The Jerusalem Post comments on the visit to Israel of Indian FM Krishna, marking the 20th anniversary of relations between the two countries: "The rarity of a visit by such a high-ranking Indian official underlines the delicate balance New Delhi maintains in its relations with Jerusalem. On one hand, commercial ties have improved immensely since January 1992, when the two countries formally established ties after the collapse of the Soviet Union and India’s dramatic transition from a centrally planned socialism under Soviet influence to a free market economy. On the other hand, India has tended to play down military deals with Israel, while pursuing high-profile foreign relations with the Palestinian Authority. Yet despite their country’s decidedly pro-Palestinian policies, Indians are remarkably supportive of Israel. India’s foreign policy is proof that a strong pro-Palestinian stance is not an obstacle to robust and mutually advantageous relations with Israel."
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Haaretz comments on the Knesset approval on Monday of an amendment to the Prevention of Infiltration Law, according to which "work seekers from Africa who enter Israel illegally can be imprisoned for three years, without the benefit of a trial and without any distinction between asylum seekers and labor migrants. Words fail in the face of such a disgraceful act of legislation. Sending desperate human beings, who come to Israel to find gainful employment, to jail for an extended period is completely antidemocratic and inhuman. The problem of the labor migrants must be solved in other ways, certainly not through long incarceration without trial. Israel has the right to close its borders and set its own immigration policy, like the world’s most developed nations. But it does not have the right to imprison people – some of whom have been recognized as refugees, to whom no door should be closed and certainly not that of Israel."
Yediot Aharonot suggests that "in the State of Israel’s present complicated situation, it is important, even crucial and necessary, to send to the Knesset in Jerusalem the best minds, those with the most experience, those in the center of contributing."
Ma’ariv believes that "conceding Jerusalem would be the end of Zionism. Even the Palestinians understand that. The Palestinians will not concede moving the border in Jerusalem from the 1949 lines even a few hundred meters, not even for tremendous compensation. Their leaders understand that nations are built, first of all, on ethos, vision and symbols."
Yisrael Hayom calls for "encouraging the ultra-orthodox to integrate into the IDF." The author asserts that in doing so, "the IDF is likely to fulfill an additional strong social purpose, as it did during the first years of its existence."
[Eitan Haber, Erez Tadmor and Yaakov Achimeir wrote today’s articles in Yediot Aharonot, Ma’ariv and Yisrael Hayom, respectively.]