The Jerusalem Post asserts that even though “The brush strokes of the deal that has been reported to be on offer to the mullah regime don’t augur well,” there is nevertheless “another way forward that does not necessarily lead to war.” The editor declares: “Threshold-nuclear-state status will only augment the Islamic Republic’s malignant impact on the region and on the world,” and clarifies: “Netanyahu’s speech before Congress is an intentionally public display designed to draw US lawmakers’ attention to the dangers of signing a bad deal before it is too late.” 

Yediot Aharonot proclaims: “Netanyahu is wrong and he is misleading the public,” and adds: “Instead of taking action acting against Iran and looking for ways to delay Iran's race to become a country with nuclear weapons, he's declared war on America.” The author asserts that “Netanyahu's trip to Washington and address to Congress will be an illustration of his two colossal failures as prime minister – turning Iran into a nuclear threshold state under the umbrella of international legitimacy, and the destruction of the extensive fabric of relations so critical to our security with the US administration,” and believes that the conclusion to be drawn from this is that “Netanyahu is in Washington less so as a prime minister concerned for the security of his citizens and more so as a pyromaniac.” 

Yisrael Hayom believes that “In taking a stance in the capital of the free world, Netanyahu is offering a diplomatic and moral alternative to the path defined by Obama,” and at the same time “is shattering the misguided fixation that rational Western standards can be imposed on radical Islamist groups.” The author notes that even despite disparaging remarks from the media against the prime minister, “Obama's behavior over the last few weeks basically ensured that everyone will hear Netanyahu's address,” and concludes: “The stage has been set.” 

======================================== 

Haaretz calls on the government to bring the Settlement Division, the arm of the World Zionist Organization to which the state has delegated the authority to deal with developing rural communities in Israel, from out of the shadows. The editor notes that the attorney general has described it as a “‘governmental twilight zone,’ ‘the government’s backyard for transactions outside the framework of the law,’ and a ‘built-in pathology,’” and states that “It’s time for this pathology to be removed from the law books. The State of Israel must regain control of its settlement policy and stop funding the division.”