(Israel Government Press Office)

Yediot Aharonot acknowledges that "There is no argument that releasing Jonathan Pollard in the framework of a deal to release murderers raises a moral problem," but adds: "The moral question need not bother Netanyahu," because "If Arik Sharon could have allowed himself to do a shameful deal with Hezbollah in exchange for Elhanan Tannenbaum who trafficked in drugs and nobody cried out, Netanyahu can certainly release Pollard, to whom the State of Israel owes decades."

Yisrael Hayom reminds its readers that "84% of case files opened for Price Tag actions are closed due to failure to find the offenders or a lack of evidence to put them on trial," and adds that "Only 8.5% of the case files end in an indictment." The author asserts that "The lack of a response damages the Israeli government's deterrent ability," and contends that Price-Tag actions "has severe long-term international repercussions," for Israel. The paper believes that "Experience shows that the government has the tools to completely foil such phenomena, if only it would prepare itself accordingly in the legal, administrative and operational spheres."

Haaretz asks, in light of the cancellation of US Secretary of State John Kerry’s visit to Jerusalem and Ramallah: “where is Netanyahu leading us?” The editor criticizes Israel’s negative response to the US proposal for resumption of the negotiations, and asserts: “Israel should have fully accepted the proposal with alacrity.” The editor believes that a better proposal will not be forthcoming, and adds: “The alternative could be fatal to peace efforts, and Netanyahu will bear the responsibility.”

The Jerusalem Post comments on this year’s Land Day protests, and notes that the project failed to live up to the hype: “Not only were there no furious clashes, but the entire Land Day undertaking this year failed to excite much attention.” Pointing to the turmoil in neighboring countries and the Arab world in general, the editor states: “Those who clamor for all the rights Israeli citizenship bestows should be the first to remember that Israel is the freest and most prosperous country for any Arab in the region. A scornful stance toward the state and its delegitimization hardly serve the interests of Israeli Arabs,” and concludes: “Those who yell loudest fear coexistence most.”