HEADLINES FROM THE HEBREW PRESS

HA’ARETZ 1. 146 days to disengagement. IDF STARTS TO “MENTALLY PREPARE” SOLDIERS WHO WILL EVACUATE COMMUNITIES. Dealing with refusal: A) Any instance of actually refusing an order – to be dealt with severely. B) No exemptions from evacuation to be given except for residents of settlements that are being evacuated. C) Refusers will be dealt with individually, not collectively. D) No steps will be taken against soldier who recants intention to refuse. E) Commanders who declare intention to refuse to evacuate will be dismissed immediately. 2. HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE CANCELS KNESSET HOUSE COMMITTEE DECISION NOT TO LIFT MK GORLOVSKY’S IMMUNITY. JUDGE BARAK: OPPOSITE DECISION IS NECESSARY. 3. NATO SECY.-GEN.: WE WILL STATION FORCES IN TERRITORIES ONLY UPON REQUEST FROM ISRAEL AND PALESTINE, AND AFTER AGREEMENT. HATZOFEH 1. High Court of Justice cancels Knesset House Committee decision not to lift Gorlovsky’s immunity. HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE AND KNESSET: ON COLLISION COURSE. Judges determined that Knesset House Committee’s decision had fundamental flaws that impaired its integrity and therefore it is void. Judges ordered Committee to re-discuss lifting immunity. Criticism in Knesset of High Court of Justice’s decision. Law, Constitution and Justice Committee Chairman MK Michael Eitan: “High Court of Justice joining delegitimization campaign against Knesset – move that is liable to lead to harsher confrontation than that over disengagement.” Knesset Speaker: High Court of Justice decision was reasonable. 2. NRP SPLITS: EITAM AND RABBI LEVY BREAK AWAY AND FORM NEW FACTION. (…). 3. ANOTHER RELEASED TERRORIST ARRESTED, WAS INVOLVED IN TERRORIST ATTACKS IN NABLUS AREA. Was member of terrorist gang operated by Hezbollah. Two gang members killed last week en route to terrorist attack near Bracha. MA’ARIV 1. (…). NANNY PANIC. 2. IDF BEGINS TRAINING TO DEMOLISH SETTLERS’ HOMES. Battalion of bulldozer drivers summoned for special training. Orders: First, homes in which settlers are liable to hole up, then synagogues. YEDIOT AHRONOT 1. Expose: Secret police document – most settlers expected to violently oppose evacuation. HORRIFIC SCENARIO. Holing up – concern: Will hole up with children in fortified bunkers and will threaten suicide. Opposition – will spread nails and tree trunks on roads, will release attack dogs. Violence – Will throw stones, objects and hot oil at evacuators. ______________________________ SUMMARY OF EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS Yediot Ahronot asserts that religious Zionists are finding it hard to accept that, “An Israeli majority is ready to uproot settlers from their homes. The majority is buying Ariel Sharon’s demographic and security justifications and not the Yesha Council’s prophecies of rage.” The editors note the condemnations that were heaped on a prominent religious Zionist rabbi who yesterday called on Gaza Jews to leave peacefully in the event of evacuation and neither refuse orders nor resort to violence. The paper urges against triumphalism on the part of those who support disengagement and says that the frustration and distress of its opponents must not be taken lightly. The editors believe that the Disengagement Plan will necessarily kindle a wider debate on the nature of Israel as Jewish state. Hatzofeh comment on the split in the National Religious Party (NRP) and says that, “The impression is that less than pleasant responses will be given at the ballot box both to those who broke away and those who pushed for the break.” BPI-info