(Government Press Office)
Yediot Aharonot suggests that Bank of Israel Governor Prof. Stanley Fisher can be satisfied with most clauses in the new draft Bank of Israel Law. The author avers that "One may say that the law depends – to a great deal – on the wisdom and cunning of the Governor," and adds that "Luckily for Fisher, he has more than a little of both."
Ma'ariv strongly endorses the so-called, "Gilad Shalit Law," which is due to be discussed today by the Ministerial Committee on Legislation but says that it is insufficient: "It is not enough to deny Hamas prisoners visits (except for attorneys and a Red Cross representative once every three months)." The author assert that "They must be denied all of the exaggerated and insane benefits that the State of Israel – in its stupidity – grants to them," and refers to – inter alia – cable television, unlimited canteens, newspapers and magazines, and university studies. The paper declares that "Hamas prisoners must go back to being prisoners," and calls on the Government to make it clear that the benefits "will be restored 30 seconds after Gilad Shalit receives [them]."
Yisrael Hayom believes that Defense Minister Ehud Barak's upcoming London meeting with George Mitchell "is to prepare for Mitchell's meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu, which is due to reach agreement on considerably limiting construction in the settlements," and adds that this would be "in the context of coordination with Israel ahead of negotiations on Obama's regional peace plan."
The Jerusalem Post discusses the economic situation, and calls the newly imposed VAT rise a "rotten idea." The editor believes that raising VAT makes no economic sense, and can only add to increased inflationary pressures. He concludes by stating that "The repercussions are bad not only for worried individuals but also for our entire economic outlook."
Haaretz feels that PM Netanyahu, who was elected on an economic reform platform based on tax cuts intended to free funds to increase consumption, states that "The prime minister certainly understands that the public will have to pay more for goods and basic services, and the poor will especially feel the crunch. Such denial of his basic positions and election promises - only to survive in power - defrauds the public."
[Amnon Atad, Ben Caspit and Dan Margalit wrote today’s articles in Yediot Aharonot, Ma'ariv and Yisrael Hayom, respectively.]