(Israel Government Press Office)
Yediot Aharonot discusses the recent deal between the Dead Sea Works and the Finance Ministry: "If the Dead Sea Works admits that the Government won, how is it that they agreed to lose? Because Finance Minister Steinitz threatened them that if they did not agree to what they agreed to he would establish a committee based on the same format as the one that set royalties for the exploitation of natural gas. And thus, following the great victory the Government's royalties will grow from about 3% to 7%-8%. Readers are requested not to ask 7%-8% from what, because the answer is very complicated, and is yet to be finally determined. And certainly that will be another clear Steinitz-type victory." The author concludes, "The Dead Sea Works will profit, the Finance Ministry will receive its percentage of the cut, and this will continue with great energy until the Dead Sea will be finished. But by then Steinitz will be in a nursing home, and the managers of the Dead Sea Works will have grown fat with their profits."
Ma'ariv contends that "Our constant contempt for diplomatic moves and quiet accords must be reconsidered this morning. The ramifications of the European oil embargo are far reaching, much more than another publically declared threat leaked by the Defense Minister's confidants. For the first time in recent years the Iranians are showing real signs of sweating." The author notes that "When someone breaks into their embassies, the Europeans know how to take revenge."
Yisrael Hayom professes that "The Jordanian-hosted meeting between Israeli representative Yitzhak Molcho and Palestinian representative Saeb Erekat, did not - nor could it - produce, a real breakthrough towards renewing diplomatic negotiations. At this stage a series of additional talks have been decided on, what a secret, and this we must commend. However, as long as the Palestinians stand on their refusal to return to real discussions without pre-conditions, there will be no real progress. As the Palestinians have made clear, they continue to demand a prior pledge from Israel to freeze all construction over the Green Line, including in Jerusalem, and to agree that the border between it and a future Palestinian state will be based upon the 1967 demarcation lines."
The Jerusalem Post comments the arraignment of 23- year-old Israeli backpacker Rotem Singer in Chile in connection with the fire in the national park: "Whatever the truth in this case (Singer himself rebuffs any connection with whatever ravaged the national park), and no matter what set the Patagonian wilderness alight, it surely should have nothing to do with the fact that Singer is a Jew. Yet for the spectators who filled the courtroom, his identity was the one pertinent factor and it sufficed to eradicate all doubt regarding his culpability. He was hauled to court almost as if walking a gauntlet, accompanied by shrill screams of 'filthy Jew'."
Haaretz comments on the resignation of the Israel Air Force's chief rabbi from the Shahar program integrating ultra-Orthodox Jews into the army: "It's hard not to think that with his announcement Lt. Col. Moshe Ravad, who will retire from the IDF this summer and is presumably planning his future, was sending a message to the most extreme Haredim, who are waging a political battle. If Ravad is unwilling to accept the new IDF directives, including those requiring religiously observant soldiers to attend ceremonies where women sing, Chief of Staff Benny Gantz must relieve him of his position as IAF chief rabbi as well."
[Gideon Eshet, Nadav Eyal and Zalman Shoval wrote today's articles in Yediot Aharonot, Ma'ariv and Yisrael Hayom, respectively.]