Monday

HA’ARETZ

1. Likud and Labor fighting over undecided voters and changing their unofficial information lines.

LABOR'S OBJECTIVE: BE STRONG PARTNER IN KADIMA GOVERNMENT.

2. US: STEPS AGAINST SYRIA EXPECTED SOON.

3. INTELLIGENCE: IRAN STRENGTHENING ISLAMIC JIHAD IN ORDER TO CHALLENGE HAMAS.

HATZOFEH

1. ELECTIONS TRICK: AFFIRMATIVE ACTION FOR ARABS IN GOVERNMENT OFFICES.

Finance Ministry to allocate 37.5 additional positions per annum over next three years to Arab population, including Druze and Circassians.  MK Muhammad Barakeh: "Decision written in secret ink that will evaporate on Election Day."

2. UZI DAYAN: OMRI SHARON ASKED ME TO GIVE SECURITY APPROVAL FOR ESTABLISHING CASINO.

Was to be on ship close to Eilat but outside Israel's territorial waters.

3. ALERT IN NORTH DUE TO FEAR OF TERRORIST ATTACKS.

Israel: Lebanese Government will be responsible for any action on border.

4. PALESTINIANS DUG TRENCH AROUND KARNI IN EFFORT TO LOCATE TUNNEL BOMB.

5. SAUDI PROMISES INCREASED FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO HAMAS.

MA’ARIV

1. Like in White House: Olmert to appoint Chief-of-Staff for Prime Minister's Office.

DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE COUNTRY.

Dr, Yoram Turobovitz, former Finance Ministry official in charge of monopolies, is Olmert's leading candidate for the post.  If he agrees, Turobovitz expected to be strong man in Olmert's administration.  According to plan, post will include broad authority.

2. OMRI SHARON:UZI DAYAN IS SIMPLY LYING.

3. PERETZ'S CONDITIONS FOR JOINING GOVERNMENT.

Amir Peretz to Ma'ariv: I will demand pension for all, hike in minimum wage and personnel companies law.

4. HIGH ALERT IN NORTH: FEAR OF ATTEMPT TO KIDNAP SOLDIER.

YEDIOT AHRONOT

1. US INCREASING HUMANITARIAN AID TO PALESTINIANS.

Secy. of State: Thus we will be able to bypass Hamas and transfer funds to PA.  Last night: IDF soldiers located 20-kilogram bomb near Nablus.  Assessment: Was designed for major attack during Purim.

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SUMMARY OF EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS

Yediot Ahronot labels as, "refuted and baseless," the idea that, "the Israeli Government will be able to unilaterally determine our border with the Palestinian Authority," and believes that history teaches that, "There is no permanent border without a permanent agreement and therefore, the State of Israel has no chance of unilaterally determining its border with the Palestinian Authority."  The editors assert that a unilateral border will not win crucial international support.

Hatzofeh criticizes UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw for suggesting that the international community would deal with Israel's nuclear program after it deals with Iran's and believes that Egypt is behind, "the global campaign to eliminate Israel's nuclear ability."

[Sever Plocker wrote today’s editorials in Yediot Ahronot.]