Yediot Aharonot asserts that "a normal country does not shoot itself in the foot," and adds: "Freezing the funds for the Palestinian Authority is, over time, this kind of shooting – if not in the head, then at least in the foot." The author believes that "Israel has an in interest in the Palestinian Authority using its police powers and in fostering security cooperation," and adds, "If there is no money, there are no salaries and no policing." The paper contends that "The money that Israel transfers, which is Palestinian money, buys quiet and security cooperation for the time being, and saves the IDF from having to dispatch considerable forces to the West Bank to maintain law and order there. Even from the settlers’ and right-wingers’ point-of-view, the current situation, with a functioning PA, is preferable to chaos and anarchy."
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The Jerusalem Post comments on the anniversary of the UN resolution of November 29, 1947, calling for the creation of a Jewish and an Arab states: "The Jewish people’s meticulously planned push for statehood, imbued with pressing urgency in the wake of the Holocaust and the tragic plight of Jewish refugees after the war, contrasted sharply with an emerging Palestinian nationalism. Channeling most of its energies toward hatred and destruction, the Palestinian national movement failed to prepare its people for statehood. In recent years, the Palestinian Authority has slowly but haltingly begun building pre-state institutions of governance, most notably under the leadership of Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. But Fayyad and what he stands for lack support in the Palestinian street. And Hamas continues to demand his resignation as a pre-condition for a reconciliation deal with the PA. It’s about time that Palestinians learn from Israel and put an end to what Abba Eban referred to in 1973 as the Arabs’ self-defeating tendency to ‘never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.’"
Ma’ariv comments on the debate over the security budget: "Is it possible to cut the security budget? Certainly. In the budget, 55% of which is for salary expenditures, it is possible to find more than a small amount of fat. It must go on a diet. This is not necessarily just bringing forward the retirement age for career personnel. Religion Officers, for instance – how many such career officers must an IDF brigade employ? This is just one example; there are countess others that indicate an absence – and lack – of efficiency."
Haaretz writes: "The worldwide economic crisis, which is centered in Europe, is now drawing closer to Israel’s gates. The forecasts on growth in the year 2012, which until recently stood at about 4 percent, now stand at about 3 percent and going in the direction of continued decline. The Finance Ministry deserves support for the fiscal plan to make the cutbacks that it is formulating, aimed at offsetting the irregularities created in the 2012 budget, which stem from generous government decisions and privately sponsored legislation in the Knesset. It is also important to carry through on cuts in the defense budget so it will be possible to pay for the recommendations of the Trajtenberg Committee. The government and the Knesset must be called on to show responsibility and do the right things – even if this is not a popular step in the short run."
Yisrael Hayom reminds its readers that Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych will pay a state visit to Israel this week and says, "Despite Ukrainian Jews’ chilly past, today relations between the two countries are warming up." The author adds, "In the diplomatic sphere, it is worth pointing out that Ukraine has lined up alongside Israel in international forums, including on the Goldstone Report."
[Alex Fishman, Yehuda Sharoni and Yoram Dori wrote today’s articles in Yediot Aharonot, Ma’ariv and Yisrael Hayom, respectively.]