Summary of editorials from the Hebrew press
BreuerPress
Two papers discuss various issues regarding the rise of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Syria and Iraq, including on the latter’s border with Jordan:
Ma’ariv says that given events to Israel’s north and east, it is good from Jerusalem’s point-of-view that a Mubarak-like regime is now firmly in control of Egypt. The author draws an analogy to the fable of a Jew who complained to his rabbi about how bitter his life was. The rabbi suggested that the Jew take a goat into his household. Two weeks later, the Jew complained to the rabbi about the unbearable noise. The rabbi suggested he get rid of the goat. Two days later when the rabbi checked in on the Jew he found that all was well. „The goat is the Muslim Brotherhood,” the author explains, „and the Egyptians are the Jew who complained. Sisi symbolizes life under Mubarak. After the bitter experiment with the Muslim Brotherhood, the Egyptians understand how good they had it under Mubarak. This is good for Israel. If the Muslim Brotherhood was still in power, there is no telling how it would end.”
Yediot Aharonot suggests that American reports about and US and Israeli readiness to assist Jordan should Amman find itself under threat from ISIL are unnecessary and says that the Hashemite kingdom is able – at this stage – to deal with any threat to its stability on its own. However, the author believes that Israel is well-poised to aid any future American effort to reinforce and bolster Jordan, and reminds his readers that „In the past, Israel has stood alongside Jordan more than once and views its eastern border with the Hashemite monarchy as part of its defense system in the face of the disintegration of Arab national states like Syria and Iraq.” The paper asserts that recent events have shown how essential an Israeli presence in the Jordan Valley is not only to Israel but to Jordan as well.
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Yisrael Hayom says: „Country by country, Europe is joining a creeping boycott of settlements including those situated in the settlement blocs which anyone in the world who seeks peace knows will be included under Israeli sovereignty in any agreement. This is not a comprehensive boycott. On the contrary, trade with Israel is still flourishing. But the European economy is slowly advancing toward a comprehensive boycott of settlement products and perhaps will soon start labeling them with a word that is well-known from the 20th century – Jude.” But the author claims that the government did not help its cause any by not limiting construction in settlements during the dialogue with the Palestinian Authority and also avers that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would do well to stop leading right-wing ministers from running off at the mouth about what they would like to do
The Jerusalem Post comments on changes that the Haredi community is currently undergoing, and notes that “Haredim are aware that many of the dictates of their rabbinic leadership are not only indefensible according to any rational criteria, they are ultimately dysfunctional.” The editor points out that even though haredi society as a whole has not become more moderate in its views, increasing numbers of haredim “are choosing pragmatism over extremism,” and concludes: “They are doing what they believe is good for themselves, their families and Israeli society as a whole.”
Haaretz reports that the European boycott of the settlements is gaining momentum, and warns: “Israel better take heed.” The editor points out that “A European boycott of all economic activity originating in the territories would be a blow to the Israeli economy, nearly all of which is invested in the settlement enterprise, whether directly or indirectly,” and states that if the government “does not hasten to take concrete steps toward ending the occupation, all Israelis will pay the price, and it could be high indeed.” |
