Summary of editorials from the Hebrew press
Today’s issues: Netanyahu’s capitulation to the ultra-Orthodox, cooperation with Egypt on Sinai issue, the IS threat in northern and southern Israel.
Haaretz berates PM Netanyahu for capitulating to demands of the ultra-Orthodox Shas and United Torah Judaism parties and the subsequent cancelation of the conversion reform that his previous government had approved, which would have allowed municipal rabbis to set up their own conversion courts, and asserts: “a responsible government would have shaken up these systems rather than reviving the old, bad deal whereby the government hands the management of religious services over to the ultra-Orthodox parties in exchange for political quiet.”
Yediot Aharonot comments on the situation in Sinai and Israel’s ongoing cooperation with the Egyptian authorities as part of its efforts to ensure the border remains quiet, and states: “One thing is clear: Israel cannot afford to have the triangle of terror – the new local branch of ISIS, the Muslim Brotherhood’s ‘volunteers’ and the infiltrators from Gaza – sitting on its fence.” The author is hopeful that the Egyptian regime will maintain its strength in the face of the recent terror attacks, but nevertheless asks: “How long can we continue relying solely on Egypt?”
Yisrael Hayom cautions that the Islamic State group’s attacks in the Sinai Peninsula last week are a harbinger of similar attacks against Israeli positions along the Israel-Egypt border in the near future, and declares: “Israel must not wait until IS’s next attack is too close for comfort, whether in the north or the south.” The author calls for increased cooperation with Egypt and Jordan, as well as “active Israeli efforts against the terrorist organization, including acting against its arms routes, its funding, its flow of volunteers, and especially its attempts to take hold of land near the border with Israel.” The author raises concerns that Israel will have to deal with Hamas and IS together, with Hamas ensuring calm along Gaza’s border with Israel, leaving IS to freely operate in the Sinai against Israeli and Egyptian targets, and asserts: “This is a reality we cannot accept.”
[Smadar Perry and Eyal Zisser wrote today’s articles in Yediot Aharonot and Yisrael Hayom, respectively.]
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