Sunday

HA’ARETZ

1. Fears of severe economic crisis in Palestinian Authority following cut in US and European aid funds.

IDF ESCALATES ATTACKS: 13 DEAD IN GAZA.

Fatah in show of force against Hamas, sets up dozens of training camps throughout Gaza Strip.

2. ON EVE OF COALITION NEGOTIATIONS, LABOR ACCUSES KADIMA OF BREACH OF TRUST.

3. LIEBERMAN WANTS PUBLIC SECURITY.

HATZOFEH

1. Today: Increased police alert ahead of holiday.

ISRAELI ASSAULT AGAINST ROCKET FIRE.

IDF attacks terrorist camps set up amidst Gush Katif ruins.  Senior Popular Resistance Committees commander killed in one strike – along with his seven-year-old son who came to watch training.  Rocket-launching cell eliminated in northern Gaza Strip.  Despite IDF activity – four rockets launched over weekend, all fell in Palestinian territory.

2. LIEBERMAN – I WILL NOT OPOSE "CONVERGENCE PLAN" IF I RECEIVE PUBLIC SECURITY MINISTRY.

Olmert to Newsweek: We will evacuate most settlements into settlement blocs in order to give Palestinians a state.

3. ISRAEL LIKELY TO ADOPT US POSITION ON HOLDING CONTACTS WITH ABU MAZEN.

Today: Olmert to hold comprehensive discussion on relations with Palestinian Authority in era of Hamas government.

4. HAMAS EXPLOSIVES LABORATORY CAPTURED IN HEBRON.

MA’ARIV

1. Finance Ministry to cut NIS 260 million from medicines basket committee recommendations.

HALF OF MEDICINES WILL REMAIN IN BASKET.

2. THIRTEEN PALESTINIANS KILLED OVER WEEKEND.

IDF steps up targeted eliminations.  Among those killed: Seven-year-old Gaza boy.

YEDIOT AHRONOT

1. Siege on Gaza: IDF eliminates 14 fugitives over weekend.

IDF: WE WILL HIT ALL KASSAM LAUNCHERS.

Three-year-old boy, son of senior fugitive, also killed in elimination action.  Terrorist organizations threaten revenge, terrorism alert declared in Israel until after Passover.  US and Europe halt economic aid to Palestinian Authority.

2. Security scandal at Prime Minister's Residence.

PLAN FOR ASSASSINS.

Anyone in world, any hostile element, can log onto Jerusalem Municipality website and view building plans for Prime Minister's Residence: Height of fences, location of guard positions and type of protection.  There is even Arabic translation.  Jerusalem Municipality: Removing all details from website.

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SUMMARY OF EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS

Hatzofeh declares that, "Prime Minister-designate Ehud Olmert continues to trample on Israeli democracy and subordinate it to his interests," and says that, "Simply put, Olmert lacks a Jewish – or any other kind of – majority in favor of a withdrawal without agreement, the basis of the 'convergence plan'."

Yediot Ahronot suggests that, "Relations between the Palestinian Authority and the rest of the world are sharpening ahead of a full-blown confrontation," and believes that the goal of both Israel and the international community is to cause such chaos in the PA that, "President Abu Mazen will be compelled to dissolve the parliament and declare new elections."  The editors aver that the quicker and more determinedly that Israel and the international community thus act, "the better it will be for everyone," because, "preventing the 'Iranization' of the PA is not just an Israeli interest but a general Middle Eastern and global interest."

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