Summary of editorials from the Izraeli Hebrew press
BreuerPress
HEADLINES FROM THE IZRAELI HEBREW PRESS
HA’ARETZ
1. IN WAKE OF STALEMATE IN NEGOTIATIONS: NETANYAHU CONSIDERING ALTERNATIVE DIPLOMATIC MOVE
PM said in interview with Japanese newspaper that he is bothered by the status quo and does not want to reach a situation of a binational state
2. „There are not basic conditions.”
STATE COMPTROLLER COMES OUT AGAINST GOVERNMENT’S POLICY TOWARD ASYLUM SEEKERS
3. PM’S CONFIDANTS: WE WILL ADVANCE LAW THAT THE HEAD OF THE LARGEST KNESSET FACTION WILL BE PRIME MINISTER
Conversation around Netanyahu: Lapid „misled them” on presidential election.
MA’ARIV
1. GERMANY RENEGES: NO DISCOUNT ON WARSHIPS
Chancellor Merkel shocked Netanyahu on Independence Day when she said: Israel will pay full price for three special ships to guard gas fields. Jerusalem suspects that this is a ‘punitive measure’ initiated by the US following the halt in the diplomatic negotiations. Special envoy sent by Liberman reports: „Decision is not final.”
2. VIOLENT CONFRONTATIONS IN EVACUATION OF ILLEGAL OUTPOST IN MAALEH RECHAVAM
Police forces met by calls of „Go to the Arabs.” Five arrested for disturbance.
YEDIOT AHRONOT
1. State Comptroller’s report: Harsh criticism of ministers’ trips abroad.
FLYING GOVERNMENT
(…)
YISRAEL HAYOM
1. (…)
ZAKEN’S DIARY: THE DEAL – AND THE TAPE
(…)
WALLA!
1. ABU MAZEN WARNS: „ISRAEL IS LIABLE TO TURN INTO A BINATIONAL STATE”
2. RESIDENTS OF GIVAT ASAF IN BINYAMIN AREA BEGIN TO EVACUATE ILLEGAL STRUCTURES
NANA10
1. NEW EVIDENCE AGAINST OLMERT ON CORRUPTION CHARGES
[Headlines from Walla! and Nana10 are from their websites as of 10:45.]
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SUMMARY OF OP-EDS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS
Ma’ariv analyzes the peace process. The author believes that, „The Israelis and the Palestinians, as well as the Arab states, are not children that do not understand, they are political actors capable of weighing the various alternatives and choosing the least bad among them. They are not in conflict because they lack an enthusiastic and fair mediator or someone to press them enough. They are in conflict because their aspirations are contradictory and in the present situation they believe that the alternative of stalemate is preferable to making decisions that are liable to tear apart their peoples.” The paper surmises, „It could be that the day will come when geopolitical, political, historical, cultural and economic conditions will create a situation in which the sides will find the way to a full peace agreement that settles the remaining issues,” and concludes, „It would be good to take actions that allow – as much as possible – each side to live its life and maintain the chances for a future agreement, but it would be sufficient if, in the meantime, the sides manage at least not to kill each other.”
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Two papers discuss the sentencing of former Prime Minister and Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert to six years’ imprisonment on corruption charges:
Yediot Ahronot says that with good behavior, Olmert will serve only four years and dismisses the $1 million fine as, „peanuts,” for him. The author suggests that the verdict of the city of Jerusalem itself is much harsher: „Jerusalem was once a splendid city, among the most beautiful in the world. For decades the late Teddy Kollek (<www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/kollek.html>) kept the famous ‘status quo’ and then Olmert came and handed the city over to the ultra-orthodox, the extremists and the corrupt contractors…Young people left in anger for Tel Aviv and left a racist, embittered, poorer and dirtier ‘Zion’.”
Yisrael Hayom doubts whether, „the heavy punishment that was imposed on Olmert will prevent the next file on corruption among our leaders.” The author asserts, „We do not expect our leaders to be geniuses (because they are not), but at least they should have integrity and not be crooks,” and suggests that Israel vet candidates for high office much more thoroughly.
