HA’ARETZ
1. Six days to disengagement.
IDF LETTER TO GUSH KATIF RESIDENTS: “EVACUATE YOUR HOMES.”
After evacuation: Israel threatening to withdraw Gaza Strip from joint “customs envelope.” The settlers: Last demonstration against disengagement to be held on Thursday in Rabin Square.
2. WORST POVERTY REPORT IN HISTORY OF THE STATE DETERMINES THAT EVERY THIRD CHILD IN ISRAEL IS POOR.
3. SHARON REJECTS DEMAND TO CUT NIS 1.5 BILLION FROM SECURITY.
HATZOFEH
1. Army sends letter to residents in which they are demanded to evacuate by midnight Sunday.
EXPULSION ORDER.
“Voluntary” evacuation to end on August 15 and anyone staying in the Gaza Strip thereafter will be doing so illegally. First stage of forced evacuation to begin on 17th. Gush Katif spokesman: Letter is new low for security establishment. Right-wing protest plan: Large-scale prayer at Western Wall tomorrow and on Sunday, gigantic rally in Rabin Square on Thursday. Day afterward – Yesha Council will call on public to go south. Yesha Council demanding postponement of disengagement and holding of elections in wake of Minister Netanyahu’s resignation.
2. ONE-THIRD OF ISRAELI CHILDREN BELOW POVERTY LINE.
Israel has highest percentage of poor children in western world.
3. ISRAEL APPROVES BUILDING GAZA SEA PORT.
Israel to withdraw from Philadelphi Corridor by end of year.
4. IDF TRYING TO LOCATE NINE ARMED DESERTERS.
5. WARNING TO ISRAELIS NOT TO TRAVEL TO SOUTHERN TURKEY.
6. GAS DEAL SIGNED WITH EGYPT.
MA’ARIV
1. Counter-Terrorism HQ: Don’t travel to several Turkish coastal areas.
DANGER IN ANTALYA.
Turkey’s popular beaches in Al-Qaeda’s sights but warnings don’t frighten Israelis. Thousands to make their way to Antalya and Kemer today as well. ISA considering possibility of canceling flights.
2. HALF OF NEW FORMS IN LABOR MEMBERSHIP DRIVE INVALID.
These are findings of Judge Frisch’s report, which is due to be published today.
3. POVERTY REPORT: EVERY THIRD CHILD IS POOR.
Doubtful honor: Israeli children are poorest in western world.
YEDIOT AHRONOT
1. “EVACUATE YOUR HOMES BY MIDNIGHT SUNDAY.”
Six days before disengagement: Yesterday – IDF sent official letters to Gush Katif settlers indicating the final date for voluntary evacuation. GOC Southern Command: We will close Kisufim checkpoint on August 15.
2. STATE OF POVERTY.
More than 1.5 million poor in Israel. Every third child below poverty line – highest rate in West. In one year, more than 3,000 couples – both of whom work – joined cycle of poverty.
3. NETANYAHU STARTS TO WORK.
To leave for New York tomorrow on fund-raising campaign ahead of Likud primaries. Today: Olmert to present state budget to Cabinet.
4. HUNT AFTER NINE DESERTERS.
Following Shfaram terrorist attack: Effort to apprehend armed soldiers who disappeared from IDF.
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SUMMARY OF EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS
Both papers comment on various issues related to Benjamin Netanyahu’s resignation as Finance Minister:
Hatzofeh believes that, “We are now at the beginning of a government crisis that is liable to lead to the break-up of the Government and early elections.”
Yediot Ahronot suggests that his resignation has done nothing tangible to advance him closer to his goal of winning the next Likud primaries and wonders if his ego got the better of him.
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Yediot Ahronot, in its second editorial, refers to the National Insurance Institute 2004 poverty report, which was issued yesterday, and notes that, “An additional 28,000 families joined the cycle of poverty in Israel in 2004.” The editors believe that: “It would be demagoguery to blame all of this exclusively on Benjamin Netanyahu; he was merely the most prominent face and the loudest voice of what is not a ‘lack of compassion’ (to use a term popular with politicians) but a great shirking by the entire Government – and not just this or that Finance Minister – of its obligations towards large parts of the Israeli public.”
[Ofer Shelah wrote today’s editorial in Yediot Ahronot.]