Yediot Aharonot comments on yesterday incidents in which supporters of Kiryat Arba Rabbi Dov Lior alternatively marched and blocked traffic – inter alia – to protest his being detained for questioning by the police over his endorsement of a book that allegedly incites toward violence against non-Jews. The author declares that "Rabbis, more than others, need to be scrutinized carefully. Their importance as religious leaders lays in the personal example that they set, not in their being exalted over the people. When a rabbi is summoned for questioning, he needs to go." However, the paper contends that while the authorities have been zealous, ever since Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated, in pursuing incitement by right-wing extremists, "The State of Israel has been extraordinarily forbearing towards a different kind of incitement. It rudely ignores a respected professor who calls to attack settlers, overlooks a radio announcer who broadcasts hatred and, mainly, closes its eyes to hundreds of Islamic clerics who openly slander and libel in mosques in the Jewish State." The author calls for the latter to receive the same treatment as Rabbi Lior.
Ma’ariv asserts that "One cannot argue with the facts," and reminds its readers that "An international comparison proves that the indirect tax burden in Israel (16.2% of GDP) is significantly higher than in Europe (10.2%) or in the US (6.9%)." The author explains that "In Israel, one pays much more VAT, customs, purchase taxes and taxes on fuel," and says that "While the overall tax burden in Israel (31.4% of GDP) is almost identical to the OECD average (31.1%), the question is about how it is broken down: An analysis of the data shows that direct taxation (income tax and national insurance) is significantly lower in Israel in comparison to overseas while indirect taxation is much higher. Thus, Israel – which is supposed to be a welfare state with socialist leanings – has become a country with increasing gaps." The paper believes that "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s and the Finance Ministry’s policy have caused the shekel’s effective buying power to be significantly higher in the top decile in comparison to the lowest," and says that "If the decision-makers are indeed interested in being attentive to the concerns of the public at large as they say they are, they should set a new taxation agenda. Nothing will happen if the Finance Ministry Budget Division takes a time-out from its policy of increasing taxes on fuel, cigarettes and alcohol. It is possible to balance the cost by temporarily slowing the reduction in direct taxation and corporate taxes. Why should Israel’s corporate tax rate remain one of the lowest in the world? Netanyahu’s plan is to accelerate the reduction in these taxes within five years to 16%, but with all due respect to foreign investments, one can explicitly say in this case that the less well-off come first."
Yisrael Hayom writes: "Whatever the reason is, it is unclear why somebody in Jerusalem decided to grant the international media a reason to win a few real points on the eve of the departure of the provocation show known as ‘the second flotilla to Gaza.’ Somebody in the National Information Directorate thought that foreign correspondents should be threatened and warned that ‘participation in the flotilla is an intentional violation of Israeli law and is liable to lead to participants being denied entry into the State of Israel for ten years, to the impoundment of their equipment and to additional sanctions.’" The author avers that "[Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu did well yesterday when he decided to reconsider the matter," and also commends his decision to embed foreign journalists on the Israel Navy ships that will enforce the blockade on the Gaza Strip.
The Jerusalem Post is hopeful that despite the stubborn insistence of flotilla participants to attempt to break Israel’s sea blockade on the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, “reason and international pressure will win out, and the Gaza flotilla will not sail insistently into confrontation.” The editor states: “Preventing a repeat of the Mavi Marmara debacle, by pulling back from a misguidedly motivated and thoroughly unnecessary confrontation with Israeli forces, would be the most fitting way for the flotilla activists to commemorate that recent one-year anniversary.”
Haaretz discusses the announcement by the PA of its intent to seek UN recognition of a Palestinian state in September, and calls on minister of Defense Ehud Barak to “step up and push for negotiations.” The editor declares that “As the leader of a party seen as holding the balance of power in the coalition’s fulcrum it is his duty to assume the role of the responsible adult,” and adds: “If the government maintains its intransigence, the third intifada will be named for the defense minister.”
[Yoaz Hendel, Yehuda Sharoni and Boaz Bismuth wrote today’s articles in Yediot Aharonot, Ma’ariv and Yisrael Hayom, respectively.]