Summary of Editorials from the Izraeli Hebrew Press
Yediot Aharonot wonders if recent Iranian reports that electricity lines to its nuclear facility at Fordow had been sabotaged and that tiny explosive charges had been planted inside equipment shipped to Iran by Siemens, are nothing more than efforts to cover up homegrown technical mishaps. The author suggests that while Iranian security measures in the wake of alleged Western and Israeli intelligence operations in Iran may make such operations more difficult, they also attest to the fact that „The Iranians have become genuinely paranoid and are investing considerable efforts in an attempt to thwart the next elimination or act of sabotage.” The paper calls for the defining of clear parameters vis-à-vis the success or failure of such operations in order to assist those who must decide on a possible military attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Ma’ariv discounts the assumptions that any Iranian response to a possible Israeli strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities would necessarily be comprehensive and include American targets and contends that any Iranian response would depend on the magnitude of the strike against it as well as cost-benefit analyses by Tehran. The author similarly doubts that an Iranian nuclear capability would automatically entail a regional nuclear arms race and contends that while Egypt lacks the economic resources, Turkey would prefer to stay under the NATO umbrella. The author suggests that the Saudis might be interested only if they could buy a bomb, „off the shelf,” from Pakistan. Lastly, the paper rejects the assumption that any strike on Iran would necessarily cause an upsurge in popular support for the present leadership and suggests that „A majority of the Iranian public understands that the country’s difficult situation is rela! ted to erroneous decisions by the regime.”
Yisrael Hayom dismisses remarks from various Palestinian Authority officials about abrogating the Oslo accords and asserts: „The Palestinian leadership, which recently received a cash advance from Israel, knows that a unilateral abrogation of the accords would lead it to economic bankruptcy.” The author suggests that threats to abrogate the accords are an attempt by the PA leadership to divert public attention away from the dire economic situation, and concomitant anti-leadership sentiment, in the PA.
Haaretz calls on the Israeli government to “Listen to [Egyptian President Mohamed] Morsi,” and maintains that “Encouraging signs from Egypt on the peace treaty with Israel are being received by Jerusalem with apathy and inaction.”
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The Jerusalem Post warns that the xenophobia and intolerance currently directed at Europe’s Muslims, mainly by European right wing parties, “can easily be turned against Jews.” The editor contends that “Europeans – both Jewish and not – must be careful not to lose sight of the principles of liberalism and tolerance embedded in democratic thought as they confront the challenge presented by Muslim extremism in their midst,” and adds: “Throughout history the litmus test for the level of freedom enjoyed by any society is how it protects the rights of Jews. And this remains true today.”
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