Summary of editorials from the Hebrew press
BreuerPress
 All five papers discuss various issues regarding the search for the three abducted youths:
Ma’ariv cites sources to the effect that the current affair is different from that regarding Gilad Shalit in that „This time, the ISA is not groping in the dark and has intelligence information even though it still does not have, of course, the information that would [allow it to] determine with certainty that the three are alive, where they are being held and who the kidnappers and their accomplices are.” The author says in defense of the Israel police that „As infuriating as the fact that the first information about the kidnapping was delayed for almost eight hours due to police negligence, it must be remembered that the kidnappers did not know this at the time. They did not know that they had eight hours. They knew and acted on the knowledge that they had to disappear within 20-40 minutes.”
Yediot Aharonot says: „The efforts to cripple Hamas are already starting to bear fruit,” and believes that „Israel intends to fully exploit the unique operational advantage and the international atmosphere in order to carry out precise sweeps, over time, in Area A, in order to put down the Hamas strongholds in the Palestinian Authority areas by as much as possible.” The paper claims that „Israel wants to make it clear to Hamas the extent of the damage it has caused itself by the abduction,” and adds that „Israel’s wide-ranging activity in the West Bank unhindered by the world or by the Palestinian Authority, is making it clear to both Abu Mazen and the Obama administration the Palestinian Authority’s complete dependence on Israel as well as the former’s impotence as a political body.”
Yisrael Hayom notes that „In tandem with the activity against Hamas, Israel is working to tighten links with Fatah in the West Bank,” and adds: „Those who have spoken with senior Palestinian Authority figures in recent days cannot help but hear anger at the abduction and, at the same time, satisfaction over Israel’s operations against Hamas.”
The Jerusalem Post believes that years of incitement against the Jewish state by Palestinian institutions was behind the spate of recent terrorist activity that culminated in last week’s abduction, and asserts: „Thursday’s kidnapping and the tremendous support this kidnapping has on the Palestinian street only confirm Israelis’ belief that Palestinians are enemies, not partners for peace.”
Haaretz strongly opposes the „growing expression of a desire for vengeance against the Palestinian people” vented by various government members, which the editor believes is simply „an opportunity to engage in underhanded opportunism.” The editor contends that „The telephone call to Netanyahu that Abbas initiated yesterday, and the condemnation he issued following the call, should make it clear to the prime minister that the PA is a partner to Israel�s security interest,” and calls on the government to „halt the dangerous initiatives emerging from within, in order not to escalate the situation.” |
