Yediot Aharonot opines that "Transparency is the secret weapon of democracy. Israel knowingly decided to forego on it in its fight to release Gilad Shalit. No wonder that it is losing."
Ma’ariv notes that "The ultra-orthodox came to Ramat Aviv in order to proselytize. Muslims came to a small village in Provence, France, built a mosque, enlarged the community, and the original residents are searching for a way to leave." The author observes that "In Belgium and France legislation is being formulated to ban full head coverings (burka, niqab). In parliaments, the majority supports the new legislation, and public opinion polls show that the majority of the public supports it. Additional European countries are considering similar moves. Also in Israel there is a legislative initiative of this type. But what is acceptable in Europe, as we know, will be viewed as racism in Israel. Welcome to the new world." The author argues that "The claim that all selection is racist is demagoguery. Every country, society, community has the right to safeguard its national and/or cultural character."
Yisrael Hayom notes that the idea of a temporary Palestinian state is being suggested again. In recent days, the media has been reporting on an Israeli proposal to offer the Palestinians a temporary state on 60% of the West Bank." The author believes that "If that is what will happen, it would be preferable to arrive at a permanent solution now, instead of wearing out Mahmoud Abbas with a regurgitated proposal which has no chance without…the preconditioned promise of a permanent settlement."
The Jerusalem Post supports the intention to initiate a bill in Israel that would prohibit the wearing of a full-body and face covering for women, on the grounds that the custom is both misogynistic, undermines social cohesion, and can be a security or crime risk, as it hides the identity of a potential terrorist or criminal. Regarding the anti-burka campaign now underway in some European countries, the editor notes that "Those who support such legislation realize that an easygoing multiculturalism works only when there are basic shared values and a willingness to integrate. But European multiculturalism has deteriorated into rudderless moral relativism and a pusillanimous reluctance to criticize radical Islamic customs for fear of being branded an Islamophobe."
Haaretz endorses the package recycling bill drafted by the Environmental Protection Ministry, which, it claims, could generate a substantial improvement in Israel’s quality of life.
[Sever Plocker, Ben-Dror Yemini and Yossi Beilin wrote today’s articles in Yediot Aharonot, Ma’ariv, Yisrael Hayom and Nana10, respectively.]