HEADLINES FROM THE HEBREW PRESS

HA’ARETZ 1. ISA RAISES ALERT LEVEL ON TEMPLE MOUNT; WILL BE CLOSED TO JEWS ON SUNDAY. Concern: Right-wing activists will perpetrate terrorist attack on Temple Mount; Islamic organizations calling for Muslims to disrupt Jewish extremists’ plan to go up to Temple Mount. 2. BUSH WANTS FESTIVE MEETING: WILL NOT DISCUSS OUTPOSTS AND SETTLEMENT BLOCS WITH SHARON. HATZOFEH 1. Israeli efforts to calm Bush: „Sharon’s declarations – for internal purposes only.” ISRAEL TO US: WE WILL NOT BUILD IN MA’ALE ADUMIM. Weisglass clarified in his US talks that Sharon’s declarations on building in Maaleh Adumim will not be translated into actions. Pines-Paz instructs local authorities in Judea and Samaria to refrain from transferring funds to Yesha Council. 2. POLICE YIELD TO ARAB THREATS REGARDING TEMPLE MOUNT. For first time since Temple Mount was opened, it will be closed again to Jews this Sunday – due to concern over Arab violence. 3. MOFAZ PRESENTS DETAILS OF UPROOTING PLAN TO SHARON. 4. IDF SOLDIER WOUNDED NEAR JENIN. MA’ARIV 1. GOING OUT TO THE FIELD. Today: PM to tour area where Nitzanim bloc is expected to be established, in order to closely supervise preparations. Condoleeza Rice: Don’t destroy houses after evacuation. 2. ISA RAISES ALERT LEVEL ON TEMPLE MOUNT. Reason: Intelligence information on Jews’ intentions to attack mosque. Temple Mount to be closed to Jews on Sunday. 3. SHE WILL SING IN POPE’S MEMORY. Ahinoam Nini to repeat famous performance at Vatican. YEDIOT AHRONOT 1. Sharon decides in contravention of security establishment concerns. „NATION MUST SAY GOODBYE TO GUSH KATIF OVER PASSOVER. PM: We will allow residents to have proper goodbye to their homes, but will assure that those who come to visit over festival will not remain. Also decided: Whoever does not want to evacuate family graves – will not be forced to. Land is worth money – guess who is director of company that owns most land in Nitzanim area? Disengagement Authority Director Yonatan Basi. Omri Sharon against Dad: Must not transfer Gush Katif residents to Nitzanim nature reserve, it will destroy country’s last dune. ______________________________ SUMMARY OF EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS Hatzofeh refers to a document being circulated by a noted Gush Katif rabbi that says that, „Any soldier or policeman who participates in the evacuation of Jews transgresses over 20 explicit Torah prohibitions.” The editors doubt the efficacy and prudence of such statements and note that other rabbis have ruled otherwise. The paper adds that, „Such rulings do not panic either Yonatan Basi or Ariel Sharon or the bunch around them.” Yediot Ahronot discusses the recent UN Arab Human Development Report and notes that, „While the new UN report is not sparing in its criticism of the Israeli occupation, it explicitly states that Arab rulers are using the Arab-Israeli conflict as ‘an excuse to postpone reforms and a transition to a form of rule that represents the will of the people.'” The editors briefly review the report and conclude that it, „exposes the governmental, cultural and social crisis in which Arab-Islamic civilization has become mired. The only point of light is the very existence of the report and it publication; this attests to an awakening in critical Arab public opinion and the strengthening of the voices calling for reform.” BPI-info