The Jerusalem Post remains optimistic regarding the prospect of peace with the Palestinians, and despite “an acrimonious election campaign and the simultaneous attempt by the Palestinian Authority to prosecute Israel for alleged war crimes,” the editor retains hope that “there is room for small acts by both sides that could indeed offer hope.” The editor believes that one such move would be to connect the new Palestinian city of Rawabi -meant to offer Palestinians a model of modern urban living and “the antithesis of the so-called refugee camps they have been confined to by their corrupt leadership for decades” - to the water supply. Despite the delay for which Israeli and Palestinian politicians are equally at fault, the editor is in agreement with President Rivlin, who declared that “supplying water to Rawabi is in Israel’s national interest.”

Haaretz criticizes the Israel Electric Company for cutting off the power supply to the Palestinian Authority, despite the fact that this was only for a short while and due to the fact that the PA has accumulated significant debt (over US$ 500 million) over the past two years. The editor claims that “cutting off the electricity to Palestinian cities cannot be addressed as if it were a pure business issue between debtor and creditor,” and perceives the cutoff as “another diplomatic punishment, rather than a means to collect a debt.” Calling on the government to “find a reasonable solution to the PA’s arrears,” the editor asserts: “Responsibility for maintaining normal life in the territories rests with Israel, as the sovereign, not with the Electric Corp.”

Yediot Aharonot believes that “The most urgent issue on the agenda, which is penetrating the Israeli educational system, is dealing with growing racism,” and asserts that despite the fact that politicians have hardly addressed the issue in the current election campaign, “Eradicating racism and a shared life education are imperative for all of us – citizens, parents, students, teachers and the entire Israeli society.”

Yisrael Hayom comments that “the Americans can take solace in an Iranian commitment not to become a nuclear state in the next decade, but the Iranians have no reason to press their luck and become one,” and adds: “Time is on their side and they happily welcome the immunity and legitimacy that such a deal will afford their nuclear program.” The author notes that “if the need or opportunity arises in the coming years, they can always shred the agreement to pieces, similar to what North Korea did, and laugh all the way to a nuclear bomb,” but remains hopeful that “the Americans will come to their senses and heed their allies in the region who are warning them against this particular deal.”

Globes op-ed was not available today.