May 11 Headlines
Sunday
HA’ARETZ
1. LEBANESE GOVERNMENT CAPITULATES TO HEZBOLLAH.
2. POLICE SOURCES: BUSH VISIT TO POSTPONE INVESTIGATION OF OLMERT.
District Court: Talansky may testify before indictment; Olmert to appeal. Senior legal source: Months to pass before indictments, if any. Ministers Mofaz and Shetrit to demand quick Kadima primaries if Olmert resigns.
3. KFAR AZA RESIDENT KILLED BY MORTAR ROUND; FEARS OF CRISIS IN REGION.
MA’ARIV
1. Exclusive: Attorney Uri Messer's incriminating police testimony.
"I GAVE EHUD ENVELOPES FULL OF CASH."
PM's partner and confidant broke under investigation and divulged money transfer method.
2. "DADDY IS WATCHING US FROM HEAVEN."
Jimmy Kedoshim (48), father of three, from Kfar Aza, killed by direct hit.
3. STATE OF HEZBOLLAH.
Only after Lebanese government capitulated – Nasrallah agreed to withdraw his forces from the capital.
YEDIOT AHRONOT
1. Olmert, on hints that he threatened Talansky:
"WHAT, AM I TONY SOPRANO?"
State Prosecutor's Office: Necessary to depose Talansky because he "feels threatened" and there is concern that he won't return to Israel. Talansky to Yediot Ahronot: Ready to stay in Israel as long as necessary, and I will return soon." The investigation – Police: Incriminating material found with Shula Zaken. En route to High Court of Justice – Olmert to appeal against deposing Morris Talansky. The friend who talked – State Prosecutor's Office considering deposing Uri Messer as well due to his mental state. The hotel in the US – Talansky paid $4,000 for night Olmert spent in Ritz Hotel.
2. SHELL THAT KILLED JIMMY KEDOSHIM CAME FROM IRAN.
Jimmy Kedoshim from Kfar Aza…killed Friday by mortar shell that landed in his yard. Military source: Shell came to Gaza Strip from Iran.
[MAKOR RISHON-HATZOFEHwas unavailable today.]
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SUMMARY OF EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS
Ma'ariv asserts that, "Nothing is more destructive to social cohesion than corruption," and adds that, "Only a few will be willing to risk their lives for a state that is seen as corrupt by its citizens."
The Jerusalem Post comments on what it calls 'The Olmert scandal', and states that if the prime minister cannot put this latest scandal to rest without delay, he must hand over the reins of power. The welfare of the country demands it.
Haaretz comments on the new allegations against Prime Minister Olmert, and states that he is not just another suspect in a long line of politicians, but to a large extent the person who symbolizes the entire system. The editor adds that the prime minister represents a losing system that may finally pass from politics after more and more people of his ilk are brought to justice.
Yediot Ahronot discusses Kadima's political future in light of its view that, "This is Olmert's first and last term," as its leader. The editors believe that, "Two years after its founding, Kadima is still not a political party, certainly not an established one. It is a collection of people, some good and worthy, who were chosen by the Sharon family…At the moment, Kadima is a one-time list that was formed on the basis of the Israeli voter's despair over the traditional parties. Today, it no longer has anything to sell…Kadima's current people – from Likud and Labor – have no home to return to, nobody wants them there…About the only possibility for Kadima in its present state is to immediately form a parliamentary bloc…with Labor and go to the next elections as a large centrist group (that currently numbers 48 MKs)…Maybe this will not happen but it is what needs to happen."
[Eitan Haber and Avi Simhon wrote today’s articles in Yediot Ahronotand Ma'ariv, respectively. Makor Rishon-Hatzofehwas unavailable today.]
(Courtesy of the GPO)
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