HEADLINES FROM THE IZRAELI HEBREW PRESS
HA’ARETZ
1. ARABS AND ULTRA-ORTHODOX WILL NOT RECEIVE VAT EXEMPTION ON APARTMENTS
Lapid persuaded Weinstein: Whoever is not drafted will receive exemption only for apartments costing less than NIS 600,000. Housing Minister: There are no such apartments.
2. MINISTERS APPROVE DRAFT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PREVENT PARDONING OF TERRORISTS
3. ISA AND POLICE: WE DO NOT KNOW WHETHER MOTIVE IN SHELLY DADON MURDER WAS NATIONALISTIC OR CRIMINAL
MA’ARIV
1. INCREASING OPPOSITION TO NETANYAHU’S INITIATIVE TO POSTPONE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
PM heavily pressing coalition faction heads, but is finding it difficult to muster support for the move even in the Likud.
2. Plan for 0% VAT:
PREFERENCE FOR THOSE WHO DID CIVIL AND MILITARY SERVICE IN PURCHASING A FIRST APARTMENT
Finance Ministry to formulate criteria for Lapid’s tax benefit plan.
YEDIOT AHRONOT
1. BATTLE OVER THE PRESIDENCY
Most Likud ministers oppose Netanyahu’s plan to cancel institution of the presidency or postpone election date. „His motives are personal. He is not interested in Rivlin as president,” explain senior Likud sources. Knesset Speaker Edelstein: Canceling the presidency is not on the agenda.
2. COMPROMISE ON VAT-FREE APARTMENTS
Military veterans can purchase an apartment up to NIS 1.6 million. Whoever did not serve will suffice with apartment up to NIS 600,000, if such can be found.
YISRAEL HAYOM
1. 0% VAT ON APARTMENTS: THE WINNERS AND LOSERS
(…) Heart of controversy – criterion of military service: Those who serve to receive exemption on apartments of up to NIS 1.6 million. Those who did not serve – only up to NIS 600,000. Ultra-orthodox outraged: „Decision hurts us; this is racism.”
WALLA!
1. „PRICE TAG” NEAR IDF BASE 80: GRAFFITI SPRAYPAINTED ON VEHICLES
2. NETANYAHU IN JAPAN: WE MUST COOPERATE VIS-À-VIS NORTH KOREA AND IRAN
3. SEVEN ILLEGAL STRUCTURES DEMOLISHED IN FIRING ZONE IN HEBRON AREA
4. TWO ILLEGAL STRUCTURES DEMOLISHED IN OUTPOST NEAR JERICHO
NANA10
1. ATTORNEY GENERAL ORDERS REOPENING OF INVESTIGATION INTO SUSPECTED FRAUD IN PURCHASE DEALS IN MIGRON
[Headlines from Walla! and Nana10 are from their websites as of 12:05.]
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SUMMARY OF OP-EDS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS
Ma’ariv analyzes the P5+1 talks with Iran on the latter’s nuclear program. The author asserts that, „The sad truth is that agreed-upon criteria have never been determined for declaring a bad agreement, or the failure of the negotiations with Tehran,” and adds, „The existing definitions are flexible and liquid; they change in relation to what seems possible to achieve.” The paper suggests that, „The major powers are determined to reach an agreement because they do not want to deal with the consequences of declaring the process a failure,” and is concerned that the powers may fudge on several key issues such as the possible military dimensions of Iran’s civilian nuclear program and the reactor in Arak. The author predicts that in the agreement that will ultimately be reached, „Iran will maintain its ability to break through quickly to a bomb and we will be left to console ourselves that this was the best agreement that could be reached. Really?”
Yediot Ahronot discusses Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s reported desire to reconsider the institution of the presidency. The author notes that while Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion (<mfa.gov.il/MFA/AboutIsrael/State/Pages/David%20Ben-Gurion.aspx>) , was determined to, „minimize, as much as possible, the power of his rival [and Israel’s first president, Chaim] Weizmann (<mfa.gov.il/MFA/AboutIsrael/State/Pages/Chaim%20Weizmann.aspx>),” three of the former’s aides, who later became president, „Yitzhak Ben-Zvi (<mfa.gov.il/MFA/AboutIsrael/State/Pages/Yitzhak%20Ben-Zvi.aspx>), Yitzhak Navon (<mfa.gov.il/MFA/AboutIsrael/State/Pages/Yitzhak%20Navon.aspx>) and Shimon Peres (<mfa.gov.il/MFA/AboutIsrael/State/Pages/Shimon%20Peres.aspx> saw fit to turn the presidency into an active, influential, respected and loved institution.” The paper says that the presidency could be done away with without damaging Israel’s democracy but, „not in the way chosen by Netanyahu. Netanyahu’s colleagues in the Likud leadership explain that the possibility of MK Ruby Rivlin winning the election [for president] horrifies him. He is ‘obsessed.’ Since he cannot prevent Rivlin from submitting his candidacy, he is pushing for the cancellation of the office.” The author commends Rivlin as, „a worthy candidate,” and declares, „If Netanyahu thinks otherwise, it is his right to cast his secret ballot in the Knesset in favor of somebody else,” but adds that the Prime Minister cannot change norms due to his aversion to a specific candidate or because he feels like it.
Yisrael Hayom commends a recent initiative to amend the law so as to bar the president from pardoning murderers who have been sentenced to life imprisonment without parole and avers, „A terrorist planning an attack needs to know that in the best case he will be sentenced to death and that in a less good case he will be sentenced to rot in prison until the end of his days and will see us continuing to exist and build our future.”
