Ma’ariv argues that "A court of law would perhaps convict Turkey of a provocation on the high seas, but an international committee is a political body, and Ankara’s politics are stronger than Jerusalem’s…The Turks are leading the front which is trying to break international sanctions against Iran, and the Americans want to appease them, not lose them."
Yisrael Hayom says that "Public relations are spit in two – internal and external," and argues that "Israel cannot succeed externally if the majority of the Israeli media falls into line with the flotilla organizers’ narrative." The author asks "Who did the vast majority in the three established newspapers crucify? Israel, of course, its government, and even, in some cases, the IDF." He concludes by also asking, "Who decided that the operation was a failure?"
The Jerusalem Post discusses growing international pressure to remove Israel’s naval blockade of the Gaza trip, and states that the real solution to the blockade is in the hands of Gaza’s people: "Israel has made it clear that the siege would be lifted as soon as the political leadership in Gaza agreed to recognize the existence of the Jewish state, abandoned violence, released Schalit and adhered to past agreements achieved between Israel and the PA." The editor adds that "Those truly interested in bringing peace and alleviating the plight of Gazans would best achieve their goal not by placing pressure on Israel to stop defending itself, but by convincing the residents of Gaza that Hamas’s way is a dead end."
Haaretz bemoans any further erosion of the relationship between the State of Israel and its Arab citizens, and between Jews and Arabs in Israel in general, as a result of the takeover of the Mavi Marmara. The editor feels that "Arab citizens may be the direct victims of government policy and the atmosphere in the Knesset, but all of society will pay the price of the devastation that will result."
[Gal Hirsch, Shmuel Rozner and Dror Eydar wrote today’s articles in Yediot Aharonot, Ma’ariv and Yisrael Hayom, respectively.]
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