All the papers discuss socio-economic issues:
Yediot Aharonot argues that, "As far as Benjamin Netanyahu is concerned, the protests in Beersheba, Ofakim and Bat-Yam are more dangerous to his political future than the encampments on Rothschild and Nordau boulevards. If the ‘white panthers’ from Rothschild Boulevard convince the residents of Kiryat Malachi, Shlomi and Or-Akiva that their situation is also bad, and will likely worsen – ‘he’s finished’."
Ma’ariv’s author proclaims, "It is difficult be optimistic at the age of 85, but I am optimistic. I am optimistic! Optimistic because of the great masses who showed-up in the most beautiful city [Haifa] in the Middle East. I am optimistic when I see young men and women with determination, but above all with desire not only to demand change, but also to make change. What is happening here is a miracle."
Yisrael Hayom relating to the use of numbers by the media to portray the socio-economic protests, scathingly inquires, "And what about the number of restaurant goers and those at hotels?" The author elucidates, "Not that there is no reason to protest. But the attempt to paint it only in black is a terrible distortion of the reality and untruthful."
Haaretz writes: "Last week was a tough one for Israel’s wealthiest people. Their stocks plunged by dozens of percentage points. The fall of the stock market has also meant losses to the public, indirectly in stocks and bonds that big business has sold to pension funds, provident funds and executive insurance funds. The crisis that Israel’s wealthiest business people are experiencing derives mainly from the huge debts these people have taken on to finance their purchase of giant companies. It is unacceptable for the wealthy not to pay back their debts while continuing to live at the same exorbitant standard with the same huge salaries. Wiping out some of their debts must be conditioned on their reducing their personal assets, salaries and standard of living."
The Jerusalem Post comments on the proposal to revive Israel’s long-abolished estate tax: "Proponents view estate taxes as essential to preserving meritocracy in society. Opponents characterize them as inherently destructive to family businesses and as penalties on what was saved and toiled for during a lifetime of work and on which taxes have already been paid. But the most important reason for resisting the new bid to resurrect a much-hated tax is the fact that the true tycoons can mobilize armies of shrewd lawyers and astute accountants who’ll resort to every loophole imaginable and discover unimagined ones to boot. Odds are no tycoon will feel the pinch. However, middle-class savers, who worked hard to put enough aside for a home, cannot rely on elaborate tax-planning. They won’t dodge the bullet."
[Eitan Haber, Sami Michael and Itzik Saban wrote today’s articles in Yediot Aharonot, Ma’ariv and Yisrael Hayom, respectively.]