| 3 June 2018
Summary of editorials from the Hebrew press |
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| Today’s issues: Respect for religion, Netanyahu – ‘sabotaged’ again, toppling Hamas is the only logical solution, and too soon to celebrate. |
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| The Jerusalem Post is concerned by the possibility of a deepening rift between secular and religious Israelis resulting from the apparent dwindling of respect for religion and tradition and the feeling of alienation among progressive Jews in Israel, and notes: “something is not working when it comes to the status of religious affairs in Israel.” The editor contends that the lack of separation between religion and state in Israel “politicizes religion and turns many people, who might otherwise be open to religion, off from it,” and adds: “Jews should respect one another and tolerate difference, even when there are practices that to some might seem anachronistic.” |
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| Haaretz discusses allegations that Prime Minister Netanyahu asked the then-director of the Shin Bet security service, Yoram Cohen, to wiretap the phones of Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Benny Gantz and Mossad Director Tamir Pardo, on the backdrop of suspicions and distrust that reigned between the prime minister and the defense chiefs in the dispute over whether to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities, and asserts: “The impression one gets is that anyone who thinks differently from Netanyahu, and not just on security issues, is immediately suspected of sabotaging him, and in the prime minister’s view, all means of acting against such people are legitimate.” The editor adds: “by his suspiciousness, Netanyahu creates friction and distrust among governmental and defense agencies, which in itself undermines national security,” and states: “His paranoia and failure to distinguish between himself and the state are further evidence that his long tenure as prime minister has worn him down and he must vacate the office in favor of fresh faces.” |
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| Yediot Aharonot assesses the reasons for Israel’s reluctance to topple the Hamas regime in Gaza and why, with the strongest army in the region, it “is letting Hamas claim lives and make the lives of Israel’s residents in general, and the Gaza border area residents in particular, a misery,” and contends that the reason PM Netanyahu favors Hamas rule in the strip is because “he’s afraid the PA’s return to Gaza will make it politically stronger and then, God forbid, he’ll have to negotiate with one Palestinian entity representing both Gaza and the West Bank.” |
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| Israel Hayom comments on the as-of-yet unverified reports of the departure of pro-Iranian forces and Hezbollah fighters in southern Syria, and points out that they “could point to a new phase in the path to a reduction in Iran’s presence in Syria, and as a result, an increase in tensions between Russia and Iran.” The author adds: “It is too early to conclude that Jerusalem and Moscow are in consensus when it comes to the future character of Syria,” but opines: “While Israel would welcome the distancing of the Iranians and Hezbollah from the border, it would be far less thrilled to see the re-establishment of Assad’s forces near the border and in the southern Golan Heights and the ousting of moderate rebels there.” |
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| [Haim Ramon and Oded Granot wrote today’s articles in Yediot Aharonot and Israel Hayom, respectively.] |
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