Yediot Aharonot strongly criticizes the fact that, under the present system, MKs, who are elected on the basis of party lists, may bolt their parties and set up independent factions, instead of resigning:
Yediot Aharonot strongly criticizes the fact that, under the present system, MKs, who are elected on the basis of party lists, may bolt their parties and set up independent factions, instead of resigning: „Israeli democracy must develop constitutional antibodies against stealing mandates. There is something fundamentally wrong about a system that allows MKs to – in broad daylight – rob the voters who sent them to the Knesset.”
Ma’ariv discusses the latest developments in Lebanon and suggests that Hezbollah and its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, are receiving a hard lesson in the limits of military force. While the author does not dispute the fact that the Shi’ite organization „currently has the strongest military force in Lebanon, and, if it wanted to, could seize control of the country almost overnight,” he nevertheless adds that „Nasrallah has learned that Lebanese public opinion will not accept violent moves.” The paper asserts that „If he [Nasrallah] carries out a violent move, without clear justification, he would lose many more points.” Politically, the author believes that „If Saad Hariri becomes prime minister once more, thus continuing official Lebanese support for the international tribunal, this would be a severe blow to Hezbollah,” and adds that „Therefore, the organization is exerting all its strength in order to be certain that its candidate forms the next government.” The paper notes that the opposing forces in the Lebanese parliament are currently even, but cautions that „Lebanon being Lebanon, things could change overnight.”
Yisrael Hayom comments on the failure of the Istanbul talks on the Iranian nuclear issue and notes that it is former British Prime Minister and current Quartet Middle East envoy Tony Blair who is now calling on the West to „take a harsher tone with Iran and to prepare for a military confrontation.” The author notes that the Obama administration is still shying away from such language and believes that a further round of yet harsher sanctions is in the works. The paper says that the Iranians believe that they will be able to achieve a nuclear bomb without having to suffer a US military strike and avers that this is a significant failure on the Americans’ part.
The Jerusalem Post commends the new reporting requirements announced last week by the Bank of Israel for currency transactions exceeding $10 million daily, which could be the prelude to levying taxes on these transactions. The relatively high interest rates have made Israel exceedingly attractive to international speculators, and the editor feels that “The ramifications are that outsiders cast a dark and overpowering shadow on our entire financial administration and on the ability to keep our economy on an even keel. The shekel has been under relentless daily assault since early 2008. Last week’s move amounted to a welcome warning by the BoI that it is preparing a defense.”
Haaretz discusses the positive aspects of the withdrawal of Ehud Barak and his four supporters from the Labor Party, and suggests that this does not spell the end of the party. The editor notes that the eight remaining Knesset members “all support peace with the Palestinians, saving democracy and social justice. If they manage to transcend the personal problems, and especially if they succeed in uniting behind a leader, instead of making his or her life miserable – as they did to all party leaders in the past decade – the senior figures of the Labor Party can establish a real social-democratic movement.”
BreuerPress
