Yediot Aharonot says that
Yediot Aharonot says that any discussion of a possible peace settlement „is theoretical only because the Palestinians – and it does not matter how progressive their leadership is – are incapable, even today, of signing anything, regardless of what paper they are presented with. That is how it is. This is their tradition and no left-wing organization with an aggressive advertising campaign can change it.” Regarding illegal settlement outposts on private land, the author writes: „Just as one cannot settle on the Land of Israel, on private land, in a vacant area in Kfar Shemaryahu, it is not logical to seize private land near Nablus.” While the paper calls on individual cases to be taken into account, it says that such illegal structures must be removed, preferably by the local authorities and for compensation to be paid.
Ma’ariv discusses MK Shelly Yacimovich’s candidacy to lead the Labor Party. While the author characterizes her as „a soloist,” whose „attitude to those around her calls into question her ability to lead Labor,” he nevertheless believes that „The fact that today she gives her all to social welfare issues and issues a diplomatic statement every morning only speaks to her credit.”
Yisrael Hayom says „Here is a prediction that has already come true in Gaza: The day that Israel withdraws from the Palestinian Authority areas, Hamas members will emerge from their holes and carry out a military coup, replete with the massive shooting of Fatah members and their execution as traitors.” The author discusses reports to the effect that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will make a major diplomatic speech during his upcoming visit to the US and asserts that for any such speech to succeed, the Prime Minister „will have to face the world and speak, first and foremost, about our right to the country – not by virtue of our harsh history, especially the Holocaust, but by virtue of the Jewish People’s ancient links with its one historic homeland. He must tell the world about history and rights first and only afterwards about security. ‘Palestina’ is a name that the Romans gave to the country in order to cause the name ‘Judea’ to be forgotten. Now, if the Palestinians are seeking to make peace with us, they must first recognize Israel as the national home of the Jewish People.”
The Jerusalem Post discusses the stalemate in the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians, and notes that “It is wrongheaded and dangerous for the EU, the Quartet or the US to pressure Israel to reach a rushed deal with a Palestinian leadership that has done precious little to prepare its people for peace.” The editor feels that the PA should be expected to return to peace talks in which Israel’s legitimate security concerns are addressed without preconditions, and states that “This would go a long way toward creating an atmosphere in which a lasting peace might be achieved. The accord we need with the Palestinians, as recent developments in the region illustrate, needs to be negotiated with a stable, peaceably minded leadership, and one that reflects the will of its people too.”
Haaretz claims that “The reins of government are threatening to slip from [PM Netanyahu’s] hands,” and announces that “It is becoming more and more apparent that the next elections will not take place as planned at the end of 2013, but long before then.” The editor claims that Netanyahu’s fall in popularity is causing him to try garner favor as the citizens’ savior by proposing a plan that would enable young couples to acquire affordable housing, but adds that “The positive aspect of Netanyahu’s plan lies in the discovery that he can act quickly and energetically toward an important goal. But for some reason, he has not yet begun to implement this aspiration on the diplomatic front, not even to his legal obligation to evacuate unauthorized outposts in the territories,” and concludes: “Perhaps he truly believes that it is harder to tear down than to build.”
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