(Government Press Office)
Haaretz - http://www.haaretzdaily.com
Ma'ariv - http://www.maariv.co.il
Yediot Aharonot - http://www.ynet.co.il
Globes - http://www.globes.co.il
Jerusalem Post - http://www.jpost.com
Hazofeh - http://www.hazofe.co.il
Yediot Aharonot comments on the decision of Rabbi Shalom Elyashiv - spiritual leader of the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism - to allow UTJ to join Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s coalition with the Labor Party and says that, “The basic assumption of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s latest political move, that the ultra-Orthodox would lend a hand to his disengagement plans, only if they would receive the ejection of Shinui from the government in exchange, has proven correct.” The editors write: “The significance of United Torah Judaism’s joining the disengagement coalition is, therefore, much deeper than a cursory appearance would indicate. Ultra-Orthodox Judaism never sanctified the occupied lands and did not welcome the Greater
Land of Israel movement… The settlement enterprise, which drew considerable encouragement from the spiritual backing of the ultra-Orthodox and the Chabad hassidic movement, has suffered a severe blow. After the Palestinian Authority elections and the beginning of negotiations between Sharon and Abu Mazen, [Shas spiritual patron] Rabbi Ovadia Yosef will find the justification for reversing his ruling against the withdrawal, since it will no longer be ‘unilateral’ but ‘agreed-upon.’ …With his political sixth sense, Ariel Sharon understood that, in order to withdraw from the territories, he is entitled to renounce his partnership with [Shinui leader] Tommy Lapid, but he cannot do without the blessings of Rabbis Elyashiv and Yosef.” The paper suggests that the next few months will be critical for the Disengagement Plan and urges Sharon to concentrate on it and not on such initiatives as capital market reform, education reforms, etc., especially in light of the fact that the three parties in his coalition disagree sharply on nearly everything but the Disengagement Plan.
Hatzofeh criticizes the failure to halt the continuing Kassam and mortar fire at the Jewish communities in the Gaza Strip and declares that, “If the IDF cannot protect the country’s citizens, the chief of General Staff must resign immediately, along with the defense minister and the prime minister.” The editors believe that, “Sharon and his ministers continue to explain and interpret Abu Mazen’s hostile expressions just as Shimon Peres, Yitzhak Rabin, and their boys did when the late Yasser Arafat made similar remarks,” and add, “What Abu Mazen says to his people is the truth and is what he intends to do; Sharon and Peres should listen to the ISA director’s warnings.”
Haaretz comments: "Turkey is the only Muslim state whose relationship with Israel has popular, economic, and security dimensions. It is a member of NATO and of Europe's common security organization, it is a candidate to join the European Union, and it is held in great respect by the nations of the Middle East and the Islamic states. The bilateral relationship is therefore a mutual strategic asset that requires continuous mutual nurturing, and Turkey can cushion the path of diplomatic talks if Israel allows it to do so. Israel, however, has taken this relationship for granted. The erroneous approach that has thus far guided Jerusalem is that Turkey needs Israel, due to the latter's ties with Washington, more than Israel needs Turkey... These two friendly nations, exceptional in the Middle Eastern landscape, must continue their mutual commitment and develop the kind of relationship that is normal for two sister states, even if they sometimes disagree on matters of policy."
The Jerusalem Post writes: "Though the current government may lack a majority and have trouble winning Knesset votes, occasionally national unity of sorts does manifest itself. One such vote Tuesday legislatively blocked real estate developers from carving away large portions of the area earmarked for the Ayalon Park on the southeastern flanks of Tel Aviv... This is a significant victory for the quality of life of masses of urban-dwelling Israelis, whose open spaces are systematically whittled away."
[Sever Plocker wrote today’s editorial in Yediot Aharonot.]