The Jerusalem Post comments on the high number of pedestrian casualties in road accidents in Israel, and notes “It is a grim paradox that we are killing one another off at a far faster rate than our Islamist enemies.” The editor blames the fatalities primarily on increased smartphone use, a prime factor in reducing concentration, and is hopeful that a bill banning the use of headphones while crossing the street, which was proposed shortly before the Knesset was dissolved prior to the forthcoming elections, will solve the problem.

Haaretz attacks Israel Police for the practice of ordering detainees who are sent for psychiatric observation to be chained to their beds, and asserts: “Chaining someone severely infringes on the constitutional principles of human dignity and liberty, and therefore is unconstitutional. It is a fundamental constitutional principle that even if a right is violated for an appropriate purpose, the violation is unacceptable if it’s possible to use means that would violate the right less flagrantly.”

Yediot Aharonot attests: “Israel's citizens have been living for decades in an abnormal reality of wars, rounds of fighting and terror attacks. Now we must continue fighting terror and defending the citizens, but at the same time we must also initiate a diplomatic move with the objective of reaching peace, thereby changing the situation from its foundation.” The author believes that “Without a peace initiative, our situation will increasingly deteriorate,” and adds: “The framework for the peace process should be composed of the ‘Arab peace initiative’ combined with an Israeli peace initiative,” and asserts that this “is an opportunity we must not miss out on.”

Yisrael Hayom discusses PM Netanyahu’s decision to speak before the U.S. Congress, and notes that despite reports in the Israeli press, there are many in the US – Jews and non-Jews alike – who support it. The author states: “The main problem is that it has become political. It cannot be allowed to be political. What is needed against a nuclear Iran and its ayatollah regime is consensus, if not between the superpowers than at least in the West; and if not in the West then at least among the Israeli and American friends.” Rejecting calls in the Israeli media for Netanyahu to be smart rather than right, the author determines that he should not “look to find favor in the eyes of Obama,” and concludes: “Obama will not be forgiving, even if Netanyahu cancels his speech. What is more important, however, is that history is just as unlikely to forgive.”

Globes op-ed was not available today.