1. CONTRARY TO PROTESTORS’ DEMAND: NETANYAHU
PUSHING FOR KNESSET APPROVAL OF NATIONAL HOUSING COMMITTEES LAW.

PM’s Bureau believes that construction reform
will win majority.  Struggle leaders issue list of their demands.

2. Dramatic ruling.

HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE ORDERS STATE TO DEMOLISH
LARGEST WEST BANK OUTPOST OF MIGRON.

1. NETANYAHU MEETS WITH [ISRAEL MEDICAL
ASSOCIATION CHAIRMAN] EIDELMAN: „STOP YOUR HUNGER STRIKE.”

Last night: After 136 days of protest, PM met,
at his residence, with struggle leader, IMA Chairman.  „How long can one go
without food?” Netanyahu asked.  „I respect him,” Eidelman replied, „but I will
continue to strike.”

2. PROTEST LEADERS’ DEMANDS: REDUCE VAT, STATE
HOUSING ASSISTANCE, FREE EDUCATION FROM AGE THREE MONTHS, CANCELLATION OF
NATIONAL HOUSING COMMITTEES LAW.

1. Taxation: Reduce VAT, halt reduction in
companies tax and tax especially high salaries.  Housing: Cancel national
housing committees law, create reservoir of inexpensive apartments and legalized
rent control.  Education: Free education for every child from 3 months of age,
reduce class sizes, and cap parents’ payments.  Health: Increase number of
doctors, increase number of beds and more medical equipment.

„OUR DEMANDS.”

Protest leaders: „200,000 demonstrators are not
sushi eaters or water pipe smokers.”  For first time since strike began four
months ago, Netanyahu met with head of Israel Medical Association.

1. National housing committees law [to be
submitted] for Knesset approval; protestors: We will fight.

„FREE COMPULSORY EDUCATION FROM AGE THREE
MONTHS.”

Yesterday: Protest movement leaders presented
list of their demands.  Netanyahu’s Bureau: Cost of demands is excessive; they
will need to withdraw from some.  Authority of ministers’ and experts’ committee
that will dialogue with protest leaders expanded: Authorized to make decisions
on cartelization in the economy.

1. „PROTESTORS WILL NEED TO WITHDRAW FROM SOME
OF THEIR DEMANDS.”

After publishing „eight article” document of
protest leaders’ demands, PM Netanyahu’s Bureau warns against being
irresponsible.  „Protestors will have to think about what is possible and what
is out of the question.”

1. PROTEST LEADERS’ DEMANDS: REDUCED VAT AND
FREE EDUCATION.

______________________________

Ma’ariv comments on the trial of
Hosni Mubarak, which is due to begin today in Egypt.  The author asserts that,
„If Mubarak had correctly read the mood of the Egyptian public in recent years,
he would have resigned long before the demonstrators in Tahrir Square demanded
his head.  And even after they demanded it, he could have saved himself by
fleeing for his life like his Tunisian colleague did.”  The paper notes that
while the ruling military council, all of whose members were appointed by
Mubarak, sought to postpone the trial as long as possible, „When they were
forced to choose between their personal survival and turning their backs on the
man in whose shadow they took shelter for many years, they chose to throw
Mubarak to the mob.”  The author asserts that, „The Egyptian judicial system
usually receives the confidence of the Egyptian public.  The problem is that it
will be difficult to ensure that a media show trial, such as is now being held
under public pressure, will also be a fair trial especially when the generals,
prosecutors and judges are all worried that they might be next in line.”

__________

Two papers discuss various issues related to
the ongoing wave of socio-economic protests over – inter alia – housing prices
and the cost-of-living:

Yediot Ahronot contends that,
„The protestors now need a responsible adult, a leader who will take the
energies that have sprung up on Rothschild Boulevard and turn them into
achievements.  But for this, they need to come down to earth from detached
fantasies.”

Yisrael Hayom says that, „After
2.5 weeks of impressive demonstrations, protests and marches, it seems that the
tent protest leaders are living in a movie: It seems that they excel in making
demands but do not know what the solution is.  The protestors in the tent
encampment on Rothschild Boulevard have not forgotten anything  except one thing
– where will the money come from?  With all sympathy, even in Communist China in
Mao’s day, they would have paled over the demonstrators’ shopping list.”  The
author believes that the Government will answer some of the protestors’ more
reasonably priced demands but will reject others outright due to their excessive
cost.