HEADLINES

HA’ARETZ
1. DECISIVE DAY FOR SHALIT DEAL.
Olmert instructed Diskin and Dekel to extend stay in Cairo by 24 hours. Cabinet to convene tomorrow. Resistance Committees spokesman: Israel liable to renege at last minute.
2. TWO POLICEMEN SHOT TO DEATH IN JORDAN VALLEY ATTACK.
Police official: Terrorist caused policemen to stop and open windows, and then shot them at close range.
3. LIKUD AND YISRAEL BEITEYNU NEGOTIATING TEAMS INITIALED COALITION AGREEMENT.
Livni confidants: The moment they sign agreements with parties from the right, the chances for unity are much less likely.
4. PRECEDENT: ADOPTIVE HOMOSEXUAL COUPLE RECEIVED MATERNITY GRANT.
(…).
MA’ARIV
1. Negotiations in Cairo continue into the night. Cabinet meeting postponed until Tuesday.
995 days in captivity. Shalit family and former captive write in his name and handwriting:
DID I FAIL IN REMAINING ALIVE?
(…).
2. ATTACK IN HEART OF THE JORDAN VALLEY: TWO POLICEMEN MURDERED AT SHORT RANGE.
YEDIOT AHRONOT
1. Terrorists staged flat tire and murdered two policemen who stopped to help.
DEATHTRAP FOR JORDAN VALLEY POLICE.
After year of relative quiet: Two traffic police shot to death in the head, from short range, in their patrol car, at Masua Junction. Security sources: Fatah responsible for attack.
2. OLMERT POSTPONES DECISION: NIGHTTIME NEGOTIATIONS IN EGYPT.
Cabinet meeting in which PM was supposed to present results of negotiations for Gilad, postponed to tomorrow.
3. AGREEMENT SIGNED: LIEBERMAN IN GOVERNMENT.
Chances for unity government deflated.
YISRAEL HAYOM
1. Last minute drama: Olmert postpones Cabinet meeting.
DECISION POSTPONED.
PM announced 24 hour postponement last night of special Cabinet meeting on Shalit, scheduled for this morning. Envoys in Cairo, Dekel and Diskin, presented „generous and flexible offer” and remained in Egypt to continue negotiations. If there will be a deal, Government will approve it tomorrow. If not – issue will pass to Netanyahu Government.
2. TWO POLICEMEN MURDERED IN JORDAN VALLEY ATTACK.
Shot in their vehicle near community of Masua in northern Jordan Valley. One conjecture: Terrorists staged car breakdown, and police stopped to assist – and were shot. Settlers: It’s because roadblocks were dismantled.
3. IN THE MORNING HOURS: LIKUD-YISRAEL BEYTENU AGREEMENT.
Towards midnight it was announced: Lawyers prepared drafts for initialing.
4. NETANYAHU TO EMPLOYERS: KEEP WORKERS.
Told economy leaders: It will take time for economic ship to change direction. (…).
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SUMMARY OF EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS
Yediot Ahronot refers to last night’s terrorist double-murder in the Jordan Valley. The author asserts that, „It will be very difficult to decide tomorrow on the release of 450 murders who were caught in similar, if not worse, circumstances,” and suggests that, „From the Shalit family’s perspective, the murder in the Jordan Valley is liable to be a severe blow and to take the wind out of the sails of the public pressure being exercised on the decision-makers in recent days.” However, the paper cautions its readers not to write-off the negotiations on Gilad Shalit’s release just yet and speculates that a hardening mood in Israel might lead Hamas to soften its position before the new Government takes power in Jerusalem.
Ma’ariv avers that, „The implementation of a Northern Ireland-like solution in Israel is – in practice – the establishment of a bi-national state with the Palestinians – a disaster for those who believe in Israel as the national home of the Jewish People,” and adds that, „This is, perhaps, the first lesson from Northern Ireland: We do not want to reach an agreement like ‘the Good Friday agreement’ because this would mean the end of the Jewish state.” The author warns that, „If Netanyahu does not want to be dragged into such a solution, he should reconsider his opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state.”
Yisrael Hayom discusses the chances of forming a unity government and says, „It isn’t over till it’s over, and it’s still not over.” The author believes that it depends on Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu and Kadima Chairwoman Tzipi Livni and adds that, „If there is an increased sense of responsibility among the two partners-in-power, they will decide to take the risks.”