(Israel Government Press Office)

Ma'ariv refers to a recent government survey which indicates that while "66% of European Jews see anti-Semitism as a problem that affects their lives," and "76% of them believe that it has worsened in recent years," "Only 20% said that they are considering emigrating from their countries. Emigrate, and not specifically to Israel." The author believes: "This takes the wind out of the sails of those who try to see the 'positive' side of the growing anti-Semitism and expect waves of immigration in its wake."

Yediot Aharonot recalls that former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin told the Knesset in 1995 that "The security border for defending the State of Israel will be situated in the Jordan Valley, in the broadest sense of the term." The author, a former GOC Ground Forces, says that "The idea that the Jordan Valley needs to remain Israel's security border in any agreement with the Palestinians is one that has been held by all Israeli governments over the last 20 years – from Rabin to Sharon to Netanyahu." The paper asserts: "It is possible to state unequivocally: Israeli security control of the Jordan Valley and the mountainous spine of Judea and Samaria is crucial to maintaining the security of the State of Israel," and adds: "This is a security perspective, not necessarily an ideological one." The author suggests that a contiguous border between the Palestinian Authority and Jordan, "the majority of whose population is Palestinian," will not only endanger Israel but "is liable to undermine the stability of King Abdullah's regime, a moderate regime the continued existence of which is an Israeli interest of the highest order." The paper concludes: "There is no creative solution that could be a substitute for controlling the Jordan Valley."

Yisrael Hayom discusses the continuing controversy over Prime Minister Netanyahu's Hebrew remark in Davos that he would not evacuate any Israeli from his home, later remarks attributed to an official in the Prime Minister's office to the effect that settlers who decline to be evacuated could live in a future Palestinian state, and Jewish Home Chairman Naftali Bennett's criticism of the Prime Minister. The author says that "Those in the know regarding the position paper being prepared by John Kerry claim that the controversy in the coalition is over an egg that has not been laid yet," and adds: "There is a long way to go before the issue of leaving behind Jewish communities in the framework of Palestinian sovereignty comes up."

Haaretz is angered by a Jewish-only residential project in Jaffa, which is being marketed to the Jewish religious community, and terms it “a pearl of discrimination.” The editor states: “The project’s racist marketing campaign is unacceptable not only morally but legally,” and calls on Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein to “warn the developer about the illegality of his actions.”

The Jerusalem Post comments on the attention received by SodaStream’s Super Bowl add featuring Scarlett Johansson. Although the reason for the controversy is that SodaStream is located in Mishor Adumim, an industrial park just east of Maaleh Adumim, which is beyond the Green Line, the editor remains hopeful that something good will come out of all the media attention, and states: “As Johannson noted, the ‘light being shed on this issue’ might ‘contribute to the conversation of a peaceful two-state solution in the near future.’”