HEADLINES FROM THE HEBREW PRESS

HA’ARETZ 1. Good meeting between PM and settlers. SHARON TO CONSIDER INCREASING COMPENSATION TO EVACUEES; WILL ACT TO MOVE COMMUNITIES TO NITZANIM. Results of meeting: PM sets up team to examine ways to increase compensation. Sharon will tour Nitzanim area tomorrow to consider site. Settlers – Meeting was admission of end to struggle against evacuation. Agreed to establish dialogue channel „bypassing Disengagement Authority.” 2. IDF: HEZBOLLAH DECREASING ITS EFFORTS TO PERPRETRATE TERRORIST ATTACKS IN TERRITORIES; CALM WILL CONTINUE UNTIL EVACUATION. 3. INITIATIVE IN BRITAIN TO RESUME ACADEMIC BOYCOTT OF ISRAEL. Largest and most important lecturers’ organization in Britain to consider boycott proposal on April 20, on grounds that Israeli universities cooperate with crimes of the occupation. 4. En route to the final four. MACCABI [TEL AVIV] VS. PESARO. Euroleague final four in Moscow never seemed as close as it does after 88-60 victory at Yad Eliyahu. Second game tomorrow in Italy. HATZOFEH 1. Gush Katif and northern Samaria settlers met with Sharon yesterday and reached agreement: BYPASSING BASI. PM promises to check on possibility of increasing compensation to evacuees and moving them en masse to Nitzanim area. State, in response to appeal against disengagement: „High Court of Justice has no authority to intervene in Government decisions. 2. SENIOR OFFICER: IDF PLANNING SIEGE OF GAZA STRIP DURING DISENGAGEMENT. 3. CONFRONTATION IN CENTER OF HEBRON. Peace, Abu Mazen style: At 13:30, five Palestinian policemen tried to enter area forbidden to entry by Palestinians in Hebron. They physically confronted soldiers and left only after one hour. 4. PRESIDENT KATSAV TO LEAD DELEGATION TO POPE’S FUNERAL. 5. PROPORTION OF JEWS IN ISRAEL EXPECTED TO FALL TO 70% BY 2025. 6. MACCABI TEL AVIV DEFEATS PESARO 88-60 EN ROUTE TO FINAL FOUR. MA’ARIV 1. Meeting before the storm. Sharon: I have instructed to prepare Nitzanim. Settlers: At last, someone is listening to us. ATTEMPT AT RECONCILIATION. After months of rupture, they met at last. „You abandoned us,” settlers said crying, „Our children can’t study, we don’t know where we’ll live.” „I know that you are going to pay a heavy price,” PM responded and also shed tears, „I promise to make it easier for you.” 2. EN ROUTE TO FINAL FOUR. Maccabi Tel Aviv took giant step toward final four in Moscow after defeating Italian club Pesaro last night 88-60. Victory against Italians tomorrow will assure place. YEDIOT AHRONOT 1. Ahead of Sharon’s visit to US: President makes dramatic declaration: BUSH PRESSES: STOP CONSTRUCTION IN SETTLEMENTS. PM’s Bureau insistent: We will continue to build in settlement blocs. Settlers, at meeting with Sharon: We will negotiate directly with you, bypassing „Disengagement Authority.” Sharon: Evacuation will be hard for me too, I have tears in my eyes. 2. THE MOST SECURE SCHNITZEL IN THE COUNTRY. Sharon’s favorite meal prepared by Knesset chef under supervision of ISA security guards. (.). ______________________________ SUMMARY OF EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS Yediot Ahronot believes that the future of the Middle East does not lay in the hands of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, PA Chairman Abu Mazen or US President George Bush, but with an unknown person, such as a right-wing fanatic or a Hezbollah terrorist who will incite to violence. The editors argue that such a person is stupid because, „No bullet will stop ‘the small plan’ (disengagement) from being implemented.” Yediot Ahronot, in its second editorial, congratulates Prime Minister Sharon on his meeting with Gush Katif leaders yesterday but adds that it should have taken place a long time ago. Yediot Ahronot, in its third editorial, remembers Lili Sharon and remarks that Prime Minister Sharon is a different man now that she is no longer with him. Hatzofeh condemns the vandalism of former Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin’s grave and calls on the government to ensure that those responsible are found. BPI-info