Date: Mon, 09 Aug 2004 12:55:15 +0200 HEADLINES FROM THE HEBREW PRESS HAARETZ 1. NETANYAHU PRESENTS FINANCE MINISTRY CUTS; SHARON TO PERES: WE WILL NOT DELAY APPROVAL OF 2005 BUDGET. Scope of cut in 2005 budget: NIS 6.3 billion. Across-the-board cut of 4% in government ministry budgets. Preference to be given to elderly, school meals and education. Proposal to deepen taxation of advanced training funds. Assessment in Knesset: Budget includes items that will not be passed. Opposition to proposals designed to increase revenue from taxation. 2. SHARON ORDERS RECONSIDERATION OF TENDERS FOR 1,000 HOUSING UNITS IN TERRITORIES. 3. MILITARY COURT ACQUITS ACCUSED IN DRIBEN MURDER AND CRITICIZES PROSECUTION. 4. DOES HEZBOLLAH ATTACK ONLY IN RESPONSE TO ISRAELI PROVOCATIONS? Study: Anti-aircraft rockets – in response to Air Force flights in Lebanese airspace.
HATZOFEH 1. Yesterday: Finance Minister presented 2005 budget for ministers perusal ahead of Cabinet debate. 2005 PROGRAM. Finance Ministry seeking to cancel Eilat VAT exemption, increase price of water, cancel public sector wage increments, reduce payments to well-off elderly and cancel tax exemptions. At press conference in which he presented next years budget, Finance Minister announced that NIS 1 billion in next years budget will be devoted to supporting weaker sectors and that payments to elderly will be increased. (
). Histadrut claims that Netanyahu is creating two countries and promises to fight budget. 2. [ISA DIRECTOR AVI] DICHTER: MORE ISRAELIS HURT SINCE BEGINNING OF INTIFADA THAN FROM 1947-2000. 3. LIKUD-LABOR DISAGREEMENT ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC ISSUES. 4. LIGHT EARTHQUAKE FELT IN BEIT SHEAN VALLEY AREA. MAARIV 1. Netanyahu demanding NIS 6.3 billion cut in next years budget. WE WILL RECEIVE LESS AND PAY MORE. (
). Eilat VAT exemption to be cancelled. Price of water to rise. Tax exemption on lottery winnings to be cancelled. Law on absorption of discharged soldiers to be relaxed. Widespread public sector dismissals. Tuition to increase by thousands of shekels. 2. Forming a government. SENIOR LIKUD OFFICIAL: MORE THAN HALF OF SHAS IN. Likud and Labor: In meantime, no agreement between Sharon and Peres. YEDIOT AHRONOT 1. 2005 CUTS. Unending cut: Even new budget contains cuts. Netanyahu: Growth requires additional cut. Opposition: Wicked budget. 2. AND WHO PROVIDED IDF WITH INFORMATION ON OUTPOSTS? PEACE NOW. Defense Ministers adviser initiated meeting with organization. 3. US: WE WILL NOT ALLOW IRAN TO DEVELOP NUCLEAR WEAPONS. Condoleeza Rice: Bush considering all tools at his disposal. ______________________________ SUMMARY OF EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS Yediot Ahronot comments on the draft 2005 state budget as it was presented by Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday and, using one of the Ministers analogies, questions whether his budget will be able, to pull the car out of the mud. Yediot Ahronot, in its second editorial, examines the role of leadership in Israeli society. The editors suggest that, A genuine leader must be experienced and have the ability to lead more than just his candidacy, and adds that, His personality must include both fire and the courage to lead struggles and make fateful decisions; he must be sensitive to social needs instead of to his personal honor. Hatzofeh discusses the recent upsurge of anti-Semitism in New Zealand. The editors believe that, Every Jewish organization in the world must immediately flood the New Zealand government and its ambassadors around the world with sharp protest letters, and assert that, The anti-Semitic elements in New Zealand are well known to the authorities and if the Prime Minister only wanted to apprehend them – the human scum would be caught very quickly. BPI-info
