HEADLINES FROM THE HEBREW PRESS

HA’ARETZ 1. FIRST TEST FOR NEW SHARON GOVERNMENT: REBELS LIABLE TO TORPEDO TODAY’S BUDGET VOTE. 2. ANTICIPATION IN ISRAEL AHEAD OF ASSAD’S VISIT TO MOSCOW. 3. AFTER 21 MONTHS’ DETENTION: PLEA BARGAIN FOR SHEIKH RAAD SALAH AND SENIOR ISLAMIC MOVEMENT OFFICIALS. 4. OC INTELLIGENCE: WITHIN SIX MONTHS, IRANIANS WILL HAVE REFINED URANIUM FOR NUCLEAR BOMB. HATZOFEH 1. Knesset to vote on state budget today – rebels likely to oppose. FATEFUL VOTE FOR SHARON GOVERNMENT. Votes of Likud rebels to be decisive: If they vote against – draft budget will not be approved by plenum. Likud fears fsplit if rebels decide to vote against. Minister Yisrael Katz: If vote passes on strength of Yahad and Arabs, we must go to elections. 2. UNITED TORAH JUDAISM SPLITS. After 14 years of cooperation, Rabbi Elyashiv approved split by Degel Hatorah representatives following MK Litzman’s decision to chair Knesset Finance Committee in contravention of his wishes. In meantime, two factions to remain within coalition. (…). 3. WITHIN TWO WEEKS: SHARON TO MEET WITH PA CHAIRMAN ABU MAZEN. MA’ARIV 1. Sharon confidantes: We will settle accounts with them. THEY WILL DECIDE. This morning: Likud rebels to decide whether or not to torpedo budget. Sharon: If I lose vote – I will go to elections. Netanyahu’s confidants: Budget will pass. United Torah Judaism: Ravitz and Gafni to form independent faction. 2. SALAH’S DEAL. Sheikh Raad Salah and additional accused from Islamic Movement admit to several security offenses and will be released. YEDIOT AHRONOT 1. Budget or elections: Likud rebels to decide fate of vote. BATTLE FOR EVERY VOTE. Rebels to make final decision whether or not to support budget only today. Several have already announced that they will oppose. Last night – apparent bare majority for government. Sharon: If budget doesn’t pass, we will go to elections. 2. Plea bargain with Islamic Movement leaders. “MOLE HILL OUT OF A MOUNTAIN.” When they were arrested, people talked of “earthquake.” Today: Affair to end with cancellation of most severe charges on membership in terrorist organization and transferring funds to Hamas. ISA opposes plea bargain. Sheikh Raad Salah to be released within six months. His friends are being released. ______________________________ SUMMARY OF EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS Yediot Ahronot believes that, “The split in the Likud is – almost – a fact,” and suggests that, “If Sharon does not succeed in broadening the government’ s base of support by bringing Shas into its ranks in the very near future, it would not be worthwhile to prepare birthday cakes for the current government’s one-year birthday because it won’t last that long.” Yediot Ahronot, in its second editorial, says that it is ironic that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, “who has railed against the legitimacy of a Jewish government that is dependent on the good graces of the Arab MKs, is now dependent on the goodwill of Abdulmalik Dehamshe and Talab El-Sana.” Hatzofeh discusses the current state of anti-Semitism in the world and asserts that, “Anti-Semitism rears its head only when it senses weakness in the Jewish collective and in the State of Israel.” The editors believe that, “When terrorism hits us without an appropriate response and when the blood of Jews in defenseless cities is spilled by rockets and mortars, the anti-Semitic urges of sick people are stirred up in the various cities of Europe.” Yediot Ahronot, in its third editorial, considers the appointment of American Stanley Fischer as the next Governor of the Bank of Israel: “What’s so big about this proposal? In any case, we are dependent on the US for everything and cannot take even the smallest step regarding security, diplomacy or economics without asking permission. If the US says ‘Boo!’ to us, we hide under the table. After the latest reprimands from the Pentagon regarding China, that the Governor of the Bank of Israel should come from the US is one of Uncle Sam’s nicer gifts. Who knows, perhaps in the next stage we’ll be able to rent Bill Clinton as prime minister for a while.” BPI-info