The Jerusalem Post discusses the millet system of marriage, a remnant of Ottoman rule still applicable in Israel, which empowers only recognized religions – Christian, Muslim and Jewish – to perform marriages and divorces. The editor contends that this worked fairly well a century ago but has since „become increasingly unworkable as marriage has become a personal choice – indeed a basic human right – not a custom designed to maintain continuity and social cohesion.” The editor points out that the time will come when Israel’s political leadership will be forced to reform the anachronistic system, and con cludes: “Israel is the only Jewish state in the world. This fact should be reflected in our laws. But we must also acknowledge that neither the millet system nor the Chief Rabbinate are capable of answering the needs of a modern Jewish state.”
Haaretz attacks the political changes that are taking place in the Ministry of Education, and specifically the ouster of the deputy head of the Council for Higher Education a year before her term ends and her replacement by a candidate who “hasn’t made much of a mark thus far in the field of higher education.” The editor notes that while the replacement was nominated by Minister of Education Naftali Bennet Bennett, it is not he alone who bears responsibility: “The members of the Council for Higher Education who participated in Tuesday’s vote allowed [Bennet] to turn them into pawns and rubber stamps in a process that demonstrated contempt for both democracy and the higher education system,” and asserts that Bennet’s move constitutes “yet another attempt to weaken the regulators and the professional civil servants, restrict their authority and su bordinate them to the politicians.”
Yediot Aharonot believes that recent speeches by Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmud Abbas show that he is worried that ongoing economic woes will lead to a Hamas-inspired uprising against him, and asserts: “Hamas is doing everything in its power to try and light the fire in the West Bank.”
Israel Hayom reports on the anti-Semitic statements of Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom, who “sems to believe that bold anti-Semitic statements will win her the adoration of the Muslims who have flooded her country,” but notes: “Anti-Semitism is rearing its ugly head once again — the Muslim migrants are only the vehicle, and their political influence is not limited to Sweden.” The author believes this is because “Europe’s Jews closed their eyes and withdrew into the bourgeois comfort of their lives, hoping that the blazing streets, controlled by the Muslims, would not spill over into their homes,” but reminds European Jews that however dire their situation, “Israel is waiting for them with open arms.”
Elior Levy and Dan Margalit wrote today’s articles in Yediot Aharonot and Israel Hayom, respectively.
