Ma’ariv discusses the state of the center-left in Israeli politics and believes that many voters who are opposed to the current Likud-led government are searching for a credible alternative. However, the author laments that „The Labor Party has dropped off the radar,” and adds that „Meretz, in its current format, is not their cup of tea.” The paper notes that „That leaves Kadima,” but asserts that „If there is no other choice, they will vote for it, but only because they have no alternative.” The author says that „This is the time to show leadership and begin building the ranks of the center-left, with or without Kadima.”
Yisrael Hayom says that the Government’s recent announcement regarding tenders for 238 apartments in Jerusalem’s Pisgat Zeev and Ramot neighborhoods represents the barest minimum vis-ŕ-vis construction over the Green Line, without which the Government could not survive. The editor avers that”Everyone knows that there will be an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, which will be signed eventually, and that Ramot and Pisgat Zeev will be an inseparable part of the Israeli sovereignty.” The paper criticizes Abu Mazen and the Palestinian leadership for „refusing any compromise that could restart the process.”
The Jerusalem Post discusses the decision to split and drastically trim the highly problematic Arrangements Bill, approved last week by the Ministerial Committee on Legislation due mainly to the tireless efforts of Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin. Terming the Bill „a troublesome legacy that for a quarter of a century has been plaguing both our economy and our political arena,” the editor contends that „Rivlin, who had proved himself on a long list of issues to be a uniquely independent and ethical speaker, deserves our unstinting gratitude,” and states that „More remains to be done to rid us of this bad bill altogether, but this first step is an unprecedented giant move forward for our quality of government. This is a sterling achievement for Israel’s democracy and nothing less than a defining moment in the relationship between our legislative and executive branches.”
Haaretz discusses the State Comptroller’s annual report on local authorities, which discloses a worrisome decline in governmental norms – no less than 44 candidates in the last local government elections have been sentenced at some point to prison, which should have rendered their candidacy ineligible, and 29 candidates declared bankruptcy in the past. The editor notes that „While this report focuses on local authorities, it also bears witness to the central government’s impotence, and to government ministries that shirk responsibility and breach their duty to monitor the local governments and set policy guidelines for them.”
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