Summary of editorials from the Izraeli Hebrew press

2013. augusztus 27 11:55


Summary of editorials from the Izraeli Hebrew press

BreuerPress

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Three papers discuss the implications of a possible US-led attack on Syria in the wake of last Wednesday’s chemical weapons attack on rebels near Damascus:

Ma’ariv says that the US and its allies „cannot allow a blurring of the rules that, in practice, forbid the use of chemical weapons against populations,” lest this „lead to dozens of dictators beginning to fire chemical and biological weapons at their rebellious populations,” and to such weapons falling into the hands of terrorist groups. The author believes that an allied strike on Syria would be intended to warn Damascus against using such weapons again and concludes: „The American action will not try to topple Assad or even completely rid Syria of chemical weapons. It is about punishment, deterrence and burning the Syrian consciousness against the thought of using  chemicals again as a means of ethnic cleansing. The West will not try to stop the massacres in Syria; it will act only to stop the massacres in Syria with non-conventional weapons because that is in its interest.”

Yediot Aharonot urges that the US first decide what its goal is before setting in motion any strike against Syria and suggests that a „precise and careful retaliatory strike,” as opposed to toppling the Assad regime or destroying a significant portion of the regime’s non-conventional arsenal is most likely given domestic US and international politics. The author, a former commander of the Israeli air force, cautions that „We do not have Sisi and his army to restore order,” in Syria and warns against leaving the field open for a radical Islamist-terrorist takeover by striking Syria too hastily or on too large a scale. The paper suggests that „removing Assad and establishing a new and stable regime,” is a long-term goal.
Yisrael Hayom asserts that the world has absolutely no interest in Syria’s chemical weapons falling into the hands of the rebels fighting the Assad regime, especially the more radical of Assad’s foes, and declares: „Without massive intervention in the war, and without aiding one side or another, the free world – led by the US – must lead a focused attack to destroy Syria’s chemical weapons.”
The author calls on Israel to stay out of Syrian affairs and says: „Israel is extending humanitarian aid and that is the only proper intervention.”
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Two newspapers comment on the opening of the new school year:

The Jerusalem Post is worried that the new school will not get off on the right foot, “partially because Israel’s two teachers organizations are at loggerheads,” and urges the Ministry of Education to work with both teachers organizations “to enforce uniform changes while adapting to modern needs.”

Haaretz notes that analysis of scholastic performance attests that the education experience is not equally accessible to all students, and asserts: “the time is ripe for addressing education inequality.” The editor points out that “One way to reach this goal would be through a new budget arrangement that allocates more funding to schools in disadvantaged communities in a kind of affirmative action program,” and concludes: “Education Minister Shay Piron talks about the ethical dimension of education. Inequality is a moral stain on Israel’s education system.”