Press ponders Sharon 'blow'

Israeli state prosecutor Edna Arbel's recommendation on Sunday that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon be charged with corruption dominates the country's editorials.

There is broad agreement that the decision is a serious blow to Mr Sharon. But several papers suggest it is too early to write him off completely.

An editorial in Haaretz says Mr Sharon has already "lost the moral authority to serve as prime minister" in view of the "many suspicious affairs" implicating either him or his family.

"Now, the state prosecutor's recommendation has given official authorisation to the validity of the concern about whether Sharon's hands are clean."

Commentator Ben Kaspit in the independent Maariv says the prosecutor's decision could force Mr Sharon out of office.

"Today, more than ever, it is possible to see the end of the era of Ariel Sharon's rule on the horizon," he proclaims.

But he warns that it would be unrealistic to expect Mr Sharon to step down of his own accord.

"In reality, Sharon functions today in battle conditions. There is no-one better than him in such a situation. He is far from raising his hands in surrender."

Haaretz commentator Yossi Verter argues that whatever the outcome, the damage has already been done.

"The public courtroom is where Sharon has taken a beating," he says, adding that the decision is the latest in "a long line of discussions that have eroded Sharon's standing in the eyes of the public".

From now on, Mr Sharon's activities will be "clouded by the recommendation that he be put on trial for taking bribes".

And even if he "dodges the bullet of Arbel's new recommendation", he still faces serious questions over his sons' alleged involvement in financial irregularities during his election campaign.

Legal pitfalls

Several papers highlight the uphill task facing State Attorney Meni Mazuz, who is due to make a final ruling on the case in the coming weeks.

"The test for Meni Mazuz now seems even more difficult than that of Aharon Barak in the dollars affair involving former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin," says an editorial in the mass-circulation Yediot Aharonot.

An editorial in the right-wing Hatzofe says all eyes are now on Mr Mazuz.

"Everything is now in the hands of the government's legal adviser Meni Mazuz who has promised a speedy decision," it says.

"This is not an easy decision," the paper says, "but if a charge sheet is presented... Ariel Sharon should resign".

An editorial in Jerusalem Post questions the legality of the proceedings.

Why, the paper asks, was the news leaked by state attorney on TV and not through the proper channels.

"This leak deserves investigation," it says.

"The prime minister should not be above the law, but neither should the state attorney."

BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.