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BBC Monitoring Quotes From Israel's Hebrew Press 23 Mar 06

Posted on: Thursday, 23 March 2006, 06:00 CST

The following is a selection of quotes from editorials published in 23 Mar editions of Hebrew-language Israeli newspapers available to BBCM.

Convergence plan

"These elections are as good as a plebiscite that will approve or rule out the convergence plan the ambitious enterprise whose architects aspire to determine through it the country's permanent borders. This plan is disputed and if the government sticks to it we are promised a few stormy years, outbursts of violent disobedience, determined Palestinian opposition and hefty expenditure. It is doubtful it will leave something for our welfare. Those who support it think there is no avoidance of this historic decision no matter how difficult. Its detractors reply it will bring disaster upon us. This is a question that only brats can say is uninteresting ... Matters are clear and this decision is categorical and painful. Let no one shirk it." [From editorial of centrist, largest circulation Yediot Aharonot]

"Now [Acting Prime Minister] Ehud Olmert is proposing to draw a `permanent border' in the West Bank east of the Green Line and is offering the international community a deal: the evacuation of 70,000 settlers from their homes in exchange for recognition that `Ariel is Israel', and accepting a connection between Ma'ale Adumim with Jerusalem. Olmert wants to achieve both a military and legal defence and believes he will be able to leverage in his favour the Hamas victory in the Palestinian elections and the rest of the Bush administration's term in office. But that is an illusion. Israel will certainly be complimented on reducing its presence in the territories, but Olmert's border line will not be accepted as a recognized international border\ Olmert's gamble is not simple: even if he manages to sell the evacuated settlements in exchange for political support from Washington, he could find out that the angry Palestinians have set out to foil his plans." [From commentary by Aluf Benn in left-of-centre, independent broadsheet Ha'aretz]

Kadima

"Kadima, the party of separation, disengagement and expulsion, will apparently form the next government even though responsibility for what happens in Gaza continues to fall on Israel. And if Ashkelon was previously beyond the reach of Qassam rockets, the abandonment of the northern Gaza communities moved the city's industrial area within range of the rockets. And `a new morning' does not shine on the communities of the southern and western Negev, as [Acting Prime Minister] Ehud Olmert promised\ Only after the harsh reality strikes us head on, and we ask ourselves how we could have blindly pursued false hopes, will the path to a significant change in consciousness be open\" [From commentary by Israel Harel in left-of-centre, independent broadsheet Ha'aretz]

"In the last two decades, most Israelis have arrived at two conclusions: (1) territory and security are separate issues, and (2) the Palestinians are politically dysfunctional; not only can't they be trusted to keep a peace agreement, they can't be coerced into keeping one, either. Kadima's ideology is based on both these conclusions, while neither Likud nor Labour has reached either one\ The new Israeli centre appears to have found the right direction, and Israelis are looking forward to following it into the West Bank. No doubt: Kadima is good for the Jews. But it is not very good for the Arabs\ It is plotting Israel's new borders without any concern for what the Palestinians need for their independence, whether it's enough land, a seaport, an airport, groundwater or airspace\ This is a serious problem, but I'm afraid that here, again, Kadima is reflecting the political evolution of the Israeli mainstream\" [From commentary by Larry Derfner in English-language Jerusalem Post]

Hamas

"Hamas spokesmen resort to every lie in order to mislead the Israelis and the world. The organization's sophisticated leaders are already voicing slogans that hint at moderation, as it were\ They know how easy it is to mislead not only the world but also the Jews whose mouths had dried from calls for peace barring one: Shimon Peres. Therefore, Israel enters a most dangerous period of those with short memory who tried to sell us again the Hamas government's vision of peace that does not contain one drop of truth. Better for the Israelis who need this to go and learn from President Bush how to confront terrorist regimes and terrorist threats. Despite the incessant attacks on him and on his regime at home and abroad because of the ongoing war in Iraq the president is determined in his just, moral policy of continuing the war\" [From commentary by Uri Dan in centre-right Ma'ariv]

Sources: as listed

Source: BBC Monitoring Newsfile

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