Interesting Bits from the Hebrew Press ....which are not available in English

We receive Makor Rishon, the Hebrew weekly associated with the "center/right" in Israel. It covers, of course, the news of the week, and contains the usual sections available in every weekly - editorials, culture, sports, and a financial section. In addition it has a special magazine for kids, and periodically a special magazine for women.

Unfortunately it is not available in English, which is a great shame, because it would serve as a good counterpoint to the leftist slant in Haaretz, Ynet, and Jerusalem Post. (The Jersualem Post has a number of reporters identified with the right wing, but to those of us who read both the Hebrew and English press, it is apparent that the overall slant is left of center).

I thought to summarize some things I read over the weekend which would serve to contrast what is written in the other newspapers.

First of all, the polls. Makor Rishon uses Maagar Mochot, under Professor Yitzchak Katz. His findings (after Tzachi HaNegbi left the Likud) are as follows:

Kadima 41, Labor 16, Likud 16, Shas 10, Arab Parties 8, Yisrael Beitenu 6, Shinui 5, Ichud Leumi 5, United Torah Judaism 5, Meretz 4, Mafdal 4.

His findings regarding Labor and Likud are very different than the ones reported in Haaretz, where Labor receives 23, and Likud 12.

He breaks down the Russian vote as well. 43% report a preference for Kadima, 31% are unsure, 24% want Yisrael Beitenu (Avigdor Lieberman), 10% Likud, 6% Shinui, 5% Labor, 2% Ichud Leumi.

A piece written by Avinadav Vitkin is ironically titled "Cannon Fodder". After the recent shelling of the western Negev, where mortars reached as far as Netivot, he went to Kibbutz Alumim to visit the soldiers in charge of firing into Beit Chanoon, the area in the eastern Gaza Strip from where the shells have been launched. He spoke to the commanding officer and to some of the soldiers under him.

They are all anxious to use the skills learned in their training, and are proud of the fact that they are able to fire within two minutes of getting an alert. But, according to the commanding officer, "If there is a person, or even a cow in the field, we must hold our fire. Our job is to get the citizens [of Gaza] to put pressure on the terrorists."

The fact that the terrorists fire from civilian neighborhoods brings into question the effectivity of the IDF's response. Yaniv, the commanding officer, adds "What can you do, it is not humane to fire at civilian targets".

Another soldier approached Vitkin quietly and voices his complaint. "Write that this is useless. We are not firing in order to hit anyone."

Yariv the commander adds "What we really want to do is ambush the terrorists when they come out to fire".

Indeed.

To read Makor Rishon in Hebrew...