HEADLINES FROM THE HEBREW PRESS

HA’ARETZ 1. SHARON THREATENS: “WE HAVE BECOME TWO FACTIONS “ – AND GAVE IN TO REBELS’ PRESSURE. PM: “In elections, we will run with two heads,” he told faction. The compromise: Likud voted 16-11 in favor of Saar’s compromise. The budget: Due to pass Knesset Finance Committee today. Referendum: Likud MKs to approve draft in Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee tomorrow. 2. NIS 150 MILLION SUPPLEMENT TO HEALTH BASKET. 3. MOFAZ DEMANDS TIGHT SUPERVISION ON ALL DEALS WITH CHINA. Defense Minister demands that security industry heads approve all trips to China and all business negotiations, including sales of civil equipment. 4. “Confirming the kill” affair. WHAT BEGAN AS TRIAL OF CAPT. R BECAME INDICTMENT OF MILITARY POLICE. HATZOFEH 1. Expose: OC Southern Command Maj.-Gen. Dan Harel and senior officers met with northern Negev community representatives and told them: In spring, your entire lives will be disrupted. IDF TO NORTHERN NEGEV COMMUNITIES: AFTER PASSOVER, YOU WILL BE UNDER SIEGE. Northern Negev to be closed to non-resident civilian traffic. Checkpoints to start at Yad Mordechai. IDF to set up checkpoints at junctions – and also in fields. Senior officer at one community: “I recommend that you don’ t plan summer weddings because your guests won’t be able to arrive.” Officers had no solutions to residents’ concerns over impairment of their daily routines. 2. Defeat for Sharon: Likud Knesset fadopted referendum-for-budget compromise. LIKUD ON VERGE OF SPLIT. Sharon to fmembers: I don’t see how we can run together in next elections. PM conceded in Knesset Finance Committee struggle – hopes to secure majority in plenum. MK Saar resigned as coalition chairman – and retracted his resignation. Shas and Shinui: Voting against budget. 3. PUBLIC PRESSURE SUCCEEDED: GOVERNMENT DECIDED TO ADD NIS 150 MILLION TO HEALTH BASKET. (…). 4. MOROCCO: DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH ISRAEL TO BE RESUMED IN APRIL. 5. LAST NIGHT: TULKARM HANDED OVER TO PALESTININS. MA’ARIV 1. PM ordered NIS 150 million supplement to medical basket. VICTORY FOR THE SICK. (…). 2. LIKUD DECIDES: SUPPORT FOR BUDGET IN EXCHANGE FOR REFERENDUM. Compromise made in contravention of Sharon’s wishes, but he announced: I am satisfied with result. YEDIOT AHRONOT 1. Rift in Likud, the crisis – Sharon: We have become two factions. We will be unable to go together to elections. The arrangement – budget to be approved in committee, but so will referendum. ALMOST A SPLIT. This was one of the most dramatic Likud Knesset fmeetings ever. “We are crashing,” Minister Livnat warned. “Suicide,” Shetrit said. Compromise decided on at last minute, despite Sharon’s opposition. PM’s confidants satisfied: “Battle won’t be decided in committees, and there is no majority in Knesset plenum for referendum, but there is a good chance of securing majority for the budget.” ______________________________ SUMMARY OF EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS Hatzofeh wonders why the government initiated an operation to photograph settlements in Judea and Samaria. Yediot Ahronot urges the public not to yield on the issue of the budget for medications and to force the government to find the funds to finance lifesaving medications. Yediot Ahronot, in its second editorial, criticizes the Likud for its conduct over the 2005 budget. Yediot Ahronot, in its third editorial, is amused that nobody seems to want to dress up as Likud MK Uzi Landau for Purim. BPI-info