Summary of Editorials from the Izraeli Hebrew Press
Yediot Aharonot refers to the opening of the 19th Knesset and the induction of a record 48 new MKs. The author says: „The great mass of new and fresh MKs, at least part of whom have really come to get things done, gives rise to the hope that a moment before the electoral system is changed, the quality of the system here will also change,” and wonders: „Perhaps it will be they [the new MKs] who will be able to correct what those who welcomed them last week have spoiled.”Ma’ariv discusses the French intervention against Al Qaida-affiliated Islamic extremists in Mali. The author notes that Mali leaders have expressed their bitterness at the silence of the Islamist governments in Tunisia and Egypt and suggests: „Mali’s anger towards Arab countries, especially Egypt, is part of African countries’ wider concerns regarding the influence of Iran and its allies on the continent. Even though the French military intervention is designed only to serve French interests, it opens a window of opportunity for Israel in Africa. The next foreign minister, whoever it is, must seize this opportunity.”
Yisrael Hayom analyzes a recent study of Israeli and Palestinian textbooks. The paper is astonished that the study’s authors chose to define one Israeli textbook’s description of Palestinian terrorism leading up to the 1970 Avivim massacre („The terrorism reached its peak with the murder of 12 pupils and teachers from Moshav Avivim on their way to school”) as „a negative portrayal of the other.” The author also reminds his readers that Palestinian textbooks extol the ancient Canaanites as the original Palestinians and wonders why the study’s authors chose to ignore such distortions.
The Jerusalem Post discusses PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s appeal to the European Union to place Hezbollah on its terrorist list “after exhaustive Bulgarian investigations had firmly traced the bomb attack on Israeli tourists in Burgas last July to Hezbollah.” The editor notes that “The paradox is that while Europe clamps down on financial and commercial transactions with Iran and selected Assad sidekicks, it allows Hezbollah to do business that circumvents EU sanctions,” and asserts: “Europe permits a dormant terrorist potential to thrive
in its midst and it knows so, its denials notwithstanding.”
Haaretz discusses the anti-Muslim racism expressed by some of the supporters of the Beitar Jerusalem soccer club, and states: “Law enforcement and the courts must convey the clear message that sports stadia and pitches are not outside the law. Such a message will be conveyed only if significant indictments are filed and harsher penalties imposed as a rule.”
