HAARETZ 1. ESCALATION IN GAZA STRIP: HUNDREDS OF ARMED MEN ATTACK MUSA ARAFATS RAFIAH HQ. PA Chairman: Changes expected in internal Palestinian arena. 2. FRANCE PROTESTS: SHARONS CALL ON JEWS TO EMIGRATE TO ISRAEL UNACCEPTABLE.
3. UNITY NEGOTIATIONS BEGIN; PMS CONFIDANTS: WE WILL NOT CHANGE [GOVERNMENT POLICY] GUIDELINES. 4. ANOTHER SIX MONTHS WITHOUT UNIFICATION OF PALESTINIAN FAMILIES. Government decides to extend Citizenship Law by six months. 5. RISHON LEZIONS STREETPEOPLE SOLUTION: EXPEL THEM TO OTHER CITIES. HATZOFEH 1. Hundreds of armed men lay siege to Musa Arafats office and demanded that he resign. FEAR OF CIVIL WAR. Two Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades members killed and eight wounded after they tried to break into General Intelligence HQ. Today: Abu Ala to announce whether or not he will resign in contravention of Arafats opinion. Wave of resignations by senior PA officials continues. PM Ariel Sharon: Events prove that there is nobody to talk to. 2. PESSIMISM IN LABOR REGARDING CHANCES OF ESTABLISHING UNITY GOVERNMENT. Coalition contacts began yesterday. Accelerated schedule on way to government agreed upon. 3. ALLOWED FOR PUBLICATION: SUICIDE TERRORIST REACHED CAF? ENTRANCE IN JERUSALEM AND HAD LAST-MINUTE REGRETS. 4. SHARON TOLD FRENCH JEWS: EMIGRATE TO ISRAEL URGENTLY, AND PARIS EXPRESSED OUTRAGE AND DEMANDED EXPLANATION. MAARIV 1. (
). MAIMAN HIRED PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR. (
). 2. ANARCHY CONTINUES: STREET BATTLES IN GAZA. Armed men open fire at Musa Arafats office. 3. PM CONSIDERING MINISTERIAL RESHUFFLE. Labor: Within two weeks we will know if we are joining coalition or not. YEDIOT AHRONOT 1. STREET BATTLES IN GAZA. Dozens of armed Palestinian men storm Arafats nephews HQ – in protest over his appointment as head of security services. Apparent: Abu Ala will announce that he is withdrawing his resignation. 2. DISENGAGEMENT ON ITS WAY. Sharon appoints Yonatan Bashi – former senior Religious Kibbutz Movement official and reserve colonel – as head of Evacuation Authority. Authority to be able to provide advances to evacuees from next month. Sharon agrees to change [government policy] guidelines. Peres, to his confidants: Sharon doubts his ability to overcome Likud rebels. 3. OUTRAGE IN FRANCE OVER SHARONS CALL ON JEWS TO EMIGRATE QUICKLY. 4. CAPTIVITY GRANT FROM MOSSAD? If two Israelis imprisoned in New Zealand are indeed Mossad agents, financial compensation will be waiting for them on their return to Israel: Special captivity grant. ______________________________ SUMMARY OF EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS Yediot Ahronot discusses four possible scenarios vis-?-vis the disengagement plan: First, That it is impossible to carry out disengagement according to the timeframe set by the government. The editors argue that in such a case Israel will not be able to either withdraw or maintain the status quo and will therefore be forced to reoccupy the entire Gaza Strip. Second, in the event that there is continued deterioration and there is increased terrorist activity from Gaza, an international force may be sent to control the area. Third, Israel could restore the Palestinian Authority, by announcing that it is, willing to talk to anyone who represents it – except Arafat. The paper believes that the fourth option – to speed up the disengagement – is the most effective and urges the government not to, wait until the solution is set by the heads of the gangs in Gaza. Hatzofeh says that it is ironic that Shinui MK Joseph Paritzky has attacked the Likud for being racist when his party cant sit down and talk to religious people.
