Wednesday

HA’ARETZ

1. IDF: WIDE-RANGING OPERATION, PINPOINT ACTIVITY.

2. AFTER TERRORIST ATTACK, LABOR DROPS TO 22 SEATS.

Kadima – 39; Labor – 22; Likud – 12.

3. MOFAZ: SHARON PLAYED DIRTY TRICK ON ME AT CABINET MEETING.

HATZOFEH

1. Day of funerals – all those who were murdered have been laid to test, Netanya finding it difficult to emerge from shock.

NETANYA WEEPS.

Large security forces active in northern Samaria, 18 terrorists arrested up until now.  Father and three relatives of suicide terrorist arrested in Alar village.  Foreign Minister: Israel will use every means possible to stop attacks.  US condemns attack and calls on PA to act determinedly against terrorism.

2. HOT WARNING TO ISRAELI TOURISTS: GET OUT OF SINAI IMMEDIATELY.

3. INTENSIFICATION OF CRISIS IN CONTACTS BETWEEN NATIONAL UNION AND NRP.

4. KASSAM ROCKET LANDED NEAR NETIVOT ON TUESDAY NIGHT.

5. KFAR DAROM EXPELEES DECIDE: WE WILL GO TO BUILDING IN ASHKELON.

MA’ARIV

1. Government, two years ago: Fence will be completed by end of 2005.

DECEMBER 2005: FENCE IS BARELY HALF BUILT.

Target date for completion of fence in three weeks but only 300 out of 700 kilometers have been completed thus far.  Security sources: High Court of Justice is responsible.

2. MOFAZ: THEY PLAYED A DIRTY TRICK ON ME.

3. Ma'ariv-Teleseker/TNS poll:

TERRORIST ATTACK HAS NOT AFFECTED SUPPORT FOR SHARON.

Ma'ariv poll last night: Labor headed by Peretz has lost four seats in 10 days.  Sharon – 39; Peretz – 24; Netanyahu – 13.

YEDIOT AHRONOT

1. Battle heating up.  Severe crisis of confidence between PM and DM.

MOFAZ:  SHARON USING ARMY FOR POLITICS.

DM: Sharon leaked lies against me from Cabinet meeting in order to show me as someone who ignores the poor.  He is working against my election in Likud.  PM's confidants: Mofaz is hysterical.

2. Duvdevan unit commander, on soldiers who feared to take part in Jenin action:

"IN ANOTHER ARMY THEY WOULD HAVE SHOT THEM IN THE BACK."

Storm in elite unit: Following Yediot Ahronot expose that fighters asked to be excused from operation due to fear, soldiers and their parents were astounded to hear Lt. Col. A.  Parents: In another army, they would have helped our boys.  Soldiers: We are shocked.  He has gone too far.

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SUMMARY OF EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS

Yediot Ahronot believes that, "Amir Peretz did us a favor when he dragged the public debate into the economic arena," because it will force both other politicians and the public to take a deeper look at socio-economic issues.

Hatzofeh strongly criticizes, "the complete identification of the media and its minions with Ariel Sharon and Shimon Peres."

Haaretz comments: " 'There will be no election economics because it produces big headlines, but causes major damage,' Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Monday. But, in the same breath, he announced his plan to cancel value added tax (VAT) on basic food items - and this, of course, is simple, crude and eye-grabbing election economics... It is proper to encourage all those prepared to work and to make life easier for them. This should be done by significantly subsidizing day-care centers, transportation costs and other services that will make going to work more worthwhile. In addition, those who are unable to work, such as the elderly and disabled, should receive increased social welfare payments... At the conclusion of Sharon's speech Monday, he said that 'the economy in Israel needs patience, responsibility and consideration, and not magic formulas.' But if so, he should stop drugging us with VAT cancelations and submit a serious plan for encouraging work."

The Jerusalem Post writes: "In London yesterday, International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei said he found no "smoking gun" in Iran that would indicate a nuclear weapons program. He also admitted that, for 18 years, Iran had a nuclear program that the IAEA failed to detect. These two statements by ElBaradei express a large part of the predicament facing those who would rely on his international agency to prevent Iran from developing a bomb. On the one hand, the head of the IAEA cannot say for sure that Iran is developing a bomb, even though Teheran has been claiming its right to do so from the roof tops, and the most of the world is convinced that the mullahs would like to build a bomb as quickly as they can. On the other, the IAEA is admitting its own limitations at knowing exactly what Iran is doing at this moment, given that nation's strenuous and proven efforts to fool the international community."

[Yaron London wrote today’s editorials in Yediot Ahronot.]