HEADLINES FROM THE HEBREW PRESS HAARETZ 1. GOVERNMENT: WE WILL TRANSFER HALF OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES EMPLOYEES SALARIES; COMMITTEES: WE WILL STILL STRIKE. 2. BANKS PRESSED, CRITERIA WERE CHANGED, AND ACCOUNTS OF HOLOCAUST VICTIMS WERE SHRUNK BY HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS. Accountants: Banks holding approximately NIS 1 billion of victims funds. Banks claim that statement that they benefited from victims funds will hurt states image because victims families were compensated abroad. Bank Leumi: In the end, report that will be submitted to Knesset will determine that banks acted properly. 3. RECORD NUMBER OF REQUESTS FOR WORKERS FROM EMPLOYMENT SERVICE IN AUGUST. Number of unemployed people registered at Employment Service rose by 2% in July. 4. LAST NIGHT: SHOTS FIRED AT HAR HOMA. For first time in two years, shots fired from Bethlehem; no casualties. HATZOFEH 1. Manufacturers leaders tell Peretz: Strike hurts approximately 1 million workers. HISTADRUT: GENERAL STRIKE ON THURSDAY. Sharon summons Finance Minister Netanyahu and Interior Minister Poraz to discuss crisis. Agreement between Netanyahu and Poraz: Histadrut delaying local authorities employees salaries because it is torpedoing councils recovery plans. 2. SHARON CONFIRMS: IDF DEPLOYING FOR WITHDRAWAL UNDER FIRE. General Staff assessment: Disengagement to increase terrorism in Judea and Samaria in order to make us flee from there too. ISA Director: Hamas is popular army – if we withdraw from Philadelphia Route, It will be used to smuggle in heavy weaponry that we have not previously encountered. Rosh Hashanah terrorist attack against Israelis in Sinai thwarted. 3. OUTRAGE IN CENTRAL COMMAND: CIVIL ADMINISTRATION DIRECTOR [BRIG.-GEN.] ILAN PAZ TORPEDOING OC CENTRAL COMMANDS DECISIONS. Great tension between OC Central Command Maj.-Gen. Moshe Kaplinsky and Civil Administration Director over torpedoing of transport of structures for educational institutions in Judea and Samaria communities. MAARIV 1. HISTADRUT THREATENS: GENERAL STRIKE TOMORROW. At night meeting between PM, Finance Minister and Interior Minister, it was decided to transfer NIS 750 million to local authorities immediately. However, Histadrut claims – its not enough. 2. PERSONAL LETTERS TO EVACUEES. Disengagement Authority to send conciliatory letters to 1,700 families. Settlers: Sugar-coated poison. 3. ISLAMIC CONGRESS IN EUROPE. Expected to convene in two weeks. In role of enemy: State of Israel. 4. GOOD NEWS FOR SOLDIERS: NEW CHART OF IDF PUNISHMENTS. Unbecoming appearance will not entail imprisonment. YEDIOT AHRONOT 1. Local authorities crisis: Concern – despite night agreement, workers will not receive salaries. GOVERNMENT: WE WILL TRANSFER FUNDS, BUT WITH CONDITIONS. Last night, it was decided to transfer NIS 250 million to local authorities. Condition: Authority heads will sign recovery agreement, even without Histadrut agreement. Additional condition: Municipalities to have no liens. Histadrut refuses: Trying to bypass us, we will go to general strike. 2. IRANIAN CAUGHT PHOTOGRAPHING ISRAELI EMBASSY. Suspicion: Planned attack on embassy in Azerbaijan. ISA: Still dangerous to travel in Sinai. 3. TOMORROW NIGHT: CLOCKS TO MOVE BACK BY ONE HOUR. At 01:00 Wednesday morning, winter time begins. ______________________________
Yediot Ahronot says that, The data is good, the feeling is bad, and adds that, Thus may be summarized our economic situation at the start of the Hebrew New Year. The editors suggest that, This contradiction between the national statistics and the national mood could have several explanations. One is the natural lag in understanding and internalizing the change for the better: The wounds of three years of recession are still painfully stinging. Another explanation stems from citizens healthy skepticism regarding the bearers of the good news, who have been both wrong and misleading time and again. But above all of these is the main explanation and it relates to Israeli societys increasing concern over the phenomenon of widespread poverty and distress. Many Israelis have the impression that emerging from recession has been accompanied by a deepening of socio-economic gaps and the leaving behind of major communities and strata. The paper believes that the governments considerable economic achievements have been overshadowed by vexing problems such as the plight of local authority employees, many of whom havent been paid in months, and the perception that it is indifferent to the distress of the less well off. The editors commend Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahus achievements but caution that, As he hovers between aggressive officials and adoring commentators, Mr. Netanyahu has become detached from the small citizen. The paper concludes: As long as Israel has the highest poverty rates in the west, its social distress will be seen as the most burning non-security issue, which is crying out to be dealt with. As Finance Minister, Netanyahu must also concentrate on kindling within us a general optimism, optimism being the key to recovery and growth. Hatzofeh comments on the International Atomic Energy Agencys demand that Iran freeze its nuclear program and doubts whether any subsequent sanctions on Teheran will have any effect since, A large number of European countries are merely paying lip service and dont care at all about the Iranian nuclear program and, China, as well, doesnt see any reason why Iran shouldnt be allowed to arm itself with nuclear weapons. The editors declare that, Nuclear weapons in Iranian hands constitute an existential danger to the State of Israel, and assert that, Israel must not wait until the end of foot-dragging negotiations; He who answered the Air Force pilots on their way to Iraq will answer them on their way to Iran. BPI-info
