(Government Press Office)
Ma'ariv notes that "Independence Day festivities again aroused the Israel-haters in Great Britain," and asserts that 'It is not surprising that the injustices which they ascribe to it are neither correct nor proportional to the occupation of Tibet or the slaughter in Darfur." The editors declare that "If it is the refugee problem that sentences Israel to the status of an outlaw nation, then all of the Arab countries, the Jews of which have been expelled, must also be ostracized."
Yediot Aharonot suggests Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni as a replacement for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, if the latter is forced from office. The editors commend her personal integrity and prefer her – and not Ehud Barak or Benjamin Netanyahu – as a possible successor to Prime Minister Olmert: "If we are fated to be tossed around every two or tree years with new elections, let us at least play all of our options and do something new. Let us skip over those who have been tested and who have failed miserably. A woman has not ruled here for 34 years."
The Jerusalem Post comments on the arrival today of US President Bush to Israel, and states that of all the US presidents over the past 60 yrs, it's hard to think of a better friend to Israel than Bush
Haaretz claims that Israel is interested in a cease-fire with Hamas and there is no point in pretending that this is not so. The editor doubts if this can be linked to the release of Gilad Shalit, who will probably only be released in a prisoner deal, and calls on the government not to postpone decisions that in any case will be taken at a later stage - too late for those whose blood will be spilled.
[Yigal Sarena and Gadi Taub wrote today’s articles in Yediot Aharonot and Ma'ariv, respectively. Makor Rishon-Hatzofeh was unavailable today.]