Editorials 23 March 2015

Summary of editorials from the Hebrew press

  • 3/23/2015
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    Today’s issues: The president’s call to heal the rifts in society, the worsening plight of Israelis resulting from Netanyahu’s win, Israel’s Arab citizens aspiration for equality and the US’s misguided approach to the Syrian civil war
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    ​​The Jerusalem Post endorses President Rivlin’s call “for the ‘healing’ of rifts in Israeli society,” and feels it is incumbent upon PM Netanyahu that while putting together his government coalition, “he should make it clear that he will strive to represent all Israelis, including those represented by political parties not included in the coalition.”

    Haaretz​ cautions that “if the next government chooses the extreme path Netanyahu outlined in the campaign, the situation of all Israeli citizens will worsen.” The editor adds: “If Israel does not adopt a two-state solution, one will be forced on it from the outside, and at a much more painful price,” and concludes: “What proved efficient electioneering could turn out to be a destructive policy that puts Israel at risk.”

    Yediot Aharonot calls on PM Netanyahu to apologize for anti-Arab comments during the election campaign, and states: “Even if the prime minister was elected democratically, his statement against Arabs exercising their right to vote is undemocratic, and he is unworthy of serving as prime minister.” The author, a Knesset member on behalf of the Joint Arab List, adds: “I am certain that this opinion is shared by many citizens, Jews and Arabs, who want a shared life and a real democracy – not a democracy of outstanding Jews,” and concludes: “We are citizens too and we want to be equal.”

    Yisrael Hayom marks the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the Syrian civil war, and, with it, American overtures to the Syrian regime, which would effectively leave Assad in power. This fact, coupled with Washington’s partnering with Iran to stop Islamic State, even at the cost of bolstering the latter’s status in the region, confirms that Washington believes this “will garner the U.S. gratitude and new friends in the region.” The author disagrees with this assessment, and points out that victory for Assad and Iran “will only buttress the anti-American and anti-Israeli axis in the region and encourage its members to return to their pre-Syrian revolution path of incitement and resistance against the U.S. and Israel.” “After all,” the author adds, “Assad is the root of the problem in Syria, not part of the solution.”

    Globes op-ed was not available today.

    [Ahmad Tibi and Eyal Zisser wrote today's articles in Yediot Aharonot and Yisrael Hayom, respectively.]