(Government Press Office)
Yediot Aharonot analyzes Yisrael Beytenu's call for a constitutional court and believes that, "As long as there is no constitution, it would be better if decisions were made by the highest sovereign institution – the Knesset, whose members are elected by the public as a whole. The attempt to make critical decisions via a constitutional court which would operate without a constitution in front of it is strange, unnecessary and contravenes the constitutional character of Israel, as it has developed since 1948".
The Jerusalem Post discusses US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit to Ramallah today, and states that she needs to disabuse Abbas of the notion that he can adhere to a maximalist negotiating stance in the hope that the Obama administration will deliver an Israel prostrate at the negotiating table. The editor calls on Secretary Clinton to "tell Abbas that the Palestinians must inject some pragmatism into their negotiating position".
Ma'ariv says that "Kadima is a party without historical and traditional roots", and adds that "Even after its electoral 'victory', it is fairly coincidental collection of interested parties and hitchhikers who are not up to sitting in the opposition". The author believes that "What will begin as a proud and united take-off for the opposition is liable to end in a crash".
Yisrael Hayom avers that "The current diplomatic discourse recognizes the lack of an actual Palestinian partner", and adds that "Almost all current calls for negotiations talk of a peace agreement that will be shelved until somebody on the other side can implement it". The author cites Bar Ilan University Prof. Ephraim Inbar's view that 'The current political and diplomatic situation is insoluble', and suggests that "Not every conflict has an immediately available solution". "Therefore", the paper maintains, "The most possible solution to the conundrum is a controlled management of the conflict – blocking terrorism, preventing escalation, demanding changes in the Palestinian educational system and media vis-a-vis Israel and the Jews, etc., on the assumption that the future is likely to bring better alternatives".
Haaretz praises the latest state comptroller's report, published this week. Referring to the chapter about defense against steep trajectory weapons, the editor claims that "the report raises the suspicion that ministers, officers and officials take greater pains to defend their status, power and organizations than the people exposed to the rockets". The editor calls on the government about to be formed to "read the state comptroller's report thoroughly and consider it a guide to immediate action to correct the defects in defending Israel's citizens".
[Rami Tal, Avraham Tirosh and Dror Edar wrote today’s articles in Yediot Aharonot, Ma'ariv and Yisrael Hayom, respectively.]