HEADLINES FROM THE HEBREW PRESS HA’ARETZ 1. HALUTZ: IF RELIGIOUS REFUSE TO PARTICIPATE IN EVACUATION, SECULAR WON’T SERVE IN HEBRON. Terrorist attack victims: Rachel and Dov Kol, who were murdered in Kisufim shooting attack, laid to rest. (.). Right-wing refusers: IDF decision – commanders who refuse order during disengagement will be dismissed from command. HATZOFEH 1. Yesterday: Dov and Rachel Kol, who were murdered on Kisufim route, laid to rest. Yesha Council outraged: „ARMY SHOULD FIGHT TERRORISM, NOT CIVILIANS.” Thus settler leaders told Chief-of-Staff during tense meeting against of increasing terrorism. Wallerstein attacks military involvement: „Very grave that in democratic country, soldiers are used to deal with civilian disturbances on area over which State of Israel has sovereignty.” Siege of Gush Katif expands – Egged halts bus service. Police: Negev Commander Shaham to face disciplinary tribunal. 2. The rumor: SHARON: I DID NOT HAVE HEART ATTACK. 3. The humiliation: SOLDIER REFUSED ORDER AND WAS ABUSED. 4. MAJ.-GEN. STERN: WE WILL NOT HARM HESDER YESHIVAS. 5. WELCOME – 330 NEW IMMIGRANTS FROM FRANCE TO LAND TODAY. MA’ARIV 1. Sharon: To say that I collapsed? That’s the record! „SOURCE OF RUMORS – INCITEMENT IN LIKUD.” Wave of rumors spread throughout country: „PM suffered heart attack.” Sharon calmed ministers and attacked: This is part of incitement against me from within the Likud. 2. „THEY WERE A PERFECT COUPLE.” Doc was leftist-bohemian, Rachel was religious and right-wing. They were murdered together in terrorist attack on Kisufim route on Sunday. 3. SOON IN NEGEV: 4,000 NEW JOBS IN NEGEV. Another Intel plant in the south. YEDIOT AHRONOT 1. Chief-of-Staff briefed PM and ministers on IDF disengagement plan. 55,000 SOLDIERS TO PARTICIPATE IN EVACUATION. This will be largest military operation ever. Assessment: 70% of settlers will leave without opposition. 10,000 reservists to be called up soon. Palestinians to deploy „blocking wall” of 5,000 policemen in order to prevent terrorist cells from attacking evacuees. Threat: If terrorist organizations fire during evacuation – IDF will shell population centers. Goal: Area will be handed over to Palestinians by Rosh Hashanah. BPI-info
2. TODAY: OMRI SHARON TO SIGN PLEA-BARGAIN. PM’s son will confess to crimes and agree to have his immunity lifted – court will determine sentence. ______________________________ Yediot Ahronot says that, „The Yesha Council’s success at Kfar Maimon wasn’t in holding a ‘democracy festival’ but in defeating itself,” and adds that, „In the true test, the disengagement opposition leadership showed that it is capable of preventing the threat to democracy that it stoked for months with its own hands.” The editors call on the Yesha Council to show further leadership and work to prevent the infiltration of the Gaza Strip by extremist elements and to halt, „the campaign of de-legitimization against the Prime Minister, the elected institutions and the security forces of the State of Israel.” Hatzofeh strongly criticizes anti-haredi remarks by Negev police commander Niso Shaham, calls for his immediate dismissal, and commends a call to this effect by Yahad-Meretz Chairman Dr. Yossi Beilin. The editors laud the professionalism of previous Israel Police commissioners but suggest that, „Today, the senior police leadership wants to please Ariel Sharon and his son Omri.” Yediot Ahronot, in its second editorial, accuses the Government of kowtowing to the cellular telephone companies by refusing to make a decision regarding the construction of cellular telephone antennas. BPI-info
