Summary of editorials from the Hebrew press

from: Israel Government Press Office, Apr. 29, 2014

Two papers discuss the peace process:

Yediot Aharonot says: “After 20 years of talks the time has come to internalize [the fact] that Abu Mazen does not want a peace agreement,” and adds: ‘He is incapable of taking this step, and it does not matter if the reason is political or psychological.” The author reminds his readers: “Whoever blames Netanyahu for the failure of the talks forgets that Olmert and Barak failed before him. It is possible to accuse Netanyahu of being hesitant and of being unable to make decisions, but he cannot be blamed because Abu Mazen remains Abu Mazen.” The paper declares: “Contrary to Secretary of State John Kerry’s threats, Israel will not become an apartheid state because there is no peace just like the US did not become a failed democracy because it failed to spread democracy around the world. Sometimes an ideal runs into an iron wall; it may be unpleasant, but it is reality.”

Yisrael Hayom asserts that the only real differences between Fatah and Hamas, vis-à-vis Israel, are over tactics, and claims that: “The Palestinian Authority recognizes that it will make progress by using diplomacy, as opposed to terrorism, as a means to destroy Israel. To this end, Abbas talks out of both sides of his mouth: To the world, he condemns terrorism and commits himself to the negotiations, but at home he stands behind violent incitement, and praises and economically supports those who have murdered women and children.” The author notes that “Murderous Hamas, on the other hand, glories in its Islamic fundamentalism.” The paper dismisses any possibility that the organization will accept the Quartet’s conditions for acceptance as a peace partner.