Wednesday

HA’ARETZ

1. PA ELECTIONS TODAY: CLOSE BATTLE BETWEEN FATAH AND HAMAS.  OLMERT ON ELECTIONS: ISRAEL "WILL KNOW HOW TO ACT IN EVERY SCENARIO."

Voters: 1.34 million Palestinians to vote today in Legislative Council elections.  Polls: Last polls report that Hamas has closed to within 7% of Fatah.  Abu Mazen: PA Chairman calls on Palestinians to participate in elections in order "to choose new and worthy leadership."  Olmert, in his speech: Rejects "scaremongering that tells us how awful it will be after PA elections."

2. DOCTORS: SHARON MAY BE DEFINED AS "VEGETABLE."

3. 55 Russian-speakers competing for three spots on Kadima list.

LEADING LIST FOR KNESSET SEEKS YOUNG RUSSIAN-SPEAKING CANDIDATES.

HATZOFEH

1. Today: PA citizens to elect new Legislative Council.

HAMAS OR FATAH.

1.34 million people to vote throughout PA and in eastern Jerusalem, where demonstrations against vote are expected.  Fatah leaders: We will find it difficult to reach agreement with Hamas after elections.  Olmert, in Herzliya speech: Upholds Roadmap, warns that additional uprooting is on agenda and repeatedly refers to Ariel Sharon.

2. Exclusive: Goal of uprooting fails – increase in number of settlers.

SETTLERS RETURN TO PRE-UPROOTING NUMBERS.

More residents in Judea and Samaria than were in Judea, Samaria and Gaza before uprooting.

3. CHIEF-OF-STAFF: AMONA OUTPOST TO BE EVACUATED NEXT WEEK.

4. STEINITZ TO MOFAZ: YOU GAVE FALSE INFORMATION ON GAZA CROSSINGS AGREEMENT.

5. PHENOMENON: ARAB PARTY SUPPORTERS REGISTERING WITH KADIMA.

6. STATE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE DEMANDING PRISON SENTENCE FOR OMRI SHARON.

7. BANK OF ISRAEL GOVERNOR: STATE NOT GIVING PREFERENCE TO WEAKER STRATA.

8. ISRAELI TEAMS RESCUING THOSE TRAPPED IN RUBBLE OF COLLAPSED BUILDING IN NAIROBI.

9. STUDY: 220 ISRAELI COMPANIES SELLING WEAPONS AROUND THE WORLD.

MA’ARIV

1. For first time in decade: Palestinians electing parliament today.

FATAH OR HAMAS.

13,000 Palestinian police and 1,700 Israeli soldiers to guard PA elections.

2. "WE WILL NOT RULE PALESTINIANS."

In Herzliya Conference speech, Olmert declared: We will determine clear border for Israel.  Labor: He copied Peretz's speech.

3. Expose:

YESHA COUNCIL: WE EVACUATED AMONA.

Reason: To prevent demolition of homes.

4. LAPID TO ANNOUNCE RESIGNATION FROM SHINUI.

To announce decision today or tomorrow.

YEDIOT AHRONOT

1. Today: 1.3 million Palestinians to decide whether to hand administration to Hamas.

ELECTIONS IN SHADOW OF THE KALASHNIKOV.

At last minute: Abu Mazen persuaded dozens of independent candidates to quit race in order to strengthen Fatah.  Hamas leaders: We expect major victory.  International observers supervising due to fear of fraud.

2. Olmert at Herzliya Conference:

"WE WILL DETERMINE STATE BORDER THAT WILL ASSURE JEWISH MAJORITY."

Acting PM: We have not been compassionate enough with weaker strata.  Declares: We will limit construction in settlements, dismantle outposts and improve Palestinians' quality of life.  Promises: We will follow Sharon.

3. LIKUD COMPLELY ERASES SHARON.

Only Begin, Shamir and Netanyahu mentioned on party's website.

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EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS

Yediot Ahronot comments on today's Palestinian Authority elections and warns that, "The Palestinians are liable to bring disaster upon themselves tonight at midnight when the election results are announced – If Hamas wins, the Palestinians are assured a continuation of life in hell."  The editors believe that, "If the more moderates, i.e. Fatah people, win then it is possible – but not assured – that a new (almost) era will open."

Hatzofeh complains that, "The judicial system under the leadership of Aharon Barak has practically become a branch of Meretz's left-wing," and criticizes the handling of the case against Omri Sharon.

Yediot Ahronot, in its second editorial, says that the sentence handed down to Pentagon "mole" Larry Franklin in an AIPAC-related case should serve as a warning to Jews and Israelis, "of what the Americans are capable of thinking, saying and doing – if, one of these days in the future, 'we don't get the hint'."

Yediot Ahronot, in its third editorial, notes the many high-ranking VIPs who addressed the Herzliya Conference.

[Eitan Haber wrote today’s editorials in Yediot Ahronot.]