Izraeli lapok vezércikkei angolul

The Jerusalem Post contends that “In justifying a one percentage-point cut in value-added tax from 18% to 17% Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resorted to a bit of populism,” and agrees with Bank of Israel Governor Karnit Flug’s assessment that the decision was imprudent. The editor points out the revenue could have been invested in infrastructure, particularly transportation, or that marginal income taxes of nearly 50% could have been lowered, and argues that Netanyahu and Kahlon embarked on the reduction program because they believe “that the present government’s life expectancy is short and now is the time for policy decisions that make good election propaganda.”

Haaretz is outraged by “the well-known, complacent and careless method that has wreaked numerous disasters on Israel,” implemented in the authorization of the defense budget by the Knesset. The editor asserts: “This scandalous process proves yet again that the public cannot put its faith in its elected officials or ministers,” and accuses Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon of failing to safeguard the money of Israeli citizenry from the most powerful interest group in Israel.

Yediot Aharonot discusses the plight of the Syrian refugees attempting to escape the atrocities in their home country, and wonders whether the picture of the tiny Syrian refugee whose body was washed up on the Turkish shore will make a change in how the West relates to these people. The author asks: “What will happen, if anything happens, after the thousands of words? To what extent can we trust the memory or conscience of all the shocked people?” and notes that the offer by Egyptian media tycoon Naguib Sawiris to buy a Greek island, house the refugees from Syria on it and provide work for them “sounds like the most logical offer.”

Israel Hayom discusses the ISIS threat to Israel, and concludes that “Suggestions that ISIS may constitute a bigger threat to Israel than Iran are ridiculous.” The author argues that the Israeli army ‎and the ISIS militia are in different leagues, and asserts: “As long as ISIS behaves in a most unconventional bestial ‎way, many in the world will be happy to see Israel doing the dirty work on their behalf, dealing ISIS ‎blow after blow, if the opportunity and necessity arises.‎”