Summary of editorials from the Hebrew press
Today’s issues: One minister, one job, ending the sanctification of a racist and violent general, Israel-Turkish relations and their implications, Christians withering under Muslim rule, and McDonald’s is whetting Israeli (political) appetites.
The Jerusalem Post comments on last week’s ruling by the Supreme Court which endorsed the government’s policy of having a prime minister who holds his own position while theoretically managing several others, and asserts: “there is nothing mysterious about a country that lacks a full-time prime minister, just something absurd.” The editor believes that the High Court should feel incumbent to address the no less vital issue of ministerial overpopulation, and contends that “if the court has determined that full-time, dedicated ministers are unnecessary, if follows that a number of ministries are superfluous, if a part-time minister with other responsibilities can do the job.”
Haaretz discusses the television report that depicted the late general Rehavam Ze’evi as a racist bully, and laments that despite his being a “bad soldier and an equally bad civilian,” his murder by Palestinian terrorists in 2001 elevated him to martyr status. The editor states: “Ze’evi’s true legacy is contemptible,” and argues that “A state that claims to educate its children for morality and truth cannot allow itself to sanctify the values of a man who was a racist, a man of violence and a serial sexual offender.”
Yediot Aharonot contends that “The murder of the three Israelis by ISIS in Istanbul gave Israelis hope that there would be a thaw in the relations between Turkey and Israel,” but warns: “Israel should be wary of getting too close to a dictator such as Erdoğan too quickly, taking into account his anti-Semitism and oppressive policies.”
Israel Hayom notes that “Since the 1993 establishment of the Palestinian Authority, the Christian majorities of Ramallah — Mahmoud Abbas’ headquarters — Bethlehem and Beit Jala have been transformed into insignificant minorities, due to physical, social, economic, legal and political intimidation,” and declares: “the Vatican and most Christian and Western governments have — knowingly — sacrificed the religious and civil liberties of Christian minorities — and their very existence — on the altar of wishful thinking, political correctness and appeasement.”
Globes comments on the attack on the McDonald’s fast food chain by Health Minister Yaakov Litzman, who alleged its food is unhealthy, and notes: “Sabbath observance, kashrut and unionization are among ingredients in the row.” The author believes, however, that “McDonald’s and fast food are a fairly minor health problem, especially when children are involved not because it is healthy, but because in most cases, people do not eat at McDonald’s every day, and not even close to every day,” and asserts: “The real hazard is the food served to children every day at lunch under the sponsorship of the state and the local authorities.”
[Eldad Beck, Yoram Ettinger and Shay Niv wrote today’s articles in Yediot Aharonot, Israel Hayom and Globes, respectively. |
