HEADLINES FROM THE HEBREW PRESS

HA’ARETZ 1. GOVERNMENT DROPS ITS OPOSITION TO „NITZANIM PLAN”: WILL ANCHOR CONSTRUCTION OF NEW COMMUNITIES IN LEGISLATION IN EXCHANGE FOR QUIET EVACUATION. 2. Controversial decision. GOVERNMENT: ARIEL AND GALILEE COLLEGES WILL BECOME UNIVERSITIES. HATZOFEH 1. (.). STORM IN EDUCATION SYSTEM. (.). 2. The protest. MINISTER SHARANSKY RESIGNS FROM GOVERNMENT. Diaspora and Jerusalem Affairs Minister does so in response to uprooting plan. Sharansky: „Paying a heavy price for nothing.” 3. STATE: COMPENSATION TO SETTLERS TOO HIGH. 4. ARIEL COLLEGE TO BECOME UNIVERSITY. 5. MANUFACTURERS: NETANYAHU INITIATIVE WILL ENCOURAGE THE ECONOMY. MA’ARIV 1. Paratrooper killed in battle with cell that was operated from Syria. SHARON: ABU MAZEN IS STRENGTHENING TERRORISM. Paratroop Brigade Reconaissance Unit soldiers set out to strike at Islamic Jihad cell, but terrorists fired first and St.-Sgt. Dan Talesnikov was killed. Sharon: Instead of disbanding terrorist organizations, Abu Mazen is working to strengthen them. 2. PERES AGAINST GAY PRIDE MARCH. YEDIOT AHRONOT 1. (.). FIRED. 2. SETTLERS: WE WILL HOLE UP IN HOMES WITH GAS BALLOONS. Homesh residents: Government leaving us no choice. Official: Plan to move to Nitzanim was proposed to Gaza Coast Regional Council last night. 3. RECONAISSANCE UNIT SOLDIER SHOT BY TERRORIST WHO PLANNED STAGE CLUB BOMBING. Tulkarm fugitives fired first after lookout reported that they were unarmed. St.-Sgt. Dan Talesnikov killed. 4. LAS VEGAS, 40 MINUTES FROM BGI AIRPORT. Border to Turkish Cyprus has just opened – and thousands of Israeli gamblers have already discovered paradise: Beach with dozens of casinos. Food is free and, sometimes, flights are as well. Just play roulette. 5. VETERAN COMBAT PILOTS FLYING HOME. New OC Air Force: Pilots 51 and over are too old to fly F-16s. ______________________________ SUMMARY OF EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS Hatzofeh believes that new Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer, „is entering office with a clear plan,” and says that, „He knows very well where he wants to lead the Israeli economy.” The editors wish him well. Yediot Ahronot is unimpressed by Natan Sharansky’s resignation and says that he, „joined the Likud as a hitchhiker, led an unnecessary ministry, served in the government despite his avowed opposition to its policy and conveniently resigned after the [Passover] holiday.” Yediot Ahronot, in its second editorial, faults recent statements by outgoing IDF Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Moshe Yaalon and Education Ministry Director-General Ronit Tirosh and says that they are setting very poor examples. Yediot Ahronot, in its third editorial, discusses yesterday’s Cabinet dismissal of Israel Broadcasting Authority Director-General Yosef Barel and says that ministers should have dismissed him not because they were, in effect, compelled to by Attorney-General Meni Mazuz but because proper governance required it. Yediot Ahronot, in its fourth editorial, comments on US President George Bush’s and UK Prime Minister Tony Blair’s respective political situations and says that, „The fact that the two leaders of the free world are currently operating without true mandates at home makes them into captains who are waging battles for world peace from rickety ships.” BPI-info