The Media Line The Media Line Daily News Focus

Reported from Jerusalem

1. BOMB MISSES GAZA POLICE CHIEF; ISRAEL DENIES INVOLVEMENT… Israel says it had nothing to do with a remote-control bomb that exploded in the home of Gaza police chief Ghazi Jabali on Thursday morning. The blast occurred in the early pre-dawn hours and came a short time after Jabali left the premises. There appears to be no suspicion aimed at Israel in connection with this assassination attempt. The Israeli army denies it was involved and even Palestinian sources are blaming intra-Palestinian rivalries as the source. The explosive device – a bomb with a wire running outside to a detonator switch – has been used in factional fighting before. Jabali is a political foe of Muhammad Dahlan, preventive security chief in Gaza during the first PA government and favorite of Western nations.

2. SHARON PRESSES NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN AS POLLS PREDICT HIS DEFEAT… Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is continuing to warn of horrific consequences if his party rejects his plan for a unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in Sunday’s referendum. While Sharon predicts that a loss will “worsen our relations with the U.S. and bring about the fall of the Likud,” three new polls released on Thursday all indicate that Likud party voters disagree with Sharon by increasing numbers. The surveys range from three-point to twelve-point victories for Mr. Sharon’s opponents – as much as a 16 percent turnaround in a period of one week. In response, Sharon summoned his referendum team for an emergency strategy meeting. Although Sharon for the first time referred to the referendum as a vote of confidence in his leadership, signs are increasing that if he loses the vote, he will renege on his commitment to be bound by the party’s decision and bring the matter to the cabinet and Knesset (Parliament) regardless. Minister Uzi Landau, who heads the opposition efforts, publicly questioned the prime minister’s characterization of withdrawal opponents as “extremists” for “holding the same views that Sharon himself advocated a mere six months ago.”

3. PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY SAYS: ISRAEL WILL KILL ARAFAT… The International Press Center, an official arm of the Palestinian Authority, has issued a report concluding that, “an Israeli government headed by Ariel Sharon, would eventually harm Arafat…” The report criticized the United States for supporting Israel, saying that, “[Israel] is still practicing its policies of killing the Palestinian people and their leaders, enjoying the utter backing of Washington.” Specifically regarding Arafat, it said that, “The American position, despite opposing targeting Arafat…has pushed Israel to further threaten President Arafat’s life.”

4. KOFI ANNAN WANTS MORE INTERNATIONAL INVOLVEMENT IN PROCESS… Reacting to Arab skepticism that the Road Map peace process can survive what is being perceived as a pro-Israel shift by U.S. President George W. Bush, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan has called for more involvement by the international community in the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. The four entities officially behind the Road Map – the U.N., United States, European Union and Russia – will meet in New York next week and press for greater input into the planned pullout. Annan shares the concern with others that Israel’s exit from Gaza can create a power vacuum that touches off violent struggle and loss of control unless the Palestinian Authority is supported by the international community.

5. TELEVISION REPORTS LEAK: ATTORNEY GENERAL AGAINST INDICTING SHARON… While deluged with bad news concerning his upcoming battle for his party’s approval of the Gaza withdrawal plan, Ariel Sharon received some conditional good news concerning his legal woes. Channel Two television on Wednesday reported that it had received leaked information from the Attorney General’s panel advising on whether to indict Sharon indicating that the group believes there is insufficient evidence to do so. The report attributed the information to an interim report on the affair, but the Justice Ministry denies any such document exists. The State Prosecutor’s office recommended in March that Sharon be indicted, but the newly appointed Attorney General is faced with making a decision that could bring down a government.

NEXT FROM