(Israel Government Press Office)

Ma'ariv believes that the phone conversation "has increased the chance that Israel will be compelled to attack the Iranian nuclear installations in the medium term," and says that "The prevalent view in the IDF is that the ayatollahs decided to appoint Hassan Rouhani, whose views are considered moderate, only to lift the economic sanctions. Nobody believes that the results of the Iranian election are genuine or that Iran has given up on its nuclear ambitions." The author asserts: "The general sense is that America is tired and that it is easy for it to accept Iran's tactical move which will lead in the end to a bomb (just like North Korea was determined and achieved a bomb)," and adds: "The general evaluation of all players in the Middle East is that Barack Obama will not dare embark on a military adventure in Iran." The paper concludes: "The world will find it difficult to accept an Israeli attack without exhausting the recent diplomatic developments which could, on the face of it, lead to an effective agreement. It is reasonable to assume that Israel will be left soon with only two possibilities – attack Iran or be compelled to accept Iran's becoming a nuclear power."

Yediot Aharonot says that "The economic sanctions have wrecked the Iranian currency, hurt citizens' standard of living and social stability, and created internal pressure that threatens the continuation of the ayatollahs' regime. The goal for which Rouhani has opened his onslaught of peace is to bring about – as quickly as possible – the lifting of the sanctions, if not completely then at least significantly. While Iran does not intend to dismantle its nuclear program, it is prepared to freeze the program on the threshold of achieving a bomb." The author believes that "The apparent rapprochement between Obama and Rouhani is not pleasant for any pro-American government in the Middle East," and cautions: "Netanyahu, who will meet with Obama at the White House tomorrow, will not be able to change his policy." The paper claims that whatever tone the Prime Minister takes, "Obama has, at one go, rolled up the flag that Netanyahu has been waving at Israelis and the world, the foundation of his diplomatic existence. The threat of a US military attack has been lifted, for the coming months at least, and it is doubtful if there ever was an Israeli military threat. Churchill he will not be; that dream has been shelved. And difficult negotiations with the Palestinians are still waiting." The author concludes: "Other countries in the region will say that Obama's America cannot be relied upon. Israel does not have this privilege; and that's that. Much now depends on the Iranians. If they do not make an awful mistake, if Rouhani's success does not go to their heads, they have a good chance of rehabilitating themselves economically and positioning themselves as a nuclear-threshold state. This has been their plan from the outset."

Yisrael Hayom speculates that Prime Minister Netanyahu's meeting with US President Obama "will not be easy. He will suggest that the American President not listen to Hassan Rouhani's good English, but to content and actions, and will remind him what agreements with terrorist states of the kind represented by the previous speaker at the UN, from North Korea, are worth." The author says that "When an atmosphere of appeasement-at-any-price guides international diplomacy, nobody will want to listen to weighty arguments that warn against the trap of the nations of evil… Netanyahu's warnings and suspicions are valid."

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Haaretz comments that “civics instruction in a democracy is pointless unless it rests on a foundation of equal opportunities, equal rights and the protection of minorities,” and adds: “From this it follows that the education system must promote tolerance among the various groups that make up the society.” The editor believes that “this is increasingly difficult to carry out in Israel,” due to actions of various individuals and groups who attempt to favor “the Jewish component over the democratic component of Israel’s national identity,” and calls on Minister of Education Shay Piron to “wrest the school curriculum from the vested interests and end the interference of right-wing bodies in education.”