RECONNAISSANCE UNIT REFUSNIKS: NOT PREPARED TO SERVE IN YESHA. They sent letter to Sharon in which they announced that they would refuse to serve in Yesha for ideological reasons. IDF Spokesman: It is grave that reserve duty soldiers are using the name of their unit as a podium for their political opinions. [Likud] MK Gilad Erdan asks [Attorney General Elyakim] Rubinstein to view refusal to serve as criminal: Refusal from Left likely to lead to letters from other people who would refuse to evacuate communities due to their consciences. 2. YESHA KNESSET LOBBY: MIGRON OR SHARON. Police hold practice operation for evacuating outposts. Knesset members from Right tour outposts and promise: Likud will not permit Sharon to evacuate communities. Olmert: We will evacuate tens of thousands of Jews from a significant number of settlements. 3. ABDUCTEES FAMILIES LEFT FOR COLOMBIA IN EXPECTATION OF THEIR RELEASE TODAY. MAARIV 1. JOURNEY HOME. Four kidnapped in Colombia left yesterday for a long march in jungle, from which they will be flown in helicopters straight to their families. More than 100 days as prisoners should end today. 2. RICH EARN 190 TIMES AS MUCH AS POOR. According to annual Finance Ministry report. 3. We will not be a protective shield for the settlements. REFUSNIKS IN GENERAL STAFF RECONNAISSANCE UNIT. Political refusal to serve reached the most elite IDF unit yesterday. 13 General Staff Reconnaissance Unit reservists declared: We will not give our hands to oppressive regime in territories. Right and Left strongly condemn. 4. ANTI-TERROR UNIT TO RECEIVE DONATIONS FROM CHRISTIANS. Will purchase operational equipment worth $350,000. YEDIOT AHRONOT 1. Refusniks in General Staff Reconnaissance Unit. CHIEF-OF-STAFF: SULLYING NAME OF GENERAL STAFF RECONNAISSANCE UNIT. Wall-to-wall condemnation of declaration by 13 elite unit fighters: We will not serve in territories. 2. Benny, Erez, Ido and Orpaz marching in jungle on way to freedom. THE RETURN HOME. After 100 days in Colombian captivity, the nightmares are expected to end today. ______________________________ SUMMARY OF EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS Yediot Ahronot comments on the statement by 12 reservists – members and former members of the General Staff Reconnaissance Unit – that they would no longer serve in Judea, Samaria and Gaza. While the editors assert that the statement, threatens the very fabric of the IDF, they nevertheless believe that, Given the current situation of the IDF and the State of Israel, the refusal also sheds light on the dark corners of awareness, to which we have been shunting the occupation and its consequences for 35 years. The editors aver that, In the past 35 years, the IDF has become an army tens of thousands of whose soldiers have already experienced chasing after youths, pulling the elderly from their beds, and overturning family closets in front of children. Someone, after they finish judging the refuseniks and condemning refusal to serve, has to finally ask himself where all this is leading the army and the country. Hatzofeh refers to Libyas announcement that it will halt its programs to develop weapons of mass destruction and place its facilities under international supervision and calls attention to Egypts programs to develop such weapons. The editors expect a wave of pressure on Israel to place its facilities under international supervision. BPI.
