Summary of Editorials from the Hebrew Press – February 20th, 2013

Ma\’ariv believes that given the choice between political oblivion in the opposition and joining with her former rival, Livni "decided to snatch what she could, kick aside the principles, values and ideas on the basis of which she educated the fools who believed in her, and enter a government led by Benjamin Netanyahu." The author avers: "Apparently, there is no limit to political cynicism," and reminds his readers that Livni has spent the last four years railing against Netanyahu and only recently tried to coax Ehud Olmert into running against him. The paper notes that Movement MK Amir Peretz recently declared that "Our movement will not sit in a Netanyahu government, period," and mocks the idea that Netanyahu will actually allow her to manage contacts with the Palestinians.

Yediot Aharonot says: "We have every reason to allow feelings of disgust to rise in our throats, the same disgust that Livni tried to fight against with her clean politics. We might also feel nauseous. If Livni, the woman of principle, was seen last night as having sold out on her principles, her promises and her agenda in exchange for a doubtful promise, and as becoming what she stated she would not be, i.e. a fig-leaf in a Netanyahu government, nothing can surprise us anymore." The author questions how Livni can expect to achieve today, with only six seats, what she could not achieve four years ago with 28 seats, and dismisses outright the possibility she will be able to make any headway in the diplomatic process.

Yisrael Hayom remarks that "Last night\’s announcement was embarrassing," and adds: "The embarrassment is compounded in light of Amir Peretz\’s willingness to serve as a minister in a Netanyahu government. He quit the Labor Party for the Movement only in order to feel certain that he would not have to be part of a Likud Beytenu-led coalition. What happened, therefore, to his integrity?" The author asserts: "This move will strengthen the feeling in the heart of generations of younger Israelis that politicians are cynical beyond repair. A thousand civics lessons will not help to correct this harsh impression." The paper reminds its readers that by bringing in Livni, Prime Minister Netanyahu has still not dispensed with the need to bring in Yair Lapid and/or Naftali Bennett.

Haaretz protests the arrest by the IDF and Shin Bet security service of fourteen Palestinians freed in the Gilad Shalit deal, and states: “Even if the repeat arrests of the 14 are legal, according to military decrees‏, they are draconian, and reek of cruelty and abuse.” The editor asserts that “There is no measure of justice or reason in jailing a man for years because he visited an adjacent neighborhood or even assumed political activity,” and adds: “If none of the 14 Palestinians committed any terrorist activities, Israel should free them immediately.”

The Jerusalem Post wonders: “Is the ‘Start-up Nation’ losing its touch?” The editor states that “there are many signs that Israel continues to maintain its unique standing as a country without natural resources that faces constant security challenges, but nevertheless manages to compete in the world economy thanks to its highly innovative population,” and expresses hope that the country will continue to succeed as a hi-tech powerhouse in coming years, despite national complacency in this regard. Noting some of the factors dragging down the Start-up Nation, such as “our substandard public transportation, our insufficient road infrastructure and the consequent congestion and traffic jams, barely relieved by the expensive Route 6 toll road,” the editor asserts: “We must invest a lot of hard work to ensure that Israel continues to be a Start-up Nation.”

 

[Shalom Yerushalmi, Sima Kadmon and Dan Margalit wrote today’s articles in Ma\’ariv, Yediot Aharonot and Yisrael Hayom, respectively.]