Summary of Editorials from the Hebrew Press
Yediot Aharonot suggests that a unilaterally declared Palestinian state, within the 1967 lines, would win international – and eventually American – recognition, and would be disastrous for Israel, as would a possible Palestinian decision in favor of a unitary state. The author calls on US President Barack Obama to redouble his efforts to broker an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement based on the two-state principle.
Ma’ariv suggests that both Israel and the Palestinians are making threats of unilateral that they do not really intend to make good on, and which they would prefer not to have to make good on. The author suggests that „Peace is not going to break out anytime soon; let’s hope that neither will war.”
Yisrael Hayom believes that if both sides make good on their unilateral threats, „Both will come out losers, the Palestinians worse so.”
Nana10 asserts that „Benjamin Netanyahu and Bashar Assad are not great leaders, like Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat were in their day, to make peace,” and adds that „They are not ready to bravely lead the region to quiet and prosperity, and to pay the price.” The author suggests that agreeing to withdraw from the Golan Heights, down to the shores of the Kinneret, would be political suicide for Prime Minister Netanyahu, and avers that Syrian President Assad is weakening his bargaining position vis-ŕ-vis Israel and the US by supporting Hezbollah and Hamas. The paper believes that beyond any and all rhetoric to the contrary, „The Israeli-Syrian negotiations are going nowhere and are still deadlocked and in a deep stalemate.”
The Jerusalem Post declares that „Erekat and Abbas are wasting time and torpedoing a two-state solution with their intransigence,” and notes that „rather than bargain in good faith to build a viable accord, Erekat and Abbas are betting on an outside imposed solution. Their way will not bring reconciliation, mutual security and peace, but doom yet another generation of Israelis and Palestinians to more bloodshed.”
Haaretz terms the bill that would require Israel’s residents to provide fingerprints and photos for ID cards and passports, expected to pass today, „A hasty and destructive law.” The editor opines that „The bill should not be passed today before a thorough debate on its provisions. Additional hearings on the bill should be held to create legislation that would ensure the proper balance between society’s interest in fighting lawlessness and its interest in protecting freedom of the individual.”
BreuerPress-info
