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Yediot Aharonot suggests that "The term ‘Jewish state’ is under attack by three groups: Religious, Nationalist and Liberal," and adds that "The first two would like to take it for themselves while the third is interested in cancelling it." The author reminds his readers that "We are a young state; 64 years is the blink of an historic eye," and believes that "Extremism in mood and the rejection of complexity may, therefore, be attributed to our being adolescents in our sovereign life." The paper concludes: "The illusion that it is either possible or desirable to decide between Judaism and democracy must dissipate. Without a Jewish identity, we have no right to exist. Without a democratic identity, it would be impossible to exist."
Ma’ariv believes that "Thanks to the proximity of Remembrance Day [for the Fallen of Israel’s Wars] and Independence Day, the memory of the fallen is preserved as something very significant for the entire population, not just for the bereaved families." The author adds: "With all due respect to the difficulties and the pain of the bereaved families," vis-à-vis the immediate and sharp transition from Remembrance Day to Independence Day, "the proximity of the two days and the idea and message behind it cannot be changed."
Yisrael Hayom ventures that "Israelis who live abroad are not detached from the state. They are part of Israeli society, some more so, some less. Also, their rate of return home is considerable, certainly in comparison to emigration from countries the economies of which are on a par with Israel’s." The author believes that "We must maintain links with them alongside our efforts to develop ties with Diaspora Jews; we will all benefit thereby."
The Jerusalem Post refers to the period in the Israeli calendar that begins with Holocaust Remembrance Day and continues a week later with Remembrance Day for the Fallen of Israel’s Wars, which is dominated by themes of sacrifice, death and loss, and states that “Israel would like nothing more than to live in peace with its neighbors. In the meantime, we mourn our losses and remain ever vigilant.”
Haaretz calls on the government to keep the gas dispute with Egypt apolitical. The editor states that “Egyptian and Israeli efforts to contain the crisis by describing it as a commercial decision devoid of political context indicates that both sides fear for the welfare of bilateral ties, and are trying to prevent opponents of the peace accord, as well as terror groups that have sabotaged the gas pipeline, from gaining the power to determine the two countries’ foreign policies,” and adds: “At a time when Egypt is struggling to shape its political and diplomatic future, it would be best not to give the natural gas deal the power to torch the peace agreement with Israel.”
[Yedidia Stern, Avraham Tirosh and Lilach Lev Ari wrote today’s articles in Yediot Aharonot, Ma’ariv and Yisrael Hayom, respectively.]