Yediot Aharonot writes that „Ethiopian Jews came to this country after maintaining their Judaism zealously for thousands of years, and after great sacrifice in order to fulfill their dream of immigrating to Israel. Each wave of immigration in Israel’s history has experienced its own type of absorption pains, but eventually integrated fully. In contrast, the Ethiopian immigrants, who began arriving some 30 years ago, are still at the outset of their absorption process, and that is because the Israeli public has yet to decide to accept them as an indivisible part of Israeli society.” The author exclaims, „Now is the time to yell: Enough! The Ethiopian community is an inseparable part of the Jewish people and the Israeli society, and we are here to stay.”
Ma’ariv argues that „It is not clear how Israeli citizens who fulfill their obligation and serve in the IDF agree to absorb, without protest, a law that allows thousands of ultra-orthodox youth dodge army service.” The author opines that „the Prime Minister, Ministers and Knesset Members are beset by constant fear when it comes to dealing with the injustice of the discriminatory benefits given to the ultra-Orthodox.”
Yisrael Hayom contends that, „Current European statements must make it clear: Israel is not the problem. In the face of the Iranian nuclear program and Iran’s support for terrorism, more than ever, there is a need for cooperation with Europe alongside that which already exists with the US. Those in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs dealing with diplomatic relations with Europe are convinced that a clear message must be broadcast: The European contribution must be directed toward the return to direct negotiations and not to assisting the Palestinians to take the unilateral route to the UN.”
Haaretz comments on Justice Minister Neeman’ recommendation to grant a pardon to policeman Shahar Mizrahi, convicted of killing Mahmoud Ganaim of Baka al-Garbiyeh during a confrontation after Ganaim was caught breaking into a car in Pardes Hanna: „A policeman who shoots a civilian unnecessarily should be severely punished especially because he is a policeman. Granting a pardon to Mizrahi will convey the wrong message to police and civilians – that killing an Arab is not a serious thing. Now the task is in the hands of President Shimon Peres, who must decide on the minister’s recommendation. Stop this unsound process and do not approve the policeman’s pardon.”
The Jerusalem Post comments on the ongoing investigation of Foreign Minister Liberman: „We certainly have no way of judging whether Liberman is guilty or innocent, and we have no intention of weighing in on this issue one way or the other. Yet what should be of interest to every citizen is the spectacle of what is incontrovertibly a police project of exceptionally excessive duration, directed doggedly at a given individual, but with mutating accusations against him. No matter how Liberman’s particular saga eventually evolves, it should lead to clear legal curtailments on the length of time in which our law-enforcers can pursue a given suspect or case.”
BreuerPress-info
