HA’ARETZ
1. PALESTINIANS: AGREEMENT WITHIN EIGHT MONTHS.
First publication: Draft of Israeli-Palestinian joint Annapolis agreement. Nature of solution: Israel: Two states – Israel as homeland of the Jewish people and Palestine for the Palestinian people. Palestinians: Establishment of two states – independent, democratic and sovereign Palestine with eastern Jerusalem as its capital. Timetable for concluding negotiations: Israel: No agreed-upon timetable. Palestinians: Within eight months of Annapolis and until end of Bush's term, agreement will be achieved that will be just solution for all sides. Roadmap: Israel: Opposes immediate and simultaneous implementation and to US monitoring committee. Palestinians: Demands simultaneous Israel and PA implementation and three-way monitoring. Summary: Israel: Expresses sincere determination to work together. Palestinians: No side will take steps to change status of West Bank, including eastern Jerusalem. All prisoners to be released when agreement is signed.
2. LIEBERMAN THREATENING TO QUIT GOVERNMENT IF NEGOTIATIONS ARE ACCELERATED.
Strategic Affairs Minister to make sure after Annapolis that Olmert is not running too fast.
3. MINISTER EZRA CANCELS DELEGATION TO GLOBAL WARMING CONFERENCE.
4. GERMAN CUSTOMS UNCOVERS 50 COMPANIES WHO SMUGGLED TO IRAN EQUIPMENT FOR COMPLETING BUSHEIR REACTOR.
MA’ARIV
1. BARAK: I WILL DO EVERYTHING FOR ANNAPOLIS.
Olmert in last effort to influence content of Bush speech.
YEDIOT AHRONOT
1. Case that was kept secret for months to be revealed today.
POLICE SCANDAL.
Today: State Prosecutor's Office to indict police personnel who were involved in severe case, that has been subject to gag order up to now. Senior officer: We are shocked; the policemen acted like criminals and shamed us all.
2. IRAN SET TO LAUNCH MISSILE WITH 2,500 KM. RANGE.
Ahead of Annapolis, next week.
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SUMMARY OF EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS
Yediot Ahronot asserts that, "The Egyptians are concerned over the possibility that an independent Palestinian state will arise on their border and are – at the moment – doing everything to see to it that this does not occur." The editors speculate that Cairo does not want a sovereign, "Hamastan," on its border and also fears that, "If direct ties are developed between Israel and Arab countries, these ties will come at its expense as the hegemonic state in the region." The paper says that Egypt is playing Abu Mazen and Hamas against each other and would like a, "lukewarm conference," in Annapolis that does not really accomplish very much.
Haaretz attacks Israeli policy regarding release of Arab prisoners. Holding prisoners for the purpose of bargaining is a distortion of the rules of justice. If there are thousands of prisoners in jail who pose no security risk, it would be better to release them not in measured batches and not ahead of events, but as soon as possible.
The Jerusalem Post calls the decision by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to allow the transfer of Russian armored vehicles and ammunition to the Palestinian Authority, over the objections of the security establishment, "somewhat breathtaking". What confidence does our government have, the editor asks, that the armored vehicles we now provide won't be turned against us?
Ma'ariv avers that Israeli Arabs, especially their leaders, are bitterly opposed to any Arab recognition of Israel as the state of the Jewish People. The editors commend the demand that Israel be thus recognized: "We know who we are. It is necessary for them to internalize this as a condition for ending the conflict."
