HEADLINES FROM THE HEBREW PRESS

HA’ARETZ 1. ACHIEVEMENT FOR HAMAS IN LOCAL ELECTIONS: WON MOST LARGE AUTHORITIES. 2. After victory over Panathinaikos, Maccabi Tel Aviv will try to win second European championship in a row. THIS EVENING IN FINAL FOUR CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: „YELLOW WAVE” VS. TAU VITORIA. 3. PATRIARCHATE EXPECTING IRINEOS’S RESIGNATION. Most members of Greek synod call for Patriarch’s ouster over land sale affair. 4. SUSPICION: SON OF CHIEF SEPHARDI RABBI KIDNAPPED SISTER’S BOYFRIEND AND ABUSED HIM IN FAMILY HOME; APPARENTLY: RABBI TO GIVE TESTIMONY. 5. FOR FIRST TIME IN THREE YEARS, FAMILY UNIFICATION WITH PALESTINIANS TO BE ALLOWED. HATZOFEH 1. Suspicion: Violent attack in home of Chief Sephardi Rabbi Shlomo Amar. RABBI AMAR TO BE INVESTIGATED ON SUSPICION OF INVOLVEMENT IN KIDNAPPING OF YOUTH. Rabbi Amar’s daughter, son and wife arrested last Thursday on suspicion of involvement in kidnapping of 17-year-old youth who had romantic ties with daughter and abusing him for four hours, some time of which was in Rabbi’s home. Rabbi to return from Thailand on Tuesday. Two Arabs from Kalansua – friends of Rabbi’s son – participated in abuse. 2. SHARON TO DECIDE ON EVACUATION DATE ONLY AFTER INDEPENDENCE DAY. Gush Katif rabbis oppose Nitzanim plan. This morning: Ministerial committee to discuss release of 400 Palestinian prisoners. This morning: PM to convene special discussion on allocation of agricultural lands to Gush Katif evacuees. 3. MACCABI TEL AVIV IN EUROLEAGUE FINAL. Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball team defeated Panathinaikos 91-82 in Euroleague semifinal on Friday and reached final, to be held at 17:40 today. Will meet Tau Vitoria – which upset host CSKA in other semi-final. 4. REFUSAL SPREADING: 12 RESERVISTS FROM SAME BATTALION REFUSED TO BE CALLED UP. 5. MIRACLE IN KFAR DAROM: TERRORISTS FIRED ANTI-TANK ROCKET AT CROWDED BUS – AND MISSED. 6. SECURITY SOURCES: HAMAS’S ACHIEVEMENTS IN ELECTIONS MORE SIGNIFICANT THAN FATAH VICTORY. MA’ARIV 1. ISRAEL IS WAITING. Eyes on Moscow: Maccabi Tel Aviv must beat Tau Vitoria this evening (17:40). 2. Police source: Rabbi will have to answer tough questions. CHIEF RABBI’S SHAMEFUL DEAL. (.). YEDIOT AHRONOT 1. YELLOW RISING. At 17:40, Maccabi Tel Aviv will take Moscow basketball court against Tau Vitoria with one goal: Make history and win European championship second time in a row. 2. Special: Rabbi’s daughter’s lover to Yediot Ahronot: „RABBI SAW AND KNEW.” (.). ______________________________ SUMMARY OF EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS Hatzofeh believes that prominent haredi rabbi and Agudat Yisrael spiritual patron Rabbi Shlomo Elyashiv’s support for the current government, „is detached from his public’s position.” The editors speculate that, „It could be that Rabbi Elyashiv’s advanced age is beginning to influence his clarity of thought,” and suggest that, „It could be that the financial bribe that the Sharon government is waving in front of its coalition partners has blinded even the eyes of a righteous man like Rabbi Elyashiv.” The paper calls on Rabbi Elyashiv to visit Gush Katif and cautions that, „On this issue, his flock believes differently than he does.” Yediot Ahronot asserts that, „The Israeli government has a real problem: How to achieve an agreed-upon evacuation?” Yediot Ahronot, in its second editorial, dismisses Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s economic vision of an Eilat replete with casinos and a train. Yediot Ahronot, in its third editorial, comments on reports that the late Naomi Shemer plagiarized the tune for her popular song Jerusalem if Gold. Yediot Ahronot, in its fourth editorial, reminds its readers that State Comptroller Judge Eliezer Goldberg will issue his annual report today. BPI-info