Summary of Editorials from the Hebrew Press – October 30th, 2011

Yediot Aharonot suggests that the missile barrage is Islamic Jihad’s way to tell both Israel and the Palestinians, including Hamas, that, "We are here; the armed struggle has not been halted,’ and reminds its readers that last Wednesday was the anniversary of the 1995 elimination Islamic Jihad founder Dr. Fathi Shkaki. The author believes that, "Make no mistake, Hamas is not happy about this escalation. Its leaders have no interest in resuming the violence until the Shalit deal is over, with the release in another two months of 550 additional prisoners. Internally as well, Hamas does not want a resumption of fighting since it would hurt its ability to rebuild the Gaza Strip and strengthen itself vis-à-vis Fatah. In order to maintain its strength and prevent a security escalation, Hamas will have to rein in Islamic Jihad. The result is liable to be an unwritten alliance between Hamas and Israel in a common struggle against the rocket-launching cells and those who dispatch them."

Ma’ariv reminds its readers that social protest rallies were held last night across Israel and asserts that, "The social protest organizers picked an especially bad time for their media event: An evening in which missiles were exploding in communities in the south, an evening in which an Israeli citizen lost his life." The author suggests that "the time has come for this protest to prove that its political power is genuine and not a fiction of the public squares. As of now, it seems that they prefer to deal with what entertainers will appear at their rallies rather than the real thing – joining the political game in Israel in order to bring about genuine change, the kind that is made in Knesset committees and in the Cabinet. Let us have the public squares back; that trick has worn itself out."

Yisrael Hayom dismisses the notion of a period of calm vis-à-vis Gaza-based terrorists since the latter will exploit any calm to build up and improve their arsenals, and notes that almost one million Israelis will soon be in range of Gaza-based missiles. While the author applauds Israel’s defensive efforts, including Iron Dome, he also calls for "an iron-hand policy against terrorism," including the seizure of key areas in the Gaza Strip so as to interdict rocket-fire. The paper also avers that should a second Operation Cast Lead-type of operation prove necessary, the IDF must then, "wreck the Hamas regime, which is not part of the solution but the problem itself."

 

The Jerusalem Post opposes the call that Israel release more terrorists, including specifically Marwan Barghouti, one-time commander of the Fatah militia Tanzim, now serving five life terms and another 40 years for attempted homicide, in order "to strengthen Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah regime in Ramallah": "What differentiates the PA from Hamas isn’t fundamentally contradictory strategic aims but somewhat divergent tactics and degrees of vehemence. Under Abbas’s aegis terrorists – past and present – are revered and feted. His official media, educational system and mosque preachers effuse paeans of praise for terrorists lionized as heroes. Does our having boosted Hamas’s prestige behoove us to even the scales and make concessions to Abbas as well? Having gotten a raw deal once, are we obliged to voluntarily submit to further punishment?"

Haaretz comments on the opening of the Knesset winter session which "begins in a very different atmosphere than that of its predecessor. The summer’s protests proved to the public that it has the ability to emerge from its passive, submissive state and take to the streets." Haaretz criticizes the recent antidemocratic draft laws, specifically one scheduled for imminent deliberation – the Basic Law on Israel as the Nation-State of the Jewish People, spearheaded by MK Avi Dichter (Kadima): "This bill seeks to brutally stamp out Israel’s Declaration of Independence and reinforce the supremacy of the Jewish majority at the expense of the rights of minorities. MKs who hold precious the ideas of democracy and civil rights must oppose this draft law and the other bills that seek to undermine the democratic foundation of the state, even if such opposition means violating party discipline."

 

[Ronnie Shaked, Shai Goldin and Uzi Dayan wrote today’s articles in Yediot Aharonot, Ma’ariv and Yisrael Hayom, respectively.]