Yediot Aharonot says that last night\’s demonstration was "for the State of Israel," and adds: "This campaign cannot become an accusatory finger pointing at the ultra-orthodox and the Arabs. They are not responsible for the state having given up on them. Neither can the demonstration be turned into a call against the Government. It is a call for the Government, a call designed to give it support so that its members will make the correct decision." The author calls on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "hear the voices and join media statements with action."
Ma\’ariv doubts whether anything positive will come from the aforesaid controversy. The author suggests that Prime Minister Netanyahu "will formulate the solution that everyone knows will happen: A draft law that will really be the Tal Law in disguise, which will somehow pass the High Court of Justice and then disappear in the bureaucratic-political maze." The paper asserts that "Even in 2012, emotional and tribal divisions prevent us from taking tangible political action. The classification of Right and Left…continues to paralyze us. It prevents united and effective action by people who have a common interest." The author concludes: "As long as this continues to be the situation, it really is not important how many people go to demonstrations or what scheme the Prime Minister concocts in order to save tomorrow\’s headlines."
Yisrael Hayom avers that "[Ultra-orthodox] yeshiva students in Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, Be\’er Sheva and Ashkelon must understand that they are part of this nation and they must also bear the burden." The author says that "Just like Yehuda Meshi-Zahav, who was born and raised in Mea Shearim in Jerusalem and who, in his youth as a member of Neturei Karta and as the operations officer of the ultra-orthodox Eda Haredit, took part in protest actions against the state, saw fit to change direction and establish ZAKA, and just like the 2,400 ultra-orthodox who enlisted in the IDF and civilian service last year. So too other ultra-orthodox must act…Not out of compulsion but out of deep understanding and a healthy logic."
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The Jerusalem Post discusses the recent decision by PM Benjamin Netanyahu to increase the budget deficit by 3% rather than raise taxes, and states that “A bloated deficit cuts growth in the long run. It affects the economy much as an excessive overdraft paralyzes personal finances.” The editor believes that “The only compromise between the short haul temptation and the long-range danger is a modest tax increase for all income brackets,” and declares: “It is time for our leaders to tell it like it is and not to foster false expectations.”
Haaretz contends that “Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz\’s pledge to the Ariel University Center to add more than NIS 100 million to its budget next year, bypassing the bodies authorized to deal with funding academic institutions, is a tangible example of political involvement in the higher education system.”