Editoriais de domingo, 7 de maio *

Haaretz comments: "The former inhabitants of Elei Sinai live together at the [Yad Mordechai] intersection in order to demonstrate their demand to continue the community life they created in the Gaza Strip. That is why they have refused proposals that would divide up the families among various communities... The logic behind the evacuees' struggle is simple and understandable. Their desire to preserve their community framework and their willingness to make sacrifices toward this end are impressive. With the aid of Sela and the Israel Lands Administration, a creative, fair and legal solution that will ensure the rights of the next generation of Palmahim members, as well as the desire of the Elei Sinai evacuees to begin a new life can and must be found. This issue is strictly a humanitarian one and is not controversial. Bureaucracy cannot be permitted to prevent a solution, in the absence of which the question must be asked - how will it be possible to make a critical political decision in the near future and implement the necessary convergence plan?"

The Jerusalem Post writes: "The defunct Shinui has been replaced in the present coalition by its nemesis Shas, whose leader Eli Yishai has been entrusted with none other than Ehud Olmert's old Industry and Trade portfolio. His first order of business was to announce that from now on he will "strictly enforce Saturday-closure regulations at malls and roadside shopping centers," where for the past few years weekend commerce has been booming... In a milestone decision last year, the Supreme Court unanimously agreed that "existing Shabbat legislation protects workers' rights and that only a universal day of rest, shared by all family members, can afford them one free day that all can spend together. Alternative time off will not achieve the same social aim." The court unequivocally determined that "a uniform day of rest is in the socio-national interest" and that "mobile days of rest serve employers, not employees." Armed with this ruling, Yishai will be difficult to oppose... Ideally, what we need isn't a Shabbat indistinguishable from ordinary weekdays but a five-day workweek and a two-day weekend to offer Israelis the weekend shopping they crave. Until then, we need sensible governance that respects the diversity of our society and the status quo it has yielded on Shabbat observance."

Hatzofeh discusses Prime Minister Olmert's Knesset speech last Thursday and asserts that, "Olmert is basing his policy on the demagogic and mendacious claim that 'The continued dispersed settlement throughout Judea and Samaria creates an inseparable mixture of populations which will endanger the existence of the State of Israel as a Jewish state.' " The editors believe that, "Today, it is possible to create a separation between Jewish settlement blocs and Palestinian blocs without dismantling any settlements," but adds, "Of course, nobody will discover this fact because uprooting communities has became the main thing."

Hatzofeh, in its second editorial, believes that IDF soldier Hananel Dayan should receive a citation for refusing to shake IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz's hand at the outstanding soldiers' awards ceremony that was held at President Moshe Katsav's residence on Independence Day.

Yediot Aharonot suggests that the symbolic value of the decision to raise the price of bread bodes ill for the government's policies toward the poor.

Yediot Aharonot, in its second editorial, commends Steff Wertheimer's enterprising spirit in founding ISCAR and building it up over the years.