1. ASSESSMENT: EXCHANGE OF CAPTIVES WITH HEZBOLLAH NEAR.
Nasrallah: Lebanese prisoners will return home soon. Lawyers for Lebanese national Nissim Nasser, who is due to be released in the deal: Official sources informed us that he will be released on Sunday.
2. Olmert affair: The deposition.
THIS MORNING IN JERUSALEM COURT: MORRIS TALANSKY’S VERSION.
3. SHAS INTENSIFYING THREATS TO QUIT IF SUPPORT PAYMENTS ARE NOT INCREASED.
MA’ARIV
1. Deal in the making: Goldwasser and Regev in exchange for Samir Kuntar.
FINAL OFFER.
Samir Kuntar, another four Hezbollah fighters, the spy Nissim Nasser and ten bodies – this is what Israel is prepared to give Hezbollah exchange for abducted soldiers Goldwasser and Regev. Mediator Ofer Dekel makes it clear: This is the final offer. Even Nasrallah hinted that a deal is near: „Kuntar will return very soon.” Israeli sources estimate: Price expresses harsh feeling in Israel over fate of two abductees.
2. STATE PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE CONCERNED: TALANSKY WILL BE PRESSURED.
Envelopes and money man goes to court: At 09:00, main witness against PM will take the stand. But, at final briefing yesterday with State Prosecutor Lador, Morris Talansky appeared more tense and worried than usual.
YEDIOT AHRONOT
1. EN ROUTE TO DEAL.
Israeli proposal for captives exchange deal recently delivered to Hezbollah. Yesterday, Nasrallah declared: „Samir Kuntar and his friends will be released soon” – and from this it is being concluded in Israel that he is likely to agree.
2. THIS MORNING: THE TALANSKY „SHOW”.
09:00 – Key witness against Olmert to testify. Concern in State Prosecutor’s Office over his colorful and unexpected behavior.
[MAKOR RISHON-HATZOFEH was unavailable today.]
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SUMMARY OF EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS
Ma’ariv asserts that, „The Nakba perception deals more with the destruction of Israel than a solution to the Palestinian problem.” The editors agree with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni’s demand that the Palestinians, „Remove the word Nakba from their lexicon as a condition for achieving a peace settlement,” and assert that, „As long as the Nakba perception strengthens the self-deception, refusal, justification of terrorism, and rejection of the recognition of Israel – justice is with Tzipi Livni.”
Yediot Ahronot complains about what it calls an, „unacceptable tolerance,” of continuing rocket attacks on Israel. „The entire Government of Israel and a large portion of Israeli public opinion have come to tolerate missile strikes of ever increasing ranges”. The editors conclude that, „This distorted tolerance, even suggested/hinted, is not only an infuriating phenomenon and worrisome proof of the disintegration of national solidarity, it is a clear invitation to a continued deterioration that should have been stopped long ago”.
BreuerPress
