Itongadol.- Ma\’ariv says that the current situation in Syria "seems as if it was taken from a vision of hell," and adds: "And there is nothing more absurd, more detached from reality, than the international conference known as \’Geneva II\’ which began last weekend with the avowed goal of bringing about reconciliation and an end to the war in Syria." The author believes that "No diplomacy and no high-sounding words will be able to end the hell in Syria," and is amazed at the "apathy and passivity of all those \’who seek goodwill, justice and rights\’ in the world." The paper says: "One might expect that there would be regular demonstrations opposite the Syrian embassies in European capitals, that there would be demonstrations in the streets against Assad\’s crimes, seeing that thousands of Palestinians have been killed and that tens of thousands have become refugees. But nothing, quiet. But maybe it is possible to understand the Europeans. A fter all, we are not talking about Israel and Jews."
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Yediot Aharonot refers to reports that elements in the Prime Minister\’s Office have suggested that settlers in outlying communities who refuse to be evacuated could live in a future Palestinian state and avers that "I suggest that Israelis who have settled outside the major settlement blocs in Judea and Samaria can relax; the idea that they would remain under Palestinian rule in the framework of a permanent agreement is no less delusional than the idea that an Israeli government would agree to partition Jerusalem." The author says: "Truthfully, if there is any chance of an agreement, it will require the evacuation of tens of thousands of settlers, which Netanyahu does not consider given his worldview, the lessons that were learned from the evacuation of Gush Katif and concerns over civil war among Israelis."
Yisrael Hayom labels the \’Price-tag" phenomenon "a continual and growing scandal," and "war crimes." The author declares: "The great majority of settlers is law-abiding," and claims that "Only a tiny, marginal group is engaged in this frightening behavior." The paper contends that Price-tag actions "are of propaganda value to the Arabs who gleefully cooperate with anti-Israel \’human rights\’ bodies." The author urges rabbis and educators to inculcate against such acts and to teach respect for the state, the humanitarian aspects of Judaism and that "The violence of individuals is no less a violation of Jewish law no less than desecration of the Sabbath." The author calls on the settlement movement to isolate and marginalize those who perpetrate Price-tag acts, and says that parents and families "must be doubly cautious that their children are not poisoned by the hatred that surrounds them."
The Jerusalem Post observes International Holocaust Day, which is being commemorated today, and contends that there are two lessons to be learned from that dark period in history. The first, notes the editor, “is that anti-Semitism is essentially a terminal moral disease of humanity and that Jews must never again rely solely on the kindness of others.” The second is the recognition that “mankind is capable of inconceivable acts of horror.” In conclusion, the editor asserts: “These are not mutually exclusive views. One recognizes the dangers to the Jewish people presented by the lethal obsession that is anti-Semitism. The other obligates us to temper this recognition with the moral obligation to fight injustice wherever it might manifest itself.”
Haaretz notes that the Shin Bet security service annual employee evaluation now questions whether the employee performs his duties according to a Zionist value system, and states: “The question is disturbing and shows that the organization charged with protecting the state and its democracy is slipping into the unacceptable realm of taking sides in a political and ideological argument.” The editor states that “The law governing the Shin Bet states that the organization is ‘in charge of protecting the security of the state, the democratic regime and its institutions from treats of terror, sabotage, subversion, espionage and the uncovering of state secrets, and to protect and promote other essential interests of the national security of the state,’” and points out that no mention is made of Zionism and its values. The editor concludes: “The service must return to its defined tasks rather than dealing with the enforcement of ‘Z ionist values.’”
[Amos Gilboa, Shimon Shiffer and Isi Leibler wrote today\’s articles in Ma\’ariv, Yediot Aharonot and Yisrael Hayom, respectively.]