(Government Press Office)
Yediot Aharonot questions the idea of a temporary suspension of settlement construction now and suggests that "If in the agreement that will be concluded with the Palestinians sooner or later, it will be jointly decided that settlements in Judea and Samaria will be evacuated, the State of Israel has already proven, not long ago, that it can carry out an evacuation in two or three days. If it is decided (and some would add here: Heaven forbid!) that this or that community is to be offered up on the altar of peace, its pain at that time will be enough and there is no need for salami tactics, i.e. slicing and spreading the settlers' nerves." The author adds that: "It is ridiculous to see the energies being wasted on both sides on another mobile home, another wall, another pergola," and says that "Would that in the framework of an agreement, all of the communities could remain in place. But one would have to be extraordinarily naïve to believe that this will happen."
Ma'ariv avers that "The European Union has stopped believing in dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians." The author suggests that "Negotiations has become a depleted mantra," and adds that "There is growing doubt over the possibility of reaching a territorial settlement aided by this traditional tool." Thus, the paper believes that the Europeans have gone over to the idea of an enforced solution. The author urges Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take heed and cautions that opposition to recognition of a unilaterally-declared Palestinian state "starting in the West Bank will be both ineffectual and will prompt the growing isolation of Israel."
Yisrael Hayom protests against what it believes to be the unfair and slanted portrayal of the Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria: "One should remember that beyond politics, the settlers are people who give up personal comfort and security, and the chance to become richer – but are not prepared to give up on their values. Should the fact that there are good people with values among them be treated with derision?" The author asserts that "It certainly might be that, given the diplomatic circumstances, there are grounds for concessions. But should this extraordinary group be delegitimized as a result?" The paper warns that "Disparaging these exceptional people weakens national cohesion and is liable to lead to an unprecedented rift. The residents of Judea and Samaria are our dear and praiseworthy brothers, even at this time."
The Jerusalem Post wonders what possessed Justice Minister Yaakov to, in effect, call for the creation of a theocracy, and contends that "Neeman well knows that operating a modern state on the basis of Halacha is unworkable." The editor feels that "It is a grand idea for Israeli jurists to be informed by Halacha, but it would be terrible if they were bound by it," and opines that "If our justice minister wants to think out loud, he should do so in the privacy of his own home."
Haaretz criticizes incitement against the IDF by rabbis of the hesder yeshivot. According to the editor, these rabbis excoriate the IDF, dismiss the authority of its commanders and call on their students to disobey orders. The paper calls for their removal from hesder arrangement, in which religious studies are combined with military service, and states that "The government must not give in to those who do not accept its authority, particularly if certain rabbis threaten that their students will not enlist in the army."
[Eitan Haber, Gideon Samet and Oded Tira wrote today’s articles in Yediot Aharonot, Ma'ariv, and Yisrael Hayom, respectively.]