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Summary of editorials from the Hebrew press
Today’s issues: Justice served, racial profiling at Tel Aviv’s Central Bus Station, with friends like Putin and Trump, Israel doesn’t need enemies, where is the Middle East headed, and the end of the war on inflation.
The Jerusalem Post comments on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to contest a High Court of Justice decision requiring him to hand over records of his telephone conversions with the leadership of the Israel Hayom newspaper, and argues that “if the list of phone calls is published we will know more about the prime minister’s dealings but we will also be undermining journalists’ ability to do their job at the same time.” The editor explains that “The press needs to be able to cultivate and establish confidential relationships with government officials. That is how the media can achieve its objectives and fulfill its role of serving as a watchdog of democracy,” but adds: “This decision sets a dangerous precedent that could turn into a slippery slope that will backfire on all journ alists who rely on the confidentiality of their conversations with government officials to get their job done.”
Haaretz comments on the controversial profiling system – based on ethnic-national appearance – practiced at border and passport controls that has spread inland and is now used by security guards in the Tel Aviv Central Bus Station who have been ordered to ethnically profile Arabs, and asserts: “Racial profiling by station guards is a racist, discriminatory and illegal practice applied to Israeli minority members. It must be prohibited.”
Yediot Aharonot wonders what we actually get from Prime Minister Netanyahu’s “close ties” with his friends Russian President Putin and US President Trump, and states : “Israel set clear red lines in Syria, stopping numerous Iranian arms convoys from reaching Hezbollah. But what is Israel going to do when the Russians and Americans finalize an agreement to end the war in Syria, which would allow Tehran to establish itself in the Golan and put its soldiers right on our border?”
Israel Hayom discusses the turmoil in the region since the advent of the Arab Spring in 2011, and notes: “Israel is an informal member of the moderate Sunni camp since it shares its main concern — the Iranian quest for hegemony in the region.”
Globes discusses the global economy, and notes: “Until a few years ago, central bank governors were looked upon as prophets of the global economy. Their statements made prominent headlines, and they always dealt with one main subject: the war on inflation. This was the system that defined them and in which they had been educated. Inflation targets, or money supply growth targets, were considered the pillars of monetary policy.” The author argues that central bank governors cannot in the current reality hold onto the inflation target policy by force, and states: “A new policy is required to replace it, with tools to implement it. It is doubtful whether there is any central bank in the world, not just in Israel, that knows what such a policy should look like and what tools are available.”
[Shimon Shiffer, Efrain Inbar, and Avi Temkin wrote today’s articles in Yediot Aharonot, Israel Hayom and Globes, respectively. |
