(Israel Government Press Office)
Two papers discuss the difficulties experienced by Prime Minister Netanyahu in appointing a new governor to the Bank of Israel:
Yediot Aharonot says: "At the root of the 'Governors' circus' is Prime Minister Netanyahu's sweeping opposition to the appointment of Dr. Karnit Flug – currently the Acting Governor – as Governor of the Bank of Israel for a five-year term," even though "She was former Governor Stanley Fischer's recommended candidate." The author rejects criticism directed at her from "Netanyahu's confidants," and commends Flug's "professional, pragmatic and balanced economic views." The paper also asserts that she is "very highly regarded in the economic world." The author concludes: "After the two previous failures, the time has come for the Prime Minister to reveal and explain what is preventing him from offering Dr. Flug the Governor's post."
The Jerusalem Post comments that “The appointment process for the Bank of Israel’s governor is just another issue that the public feels it has the right to influence.” The editor believes that if the appointment process had been conducted more professionally, and the two candidates had been given the opportunity of responding to their critics, then “Netanyahu would not be in the uncomfortable situation of searching for a third candidate to replace Fischer as governor of the central bank."
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Ma'ariv believes that "By deciding to release Arab murderers who are residents of Israel, the Government has given legitimacy to the Palestinian Authority to represent the Arab citizens of the country." The author reminds his readers that "There are those wise-guys who say that one way or the other they will not be released because the talks will break down, and if there is an agreement – then they will all be released anyway. And in any case, it is not worthwhile having a crisis with the US over such a thing. This is nonsense. First, with our own hands, we have created the reality of a possible crisis with the US because we have not agreed to freeze construction. But what is important here is the humiliating principle set by the Government of Israel: Israeli Arabs within the State of Israel are, in effect, the responsibility of the PLO and the Palestinian Authority operating on its behalf. Put as simply as possible, Israel has abandoned some of its sovereign authority. And all in order not to freeze construction for a limited time?"
Yisrael Hayom lauds the role of professional, seasoned diplomats and urges its readers "to keep in mind, when they read a small item in the newspaper about the Foreign Ministry workers' strike, that – to add to the tragedy – nobody in the leadership takes their profession seriously anymore. The stories about the visa that was not issued or the minister who did not receive a diplomatic passport are minor. The main thing is that foreign relations are not expendable, certainly not for a country like Israel. They are a main component of our national security, entrusted to men and women who do holy work as no Tweeter or surfer knows how to do."
Haaretz calls on the government to “End the incentives to settlements,” and asserts: “Settlements have become an enterprise of supreme national importance that are entitled to siphon off funds from the state and from the public, and that come before any other sector in the country.” The editor declares that “The government itself acknowledges that these settlements were added to the list in a manner that was contrary to the law, (the Economic Efficiency Law, which provides for the benefits),” and concludes: “Instead of distorting the law to encourage development in the West Bank settlements through financial incentives, the government should remove all the settlements from the list of priority areas.”
[Sever Plocker, Amos Gilboa and Daniel Shek wrote today’s articles in Yediot Aharonot, Ma'ariv and Yisrael Hayom, respectively.]