Summary of Editorials from the Izraeli Hebrew Press
| Two newspapers discuss remarks by Amos Gilad, head of the security branch of the Ministry of Defense, regarding his recent remarks regarding Egypt: |
Yisrael Hayom rebukes senior Defense Ministry official Amos
Gilad for his recent remarks about Egypt and says that „In the meantime, Egypt is a democracy. We may not be thrilled about it and about its results, and we may be concerned about its less than pleasant aspects, but the Egypt of the Muslim Brotherhood is no less free than the Egypt that preceded it (in which Mubarak regularly received 95% of the vote, democratically of course).” The author criticizes Gilad for „interfering in Egypt’s internal affairs and needlessly undermining the delicate relations between the two countries.”
Haaretz criticizes remarks by Amos Gilad, who recently stated that “‘a terrible dictatorship has arisen in Egypt,’” and opines: “Amos Gilad’s position reflects the traditional arrogant attitude whereby anyone who doesn’t support Israel’s policies and who doesn’t want ties with Israel is necessarily a ‘terrible dictator.’”
The Haaretz editorial is available today to registered subscribers only.
==============================
Yediot Aharonot discusses Palestinian Authority Chairman Abu Mazen’s recent remarks about the Palestinian ‘right of return’. The author suggests that „In the Palestinian Authority leadership, especially since Arafat’s death, there is more and more acceptance of the idea that it will not be possible to realize the right of return,” but adds that „The Palestinian public as a whole, and not just the refugees, is not ready to countenance the renunciation of this right, which means giving up on the dream of a Greater Palestine.” The paper believes: „What the Palestinians view as the homeland is the village, the home and olive and lemon trees. They do not regard the homeland as a holistic idea. Therefore, the refugees’ demand is not to return to the Palestinian authority areas, but to their original homes and villages as they were in 1948.” The author notes that „This gap between the leadership and the public is great and vast,” ! and also reminds his readers that, in addition to the aforesaid opposition from the Palestinian public, including and especially the refugees, Hamas would vehemently oppose any renunciation of the ‘right of return’.
Ma’ariv criticizes the local media for what it considers to be fawning and not serious coverage of the candidates and parties in the current election campaign and urges Israeli journalists to learn from their American counterparts.
The Jerusalem Post comments on the dramatic rise of the Ukrainian extreme nationalist Svoboda (Freedom) party’s fortunes in the recent elections and equates it with the increase in anti-Semitic sentiment in that country. The editor states: “The anti-Semitism that was unfashionable in postwar Western Europe is burgeoning again in the shape of anti-Zionism, whereas in Ukraine it is vulgar and in-your-face – as it was before the Soviets temporarily held the genie in the bottle.”
BreuerPress-info
