(Government Press Office)
Yediot Aharonot suggests that"Almost a year after the start of Obama's term, it is hard to discern what he has other than the ability to run an effective election campaign and win it."
Ma'ariv argues that the putative Shalit deal "is not a deal, but a surrender." The author asks, "How is it that all those who oppose the Shalit deal entered the trap called mediation, which ultimately leaves only one option: A massive release of murderers?"
Yisrael Hayom advocates a strong policy towards those attempting to prevent the implementation of the ten-month settlement freeze. "Any Israeli element who wants to preemptively torpedo any possibility of negotiations proves that Israel is not a serious partner… The chaos that will be created here as a result of the Government's failure to enforce its policies will threaten Israel's future more than all of its external enemies."
The Jerusalem Post notes that Israel's diplomatic benefits from the settlement moratorium announced recently by PM Netanyahu amount to zero. All it has accomplished, according to the editor, has been the pitting of settlers against soldiers. Further, "It hasn't swayed Abbas or the Arab League. Hamas is bemused. Europe is little impressed." The editor calls on the Obama administration, which so far has merely offered parsimonious praise, to do better.
Haaretz lists the five main challenges facing incoming Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein: "the war on crime, eliminating corruption, enforcing the law in the territories, implementing international law, and protecting the rule of law in the face of threats from those who seek to undermine it," and notes that "Weinstein will have to show at least the same measure of independence and resilience that [current AG] Mazuz showed in the face of political pressure." The editor adds that "Weinstein's appointment must halt Justice Minister Yaakov Neeman's initiative to split the office of the attorney general, which would be inappropriate and damaging, and would threaten to undermine the rule of law in Israel."
[Amos Carmel, Ben-Dror Yemini, and Yehoshua Sobol wrote today’s articles in Yediot Aharonot, Ma'ariv, and Yisrael Hayom, respectively.]