Yediot Aharonot analyzes how events in Syria and Iran are affecting Hizbullah in Lebanon and contends that "Without Iran and Syria, Hizbullah will return to its true dimensions: Without generous financing, without a supply of weapons and without political support." The author notes that Hizbullah Secretary General Hassan "Nasrallah has insisted on publicly supporting [Syrian President Bashar] Assad and his bloody regime, thereby earning the condemnation of the Sunni world," and reminds his readers that "without Syria or Iran, Nasrallah has nowhere to run." The paper suggests that Hizbullah’s political position in Lebanon is eroding
Ma’ariv notes that in his remarks to the Knesset Finance Committee yesterday, Bank of Israel Governor Prof. Stanley Fischer offered little in the way of specific advice regarding the economy, which the paper says "is currently in a good situation." The author believes that "there are plans ready in the event of a deterioration," and hopes that they will not be necessary.
The Jerusalem Post comments on the economic crisis in Europe and its significance for Israel: "This spells the end of an era – the demise of the socialist welfare state that flourished in Western Europe in the post-World War II period. Israel traditionally bought heavily into the model of a national welfare system that offers wide-ranging entitlements bankrolled by the taxpayer. But can the largesse last? The reality is that not enough income is generated to prop up more and more entitlements, especially when benefit-dependency looms as an alternative to gainful employment. Such palpable dangers of state-budget profligacy notwithstanding, Israel’s own summertime ‘social justice’ protesters demanded that entitlements be further enlarged. When the world’s wealthiest societies titter on the abyss of economic disaster, we mustn’t luxuriate in throwing caution to the wind. Not only aren’t we stronger than they are, but if their buying power decreases, we are in trouble. Our exports are already slowing down. It may not be politically expedient or popular, but our economic leaders need to draw attention to this fact – perhaps in a last ditch effort to encourage greater circumspection in public opinion."
Yisrael Hayom refers to the recent OECD study which indicated that "the gap between rich and poor in Israel grew over the past decade," and calls on the Government not merely to invest in education in general but to invest in education in specific sectors: "The state must compel core studies on the ultra-orthodox sector and prepare it for work befitting the 21st century. It must also invest in education in the Arab sector in order to reduce the major gaps." The author asserts, "This battle is not lost. We must deal with this issue quickly because in another generation, we will not have the luxury of continuing to exist with the small productive sector carrying a limping welfare state on its back. If we continue thus, Israel is liable to become caught up in a severe economic crisis, the quality populations will leave and then, like what is happening in Greece today, we will reach socialist-style equality: Everyone will be equally poor."
Haaretz writes: "The letter Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein sent to PM Netanyahu was a bit late in coming, but it’s a good thing it was sent. Apparently Weinstein, who had been wary about using harsh rhetoric or confronting the government, also understands that Netanyahu, his ministers and coalition have crossed a red line separating democratic countries and regimes that persecute their opponents. Weinstein made it clear in his letter that he can’t defend two bills that would limit contributions to human rights groups. They are, as Weinstein put it, "flawed by their unconstitutionality" and are disproportionate. He contends that, instead of permitting open discourse and a lively "marketplace of ideas," the two bills seek to stifle expression. Weinstein’s fitting advice will give Netanyahu a way out of the corner he has painted himself into."