Two newspapers discuss the case of Moshe Silman, who set himself afire on Saturday night at a social protest in Tel Aviv:
Yisrael Hayom notes that Silman set himself on fire ostensibly over his ill-treatment at the hands of various authorities. The author calls for a thorough investigation into his grievances but adds: "Not only is the establishment responsible for a person; a person is also responsible for himself and his fate."
The Jerusalem Post prays for Moshe Silman’s swift recovery, but warns that “[Silman’s] self-destructive act, which has effectively made it impossible for him to ever rehabilitate his life, should not serve as a symbol for a movement claiming to stand for social change.” The editor concludes: “Self-immolation is nothing to emulate.”
Yediot Aharonot says that "Intelligence services that collect \’warning signs\’ about the fall of Bashar Assad have recently pointed to several indicators which show that his end is near." The author suggests that the increasing number of middle-ranking and senior officers fleeing to Turkey attest to "the deepening and widening erosion in the military\’s loyalty to the regime," and notes that fighting has spread to Damascus and the Lebanese border, and unrest to previously quiet Aleppo. The paper cites reports that the regime has begun to move materials for chemical warfare, either to what it perceives as more secure locations or in preparation for possible use, and asserts, "In both cases, these are signs of weakness." The author adds that Russia has made plans to evacuate its personnel from Syria and concludes: "Nobody knows when it will happen but if the Arab Spring has taught us anything it is that things happen all at onc! e, in one day, as happened in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia."
Ma\’ariv suggests that young ultra-orthodox conscripts be stationed along Israel\’s borders with Egypt and Lebanon where they might continue their religious studies when they are not guarding the borders.
Haaretz asserts that “Last week\’s ad hominem attacks on State Prosecutor Moshe Lador have no basis in reality,” and declares: “The detailed verdict in the case of former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert clearly shows that there were grounds for indicting him even on the counts of which he was acquitted.”
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[Dan Margalit, Alex Fishman and Oded Tira wrote today’s articles in Yisrael Hayom, Yediot Aharonot and Ma\’ariv, respectively.]