HA’ARETZ 1. ABU MAZEN AND ABU ALA TO LEAVE FOR PARIS; EXPECTED: TO COMPLETE PROCEDURES TO PRONOUNCE ARAFAT DEAD. 2. US RELAXING PRESSURE TO EVACUATE OUTPOSTS: „PREFERENCE TO DISENGAGEMENT.” 3. ONE DAY UNTIL ULTIMATUM EXPIRES – NETANYAHU WAITING FOR NRP. Assessment: if Netanyahu ‘smells elections,’ he will instigate his threat. 4. HEZBOLLAH: WE FLEW UNMANNED PLANE OVER NAHARIYA; IDF UNABLE TO SHOOT IT DOWN. 5. UNABLE TO DISEMBARK PASSENGERS FROM SLEEVE AT BEN GURION 2000. Difficulties in connecting sleeves to planes causing delays. HATZOFEH 1. Palestinian leadership leaving for Paris ahead of disconnecting Arafat from life support machines. PALESTINIAN SOURCES: ARAFAT IS DEAD – PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY DELAYING ANNOUNCEMENT. Islamic internet site: Palestinian Authority requested that disconnection from life support machines be delayed by 36 hours, in order for them to evaluate internal situation. Karadi: no specific incidents expected after Arafat’s death. 2. HEZBOLLAH UNMANNED PLANE OVER NAHARIYA. Hezbollah: we succeeded in flying unmanned plane over Israeli territory. Mirsad 1 reconnaissance plane infiltrated Israeli territory over Nahariya – but apparently crashed into the sea on its return. IDF spokesman confirmed the incident.
3. BASI INVITED GAZA RESIDENTS FOR DISCREET MEETING IN RESTAURANT FULL OF PEOPLE. MA’ARIV 1. Embarrassment: enemy plane circled above Israeli territory for twenty minutes. HEZBOLLAH UNMANNED PLANE IN NAHARIYA’S SKIES. 10 days after Sheik Nasrallah promised to introduce new factor into the power games on northern border – it exists. For several minutes unmanned plane circled in Israeli skies, without being discovered – and returned to Lebanon. IDF investigating. 2. EXPECTATION: ARAFAT TO BE DISCONNECTED FROM MACHINES BY TOMORROW. YEDIOT AHRONOT 1. Hizbollah unmanned plane freely filmed above Nahariya. BREACH IN SKIES. Senior IDF officials: Unmanned plane infiltrated Israeli skies without being discovered – failure. Concern: unmanned planes could become flying explosives. 2. ARAFAT TO BE PRONOUNCED DEAD SOON. Palestinian elite leaving today for Paris, apparently ahead of official announcement. Understandings formed in secret negotiations: funeral in Cairo, burial in Gaza. ____________________________________ SUMMARY OF EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS Yediot Ahronot, in its second editorial, expresses concern that „Hezbollah continues to attempt to acquire new weapons” and that „Israel must not look away, even for a second, at events in Lebanon.” Hatzofeh mourns the loss of six more innocent lives on the road, and criticizes the government for doing nothing to improve the situation. Yediot Ahronot demands an explanation as to why a senior army soldier was relieved from duty. BPI-info
