SUMMARY OF OP-EDS FROM THE IZRAELI HEBREW PRESS

 

1. FINANCE MINISTRY HALTED SUPERVISION OF YESHIVAS DUE TO ULTRA-ORTHODOX PROTEST.

Since July, no Ministry supervisors have visited approximately 1,200 ultra-orthodox yeshivas that are budgeted by the state.

 

2. Extensive OECD study.

INEQUALITY IN ISRAEL HAS GROWN VERY FAST.

 

3. KNESSET APPROVES TRAJTENBERG REPORT TAX PROVISIONS.

 

1. ON ALERT FOR TERRORIST ATTACK IN THE EILAT AREA.

Following focused warnings, school trips halted and work on fence frozen. Israel disappointed over performance of Egyptian forces in Sinai.

 

2. APPARENT AGREEMENT WITH THE MEDICAL RESIDENTS.

(…).

 

1. Separation in Beit Shemesh: Kindergartens for Ethiopians only.

KINDERGARTEN CHILDREN’S GHETTO.

Ethiopian children from all over Beit Shemesh concentrated in three kindergartens, run by Mayor Moshe Abutbul’s wife. „They are like fish in an aquarium that must be protected from predatory fish,” explains the Mayor.

 

1. Trajtenberg Report tax provisions become reality.

HUNDREDS OF SHEKELS FOR WORKING PARENTS.

Knesset plenum approves: More benefits for the middle class, more taxes on the wealthy. Bottom line: Tax break for those earning NIS 8,000-14,000; additional NIS 418 per month for working fathers with children under 3.

 

2. „I HAVE NOT PROMISED A RESERVED PLACE FOR BARAK.”

Thus Netanyahu answered MK Hotovely at Likud Knesset faction meeting. Assessment in party: PM en route to primaries victory, Silvan Shalom will not run. Signs of rebellion in Kadima: „If Livni does not announce primaries date soon – we will break up the party.” Even Independence is thinking about elections: „We will run strong.”

 

1. DOCTORS MEETING TO VOTE ON AGREEMENT WITH THE FINANCE MINISTRY.

 

2. NETANYAHU’S PLAN TO FIGHT INFILTRATORS: FINES AND DEPORTATION.

PM formulating new initiative to fight illegal migrants who come from Egypt. Among steps: Construction of detention facilities to be hastened and plans will be advanced to fine employers. (…).

 

3. SECURITY SOURCES: IDF MONITORED SYRIAN MISSILE TESTS.

 

1. PM CONSIDERED POSSIBILITY OF BRINGING FORWARD ELECTIONS.

After Netanyahu decided to bring forward Likud primaries, it is becoming clear that he also considered bring forward Knesset elections.

 

2. OECD: THE RICH MAKE 14 TIMES MORE THAN THE POOR IN ISRAEL.

 

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Yediot Ahronot refers to US Ambassador to Belgium Howard Gutman’s recent remarks to a European conference on anti-Semitism in which he – inter alia – distinguished between „traditional” anti-Semitism and that stemming from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and said that progress in the peace process, „would lead to a huge reduction of this form of labeled ‘anti-Semitism’ in Europe.” The author asserts that, „It might be possible to understand the American Ambassador’s lack of knowledge about diplomacy,” given that he is a political appointee and former Democratic Party fundraiser but adds that, „In no way can we countenance his remarks to the effect that anti-Semitism is caused by Israel’s policies toward the Palestinians.” The paper deplores, „anti-Semitism that hides under the artificial and mendacious label of being ‘anti-Israel,” and finds it odd that Ambassador Gutman, himself the son of a Holocaust survivor, should adopt such an idea.

 

Ma’ariv applauds Great Britain’s recent action in adopting more stringent sanctions against Iran and in expelling Iranian diplomatic personnel from the UK and suggests that, „Europe is waking up.”

 

Yisrael Hayom analyzes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to bring forward the Likud Party leadership vote to January 31 and asserts that, „It is unreasonable to think that he intends to be elected in January 2012 in order to hold the next Knesset elections [as currently scheduled] in November 2013.” The author says that securing a renewed popular mandate would strengthen him ahead of possible tension with the US should President Barak Obama be re-elected and as he deals with the Iranian nuclear issue. The paper believes that one way or the other, „The 18^th Knesset will not finish its term.”