(Israel Government Press Office)
Ma'ariv defines Israeli fears that the current instability in the region could spread to Jordan as "the nightmare scenario," due to the effects that a radicalized Jordan would have on the Palestinian Authority and the strains entailed by a massive reinforcement of Israel's long eastern border. The author notes that "What is currently holding the King's regime together is the allegiance of loyal Bedouin tribes, who fill the main posts in Jordan's quality military," but points out that the Hashemite kingdom is being buffeted by various forces including a weak economy and the influx of hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees. However, the author claims that "The danger of the Hashemite monarchy falling is still not so tangible, at least in the immediate term."
Yediot Aharonot regrets that the ongoing sanctions by Foreign Ministry employees have gone relatively unnoticed for the past three months and says that the ministry "has gone from key player to fifth wheel," especially under former Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman, current Deputy Foreign Minister Zeev Elkin, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is, in fact, Acting Foreign Minister. The author concludes: "Diplomacy is an ancient profession. The fact that it does not interest anyone in the State of Israel shows that we have a problem not only with the study of history, but with profound thinking regarding the present and future as well."
Yisrael Hayom discusses the situation in Egypt and fears that "Continued violence is liable to force the Egyptian military into carrying out a full – and not 'democratic' – coup and declare a military regime." The author believes that events in Egypt will reverberate throughout the Arab world and suggests: "If, in the end, a civilian regime comes to the fore in Egypt and pushes the Muslim Brotherhood into a corner, it is possible that there will be repercussions in Turkey as well." The paper asserts: "All Israel can do at this stage is to continue an effective dialogue with the Egyptian military, observe events without taking a position and be ready for any development."
The Jerusalem Post comments on the State’s intent to establish a biometric databank and to develop smart ID cards and passports that will “prevent identity theft and illegal immigration and improve law enforcement.” The editor warns that “the day is quickly approaching when intimate information about every one of us will be readily available and privacy will be a thing of the past,” and opines: “We must find ways of balancing the right to privacy with technological developments.”
Haaretz is outraged by the favoritism shown to the Ultra-Orthodox regarding the equal sharing of the burden of military service in light of the approval of the Perry Committee’s enlistment reform, and states that what is at stake is the principle that everyone must be equal before the law. The editor adds: “From this standpoint, the new enlistment law perpetuates the existing discrimination and inequality,” and concludes: “The fact that this discrimination will now be enshrined in new legislation will only increase Israelis’ feelings of injustice.”
[Amir Rappaport, Yoaz Hendel and Maj.-Gen. (ret.) Eliezer Marom wrote today’s articles in Ma'ariv, Yediot Aharonot and Yisrael Hayom, respectively.]