Summary of Editorials from the Izraeli Hebrew Press
Three papers discuss various issues ahead of today’s UN General Assembly vote on granting the Palestinians non-member, observer status:
Ma’ariv discusses the reported moderation in the Government’s projected response. The author asserts: „Netanyahu and Liberman preferred to go against their DNA and show restraint in the face of the Palestinian provocation,” and notes their similar restrained response in and following Operation Pillar of Defense. The paper speculates that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants „to reserve his political capital in the international community for the coming storm over Iran’s enriched uranium.”
Yisrael Hayom avers that Palestinian Authority Chairman Abu Mazen is „using the demand to recognize Palestine in order to bolster his shaky image at home,” especially in light of his marginalization during and following the recent conflict in Hamas-controlled Gaza. The author recalls how Abu Mazen rejected then Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s far-reaching proposals in 2009.
Haaretz believes that “there is more to the Palestinians’ move than mere symbolism. A recognized Palestinian state will give Israel a responsible partner with international backing – one that will represent the entire Palestinian people and be able to make decisions in its name.” The editor asserts: “Recognition of a Palestinian state is not an obstacle to peace,” and concludes: “It isn’t just the Palestinians who deserve a diplomatic horizon. The Israelis deserve one too.”
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Yediot Aharonot commends the Obama administration’s Iran policy of pursuing both heightened sanctions and negotiations. The author notes the widespread Israeli belief that „The Iranians are not seriously considering giving up their nuclear project and are only trying to play for time,” especially since „In the past, Iran has consistently and unashamedly lied and played for time in order to secretly advance its nuclear project.” However, the paper believes that „If Netanyahu makes it known, even secretly, that he does not oppose the existence of a secret channel between the US and Iran, a channel that has no red lines at the outset, he would see an improvement in his strained personal relations with Obama while also being portrayed as someone who is not trigger-happy and who prefers a diplomatic solution.” The author cautions that „Such negotiations cannot go on forever, neither can they end on any condition. The US needs to! make it clear to Iran that it must dismantle a considerable part of its nuclear project and do so with full transparency in the very near future. Even if the move fails, Israel will gain: Obama will have to prove that he stands by his word that Iran will not have a nuclear bomb and that he will use all options to realize this promise.”
The Jerusalem Post opines that “while the Likud’s move to the Right is a democratic reflection of the will of a majority of Israelis, we must be wary of undermining other aspects of Israel’s democratic character,” and warns: “we must be careful of a situation in which there is a ‘tyranny of the majority.’” The editor points out that “The rule of the majority is just one aspect of a healthy democracy,” and adds: “Careful protection of minority rights, freedom of expression for all and a strong, independent judiciary are no less important.”
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