(Government Press Office)
Yediot Aharonot professes that "Abu Mazen's Palestinian Authority is having trouble believing what is happening to it: It is starting to be portrayed in the world as refusing peace; One year ago it was sure that fate was playing into its hands and that a fairytale American President would make all of its wishes come true. Within a year the tables have been turned, and instead of it portraying Netanyahu as being in denial, more and more people in the world are starting to understand that it is in denial."
Ma'ariv says that "If the forecasts come true, in about 20 years the ultraorthodox will number three million people – about a third to half of the Jewish population." The author opines that "If the ultraorthodox do not change their living habits, the State of Israel will have difficulty existing…"
Yisrael Hayom notes that "The Government decided on a freeze in order to check the Palestinians' will towards peace. But despite the difficult move, they are still refusing to negotiate."
Nana10 claims that "The referendum legislation, if it passes, would fatally injure our reputation, which is already very low. Under the camouflage of Swiss-style democracy, the Knesset is about to adopt a patently undemocratic law that would decimate efforts to bring about peace."
The Jerusalem Post compares the relative success of programs such as "Birthright Israel" to the relative failure of Jewish Agency sponsored shlichim (emissaries) with regard to their respective roles in bringing Jews of the Diaspora closer to Israel. Questioning "whether these emissary-ambassadors, chosen by the increasingly weakened Jewish Agency, are the ones who should be doing much of this crucial job," the editor states that "Birthright's successes are quantifiably impressive. Rather than individual Israeli shlichim struggling from their overseas postings to convey a sense of Israel, those successes highlight the imperative for a shift to encouraging and enabling more Jews of all ages to enjoy an Israel experience first-hand."
Haaretz considers the appointment of Yaakov Neeman to Justice Minister to be PM Netanyahu's worst error in judgment in assembling his government, and claims that "This non-politician and expert jurist is misusing his position in the cabinet, and behaving like the ultimate intriguer and populist." The editor calls on the prime minister to "clarify that his government is committed to the fundamental values upon which the state is founded, and not to the establishment of a theocratic state, against the wishes and interests of the majority of the population."
[Guy Bechor, Nadav Haetzni, Dror Adir and Ori Rafael-Baum wrote today’s articles in Yediot Aharonot, Ma'ariv, Yisrael Hayom and Nan10! respectively.]