BBC Monitoring Quotes From Israel's Hebrew Press 20 Jun 07

Jun 20, 05:59 AM

Current Headlines: The following is a selection of quotes from editorials published in 20 Jun editions of Hebrew-language Israeli newspapers available to BBCM.

Olmert in US

"Everything is perfect, really. The president is friendly and genuinely likes our prime minister. Both speak with one tongue and their intentions are good. There is, however, one small problem: Their entire new vision for the Palestinians is a tower built on air. It is doubtful that they both believe in it. It is doubtful that anyone believes in it The talk about negotiations on a permanent settlement with the government of Abu-Mazin [Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmud Abbas] is no more than talk. The distance between their positions remains but the partner is getting weaker from one day to the next. What will Israel negotiate about with Abu- Mazin; about the security arrangements in Gaza? Yet it is doubtful that [George] Bush and Olmert have an alternative to this virtual vision they presented yesterday." [From commentary by Nahum Barnea in centrist, largest circulation Yediot Aharonot]

"The US president and the prime minister of Israel, who met yesterday in Washington, must, if they cherish life, walk together and toe the same political-security line; but both are wandering like two drunks, even if they have not had a drop of drink What we have here are two people whose political opponents will give them a hard time until they pack their bags. In the American political jargon they call this situation `lame duck' It will not be a totally wild guess that at the time of writing these words [Ehud] Olmert and [George] Bush discussed in their conversation the developments on the Palestinian side, their significance and the next steps. But I am ready to place my hand in a fire if the main topic was not Iran Anyway, it will be a mighty surprise (and exceptional for Israel) if in his fragile political situation George W. Bush takes heavy, categorical and fateful decisions." From commentary by Eitan Haber in centrist, largest circulation Yediot Aharonot]

"[President George] Bush boasted that [Ehud] Olmert, like him, is committed to the `two states vision', which this week became even more remote. This is perhaps true at the theoretical level but the prime minister sounds much more reserved in the ears of Israeli reporters. The `progress' he talks about will, perhaps, also lead to negotiations with the Palestinians in the future. But not now. `Now we should be busy with preparations that require significant change in the conduct of the Palestinian Authority', he said, `It is premature to deal with the core issues'. So what's left? Olmert spoke about transferring funds, strengthening the security forces of Abu Mazin [Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmud Abbas] and yet another promise to remove checkpoints in the [West] Bank whose credibility, according to past experience, is in doubt." [From commentary by Aluf Benn and Shmuel Rosner in left-of-centre, independent broadsheet Ha'aretz]

"In comments to the press before their meeting on Tuesday, both US President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert stressed the need to support [Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmud] Abbas, who is still struggling to consolidate control over the West Bank Abbas has already indicated that a renewed flow of dollars and euros to PA coffers is not sufficient, and is said to be eying other gestures, such as increased arms, a prisoner exchange and the implementation of a US benchmark proposal on Palestinian freedom and access, to increase Fatah's popularity and control in the West BankThere is also already talk of a likely increase in pressure on Israel to take serious steps toward the Palestinians on the peace process front to make real the possibility of a Palestinian state in the West Bank. The argument is that the international community has allowed Israel to spend the last year-plus of Hamas rule free from pressure to make major concessions, as there was understanding that Israel shouldn't have to deal with Hamas, which doesn't recognize the Jewish state Now the threat of what Hamas has become is being used as an argument for Israel to take exactly the types of steps it has long resisted." [From commentary by Hilary Leila Krieger in English-language Jerusalem Post]

Gaza

"Some members of Israel's leadership, including cabinet ministers, Knesset members and defence and policy advisers, have recently come to resemble children who solve their problems by daydreaming. When they say that the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip has opened a rare window of opportunity, they are also laying out the next solution to the Palestinian problem: handing over responsibility for Gaza to Egypt. There are even some who propose granting Jordan an official role in the West Bank The weakness of all these insights is that they originate in dreams. The Egyptians are not impressed by the Israeli proposals. They even oppose the deployment of a multinational force along the Gaza-Egypt border, and there are no signs that they are in a rush to become involved in the Gazan quagmire. At least for now, the wedding Israel is planning has neither bride nor groom." [From commentary by Uzi Benziman in left- of-centre, independent broadsheet Ha'aretz]

"Sitting at the negotiating table with Hamas, whether in parallel with negotiations with Abu-Mazin or not, is not a direct continuation of the conception that [Yossi] Beilin and his partners devised in 1992 according to which Israel has a partner for peace on the Palestinian side which is the total opposite of it. Ignoring, if indirectly, the takeover of our backyard by an organization that does not want peace and is not ready to recognize the existence of Israel, only heralds the total end of moderate majority rule in the [Palestinian] Authority and brings closer the time when the reoccupation of the whole [Gaza] Strip becomes inevitable. The price of this we know already..." [From commentary by Arnon Gal in centre- right Ma'ariv]

Sources: as listed

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