Summary of editorials from the Hebrew press

The Jerusalem Post wonders whether the apology made by Aegean Airlines to PA leaders for forcing two Arab-Israeli passengers to leave an airliner because of a protest by Jewish-Israeli travelers does not signify “The wholesale theft of Israel’s Arab citizenry by the Palestinian Authority,” and citing recent polls that indicate otherwise, warns the PA leadership “not take this for granted.”

Haaretz comments on the indictment soon to be filed by the Israel Police against artist Natali Cohen Vaxberg, who filmed herself defecating on a number of national flags, including the Israeli flag, and contends that while the story may sound like a fictional plot of a film about an oppressive and heartless regime, in effect “it’s the reality in the State of Israel in the era of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.”  The police are encouraging citizens to report “disrespect of government symbols” and are investing intelligence and investigative resources – designed to apprehend genuine criminals – in pursuit of an anarchist artist. The editor asserts: “The solution to Cohen Vaxberg’s soiled flag is a washing machine, not a criminal trial,” and adds: “Outgoing Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein needs to close the file against her before he leaves office. That would be a small but important going-away gift on behalf of freedom of expression in Israel.”

Yediot Aharonot does not believe an agreement with the Palestinians is imminent, but nevertheless notes that “the government has decided to increase the quota of Arab workers from the West Bank,” even while the knife-wielders are still running amok. The author thinks that this move portends “An act of trust in a sea of skepticism and suspicion,” and asserts: “If this intifada drags on or escalates to the use of firearms, it will eliminate the status quo, but not coexistence in the West Bank. Just like the Jewish settlements, coexistence has become a part of life in the territories.”

Israel Hayom   asserts that “The tensions created by the ultra-Orthodox Chief Rabbinate within Israeli society have ?extended to the Diaspora and are now undermining relations with the Jewish state.” The author insists that the ongoing tendency of the Israeli rabbinate to delegitimize Diaspora Jews “will make Israel forfeit ?the support of major segments of American Jewry and provide encouragement to those post-?Zionist elements seeking to create a Bundist type Judaism in which Israel plays no role,” and asserts: “with Israel-Diaspora relations at risk of a dramatic decline ?and the growing Israeli anger at the coercion imposed upon them, the need for reform or ?dissolution of the Chief Rabbinate before a crisis erupts is urgent.” ?

[Ekyakim Haetzni and Isi Leibler wrote today’s articles in Yediot Aharonot and Israel Hayom, respectively.]