SUMMARY OF EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS

HEADLINES FROM THE HEBREW PRESS HA’ARETZ 1. CONCERN IN PM’S BUREAU: MESSAGE ABOUT PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTATION OF DISENGAGEMENT PLAN IS NOT GETTING ACROSS. 2. RABBI ELIYAHU: DON’T REFUSE ORDER TO EVACUATE COMMUNITIES. 3. COMPANY COMMANDER REFUSED TO SHOOT – AND WAS DISMISSED. Officer refused to use rubber bullets or gas grenades against fence protestors. HATZOFEH 1. Less than half of public supports disengagement. RABBI MORDECHAI ELIYAHU: DON’T REFUSE EVACUATION ORDER. „Preferable that religious [soldiers] evacuate in tears rather than having wicked do so joyously.” Mishal Cham poll: Only 48% of Israeli public supports disengagement, down from 68% in February. 2. 83% INCREASE IN BUILDING STARTS IN JUDEA, SAMARIA AND GAZA AS OPPOSED TO 6% DECLINE IN REST OF COUNTRY. 3. INSTEAD OF SOLUTIONS – GOVERNMENT PUT ON A SHOW. Government official: Not enough rental apartments that meet conditions for Gush Katif evacuees. 4. MORTAR ASSAULT ON GAZA STRIP COMMUNITIES CONTINUES – IDF HOLDS BACK. Air Force destroys vehicle in Khan Yunis that was carrying rocket launchers. 5. TENSION IN LABOR AHEAD OF PUBLICATION OF VOTERS LIST BEFORE INTERNAL ELECTIONS. MA’ARIV 1. 68 days to disengagement. Senior political source warns: $40,000 FINE FOR THOSE WHO REFUSE TO BE EVACUATED. (.). 2. RABBI ELIYAHU: FORBIDDEN TO REFUSE ORDER. Also opposes blocking highways. 3. HALUTZ TO APPOINT DISENGAGEMENT GENERAL. To be responsible for coordinating evacuation with Palestinians. YEDIOT AHRONOT 1. Trojan Horse affair – dramatic development in police investigation. SUSPICION: DIMONA REACTOR SECRETS STOLEN. Concern at Nuclear Research Center: Computer of one of the firms that fell victim to industrial espionage also had files on plans to produce heavy water. 2. LABOR MEMBERSHIP DRIVE: THREE ARABS FOR EVERY KIBBUTZ MEMBER. More than 32,000 Arabs and Druze signed membership forms. ______________________________ Hatzofeh criticizes IDF Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz for promoting the idea of restraint in the face of the recent wave of Kassam rocket and mortar attacks on Sderot and Gush Katif. Yediot Ahronot believes that both demography and politics will eventually force the partition of Jerusalem, partly in order to assure a Jewish majority. BPI-info