Summary of editorials from the Hebrew press

Az izraeli lapok vezércikkeiből angolul

Today’s issues: Century-old bonds, Yitzhak Rabin’s murder was, indeed, political, Israel should talk to Iran, and testing the calm.

The Jerusalem Post marks the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Beersheba, which, together with the Balfour Declaration, set the groundwork for the creation of the State of Israel by paving the way for the British Mandate, and states: “It is fitting that the centennial of these two events will be marked in the space of just a few days. It is also fitting that today Israel’s relations with Australia and Britain have never been better.”

Haaretz is critical of the organizers of the rally marking the 22nd anniversary of the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin for attempting to depoliticize the murder, and argues that they are “ignoring the main political conflict that is tearing society from wi thin, a rift that was the underlying cause of the murder.” The editor warns that, from the perspective of 22 years, it is clear that the apolitical nature of the rally “can only serve the right-wing annexationist settlers, helping them deepen their hold on Palestinian lands, on budgets, on senior positions in the army and the government, thereby controlling the course this country is taking,” and asserts: “After 22 years, it’s time for the peace camp to grow up and understand that everything is political, that ignoring reality and looking inward never pays and that cowardice doesn’t attract crowds, not to a rally and not to a voting booth.”

Yediot Aharonot states: “Iran has been establishing its position in recent years as a much crueler enemy than the hostile countries surrounding us, and after declaring its intention to destroy the Zionist state, it is moving on to more practical moves that may lead to a fulfillment of this promise,” and adds: “We have a brutal, intelligent enemy looking for any way to take revenge against us for support we gave to the Shah. There’s potential for an Armageddon, and it’s quite possible the Islamic Republic will have the upper hand. Israel’s political echelon must make every effort, therefore, to find routes for reconciliation and peace talks with the Iranians.”

Israel Hayom notes that the IDF’s destruction of Islamic Jihad’s underground attack tunnel from Gaza and the ensuing high casualty figure is the biggest test since Operation Protective Edge to the relative quiet along Israel’s southern border with Gaza, and states: “Israel is trying to prevent an escalation of hostilities; the decision to continue digging tunnels or not is now in the Palestinians’ court.”

[Eitan Haber and Yoav Limor wrote today’s articles in Yediot Aharonot and Israel Hayom, respectively.