(Israel Government Press Office)

Two papers discuss the recent talks in Geneva between the major powers and Iran regarding the latter's nuclear project:

Ma'ariv believes that "as long as there is no indication that Iran has changed direction and decided to back away from its intention to develop a military nuclear ability, all of its proposals must be seen as tactical steps in the bargaining with the international community," and adds: "It is reasonable to assume Iran's main goal in these talks is to have the painful sanctions lifted. It aspires to minimal concessions in the nuclear context and a maximal lifting of the economic and financial sanctions." The author suggests that the Government should voice its concerns to the major powers quietly so as not to appear shrill and out of step, thus making it more likely that its views will be marginalized.

Yisrael Hayom says that "Time is passing and the centrifuges are spinning, and the discussions have been adjourned for three weeks and so it will be in the next round. From now on, it is not enough for Israel to repeat its demand not to reach a salami-agreement with Iran. It must now demand a target date for the conclusion of the talks. Otherwise the negotiations will become mere talk."

----------------------

Yediot Aharonot suggests that an often overlooked aspect of Yitzhak Rabin's legacy is his record regarding Jewish-Arab relations within Israel. The author claims that Rabin's "government was the first to set advancing civil equality as a strategic goal," and asserts: "The political cooperation between Rabin and the Arab parties broke through – for the first time – the barrier of the political exclusion of the Arab public." The paper says that the current Knesset would do well to remember this aspect of Yitzhak Rabin: "The first native-born Israeli prime minister, whose entire life was dedicated to ensuring the sovereign future of the Jewish People, with the same breath also recognized the need to create an inclusive and respectable civil infrastructure in which all citizens of the country – Jews and Arabs – could share."

The Jerusalem Post comments on new US government regulations that prevent the quick cashing of American checks at Israeli banks and exchange bureaus, and cause other financial complications for expat Americans. The editor notes that, in light of these new regulations, “Some local banks will not open accounts for Americans and we fear that the latest check-cashing difficulties are not unrelated,” and concludes: “It’s difficult being an American abroad.”

Haaretz accuses the government of flouting rulings of the High Court of Justice by not abiding by its rulings, specifically on the issue of the Anti-Infiltration Law, which “could have been the government and Knesset's opportunity to start working seriously to solve the African migrants' problem.” The editor states: “Not only has the government not begun to release African detainees or examine their eligibility for asylum, it is advancing an alternative law similar to the one struck down by the court.” The editor calls on the prime minister to dismiss the alternative amendment, and on Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein to make clear that “The Anti-Infiltration Law is contrary to the High Court’s verdict; to the Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty; to international law; to the Refugee Convention that Israel is bound to, and mainly – as the High Court justices also stated – it is contrary to the dictates of conscience and moral values.”

[Emily Landau, Dan Margalit and Gilad Kariv wrote today’s articles in Ma'ariv, Yisrael Hayom and Yediot Aharonot, respectively.]