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Summary of editorials from the Hebrew press
Today’s issues: Same old Hamas, Israel’s Office of Deportation, how the government caved to settlement boycott, and expect much of the same.
The Jerusalem Post comments on the new policy document published this week by Hamas with the aim of presenting a more moderate face to the world, and states: “In the midst of a renewed power struggle with Fatah and the PA, Hamas has flexed its muscles by promising moderation on one hand, while not deviating in substance from its 1987 charter’s call for Israel’s destruction.”
Haaretz slams the Government Press Office (GPO) for its persecution of a Dutch journalist for writing articles critical of Israel, and asserts: “The GPO, which operates out of the Prime Minister’s Office, is responsible for coordinating communication between the government and the foreign press in Israel. It issues press cards and helps with work visas for the jo urnalists and their families. It is not supposed to act as a national commissar. Its officials are not allowed to impose political censorship on journalists’ articles or to engage in arguments with reporters on their reports or tweets. And it’s most certainly not supposed to dictate to the foreign media who is worthy to serve as their reporter in Israel.”
Yediot Aharonot believes that Israel’s acceptance of the demand that the 20,000 Chinese construction workers due to arrive in Israel in the wake of the recent agreement signed with China would not be employed in the territories despite the negative effect on the local employment market signifies the government’s capitulation in the battle against the BDS movement, and states: “it is clear that if the government had not ignored the agreement’s effect on the local labor market, and if the ministers had not given in to the Chinese government’s demand to boycott the settlements—the agreement would not have been signed.”
Israel Hayom discusses the forthcoming presidential elections in Iran, and states: “Change in Iran will come and one day the Iranians will topple the ayatollah regime controlling them, but a great deal of patience is required until this happens. Salvation for Iran, therefore, will not arrive in the upcoming elections, even if the sitting president, Rouhani, wins re-election as expected.”
[Yossi Dahan and Eyal Zisser wrote today’s articles in Yediot Aharonot and Israel Hayom, respectively. |
