Summary of editorials from the Hebrew press

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Today’s issues: The importance of getting a flu vaccination, saving Israel’s shoreline, the danger of radicalism, and no need for an incitement law.

The Jerusalem Post discusses the ramifications of the outbreak of the H1N1 (swine) virus, and urges Israelis to heed the Health Ministry’s call to get a flu shot. The editor notes: “Mistrust of the authorities, fears about vaccine safety and side effects, and the perceptions that vaccines are only partially effective and not necessary for healthy people all contribute to keep people away from vaccination,” but warns that “getting a flu shot might mean the difference between life and death.”

Haaretz calls on the government to protect the environment from land developers who were granted building rights in environmentally sensitive areas before principles and laws were formulated to restrict construction in those areas, and asserts: “preserving Israel’s natural vistas is as important as paving roads and erecting infrastructures. Nature is the infrastructure for the public’s quality of life.”

Yediot Aharonot deplores the horrific video shot at a religious wedding party and aired on Channel 10, which included scenes of dozens of enthused youths shouting hateful cries, with one of them stabbing the photo of an already-murdered baby, and asserts: “It’s not enough to condemn. It’s too easy. It’s time to do something. And if there’s a need to implement uncomfortable methods – then they will be implemented. And if human rights are harmed – then they will be harmed. Because if we do not remove this cancerous tumor when it is small – it will go on and grow. And eventually, it will finish us all.”

Israel Hayom believes there is no need for an incitement law, which would require groups like Breaking the Silence to report their sources of foreign funding and their members to wear ID tags while in the Knesset building, and asserts: “The benefits of the bill are much smaller than the harm it would do if passed.” The author notes that “Breaking the Silence’s funding are published anyway, even before any law has required it, and also because foreign interests are not embarrassed by being exposed and will continue to fund the group,” and argues that “Israel’s friends abroad will ask the government not to pass the Nonprofit Associations bill. So we should forget about it.”

[Ben-Dror Yemini and Dan Margalit wrote today’s articles in Yediot Aharonot and Israel Hayom, respectively.]