Summary of editorials from the Izraeli Hebrew press
BreuerPress
Ma’ariv suggests that „The IDF and the ISA know that in the wake of recent events, the situation in the territories is very volatile on both the Palestinian and the Israeli sides,” even though „There does not seem to be a guiding hand behind the [latest] wave of attacks. The Palestinian Authority is not interested in a wave of terrorism at this time and Hamas, which is in great distress in the Gaza Strip, is not succeeding in setting Judea and Samaria ablaze from there.” The author notes that cooperation between the Israeli and PA security forces is continuing and avers that „In the short term, nobody smells an intifada.” However, the paper is less hopeful in the medium and long terms and concludes: „The third intifada could continue to develop slowly and gradually or could gather momentum if and when the talks reach a dead end. Additional terrorist attacks or acts of provocation by settlers, such as burning mosques, could a lso hasten the process. The scenario that most concerns the security establishment is that one of the dozens of initiatives in Judea and Samaria and the Gaza Strip to kidnap Israeli soldiers or civilians will succeed. In the past two years, dozens of abduction attempts have been foiled, but the Palestinian motivation in this field remains high and one must estimate that one of the attempts will succeed at some stage.”
Yediot Aharonot says that „Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has emphasized that construction in Jerusalem will continue, but at the price of releasing security prisoners,” and adds: „If the release endangers Israelis lives, the settlers had the possibility of agreeing to delay construction for nine months, with the terrorists staying in prison. The decision was theirs and they chose the deal – cement in exchange for releases. Netanyahu acceded.” While the author reminds his readers that he has previously opposed the release of terrorists, even in exchange for Gilad Shalit, he nevertheless criticizes the legislative initiative by Minister Naftali Bennett and MK Yariv Levin to prohibit the release of terrorists by law as election propaganda designed to embarrass Likud ministers. The paper dismisses the idea that Jewish Home MKs would support a settlement freeze in exchange for not releasing terrorists and believes that the ha nds of any future government should not be shackled by such legislation.
Yisrael Hayom asserts that many Arabs and Israelis alike „are disturbed by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s charm offensive,” and adds: „Nobody believes that Iran will agree to give up its nuclear option.” The author says: „For a long time, I have not seen such helplessness in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and the Gulf states,” and adds: „It is not just President Obama’s treachery toward long-time allies, they have no one to rely on when the big brother in Washington shows such enthusiasm at their expense.” The paper suggests that given America’s lack of interest in striking Iran and Israel’s inability to do so effectively on its own, there is nothing for Israel and the Sunni bloc to do but keep lobbying Washington not to relax either the economic sanctions on Iran or the latter’s isolation.
The Jerusalem Post comments on anti-Israeli behavior by Qatar in recent years, which reached new heights last week, “when the Israeli flag was removed from the premises of the FINA Swimming World Cup in the Qatari capital of Doha and when the flag was whitewashed from TV broadcasts,” and asserts: “Qatar’s indisputable misconduct should by all rights significantly affect plans that it host the ultra-prestigious FIFA 2022 World Cup.”
Haaretz discusses the government decision to build hundreds of new homes in West Bank settlements in an attempt to appease settlers for the scheduled release of 25 Palestinian prisoners this week, and declares: “Israel is a prisoner to its settlements.” The editor asserts: “There can be no legitimate grounds for building new apartments in the settlements. As long as there is no agreement with the Palestinians on their future, the settlements are illegal growths and their expansion adds insult to injury,” and concludes: “The prime minister would do well to recognize that the peace talks are with the Palestinians, not the settlers.”
