(Israel Government Press Office)
Two papers discuss various issues related to the diplomatic process:
Ma'ariv says that "The announcements regarding construction in Judea and Samaria are merely the implementation of a fairly transparent political deal. It is the Prime Minister's lip service to the Right for the resumption of the diplomatic process," and adds: "Construction is the compensation to the Likud ministers who are gnashing their teeth over a party that is becoming more extreme. The inclusion of isolated settlements on the map of national priority areas is also part of the same package. Of course, those who are paying and will pay the price for this whole deal is the Israeli public, which is throwing money at places that might be evacuated. But what's new?"
Yisrael Hayom commends the decision to announce tenders for the construction of 793 residential units in neighborhoods over the Green Line in Jerusalem and says: "Better late than never." The author asserts that there is a housing shortage in the city and believes that the government is well aware that "Those who want to hold Jerusalem and keep it united must build there and build there a lot." The paper believes that even Washington, beyond its perfunctory condemnation, "understands the Israeli need to balance the unacceptable decision to release terrorist murderers in exchange for the resumption of the negotiations."
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Yediot Aharonot criticizes parents who are refusing to allow their children to be vaccinated against polio in the framework of the current nationwide "Two Drops" campaign to vaccinate all children born after 1 January 2004. The author says: "Unless they live on a desert island, they must consider the society around them," and declares: "Unvaccinated children constitute a danger not only to themselves, but to their peers." The paper notes that "In the US, Canada and Sweden, unvaccinated children are barred from entering kindergartens and refusing parents are fined," and calls on the government to impose sanctions on Israeli parents who refuse to vaccinate their children and thereby "show not even a drop of public responsibility."
The Jerusalem Post underscores “the dilemma Israel faces in dealing with the threat emanating from the Sinai Peninsula,” and notes: “As part of the battle against Sinai’s Islamists, Israel and Egypt have agreed secretly or publicly to alterations to the Camp David accords.” The editor believes that “the old arrangements underpinning security relations between the two countries are out-dated and ill-suited to an era when a quasistate run by Hamas has emerged in Gaza and when a hodgepodge of Beduin clans, al-Qaida-affiliated organizations and Salafists have filled the security vacuum in Sinai,” and states: “Perhaps the time has come for Egypt and Israel to rethink these arrangements in an effort to confront the challenges emanating from Sinai.”
Haaretz comments on surgery under full anesthesia undergone by Prime Minister Netanyahu last Saturday night, and asks: “Why does the Israeli leader not have a permanent deputy who can serve as acting prime minister, without needing to appoint one hurriedly in times of need?” The editor opines: “it should be a requirement that a deputy be on hand to take political responsibility whenever necessary,” and asserts: “The continuity of governance requires that Netanyahu be compelled to appoint a deputy and that such a requirement be anchored in the Basic Law on government.”
[Nadav Eyal, Nadav Shragai and Semadar Shir wrote today’s articles in Ma'ariv, Yisrael Hayom and Yediot Aharonot, respectively.]