Summary of Editorials from the Hebrew Press, 23 August 2010

 The Jerusalem Post describes the rather bleak starting point of the forthcoming direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians, but says that "the resumption of direct talks does offer a few, faint reasons for cautious optimism." The editor advises his readers that PM Netanyahu is the most able of any Israeli leader to ‘sell’ concessions to the Israeli public, and adds that "The Israeli government, with mainstream support, has signalled that it will consider the painful concessions necessary for a viable accord – provided that the PA, for the first time, both internalizes Israel’s sovereign legitimacy and emphasizes that legitimacy to its own people, creating the climate for mutual compromise and long-term reconciliation."

 Haaretz discusses the direct talks about to begin between Israel and the Palestinians, with no preconditions as per PM Netanyahu’s insistence, and states that "Soon it will be clear to all whether [PM Netanyahu’s] maneuver was an empty one, designed to buy time and ease international criticism of Israeli actions in the territories, or whether he is ready for a compromise that will lead to the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel." The editor feels that the continued freeze of construction in the territories is imperative if the talks are to succeed, and says that "If the suspension of construction was necessary to get the talks started, it clearly must continue while they are underway. If Netanyahu wants his peace declarations to be believed, they must also be seen in his actions on the ground."

 Ma’ariv notes that "According to media reports, one week ago we were talking about 20 million homeless Pakistanis.  …The Pakistan flood victims erased from the headlines the thousands who perished in mudslides in China and in another week we will forget them as well."  The author argues that "As long as Pakistan, China and also Gaza continue to prefer to manufacture weapons instead of civilian and humanitarian infrastructure, the billions that come from the West are valueless.”

 Yisrael Hayom calls post-Zionism "a genuine danger to the future of the country."  The author contends that "Opposition to Israel throughout the world is nourished, not insubstantially, by post-Zionist writing which is enlisted against Israel as a Jewish State."