Summary of Editorials from the Hebrew Press – May 3rd, 2012

The Jerusalem Post discusses the “surreal spectacle” of Israeli pre-election politics, and asserts that “when the superfluous electioneering din dies down, we’ll be left with all that weighed heavy upon us previously.” Critical of a political system based on “another fragile coalition, concocted from yet another ragtag assortment of factional splinters, each of which will extract all it can as the price for its cooperation,” the editor concludes that “the odds are that we will be back just where we now are.”

Ma’ariv discusses the upcoming elections and believes that "The inability of the Center-Left parties to unite in a substantial political bloc ensures that the Right and the ultra-orthodox will continue to hold the reins."

 

Yediot Aharonot discusses the upcoming delivery of a fourth German-built Dolphin class submarine for the Israel Navy.  The author notes that "The Israel Navy is undergoing an important conceptual change: From coastal defense (which is also important) to an arm that is no less strategic than the Air Force for the IDF and for Israel," and avers that "Israel’s submarines are the surest guarantee for maintaining stability and order in the Middle East. They help guarantee that the chance of war will decline and not rise.  With such strength, Israel guards the depths and the stability of our region, and this is the best investment in regional peace."

Yisrael Hayom endorses new, stricter, anti-smoking regulations.  The author says "As the cliché says, I am prepared to fight and to man the barricades over the right of smokers to smoke but in the same breath, I am convinced of our right, the non-smokers (and we are the majority), not to become walking ashtrays when we are in public places."

Haaretz praises the work of outgoing State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss, who, during his tenure, “issued scathing reports, named names, clashed with prime ministers and senior officials and forced the subjects.” The editor opines that “Lindenstrauss and his colleagues deserve thanks,” and adds that “Although the state of Israel is not a better place at the end of their term than it was at the start, at least its problems have been put on the table, honestly and courageously. Now they must be addressed.”

 

[Guy Bechor, Yael Paz-Melamed and Ran Resnick wrote today’s articles in Yediot Aharonot, Ma’ariv and Yisrael Hayom, respectively.]