Israel Insider Weekly Briefing: BIBI QUITS

	August 7, 2005

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HIGHLIGHTS: Bibi gives anti-expulsion movement a boost The surprise resignation of Benjamin Netanyahu, just moments before the approval of the final authorization of the removal of the first group of Jewish communities in Gaza, couldn't have come at a more dramatic moment. The anti-expulsion movement, its momentum stopped cold by the shooting of four Israeli Arabs by a deranged young right-wing extremist, gained a desperately needed tailwind. It was not just that Bibi quit, it was how he quit -- with a bitter rejection of the government's failures to keep its promises and its willingness to endanger the nation's security. As Israel enters the critical days leading to "D-Day" -- the day when the army plans to start entering doomed Jewish communities of Gaza and Samaria and evicting their residents -- all hope is not yet lost. As Orit has been reporting exclusively for Israel Insider, most of the residents are maintaining their faith that something -- anything! -- will foil the plans to send them away from their homes and communities into what many see as a kind of spiritual exile. Today a 10-year old Jewish boy was shot in the head and critically wounded near Jerusalem in what the IDF termed an exceptionally "sophisticated" terror attack. By the end of the day that attack on a child was buried and discounted in the rest of the dramatic political news, a stark and bitter contrast to the attack in Shfaram. The sad truth is that the life of a Jewish boy on his way to a summer fun day appears not to count for much these days. The government appears willing to make such attacks all the more likely, more "sacrifices for peace." The government also appears willing to jail dozens if not hundreds or even thousands of Jews who are deemed by the secret security forces to be "threats" to society -- or at least threats to the political standing and freedom from prosecution of Ariel Sharon and his family for blatant corruption. It remains to be seen whether the sudden departure of Bibi to join the "fighting opposition" will not be too little or too late to "reverse the curse" and "annul the decree" that threatens the communities home to ten thousands hard-working Israelis, or whether it will trigger more defections of influential leaders and more awakening of the people of Israel. May this new week by a week of miracles for our people. Shavua tov. Reuven Koret Publisher Bibi quits over pullout failures, say Sharon's plan "endangers country" Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he is leaving the government to protest disengagement. The resignation takes effect in 48 hours. INSIDER QUOTE "The withdrawal endangers Israel's security, divides its people and set the standards of the withdrawal to the '67 border." Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, announcing his resignation from the Government Articles Disengagement Diary: Shabbat in the Gush Should the miracle elude us and "disengagement" occurs, citizens of Israel will not only hear the cries of these mothers, but eventually, their own as well. Government intends to jail Jewish "threats" without charges or trials PM Sharon, Defense Minister Mofaz and Justice Minister Livni use Eden Natan-Zada's attack to slam anti-pullout activitsts with military detentions. Jewish boy critically wounded in "sophisticated" Arab drive-by shooting The terrorist gunmen, who opened fire on the vehicle traveling on Highway 60, shot a 10-year-old Jewish boy in the head and lightly injured the driver. Arabs threaten riot if police probe lynch, lie about manacled shooter Israeli Arab leaders called on the government Saturday to refrain from investigating the death of Eden Natan-Zada, the shooter in the Shfaram bus. Disengagement Diary: The Kids are Alright After morning coffee, doubts filled my head. Should I really stay? Will I manage? Can I shirk my Tel Aviv obligations? Can I miss tonight's huge party? Disturbing questions surround army's failure to stop Shfaram shooter Military police made no serious attempt to locate and incarcerate him, even though he was known to be in the small Samarian settlement of Tapuach. RECENT VIEWS The Real Terrorists By David Wilder Who was responsible for Eden Natan-Zada's attack? This young man, mentally unstable, 'marked' by military psychologists, should never have handled a weapon. Hiding from the light By Barry Shaw The terrorists have declared war against us and no liberal cantations of harmony and peace will stop them. It's time to see them for who they are. Trauma, Terror or Torture? By Ellen W. Horowitz Was Eden Natan Zada a "Jewish terrorist"? Or are we dealing with a criminal act perpetrated by a lone gunman who was a highly disturbed young man? Don't throw in the towel! By Rachel Saperstein Move towards Gush Katif. Do not let Gush Katif fall. If your leaders let Gush Katif fall, Yehuda and Shomron will fall. Israel will fall. We need you. Get here. Yesha, again, wastes opportunity to win the war for Israel By Rabbi Dov Avraham Ben-Shorr Something is rotten in the settlement council's struggle with Sharon over "Disengagement." If they aren't on the government's payroll, they ought to be. A requiem for media proportionality By David Bedein Nearly five years and 27,000 Arab attacks on Jews after the start of the Second Intifada, the first fatal terror attack of an Israeli Jew on Arabs occurred. False disengagement assertions By Dr. Aaron Lerner Even if we can't stop the pullout, recognizing the truth will make it easier to pick up the pieces when the reckless program blows up in our faces. Magnificent Children By Rachel Saperstein Our kids met secular teenagers and restored the word "Zionism" to their vocabulary. They taught "post-Zionist" youth to love Israel with heart and soul. Briefs Israel agrees to pay for the removal of settler home ruins Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz has admitted that Israel will be paying for the removal of the ruins of Gaza settlements to be razed during the pullout. Security, settlers disagree on Gaza infiltrator numbers Settler sources claim 3,000 to 4,000 Israelis are currently staying in the Gaza Strip illegally, but the IDF says only 2,000 infiltrators have made it there. Natan-Zada to be buried in Rishon Lezion The PMO finally decided, ending days of bitter feuding over the burial of the soldier who killed four Israeli Arabs on a bus in Shfaram last week. New York Times: Rice turning screws on Israel According to a report in the New York Times, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has been boosting U.S. pressure on Israel ahead of the pullout. Ricky Martin meets with Israeli consul After causing a stir in the Jewish community for wearing a kaffiyah during a concert in Jordon, the popular singer met with the Israeli diplomat in NYC. 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