HEADLINES FROM THE IZRAELI HEBREW PRESS
MA’ARIV:1. AFTER APPROVAL OF DECREES
– PRICE OF FUEL TO JUMP TONIGHT Large majority of Cabinet ministers supports cuts plan. Barak opposed and „was fined” NIS 118 million. Price of liter of gasoline to rise by over NIS .40.
2. AMERICAN DEFENSE SECRETARY PANETTA TO TELL NETANYAHU: WAIT TO ATTACK IRAN
YEDIOT AHRONOT
1. „DON’T ATTACK IRAN”
US sources estimate: „Entire security leadership in Israel opposes independent military action against nuclear facilities
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Chief-of-Staff, GOC Air Force, Mossad Director and ISA Director. Israeli attack would achieve reasonable results, no more.” US: We will attack only in another six months.
2. PROTEST ACTIVISTS UNITING
After Cabinet approved decrees: „Suckers” and students, for the first time, are initiating a joint demonstration Saturday night. Tonight at midnight: Price of fuel to go up by NIS .50 in one go.
YISRAEL HAYOM
1. Netanyahu: Necessary and responsible move; Steinitz: Steps are „not fun.”
AS OF MIDNIGHT: 17% VAT
From tonight: Price of fuel to jump, VAT to rise by 1%. By 20-9 vote, Cabinet approved plan of taxes and cuts. Barak and Kahlon voted against. Steinitz settles accounts with DM: After latter voted against the plan, NIS 100 million was cut from his ministry’s budget. NIS 50 million to fund structural reinforcement of Barzilai hospital. Public Security Ministry budget cut, but by less. Education Minister succeeded in reducing by half cut in his ministry.
2. ROMNEY PROMISES: I WILL MOVE THE EMBASSY TO JERUSALEM Republican candidate: „Every nation has the right to choose its capital.” American Defense Secretary arriving in Israel: „Sanctions are still not pushing Iran away from a bomb.”
3. OPEN SKIES
Good news for travelers: Israel and EU signed open skies agreement. Significance: Additional flights to various European destinations. Transportation Minister: „Significant reduction in prices anticipated.”
WALLA!
1. DOES THE CHIEF-OF-STAFF REALLY OPPOSE ATTACKING IRAN?
Security establishment sources estimate that reports on Gantz’s opposition to an attack on Iran stem from media spin. However, senior security establishment source makes it clear that, „the Chief-of-Staff enjoys freedom to express his views.”
2. PANETTA ARRIVING IN ISRAEL: „NEW DECISION ON IRAN”
American Defense Secretary to visit Israel this week. Security establishment estimates that he will issue statement designed to overshadow Romney’s remarks. Panetta and Barak expected to discuss Egypt and Syria.
3. 84 NEW HOUSING UNITS APPROVED IN KIRYAT ARBA
Defense Ministry approves additional housing, in contravention of Government policy not to approve construction outside settlement blocs. (…).
NANA10
1. [KNESSET SPEAKER] RIVLIN: „SIGNIFICANCE OF CUTTING HEALTH [BUDGET]
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DEEP SLASH INTO THE ISRAELI HOME FRONT”
(…).
2. OVERNIGHT: IDF ARRESTS SEVEN FUGITIVES IN JUDEA AND SAMARIA
[Headlines for Walla! and Nana10 are from their websites as of 11:50. The Ha’aretz print edition was unavailable today.] ______________________________
SUMMARY OF OP-EDS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS
All three papers discuss various economic issues regarding the Government’s decision to enact a series of economic measures including raising VAT and income tax, raising taxes on gasoline, alcohol and cigarettes, imposing surtax on high income earners and an across-the-board budget cut at Government ministries:
Yediot Ahronot notes that, „The PowerPoint presentation that was distributed at yesterday’s Cabinet is adorned by the slogan: ‘The middle class and weaker groups are left with more money in [their] pockets!’ An ideology of ‘money in the pocket’ is taking a central position in the country’s economic discourse.” The author believes that, „The ideology of ‘money in the pocket’ is dangerous and degenerative. From time to time, even the most successful government, from the Right or from the Left, has no choice other than to implementing restraining budgetary measures.”
Ma’ariv suggests that the economic edicts approved yesterday „will take a toll on your health. The cut in the health budget is part of the Finance Ministry’s ideology to encourage strong and expensive private medicine, alongside poor and minimalistic public medicine.”
Yisrael Hayom argues that, „It would have been good if the Ministry of Finance had imposed the taxes on those who do not intend to pay them. It is still possible to do so for 2013.” The paper suggests imposing VAT on tourists, a one-time levy of NIS 700 million on the banking system, and the imposition of a tax on the passive income of Israelis abroad. The author asserts, „Lowering the deficit is crucial and, in my opinion, we are paying a relatively reasonable price compared to what we are liable to pay if we postpone dealing with the problem.”
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