05 May 2004 HEADLINES FROM THE HEBREW PRESS HAARETZ 1. US AND EUROPE: MUST IMPLEMENT DISENGAGEMENT FROM GAZA PLAN. Sharon denies he intends to lead mini-disengagement with evacuation of a few settlements. 2. CENTRAL BUREAU OF STATISTICS: 70 OF POOREST COMMUNITIES IN ISRAEL – ARAB. HATZOFEH 1. Sharons zigzag: Yesterday, he canceled his trip to the US – and immediately changed his mind. ALTERNATIVE TO MINI-DISENGAGEMENT: PHASE WITH UPROOTING OF GANIM AND KADIM. Such a move would require advance negotiations with Palestinians – in contravention of PMs initial intentions. Mofaz in Beer Sheva: Respect the majority and find an alternative plan. In accordance with Lapids demand: Cabinet to discuss disengagement plan at its next meeting. (
). 2. DESPITE DEMOCRATIC DECISION: NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL CONTINUING ACTIVITY TO ADVANCE DISENGAGEMENT PLAN. 3. DECISION ON GILAD SHARONS DOCUMENTS POSTPONED. MAARIV 1. GRADUAL DISENGAGEMENT. Race to alternative plan: Sharons Bureau looking for solutions to referendum conundrum. Proposal currently being checked: Evacuation of Gaza Strip in stages in conjunction with setting conditions for Palestinians. Security establishment formulating details.
YEDIOT AHRONOT 1. SHARON: MINISTER WHO WONT SUPPORT – WILL BE REPLACED. Discussed rotation of portfolios with confidants. Made it clear to Peres and Lapid: I am determined to pass disengagement through government, but I need a few weeks to reorganize. No new information on Ron Arad. ________________________________________ SUMMARY OF EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS Yediot Ahronot speculates that the wide-ranging repercussions of the Likud referendum, might lead to a new agenda in the State of Israels political insane asylum, and believes that the results have made the gap between, those who believe that its possible to achieve peace and security in exchange for conceding some or all of the areas held in Judea, Samaria and Gaza, and those who believe that there is no room for compromises and painful concessions, in the words of Ariel Sharon, wider than ever. The editors suggest that the majority of Israeli voters, whom the former believes favor some form of territorial compromise, will not accept a situation in which, a minority – 1% of all Israeli citizens – has forced its will on the entire Israeli population, for very long. The paper believes that, This ticking bomb will explode if and when the US President demands the implementation of the Roadmap and the disengagement plan as a part of it, or if and when a terrible disaster occurs in the wake of a terrorist attack. The editors call for a future political realignment in which those who support some form of territorial compromise join forces and thus, escape the current political insane asylum in order to build a different future for the State of Israel. Hatzofeh reviews the phenomenon of anti-Semitism in Europe and calls for European Jews to respond violently to anti-Semitic outbreaks. The editors urge Israelis to realize that, There isnt anyone in the Islamic world who is not interested in the destruction of Jews and the State of Israel. BPI.
