25,04,2004 HAARETZ 1. SHARON INTENSIFIES MESSAGE: REFERENDUM FAILURE WILL TOPPLE LIKUD GOVERNMENT. PM: I made it clear to Bush that I am no longer bound to Arafats safety; US: Dont attack him. 2. IDF KILLS EIGHT PALESTINIANS ON WEST BANK, INCLUDING LECTURER AND SIX TERROR ACTIVISTS. Suspected assistant to suicide terrorist apprehended in Tel Aviv; high alert ahead of Independence Day. 3. GILAD SHARON TO TESTIFY IN COURT TODAY. Claimed in television interview: Unprecedented investigation procedures used against me only because I am PMs son. 4. KERRY AND THE MIDDLE EAST: THINKS LIKE BUSH – WOULD INTERVENE MORE? HATZOFEH 1. Intelligence information leads to heightened alert in TA and capture of suspect in attempt to perpetrate terrorist attack. TA TERRORIST ATTACK FOILED. Alert declared in southern TA on Sabbath. Police received warnings that terrorists would attempt to perpetrate attack in Central Bus Station area. Many forces swept area and, in the end, captured Palestinian illegally in Israel who was handed over to ISA for continued investigation. After neither additional cohorts nor explosives were found, alert level was lowered.
2. SHARON INTENDS TO PRESSURE MINISTERS TO WORK ON BEHALF OF DISENGAGEMENT PLAN. 3. US TO ISRAEL: DONT ATTACK ARAFAT. Remarks made in response to Sharons statement that Israel was no longer bound to his safety. Right reacts with satisfto Sharons words. Arafat: You will not get rid of me. 4. THIS EVENING: EVENTS FOR REMEMBRANCE DAY FOR FALLEN OF ISRAELS WARS. 5. BORDER POLICE COMMANDER HINTS: ISRAELI AGENTS WORKING INSIDE HAMAS. MAARIV 1. Highest alert for terrorist attacks ahead of Independence Day. SHARONS THREAT. PM decides to present clear price tag: Painful attack in coming days will lead to end of Arafat. 2. REMEMBERING THE FALLEN. This evening at 20:00 – Siren marking Remembrance Day for Fallen of Israels Wars. YEDIOT AHRONOT 1. BUSH TO SHARON: DONT ATTACK ARAFAT. Arafat shocked by Sharons statement that he is freed of commitment not to attack him – and asked for help from world leaders. In Jenin: Border Police eliminates cell en route to attack. Alert: Highest. 2. VANUNU: I WAS HAPPY TO HAVE CAUSED DAMAGE TO STATE. Revealed to his friends: Wagners operas preserved my sanity in prison. 3. EVE OF REMEMBRANCE DAY: THE PAIN THAT DOESNT GO AWAY. This evening at 20:00 – Siren to start Remembrance Day for Fallen of Israel s Wars. Number of fallen: 21,781. ______________________________ EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS Yediot Ahronot criticizes Prime Minister Ariel Sharons declaration that he believes that Yasser Arafat is a legitimate military target, and notes that the US was angry that, after they moved an extra kilometer towards Sharon, they did not expect to be repaid with such a declaration. The editors point out that the Prime Minister is breaking all diplomatic conventions and suggest that, Dov Weisglass [Director of the PMs Bureau] will have to use all his creative prose to ensure that both Sharon and Bush come out from the entanglement clean. Yediot Ahronot, in its second editorial, reminds its readers that, Close to 21,000 Israelis have been killed in the nations wars, including 960 terror victims in the present intifada. This fact has ramifications to the meaning and character of Remembrance Day for the Fallen of Israels Wars since, The distinction between war at the border and war at home has become blurry. Hatzofeh discusses various issues regarding the scandal surrounding former minister Gonen Segev. BPI
