HEADLINES FROM THE IZRAELI HEBREW PRESS
HA’ARETZ:1. YAALON AND PLESNER: SLIM CHANCE OF FORMULATING CONSCRIPTION LAW.
2. OLMERT ON EVE OF VERDICT: I AM THE ONLY ONE WITH THE CHANCE OF BEING PRIME MINISTER ON BEHALF OF THE CENTER-LEFT BLOC. YAIR LAPID WILL COME WITH ME.”
In talks with confidants, former PM declares that if he is also acquitted in the Holyland affair, he will return to politics. Lapid: No response.
3. NETANYAHU INITIATING NEW CAMPAIGN TO DETER AFRICANS: „NO REASON TO COME HERE.”
MA’ARIV
1. Thus the case against the former PM collapsed:
THE RABBI DECIDED, THE WITNESS LIED AND THE PROSECUTION COLLAPSED.
(…).
YEDIOT AHRONOT
1. OLMERT EFFECT.
After it seemed that agreements had already been formulated
– contacts between Likud and Kadima in conscription laws suddenly exploded. Assessment: Netanyahu and Mofaz are concerned over Olmert’s return to politics and are digging in their heels.
2. A BMW FOR EVERY MINISTER.
Savings? Modesty? In tender for new ministerial car, especially luxurious German car was chosen.
YISRAEL HAYOM
1. Yisrael Hayom and New Wave Research poll on what the public thinks about the Olmert verdict.
MAJORITY OF THE PUBLIC: OLMERT CANNOT RETURN.
55.2%: He cannot hold public office; 26.8%: He can. (…).
2. NEGOTIATIONS ON CONSCRIPTION
–
FEAR OF EXPLOSION.
Ferment over today’s crisis. Main controversy: Quotas. Mofaz: „If we do not reach agreements
–
we will bolt.” Netanyahu: „Jewish state cannot jail those who study Torah.”
3. YOU HAVE GONE TOO FAR.
State chooses: Glamour. Next service car for Government ministers will be the BMW 528I. Price: NIS 398,000. Finance Ministry: „We received discounts.” Following criticism: Steinitz orders inquiry into whether or not the tender can be cancelled.
WALLA!
1. IDF ATTACKS MISSILE LAUNCHERS IN GAZA, HAMAS MILITANT KILLED.
Armored units and aircraft active at several points in the city; Palestinians reporting the IDF soldiers have clashed with armed militants. Two members of launching cell severely wounded by shell fired at their vehicle.
NANA10
1. ATTACK IN THE GAZA STRIP: IDF REPORTS THAT ROCKET-LAUNCHING ATTEMPT WAS FOILED<www.idf.il/1283-16548-EN/Dover.aspx>.
[Headlines for Walla! and Nana10 are from their websites as of 12:30.] ______________________________
SUMMARY OF OP-EDS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS
Yediot Ahronot comments on the fact that the Finance Ministry Motor Vehicle Administration chose the luxury BMW 528i as the winner of a tender for the next car for ministers and other senior officials, albeit with an option for the more moderately-priced Citroen C5<www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000765058&fid=1725>. The author lauds the BMW 528i but asserts, „It is the most inappropriate car for ministers, certainly at present. When they are about to raise our taxes and are cutting the budget again due to the growing global economic crisis, making it the Government of Israel’s official service car cuts the Government off from the public even more than the 528i’s ability to isolate its passengers from loutish behavior on the roads.” The paper contends, „This was a delusional tender from the outset, when the Finance Ministry insisted on setting a minimum price of NIS 200,000 for the next ministerial car in order to ensure that only luxury cars would be offered,” and concludes, „Any minister who, in the summer of 2012 chooses the BMW, should
– without doubt –
return the keys the moment after he votes for the new plan of [budget] cuts.”
Ma’ariv criticizes the Finance Ministry’s decision to lower customs duties and purchase taxes on
– inter alia –
various food, electronic and textile products: „As consumers, we are all happy about this but one may still wonder how the Finance Ministry can be so generous as to renounce revenue worth hundreds of millions of shekels at a time when boosting collection is the order of the day. Why all of a sudden, during the crisis in Europe and the slowdown at home, the result of which is an increased deficit target and the imposition of new economic decrees, are they acting here like there is no tomorrow? Apart from lowering the cost of living, this populist decision does not contribute anything to economic growth.” The author adds, „One need not be a top economist to know that with the publication of the 2013 budget, we will return the hundreds of shekels that we received as a gift from the tax people via the increase of at least 1% in VAT,” and ventures, „While the Finance Ministry can claim that it is heeding the recommendations of the committees that were formed in the wake of the social protests, we suspect that these are the first signs of election economics.” The paper avers, „In any case, it is doubtful if the Finance Ministry decision to ease the plight of the middle class will indeed get off the ground. Who can guarantee that the importers will indeed pass on to consumers the savings from [lowering] customs duties and purchase taxes?” The author also expresses concern that cheaper imports could harm local industries.
Yisrael Hayom discusses the apparent crisis in the talks between the Likud and Kadima over a replacement to the Tal Law regarding the requirement that all citizens perform either military or civilian service. The author believes, „The issue is more psychological than practical,” and asserts that both sides could bridge the gap in their positions if they really want to do so. If there is no such compromise, the paper warns, especially since Yisrael Beytenu is taking its own, seemingly harsher, line, „They can, once again, start looking at dates for early elections.”
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