Today's Situation

ALL EYES ON KATSAV, June 27, 2007

The Israeli media focuses extensively and almost exclusively on the imminent resignation of President Moshe Katsav, who has agreed to plead guilty to sexual assault and harassment, in exchange for the dropping of two rape charges against him.

All four papers lead with the story of the plea bargain between Katsav and the state prosecution, augmenting their coverage with analysis and commentary that ranges from vehement opposition to the deal to praise for Attorney General Menachem Mazuz's courageous decision to offer the outgoing president a way out.

On Friday, the IDF announced that it was wrapping up its anti-terror operation in the West Bank city of Nablus, according to Israel Radio. A large contingent of soldiers entered the city in the early hours of Thursday morning in an arrest sweep netter more than two dozens wanted terror suspects. Arutz 7, meanwhile, reports that Palestinian sources claim the IDF shot dead an unarmed taxi driver in the city on Friday. The IDF has different version of the event, however, according to which the soldiers ordered a taxi cab to stop, at which point two armed men got out of the cab and tried to flee. One of them, a Fateh member later identified as Hithan Salah, was killed. The other man and the driver got away.

Speaking on Army Radio, rightist lawmaker Aryeh Eldad (National Union/National Religious Party) branded the IDF's operation in Nablus as pointless, since at the same time as the IDF was arresting terrorists, the prime minister had given instructions for freeing 250 others. 'Soldiers' lives are put at risk at the very same time the government's other hand is giving money to terror and releasing terrorists,' Eldad protested.

Meanwhile, the debate over the price that Israel should pay to secure the release of its kidnapped soldiers continues to rage on.

Speaking Thursday night at the Caesarea Forum, held by the Israel Democracy Institute in Haifa, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert warned Israel would not give in to the blackmail of the groups holding IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. 'Israel will not give in to blackmail," said the prime minister. "We will weigh our options carefully and balance our interests with the desire to free Gilad (Shalit), Udi (Ehud Goldwasser) and Eldad (Regev) as soon as possible.'

Olmert also said that that there is no immediate solution for the security problems which plague the residents of the communities adjacent to the Gaza Strip.

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