1. GOVERNOR FISHER'S MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: CONTROLING THE DOLLAR RATE
Bank of Israel announces that it will deepen its intervention in foreign currency market and will purchase over $100 million a day in order to prevent its collapse.
2. POLICE: NO EVIDENCE THAT MUDEROUS ATTACK ON GAY YOUTH CLUB WAS A HATE CRIME.
3. HEALTH MINISTRY WARNS: OVER 700 ISRAELIS LIABLE TO DIE THIS YEAR FROM SWINE FLU.
MA’ARIV
1. THEY THREW UP THEIR HANDS
Victory before the recess. Netanyahu's threats worked: Labor Party ministers, Jewish Home Chairman and Likud mutineers preferred their seats – and voted for his land reform bill.
YEDIOT AHRONOT
1. Swine flu: Ages 15 – 49 will be hit.
YOUTH IN DANGER
2. POLICE TO YOUNG HOMOSEXUALS: MURDERER COULD HAVE HUNG OUT WITH YOU
YISRAEL HAYOM
1. TODAY: INDICTMENT AGAINST "THE STARVING MOTHER"
2. BANK OF ISRAEL GOVERNOR RUSHES TO HELP DOLLAR
Dollar plummets to NIS 3.74. Fisher announces that he will continue to purchase $100 million a day. Result: Dollar rose 1.1% in inter-bank trading.
3. ANOTHER ISRAELI-AMERICAN "STING"
Ring of crook suspected of defrauding the tax authorities for $12 million.
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SUMMARY OF EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS
Yediot Ahronot notes that, "According to opinion polls, the Knesset and other parliaments in democratic countries fare very poorly in terms of public confidence." The author rates Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Kadima Chairwoman Tzipi Livni, Kadima MK Shaul Mofaz and Minister Michael Eitan on a scale of 1 to 10 and gives an average of 4.66.
Ma'ariv protests the dearth of effective and sustained protest over Saturday night's murders at a club for homosexual and lesbian youth in Tel Aviv.
Yisrael Hayom considers Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's demand that the Palestinians recognize Israel as the national state of the Jewish People in the context of the current Fatah conference. While the author acknowledges that Israel's existence is not predicated on such recognition, he asserts that, "If we want peace, then this recognition is both necessary and urgent." The paper suggests that the Palestinians', "principled refusal, even if it means giving up on both peace and the establishment of their state, attests that their opposition is substantive," and belies their stated desire for peace with Israel. The author avers that, "The substance of the conflict is the question of the Jewish People's right to an independent, sovereign state in the Land of Israel," and adds that, "The Arabs in general, and the Palestinians in particular, are unwilling to countenance this right." The paper cautions, however, that such recognition must be substantive and not merely declarative and declares that, "The substantive significance of recognizing the State of Israel as the state of the Jewish People is giving up on the claim of a 'right of return' for the refugees' grandchildren and great-grandchildren." The author calls on the Government, "to announce that the 'refugee' issue, i.e. the demand for 'the right of return' is not part of any negotiations," and adds that, "Only when the Palestinians accept this will there finally be the sign that we have partner for peace. We will wait to hear what the Fatah conference decides."
The Jerusalem Post argues that while the eviction of Arab families from their homes in the northeastern Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah did not portray a pretty picture, and while media coverage of the issue has been overwhelmingly supportive of the Palestinian position, the argument has another side. The eviction was carried out in accordance with a Supreme Court ruling, which has shown that the homes were originally Jewish property that was confiscated by the Jordanians in the aftermath of the War of Independence and illegally occupied by the current residents. The editor states that "Jews and Arabs are destined to share this city. Both peoples would be wise to avoid actions that exacerbate tensions."
Haaretz claims that there is no reason to wait for an indictment in Israel Police's National Fraud Squad recommendation to try Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman on a long list of serious charges, and states that it has become unreasonable for him to continue serving as Israel's foreign minister, or as one of the six ministers who make decisions on foreign and security issues. The editor concludes by stating that "Israel, which is on the defensive on the world stage and faces the possibility of renewed peace negotiations with the Palestinians, needs a foreign minister with international stature and political backing, not a potential defendant."
[Baruch Leshem, Yuval Dror and Uri Heitner wrote today’s articles in Yediot Ahronot, Ma'ariv and Yisrael Hayom, respectively.]
(Courtesy of Israel GPO)
