19 Feb 2004 HAARETZ 1. SHARON WILL NOT REQUEST US FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR DISENGAGEMENT PLAN. Sharon expresses reservations about coordinating withdrawal with Palestinians. Considering negotiating with PA on receiving exchange for withdrawal. Visit to Washington to be delayed until Knesset recess. Disengagement to be carried out only after US elections. Administration envoys to meet with PM and Chief-of-Staff. Peace Now: Illegal outposts receiving approval. 2. ISA BELIEVES: TENNENBAUM LYING AND HIDING INFORMATION. 3. AHEAD OF HAGUE: RED CROSS ATTACKS FENCE ROUTE. 4. Aviation: What is better than a spy satellite? AIRSHIP LARGER THAN A FOOTBALL FIELD. HATZOFEH 1. Outrage in Knesset secret services subcommittee over Sharon directive to go easy on Tennenbaum. TENNENBAUM AFFAIR – AMONG MOST SEVERE IN HISTORY OF THE STATE. Committees unusual statement in wake of information delivered by ISA Director to committee this week. Also written that investigation of Tennenbaum must be exhausted and truth must be determined, and that what he underwent in captivity must not be taken into account. Tennenbaum family angry: Harming good name of Elhanan, who has already suffered enough. 2. THOUSANDS DEMONSTRATE OPPOSITE PMS HOME. 3. US: SHARON NEED NOT HURRY TO ARRIVE FOR VISIT. 4. TURKEY: WE DONT WANT TO MEDIATE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND SYRIA. 5. ISRAEL CRUSHES AZERBAIJAN 6-0. 6. FATHER OF OSLO AGREEMENT, TERJE LAARSEN, PRAISES SHARON. 7. MK GIDEON EZRA: VANUNU TOLD ME THAT HE WOULD REVEAL MORE SECRETS AFTER HE IS RELEASED. 8. [ATTORNEY GENERAL MENI] MAZUZ: RE-EXAMINE APPOINTMENT OF ZVI HEFETZ AS AMBASSADOR TO LONDON.
MAARIV 1. Security damage beyond belief. HE BETRAYED THE STATE. Senior security source: Possible that he was Hezbollah source even before he was taken captive. Members of Knesset subcommittee on secret services: We were shocked by Tennenbaum file, he must be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law. Family: MKs making political capital at our fathers expense. 2. THE PLAN: RADIATION PILLS FOR DIMONA RESIDENTS. Goal: Distribute in advance in order to cut response time in case of leak. YEDIOT AHRONOT 1. Tennenbaum affair: Secret services committee: One of the most severe and worrying cases in the history of the state. DID HE COMMIT TREASON? Said in Knesset: He sold out his wife, his children and the country. Tennenbaum failed polygraph. Suspicion that he fabricated his abduction being checked. ISA astounded over MKs statements: Investigation only beginning. Tennenbaum family: Father never acted against the state. ______________________________ SUMMARY OF EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS Hatzofeh declares that Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahus sees himself as a possible heir to the Prime Minister, and suggests that he is therefore being extremely careful not to make any strong attacks against Prime Minister Sharon. The editors point out that Finance Minister Netanyahus comments earlier this week that Israel should not make any concessions to the Palestinians without receiving something in return were enough to oppose the plan but were also, comments that Ariel Sharon could live with. Yediot Ahronot criticizes the Knesset for adopting a decision in which an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza is conditioned upon US aid. The editors describe the decision as The height of Israeli chutzpah since the US administration does not support a unilateral withdrawal, and add that Israeli insistence on the plan has caused the US to send three delegates to Israel in order to fully understand the proposal. The paper argues that withdrawal from Gaza serves Israels national interests and is an expression of the covert feelings of the nation, that, We have no moral or political basis to demand that the Americans should help in the costs, and implores that we should, grow up. Yediot Ahronot, in its second editorial, condemns the death of a Palestinian worker from Gaza due to conditions at the Erez checkpoint and says that, The distinction between terrorists and innocent persons was always a basic principle in every Israeli governments approach to Palestinian residents of the territories. The editors believe that this sensitivity has been lost since the start of the recent round of Palestinian violence and calls for the disengagement plan to be implemented quickly since this attitude is not Jewish, is not humane, and will come back to haunt us. BPI
