(Israel Government Press Office)
Two papers comment on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to the UN General Assembly yesterday:
Yediot Aharonot believes that "Netanyahu was convincing in every word he said and did not need any gimmicks, drawings, flamboyant gestures or bombastic pronouncements. Yesterday he seemed – and this is not a printing mistake – trustworthy." The author adds: "Netanyahu's speech was good because it was well based. His claims were accompanied by facts and quotations," and claims: "The sanctions, which may certainly be credited to Netanyahu, are what have led to what seems like a strategic change in Iran." The paper says that his demands on Iran may be summarized as the complete nuclear disarmament of the Islamic Republic and wonders how much the speech will resonate with Western leaders.
Yisrael Hayom says that Prime Minister Netanyahu's "practical goal was to maintain and strengthen the economic sanctions on Iran as part of the diplomatic move that Barack Obama prefers, and which the Prime Minister has perforce accepted." The author believes that while the speech indeed, "loudly renewed the military option," it also reserved it for use should Iran actually produce a nuclear weapon, not achieve threshold status or merely continue to enrich uranium, and adds: "This fine distinction was certainly willingly received in Washington." The paper speculates that US President Obama "can accept almost every word," of the speech.
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Ma'ariv says that Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's "true success is having created the impression that he is a head of state and that strategic decisions in the Islamic republic are entirely his to make." The author claims that it is the Revolutionary Guards that hold ultimate power in Iran and adds: "Even if Rouhani's intentions are serious, it is hard to believe that he will succeed in convincing anyone in Iran to shelve the nuclear program." The paper asserts that the Revolutionary Guards "will not give in on the nuclear program."
The Jerusalem Post remarks that whatever PM Netanyahu and US President Obama truly think about the prospects for a diplomatic solution to the conflict with the Islamic Republic, they “articulated a harmonious dovetailing of positions vis-à-vis the Iranians during their joint appearance before the press.” Despite this, the editor adds, “Netanyahu must stand firm in defense of Israel’s cardinal interests,” and concludes: “And doing so necessitates remaining vigilant and keeping all the options on the table, even as the diplomatic track is tested.”
Haaretz believes the main reason for designating the unspectacular Mount Scopus slopes in east Jerusalem a national park is to prevent construction and expansion of the adjacent Arab villages, and calls on Environmental Protection Minister Amir Peretz to seize the opportunity to “reevaluate the decision, only this time with the neighbors taken into consideration.”
[Sima Kadmon, Dan Margalit and Chaim Asa wrote today’s articles in Yediot Aharonot, Yisrael Hayom and Ma'ariv, respectively.]