Summary of Editorials from the Hebrew Press – February 6th, 2012

The Jerusalem Post comments: "The international community has justifiably expressed outrage over Saturday’s veto by Russia and China of a UN Security Council resolution demanding that Syrian President Bashar Assad step down. But as the casualty toll among anti-government protesters in Syria rises dramatically, the West and the Arab League must not give up until Assad is history." The paper concludes with a plea that Russia and China "change their minds and join the international consensus against the atrocities of the Assad regime."

Haaretz writes: "Russia and China’s veto of the UN Security Council resolution against Syria is in fact license for Syria’s president to continue slaughtering his citizens with impunity. The veto makes eminently clear how weak the international community is when it comes to people who are trying to free themselves from the dictator’s burden and who dream of democracy and a fair life. China and Russia’s rejection of the resolution despite the terrible slaughter in Homs and despite changes made in the resolution to satisfy those two countries is nothing less than a spit in the face of Syria’s citizens. Their move makes the two superpowers full partners in the acts of murder. We can only hope that the West, together with the Arab League, will be able to quickly formulate a new, much more aggressive policy that will put a stop to Assad’s murderousness."

 

Yediot Aharonot asks, "Can the Iranian leadership fold [in the face of sanctions]? Yes. The regime in Teheran is not being demanded to stop its entire nuclear program, but only to hold to what it declared: Nuclear power for peaceful purposes. It would be enthusiastically received in Tehran. Its popularity would not be harmed for it. It would be strengthened. But these are rational considerations, while the leadership in Teheran displays irrational behavior." The author maintains that "Israel is prepared to – and will – do everything possible in order to prevent Iran from having nuclear weapons. No Israeli Prime Minister or Chief-of-Staff will take upon himself the responsibility of a Tehran with nuclear weapons."

Ma’ariv notes that, "Twenty-one years ago, long-range missiles fell on greater Tel Aviv and Haifa. Only one person died in Israel as a result of the First Gulf War, but the watershed was marked there: The home front became the front line." The author continues, "The consequences were no less than historic from the Israeli security standpoint. In confronting enemy aircraft we knew that we had the air force, in confronting missiles we had nothing. That is a terrible feeling."

Yisrael Hayom relates, "For years I tried to understand why the nations of the world acted in apathy, indifference and with closed eyes while Europe’s Jews were taken away by train to extermination camps. In the aftermath of the Second World War many people with consciences hoped that the lesson had been learned and that human blood would no longer be spilled lightly. There were those who believed that humanity could no longer countenance the killing of innocents by cruel, bloodthirsty tyrants, modern barbaric rulers wielding deadly weapons. The United Nations was supposed to be a central international element embodying the forces of light in order to combat the forces of evil. This hope imploded. These days, thousands of Syrians are being indiscriminately massacred by artillery and mortar fire – and the world remains silent and paralyzed."

 

[Sever Plocker, Amos Gilboa and Haim Schein wrote today’s articles in Yediot Aharonot, Ma’ariv and Yisrael Hayom, respectively.]